US20100195344A1 - Prism equipped illumination unit for vehicle - Google Patents

Prism equipped illumination unit for vehicle Download PDF

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Publication number
US20100195344A1
US20100195344A1 US12/688,097 US68809710A US2010195344A1 US 20100195344 A1 US20100195344 A1 US 20100195344A1 US 68809710 A US68809710 A US 68809710A US 2010195344 A1 US2010195344 A1 US 2010195344A1
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US
United States
Prior art keywords
prism
illumination unit
light
opening
light emitting
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Abandoned
Application number
US12/688,097
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English (en)
Inventor
Haruki Yoshida
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Yazaki Corp
Original Assignee
Yazaki Corp
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Yazaki Corp filed Critical Yazaki Corp
Publication of US20100195344A1 publication Critical patent/US20100195344A1/en
Abandoned legal-status Critical Current

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    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
    • B60Q—ARRANGEMENT OF SIGNALLING OR LIGHTING DEVICES, THE MOUNTING OR SUPPORTING THEREOF OR CIRCUITS THEREFOR, FOR VEHICLES IN GENERAL
    • B60Q3/00—Arrangement of lighting devices for vehicle interiors; Lighting devices specially adapted for vehicle interiors
    • B60Q3/70—Arrangement of lighting devices for vehicle interiors; Lighting devices specially adapted for vehicle interiors characterised by the purpose
    • B60Q3/76—Arrangement of lighting devices for vehicle interiors; Lighting devices specially adapted for vehicle interiors characterised by the purpose for spotlighting, e.g. reading lamps
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
    • B60Q—ARRANGEMENT OF SIGNALLING OR LIGHTING DEVICES, THE MOUNTING OR SUPPORTING THEREOF OR CIRCUITS THEREFOR, FOR VEHICLES IN GENERAL
    • B60Q3/00—Arrangement of lighting devices for vehicle interiors; Lighting devices specially adapted for vehicle interiors
    • B60Q3/70—Arrangement of lighting devices for vehicle interiors; Lighting devices specially adapted for vehicle interiors characterised by the purpose
    • B60Q3/74—Arrangement of lighting devices for vehicle interiors; Lighting devices specially adapted for vehicle interiors characterised by the purpose for overall compartment lighting; for overall compartment lighting in combination with specific lighting, e.g. room lamps with reading lamps

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to an illumination unit for a vehicle, and particularly relates to an illumination unit for a vehicle which is equipped with a down light prism.
  • a related illumination unit for a vehicle described in JP-U-H05-12282 is aimed at outputting spindly spot light and preventing glare.
  • the related illumination unit includes a cover having a slit and a lens having a convex portion. Since the convex portion of the lens is inserted into the slit of the cover, light emitted from a light source passes the convex portion and is output as the spindly spot light from a designed surface.
  • the related illumination unit includes a light diffusive element provided on an outer surface of the convex portion and an inner surface of the slit in order to prevent glare.
  • the related illumination unit requires a short distance between the light source and the lens.
  • a distance between the light source and the designed surface becomes long. That is why the light source is not able to be mounted on the substrate in the related art.
  • FIG. 3 is an expanded perspective view of the related illumination unit for a vehicle.
  • a light source is able to be mounted on a substrate by extending the distance between the light source and a lens with a prism.
  • the related illumination unit 100 includes a substrate 20 , a down light prism 35 , an outer housing 45 , and a tripled switch knob 50 in this order from upside.
  • the substrate 20 , the down light prism 35 (herein after referred to as prism), and the tripled switch knob 50 are mounted on the outer housing 45 .
  • a light emitting element 20 L in this example, a light emitting diode: LED
  • the LED 20 L is mounted on the substrate 20 , the LED 20 L is mounted with switches or the like. Since the switches are larger in size than LED 20 L, a position of the LED 20 L on the substrate 20 is distant from a designed surface where an emission hole is provided. Therefore, the prism 35 guides the light emitted from LED 20 L to the emission hole in order to downsize the emission hole.
  • the present invention addresses the above described problem.
  • the present invention prevents the light from directing in an unexpected direction and thereby prevents an illumination unevenness in the illuminated area.
  • An exemplary embodiment of the present invention is An illumination unit for a vehicle including a light emitting element; an outer housing including an opening, on which the light emitting element is mounted; a prism disposed between the light emitting element and the opening, the prism including a tip portion which is disposed at the opening, a body portion which continues from the tip portion, a flange portion which continues from the body portion, and a stage at a boundary between the tip portion and the body portion.
  • the prism at the stage since light reflected by the prism at the stage does not direct toward the opening, the light directed in an unexpected direction can be prevented.
  • the illumination unevenness can be prevented.
  • the shape of the prism enables worker to easily handle the prism, workability is improved as compared to a small cylindrical prism of the related art.
  • the stage of the prism has a rectangular box shape.
  • the prism does not roll even if put on an inclined place. Therefore, the workability during assembling of the illumination unit is improved.
  • the integral molding of the prism makes it easy to form the prism for preventing random reflection.
  • FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of an illumination unit for a vehicle according to the present invention.
  • FIG. 2 is a vertical-section of the assembled illumination unit shown in FIG. 1 .
  • the vertical-section passes the prism.
  • FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of a related illumination unit for a vehicle.
  • FIG. 4 is a vertical-section of the assembled illumination unit shown in FIG. 3 passing the prism.
  • FIG. 4 is a vertical-section of the assembled illumination unit shown in FIG. 3 .
  • the vertical-section passes the prism.
  • three lines L 1 -L 3 shows light L 1 to L 3 emitted from a light emitting diode (LED) 20 L.
  • the downwardly directed light L 1 passes the prism 35 from the upside to the downside and is output from the opening 45 K of the outer housing 45 to a predetermined illuminated area.
  • the inclined light L 2 barely passes the prism 35 from the upside to the downside and is output from the opening 45 K of the outer housing 45 to a predetermined illuminated area.
  • the light L 3 which is emitted in a direction largely inclined to the prism 35 as compared to light L 2 is in a different situation.
  • the light L 3 is input the prism from the upside, the light L 3 is reflected at side surface 45 L of the cylindrical prism 35 . Then the Light L 3 is output from the opening 45 K of the outer housing 45 while crossing the corner of the opening 45 K with a large angle. Therefore, the light L 3 is output in a direction totally different from the direction toward the predetermined illuminated area. That is the light L 3 is deviated light.
  • the origin of the illumination unevenness in the illuminated area is the deviation of light guided by the prism 35 in an unexpected direction due to the reflection at the side surface of the prism 35 .
  • the shape of the prism 30 used for the exemplary embodiment of the present invention is explained below.
  • FIG. 2 is a vertical-section of the assembled illumination unit shown in FIG. 1 .
  • the vertical section passes the prism.
  • the prism 30 includes a tip portion 30 c , a body portion 30 R, and a flange portion 30 B.
  • the tip portion 30 C is positioned in the vicinity of an opening 40 K of an outer housing 40 .
  • the tip portion 30 C has a cylindrical shape.
  • the body portion 30 R continues from the tip portion 30 C so that a boundary between the body portion 30 R and the tip portion 30 C has a stage 40 L.
  • the body portion 30 R has a rectangular box shape.
  • the stage 40 L has a predetermined width “a” and a predetermined height “b” as indicated in FIG. 2 .
  • the flange portion 30 B continues from a side of the body portion 30 R facing to a light emitting element 20 L.
  • the flange portion 30 B is used for assembling the prism 30 to the outer housing 40 . Since the tip portion 30 C, the body portion, and the flange portion 30 B are integrally formed from same resin material, the manufacturing cost for the prism 30 is not so high. Therefore, the manufacturing of the prism 30 is easy.
  • the stage at the boundary between the body portion 30 R and the tip portion 30 C is configured that the width “a” is larger than a half of a distance between the side surface of the body portion and an axis through the LED 20 L and a center of the opening 40 K. Also, it may be possible to configure the stage so that the height “b” is larger than a quarter of a distance between the LED 20 L and the opening 40 K.
  • lines L 1 -L 5 shows light L 1 ⁇ L 5 , each of which are emitted from the light emitting diode (LED) 20 L in each different directions.
  • the downwardly directed light L 1 passes the prism 30 from the upside to the downside and is output from the opening 40 K of the outer housing 40 to a predetermined illuminated area.
  • the inclined light L 2 barely passes the prism 30 from the upside to the downside and is output from the opening 40 K of the outer housing 40 to a predetermined illuminated area.
  • the light L 3 -L 5 reaching the stage 40 L are transmitted in the following manner.
  • the light L 3 output in an inclined direction reaches the stage 40 L of the prism 30 .
  • the light L 3 is reflected at the stage 40 L and directed in an upward direction.
  • the light L 3 is not directed in the direction toward the opening 40 K. Therefore, even if light guided by the prism 30 is reflected in the prism 30 , the light is not output from the opening 40 K. That is the reason why the illumination unevenness in the illuminated area is prevented.
  • the light L 4 which is output in more inclined direction than the inclined direction of the light L 3 , reaches the side surface of the body portion 30 R.
  • the light L 4 is reflected at the side surface and is directed in a downward direction so as to reach the stage 40 L. Then, the light L 4 is reflected at the stage 40 L and is directed in an upward direction.
  • the light L 4 is not output from the opening 40 K. Therefore, the illumination unevenness in the illuminated area is prevented.
  • the light L 5 which is output in more inclined direction than the inclined direction of the light L 4 , reaches the side surface of the body portion 30 R.
  • the light L 5 is reflected at the side surface and is directed in a downward direction. After that, the light L 5 reaches a side surface of the outer housing 40 and is absorbed by the outer housing 40 .
  • the light L 5 is not output from the opening 40 K. Therefore, the illumination unevenness in the illuminated area is prevented.
  • the light L 3 -L 5 each of which is emitted from LED 20 L in an inclined direction, reach the stage 40 L of the prism 30 , the light L 3 -L 5 are not directed in a direction toward the opening 40 K of the outer housing 40 K. Therefore, the illumination unevenness is prevented.
  • the body portion 30 R of the exemplary embodiment has a rectangular box shape
  • the body portion may have a cylinder shape.
  • the prism includes a first portion of a first radius, a second portion of a second radius, and a third portion of a third radius.
  • the first, second, and third radiuses are different from each other.
  • the stage is, for example, form at a boundary between the first and the second portion because of the radiuses difference.
  • the difference is determined so that the difference between the first and the second radiuses is larger than a half of a distance between a side surface of the second portion and an axis of the cylindrical prism.

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Arrangements Of Lighting Devices For Vehicle Interiors, Mounting And Supporting Thereof, Circuits Therefore (AREA)
  • Non-Portable Lighting Devices Or Systems Thereof (AREA)
US12/688,097 2009-02-05 2010-01-15 Prism equipped illumination unit for vehicle Abandoned US20100195344A1 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
JP2009-025014 2009-02-05
JP2009025014A JP5424457B2 (ja) 2009-02-05 2009-02-05 プリズム付き車両用照明器具

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
US20100195344A1 true US20100195344A1 (en) 2010-08-05

Family

ID=42397566

Family Applications (2)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
US12/688,097 Abandoned US20100195344A1 (en) 2009-02-05 2010-01-15 Prism equipped illumination unit for vehicle
US12/688,096 Active 2030-05-03 US8568008B2 (en) 2009-02-05 2010-01-15 Prism equipped illumination unit for vehicle

Family Applications After (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
US12/688,096 Active 2030-05-03 US8568008B2 (en) 2009-02-05 2010-01-15 Prism equipped illumination unit for vehicle

Country Status (4)

Country Link
US (2) US20100195344A1 (ja)
JP (1) JP5424457B2 (ja)
CN (1) CN101799141B (ja)
DE (1) DE102010001526B4 (ja)

Families Citing this family (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
JP5589930B2 (ja) * 2011-03-30 2014-09-17 豊田合成株式会社 照明装置
US10151461B2 (en) * 2017-02-06 2018-12-11 apure holding llc Lighting device and lighting assembly
US10197254B2 (en) * 2017-02-09 2019-02-05 Walthill Opportunities, L.L.C. Strut light system with integrated light source

Citations (11)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US6283621B1 (en) * 1999-06-04 2001-09-04 Asc Industries, Inc. Vehicle interior lamp assembly adapted for use with recreational vehicles, outfitted vans, shuttlebuses and the like
US6948838B2 (en) * 2002-01-15 2005-09-27 Fer Fahrzeugelektrik Gmbh Vehicle lamp having prismatic element
US20060245200A1 (en) * 2005-04-28 2006-11-02 Kabushiki Kaisha T An T Touch sensor operated vehicle room lamp to be turned on and off
US20060291224A1 (en) * 2005-06-28 2006-12-28 Ricky England Interchangeable flashlight-cargo lamp system
US20070014121A1 (en) * 2005-07-13 2007-01-18 Andres Yepes Gomez Detachable light for vehicle interiors
US20070195548A1 (en) * 2006-02-17 2007-08-23 Bwt Property, Inc. Light Emitting Panel for Medical Applications
US20070236956A1 (en) * 2006-03-31 2007-10-11 Gelcore, Llc Super bright LED power package
US7370995B2 (en) * 2006-05-04 2008-05-13 International Automotive Components Group North America, Inc. Console and light assembly
US7422352B2 (en) * 2004-10-25 2008-09-09 Kabushiki Kaisha Imasen Denki Seisakusho Vehicle console device
US20090262537A1 (en) * 2008-04-22 2009-10-22 Shenzhen Futaihong Precision Industry Co., Ltd. Indicator light
US7775693B2 (en) * 2008-06-24 2010-08-17 Honda Motor Co., Ltd. Vehicle interior light assembly

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US1514653A (en) * 1921-08-17 1924-11-11 Allen D Cardwell Tail light
US1936297A (en) * 1931-03-14 1933-11-21 Gen Railway Signal Co Light signal unit
JPS611540Y2 (ja) * 1980-08-14 1986-01-20
JPH0714069Y2 (ja) * 1991-08-05 1995-04-05 市光工業株式会社 車両用灯具
TW414327U (en) * 2000-03-17 2000-12-01 Optoma Corp Dust-free structure for integration pillar of projector
JP4013536B2 (ja) * 2001-12-11 2007-11-28 豊田合成株式会社 照明装置
DE10331076B4 (de) * 2003-07-09 2011-04-07 Airbus Operations Gmbh Leuchtelement mit einer Leuchtdiode
DE10331075B4 (de) * 2003-07-09 2009-02-26 Diehl Aerospace Gmbh Leuchtelement mit einem Leuchtmittel
US7215863B1 (en) * 2006-04-27 2007-05-08 International Business Machines Corporation Light pipe optical coupling utilizing convex-shaped light pipe end
JP2008120210A (ja) * 2006-11-10 2008-05-29 Inoac Corp 照明器具
JP4837626B2 (ja) * 2007-06-22 2011-12-14 スタンレー電気株式会社 自動車用室内灯
DE102007029140B4 (de) 2007-06-25 2009-10-01 Airbus Deutschland Gmbh Innenausstattungspaneel mit mindestens einem Beleuchtungselement und Verfahren zur Herstellung eines derartigen Innenausstattungspaneels
JP2009025014A (ja) 2007-07-17 2009-02-05 Konica Minolta Medical & Graphic Inc 反応検出装置、マイクロチップ検査システム
JP5524476B2 (ja) * 2008-12-02 2014-06-18 小島プレス工業株式会社 車両用マップランプ

Patent Citations (11)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US6283621B1 (en) * 1999-06-04 2001-09-04 Asc Industries, Inc. Vehicle interior lamp assembly adapted for use with recreational vehicles, outfitted vans, shuttlebuses and the like
US6948838B2 (en) * 2002-01-15 2005-09-27 Fer Fahrzeugelektrik Gmbh Vehicle lamp having prismatic element
US7422352B2 (en) * 2004-10-25 2008-09-09 Kabushiki Kaisha Imasen Denki Seisakusho Vehicle console device
US20060245200A1 (en) * 2005-04-28 2006-11-02 Kabushiki Kaisha T An T Touch sensor operated vehicle room lamp to be turned on and off
US20060291224A1 (en) * 2005-06-28 2006-12-28 Ricky England Interchangeable flashlight-cargo lamp system
US20070014121A1 (en) * 2005-07-13 2007-01-18 Andres Yepes Gomez Detachable light for vehicle interiors
US20070195548A1 (en) * 2006-02-17 2007-08-23 Bwt Property, Inc. Light Emitting Panel for Medical Applications
US20070236956A1 (en) * 2006-03-31 2007-10-11 Gelcore, Llc Super bright LED power package
US7370995B2 (en) * 2006-05-04 2008-05-13 International Automotive Components Group North America, Inc. Console and light assembly
US20090262537A1 (en) * 2008-04-22 2009-10-22 Shenzhen Futaihong Precision Industry Co., Ltd. Indicator light
US7775693B2 (en) * 2008-06-24 2010-08-17 Honda Motor Co., Ltd. Vehicle interior light assembly

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
US8568008B2 (en) 2013-10-29
JP2010182534A (ja) 2010-08-19
CN101799141B (zh) 2014-06-11
US20100195343A1 (en) 2010-08-05
DE102010001526B4 (de) 2016-03-31
DE102010001526A1 (de) 2010-10-07
CN101799141A (zh) 2010-08-11
JP5424457B2 (ja) 2014-02-26

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