JPS641876Y2 - - Google Patents

Description

[Detailed description of the invention] (Field of industrial application) The present invention relates to a lighting device used for illuminating characters or figures on an automobile instrument panel. This was done to prevent this from happening.

(Prior Art) Conventionally, an illumination function has been added so that characters or figures printed on automobile instrument panels, such as brand names, names of operating switches, etc., can be clearly read even at night.

However, as the various meters on the instrument panel, as well as the printed letters and figures, have come to be illuminated, and as more and more lights are used inside cars at night, the illumination of the instrument panel that is reflected on the windshield has become more and more illuminated. They have become very dangerous as they are increasingly blocking the driver's view.

Conventionally, various measures have been taken to prevent the illumination light from the instrument panel from traveling toward the windshield. FIGS. 1 and 2 are examples of this. In FIG. 1, the instrument panel is housed deep inside the case 2. Reference numeral 4 denotes an opaque sheet with characters, figures, etc. printed in black on its surface, and an illumination lamp 6 as a light source is arranged on the back side of the sheet. In this case, the light from the illumination lamp 6 is reflected within the case 2, wraps around the surface of the sheet 4, and illuminates the printed characters and figures.
The light directed upward (area A) toward the windshield (not shown) is directed to the upper end 4a of the case 4.
It's starting to be blocked by.

Further, FIG. 2 shows a case where the sheet 8 on which characters and figures are printed is made of polycarbonate or sheet material that transmits light. A polarizing member 10 such as an LCF (Light Control Film) or a polarizing lens that transmits only light other than upward light is attached to this sheet 8 to prevent light from being emitted upward to the A region. Another possible method is to print characters and figures directly on a polarizing member such as an LCF.

However, the method shown in FIG. 1 requires a large depth of the instrument panel, which poses a problem in terms of space, and the method shown in FIG. This resulted in a boost.

(Purpose of the present invention) The present invention was devised in view of the above-mentioned conventional problems, and its purpose is to provide a directional lighting device that does not cause space problems and does not require the use of expensive polarizing plates. It's about doing.

(Structure of the present invention) In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a lighting device in which a light source for illumination is placed on the back side of a transmissive sheet on which characters, figures, etc. are printed in black. are arranged at an acute angle with respect to the sheet with the upper end of the sheet as the center, and the light emitting surface is inclined downward.

(Example) An example of the present invention will be described below based on the drawings.
FIG. 3 is a side view showing the principle of a directional lighting device according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 4 is a top view thereof. Components having the same configuration as those in FIGS. 1 and 2 are given the same reference numerals and their explanations will be omitted.

As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the transparent sheet 8
A light guide 12 as a light source is disposed on the side without black printing, and an illumination lamp 6 is disposed on the side thereof. In this embodiment, the light guide 12 is made of polycarbonate similar to the transmission type sheet 8, and has a shape almost like a three-sided prism. The slanted side surface of this triangular prism-shaped light guide 12 has an angle of θ (90°>θ) with respect to the upper end of the transmission sheet 8, and this slanted side surface becomes a rough surface such as a textured surface. Thus, the light from the illumination lamp 6 is uniformly emitted.

As mentioned above, the light emitting surface of the light guide 12 is this oblique side, and since this surface is inclined by θ with the upper end of the sheet 8 as the center, the light emitting surface faces downward, and is shown by diagonal lines in FIG. The light emitting surface is not visible in area A.

Therefore, since the light from the lighting does not reach the windshield of the car, the instrument panel will no longer be reflected on the windshield at night and obstruct the driver's view. And in this example,
Since the light guide 12 made of polycarbonate is used as a light source, the cost is much lower than that of using a polarizing member. Furthermore, since the light emitting surface of the light guide 12 forms an acute angle θ with the upper end of the transmissive sheet 8 on which characters are printed, the light from the light emitting surface does not go toward the front window. , there is no need to increase the depth of the instrument panel, and there is no problem in terms of space.

In this embodiment, a light guide and a lamp are used as the light source, but any light source may be used as long as it has a light emitting surface facing downward with respect to the sheet 8.

In addition, the shape of the light guide is not limited to the triangular prism whose slanted side surface is the light emitting surface as in this embodiment, but also a square prism whose side surface as the light emitting surface forms an acute angle with the upper end of the sheet as the center. It may be a shape.

As described above, according to the present invention, the light emitting surface of a light source for irradiating a transparent sheet of an automobile instrument panel on which characters, figures, etc. are printed in black is arranged around the upper end of the sheet. By arranging the instrument panel at an acute angle, the instrument panel will not be reflected on the windshield of the car due to light from these light emitting surfaces, thereby preventing the driver's view from being obstructed. Additionally, there is no need to attach an expensive polarizing member to the back of the sheet, as is the case in the past, so costs are significantly reduced. Furthermore, since the light-emitting surface faces downward, the instrument panel does not have to be deep enough to allow light to reach the windshield, and space is no longer an issue.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 and FIG. 2 are explanatory diagrams showing a conventional lighting device. FIG. 3 is a side view of a directional display device according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 4 is a top view of the directional display device of FIG. 3. 6...Illumination lamp, 8...Transmissive sheet, 1
2...Light guide.

Claims (1)

[Claims for Utility Model Registration] (1) A transparent sheet on which characters, figures, etc. are printed in black, and a light source placed on the back of the sheet, and by turning on the light source at night. , a lighting device that illuminates characters or figures printed on a sheet so that they can be visually read, wherein the light source has a light emitting surface that forms an acute angle with the sheet with the upper end of the sheet as the center; A directional lighting device featuring: (2) In the first statement of claims for utility model registration,
A light source comprising an illumination lamp and a light guide disposed near the illumination lamp so that its light irradiation surface forms an acute angle with the sheet with the upper end of the sheet as the center. Tropical lighting device.