JP6806358B2 - In-vehicle lighting device - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to an in-vehicle lighting device capable of simultaneously irradiating a plurality of locations with one light source means, and a vehicle storage box provided with the same.

It has been proposed that a storage unit such as a console box provided in a car is provided with a lighting device for illuminating the inside so that the inside can be easily seen even at night (see, for example, Patent Document 1). Further, in recent years, for example, a car equipped with a USB port has been proposed, and by connecting an external device to this USB port, it has become possible to play music from a car speaker or charge the external device. There is.

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2006-36091

If such a USB port is installed in the storage part of a car, the conventional lighting device cannot illuminate the USB port brightly even if the inside of the storage part is illuminated, and the user can use the external device to the USB port. It sometimes took time to connect. Therefore, it is conceivable to provide a lighting device for illuminating the USB port separately from the lighting device for illuminating the entire inside of the storage portion. However, in this case, it is necessary to provide a new lighting device in addition to the lighting device for illuminating the entire inside of the storage portion, which causes problems such as an increase in the number of parts.

An object of the present invention is to provide an in-vehicle lighting device capable of simultaneously illuminating a plurality of areas with a plurality of light rays.

The in-vehicle lighting device of the present invention includes a light source means and an optical means, and the optical means includes a prism array provided on the incident side and a lens means provided on the exit side. The prism array is generated by refracting the light emitted from the light source means and crossing the first divided light beam and the second divided light beam with each other, and the lens means has a first lens portion and a second lens unit. It has a lens portion, the first divided light beam is emitted from the first lens portion to irradiate the first region, and the second divided light beam is emitted from the second lens portion to be second. It is characterized by irradiating an area.

According to the present invention, the optical means refracts the light emitted from the light source means to emit a first divided light flux and a second divided light flux, and irradiates the first region with the first divided light beam. Since the second region is illuminated by the second divided luminous flux, it is possible to simultaneously illuminate two different regions with the light of two separate luminous fluxes, and it is not necessary to provide different light source means for each different region, and the number of parts can be increased. Can be reduced.

Sectional drawing of the main part of the console box which concerns on 1st Embodiment of this invention. FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of a main part of the console box shown in FIG. An explanatory view showing a main optical path in an in-vehicle lighting device included in the console box shown in FIG. 3 is a view showing an optical element included in the in-vehicle lighting device shown in FIG. 3, in which FIG. 3A is a perspective view and FIG. 3B is a schematic cross-sectional view taken along line IVb-IVb of FIG. 3A. Is a diagram for explaining the difference in refraction of light when LEDs having different light distribution angles are used. The perspective view of the glove box which concerns on 2nd Embodiment of this invention. The perspective view which shows the center console which concerns on 3rd Embodiment of this invention and the periphery thereof. An enlarged view of the center console shown in FIG. An explanatory view showing a main optical path in an in-vehicle lighting device included in the glove box shown in FIG. FIG. 9 is a perspective view of an optical element included in the vehicle-mounted lighting device shown in FIG. The perspective view which shows the glove box which concerns on 4th Embodiment of this invention, and the periphery thereof. The perspective view which shows the cup holder which concerns on 5th Embodiment of this invention. The perspective view which shows the cup holder shown in FIG. The schematic plan view of the automobile which shows the arrangement of the in-vehicle lighting apparatus which concerns on 6th Embodiment of this invention. The schematic side view of the automobile shown in FIG. The perspective view which shows the modification of the lens means. The figure explaining the relationship between the apex angle of a prism and the refraction direction of light. A graph showing the relationship between the incident angle of light, the apex angle of a prism, and the tilt angle in the refraction direction. It is a figure which shows the optical element Salute of the optical element which concerns on 1st Embodiment of this invention, (a) is a perspective view, (b) is a schematic cross-sectional view of XIXb-XIXb line of (a).

[First Embodiment]
Hereinafter, an in-vehicle lighting device according to the first embodiment of the present invention and a vehicle storage box provided with the in-vehicle lighting device will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the present embodiment, a console box installed between the driver's seat and the passenger seat will be described as an example of a vehicle storage box.

With reference to FIGS. 1 and 2, the illustrated console box (vehicle storage box) 1 includes a box body 2, a lid 3, and a hinge portion 4 that connects the box body 2 and the lid 3. Be prepared. The box body 2 is provided with a storage portion 21 having an open upper surface. The hinge portion 4 includes a hinge arm 41 and a rotating shaft 42 supported by the box body 2. The tip portion of the hinge arm 41 is connected to the lid body 3, and the rear end portion is rotatably connected to the rotating shaft 42. Has been done. Then, when the hinge arm 41 rotates about the rotation shaft 42, the lid 3 opens the closed position (FIG. 1) that closes the upper opening of the storage portion 21 and the upper opening of the storage portion 21. The upper opening of the storage portion 21 is opened and closed by moving between the open position (FIG. 2). In the present embodiment, when the lid 3 is in the predetermined open position shown in FIG. 2, the lid 3 is configured to extend obliquely forward. Further, the inner surface 31 of the lid 3 is provided with a recess 32.

The inner surface of the storage portion 21 has a bottom surface 22 and four side surfaces (that is, a pair of left and right side surfaces (not shown), a front surface 23, and a rear surface 24) that stand up from the peripheral edge of the bottom surface 22. The front surface 23 has a lower portion 23a extending in the vertical direction and an upper portion 23b extending obliquely with respect to the lower portion 23a so as to face diagonally upward in the forward direction, and has a substantially laterally-shaped vertical cross section as a whole. It is configured as follows.

The console box 1 further includes a USB socket 10, an in-vehicle lighting device 5, and an open / close sensor (not shown). The USB socket 10 is arranged so as to be embedded in an upper portion 23b of the front surface 23 of the storage portion 21 so that the connection port (USB port) 10a faces diagonally upward rearward. The in-vehicle lighting device 5 is provided on the inner surface 31 of the lid 3, and is attached to the front portion of the recess 32 in particular in the example shown in FIG. When the lid 3 is in the open position, the vehicle-mounted lighting device 5 simultaneously irradiates the bottom surface 22 of the storage portion 21 and the USB port 10a with two light rays. The open / close sensor detects the open / closed state of the lid 3, and is configured to automatically turn on / off the vehicle-mounted lighting device 5 according to the open / closed state of the lid 3.

With reference to FIGS. 3 and 4, the in-vehicle lighting device 5 includes an LED 50 as a light source means, an optical element 6 (optical means) for guiding the light 51 emitted from the LED 50 in a predetermined direction, and the LED 50 and the light 51. It includes a case (not shown) for accommodating and holding the optical element 6. On the incident side of the optical element 6, a prism array 61 for dividing the light 51 emitted from the LED 50 to generate the first divided light flux 52 and the second divided light flux 53 is formed. The prism array 61 is configured by arranging a plurality of prisms 62 extending in the vertical direction D1 in parallel with the horizontal direction (predetermined direction) D2, and each prism 62 has a first prism surface 62a and a second prism surface 62b. It has an isosceles right triangle shape. The pitch P of the prisms 62 is set to, for example, 50 μm, and the angle θ of the apex angle 62c of each prism 62 is set to, for example, 130 °.

On the exit side of the optical element 6, the first divided light flux 52 and the second divided light flux 53 generated by the prism array 61 are placed in two different irradiated areas (that is, the bottom surface 22 of the storage portion 21 and the USB port). A lens portion 63 (lens means) for refracting toward 10a) is formed. The lens portion 63 has a substantially dome shape as a whole, and has a substantially quadrilateral first lens portion 64 and a second lens portion 65 arranged side by side in the lateral direction D2, and the radius of curvature of the first lens portion 64 is It is set larger than the radius of curvature of the second lens portion 65.

The vehicle-mounted lighting device 5 configured in this way is attached to the lid 3 so that its lateral direction D2 coincides with the front-rear direction (FIG. 1) of the console box 1.

In such a configuration, the light 51 emitted from the LED 50 is divided into left and right in the lateral direction D2 by the prism array 61 according to Snell's law, and is refracted into the first divided light flux 52 toward the first lens portion 64 and the second divided light flux 52. It is a second divided light flux 53 toward the lens unit 65. The first divided light flux 52 and the second divided light beam 53 intersect each other in the optical element 6 and are refracted. Then, the light of the first divided light flux 52 is refracted by the first lens unit 64 and irradiated to the upper portion 23a (first region) of the front surface 23 of the storage unit 21 to illuminate the USB port 10a, and the second divided light beam 52 is used. The light of the luminous flux 53 is refracted by the second lens portion 65 and irradiated to the bottom surface 22 (second region) of the storage portion 21.

Here, since the radius of curvature of the first lens unit 64 is set to be relatively large, the refraction of light by the first lens unit 64 is also relatively small, and the first divided light beam emitted from the first lens unit 64 is emitted. The spreading angle of 52 is also relatively small. On the other hand, the radius of curvature of the second lens unit 65 is set smaller than the radius of curvature of the first lens unit 64, and the second divided light beam 53 emitted from the second lens unit 65 is once focused at the focal point. After that, it spreads at a spread angle larger than that of the first split light beam 52, and can irradiate a wider area. That is, the first divided light flux 52 has a narrower illumination range than the second divided light flux 53 but has a brighter illuminance, and the second divided light flux 53 has a wider illumination range than the first divided light beam 52 but has a higher illuminance. Get dark. Therefore, by irradiating the USB port 10a with the light of the first divided light beam 52, the USB port 10a can be illuminated brightly in a spot manner, and the position of the USB port 10a can be immediately and easily recognized by the user. it can. Further, by irradiating the bottom surface 22 of the storage unit 21 with the light of the second divided light flux 53, the bottom surface 22 of the storage unit 21 can be illuminated as a whole. The first lens unit 64 is not limited to a curved surface, and may be a flat surface. In the case of the flat first lens unit 64, the radius of curvature is infinite.

Further, in the present embodiment, since the mounting location of the in-vehicle lighting device 5 is the front portion of the recess 32 provided on the inner surface 31 of the lid 3, unless the inside of the recess 32 is intentionally looked into. The user cannot see the in-vehicle lighting device 5, and the design of the console box 1 can be enhanced.

As described above, in the present embodiment, two light rays (divided light fluxes) having different optical paths are generated from the light from a single light source means (LED50), and two regions separated from each other by these two light rays. It is not necessary to provide a plurality of lighting devices (or light source means) corresponding to a plurality of areas because the lights can be illuminated at the same time. That is, the number of parts can be reduced as compared with the case where a plurality of lighting devices are arranged, and the wiring when installing the lighting devices can be simplified.

Here, it is preferable to use an LED 50 having a relatively narrow light distribution angle. For example, as shown in FIG. 5A, when the LED 50A having a relatively wide light distribution angle is used, the light 51A emitted from the LED 50A is refracted more outward by the prism array 61 in the lateral direction D2. Therefore, the dimensions of the optical element 6 in the lateral D2 direction become bulky. On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 5B, by using the LED 50 having a narrower light distribution angle, the refraction of the prism array 61 to the outside in the lateral direction D2 can be reduced, so that the dimensions of the optical element 6 in the lateral direction D2 Can be made compact, and by extension, the entire in-vehicle lighting device 5 can be made compact. The suitable light distribution angle of the LED 50 depends on the angle θ of the apex angle 62c of the prism 62. For example, when the angle θ of the apex angle 62c is 130 °, the light distribution angle is preferably 30 ° or less. The light distribution angle referred to here is represented by a half-value angle (an angle at which the light intensity is halved when the central light intensity is 1).

[Second Embodiment]
Next, the vehicle storage box according to the second embodiment of the present invention will be described. In the present embodiment, a glove box provided on the passenger seat side of the instrument panel will be described as an example of a vehicle storage box. The members substantially the same as those in the first embodiment are designated by the same reference numbers, and detailed description thereof will be omitted.

With reference to FIG. 6, the illustrated glove box 7 includes an outer case 71 attached to the opening of the instrument panel 8 and a storage box 72 attached to the outer case 71. The outer case 71 has a substantially box shape having an opening on the rear surface side, and the storage box 72 is attached to the inside of the outer case 71 so as to be openable and closable with respect to the outer case 71. The storage box 72 has a storage portion 73 having an open upper surface, and the lower portion of the storage box 72 is pivotally supported by a support shaft (not shown) projecting from the outer case 71. The upper opening of the storage box 72 can be opened and closed by rotating the storage box 72 around the support shaft between a closed position (not shown) and an open position shown in FIG. The inner surface of the storage portion 73 has a bottom surface 73a, a pair of left and right side surfaces 73b and 73c, a front surface 73d, and a rear surface 73e. When the storage box 72 is fully opened as shown in FIG. 6, the storage portion 73 opens diagonally upward rearward, and the rear surface 73e tilts diagonally upward rearward, and the storage box 72 is closed. The upper surface opening of the storage portion 73 is closed by the outer case 71.

The glove box 7 further includes a USB socket 10, an open / close sensor (not shown), and an in-vehicle lighting device 5. The USB socket 10 is arranged so as to be embedded in one side surface 73b of the storage portion 73 so that the connection port (USB port) 10a faces the storage portion 73. The open / close sensor detects the open / closed state of the storage box 72, and the in-vehicle lighting device 5 is automatically turned ON / OFF according to the open / closed state of the storage box 72. The in-vehicle lighting device 5 has substantially the same configuration as that in the first embodiment, is attached to the inner upper surface 71a of the outer case 71, and when the storage box 72 is in the open state shown in FIG. The rear surface 73e of the storage unit 73 and the USB port 10a are simultaneously irradiated with the light.

That is, the light of the first divided light flux 52 (see FIG. 3) from the optical element 6 shown in FIG. 3 irradiates the side surface 73b (first region) of the storage portion 72 to illuminate the USB port 10a, and the second division. The light of the luminous flux 53 illuminates the rear surface (second region) of the storage portion 73. The in-vehicle lighting device 5 is attached to the outer case 71 in a predetermined direction so that its lateral direction D2 coincides with the left-right direction of the glove box 7.

As described above, also in the present embodiment, by irradiating the USB port 10a which is the first region with the light of the first divided light flux 52, the USB port 10a can be brightly illuminated in a spot manner, and the USB port 10a can be illuminated. The position of the can be immediately recognized by the user. Further, by irradiating the rear surface 73e of the storage portion 73, which is the second region, with the light of the second divided light flux 53, the inside of the storage portion 73 can be illuminated as a whole. Therefore, a single lighting device can illuminate a plurality of locations in the storage unit at a time, and the number of parts can be reduced as compared with the case where a plurality of lighting devices are arranged, and when the lighting device is installed. Wiring can be simplified.

[Third Embodiment]
Next, an in-vehicle lighting device according to a third embodiment of the present invention and a center console provided with the in-vehicle lighting device will be described. The same reference numbers as those in the first or second embodiment described above will be assigned, and detailed description thereof will be omitted.

With reference to FIGS. 7 and 8, the center console 9 is installed between the driver's seat and the passenger seat in the vehicle, and includes an operation panel 91, a shift lever 92, and a console box 101. It is composed of. The operation panel 91 is configured so that its operation surface faces diagonally upward and backward, and the operation surface is provided with various buttons and display screens (not shown) for operating an air conditioner, an audio device, or the like.

Similar to the console box 1 in the first embodiment described above, the console box 101 includes a box main body 2, a lid body 3, and a hinge portion 4 for connecting the box main body 2 and the lid body 3, and is a storage unit. The upper opening of 21 is configured to be opened and closed by the lid 3.

The console box 101 further includes an in-vehicle lighting device 105 and an open / close sensor (not shown). The in-vehicle lighting device 105 is provided on the inner surface 31 of the lid 3, and when the lid 3 is in the open position shown in FIG. 8, the bottom surface 22 of the storage portion 21 and the operation panel 91 are simultaneously illuminated by two light rays. To do. The open / close sensor detects the open / closed state of the lid 3, and is configured to automatically turn on / off the in-vehicle lighting device 105 according to the open / closed state of the lid 3.

With reference to FIGS. 9 and 10, the in-vehicle lighting device 105 includes an LED 50 as a light source means and an optical element 106 (optical means) for guiding the light 51 emitted from the LED 50 in a predetermined direction. There is. The above-mentioned prism array 61 is formed on the incident side of the optical element 106, and the first divided light flux 52 and the second divided light flux 53 from the light 51 emitted from the LED 50 by the prism array 61 intersect with each other. Will be generated.

On the exit side of the optical element 106, the first divided light flux 52 and the second divided light beam 53 generated by the prism array 61 are placed on two different irradiated parts (that is, the bottom surface 22 of the storage part 21 and the operation panel). A lens portion 163 (lens means) for refracting toward 91) is formed. The lens portion 163 has a substantially hemispherical shape as a whole, and has the same radius of curvature on both sides in the lateral direction D2.

In such a configuration, the light 51 emitted from the LED 50 is refracted by the prism array 61 in the lateral direction D2 according to Snell's law, and is divided into a first divided light flux 52 and a second divided light flux 53. .. The first divided light flux 52 and the second divided light beam 53 intersect each other in the optical element 6 and are refracted. Then, the light of the first divided light beam 52 is refracted by the lens unit 163 and irradiated to the bottom surface 22 (first region) of the storage unit 21, and the light of the second divided light flux 53 is also refracted by the lens unit 163. The operation panel 91 (second region) is irradiated with light.

As described above, also in this embodiment, the light from the single LED 50 included in the in-vehicle lighting device 105 can simultaneously illuminate the bottom surface 22 of the storage unit 21 and the operation panel 91, which are two separate regions. .. Further, since the radius of curvature of the lens unit 163 is the same on both sides in the lateral direction D2, the first divided light flux 52 and the second divided light flux 53 emitted from the lens unit 163 have equal spreading angles. As a result, both the bottom surface 22 of the storage unit 21 and the operation panel 91 can be illuminated over a wide range.

[Fourth Embodiment]
Next, the vehicle storage box according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention will be described. The same reference numbers as those in the first to third embodiments described above are assigned, and detailed description thereof will be omitted. Here, a glove box provided on the passenger seat side of the instrument panel as a storage box for a vehicle will be described as an example.

With reference to FIG. 11, the illustrated glove box 207 includes the above-mentioned outer case 71 and storage box 72, and also includes an in-vehicle lighting device 105 attached to the inner upper surface 71a of the outer case 71. The in-vehicle lighting device 105 has substantially the same configuration as that in the third embodiment described above, and when the storage box 72 is in the open state shown in FIG. 11, the rear surface 73e of the storage unit 73 is subjected to two light rays. And the seat 211 of the passenger seat 210 are irradiated at the same time.

That is, the light of the first divided light beam 52 emitted from the vehicle-mounted lighting device 105 is applied to the inner surface (rear surface 73e (first region)) of the storage portion 73, and the light of the second divided light flux 53 is the passenger seat 210. (Second region) is irradiated.

As described above, also in this embodiment, the light from the single LED 50 included in the lighting device 105 can simultaneously illuminate the rear surface 73e of the storage unit 73 and the passenger seat 210, which are two separate regions.

[Fifth Embodiment]
Next, the vehicle cup holder according to the fifth embodiment of the present invention will be described. The same reference numbers are assigned to those substantially the same as those in the first to fourth embodiments described above, and detailed description thereof will be omitted.

With reference to FIGS. 12 and 13, the illustrated vehicle cup holder 300 is for holding a beverage container (not shown), and is used by being attached to, for example, an instrument panel or the like. The vehicle cup holder 300 includes a holder main body 301 having a storage portion 302 for accommodating a beverage container, and an in-vehicle lighting device 105 attached to the holder main body 301. The holder main body 301 has a double shape in which two beverage containers can be arranged side by side and can be simultaneously accommodated, and the accommodating portion 302 has an opening at the upper part into which the beverage container can be inserted, and can accommodate the beverage container. A bottom surface 303 for supporting from below and a side surface 304 rising from the peripheral edge of the bottom surface 303 are provided. Further, the accommodating portion 302 has two continuous regions 302a and 302b corresponding to each beverage container, and is configured to have a substantially snowball-shaped cross section.

The in-vehicle lighting device 105 has substantially the same configuration as that in the third and fourth embodiments described above, is attached to the side surface 304 of the accommodating portion 302 of the holder main body 301, and is attached to the side surface 304 of the accommodating portion 302 by two light rays. The regions 302a and 302b can be irradiated at the same time. Here, in the vehicle-mounted lighting device 105, the horizontal direction D2 (see FIGS. 9 and 10) coincides with the horizontal direction of the holder main body 301, and the vertical direction D1 is inclined with respect to the vertical direction in the horizontal direction. It is attached above the central portion of the side surface 304 in the above.

As a result, the light of the first divided light beam 52 emitted from the vehicle-mounted lighting device 105 is applied to one region 302a of the accommodating portion 302, and the light of the second divided light flux 53 is emitted from the other region 302b of the accommodating portion 302. Is irradiated to.

As described above, also in this embodiment, the light from the single LED 50 included in the vehicle-mounted lighting device 105 can simultaneously illuminate the two separated regions 302a and 302b.

[Sixth Embodiment]
Next, the vehicle-mounted lighting device according to the sixth embodiment of the present invention will be described. The same reference numbers are assigned to those substantially the same as those in the above-described first to fifth embodiments, and detailed description thereof will be omitted.

With reference to FIG. 14, the illustrated in-vehicle lighting device 105 has substantially the same configuration as that in the third to fifth embodiments described above, and is used as an in-vehicle lighting lamp installed on the ceiling 401 of the automobile 400. , Here it is especially used as a room lamp. The in-vehicle lighting device 105 is provided in front of the rear seat 403 so that the front seat side F and the rear seat side R can be simultaneously irradiated with two light rays. Here, the vehicle-mounted lighting device 105 is attached so that the lateral direction D2 (see FIGS. 9 and 10) coincides with the front-rear direction of the vehicle body.

As a result, the light of the first divided light beam 52 emitted from the vehicle-mounted lighting device 105 is applied to the front seat side F, and the light of the second divided light beam 53 is applied to the rear seat side R. As described above, also in this embodiment, the light from a single LED 50 included in the vehicle-mounted lighting device 105 can simultaneously illuminate two separate regions (front seat side region and rear seat side region).

Although the in-vehicle lighting device according to the embodiment of the present invention has been described above with reference to the accompanying drawings, the present invention is not limited to such an embodiment and various modifications or modifications are made without departing from the scope of the present invention. Is possible.

For example, in the above embodiment, the lens means is composed of a substantially dome-shaped lens portion 63 (163), but the shape of the lens portion 63 is, for example, a cylindrical shape having a convex lens-shaped end surface 63a as shown in FIG. It may be present, or may be composed of a Fresnel lens instead of the lens portion 63. Further, in the above embodiment, a convex lens is used as the lens means, but a concave lens may be used instead. Further, the pitch P of the prism 62 is not limited to 50 μm, and may be, for example, 15 μm to 500 μm. This is because if the pitch P of the prism 62 is smaller than 15 μm, the problem of diffraction occurs and the illuminance is significantly reduced, and if it exceeds 500 μm, the striped pattern of the prism may be visually recognized. The angle θ of the apex angle 62c of the prism 62 is not limited to 130 °, and may be 150 ° or less, preferably 85 ° to 130 °. This is because if it exceeds 150 °, the boundary between the two regions may not be clear.

Here, referring to FIG. 17, when the axis G passes through the incident point P of light on the first prism surface 62a or the second prism surface 62b and is parallel to the bisector C at the apex angle 62c, the apex is taken. Depending on the angle θ of the angle 62c, the refraction direction D3 of the light incident from the first prism surface 62a or the second prism surface 62b is inside (above angle 62c side) or outside (opposite side of the apex angle 62c) of the axis G. It will be decided.

Then, when the incident angle of light on the first prism surface 62a (or the second prism surface 62b) is α, the refraction angle is β, the refractive index of air is n1, and the refractive index of the prism 62 is n2, according to Snell's law. The following equation 1 is obtained.
n1sinα = n2sinβ ・ ・ Equation 1

Further, the inclination angle γ of the light refraction direction D3 with respect to the axis G is obtained by the following equation 2.
γ = 90 °-(β + θ / 2) ・ ・ Equation 2
Therefore, the following equation 3 can be obtained from the equations 1 and 2.
γ = 90 ° --asin ((n1 / n2) sinα) -θ / 2 ・ ・ Equation 3
When the value of the tilt angle γ is 0 ° to 90 ° (0 ° <γ <90 °), the refraction direction D3 of the light is inside the axis G.

FIG. 18 shows the relationship between the incident angle α, the apex angle θ, and the tilt angle γ obtained from Equation 3 when the prism 62 is made of acrylic resin (n2 = 1.49). As can be understood from FIG. 18, when the angle θ of the apex angle 62c is 90 ° or less, all the light incident from the first prism surface 62a (or the second prism surface 62b) is all regardless of the incident angle α. It can be seen that it is refracted inward and the boundary between the two divided light beams can be made clear. Further, when the angle θ of the apex angle 62c is 130 °, the incident angle α is 40 ° or less, and when the angle θ of the apex angle 62c is 150 °, the incident angle α is 23 ° or less, the first prism. It can be seen that most of the light incident from the surface 62a (or the second prism surface 62b) is refracted inward and the boundary between the two divided light beams can be made clear. For example, when the angle θ of the apex angle 62c is 130 °, a light source means that emits a lot of light such that the incident angle α is 40 ° or less may be used, and the angle θ of the apex angle 62c is 150 °. In the case of, it can be seen that a light source means that emits a lot of light having an incident angle α of 23 ° or less may be used.

Considering this point, when the inclination angle of light with respect to the bisector C of the apex angle 62c is d, referring to FIG. 17, the incident angle α is expressed by the following equation 4 according to the triangle theorem.
α = 90 ° -θ / 2 + d ・ ・ Equation 4
Therefore, when Equation 4 is applied to Equation 3, the following Equation 5 is obtained.
γ = 90 ° --asin ((n1 / n2) sin (90 ° -θ / 2 + d))-θ / 2 ・ ・ Equation 5
Then, as described above, when 0 ° <γ <90 °, the refraction direction D3 of the light is inside the axis G, so that the light is refracted inward when the following equation 6 is satisfied.
0 ° <90 °-asin ((n1 / n2) sin (90 ° -θ / 2 + d))-θ / 2 <90 ° ・ ・ Equation 6

When the light distribution angle of the light source means is a multiple (d × 2) of the tilt angle d of the light, most of the light emitted from the light source means is light having a tilt angle d or less. Therefore, the light source means satisfying the following equation 7 is used. By using it, the boundary between the two divided light sources can be clarified.
0 ° <90 °-asin ((n1 / n2) sin (90 ° -θ / 2 + D / 2))-θ / 2 <90 ° ・ ・ Equation 7
Note that D is the light distribution angle of the light source means.

Therefore, the angle θ of the apex angle 62c of the prism 62 is 150 ° or less, and it is preferable to use a light source means having a light distribution angle D satisfying the above equation 7. For example, when the angle θ of the apex angle 62c is 130 °, the light distribution angle D of the light source means is 30 ° or less, and when the angle θ of the apex angle 62c is 150 °, the light distribution angle of the light source means is 16 °. By doing the following, most of the light incident from the first prism surface 62a (or the second prism surface 62b) is refracted inward. Further, when the angle θ of the apex angle 62c of the prism 62 is 90 ° or less, the light incident from the first prism surface 62a (or the second prism surface 62b) is emitted regardless of the light distribution angle D of the light source means. All refract inward.

In the sixth embodiment, the in-vehicle lighting device 105 is used as a room lamp so that the front seat side F and the rear seat side R can be simultaneously irradiated with two light rays, which can be used as a map lamp. It may be applied. In this case, for example, the mounting location of the vehicle-mounted lighting device 105 is set between the driver's seat and the passenger seat in front of the vehicle so that the driver's seat side and the passenger's seat side can be simultaneously irradiated with two light rays from the vehicle-mounted lighting device 105. The space may be set so that the lateral direction D2 (see FIGS. 10 and 11) of the vehicle-mounted lighting device 105 is aligned with the left-right direction of the vehicle body.

Further, in the third to sixth embodiments described above, the vehicle-mounted lighting device 105 shown in FIG. 9 is used, but the vehicle-mounted lighting device 5 shown in FIG. 3 may be used instead. That is, by using the in-vehicle lighting device 5, in the third embodiment, either the inner surface of the storage unit 21 or the operation panel 91 can be illuminated over a wide range, and the other can be illuminated in a spot manner. In the fourth embodiment, either the inner surface of the storage unit 73 or the passenger seat 210 can be illuminated over a wide area, and the other can be illuminated in a spot manner. Also in the fifth and sixth embodiments, either one of the vehicle cup holder 300 or the two regions in the vehicle can be illuminated over a wide range, and the other can be illuminated in a spot manner.

Further, in each of the above embodiments, the light source means is composed of a bullet-shaped LED having a relatively small light distribution angle, but the light source means is not limited to such a configuration, and for example, the LED as a light source and the light from the LED are converged. It may be configured in combination with a condenser lens. In such a case, a surface mount type LED having a relatively wide light distribution angle can be used as a light source, and the light distribution angle can be narrowed by a condenser lens.

As a modification of the optical element 6 shown in FIG. 4, as shown in FIG. 19, a groove portion (concave portion) G1 extending along the boundary line between the first lens portion 64 and the second lens portion 65 may be provided. By providing the groove portion G1 in this way, it is possible to prevent unnecessary streaks of light from appearing between the irradiation region of the first divided light flux 52 and the irradiation region of the second divided light flux 53. That is, when the optical element 6 shown in FIG. 4 is used, the first divided light flux 52 is affected by the boundary portion (curvature variation portion) between the first lens portion 64 and the second lens portion 65. Unnecessary streaks of light may appear between the irradiation region and the irradiation region of the second divided light flux 53, but such a phenomenon can be prevented by providing the groove G1 as shown in FIG. be able to. Similarly, in the optical element 106 shown in FIG. 9, a groove portion extending along the boundary line between the first lens portion 164 and the second lens portion 165 may be provided.

1 Console box 2 Box body 3 Lid body 5,105 In-vehicle lighting device 6 Optical element 9 Center console 10 USB socket 21 Storage unit 22 Bottom surface 50 LED (light source means)
52 First divided luminous flux 53 Second divided luminous flux 64 First lens unit 65 Second lens unit 61 Prism array

Claims (4)

The optical means includes a light source means and an optical means, and the optical means includes a prism array provided on the incident side and a lens means provided on the exit side.
The lens means has a first lens portion and a second lens portion that is aligned with the first lens portion in a predetermined direction.
The prism array refracts the light emitted from the light source means to generate a first divided light flux toward the first lens portion and a second divided light flux toward the second lens portion, and the first The divided luminous flux of 1 and the second divided luminous flux intersect in the optical element, and
The first split beam before Symbol illuminates the first region is emitted from the first lens portion, different from the second split beam is the first region is emitted from the second lens unit first An in-vehicle lighting device characterized by irradiating two areas. The vehicle-mounted lighting device according to claim 1, which is provided on the lid of the vehicle storage box, further comprising a box body having a storage portion and a USB socket having a USB port. , The lid body can open and close the opening of the storage portion.
The storage portion has a bottom surface and a side surface that rises from the bottom surface.
The USB socket is arranged on the side surface of the storage unit.
An in-vehicle lighting device characterized in that the USB port is irradiated with the first divided light beam and the bottom surface of the storage portion is irradiated with the second divided light beam. The vehicle-mounted lighting device according to claim 1, which is attached to the inside of an outer case included in the vehicle storage box. The vehicle storage box is attached to the outer case so as to be openable and closable with respect to the outer case. An attached storage box and a USB socket having a USB port are further provided, the storage box has a storage portion, and the USB socket is arranged on the side surface of the storage portion.
An in-vehicle lighting device characterized in that the USB port is irradiated with the first divided light beam and at the same time the rear surface of the storage portion is irradiated with the second divided light beam. A lighting device for mounting a car that is provided in the lid of the console box provided in the center console,
The optical means includes a light source means and an optical means, and the optical means includes a prism array provided on the incident side and a lens means provided on the exit side.
The prism array is generated by refracting the light emitted from the light source means and intersecting the first divided light flux and the second divided light beam with each other.
The lens means has a first lens portion and a second lens portion, and the first divided light flux is emitted from the first lens portion to irradiate the first region, and the second The divided luminous flux is emitted from the second lens portion to irradiate the second region.
The first divided light beam illuminates the storage portion of the console box as the first region, and the second divided light beam illuminates the operation panel of the center console as the second region, and the lid is formed. An in-vehicle lighting device characterized in that the opening of the storage portion can be opened and closed.