JP7261575B2 - vehicle lighting system - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to vehicle lighting systems.

In the vehicle door opening/closing device described in Patent Literature 1 below, a first light-emitting portion and a second light-emitting portion are provided inside a door handle. These first light emitting section and second light emitting section each have a light source and a diffusion member. The light emitted by the light source of the first light emitting portion illuminates the space between the door handle and the door panel. This allows the user to recognize the position of the door handle. Also, the light emitted by the light source of the second light emitting portion is emitted from the door handle toward the lower side of the vehicle. Thereby, for example, the feet of the user can be illuminated. As described above, convenience for the user can be improved.

JP-A-2006-9352

By the way, in recent years, there is a so-called flush handle as a door handle. With this flush handle, when the vehicle door does not need to be opened and closed, the door handle is stored in the vehicle door, and when the vehicle door needs to be opened and closed, the door handle is moved outward in the vehicle width direction with respect to the vehicle door. It is arranged in the operating position protruded to the side.

When the lighting structure as described above is applied to such a flush handle, the door handle is stored inside the vehicle door as described above. It is desirable to make the handle thin.

Further, in the flash handle, since the position of the door handle moves between the retracted position and the operating position, the irradiation angle of the light emitted from the door handle changes. For this reason, for example, it becomes difficult for the user to recognize the position of the door handle, and there is a possibility that convenience for the user will decrease.

In consideration of the above facts, the present invention provides a vehicle lighting system capable of ensuring convenience while saving space for the lighting unit.

One or more embodiments of the present invention are stored in a handle housing portion of a vehicle door, and have a storage position stored in the handle housing portion and an operation position projected outward in the vehicle width direction with respect to the vehicle door. a door handle configured to be movable between a door handle, a handle driving unit that drives the door handle to move from a retracted position to an operating position, a light source, and a light source provided in the door handle and illuminated by the light source a light guide member that guides light; a control unit that drives the handle driving unit and causes the light source to emit light; a communication unit that is connected to a portable device carried by a user through communication; a detection unit for detecting an approach of a person to the vehicle, wherein the light guide member includes a first light guide unit for guiding light emitted by the light source to the side of the handle accommodating unit; a second light guide section that guides light toward the vehicle lower side, wherein the control section causes the light source to emit light when the mobile device is recognized based on output information from the communication section ; In the vehicle lighting system , the handle drive unit is driven to move the door handle from the storage position to the operation position when the detection unit detects the approach of the user after the light source emits light .

In one or more embodiments of the present invention, the first light guide part is formed in a substantially hemispherical shape on the outer peripheral surface of the rear end part of the light guide member, and directs the light emitted by the light source to the door. The second light guide portion is guided toward the handle accommodating portion side on the rear side of the steering wheel and the inner side in the vehicle width direction, and the second light guide portion is configured as an inclined surface that is inclined upward toward the rear side as viewed from the outer side in the vehicle width direction, In the vehicle lighting system , light emitted by a light source is led from the rear side of the door handle to the bottom side of the vehicle .

In one or more embodiments of the present invention, the door handle has a grip portion that is gripped by a user, and the grip portion has a transmission portion that transmits light that has passed through the light guide member. It is a vehicle lighting system provided.

In one or more embodiments of the present invention, the door handle extends in the vehicle front-rear direction, and the lighting unit is arranged at a front end side portion or a rear end side portion of the door handle. A vehicle lighting system.

One or more embodiments of the present invention is a lighting system for a vehicle, wherein the door handle extends in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle, and the lighting unit is arranged in a longitudinally intermediate portion of the door handle. .

In one or more embodiments of the present invention, the vehicle door is provided with a base member that rotatably supports the door handle, and the light source is provided on the base member. System.

According to one or more embodiments of the present invention, convenience can be ensured while saving space for the illumination unit.

1 is a side view showing a vehicle equipped with a vehicle lighting system according to an embodiment; FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram showing the configuration of a vehicle lighting system according to an embodiment; FIG. (A) is a plan view of the door handle shown in FIG. 1 as seen from above, and (B) is a side view of the door handle shown in (A) as seen from outside in the vehicle width direction. 3(A) is a perspective view from above showing the inside of the door handle shown in FIG. 3(A), and (B) is a vehicle width direction showing the inside of the door handle shown in FIG. 3(B); It is a perspective view seen from the outside, and (C) is an explanatory view seen from the outside in the vehicle width direction for explaining a state in which the handle accommodating portion is illuminated when the door handle is arranged at the retracted position. (A) is a perspective view from above showing a state in which the door handle is arranged from the retracted position to the operating position in FIG. 4 (A), and (B) is the interior of the door handle shown in (A). is a perspective view seen from the outside in the vehicle width direction showing the .

A vehicle lighting system S according to the present embodiment will be described below with reference to the drawings. As shown in FIG. 1, a vehicle lighting system S is installed in a vehicle (automobile) V and configured as a system for illuminating a door handle 20 of a side door 60 as a "vehicle door" in the vehicle V. . In addition, the vehicle lighting system S is connected to a portable device 50 (see FIG. 2) carried by the user (driver) by wireless communication, and locks the side door 60 when the user approaches the vehicle V. It also functions as a so-called smart entry system that locks or unlocks the door. An arrow UP, an arrow FR, and an arrow OUT indicated as appropriate in the drawings indicate the vehicle upper side, the vehicle front side, and the vehicle width direction outer side of the vehicle V, respectively. In the following description, when the vertical direction, the front-rear direction, and the vehicle width direction are used for description, the vertical direction, the front-rear direction, and the vehicle width direction of the vehicle V are indicated unless otherwise specified.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the vehicle lighting system S includes a communication unit 10, a detection unit 12, a door handle 20, an illumination unit 30 provided on the door handle 20, a control unit 40, is composed of Each configuration of the vehicle lighting system S will be described below.

(Regarding communication unit 10)
The communication unit 10 is connected by wireless communication to a mobile device 50 carried by a user, and is electrically connected to a control unit 40 which will be described later. Then, when the user carrying the mobile device 50 approaches the vehicle V by a predetermined distance, the communication unit 10 requests the mobile device 50 to transmit the authentication code and receives the authentication code from the mobile device 50 . The communication unit 10 then outputs the received authentication code to the control unit 40, which will be described later, as an output result.

(Regarding the detection unit 12)
The detection unit 12 is provided on the side door 60 or the door handle 20, which will be described later, and is electrically connected to the control unit 40, which will be described later. The detection unit 12 is configured by a proximity sensor such as an ultrasonic sensor, a capacitance sensor, an infrared sensor, etc., and detects the approach of the user carrying the portable device 50 to the vehicle V. . Then, when it is detected that the user has approached the vehicle V within a specific distance (a distance shorter than the predetermined distance), a detection signal is output to the control unit 40 .

(Regarding door handle 20)
As shown in FIGS. 3A and 3B, the door handle 20 is formed in the shape of a hollow rectangular parallelepiped block whose longitudinal direction is the front-rear direction. Specifically, the door handle 20 has a support portion 20A forming a front end portion of the door handle 20 and a grip portion 20B extending rearward from the support portion 20A. Further, the door handle 20 is arranged in a handle accommodating portion 62 formed in a side door 60 of the vehicle V, and the handle accommodating portion 62 is formed in a concave shape that opens outward in the vehicle width direction. Furthermore, the door handle 20 is rotatably supported by a base member 22 provided on the side door 60 . Specifically, the support portion 20A of the door handle 20 is rotatably connected to the base member 22 via a rotation shaft 24 whose axial direction is the vertical direction.

A handle driving portion 26 (see FIG. 2) is connected to the door handle 20. By driving the handle driving portion 26, the door handle 20 is moved to the retracted position shown in FIGS. and an operation position (the position shown in FIG. 5) rotated in one direction of the rotation direction (direction of arrow A in FIG. 3A).

At the retracted position of the door handle 20, the door handle 20 is retracted in the handle accommodating portion 62, and the outer surface 20C of the door handle 20 and the outer surface 60A of the side door 60 are substantially flush with each other. ing. Further, at the retracted position of the door handle 20, a slight gap G is formed between the outer peripheral portion of the door handle 20 and the opening of the handle accommodating portion 62 when viewed from the outside in the vehicle width direction. G is formed over the entire circumference of the door handle 20 . On the other hand, in the operation position of the door handle 20, the grip portion 20B of the door handle 20 projects outward in the vehicle width direction from the outer side surface 60A of the side door 60, forming a gap between the grip portion 20B and the side door 60. (See Fig. 5). As described above, the door handle 20 is configured as a so-called flush handle.

A proximity sensor (not shown) is provided inside the door handle 20 . Further, the side door 60 is provided with a locking device (not shown), and is configured to lock or unlock the side door 60 by the locking device. By inserting the user's hand into the gap between the grip portion 20B and the side door 60 with the door handle 20 arranged at the operating position, the proximity sensor of the door handle 20 is detected by the user's hand. The approach is detected, and the locked state of the locking device is released by the control unit 40, which will be described later. Further, in this state, the side door 60 is opened by further rotating the door handle 20 from the operating position to one side in the rotational direction.

(Regarding illumination unit 30)
As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5 , the illumination unit 30 is provided inside the door handle 20 and arranged on one longitudinal side (front end side) of the door handle 20 . Specifically, the illumination section 30 is arranged at the boundary between the support section 20A and the grip section 20B. The lighting section 30 includes a circuit board 32 , a light source 34 and a light guide member 36 .

The circuit board 32 is arranged with the front-rear direction as the board thickness direction, and is fixed to the door handle 20 via a light guide member 36 to be described later. Also, the circuit board 32 is electrically connected to a control unit 40 which will be described later.

The light source 34 is composed of an LED (light emitting diode) and mounted on the rear surface of the circuit board 32 . The light source 34 emits light by the control unit 40 to be described later, and the light source 34 irradiates the emitted light to the other side (rear side) of the door handle 20 in the longitudinal direction.

The light guide member 36 is made of a transparent resin material such as acrylic. The light guide member 36 is formed in a substantially elongated block shape along the longitudinal direction of the door handle 20 and fixed to the door handle 20 at a position not shown. The circuit board 32 described above is attached to the front end portion of the light guide member 36 , and the light guide member 36 protrudes rearward from the circuit board 32 .

A first light guide portion 36A is formed on the outer peripheral surface of the rear end portion of the light guide member 36, and the first light guide portion 36A is formed in a substantially hemispherical shape. The light emitted by the light source 34 is transmitted rearward through the light guide member 36, diffused from the first light guide portion 36A, and irradiated rearward and inward in the vehicle width direction ( See the dashed line extending from the first light guide portion 36A in FIG. 4A). That is, when the door handle 20 is in the retracted position, the light emitted from the first light guide portion 36A is configured to irradiate the handle accommodating portion 62 side of the side door 60 . The outer peripheral wall of the door handle 20 is formed with a transmission portion for transmitting the light emitted from the first light guide portion 36A. The light passes through the part and irradiates the outside of the door handle 20. - 特許庁

A second light guide portion 36B is formed at the lower end portion of the outer peripheral surface of the rear end portion of the light guide member 36 . The second light guide portion 36B is configured as an inclined surface that is inclined upward toward the rear side when viewed from the outside in the vehicle width direction. The light emitted by the light source 34 is transmitted rearward through the light guide member 36 and refracted downward in the second light guide portion 36B. That is, in the retracted position of the door handle 20, the light emitted from the second light guide portion 36B is configured to illuminate the inner lower portion of the handle accommodating portion 62 of the side door 60 (FIG. 4B). (see the one-dot chain line extending from the second light guide portion 36B). A transmission portion (not shown) is formed on the lower wall of the door handle 20 to transmit the light emitted from the second light guide portion 36B.

Further, in the operating position of the door handle 20, the second light guide portion 36B is positioned further outward in the vehicle width direction than the outer surface 60A of the side door 60 (see FIG. 5). As a result, at the operating position of the door handle 20, the light emitted from the second light guide portion 36B passes through the transmission portion of the door handle 20 and illuminates the ground GR (see FIG. 1). .

(Regarding the control unit 40)
The control unit 40 is electrically connected to the communication unit 10, the detection unit 12, the handle driving unit 26, and the illumination unit 30 described above. Based on the output signals from the communication unit 10 and the detection unit 12 , the control unit 40 drives and controls the steering wheel drive unit 26 and controls light emission of the light source 34 in the illumination unit 30 . Specifically, based on the output signal of the communication unit 10, the control unit 40 determines whether or not the authentication code of the mobile device 50 matches the registered regular code. Then, when the authentication code from the mobile device 50 matches the registered regular code, the light source 34 of the illumination section 30 is caused to emit light (turn on). Further, after the light source 34 is caused to emit light, the control unit 40 determines whether or not the user carrying the portable device 50 has approached the vehicle V within a specific distance based on the output signal from the detection unit 12. It's like When the user carrying the portable device 50 approaches the vehicle V within a specific distance, the handle drive unit 26 is driven to rotate the door handle 20 from the retracted position to the operating position. there is

(About actions and effects)
Next, the operation and effects of this embodiment will be described.

In the vehicle lighting system S configured as described above, the door handle 20 is arranged at the retracted position before the user (driver) gets into the vehicle V. As shown in FIG. Then, when the user carrying the portable device 50 approaches the vehicle V to board the vehicle V, the communication unit 10 and the portable device 50 are connected by wireless communication, and the communication unit 10 communicates with the portable device 50. An authentication code transmission request is made and the authentication code is received from the mobile device 50 . The communication unit 10 then outputs the received authentication code to the control unit 40 .

The control unit 40 determines whether or not the authentication code received from the communication unit 10 matches the registered regular code. Then, when the authentication code received from the communication unit 10 matches the registered regular code, the control unit 40 causes the light source 34 of the illumination unit 30 to emit light.

When the light source 34 of the illumination unit 30 emits light, the light emitted by the light source 34 is transmitted rearward through the light guide member 36 . Then, the light reaching the first light guide portion 36A is diffused by the first light guide portion 36A and radiated rearward and inward in the vehicle width direction in a plan view (the first light guide portion in FIG. 4A). See dash-dotted line extending from 36A). Therefore, the inside of the handle accommodating portion 62 of the side door 60 is illuminated. Further, the light reaching the second light guide portion 36B is refracted by the second light guide portion 36B and radiated downward (the dashed-dotted line extending from the second light guide portion 36B in FIG. 4B). ). Therefore, the lower portion inside the handle accommodating portion 62 of the side door 60 is illuminated. As a result, the gap G between the opening of the handle accommodating portion 62 and the outer peripheral portion of the door handle 20 is illuminated, and the user can visually recognize the outer shape of the door handle 20 (gray color in FIG. 4C). (see shaded area). Therefore, the user can recognize the position of the door handle 20 in the retracted position.

Then, when the user carrying the portable device 50 approaches the vehicle V further and the distance between the user and the vehicle V becomes equal to or less than a specific distance, the detection unit 12 detects the approach of the user to the vehicle V. It detects and outputs to the control unit 40 . The control section 40 drives the handle driving section 26 based on the output signal from the detection section 12 . As a result, the door handle 20 is rotated from the retracted position to the operating position by the handle driving portion 26 .

When the door handle 20 is rotated to the operating position, the door handle 20 (grip portion 20B) protrudes outward in the vehicle width direction from the side door 60, so that light emitted downward from the second light guide portion 36B The ground GR is illuminated (see the dashed line extending from the second light guide portion 36B in FIG. 5B). This illuminates the area around the user's feet. It should be noted that part of the light diffused by the first light guide portion 36A illuminates the handle accommodating portion 62 of the side door 60 even when the door handle 20 is in the operation position (the gray color in FIG. 5B is filled in). part). This allows the user to recognize the gap between the grip portion 20B of the door handle 20 and the side door 60. As shown in FIG.

When the user's hand is inserted into the gap between the grip portion 20B of the door handle 20 and the side door 60, the proximity sensor of the door handle 20 detects the approach of the user's hand. Thereby, the control unit 40 releases the locked state of the locking device. Further, in this state, when the user rotates the door handle 20 from the operating position to one side in the rotational direction, the side door 60 opens and the user can board the vehicle V. As shown in FIG.

As described above, in the vehicle lighting system S of the present embodiment, the door handle 20 has two positions: the storage position housed in the handle housing portion 62 and the operation position projected outward from the side door 60 in the vehicle width direction. , and is configured as a so-called flush handle. An illumination unit 30 is provided inside the door handle 20 , and the illumination unit 30 includes a single light source 34 and a single light guide member 36 . Further, the light guide member 36 includes a first light guide portion 36A that guides the light emitted by the light source 34 toward the handle accommodating portion 62, and a second light guide portion 36B that guides the light emitted by the light source 34 downward. and have Therefore, the interior of the handle accommodating portion 62 and the ground GR can be illuminated by the illumination portion 30 while saving the space of the illumination portion 30 .

Further, as described above, after causing the light source 34 of the lighting unit 30 to emit light, the control unit 40 drives the handle driving unit 26 to move the door handle 20 from the retracted position to the operating position. Therefore, when the door handle 20 moves from the retracted position to the operating position, the user is first made to recognize the position of the door handle 20 in the retracted position, and then the grip portion 20B of the door handle 20 and the side of the door handle 20 are moved. The gap position between the door 60 can be recognized. In addition, at the operating position of the door handle 20, the area around the user's feet can be illuminated. Therefore, convenience for the user can be ensured for the door handle 20 that is moved from the retracted position to the operating position.
As described above, it is possible to secure the convenience for the user while saving the space of the illumination unit 30 .

Further, in the present embodiment, when the control unit 40 recognizes the mobile device 50 based on the output information from the communication unit 10, the light source 34 of the illumination unit 30 is caused to emit light. After the light source 34 emits light, when the control unit 40 detects the approach of the user to the vehicle V by the detection unit 12, the handle driving unit 26 is driven to move the door handle 20 from the retracted position to the operating position. be done. Therefore, the user approaching the vehicle V can be made to first recognize the position of the door handle 20 in the retracted position, and when the distance between the vehicle V and the user becomes relatively short, The user's feet can be illuminated by projecting the door handle 20 to the operating position. Therefore, convenience for the user can be effectively ensured.

Further, the door handle 20 extends in the front-rear direction, and the illumination section 30 is arranged at the front end side portion of the door handle 20 . Accordingly, by irradiating the light emitted from the light source 34 to the other longitudinal direction side (rear side) of the door handle 20, the side door 60 is illuminated by the first light guide portion 36A and the second light guide portion 36B of the light guide member 36. By efficiently illuminating the entire handle accommodating portion 62, the door handle 20 in the retracted position can be visually recognized.

In the present embodiment, in order to improve convenience for the user, a lens 28 (a two-dot chain line in FIG. ) may be provided. In this case, the lens 28 is illuminated by the light leaked rearward from the rear end portion of the light guide member 36 . This allows the user to easily recognize the positions of the grip portion 20B at the retracted position and the operating position.

Further, in the present embodiment, the lighting unit 30 is arranged at the front end side portion of the door handle 20, but the lighting unit 30 may be arranged at the longitudinal middle portion or the rear end side portion of the door handle 20. good. In this case, the shape of the light guide member 36, the positions of the first light guide portion 36A and the second light guide portion 36B, and the position of the light source 34 may be changed as appropriate. By arranging the illumination unit 30 in the longitudinally intermediate portion or the rear end portion of the door handle 20, the light is emitted downward from the second light guide portion 36B of the light guide member 36 at the operating position of the door handle 20. It is possible to separate the light to the outside in the vehicle width direction with respect to the side door 60 . Therefore, the user's feet can be well illuminated.

Further, in the present embodiment, the lighting unit 30 is provided inside the door handle 20, but the light source 34 of the lighting unit 30 is provided in the base member 22, and the light guide member 36 is provided in the door handle 20. may be configured. Thereby, the space saving of the illumination part 30 can be achieved further. In this case, the shape of the light guide member 36 may be changed as appropriate.

Further, in the present embodiment, the detection unit 12 detects the approach of the user to the vehicle V, but the method of detecting the approach of the user to the vehicle V is not limited to this. For example, the proximity of the user to the vehicle V may be detected by measuring the distance between the mobile device 50 and the vehicle V based on the signal received from the mobile device 50 carried by the user.

10 communication unit 12 detection unit 20 door handle 20B grip unit 22 base member 26 handle driving unit 28 lens (transmission unit)
34 light source 36 light guide member 36A first light guide section 36B second light guide section 40 control section 50 portable device 60 side door (vehicle door)
62 steering wheel accommodation part S lighting system for vehicles

Claims (6)

a door handle housed in a handle housing portion of a vehicle door and configured to be movable between a storage position stored in the handle housing portion and an operating position protruding outward in the vehicle width direction with respect to the vehicle door; ,
a handle drive unit that is driven to move the door handle from the retracted position to the operating position;
an illumination unit including a light source and a light guide member provided on the door handle and guiding light emitted by the light source;
a control unit that drives the handle driving unit and causes the light source to emit light;
a communication unit connected by communication with a mobile device carried by a user;
a detection unit that detects the approach of the user to the vehicle;
with
The light guide member is
a first light guide section that guides the light emitted by the light source toward the handle accommodating section;
a second light guide section that guides the light emitted by the light source to the vehicle lower side;
consists of
The control unit causes the light source to emit light when the mobile device is recognized based on the output information from the communication unit, and when the detection unit detects the approach of the user after the light source emits light , A vehicle lighting system that drives the handle drive unit to move the door handle from the retracted position to the operating position. The first light guide portion is formed in a substantially hemispherical shape on the outer peripheral surface of the rear end portion of the light guide member, and directs the light emitted by the light source to the handle accommodation behind the door handle and inside in the vehicle width direction. The second light guide portion is configured as an inclined surface that is inclined upward toward the rear side when viewed from the outside in the vehicle width direction, and the light emitted by the light source is directed toward the rear side of the door handle. 2. The vehicular lighting system according to claim 1 , wherein the vehicular lighting system leads from the to the underside of the vehicle . 3. The door handle according to claim 1, wherein the door handle has a grip portion that is gripped by a user, and the grip portion is provided with a transmission portion that transmits light that has passed through the light guide member. A vehicle lighting system as described. The door handle extends in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle,
4. The vehicle lighting system according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the lighting unit is arranged at a front end side portion or a rear end side portion of the door handle. The door handle extends in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle,
4. The vehicle lighting system according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the lighting unit is arranged in a longitudinally intermediate portion of the door handle. The vehicle door is provided with a base member that rotatably supports the door handle,
The vehicle lighting system according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the light source is provided on the base member.

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