US20160290586A1 - Vehicle lamp - Google Patents
Vehicle lamp Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- US20160290586A1 US20160290586A1 US15/175,617 US201615175617A US2016290586A1 US 20160290586 A1 US20160290586 A1 US 20160290586A1 US 201615175617 A US201615175617 A US 201615175617A US 2016290586 A1 US2016290586 A1 US 2016290586A1
- Authority
- US
- United States
- Prior art keywords
- planar light
- emitting structure
- organic
- panel
- vehicle lamp
- 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
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Classifications
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- F21S48/212—
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- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F21—LIGHTING
- F21S—NON-PORTABLE LIGHTING DEVICES; SYSTEMS THEREOF; VEHICLE LIGHTING DEVICES SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR VEHICLE EXTERIORS
- F21S43/00—Signalling devices specially adapted for vehicle exteriors, e.g. brake lamps, direction indicator lights or reversing lights
- F21S43/10—Signalling devices specially adapted for vehicle exteriors, e.g. brake lamps, direction indicator lights or reversing lights characterised by the light source
- F21S43/13—Signalling devices specially adapted for vehicle exteriors, e.g. brake lamps, direction indicator lights or reversing lights characterised by the light source characterised by the type of light source
- F21S43/14—Light emitting diodes [LED]
- F21S43/145—Surface emitters, e.g. organic light emitting diodes [OLED]
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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
- B60Q1/00—Arrangement of optical signalling or lighting devices, the mounting or supporting thereof or circuits therefor
- B60Q1/02—Arrangement of optical signalling or lighting devices, the mounting or supporting thereof or circuits therefor the devices being primarily intended to illuminate the way ahead or to illuminate other areas of way or environments
- B60Q1/04—Arrangement of optical signalling or lighting devices, the mounting or supporting thereof or circuits therefor the devices being primarily intended to illuminate the way ahead or to illuminate other areas of way or environments the devices being headlights
- B60Q1/0483—Arrangement of optical signalling or lighting devices, the mounting or supporting thereof or circuits therefor the devices being primarily intended to illuminate the way ahead or to illuminate other areas of way or environments the devices being headlights mounted on a bracket, e.g. details concerning the mouting of the lamps on the vehicle body
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- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F21—LIGHTING
- F21S—NON-PORTABLE LIGHTING DEVICES; SYSTEMS THEREOF; VEHICLE LIGHTING DEVICES SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR VEHICLE EXTERIORS
- F21S43/00—Signalling devices specially adapted for vehicle exteriors, e.g. brake lamps, direction indicator lights or reversing lights
- F21S43/10—Signalling devices specially adapted for vehicle exteriors, e.g. brake lamps, direction indicator lights or reversing lights characterised by the light source
- F21S43/19—Attachment of light sources or lamp holders
- F21S43/195—Details of lamp holders, terminals or connectors
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- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F21—LIGHTING
- F21S—NON-PORTABLE LIGHTING DEVICES; SYSTEMS THEREOF; VEHICLE LIGHTING DEVICES SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR VEHICLE EXTERIORS
- F21S45/00—Arrangements within vehicle lighting devices specially adapted for vehicle exteriors, for purposes other than emission or distribution of light
- F21S45/10—Protection of lighting devices
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- F21S48/1109—
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- F21S48/1163—
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- F21S48/217—
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- H—ELECTRICITY
- H05—ELECTRIC TECHNIQUES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- H05B—ELECTRIC HEATING; ELECTRIC LIGHT SOURCES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; CIRCUIT ARRANGEMENTS FOR ELECTRIC LIGHT SOURCES, IN GENERAL
- H05B33/00—Electroluminescent light sources
- H05B33/02—Details
- H05B33/06—Electrode terminals
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- H05B33/08—
-
- H—ELECTRICITY
- H05—ELECTRIC TECHNIQUES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- H05B—ELECTRIC HEATING; ELECTRIC LIGHT SOURCES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; CIRCUIT ARRANGEMENTS FOR ELECTRIC LIGHT SOURCES, IN GENERAL
- H05B33/00—Electroluminescent light sources
- H05B33/12—Light sources with substantially two-dimensional radiating surfaces
- H05B33/14—Light sources with substantially two-dimensional radiating surfaces characterised by the chemical or physical composition or the arrangement of the electroluminescent material, or by the simultaneous addition of the electroluminescent material in or onto the light source
-
- H—ELECTRICITY
- H05—ELECTRIC TECHNIQUES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- H05B—ELECTRIC HEATING; ELECTRIC LIGHT SOURCES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; CIRCUIT ARRANGEMENTS FOR ELECTRIC LIGHT SOURCES, IN GENERAL
- H05B33/00—Electroluminescent light sources
- H05B33/12—Light sources with substantially two-dimensional radiating surfaces
- H05B33/22—Light sources with substantially two-dimensional radiating surfaces characterised by the chemical or physical composition or the arrangement of auxiliary dielectric or reflective layers
- H05B33/24—Light sources with substantially two-dimensional radiating surfaces characterised by the chemical or physical composition or the arrangement of auxiliary dielectric or reflective layers of metallic reflective layers
-
- H—ELECTRICITY
- H05—ELECTRIC TECHNIQUES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- H05B—ELECTRIC HEATING; ELECTRIC LIGHT SOURCES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; CIRCUIT ARRANGEMENTS FOR ELECTRIC LIGHT SOURCES, IN GENERAL
- H05B44/00—Circuit arrangements for operating electroluminescent light sources
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- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F21—LIGHTING
- F21S—NON-PORTABLE LIGHTING DEVICES; SYSTEMS THEREOF; VEHICLE LIGHTING DEVICES SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR VEHICLE EXTERIORS
- F21S45/00—Arrangements within vehicle lighting devices specially adapted for vehicle exteriors, for purposes other than emission or distribution of light
- F21S45/30—Ventilation or drainage of lighting devices
- F21S45/37—Ventilation or drainage of lighting devices specially adapted for signal lamps
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- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F21—LIGHTING
- F21S—NON-PORTABLE LIGHTING DEVICES; SYSTEMS THEREOF; VEHICLE LIGHTING DEVICES SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR VEHICLE EXTERIORS
- F21S45/00—Arrangements within vehicle lighting devices specially adapted for vehicle exteriors, for purposes other than emission or distribution of light
- F21S45/40—Cooling of lighting devices
- F21S45/47—Passive cooling, e.g. using fins, thermal conductive elements or openings
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- F21Y2101/02—
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- F21Y2105/006—
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- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F21—LIGHTING
- F21Y—INDEXING SCHEME ASSOCIATED WITH SUBCLASSES F21K, F21L, F21S and F21V, RELATING TO THE FORM OR THE KIND OF THE LIGHT SOURCES OR OF THE COLOUR OF THE LIGHT EMITTED
- F21Y2115/00—Light-generating elements of semiconductor light sources
- F21Y2115/10—Light-emitting diodes [LED]
- F21Y2115/15—Organic light-emitting diodes [OLED]
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- Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
- Y02—TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE
- Y02B—CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES RELATED TO BUILDINGS, e.g. HOUSING, HOUSE APPLIANCES OR RELATED END-USER APPLICATIONS
- Y02B20/00—Energy efficient lighting technologies, e.g. halogen lamps or gas discharge lamps
- Y02B20/30—Semiconductor lamps, e.g. solid state lamps [SSL] light emitting diodes [LED] or organic LED [OLED]
Definitions
- the present invention relates to vehicle lamps including planar light-emitting structures.
- the present invention has been made to address such issues, and is directed to providing a fixing technique by which stress exerted on a substrate for a planar light-emitting structure is reduced in a vehicle lamp provided with a planar light-emitting structure.
- a vehicle lamp includes a planar light-emitting structure having a substrate on which an organic EL emission portion is provided, a framing member that fixes the planar light-emitting structure inside a vehicle-lamp light cabinet, and an elastic member that is interposed between the planar light-emitting structure and the framing member, where the elastic member fixes the planar light-emitting structure by its biasing force.
- FIG. 1 is a sectional view illustrating a schematic configuration of an organic EL panel (planar light-emitting structure) to be used in each of the embodiments of the present invention
- FIGS. 2A and 2B are schematic sectional views of a light source unit that includes an organic EL panel in a vehicle lamp according to an embodiment of the present invention
- FIG. 2C is a front view of the light source unit
- FIG. 2D is a perspective view of a framing member
- FIG. 3A is a schematic sectional view of a light source unit that includes an organic EL panel in a vehicle lamp according to another example, FIG. 3B illustrates an elastic member, and FIG. 3C is a perspective view of a framing member;
- FIG. 4 is an assembly diagram of a light source unit that includes an organic EL panel in a vehicle lamp according to yet another example
- FIG. 5 is a rear perspective view of the assembled light source unit
- FIG. 6 is a sectional view of the light source unit taken along the line C-C indicated in FIG. 5 ;
- FIG. 7A is a plan view of an organic EL panel according to another embodiment of the present invention
- FIG. 7B is a plan view of brackets that fix the organic EL panel
- FIGS. 8A and 8B are sectional views of the brackets taken along the line D-D and the line E-E, respectively, indicated in FIG. 7B ;
- FIGS. 9A and 9B are sectional views illustrating a process of mounting the organic EL panel into the brackets
- FIGS. 10A and 10B are sectional views of the organic EL panel mounted to the brackets
- FIGS. 11A and 11B are illustrations for describing a method of fixing an organic EL panel according to another example
- FIG. 12 illustrates a modification of the fixing bracket
- FIG. 13 is a perspective view illustrating a fixing bracket in which a feeder portion is embedded
- FIG. 14 is a sectional view of the fixing bracket illustrated in FIG. 13 taken along a horizontal plane;
- FIG. 15 is a conceptual diagram for describing an arrangement of fixing brackets configured to fit organic EL panels of various outer shapes
- FIG. 16A is a perspective view for describing a method of fixing an organic EL panel according to yet another example
- FIG. 16B is a sectional view of a fixing member
- FIG. 16C illustrates an arrangement of electrical connection portions in the fixing member
- FIGS. 17A and 17B illustrate usage examples of the fixation method illustrated in FIG. 16 ;
- FIG. 18 illustrates another usage example of the fixation method illustrated in FIG. 16 ;
- FIG. 19 illustrates a connection between an electrical connection portion and an organic EL panel
- FIG. 20 is a perspective view illustrating a more detailed structure of the electrical connection portion
- FIG. 21 is a sectional view of the electrical connection portion taken along a direction orthogonal to the longitudinal axis;
- FIG. 22 is a schematic perspective view of a vehicle lamp according to yet another embodiment of the present invention.
- FIG. 23A is a longitudinal sectional view taken along the line F-F indicated in FIG. 22
- FIG. 23B is a longitudinal sectional view taken along the line G-G indicated in FIG. 22 ;
- FIG. 24A is a schematic plan view illustrating an arrangement of feeder portions on the back surface of a planar light-emitting structure according to a conventional technique
- FIG. 24B is a schematic plan view illustrating a flexible circuit to be bonded to feeder portions
- FIG. 25 illustrates an exemplary arrangement of feeder portions on the back surface of a planar light-emitting structure according to the present embodiment
- FIG. 26 illustrates an example of a flexible circuit to be bonded to the planar light-emitting structure illustrated in FIG. 25 ;
- FIG. 27 is a schematic plan view illustrating another exemplary arrangement of feeder portions on the back surface of the planar light-emitting structure
- FIG. 28 illustrates a schematic configuration to be employed when a plurality of planar light-emitting structures are installed in a lamp cabinet for a vehicle lamp;
- FIGS. 29A through 29C illustrate exemplary arrangements of an anode feeder portion and a cathode feeder portion in planar light-emitting structures of various shapes
- FIGS. 30A and 30B are enlarged views of a portion marked by K in FIG. 23B ;
- FIG. 31A is a plan view of the back surface of a planar light-emitting structure to be used in another vehicle lamp
- FIG. 31B is a plan view of a flexible circuit to be bonded to the planar light-emitting structure
- FIG. 31C illustrates a state in which the planar light-emitting structure and the flexible circuit are bonded to each other;
- FIG. 32A is an enlarged view of the terminal disposition portion of the flexible circuit illustrated in FIG. 31B , and FIG. 32B is a fragmentary sectional view thereof;
- FIG. 33 is an enlarged view of a terminal disposition portion of a flexible circuit according to another example.
- FIG. 34A is an enlarged view of a terminal disposition portion of a flexible circuit according to another example, and FIG. 34B is a fragmentary sectional view thereof;
- FIG. 35A is a plan view of the back side of a planar light-emitting structure according to yet another example
- FIG. 35B is a schematic illustrating a Zener diode reverse-bias connected to the planar light-emitting structure (represented as a diode) of FIG. 35A .
- FIG. 1 is a sectional view illustrating a schematic configuration of an organic EL panel (planar light-emitting structure) to be used in each of the embodiments of the present invention described hereinafter.
- An organic EL panel 10 has a structure in which an anode layer 14 , which is a transparent conductive film (e.g., ITO), a micro-reflective metal layer 16 , an organic EL emission layer 18 , and a cathode layer 20 , which is a rear-side conductive film, are stacked between a front glass substrate 12 and a rear glass substrate 22 .
- anode layer 14 which is a transparent conductive film (e.g., ITO)
- a micro-reflective metal layer 16 e.g., an organic EL emission layer 18
- a cathode layer 20 which is a rear-side conductive film
- the stacked layers of the anode layer 14 through the cathode layer 20 may be formed by stacking these layers on the glass substrate 12 or by stacking these layers on the glass substrate 22 .
- the organic EL emission layer 18 which is an organic EL emission portion, may be formed over the glass substrate 12
- the organic EL emission layer 18 which is the organic EL emission portion, may be formed over the glass substrate 22 .
- the micro-reflective metal layer 16 is disposed between the anode layer 14 and the organic EL emission layer 18 , and thus a microcavity structure is formed.
- the distance between the micro-reflective metal layer 16 and the cathode layer 20 is selected in accordance with the wavelength of light emitted by the organic EL emission layer 18 .
- light emitted by the organic EL emission layer 18 is repeatedly reflected between the micro-reflective metal layer 16 and the cathode layer 20 , and only a specific wavelength that resonates is amplified.
- the organic EL panel 10 may be constituted without providing a micro-reflective metal layer between the anode layer 14 and the organic EL emission layer 18 .
- FIGS. 2A and 2B are schematic sectional views of a light source unit 30 that includes an organic EL panel in a vehicle lamp according to an embodiment of the present invention, taken along the line A-A and the line B-B, respectively, indicated in FIG. 2C ; and FIG. 2C is a front view of the light source unit 30 .
- the light source unit 30 is fixed to a housing 46 inside a lamp cabinet for a vehicle lamp (not illustrated).
- the light source unit 30 includes an organic EL panel 32 such as the one illustrated in FIG. 1 , a framing member 36 , and a rear cover 40 .
- the framing member 36 is configured to have the organic EL panel 32 fitted thereinto.
- the inner periphery of the framing member 36 is slightly larger than the outer periphery of the organic EL panel 32 .
- FIG. 2D is a rear perspective view of the framing member 36 .
- the framing member 36 includes a peripheral wall 36 a forming a rectangular enclosure and an extension portion 36 b that extends from one end of the peripheral wall 36 a toward the inner side.
- a tightening portion 36 c that extends downwardly from the peripheral wall 36 a and that is bent in an L-shape is formed on the lower side of the framing member 36 .
- a bolt hole is formed in the tightening portion 36 c , and the framing member 36 is fixed to the housing 46 of the vehicle lamp with a bolt 48 .
- the tightening portion 36 c may be provided on the upper side of the framing member 36 or may be provided on the right or left side of the framing member 36 .
- the rear cover 40 has a function of pressing the organic EL panel 32 against the framing member 36 from the back side.
- a convex portion 40 a that abuts against the back surface of the panel 32 is provided on the rear cover 40 on a side that faces the organic EL panel 32 .
- the convex portion 40 a may be provided only on a peripheral portion of the panel, as illustrated in FIG. 2 , or may be provided on another area.
- a plurality of through-holes 40 b are formed in the peripheral portion of the rear cover 40 , and the rear cover 40 is fixed to the peripheral wall 36 a of the framing member 36 by coupling portions 42 .
- the coupling portions 42 may be formed through thermal caulking, welding, bonding, or the like.
- the rear cover 40 may be fixed by using a lance structure or another member, such as a screw, instead of by forming the coupling portions 42 .
- an elastic member 38 is interposed between a peripheral portion of the organic EL panel 32 on a side that faces the framing member 36 and the extension portion 36 b of the framing member 36 .
- the organic EL panel 32 is pressed by the biasing force of the elastic member 38 and is thus fixed to the framing member.
- the elastic member functions as a buffer material, and the stress exerted on the substrate for the organic EL panel while the vehicle is running can be reduced.
- a plurality of elastic members 38 are disposed at appropriate intervals, as illustrated in FIG. 2C , instead of providing an elastic member 38 across the entire peripheral portion of the organic EL panel 32 .
- a reason for this is as follows. When an elastic member is present across the entire periphery of an organic EL panel, stress exerted on the substrate for the organic EL panel cannot be released, and the substrate can thus be easily damaged due to the increased stress. Disposing the elastic members in a manner illustrated in FIG. 2C can provide some play for the organic EL panel to move, which can further reduce the stress exerted on the substrate for the organic EL panel.
- a penetrating space 37 can be formed between the organic EL panel 32 and the framing member 36 , and the air whose temperature has risen by heat emitted from the organic EL panel when electricity is passed to the organic EL panel can pass through the penetrating space 37 .
- a vent hole 36 d for allowing the air to pass therethrough is formed in the peripheral wall 36 a of the framing member 36 at a portion where no elastic member 38 is disposed.
- the elastic members 38 When the organic EL panel 32 is to be disposed to stand vertically, the elastic members 38 may be disposed such that the penetrating space 37 extends in the vertical direction. When the organic EL panel 32 is to be disposed at an angle to the vertical direction, the elastic members 38 may be disposed such that the penetrating space 37 extends in a direction substantially parallel to a longitudinal side of the organic EL panel 32 .
- the elastic members may, for example, be made of an elastomer or a gel material.
- An elastic member made of an elastomer may be cut into pieces of an appropriate size in advance, and the pieces may be bonded to the extension portion 36 b of the framing member 36 before an organic EL panel is fitted into the framing member 36 .
- the mounting surface of the elastomer and the mounting surface of the extension portion 36 b may be formed into complementary shapes (e.g., saw-tooth shape, wavelike shape, etc.) and may be mounted to each other without using an adhesive or the like.
- the elastic members are made of a gel material, the elastic members may be potted into the extension portion 36 b of the framing member 36 before an organic EL panel is fitted into the framing member 36 .
- the elastic members may be transparent. This allows the elastic members to be less noticeable when the vehicle lamp is viewed from the front side.
- the elastic members be transparent when the framing member and the rear cover are formed of a transparent resin or the like.
- the elastic members are interposed between the framing member 36 and the organic EL panel 32 .
- the elastic members may be disposed between the rear cover 40 and the organic EL panel 32 .
- FIG. 3A is a schematic sectional view of a light source unit 50 that includes an organic EL panel in a vehicle lamp according to another example of the present embodiment.
- the light source unit 50 is fixed to a housing inside a lamp cabinet for a vehicle lamp (not illustrated).
- the light source unit 50 includes an organic EL panel 32 such as the one illustrated in FIG. 1 , a framing member 60 , and a rear cover 40 .
- the framing member 60 is configured to have the organic EL panel 32 fitted thereinto.
- the inner periphery of the framing member 60 is slightly larger than the outer periphery of the organic EL panel 32 .
- FIG. 3C is a rear perspective view of the framing member 60 .
- the framing member 60 includes a peripheral wall 60 a forming a rectangular enclosure and an extension portion 60 b that extends from one end of the peripheral wall 60 a toward the inner side.
- a connector receiving portion 60 c that extends downwardly from the peripheral wall 60 a and that is bent in an L-shape is formed on the lower side of the framing member 60 .
- the connector receiving portion 60 c may be provided on the upper side of the framing member 60 or may be provided on the right or left side of the framing member 60 .
- the rear cover 40 has a function of pressing the organic EL panel 32 against the framing member 60 from the back side.
- a convex portion 40 a that abuts against the back surface of the panel 32 is provided on the rear cover 40 on a side that faces the organic EL panel 32 .
- the convex portion 40 a may be provided only on a peripheral portion of the panel, as illustrated in FIG. 3A , or may be provided on another area.
- a plurality of through-holes 40 b are formed in the peripheral portion of the rear cover 40 , and the rear cover 40 is fixed to the peripheral wall 60 a of the framing member 60 by coupling portions 42 .
- the coupling portions 42 may be formed through thermal caulking, welding, bonding, or the like.
- the rear cover 40 may be fixed by using a lance structure or another member, such as a screw, instead of by forming the coupling portions 42 .
- a busbar 56 is disposed on the extension portion 60 b of the framing member 60 on a side toward the organic EL panel.
- This busbar 56 extends along the extension portion 60 b , and an end of the busbar 56 extends into a connector hole 60 d formed in the connector receiving portion 60 c .
- This extending portion functions as a connector pin, and electric power can be supplied to the busbar 56 from the outside by inserting a feeder connector of a predetermined shape into the connector receiving portion 60 c .
- the busbar 56 is formed, for example, by cutting out a metal plate into a prescribed shape and bending the cut-out piece.
- a feeder portion 32 a for supplying electric power to the organic EL emission layer of the organic EL panel 32 is formed on a peripheral portion of the organic EL panel 32 on a side that faces the framing member 60 .
- a conductive elastic member 52 is interposed between the feeder portion 32 a on the organic EL panel 32 and the busbar 56 in the framing member 60 .
- the organic EL panel 32 is pressed by the biasing force of the elastic member 52 and fixed to the framing member. With this configuration, the elastic member functions as a buffer material, and the stress exerted on the substrate for the organic EL panel while the vehicle is running can be reduced.
- Electric power is supplied to the feeder portion 32 a from the busbar 56 through the conductive elastic member 52 .
- the conductive elastic member 52 is in tight contact with the feeder portion 32 a by the biasing force, and thus electric power can be supplied reliably.
- the busbar 56 is hidden by the extension portion 60 b and is invisible from the outside, and thus the appearance of the vehicle lamp improves.
- a plurality of conductive elastic members 52 are disposed at appropriate intervals in a similar manner to the one illustrated in FIG. 2C instead of providing a conductive elastic member 52 across the entire peripheral portion of the organic EL panel 32 . This can provide some play for the organic EL panel to move, and the stress exerted on the substrate for the organic EL panel can be further reduced.
- a penetrating space (not illustrated) can be formed between the organic EL panel 32 and the framing member 60 , and the air whose temperature has risen by heat emitted from the organic EL panel when electricity is passed to the organic EL panel can pass through the penetrating space.
- a vent hole (not illustrated) for allowing the air to pass therethrough is formed in the peripheral wall 60 a of the framing member 60 at a portion where no elastic member 52 is disposed.
- the elastic member may, for example, be made of an elastomer or a gel material.
- An elastic member made of an elastomer may be cut into pieces of an appropriate size in advance, and the pieces may be bonded to the extension portion 60 b of the framing member 60 before an organic EL panel is fitted into the framing member 60 .
- the mounting surface of the elastomer and the mounting surface of the extension portion 60 b may be formed into complementary shapes (e.g., saw-tooth shape, wavelike shape, etc.) and may be mounted to each other without using an adhesive or the like.
- the elastic members are made of a gel material, the elastic members may be potted into the extension portion 60 b of the framing member 60 before an organic EL panel is fitted into the framing member 60 .
- the conductive elastic member 52 is, for example, a conductive rubber in which particulate conductors are dispersed in rubber or a conductive rubber formed by winding a wire 52 a around a rubber (see FIG. 3B ), but is not limited thereto.
- the conductive elastic member 52 may be an anisotropic conductive rubber having conductivity only in a direction connecting the feeder portion 32 a on the organic EL panel 32 and the busbar 56 .
- FIG. 4 is an assembly diagram of a light source unit 100 that includes an organic EL panel in a vehicle lamp.
- FIG. 5 is a rear perspective view of the assembled light source unit 100 .
- FIG. 6 is a sectional view of the light source unit 100 taken along the line C-C indicated in FIG. 5 .
- the light source unit 100 is constituted by sandwiching an organic EL panel 80 such as the one illustrated in FIG. 1 by a framing member 70 and a rear cover 90 .
- the framing member 70 and the rear cover 90 have an identical outer shape, and the outer shape of the organic EL panel 80 is slightly smaller than the outer shape of the framing member 70 and the rear cover 90 .
- the framing member 70 is a member for fixing the organic EL panel 80 inside a lamp cabinet for a vehicle lamp (not illustrated).
- a mounting portion 76 having a bolt hole 76 a for mounting the light source unit 100 to the housing of the vehicle lamp is formed on the lower side of the framing member 70 .
- the rear cover 90 has a function of pressing the organic EL panel 80 against the framing member 70 from the back side.
- a convex portion (not illustrated) that abuts against the back surface of the panel 80 is provided on the rear cover 90 on a side that faces the organic EL panel 80 .
- the convex portion may be provided only on the peripheral portion of the panel or may be provided on another area.
- a plurality of through-holes 94 are formed in the rear cover 90 at the four corners, and the rear cover 90 is fixed to the framing member 70 by coupling portions that are passed through the through-holes 94 .
- the coupling portions may be formed through thermal caulking, welding, bonding, or the like.
- the rear cover 90 may be fixed by using a lance structure or another member, such as a screw, instead of by forming the coupling portions.
- a plurality of feeder portions 82 for supplying electric power to the organic EL emission layer of the organic EL panel 80 are provided on a peripheral portion of the organic EL panel 80 on a side that faces the framing member 70 . Providing the plurality of feeder portions in this manner can make a uniform current flow through the organic EL emission layer and suppress the luminance unevenness of the emission portion.
- Concave portions 72 are formed in the framing member 70 on a side that faces the organic EL panel 80 at positions corresponding to the feeder portions 82 .
- Spring electric contacts 74 are disposed in the respective concave portions 72 .
- the electric contacts 74 are electrically connected by a busbar (not illustrated) embedded inside the framing member 70 .
- the busbar is also electrically connected to a connector 78 formed on the lower side of the framing member 70 . Electric power can be supplied to each of the electric contacts 74 through the connector 78 .
- Each spring electric contact 74 partially projects from the surface of the framing member 70 when the organic EL panel 80 is not mounted to the framing member 70 . Therefore, when the organic EL panel 80 is pressed against and fixed to the framing member 70 , the electric contacts 74 impart a biasing force on the feeder portions 82 on the organic EL panel 80 . Consequently, electric power can be supplied reliably to the feeder portions 82 .
- the biasing force of the spring electric contacts 74 is set such that a slight gap remains between the framing member 70 and the organic EL panel 80 in the assembled light source unit 100 .
- the organic EL panel 80 is fixed between the framing member 70 and the rear cover 90 only by the biasing force of the spring electric contacts 74 .
- the spring electric contacts 74 function as a buffer material, and the stress exerted on the substrate for the organic EL panel while the vehicle is running can be reduced.
- the plurality of spring electric contacts 74 are disposed at appropriate intervals, and this can provide some play for the organic EL panel to move, and the stress exerted on the substrate for the organic EL panel can be further reduced.
- the organic EL panel is fixed by the spring electric contacts disposed on the back side of the framing member 70 , and thus the organic EL panel can be fixed without excessive stress exerted thereon. At the same time, electric power can be supplied to the feeder portions disposed on the peripheral portion of the organic EL panel.
- the busbar is provided inside the framing member, and thus the appearance of the vehicle lamp improves. The busbar may be disposed on the surface of the framing member 70 that faces the organic EL panel 80 .
- the present embodiment also includes the following configurations.
- a vehicle lamp includes a planar light-emitting structure having a substrate on which an organic EL emission portion is provided, a framing member that fixes the planar light-emitting structure inside a lamp cabinet for the vehicle lamp, and an elastic member that is interposed between the planar light-emitting structure and the framing member and that fixes the planar light-emitting structure by a biasing force.
- the planar light-emitting structure is fixed by the biasing force of the elastic member, and thus the elastic member serves as a buffer material, which makes it possible to reduce stress exerted on the substrate for the planar light-emitting structure while a vehicle is running.
- Electrical contacts through electric power is supplied to the organic EL emission portion may be provided in portions of a peripheral margin of the planar light-emitting structure, and the elastic member may be disposed fronting on the electric contacts, and configured such as to feed electric power via the electrical contacts. This configuration enables the elastic member to fulfill both a function of fixing the planar light-emitting structure and a function of supplying electric power to the planar light-emitting structure.
- the elastic member may be disposed in a portion of a side of the framing member fronting on the planar light-emitting structure. This configuration can provide some play for the planar light-emitting structure to move, which makes it possible to further reduce the stress exerted on the substrate for the planar light-emitting structure.
- a busbar that supplies electric power to the elastic member may be provided either inside the framing member or on a side of the framing member that confronts the planar light-emitting structure. This configuration can hide the wiring, which improves the appearance of the vehicle lamp.
- the elastic member may be disposed such as to provide between the planar light-emitting structure and the framing member a penetrating space that allows air whose temperature has risen by heat emitted from the planar light-emitting structure to pass therethrough is provided. This configuration allows the air to be convected through the penetrating space, which increases the heat dissipation efficiency of the planar light-emitting structure.
- Embodiment 2 addresses such issues and is directed to providing a technique that facilitates mounting of a planar light-emitting structure into a lamp cabinet for a vehicle lamp.
- FIGS. 7 through 10 are illustrations for describing a method of fixing an organic EL panel according to Embodiment 2 of the present invention.
- FIG. 7A is a plan view of an organic EL panel 130 according to the present embodiment.
- the organic EL panel 130 is substantially rectangular, and projections 134 are formed on the upper side and a projection 136 is formed on the lower side. These projections can be formed on one or both of the front glass substrate 12 and the rear glass substrate 22 illustrated in FIG. 1 .
- the stacked layers of the anode layer 14 through the cathode layer 20 may or may not be formed in the projections 134 and 136 .
- the projections 134 are formed, for example, on respective ends of the upper side.
- a feeder portion 134 a for supplying electric power to the organic EL emission portion of the organic EL panel 130 is formed at least at a tip of each projection 134 .
- a feeder portion electrically connected to the anode layer of the organic EL panel is disposed on one of the projections 134
- a feeder portion electrically connected to the cathode layer is disposed on the other projection 134 .
- the number of projections 134 may be one or three or more.
- the projection 134 is depicted as having a smoothly curved upper edge in FIG. 7 , but the projection 134 may have a different shape.
- a three-layer MAM consisting of MoO 3 /Al/MoO 3 is typically used for the feeder portion, but other conductive materials, such as MoO 3 /Ag/MoO 3 , may also be used.
- the projection 136 on the lower side extends across substantially the entire length of the lower side. This is for stabilizing the organic EL panel 130 when the projection 136 is plugged into a bracket 142 , which will be described later.
- the projection 136 on the lower side may be formed of two or more parts, as in the projections 134 on the upper side. No feeder portion is provided in the projection 136 in the example illustrated in FIG. 7 , but in addition to or in place of the projections 134 on the upper side, a feeder portion may be formed in the projection 136 on the lower side.
- FIG. 7B is a plan view of a pair of brackets 140 and 142 serving as a fixing member that fixes the organic EL panel 130 .
- the projections 134 on the upper side of the organic EL panel 130 are plugged into the upper bracket 140
- the projection 136 on the lower side of the organic EL panel 130 is plugged into the lower bracket 142 .
- a feeder cord 146 for supplying electric power to the feeder portion 134 a of the projection 134 is connected to the upper bracket 140 .
- the brackets 140 and 142 are mounted to an extension of a vehicle lamp (not illustrated).
- the brackets 140 and 142 may also be mounted to a housing or the like of a lighting device other than a vehicle lamp.
- FIGS. 8A and 8B are sectional views of the brackets 140 and 142 taken along line D-D and the line E-E, respectively, indicated in FIG. 7B .
- the lower bracket 142 has a uniform sectional shape with a concave portion formed therein across its entire length.
- the upper bracket 140 also has a uniform sectional shape with a concave portion formed therein across its entire length, but an elastic contact portion 144 connected to the feeder cord 146 is disposed at a position on the line E-E, as illustrated in FIG. 8B .
- the position of the elastic contact portion 144 corresponds to the position of the projection 134 on the upper side of the organic EL panel 130 .
- the elastic contact portion 144 is, for example, a metal piece formed into a spring but may be of a different material, such as a conductive rubber.
- the brackets 140 and 142 are mounted to an extension or the like such that the distance L 2 between the walls of the upper bracket 140 and the lower bracket 142 on the left side (back side) is slightly smaller than the length L 1 (see FIG. 7A ) of the organic EL panel 130 in the longitudinal direction.
- FIGS. 9A and 9B are sectional views illustrating a process of mounting the organic EL panel 130 to the brackets 140 and 142 , taken along the line D-D and the line E-E, respectively, indicated in FIG. 7B .
- the projections 134 on the upper side of the organic EL panel 130 are first plugged into the concave portion in the upper bracket 140 .
- the projections 134 on the upper side depress the elastic contact portions 144 provided in the concave portion in the upper bracket 140 .
- the projections 134 are pushed deep inside the concave portion in the upper bracket 140 , and the projection 136 on the lower side can then be plugged into the lower bracket 142 .
- FIGS. 10A and 10B are sectional views illustrating the organic EL panel 130 mounted to the brackets 140 and 142 , taken along the line D-D and the line E-E, respectively, indicated in FIG. 7B .
- a gap is present between the upper end of the organic EL panel 130 and the base of the concave portion in the upper bracket 140 at the position on the line D-D.
- a contact between the feeder portion 134 a formed in the projection 134 on the upper side and the elastic contact portion 144 is retained at the position on the line E-E.
- the organic EL panel 130 is pressed against the lower bracket 142 by the biasing force of the elastic contact portions 144 , and thus the organic EL panel 130 can be firmly fixed.
- the elastic contact portions that make contact with the feeder portions of the organic EL panel are provided in the concave portion in the bracket, which renders it unnecessary to wire a feeder cord in the concave portion and facilitates mounting of the organic EL panel to the brackets.
- the elastic contact portions are provided with both a function of supplying electric power to the organic EL panel and a function of fixing the organic EL panel, and thus the structure of the brackets can be simplified. Accordingly, the thickness of the brackets can be reduced.
- FIG. 11 is an illustration for describing a method of fixing an organic EL panel according to another example of the present embodiment.
- the upper bracket and the lower bracket need to be fabricated in accordance with the outer peripheral shape of the organic EL panel.
- the upper bracket or the lower bracket needs to have a concave shape that fits the curve.
- the organic EL panel has a complex outer peripheral shape, it can be difficult to plug the projections into the brackets.
- FIG. 11A is a perspective view of an organic EL panel 150 according to the present example.
- a lance 151 is formed on each of the upper side and the lower side of the organic EL panel 150 .
- the lances 151 have inclined surfaces that are inclined in the same direction.
- the lances 151 can be formed on one or both of the front glass substrate 12 and the rear glass substrate 22 illustrated in FIG. 1 .
- the stacked layers of the anode layer 14 through the cathode layer 20 may or may not be formed in the lances 151 .
- FIG. 11B is a perspective view of fixing brackets 152 according to the present example.
- Each fixing bracket 152 includes a concave portion 152 a formed by two opposing walls, a mounting portion 152 b in which a mounting hole for mounting the bracket is provided, and a lance hole 152 c formed in the base of the concave portion 152 a .
- the width (width in the horizontal direction of the drawing) of the lance hole 152 c is slightly larger than the width of the lance 151 .
- Two fixing brackets 152 of the same shape are mounted to an extension of a vehicle lamp (not illustrated). At this point, the fixing brackets 152 are mounted such that the distance L 4 between the bases of the concave portions in the upper and lower brackets 152 is slightly larger than the length L 3 of the organic EL panel 150 in the longitudinal direction.
- the organic EL panel 150 When the organic EL panel 150 is to be mounted to the brackets 152 , the organic EL panel 150 is slid in the direction indicated by the arrow 154 . When the lances 151 abut against the fixing brackets 152 , the brackets elastically deform slightly, and the lances 151 are received into the lance holes 152 c . In this manner, the organic EL panel 150 can be fixed by the pair of fixing brackets 152 .
- FIG. 12 illustrates a modification of the fixing bracket.
- this fixing bracket 156 slits 156 b are formed at respective sides of a lance hole 156 a .
- One of both of the upper and lower brackets 152 illustrated in FIG. 11B may be replaced with the fixing bracket(s) 156 having the slits.
- FIG. 13 is a perspective view illustrating a fixing bracket 160 in which an elastic contact portion is embedded
- FIG. 14 is a sectional view of the bracket 160 taken along a horizontal plane.
- the fixing bracket 160 includes a concave portion 166 extending in the longitudinal direction, a lance hole 162 , and a terminal insertion portion 164 adjacent to the lance hole 162 .
- a concave housing portion 164 a is formed in the wall underneath the terminal insertion portion 164 , and a spring elastic contact portion 168 is housed in the housing portion 164 a .
- the elastic contact portion 168 is electrically connected to the terminal insertion portion 164 .
- the terminal insertion portion 164 has a shape that allows a feeder terminal of a predetermined standard to be inserted thereinto.
- the single fixing bracket 160 can fix the organic EL panel and can also supply electric power to the organic EL panel.
- One of both of the upper and lower brackets 152 illustrated in FIG. 11B may be replaced with the fixing bracket(s) 160 .
- FIG. 15 is a conceptual diagram for describing an arrangement of fixing brackets configured to fit organic EL panels of various outer shapes.
- a plurality of lances 172 are formed on the outer periphery of an organic EL panel 170 having an outer shape that is not rectangular.
- Fixing brackets are mounted on an extension 176 of the vehicle lamp such that the same number of lance holes 174 as the number of the lances 172 are disposed so as to match the positions of the lances 172 .
- the organic EL panel 170 is slid in the direction indicated by the arrow in FIG. 15 , the four lances 172 engage with the respective lance holes 174 , and the organic EL panel 170 can be fixed.
- FIG. 16A is a perspective view for describing a method of fixing an organic EL panel according to yet another example of the present embodiment.
- a fixing bracket 180 is mounted in a lamp cabinet for a vehicle lamp (not illustrated).
- the fixing bracket 180 has a concave portion 184 formed therein for receiving the lower side of an organic EL panel 200 .
- a plurality of through-holes 186 are formed in one of the walls forming the concave portion 184 .
- an electrical connection portion 192 is disposed in the concave portion 184 in the fixing bracket 180 .
- the electrical connection portion 192 includes an elastic contact portion (see FIG. 18 ).
- the organic EL panel 200 is inserted into the concave portion 184 in the fixing bracket 180 . Thereafter, an adhesive is injected into the concave portion 184 through the through-holes 186 . Thus, the organic EL panel 200 is fixed to the fixing bracket 180 .
- a portion of the organic EL panel 200 is fixed to the fixing bracket 180 with an adhesive, and thus the organic EL panel can be fixed without providing the brackets on the entire periphery of the organic EL panel.
- FIGS. 17A and 17B illustrate usage examples of the fixation method illustrated in FIG. 16 .
- FIG. 17A only two sides of a square organic EL panel 230 are fixed to a fixing bracket 232 with an adhesive, and the remaining two sides are left exposed.
- FIG. 17B only approximately one-third of the periphery of a circular organic EL panel 240 is fixed to a fixing bracket 242 with an adhesive, and the remaining peripheral portion is left exposed.
- the exposed portion can look as if it is floating.
- FIG. 18 illustrates another usage example of the fixation method illustrated in FIG. 16 .
- a fixing bracket 180 having a bent portion 187 is fixed to a housing 190 of a lamp with a screw or the like.
- An organic EL panel 200 is fixed to the fixing bracket 180 with an adhesive.
- the organic EL panel 200 can be disposed so as to be inclined in a lamp cabinet 250 for a lamp.
- a different feeder structure such as soldering fixation, may be used.
- FIG. 19 illustrates a connection between the electrical connection portion 192 and the organic EL panel.
- a feeder portion 202 electrically connected to the anode layer of the organic EL panel and a feeder portion 204 electrically connected to the cathode layer are formed on the back surface of the organic EL panel 200 , and the feeder portions 202 and 204 make contact with the electrical connection portions 192 upon being inserted into the concave portion 184 in the fixing bracket 180 .
- FIG. 20 is a perspective view illustrating a more detailed structure of the electrical connection portion 192
- FIG. 21 is a sectional view of the electrical connection portion 192 taken along a direction orthogonal to the longitudinal axis.
- the electrical connection portion 192 includes an elastic contact portion 210 and a case 216 .
- the elastic contact portion 210 is connected to a feeder cord 214 through, for example, a caulking member 212 .
- the elastic contact portion 210 is formed by bending a metal plate so as to have a substantially f-shaped cross-section. A plurality of slits are formed in one side of the elastic contact portion 210 , and portions 210 b divided by the slits each function as an independent spring.
- the elastic contact portion 210 is housed in a concave portion 218 formed in the case 216 and is fixed therein with an adhesive or the like injected through an opening 220 .
- the elastic contact portion 210 may be directly connected to a substrate, such as a flexible printed circuit (FPC).
- FPC flexible printed circuit
- the feeder portions 202 and 204 provided on the organic EL panel 200 enter the interior of the elastic contact portion 210 .
- the feeder portions 202 and 204 become electrically connected to the elastic contact portion 210 , and the organic EL panel 200 is fixed by the biasing force of the elastic contact portion 210 .
- the elastic contact portion constituted by a metal plate is used, and thus electric power can be supplied reliably to the organic EL panel.
- the elastic contact portion is invisible from the outside because of the case 216 , and thus the appearance of the lamp improves.
- a single organic EL panel is fixed by a single framing member.
- a plurality organic EL panels disposed side by side can be fixed by a single framing member.
- an organic EL panel has been described above, but the shape of an organic EL panel is not particularly limited, and any desired shape can be employed. In such a case, a framing member or a rear cover is formed to fit the outer shape of an organic EL panel.
- the vehicle lamp according to each of the embodiments described above can be used, for example, as a clearance lamp, a daytime lamp, a turn-signal lamp, a tail lamp, a stop lamp, or the like.
- an organic EL panel may be curved or bent by using, instead of a glass substrate, an ultrathin glass or a transparent resin that can accommodate to a curved surface.
- a resin or metal reinforcement may be affixed to an end of the organic EL panel.
- the present embodiment also includes the following configurations.
- a vehicle lamp comprising:
- planar light-emitting structure having a substrate on which an organic EL emission portion is provided;
- a fixing member that fixes the planar light-emitting structure inside a lamp cabinet for the vehicle lamp
- a feeder portion for supplying electric power to the organic EL emission portion being provided at a portion of a periphery of the planar light-emitting structure, wherein
- the fixing member includes
- an elastic contact portion that is provided in the concave portion and that makes contact with the feeder portion.
- planar light-emitting structure is fixed inside the concave portion by a biasing force of the elastic contact portion.
- the plurality of fixing members are disposed inside the lamp cabinet in accordance with an outer peripheral shape of the planar light-emitting structure.
- a lance is provided on an outer periphery of the planar light-emitting structure
- a lance hole that engages with the lance is provided in a base of the concave portion in the fixing member.
- the elastic contact portion is disposed in the concave portion
- the elastic contact portion is then fixed by injecting an adhesive into the concave portion.
- JP2013-45523 discloses a vehicle lamp in which a flat surface light source constituted by a flexible belt-like light-emitting material is installed in a lamp cabinet formed by a housing and a translucent cover.
- an anode feeder portion and a cathode feeder portion are disposed on the rear side of an organic EL panel along the outer periphery of the panel, and an anisotropic conductive adhesive film is used to couple these feeder portions to a flexible circuit (FPC) that supplies electric power from the outside.
- FPC flexible circuit
- Embodiment 3 addresses such issues and is directed to providing a technique by which the shape of a substrate, such as a flexible circuit, for supplying electric power to a planar light-emitting structure is simplified and the reliability of a lamp increases in a vehicle lamp that includes a planar light-emitting structure, such as an organic EL panel.
- FIG. 22 is a schematic perspective view of a vehicle lamp 400 according to Embodiment 3 of the present invention.
- the vehicle lamp 400 includes a planar light-emitting structure 10 such as the organic EL panel illustrated in FIG. 1 , a fixing member 330 that fixes and supports the planar light-emitting structure inside a lamp cabinet, and a flexible circuit 350 for supplying electric power to the planar light-emitting structure 10 .
- An anode feeder portion (not illustrated) electrically connected to the anode layer of the planar light-emitting structure and a cathode feeder portion (not illustrated) electrically connected to the cathode layer of the planar light-emitting structure are formed on the back surface of the planar light-emitting structure 10 .
- a three-layer MAM consisting of MoO 3 /Al/MoO 3 is typically used for these feeder portions, but MoO 3 /Ag/MoO 3 may also be used. Since the feeder portions of MAM cannot be soldered, the flexible circuit 350 is bonded to these feeder portions by using an anisotropic conductive adhesive film.
- a rib 332 having a mounting hole formed therein for mounting the fixing member 330 to a housing (not illustrated) for the vehicle lamp is provided on the fixing member 330 .
- the vehicle lamp 400 is used, for example, as a marker lamp, such as a clearance lamp, a daytime lamp, a turn-signal lamp, a tail lamp, or a stop lamp.
- FIG. 23A is a longitudinal sectional view taken along the line F-F indicated in FIG. 22
- FIG. 23B is a longitudinal sectional view taken along the line G-G indicated in FIG. 22
- the fixing member 330 includes a concave portion 336 that extends along the outer periphery of the planar light-emitting structure and that supports the outer periphery and a base 334 that opposes the back surface of the planar light-emitting structure 10 .
- one or a plurality of convex portions 338 and drain holes 340 are formed in the concave portion 336 on the lower side. These will be described later with reference to FIG. 30 .
- FIG. 24A is a schematic plan view illustrating an arrangement of feeder portions on the back surface of a planar light-emitting structure 360 according to a conventional technique
- FIG. 24B is a schematic plan view illustrating a flexible circuit 366 to be bonded to feeder portions.
- a transparent conductive film having a high resistance is typically used as an anode layer of a planar light-emitting structure. Therefore, in order to make the current density in an organic EL emission layer as uniform as possible and to reduce the luminance unevenness, it is preferable that the area of an anode feeder portion that supplies electric power to the anode layer be as large as possible.
- planar light-emitting structure 360 when the planar light-emitting structure 360 is rectangular, for example, two anode feeder portions 362 extending linearly are disposed on two opposing sides, and two cathode feeder portions 364 extending linearly are disposed on the remaining two sides. Furthermore, the terminals of each anode feeder portion 362 are bent so that the anode feeder portion 362 becomes longer than the cathode feeder portion 364 , and thus the area of the anode feeder portions is increased with respect to the area of the cathode feeder portions.
- the flexible circuit 366 needs to be in contact with the terminal portions of both the anode feeder portions and the cathode feeder portions.
- the flexible circuit 366 needs to be formed into a complex shape that extends in a substantially U-shape along the outer periphery of the planar light-emitting structure 360 , as illustrated in FIG. 24B .
- the thin flexible circuit is structured to extend along the outer periphery of the planar light-emitting structure, the flexible circuit easily peels off from the feeder portions, leading to a problem in that electric power is fed poorly or the fabrication cost of the flexible circuit increases.
- the area of the anode feeder portion of the planar light-emitting structure is increased to reduce the luminance unevenness, and an arrangement of feeder portions that increases the reliability of bonding with the flexible circuit is provided.
- FIG. 25 illustrates an exemplary arrangement of feeder portions on the back surface of a planar light-emitting structure according to the present embodiment.
- a linear anode feeder portion 372 and a linear cathode feeder portion 374 are provided along the outer periphery of the back surface of the planar light-emitting structure 10 .
- a single anode feeder portion 372 and a single cathode feeder portion 374 are provided.
- the anode feeder portion 372 has a substantially U-shape that extends along three sides of the outer periphery of the rectangular planar light-emitting structure 10 and extends into the remaining one side at the right and left ends thereof.
- the cathode feeder portion 374 extends linearly along the remaining one side. Consequently, two terminal portions 372 a and 372 b of the anode feeder portion 372 and two terminal portions 374 a and 374 b of the cathode feeder portion 374 are all located on the lower side of the planar light-emitting structure 10 .
- the anode feeder portion 372 When measured along the outer periphery of the planar light-emitting structure 10 , the anode feeder portion 372 is much longer than the cathode feeder portion 374 . As the anode feeder portion is made longer than the cathode feeder portion in this manner, the area of the anode feeder portion is further increased, and the luminance unevenness of the planar light-emitting structure can be reduced as compared to the conventional example.
- FIG. 26 is a schematic plan view illustrating an example of a flexible circuit 350 to be bonded to the planar light-emitting structure 10 illustrated in FIG. 25 .
- the two terminal portions 372 a and 372 b of the anode feeder portion 372 and the two terminal portions 374 a and 374 b of the cathode feeder portion 374 are concentrated on the lower side of the planar light-emitting structure 10 , and thus the flexible circuit 350 to be connected to the anode feeder portion 372 and the cathode feeder portion 374 may have a simple linear shape that extends along the lower side of the planar light-emitting structure.
- the flexible circuit 350 is formed such that one end 350 a of the flexible circuit 350 connects to the terminal portion 372 a of the anode feeder portion 372 and the terminal portion 374 a of the cathode feeder portion 374 and the other end 350 b of the flexible circuit 350 connects to the terminal portion 372 b of the anode feeder portion 372 and the terminal portion 374 b of the cathode feeder portion 374 .
- the material cost and the fabrication cost of the flexible circuit are reduced.
- the flexible circuit is less likely to peel off since the bonding area is small. Consequently, the reliability in supplying electric power increases.
- FIG. 27 is a schematic plan view illustrating another exemplary arrangement of feeder portions on the back surface of the planar light-emitting structure 10 .
- a second anode feeder portion 376 that extends along the lower side of the planar light-emitting structure 10 is provided.
- the anode feeder portions include a portion formed annularly along the outer periphery of the planar light-emitting structure 10 .
- the area of the anode feeder portions is further increased, and thus the luminance unevenness can be further reduced.
- electric power can be supplied to the planar light-emitting structure by using the flexible circuit 350 illustrated in FIG. 26 .
- FIG. 28 illustrates a schematic configuration to be employed when a plurality of planar light-emitting structures 402 , 404 , and 406 are installed in a lamp cabinet for a vehicle lamp.
- flexible circuits 352 , 354 , and 356 are bonded to the lower sides of the respective emitters, and wires 352 a , 354 a , and 356 a to the power source are oriented in the same direction.
- the flexible circuits can be bonded to one another with ease.
- planar light-emitting structures By combining the plurality planar light-emitting structures as described above to increase the illuminance, the planar light-emitting structures can also be used as a headlamp.
- FIGS. 29A through 29C illustrate exemplary arrangements of an anode feeder portion and a cathode feeder portion in planar light-emitting structures of various shapes.
- FIG. 29A illustrates a case in which a planar light-emitting structure 380 is trapezoidal. As in the case of a rectangular planar light-emitting structure, an anode feeder portion 382 and a cathode feeder portion 384 are formed on the outer periphery of the planar light-emitting structure 380 such that the terminal portions of the anode feeder portion 382 and the cathode feeder portion 384 are located on the lower side.
- FIG. 29B illustrates a case in which a planar light-emitting structure 390 has an irregular shape.
- an anode feeder portion 392 and a cathode feeder portion 394 may be formed on the outer periphery of the planar light-emitting structure 390 such that the terminal portions of the anode feeder portion 392 and the cathode feeder portion 394 are normally located on the lower side.
- FIG. 29C illustrates a case in which a planar light-emitting structure 410 is circular.
- an anode feeder portion 412 and a cathode feeder portion 414 are formed on the outer periphery of the planar light-emitting structure 410 such that the terminal portions of the anode feeder portion 412 and the cathode feeder portion 414 are located in an arc portion on the lower side (e.g., with a center angle of 90°)
- the anode feeder portion can be formed annularly by providing an additional anode feeder portion described with reference to FIG. 27 .
- FIGS. 30A and 30B are enlarged views of a portion marked by K in FIG. 23B .
- the feeder portions on the planar light-emitting structure 10 and the flexible circuit 350 are coupled on the lower side of the planar light-emitting structure.
- the feeder portions on the planar light-emitting structure 10 and the flexible circuit 350 are bonded with an anisotropic conductive adhesive film 342 .
- the drain holes 340 are formed at appropriate intervals in the concave portion 336 in the fixing member 330 on a side along the lower side. With this configuration, the possibility that condensed water accumulates in the concave portion 336 and the adhesive film 342 is soaked in the water to lose the bonding is reduced.
- the convex portion 338 having a flat top be formed on the base 334 of the fixing member 330 at a position corresponding to a position at which the adhesive film 342 is bonded to a feeder portion on the planar light-emitting structure.
- This convex portion 338 presses the bonded portion, the flexible circuit 350 is less likely to peel off, and the reliability in supplying electric power increases.
- This convex portion 338 may extend linearly in the horizontal direction along the bonded portion, or a plurality short convex portions may be provided at appropriate intervals.
- a planar light-emitting structure and a flexible circuit are bonded with an anisotropic conductive adhesive film interposed therebetween.
- the inventors of the present application have devised the following two methods as alternatives to the above method.
- Method 1 Bonding surfaces of a feeder portion on a planar light-emitting structure and of a flexible circuit are subjected to surface treatment through Au plating, Sn plating, or Cu plating, and the two bonding surfaces are bonded by soldering.
- Method 2 Bonding surfaces of a feeder portion on a planar light-emitting structure and of a flexible circuit are subjected to surface treatment through Au plating, Sn plating, or Cu plating, and the two bonding surfaces are bonded by using ultrasonic vibrations.
- FIG. 31A is a schematic plan view of the back surface (i.e., surface opposite to the light-emitting surface) of another planar light-emitting structure 486 to be used in a vehicle lamp.
- This planar light-emitting structure 486 is fixed and supported in a lamp cabinet for a vehicle lamp by a fixing member (not illustrated), as in the planar light-emitting structure 10 described with reference to FIG. 1 .
- An anode feeder portion 482 electrically connected to the anode layer of the planar light-emitting structure and a cathode feeder portion 484 electrically connected to the cathode layer of the planar light-emitting structure are provided on the back surface of the planar light-emitting structure 486 .
- a three-layer MAM consisting of Mo—Al—Mo is typically used for these feeder portions, but Mo—Ag—Mo, Cr—Al—Cr, or the like may also be used.
- the linear anode feeder portion 482 and the linear cathode feeder portion 484 are provided along the outer periphery of the back surface of the planar light-emitting structure 486 .
- the anode feeder portion 482 has a substantially U-shape that extends along three sides of the outer periphery of the rectangular planar light-emitting structure 486 and includes two terminal portions 482 a that extend into the remaining one side at the right and left ends thereof.
- the cathode feeder portion 484 extends along the remaining one side. Consequently, the two terminal portions 482 a of the anode feeder portion 482 and the cathode feeder portion 484 are located on the lower side of the planar light-emitting structure 486 .
- the anode feeder portion 482 When measured along the outer periphery of the planar light-emitting structure 486 , the anode feeder portion 482 is much longer than the cathode feeder portion 484 . As the anode feeder portion is longer than the cathode feeder portion in this manner, the area of the anode feeder portion is further increased, and the luminance unevenness of the planar light-emitting structure can be reduced as compared to the conventional technique.
- FIG. 31B is a schematic plan view of a flexible circuit 490 to be bonded to the planar light-emitting structure 486 illustrated in FIG. 31A .
- the flexible circuit 490 is substantially T-shaped and includes a linear terminal disposition portion 493 in which two anode terminals 492 electrically connected to the respective terminal portions 482 a of the anode feeder portion 482 and a cathode terminal 494 electrically connected to the cathode feeder portion 484 are provided and a connection portion 491 in which a conductor formation connecting the anode terminals 492 and the cathode terminal 494 to an external power source connector 497 is formed.
- Anisotropic conductive adhesive films are interposed between the two terminal portions 482 a of the anode feeder portion 482 and the anode terminals 492 and between the cathode feeder portion 484 and the cathode terminal 494 , and thus the planar light-emitting structure 486 and the flexible circuit 490 are bonded to each other as illustrated in FIG. 31C .
- FIG. 32A is an enlarged view of the terminal disposition portion 493 of the flexible circuit 490 illustrated in FIG. 31B .
- the anode terminals 492 are disposed at respective ends of the terminal disposition portion 493
- the cathode terminal 494 is disposed around the intersection of the terminal disposition portion 493 and the connection portion 491 .
- Conductor formations 496 are connected to the anode terminals 492
- a conductor formation 498 is connected to the cathode terminal 494 .
- the conductor formations 496 and 498 extend through the terminal disposition portion 493 and the connection portion 491 of the flexible circuit 490 .
- the anode terminals, the cathode terminal, and the conductor formations are formed as formations on the flexible circuit through a well-known method.
- the anode terminals 492 are provided so as to match the positions of the terminal portions 482 a of the anode feeder portion 482 that are disposed at respective ends of the lower side of the planar light-emitting structure 486 . Therefore, as can be seen from FIG. 32A , a free area 495 in which no formation is constituted is present between each anode terminal 492 and the cathode terminal 494 .
- FIG. 32B is a schematic sectional view taken along the line H-H indicated in FIG. 32A , and illustrates a state in which the flexible circuit 490 is affixed to the back surface of the planar light-emitting structure 486 with the anisotropic conductive adhesive film 483 interposed therebetween.
- the surfaces of the anode terminals 492 and the cathode terminal 494 formed as formations on the flexible circuit 490 are higher than the surface of the free areas 495 in which no formation is constituted.
- pressure is applied (e.g., by using a pressure-bonding head) in the direction indicated by the arrows in FIG. 31B when the flexible circuit 490 is affixed to the planar light-emitting structure 486 , the pressure is not applied to the anisotropic conductive adhesive film 483 uniformly due to the projections of the anode terminals 492 and the cathode terminal 494 .
- the strength of bonding by the anisotropic conductive adhesive film is weaker in the free areas 495 than in the anode terminals 492 and the cathode terminal 494 .
- An air space is formed between the flexible circuit 490 and the planar light-emitting structure 486 at a portion where the bonding strength is weak. Moisture can enter this air space during a high-temperature high-humidity test of a vehicle lamp or while the vehicle is running, which can cause the flexible circuit to peel off.
- FIG. 33 is an enlarged view of a terminal disposition portion 423 of a flexible circuit 420 improved to prevent the peeling according to another example of the present embodiment.
- a non-current-carrying dummy formation 425 is constituted between each anode terminal 422 and a cathode terminal 424 .
- the dummy formations 425 are constituted as formations simultaneously when the anode terminals 422 and the cathode terminal 424 are constituted, but the dummy formations 425 are not electrically connected to conductor formations 426 and 428 , and thus electricity is not passed to the dummy formations 425 .
- the pressure can be applied uniformly on the anisotropic conductive adhesive film because of the dummy formations 425 , and thus the anode terminals, the cathode terminal, and the dummy formations are bonded uniformly to the planar light-emitting structure. Therefore, an air space is less likely to be formed between the flexible circuit and the planar light-emitting structure. Consequently, a situation in which moisture enters an air space during a high-temperature high-humidity test of the vehicle lamp or while the vehicle is running is prevented, and thus the flexible circuit can be prevented from peeling off.
- the formations be constituted continuously so that no free area is present between the dummy formations 425 and the anode terminals 422 and cathode terminal 424 .
- the reason for this is that, if even a slight free area is present, an air space is likely to be formed at that portion.
- the dummy formations 425 , the anode terminals 422 , and the cathode terminal 424 have substantially the same film thickness. When there is a different in the film thickness, an air space is likely to be formed at a portion where the thickness changes.
- patterns of the dummy formations 425 , the anode terminals 422 , and the cathode terminal 424 have substantially the same pitch. This makes it possible to eliminate a variation in the bonding strength caused by a variation in pitch.
- FIG. 34A is an enlarged view of a terminal disposition portion 433 of a flexible circuit 430 improved for an inspection according to another example of the present embodiment. As illustrated in FIG. 34A , a pair of terminals 435 for checking the connection is added to each anode terminal 432 , and a pair of terminals 437 for checking the connection is added to a cathode terminal 434 .
- FIG. 34B is a schematic sectional view taken along the line I-I indicated in FIG. 34A , and illustrates a state in which the flexible circuit 430 is affixed to the back surface of the planar light-emitting structure 486 with the anisotropic conductive adhesive film 483 interposed therebetween.
- the terminals 435 and 437 for checking the connection are connected to some formations of the anode terminals 432 and the cathode terminal 434 , respectively, and penetrate through the flexible circuit 430 so as to be exposed in a side opposite to the terminals.
- the planar light-emitting structure and the flexible circuit that have been bonded can be inspected nondestructively, and the inspection is simple. Thus, a total inspection can be carried out.
- the examples described with reference to FIGS. 33 and 34 can be used in combination. Specifically, the dummy formation 425 illustrated in FIG. 33 may be formed between the anode terminal 432 and the cathode terminal 434 illustrated in FIG. 34 .
- linear terminal disposition portions in which the anode terminals and the cathode terminals are disposed have been described in the examples described with reference to FIGS. 33 and 34 , but the terminals may partially have shapes other than a straight line.
- these examples can also be applied to an arc-shaped flexible circuit that is electrically connected to an anode feeder portion and a cathode feeder portion such as those illustrated in FIG. 29C .
- Vehicle lamps in which a light-emitting diode (LED) is used as a light source is known to have a problem in that static electricity that has accumulated in an outer cover or a projection lens of a lamp can jump to the LED, causing the LED to malfunction.
- countermeasures have been taken by, for example, grounding members, such as an extension, disposed around an LED.
- a planar light-emitting structure such as an organic EL panel
- a planar light-emitting structure is comparatively larger than an LED, and thus such countermeasures as those taken against static electricity in an LED are considered to be insufficient.
- FIG. 35A is a schematic plan view of the back side (i.e., surface opposite from the light-emitting surface) of a planar light-emitting structure 450 in which a countermeasure against static electricity is taken according to another example of the present embodiment.
- An anode feeder portion 452 electrically connected to the anode layer of the planar light-emitting structure and a cathode feeder portion 454 electrically connected to the cathode layer of the planar light-emitting structure are provided on the back surface of the planar light-emitting structure 450 .
- a flexible circuit (not illustrated) is bonded onto the anode feeder portion 452 and the cathode feeder portion 454 with an anisotropic conductive adhesive film interposed therebetween.
- a thin metal film 468 is provided on the back surface of the planar light-emitting structure 450 so as to cover a substantial portion thereof, and the metal film 468 is either grounded ( 470 ) or connected to a negative wire ( 472 ).
- the metal film 468 covers a substantial portion of the planar light-emitting structure and is thus particularly effective as a countermeasure against static electricity.
- the metal film 468 also helps to improve the heat dissipation performance of the planar light-emitting structure 450 .
- the shape or the thickness of the metal film 468 may partially be varied (e.g., the thickness is increased at a portion with higher heat radiation) so that the temperature distribution on the surface of the planar light-emitting structure 450 becomes uniform.
- the metal film 468 can be formed by affixing a foil-like metal film on the rear glass substrate 22 in the configuration of the planar light-emitting structure illustrated in FIG. 1 or through metal vapor deposition. In either case, the metal film can be affixed or deposited after a flexible circuit is affixed to the feeder portions on the planar light-emitting structure. Accordingly, an increase in the fabrication cost can be suppressed.
- anode feeder portion 452 and the cathode feeder portion 454 to which the flexible circuit is bonded another pair of an anode feeder portion 462 and a cathode feeder portion 464 may be provided (e.g., on a side opposite to the planar light-emitting structure), and a Zener diode 466 may be provided so as to connect these feeder portions.
- the Zener diode 466 is connected so as to be a reverse bias to the planar light-emitting structure 450 (see FIG. 35B ).
- a Zener diode may be provided on the flexible circuit that is bonded onto the anode feeder portion 452 and the cathode feeder portion 454 . With this configuration, no separate feeder portion for a Zener diode needs to be provided on the planar light-emitting structure, and thus the cost can be reduced.
- One or both of the metal film 468 and the Zener diode 466 described above may be provided.
- these structures can also be applied to the other examples described above in a similar manner.
- the positions of the anode feeder portion 372 and the cathode feeder portion 374 may be vertically inverted, and the terminal portions 372 a and 372 b of the anode feeder portion 372 and the terminal portions 374 a and 374 b of the cathode feeder portion 374 may be located on the upper side of the planar light-emitting structure.
- the positions of the anode feeder portion and the cathode feeder portion may be vertically inverted.
- the anode feeder portion and the cathode feeder portion may be located on a lateral side.
- a flexible circuit is used to supply electric power to the planar light-emitting structure.
- a substrate having an inflexible structure, such as a printed circuit may be used.
- a planar light-emitting structure may be curved or bent by using, instead of a glass substrate, an ultrathin glass or a transparent resin that can accommodate to a curved surface.
- the arrangement of the anode wiring and the cathode wiring, the use of the fixing members, the convex portions provided on the base of the fixing members, and so on can be applied in a similar manner to those in the case of a flat planar light-emitting structure.
- the present embodiment also includes the following configurations.
- a Vehicle Lamp Comprising:
- a planar light-emitting structure having a first substrate on which an organic EL emission portion is formed, a single linear anode feeder portion and a single linear cathode feeder portion electrically connected to the organic EL emission portion being provided on a back surface along an outer periphery thereof;
- a second substrate connected to the planar light-emitting structure so as to make contact with the anode feeder portion and the cathode feeder portion
- the anode feeder portion being longer than the cathode feeder portion when measured along the outer periphery of the planar light-emitting structure.
- the second substrate is configured to make contact with two terminal portions of the anode feeder portion located on the outer periphery of the planar light-emitting structure.
- the anode feeder portion has a portion that is formed in an annular shape along the outer periphery of the planar light-emitting structure.
- terminal portions of the anode feeder portion and of the cathode feeder portion are provided so as to be located on one side of the planar light-emitting structure, and
- the second substrate is disposed along the one side of the planar light-emitting structure so as to make contact with all of the terminal portions.
- the base having a convex portion provided at a position corresponding to a portion at which the anode feeder portion or the cathode feeder portion is connected to the second substrate.
- the second substrate is connected to a lower side of the planar light-emitting structure
- a hole is formed in the concave portion at a portion located on the lower side.
- the second substrate is a flexible circuit.
- a current-carrying wiring formation that makes contact with the anode feeder portion or the cathode feeder portion and that passes electricity thereto and a non-current-carrying dummy formation that does not pass electricity are formed on the second substrate, and
- the current-carrying wiring formation and the non-current-carrying dummy formation have a substantially identical film thickness.
- a Zener diode is interposed between the anode feeder portion and the cathode feeder portion.
- stress exerted on a substrate for a planar light-emitting structure can be reduced in a vehicle lamp provided with a planar light-emitting structure.
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- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
- Microelectronics & Electronic Packaging (AREA)
- Optics & Photonics (AREA)
- Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
- Electroluminescent Light Sources (AREA)
- Non-Portable Lighting Devices Or Systems Thereof (AREA)
- Fastening Of Light Sources Or Lamp Holders (AREA)
Abstract
A vehicle lamp includes a planar light-emitting structure having a substrate on which an organic EL emission element is provided, a framing member that fixes the planar light-emitting structure inside a vehicle-lamp light cabinet, and an elastic member that is interposed between the planar light-emitting structure and the framing member and that fixes the planar light-emitting structure by its biasing force.
Description
- This application is based upon and claims the benefit of priority from prior Japanese Patent Application No. 2013-267689, filed on Dec. 25, 2013, Japanese Patent Application No. 2014-020576, filed on Feb. 5, 2014, Japanese Patent Application No. 2014-024494, filed on Feb. 12, 2014, Japanese Patent Application No. 2014-199841, filed on Sep. 30, 2014, and International Patent Application No. PCT/JP2014/083879, filed on Dec. 22, 2014, the entire content of each of which is incorporated herein by reference.
- 1. Field of the Invention
- The present invention relates to vehicle lamps including planar light-emitting structures.
- 2. Description of the Related Art
- Vehicle lamps in which planar light-emitting structures, such as organic EL panels, are used as light sources are known. Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2013-45523 discloses a technique for anchoring a planar light-emitting structure by fitting it into a bracket (bezel) in the form of a frame shaped to fit the outer peripheral geometry of the planar light-emitting structure.
- Currently, glass substrates are often used as substrates for organic EL panels. Consequently, vehicular implementations in which the organic EL panel is anchored by, for example, being tightened down with screws risk damaging the substrate by the great stress that vehicular vibrations produce in the substrate.
- The present invention has been made to address such issues, and is directed to providing a fixing technique by which stress exerted on a substrate for a planar light-emitting structure is reduced in a vehicle lamp provided with a planar light-emitting structure.
- A vehicle lamp according to an aspect of the present invention includes a planar light-emitting structure having a substrate on which an organic EL emission portion is provided, a framing member that fixes the planar light-emitting structure inside a vehicle-lamp light cabinet, and an elastic member that is interposed between the planar light-emitting structure and the framing member, where the elastic member fixes the planar light-emitting structure by its biasing force.
- Embodiments will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings that are meant to be exemplary, not limiting, and wherein like elements are numbered alike in several figures, in which:
-
FIG. 1 is a sectional view illustrating a schematic configuration of an organic EL panel (planar light-emitting structure) to be used in each of the embodiments of the present invention; -
FIGS. 2A and 2B are schematic sectional views of a light source unit that includes an organic EL panel in a vehicle lamp according to an embodiment of the present invention,FIG. 2C is a front view of the light source unit, andFIG. 2D is a perspective view of a framing member; -
FIG. 3A is a schematic sectional view of a light source unit that includes an organic EL panel in a vehicle lamp according to another example,FIG. 3B illustrates an elastic member, andFIG. 3C is a perspective view of a framing member; -
FIG. 4 is an assembly diagram of a light source unit that includes an organic EL panel in a vehicle lamp according to yet another example; -
FIG. 5 is a rear perspective view of the assembled light source unit; -
FIG. 6 is a sectional view of the light source unit taken along the line C-C indicated inFIG. 5 ; -
FIG. 7A is a plan view of an organic EL panel according to another embodiment of the present invention, andFIG. 7B is a plan view of brackets that fix the organic EL panel; -
FIGS. 8A and 8B are sectional views of the brackets taken along the line D-D and the line E-E, respectively, indicated inFIG. 7B ; -
FIGS. 9A and 9B are sectional views illustrating a process of mounting the organic EL panel into the brackets; -
FIGS. 10A and 10B are sectional views of the organic EL panel mounted to the brackets; -
FIGS. 11A and 11B are illustrations for describing a method of fixing an organic EL panel according to another example; -
FIG. 12 illustrates a modification of the fixing bracket; -
FIG. 13 is a perspective view illustrating a fixing bracket in which a feeder portion is embedded; -
FIG. 14 is a sectional view of the fixing bracket illustrated inFIG. 13 taken along a horizontal plane; -
FIG. 15 is a conceptual diagram for describing an arrangement of fixing brackets configured to fit organic EL panels of various outer shapes; -
FIG. 16A is a perspective view for describing a method of fixing an organic EL panel according to yet another example,FIG. 16B is a sectional view of a fixing member, andFIG. 16C illustrates an arrangement of electrical connection portions in the fixing member; -
FIGS. 17A and 17B illustrate usage examples of the fixation method illustrated inFIG. 16 ; -
FIG. 18 illustrates another usage example of the fixation method illustrated inFIG. 16 ; -
FIG. 19 illustrates a connection between an electrical connection portion and an organic EL panel; -
FIG. 20 is a perspective view illustrating a more detailed structure of the electrical connection portion; -
FIG. 21 is a sectional view of the electrical connection portion taken along a direction orthogonal to the longitudinal axis; -
FIG. 22 is a schematic perspective view of a vehicle lamp according to yet another embodiment of the present invention; -
FIG. 23A is a longitudinal sectional view taken along the line F-F indicated inFIG. 22 , andFIG. 23B is a longitudinal sectional view taken along the line G-G indicated inFIG. 22 ; -
FIG. 24A is a schematic plan view illustrating an arrangement of feeder portions on the back surface of a planar light-emitting structure according to a conventional technique, andFIG. 24B is a schematic plan view illustrating a flexible circuit to be bonded to feeder portions; -
FIG. 25 illustrates an exemplary arrangement of feeder portions on the back surface of a planar light-emitting structure according to the present embodiment; -
FIG. 26 illustrates an example of a flexible circuit to be bonded to the planar light-emitting structure illustrated inFIG. 25 ; -
FIG. 27 is a schematic plan view illustrating another exemplary arrangement of feeder portions on the back surface of the planar light-emitting structure; -
FIG. 28 illustrates a schematic configuration to be employed when a plurality of planar light-emitting structures are installed in a lamp cabinet for a vehicle lamp; -
FIGS. 29A through 29C illustrate exemplary arrangements of an anode feeder portion and a cathode feeder portion in planar light-emitting structures of various shapes; -
FIGS. 30A and 30B are enlarged views of a portion marked by K inFIG. 23B ; -
FIG. 31A is a plan view of the back surface of a planar light-emitting structure to be used in another vehicle lamp,FIG. 31B is a plan view of a flexible circuit to be bonded to the planar light-emitting structure, andFIG. 31C illustrates a state in which the planar light-emitting structure and the flexible circuit are bonded to each other; -
FIG. 32A is an enlarged view of the terminal disposition portion of the flexible circuit illustrated inFIG. 31B , andFIG. 32B is a fragmentary sectional view thereof; -
FIG. 33 is an enlarged view of a terminal disposition portion of a flexible circuit according to another example; -
FIG. 34A is an enlarged view of a terminal disposition portion of a flexible circuit according to another example, andFIG. 34B is a fragmentary sectional view thereof; and -
FIG. 35A is a plan view of the back side of a planar light-emitting structure according to yet another example, andFIG. 35B is a schematic illustrating a Zener diode reverse-bias connected to the planar light-emitting structure (represented as a diode) ofFIG. 35A . -
FIG. 1 is a sectional view illustrating a schematic configuration of an organic EL panel (planar light-emitting structure) to be used in each of the embodiments of the present invention described hereinafter. Anorganic EL panel 10 has a structure in which ananode layer 14, which is a transparent conductive film (e.g., ITO), amicro-reflective metal layer 16, an organicEL emission layer 18, and acathode layer 20, which is a rear-side conductive film, are stacked between afront glass substrate 12 and arear glass substrate 22. - The stacked layers of the
anode layer 14 through thecathode layer 20 may be formed by stacking these layers on theglass substrate 12 or by stacking these layers on theglass substrate 22. In other words, the organicEL emission layer 18, which is an organic EL emission portion, may be formed over theglass substrate 12, or the organicEL emission layer 18, which is the organic EL emission portion, may be formed over theglass substrate 22. - The
micro-reflective metal layer 16 is disposed between theanode layer 14 and the organicEL emission layer 18, and thus a microcavity structure is formed. The distance between themicro-reflective metal layer 16 and thecathode layer 20 is selected in accordance with the wavelength of light emitted by the organicEL emission layer 18. With this microcavity structure, light emitted by the organicEL emission layer 18 is repeatedly reflected between themicro-reflective metal layer 16 and thecathode layer 20, and only a specific wavelength that resonates is amplified. Thus, the luminance of the emission portion can be increased. Theorganic EL panel 10 may be constituted without providing a micro-reflective metal layer between theanode layer 14 and the organicEL emission layer 18. -
FIGS. 2A and 2B are schematic sectional views of alight source unit 30 that includes an organic EL panel in a vehicle lamp according to an embodiment of the present invention, taken along the line A-A and the line B-B, respectively, indicated inFIG. 2C ; andFIG. 2C is a front view of thelight source unit 30. Thelight source unit 30 is fixed to ahousing 46 inside a lamp cabinet for a vehicle lamp (not illustrated). Thelight source unit 30 includes anorganic EL panel 32 such as the one illustrated inFIG. 1 , a framingmember 36, and arear cover 40. - The framing
member 36 is configured to have theorganic EL panel 32 fitted thereinto. The inner periphery of the framingmember 36 is slightly larger than the outer periphery of theorganic EL panel 32. -
FIG. 2D is a rear perspective view of the framingmember 36. As illustrated inFIG. 2D , the framingmember 36 includes aperipheral wall 36 a forming a rectangular enclosure and anextension portion 36 b that extends from one end of theperipheral wall 36 a toward the inner side. A tighteningportion 36 c that extends downwardly from theperipheral wall 36 a and that is bent in an L-shape is formed on the lower side of the framingmember 36. A bolt hole is formed in the tighteningportion 36 c, and the framingmember 36 is fixed to thehousing 46 of the vehicle lamp with abolt 48. The tighteningportion 36 c may be provided on the upper side of the framingmember 36 or may be provided on the right or left side of the framingmember 36. - The
rear cover 40 has a function of pressing theorganic EL panel 32 against the framingmember 36 from the back side. Aconvex portion 40 a that abuts against the back surface of thepanel 32 is provided on therear cover 40 on a side that faces theorganic EL panel 32. Theconvex portion 40 a may be provided only on a peripheral portion of the panel, as illustrated inFIG. 2 , or may be provided on another area. - A plurality of through-
holes 40 b are formed in the peripheral portion of therear cover 40, and therear cover 40 is fixed to theperipheral wall 36 a of the framingmember 36 by couplingportions 42. Thecoupling portions 42 may be formed through thermal caulking, welding, bonding, or the like. Therear cover 40 may be fixed by using a lance structure or another member, such as a screw, instead of by forming thecoupling portions 42. - There is a conventional framing structure in which a peripheral portion of an
organic EL panel 32 directly abuts against anextension portion 36 b of a framingmember 36. However, currently, a hard glass substrate is often used as a substrate for an organic EL panel. Thus, when the substrate directly abuts against theextension portion 36 b of the framingmember 36, great stress is exerted on the glass substrate, and the organic EL panel can be damaged due to the vibrations generated while the vehicle is running. - Accordingly, in the vehicle lamp according to the present embodiment, an
elastic member 38 is interposed between a peripheral portion of theorganic EL panel 32 on a side that faces the framingmember 36 and theextension portion 36 b of the framingmember 36. Theorganic EL panel 32 is pressed by the biasing force of theelastic member 38 and is thus fixed to the framing member. With this configuration, the elastic member functions as a buffer material, and the stress exerted on the substrate for the organic EL panel while the vehicle is running can be reduced. - Desirably, a plurality of
elastic members 38 are disposed at appropriate intervals, as illustrated inFIG. 2C , instead of providing anelastic member 38 across the entire peripheral portion of theorganic EL panel 32. A reason for this is as follows. When an elastic member is present across the entire periphery of an organic EL panel, stress exerted on the substrate for the organic EL panel cannot be released, and the substrate can thus be easily damaged due to the increased stress. Disposing the elastic members in a manner illustrated inFIG. 2C can provide some play for the organic EL panel to move, which can further reduce the stress exerted on the substrate for the organic EL panel. - In addition, when the
elastic members 38 are disposed so as to be spaced apart from each other, a penetratingspace 37 can be formed between theorganic EL panel 32 and the framingmember 36, and the air whose temperature has risen by heat emitted from the organic EL panel when electricity is passed to the organic EL panel can pass through the penetratingspace 37. In this case, avent hole 36 d for allowing the air to pass therethrough is formed in theperipheral wall 36 a of the framingmember 36 at a portion where noelastic member 38 is disposed. With this configuration, a convection current of the air is produced as the air whose temperature has risen by heat emitted from the organic EL panel passes through the penetratingspace 37 and thevent hole 36 d. Thus, the heat dissipation of the organic EL panel is facilitated, which contributes to an extended lifetime and increased efficiency of the panel. - When the
organic EL panel 32 is to be disposed to stand vertically, theelastic members 38 may be disposed such that the penetratingspace 37 extends in the vertical direction. When theorganic EL panel 32 is to be disposed at an angle to the vertical direction, theelastic members 38 may be disposed such that the penetratingspace 37 extends in a direction substantially parallel to a longitudinal side of theorganic EL panel 32. - The elastic members may, for example, be made of an elastomer or a gel material. An elastic member made of an elastomer may be cut into pieces of an appropriate size in advance, and the pieces may be bonded to the
extension portion 36 b of the framingmember 36 before an organic EL panel is fitted into the framingmember 36. The mounting surface of the elastomer and the mounting surface of theextension portion 36 b may be formed into complementary shapes (e.g., saw-tooth shape, wavelike shape, etc.) and may be mounted to each other without using an adhesive or the like. When the elastic members are made of a gel material, the elastic members may be potted into theextension portion 36 b of the framingmember 36 before an organic EL panel is fitted into the framingmember 36. - The elastic members may be transparent. This allows the elastic members to be less noticeable when the vehicle lamp is viewed from the front side. In particular, it is preferable that the elastic members be transparent when the framing member and the rear cover are formed of a transparent resin or the like.
- In
FIG. 2 , the elastic members are interposed between the framingmember 36 and theorganic EL panel 32. In addition thereto or instead thereof, the elastic members may be disposed between therear cover 40 and theorganic EL panel 32. -
FIG. 3A is a schematic sectional view of alight source unit 50 that includes an organic EL panel in a vehicle lamp according to another example of the present embodiment. Thelight source unit 50 is fixed to a housing inside a lamp cabinet for a vehicle lamp (not illustrated). Thelight source unit 50 includes anorganic EL panel 32 such as the one illustrated inFIG. 1 , a framingmember 60, and arear cover 40. - The framing
member 60 is configured to have theorganic EL panel 32 fitted thereinto. The inner periphery of the framingmember 60 is slightly larger than the outer periphery of theorganic EL panel 32. -
FIG. 3C is a rear perspective view of the framingmember 60. As illustrated inFIG. 3C , the framingmember 60 includes aperipheral wall 60 a forming a rectangular enclosure and anextension portion 60 b that extends from one end of theperipheral wall 60 a toward the inner side. Aconnector receiving portion 60 c that extends downwardly from theperipheral wall 60 a and that is bent in an L-shape is formed on the lower side of the framingmember 60. Theconnector receiving portion 60 c may be provided on the upper side of the framingmember 60 or may be provided on the right or left side of the framingmember 60. - The
rear cover 40 has a function of pressing theorganic EL panel 32 against the framingmember 60 from the back side. Aconvex portion 40 a that abuts against the back surface of thepanel 32 is provided on therear cover 40 on a side that faces theorganic EL panel 32. Theconvex portion 40 a may be provided only on a peripheral portion of the panel, as illustrated inFIG. 3A , or may be provided on another area. - A plurality of through-
holes 40 b are formed in the peripheral portion of therear cover 40, and therear cover 40 is fixed to theperipheral wall 60 a of the framingmember 60 by couplingportions 42. Thecoupling portions 42 may be formed through thermal caulking, welding, bonding, or the like. Therear cover 40 may be fixed by using a lance structure or another member, such as a screw, instead of by forming thecoupling portions 42. - In the present example, a
busbar 56 is disposed on theextension portion 60 b of the framingmember 60 on a side toward the organic EL panel. Thisbusbar 56 extends along theextension portion 60 b, and an end of thebusbar 56 extends into aconnector hole 60 d formed in theconnector receiving portion 60 c. This extending portion functions as a connector pin, and electric power can be supplied to thebusbar 56 from the outside by inserting a feeder connector of a predetermined shape into theconnector receiving portion 60 c. Thebusbar 56 is formed, for example, by cutting out a metal plate into a prescribed shape and bending the cut-out piece. - A
feeder portion 32 a for supplying electric power to the organic EL emission layer of theorganic EL panel 32 is formed on a peripheral portion of theorganic EL panel 32 on a side that faces the framingmember 60. - A conductive
elastic member 52 is interposed between thefeeder portion 32 a on theorganic EL panel 32 and thebusbar 56 in the framingmember 60. Theorganic EL panel 32 is pressed by the biasing force of theelastic member 52 and fixed to the framing member. With this configuration, the elastic member functions as a buffer material, and the stress exerted on the substrate for the organic EL panel while the vehicle is running can be reduced. - Electric power is supplied to the
feeder portion 32 a from thebusbar 56 through the conductiveelastic member 52. The conductiveelastic member 52 is in tight contact with thefeeder portion 32 a by the biasing force, and thus electric power can be supplied reliably. In addition, thebusbar 56 is hidden by theextension portion 60 b and is invisible from the outside, and thus the appearance of the vehicle lamp improves. - Desirably, a plurality of conductive
elastic members 52 are disposed at appropriate intervals in a similar manner to the one illustrated inFIG. 2C instead of providing a conductiveelastic member 52 across the entire peripheral portion of theorganic EL panel 32. This can provide some play for the organic EL panel to move, and the stress exerted on the substrate for the organic EL panel can be further reduced. - In addition, when the
elastic members 52 are disposed so as to be spaced apart from each other, a penetrating space (not illustrated) can be formed between theorganic EL panel 32 and the framingmember 60, and the air whose temperature has risen by heat emitted from the organic EL panel when electricity is passed to the organic EL panel can pass through the penetrating space. In this case, a vent hole (not illustrated) for allowing the air to pass therethrough is formed in theperipheral wall 60 a of the framingmember 60 at a portion where noelastic member 52 is disposed. With this configuration, a convection current of the air is produced as the air whose temperature has risen by heat emitted from the organic EL panel passes through the penetrating space and the vent hole. Thus, the heat dissipation of the organic EL panel is facilitated, which contributes to an extended lifetime and increased efficiency of the panel. - The elastic member may, for example, be made of an elastomer or a gel material. An elastic member made of an elastomer may be cut into pieces of an appropriate size in advance, and the pieces may be bonded to the
extension portion 60 b of the framingmember 60 before an organic EL panel is fitted into the framingmember 60. The mounting surface of the elastomer and the mounting surface of theextension portion 60 b may be formed into complementary shapes (e.g., saw-tooth shape, wavelike shape, etc.) and may be mounted to each other without using an adhesive or the like. When the elastic members are made of a gel material, the elastic members may be potted into theextension portion 60 b of the framingmember 60 before an organic EL panel is fitted into the framingmember 60. - The conductive
elastic member 52 is, for example, a conductive rubber in which particulate conductors are dispersed in rubber or a conductive rubber formed by winding awire 52 a around a rubber (seeFIG. 3B ), but is not limited thereto. The conductiveelastic member 52 may be an anisotropic conductive rubber having conductivity only in a direction connecting thefeeder portion 32 a on theorganic EL panel 32 and thebusbar 56. - With reference to
FIGS. 4 through 6 , a vehicle lamp according to yet another example of the present embodiment will be described. -
FIG. 4 is an assembly diagram of alight source unit 100 that includes an organic EL panel in a vehicle lamp.FIG. 5 is a rear perspective view of the assembledlight source unit 100.FIG. 6 is a sectional view of thelight source unit 100 taken along the line C-C indicated inFIG. 5 . - The
light source unit 100 is constituted by sandwiching anorganic EL panel 80 such as the one illustrated inFIG. 1 by a framingmember 70 and arear cover 90. The framingmember 70 and therear cover 90 have an identical outer shape, and the outer shape of theorganic EL panel 80 is slightly smaller than the outer shape of the framingmember 70 and therear cover 90. - The framing
member 70 is a member for fixing theorganic EL panel 80 inside a lamp cabinet for a vehicle lamp (not illustrated). A mountingportion 76 having abolt hole 76 a for mounting thelight source unit 100 to the housing of the vehicle lamp is formed on the lower side of the framingmember 70. - The
rear cover 90 has a function of pressing theorganic EL panel 80 against the framingmember 70 from the back side. A convex portion (not illustrated) that abuts against the back surface of thepanel 80 is provided on therear cover 90 on a side that faces theorganic EL panel 80. The convex portion may be provided only on the peripheral portion of the panel or may be provided on another area. - A plurality of through-
holes 94 are formed in therear cover 90 at the four corners, and therear cover 90 is fixed to the framingmember 70 by coupling portions that are passed through the through-holes 94. The coupling portions may be formed through thermal caulking, welding, bonding, or the like. Therear cover 90 may be fixed by using a lance structure or another member, such as a screw, instead of by forming the coupling portions. - A plurality of
feeder portions 82 for supplying electric power to the organic EL emission layer of theorganic EL panel 80 are provided on a peripheral portion of theorganic EL panel 80 on a side that faces the framingmember 70. Providing the plurality of feeder portions in this manner can make a uniform current flow through the organic EL emission layer and suppress the luminance unevenness of the emission portion. -
Concave portions 72 are formed in the framingmember 70 on a side that faces theorganic EL panel 80 at positions corresponding to thefeeder portions 82. Springelectric contacts 74 are disposed in the respectiveconcave portions 72. Theelectric contacts 74 are electrically connected by a busbar (not illustrated) embedded inside the framingmember 70. The busbar is also electrically connected to aconnector 78 formed on the lower side of the framingmember 70. Electric power can be supplied to each of theelectric contacts 74 through theconnector 78. - Each spring
electric contact 74 partially projects from the surface of the framingmember 70 when theorganic EL panel 80 is not mounted to the framingmember 70. Therefore, when theorganic EL panel 80 is pressed against and fixed to the framingmember 70, theelectric contacts 74 impart a biasing force on thefeeder portions 82 on theorganic EL panel 80. Consequently, electric power can be supplied reliably to thefeeder portions 82. - In addition, as illustrated in the sectional view in
FIG. 6 , the biasing force of the springelectric contacts 74 is set such that a slight gap remains between the framingmember 70 and theorganic EL panel 80 in the assembledlight source unit 100. With this configuration, theorganic EL panel 80 is fixed between the framingmember 70 and therear cover 90 only by the biasing force of the springelectric contacts 74. Accordingly, the springelectric contacts 74 function as a buffer material, and the stress exerted on the substrate for the organic EL panel while the vehicle is running can be reduced. - The plurality of spring
electric contacts 74 are disposed at appropriate intervals, and this can provide some play for the organic EL panel to move, and the stress exerted on the substrate for the organic EL panel can be further reduced. - As described thus far, according to this embodiment, the organic EL panel is fixed by the spring electric contacts disposed on the back side of the framing
member 70, and thus the organic EL panel can be fixed without excessive stress exerted thereon. At the same time, electric power can be supplied to the feeder portions disposed on the peripheral portion of the organic EL panel. The busbar is provided inside the framing member, and thus the appearance of the vehicle lamp improves. The busbar may be disposed on the surface of the framingmember 70 that faces theorganic EL panel 80. - The present embodiment also includes the following configurations.
- A vehicle lamp according to an aspect of the present invention includes a planar light-emitting structure having a substrate on which an organic EL emission portion is provided, a framing member that fixes the planar light-emitting structure inside a lamp cabinet for the vehicle lamp, and an elastic member that is interposed between the planar light-emitting structure and the framing member and that fixes the planar light-emitting structure by a biasing force.
- According to this aspect, the planar light-emitting structure is fixed by the biasing force of the elastic member, and thus the elastic member serves as a buffer material, which makes it possible to reduce stress exerted on the substrate for the planar light-emitting structure while a vehicle is running.
- Electrical contacts through electric power is supplied to the organic EL emission portion may be provided in portions of a peripheral margin of the planar light-emitting structure, and the elastic member may be disposed fronting on the electric contacts, and configured such as to feed electric power via the electrical contacts. This configuration enables the elastic member to fulfill both a function of fixing the planar light-emitting structure and a function of supplying electric power to the planar light-emitting structure.
- The elastic member may be disposed in a portion of a side of the framing member fronting on the planar light-emitting structure. This configuration can provide some play for the planar light-emitting structure to move, which makes it possible to further reduce the stress exerted on the substrate for the planar light-emitting structure.
- A busbar that supplies electric power to the elastic member may be provided either inside the framing member or on a side of the framing member that confronts the planar light-emitting structure. This configuration can hide the wiring, which improves the appearance of the vehicle lamp.
- The elastic member may be disposed such as to provide between the planar light-emitting structure and the framing member a penetrating space that allows air whose temperature has risen by heat emitted from the planar light-emitting structure to pass therethrough is provided. This configuration allows the air to be convected through the penetrating space, which increases the heat dissipation efficiency of the planar light-emitting structure.
- As described in the background art section, when a planar light-emitting structure is fixed to a bracket, a feeder cord for the planar light-emitting structure is often housed inside the bracket in order to improve the appearance of the lamp. This configuration can, however, lead to an increased thickness of the bracket relative to the thickness of the planar light-emitting structure, resulting in an unfavorable appearance. In addition, there is a problem in that wiring of the cord inside the bracket can be troublesome.
- Embodiment 2 addresses such issues and is directed to providing a technique that facilitates mounting of a planar light-emitting structure into a lamp cabinet for a vehicle lamp.
-
FIGS. 7 through 10 are illustrations for describing a method of fixing an organic EL panel according to Embodiment 2 of the present invention. -
FIG. 7A is a plan view of anorganic EL panel 130 according to the present embodiment. Theorganic EL panel 130 is substantially rectangular, andprojections 134 are formed on the upper side and aprojection 136 is formed on the lower side. These projections can be formed on one or both of thefront glass substrate 12 and therear glass substrate 22 illustrated inFIG. 1 . The stacked layers of theanode layer 14 through thecathode layer 20 may or may not be formed in theprojections - The
projections 134 are formed, for example, on respective ends of the upper side. Afeeder portion 134 a for supplying electric power to the organic EL emission portion of theorganic EL panel 130 is formed at least at a tip of eachprojection 134. When twoprojections 134 are provided, a feeder portion electrically connected to the anode layer of the organic EL panel is disposed on one of theprojections 134, and a feeder portion electrically connected to the cathode layer is disposed on theother projection 134. The number ofprojections 134 may be one or three or more. Theprojection 134 is depicted as having a smoothly curved upper edge inFIG. 7 , but theprojection 134 may have a different shape. A three-layer MAM consisting of MoO3/Al/MoO3 is typically used for the feeder portion, but other conductive materials, such as MoO3/Ag/MoO3, may also be used. - The
projection 136 on the lower side extends across substantially the entire length of the lower side. This is for stabilizing theorganic EL panel 130 when theprojection 136 is plugged into abracket 142, which will be described later. However, theprojection 136 on the lower side may be formed of two or more parts, as in theprojections 134 on the upper side. No feeder portion is provided in theprojection 136 in the example illustrated inFIG. 7 , but in addition to or in place of theprojections 134 on the upper side, a feeder portion may be formed in theprojection 136 on the lower side. -
FIG. 7B is a plan view of a pair ofbrackets organic EL panel 130. Theprojections 134 on the upper side of theorganic EL panel 130 are plugged into theupper bracket 140, and theprojection 136 on the lower side of theorganic EL panel 130 is plugged into thelower bracket 142. Afeeder cord 146 for supplying electric power to thefeeder portion 134 a of theprojection 134 is connected to theupper bracket 140. - The
brackets brackets -
FIGS. 8A and 8B are sectional views of thebrackets FIG. 7B . As can be seen fromFIGS. 8A and 8B , thelower bracket 142 has a uniform sectional shape with a concave portion formed therein across its entire length. Theupper bracket 140 also has a uniform sectional shape with a concave portion formed therein across its entire length, but anelastic contact portion 144 connected to thefeeder cord 146 is disposed at a position on the line E-E, as illustrated inFIG. 8B . The position of theelastic contact portion 144 corresponds to the position of theprojection 134 on the upper side of theorganic EL panel 130. Theelastic contact portion 144 is, for example, a metal piece formed into a spring but may be of a different material, such as a conductive rubber. - The
brackets upper bracket 140 and thelower bracket 142 on the left side (back side) is slightly smaller than the length L1 (seeFIG. 7A ) of theorganic EL panel 130 in the longitudinal direction. -
FIGS. 9A and 9B are sectional views illustrating a process of mounting theorganic EL panel 130 to thebrackets FIG. 7B . When theorganic EL panel 130 is mounted, theprojections 134 on the upper side of theorganic EL panel 130 are first plugged into the concave portion in theupper bracket 140. As this point, as illustrated inFIG. 9B , theprojections 134 on the upper side depress theelastic contact portions 144 provided in the concave portion in theupper bracket 140. Thus, theprojections 134 are pushed deep inside the concave portion in theupper bracket 140, and theprojection 136 on the lower side can then be plugged into thelower bracket 142. -
FIGS. 10A and 10B are sectional views illustrating theorganic EL panel 130 mounted to thebrackets FIG. 7B . As illustrated inFIG. 10A , a gap is present between the upper end of theorganic EL panel 130 and the base of the concave portion in theupper bracket 140 at the position on the line D-D. As illustrated inFIG. 10B , a contact between thefeeder portion 134 a formed in theprojection 134 on the upper side and theelastic contact portion 144 is retained at the position on the line E-E. Theorganic EL panel 130 is pressed against thelower bracket 142 by the biasing force of theelastic contact portions 144, and thus theorganic EL panel 130 can be firmly fixed. - In this manner, in the present embodiment, the elastic contact portions that make contact with the feeder portions of the organic EL panel are provided in the concave portion in the bracket, which renders it unnecessary to wire a feeder cord in the concave portion and facilitates mounting of the organic EL panel to the brackets. In addition, the elastic contact portions are provided with both a function of supplying electric power to the organic EL panel and a function of fixing the organic EL panel, and thus the structure of the brackets can be simplified. Accordingly, the thickness of the brackets can be reduced.
-
FIG. 11 is an illustration for describing a method of fixing an organic EL panel according to another example of the present embodiment. - In the example described with reference to
FIGS. 7 through 10 , the upper bracket and the lower bracket need to be fabricated in accordance with the outer peripheral shape of the organic EL panel. For example, when the upper side or the lower side of the organic EL panel is curved, the upper bracket or the lower bracket needs to have a concave shape that fits the curve. When the organic EL panel has a complex outer peripheral shape, it can be difficult to plug the projections into the brackets. - Therefore, in this example, a method of fixing organic EL panels of various shapes by using a plurality of fixing brackets prepared as standard components is provided.
-
FIG. 11A is a perspective view of anorganic EL panel 150 according to the present example. Alance 151 is formed on each of the upper side and the lower side of theorganic EL panel 150. Thelances 151 have inclined surfaces that are inclined in the same direction. Thelances 151 can be formed on one or both of thefront glass substrate 12 and therear glass substrate 22 illustrated inFIG. 1 . The stacked layers of theanode layer 14 through thecathode layer 20 may or may not be formed in thelances 151. -
FIG. 11B is a perspective view of fixingbrackets 152 according to the present example. Each fixingbracket 152 includes aconcave portion 152 a formed by two opposing walls, a mountingportion 152 b in which a mounting hole for mounting the bracket is provided, and alance hole 152 c formed in the base of theconcave portion 152 a. The width (width in the horizontal direction of the drawing) of thelance hole 152 c is slightly larger than the width of thelance 151. - Two fixing
brackets 152 of the same shape are mounted to an extension of a vehicle lamp (not illustrated). At this point, the fixingbrackets 152 are mounted such that the distance L4 between the bases of the concave portions in the upper andlower brackets 152 is slightly larger than the length L3 of theorganic EL panel 150 in the longitudinal direction. - When the
organic EL panel 150 is to be mounted to thebrackets 152, theorganic EL panel 150 is slid in the direction indicated by thearrow 154. When thelances 151 abut against the fixingbrackets 152, the brackets elastically deform slightly, and thelances 151 are received into the lance holes 152 c. In this manner, theorganic EL panel 150 can be fixed by the pair of fixingbrackets 152. -
FIG. 12 illustrates a modification of the fixing bracket. In this fixingbracket 156,slits 156 b are formed at respective sides of alance hole 156 a. With this configuration, when theorganic EL panel 150 is slid into the fixingbracket 156 and thelance 151 abuts against thebracket 156, a portion in which thelance hole 156 a is formed elastically deforms easily in the upward direction, and thus the organic EL panel can be mounted with less force. - One of both of the upper and
lower brackets 152 illustrated inFIG. 11B may be replaced with the fixing bracket(s) 156 having the slits. -
FIG. 13 is a perspective view illustrating a fixingbracket 160 in which an elastic contact portion is embedded, andFIG. 14 is a sectional view of thebracket 160 taken along a horizontal plane. - The fixing
bracket 160 includes aconcave portion 166 extending in the longitudinal direction, alance hole 162, and aterminal insertion portion 164 adjacent to thelance hole 162. In theconcave portion 166, aconcave housing portion 164 a is formed in the wall underneath theterminal insertion portion 164, and a springelastic contact portion 168 is housed in thehousing portion 164 a. Theelastic contact portion 168 is electrically connected to theterminal insertion portion 164. Theterminal insertion portion 164 has a shape that allows a feeder terminal of a predetermined standard to be inserted thereinto. - When an
organic EL panel 169 is slid along theconcave portion 166 in the bracket and a lance (not illustrated) engages with thelance hole 162, afeeder portion 169 a formed on the back surface of theorganic EL panel 169 makes electrical contact with theelastic contact portion 168. In this manner, thesingle fixing bracket 160 can fix the organic EL panel and can also supply electric power to the organic EL panel. One of both of the upper andlower brackets 152 illustrated inFIG. 11B may be replaced with the fixing bracket(s) 160. -
FIG. 15 is a conceptual diagram for describing an arrangement of fixing brackets configured to fit organic EL panels of various outer shapes. As illustrated inFIG. 15 , a plurality oflances 172 are formed on the outer periphery of anorganic EL panel 170 having an outer shape that is not rectangular. Fixing brackets are mounted on anextension 176 of the vehicle lamp such that the same number of lance holes 174 as the number of thelances 172 are disposed so as to match the positions of thelances 172. When theorganic EL panel 170 is slid in the direction indicated by the arrow inFIG. 15 , the fourlances 172 engage with the respective lance holes 174, and theorganic EL panel 170 can be fixed. -
FIG. 16A is a perspective view for describing a method of fixing an organic EL panel according to yet another example of the present embodiment. A fixingbracket 180 is mounted in a lamp cabinet for a vehicle lamp (not illustrated). The fixingbracket 180 has aconcave portion 184 formed therein for receiving the lower side of anorganic EL panel 200. In addition, as illustrated in the sectional view inFIG. 16B , a plurality of through-holes 186 are formed in one of the walls forming theconcave portion 184. As illustrated inFIG. 16C , anelectrical connection portion 192 is disposed in theconcave portion 184 in the fixingbracket 180. Theelectrical connection portion 192 includes an elastic contact portion (seeFIG. 18 ). - The
organic EL panel 200 is inserted into theconcave portion 184 in the fixingbracket 180. Thereafter, an adhesive is injected into theconcave portion 184 through the through-holes 186. Thus, theorganic EL panel 200 is fixed to the fixingbracket 180. - As illustrated in
FIG. 16 , a portion of theorganic EL panel 200 is fixed to the fixingbracket 180 with an adhesive, and thus the organic EL panel can be fixed without providing the brackets on the entire periphery of the organic EL panel. -
FIGS. 17A and 17B illustrate usage examples of the fixation method illustrated inFIG. 16 . InFIG. 17A , only two sides of a squareorganic EL panel 230 are fixed to a fixingbracket 232 with an adhesive, and the remaining two sides are left exposed. InFIG. 17B , only approximately one-third of the periphery of a circularorganic EL panel 240 is fixed to a fixingbracket 242 with an adhesive, and the remaining peripheral portion is left exposed. When an organic EL panel is fixed in this manner, the exposed portion can look as if it is floating. -
FIG. 18 illustrates another usage example of the fixation method illustrated inFIG. 16 . A fixingbracket 180 having abent portion 187 is fixed to ahousing 190 of a lamp with a screw or the like. Anorganic EL panel 200 is fixed to the fixingbracket 180 with an adhesive. Thus, theorganic EL panel 200 can be disposed so as to be inclined in alamp cabinet 250 for a lamp. In this case, in place of disposing anelectrical connection portion 192 such as the one illustrated inFIG. 16C in the concave portion in the fixingbracket 180, a different feeder structure, such as soldering fixation, may be used. -
FIG. 19 illustrates a connection between theelectrical connection portion 192 and the organic EL panel. Afeeder portion 202 electrically connected to the anode layer of the organic EL panel and afeeder portion 204 electrically connected to the cathode layer are formed on the back surface of theorganic EL panel 200, and thefeeder portions electrical connection portions 192 upon being inserted into theconcave portion 184 in the fixingbracket 180. -
FIG. 20 is a perspective view illustrating a more detailed structure of theelectrical connection portion 192, andFIG. 21 is a sectional view of theelectrical connection portion 192 taken along a direction orthogonal to the longitudinal axis. - The
electrical connection portion 192 includes anelastic contact portion 210 and acase 216. Theelastic contact portion 210 is connected to afeeder cord 214 through, for example, acaulking member 212. Theelastic contact portion 210 is formed by bending a metal plate so as to have a substantially f-shaped cross-section. A plurality of slits are formed in one side of theelastic contact portion 210, andportions 210 b divided by the slits each function as an independent spring. - The
elastic contact portion 210 is housed in aconcave portion 218 formed in thecase 216 and is fixed therein with an adhesive or the like injected through anopening 220. Instead of using thecase 216, theelastic contact portion 210 may be directly connected to a substrate, such as a flexible printed circuit (FPC). - When the
organic EL panel 200 is inserted into theconcave portion 184 in the fixingbracket 180, thefeeder portions organic EL panel 200 enter the interior of theelastic contact portion 210. Thus, thefeeder portions elastic contact portion 210, and theorganic EL panel 200 is fixed by the biasing force of theelastic contact portion 210. - As described thus far, according to the present embodiment, the elastic contact portion constituted by a metal plate is used, and thus electric power can be supplied reliably to the organic EL panel. In addition, the elastic contact portion is invisible from the outside because of the
case 216, and thus the appearance of the lamp improves. - In each of the foregoing embodiments, a single organic EL panel is fixed by a single framing member. Alternatively, a plurality organic EL panels disposed side by side can be fixed by a single framing member.
- In addition, rectangular organic EL panels have been described above, but the shape of an organic EL panel is not particularly limited, and any desired shape can be employed. In such a case, a framing member or a rear cover is formed to fit the outer shape of an organic EL panel.
- The vehicle lamp according to each of the embodiments described above can be used, for example, as a clearance lamp, a daytime lamp, a turn-signal lamp, a tail lamp, a stop lamp, or the like.
- In each of the foregoing embodiments, a generally flat organic EL panel has been described. Alternatively, an organic EL panel may be curved or bent by using, instead of a glass substrate, an ultrathin glass or a transparent resin that can accommodate to a curved surface. When such an organic EL panel is inserted into the fixing brackets described above, a resin or metal reinforcement may be affixed to an end of the organic EL panel. The above-described embodiments can also be applied to a planar light-emitting structure other than an organic EL panel with any necessary modifications made thereto.
- The present embodiment also includes the following configurations.
- 1. A vehicle lamp, comprising:
- a planar light-emitting structure having a substrate on which an organic EL emission portion is provided; and
- a fixing member that fixes the planar light-emitting structure inside a lamp cabinet for the vehicle lamp,
- a feeder portion for supplying electric power to the organic EL emission portion being provided at a portion of a periphery of the planar light-emitting structure, wherein
- the fixing member includes
- a concave portion that receives the portion of the planar light-emitting structure where the feeder portion is provided, and
- an elastic contact portion that is provided in the concave portion and that makes contact with the feeder portion.
- 2. The vehicle lamp according to 1, wherein
- the planar light-emitting structure is fixed inside the concave portion by a biasing force of the elastic contact portion.
- 3. The vehicle lamp according to 1 or 2, wherein
- a plurality of the fixing members of an identical shape are provided, and
- the plurality of fixing members are disposed inside the lamp cabinet in accordance with an outer peripheral shape of the planar light-emitting structure.
- 4. The vehicle lamp according to 3, wherein
- a lance is provided on an outer periphery of the planar light-emitting structure, and
- a lance hole that engages with the lance is provided in a base of the concave portion in the fixing member.
- 5. The vehicle lamp according to any one of 1 through 4, wherein
- the elastic contact portion is disposed in the concave portion, and
- the elastic contact portion is then fixed by injecting an adhesive into the concave portion.
- Vehicle lamps that include planar light-emitting structures, such as organic electroluminescence (EL) panels, are known. For example, JP2013-45523 discloses a vehicle lamp in which a flat surface light source constituted by a flexible belt-like light-emitting material is installed in a lamp cabinet formed by a housing and a translucent cover.
- Typically, an anode feeder portion and a cathode feeder portion are disposed on the rear side of an organic EL panel along the outer periphery of the panel, and an anisotropic conductive adhesive film is used to couple these feeder portions to a flexible circuit (FPC) that supplies electric power from the outside. With this structure, however, the shape of the flexible circuit bonded to the feeder portions becomes complex, leading to a problem in that the reliability decreases due to the bonding being lost or the material cost increases.
- Embodiment 3 addresses such issues and is directed to providing a technique by which the shape of a substrate, such as a flexible circuit, for supplying electric power to a planar light-emitting structure is simplified and the reliability of a lamp increases in a vehicle lamp that includes a planar light-emitting structure, such as an organic EL panel.
-
FIG. 22 is a schematic perspective view of avehicle lamp 400 according to Embodiment 3 of the present invention. Thevehicle lamp 400 includes a planar light-emittingstructure 10 such as the organic EL panel illustrated inFIG. 1 , a fixingmember 330 that fixes and supports the planar light-emitting structure inside a lamp cabinet, and aflexible circuit 350 for supplying electric power to the planar light-emittingstructure 10. - An anode feeder portion (not illustrated) electrically connected to the anode layer of the planar light-emitting structure and a cathode feeder portion (not illustrated) electrically connected to the cathode layer of the planar light-emitting structure are formed on the back surface of the planar light-emitting
structure 10. A three-layer MAM consisting of MoO3/Al/MoO3 is typically used for these feeder portions, but MoO3/Ag/MoO3 may also be used. Since the feeder portions of MAM cannot be soldered, theflexible circuit 350 is bonded to these feeder portions by using an anisotropic conductive adhesive film. - A
rib 332 having a mounting hole formed therein for mounting the fixingmember 330 to a housing (not illustrated) for the vehicle lamp is provided on the fixingmember 330. Thevehicle lamp 400 is used, for example, as a marker lamp, such as a clearance lamp, a daytime lamp, a turn-signal lamp, a tail lamp, or a stop lamp. -
FIG. 23A is a longitudinal sectional view taken along the line F-F indicated inFIG. 22 , andFIG. 23B is a longitudinal sectional view taken along the line G-G indicated inFIG. 22 . The fixingmember 330 includes aconcave portion 336 that extends along the outer periphery of the planar light-emitting structure and that supports the outer periphery and a base 334 that opposes the back surface of the planar light-emittingstructure 10. As illustrated inFIG. 23B , one or a plurality ofconvex portions 338 and drainholes 340 are formed in theconcave portion 336 on the lower side. These will be described later with reference toFIG. 30 . -
FIG. 24A is a schematic plan view illustrating an arrangement of feeder portions on the back surface of a planar light-emittingstructure 360 according to a conventional technique, andFIG. 24B is a schematic plan view illustrating aflexible circuit 366 to be bonded to feeder portions. - As described above, a transparent conductive film having a high resistance is typically used as an anode layer of a planar light-emitting structure. Therefore, in order to make the current density in an organic EL emission layer as uniform as possible and to reduce the luminance unevenness, it is preferable that the area of an anode feeder portion that supplies electric power to the anode layer be as large as possible.
- Conventionally, as illustrated in
FIG. 24A , when the planar light-emittingstructure 360 is rectangular, for example, twoanode feeder portions 362 extending linearly are disposed on two opposing sides, and twocathode feeder portions 364 extending linearly are disposed on the remaining two sides. Furthermore, the terminals of eachanode feeder portion 362 are bent so that theanode feeder portion 362 becomes longer than thecathode feeder portion 364, and thus the area of the anode feeder portions is increased with respect to the area of the cathode feeder portions. - The
flexible circuit 366 needs to be in contact with the terminal portions of both the anode feeder portions and the cathode feeder portions. Thus, when the feeder portions are disposed as described above, theflexible circuit 366 needs to be formed into a complex shape that extends in a substantially U-shape along the outer periphery of the planar light-emittingstructure 360, as illustrated inFIG. 24B . As can be seen fromFIG. 24B , since the thin flexible circuit is structured to extend along the outer periphery of the planar light-emitting structure, the flexible circuit easily peels off from the feeder portions, leading to a problem in that electric power is fed poorly or the fabrication cost of the flexible circuit increases. - Accordingly, in the present embodiment, the area of the anode feeder portion of the planar light-emitting structure is increased to reduce the luminance unevenness, and an arrangement of feeder portions that increases the reliability of bonding with the flexible circuit is provided.
-
FIG. 25 illustrates an exemplary arrangement of feeder portions on the back surface of a planar light-emitting structure according to the present embodiment. As illustrated inFIG. 25 , in this example, a linearanode feeder portion 372 and a linearcathode feeder portion 374 are provided along the outer periphery of the back surface of the planar light-emittingstructure 10. Unlike the conventional example illustrated inFIG. 24 , a singleanode feeder portion 372 and a singlecathode feeder portion 374 are provided. Theanode feeder portion 372 has a substantially U-shape that extends along three sides of the outer periphery of the rectangular planar light-emittingstructure 10 and extends into the remaining one side at the right and left ends thereof. Thecathode feeder portion 374 extends linearly along the remaining one side. Consequently, twoterminal portions anode feeder portion 372 and twoterminal portions cathode feeder portion 374 are all located on the lower side of the planar light-emittingstructure 10. - When measured along the outer periphery of the planar light-emitting
structure 10, theanode feeder portion 372 is much longer than thecathode feeder portion 374. As the anode feeder portion is made longer than the cathode feeder portion in this manner, the area of the anode feeder portion is further increased, and the luminance unevenness of the planar light-emitting structure can be reduced as compared to the conventional example. -
FIG. 26 is a schematic plan view illustrating an example of aflexible circuit 350 to be bonded to the planar light-emittingstructure 10 illustrated inFIG. 25 . As described above, the twoterminal portions anode feeder portion 372 and the twoterminal portions cathode feeder portion 374 are concentrated on the lower side of the planar light-emittingstructure 10, and thus theflexible circuit 350 to be connected to theanode feeder portion 372 and thecathode feeder portion 374 may have a simple linear shape that extends along the lower side of the planar light-emitting structure. In other words, theflexible circuit 350 is formed such that oneend 350 a of theflexible circuit 350 connects to theterminal portion 372 a of theanode feeder portion 372 and theterminal portion 374 a of thecathode feeder portion 374 and theother end 350 b of theflexible circuit 350 connects to theterminal portion 372 b of theanode feeder portion 372 and theterminal portion 374 b of thecathode feeder portion 374. In this manner, by simplifying the shape of the flexible circuit, the material cost and the fabrication cost of the flexible circuit are reduced. In addition, the flexible circuit is less likely to peel off since the bonding area is small. Consequently, the reliability in supplying electric power increases. -
FIG. 27 is a schematic plan view illustrating another exemplary arrangement of feeder portions on the back surface of the planar light-emittingstructure 10. In this example, in addition to theanode feeder portion 372 illustrated inFIG. 25 , a secondanode feeder portion 376 that extends along the lower side of the planar light-emittingstructure 10 is provided. In other words, the anode feeder portions include a portion formed annularly along the outer periphery of the planar light-emittingstructure 10. With this configuration, the area of the anode feeder portions is further increased, and thus the luminance unevenness can be further reduced. In this case as well, electric power can be supplied to the planar light-emitting structure by using theflexible circuit 350 illustrated inFIG. 26 . -
FIG. 28 illustrates a schematic configuration to be employed when a plurality of planar light-emittingstructures FIG. 28 ,flexible circuits wires - By combining the plurality planar light-emitting structures as described above to increase the illuminance, the planar light-emitting structures can also be used as a headlamp.
- In the foregoing, rectangular planar light-emitting structures have been described, but the present embodiment can also be applied to planar light-emitting structures having other shapes.
FIGS. 29A through 29C illustrate exemplary arrangements of an anode feeder portion and a cathode feeder portion in planar light-emitting structures of various shapes. -
FIG. 29A illustrates a case in which a planar light-emittingstructure 380 is trapezoidal. As in the case of a rectangular planar light-emitting structure, ananode feeder portion 382 and acathode feeder portion 384 are formed on the outer periphery of the planar light-emittingstructure 380 such that the terminal portions of theanode feeder portion 382 and thecathode feeder portion 384 are located on the lower side.FIG. 29B illustrates a case in which a planar light-emittingstructure 390 has an irregular shape. In this case as well, ananode feeder portion 392 and acathode feeder portion 394 may be formed on the outer periphery of the planar light-emittingstructure 390 such that the terminal portions of theanode feeder portion 392 and thecathode feeder portion 394 are normally located on the lower side.FIG. 29C illustrates a case in which a planar light-emittingstructure 410 is circular. In this case, ananode feeder portion 412 and acathode feeder portion 414 are formed on the outer periphery of the planar light-emittingstructure 410 such that the terminal portions of theanode feeder portion 412 and thecathode feeder portion 414 are located in an arc portion on the lower side (e.g., with a center angle of 90°) - In any of the cases illustrated in
FIGS. 29A through 29C , the anode feeder portion can be formed annularly by providing an additional anode feeder portion described with reference toFIG. 27 . - As described thus far, when a single linear anode feeder portion and a single linear cathode feeder portion that are electrically connected to the anode layer and the cathode layer, respectively, are provided on the outer periphery of the back surface of a planar light-emitting structure, by making the anode feeder portion longer than the cathode feeder portion, the luminance unevenness of the planar light-emitting structure can be reduced. In addition, by disposing the anode feeder portion and the cathode feeder portion such that their terminal portions are as close as possible, the shape of the flexible circuit can be simplified, and thus the flexible circuit is less likely to peel off. In addition, the fabrication cost of the flexible circuit is reduced.
- Hereinafter, a structure that makes a flexible circuit even less likely to peel off will be described.
-
FIGS. 30A and 30B are enlarged views of a portion marked by K inFIG. 23B . As described above, the feeder portions on the planar light-emittingstructure 10 and theflexible circuit 350 are coupled on the lower side of the planar light-emitting structure. The feeder portions on the planar light-emittingstructure 10 and theflexible circuit 350 are bonded with an anisotropic conductiveadhesive film 342. The drain holes 340 are formed at appropriate intervals in theconcave portion 336 in the fixingmember 330 on a side along the lower side. With this configuration, the possibility that condensed water accumulates in theconcave portion 336 and theadhesive film 342 is soaked in the water to lose the bonding is reduced. - In addition, it is preferable that the
convex portion 338 having a flat top be formed on thebase 334 of the fixingmember 330 at a position corresponding to a position at which theadhesive film 342 is bonded to a feeder portion on the planar light-emitting structure. As thisconvex portion 338 presses the bonded portion, theflexible circuit 350 is less likely to peel off, and the reliability in supplying electric power increases. Thisconvex portion 338 may extend linearly in the horizontal direction along the bonded portion, or a plurality short convex portions may be provided at appropriate intervals. - As described above, typically, a planar light-emitting structure and a flexible circuit are bonded with an anisotropic conductive adhesive film interposed therebetween. The inventors of the present application have devised the following two methods as alternatives to the above method.
- Method 1: Bonding surfaces of a feeder portion on a planar light-emitting structure and of a flexible circuit are subjected to surface treatment through Au plating, Sn plating, or Cu plating, and the two bonding surfaces are bonded by soldering.
- Method 2: Bonding surfaces of a feeder portion on a planar light-emitting structure and of a flexible circuit are subjected to surface treatment through Au plating, Sn plating, or Cu plating, and the two bonding surfaces are bonded by using ultrasonic vibrations.
- In either case, it was confirmed that bonding that was equally reliable to or more reliable than the bonding obtained when an anisotropic conductive adhesive film was used was achieved. In this case as well, as illustrated in
FIG. 30B , providing theconvex portion 338 that presses abonding portion 344 on thebase 334 of the fixingmember 330 is effective in preventing peeling. -
FIG. 31A is a schematic plan view of the back surface (i.e., surface opposite to the light-emitting surface) of another planar light-emittingstructure 486 to be used in a vehicle lamp. This planar light-emittingstructure 486 is fixed and supported in a lamp cabinet for a vehicle lamp by a fixing member (not illustrated), as in the planar light-emittingstructure 10 described with reference toFIG. 1 . - An
anode feeder portion 482 electrically connected to the anode layer of the planar light-emitting structure and acathode feeder portion 484 electrically connected to the cathode layer of the planar light-emitting structure are provided on the back surface of the planar light-emittingstructure 486. A three-layer MAM consisting of Mo—Al—Mo is typically used for these feeder portions, but Mo—Ag—Mo, Cr—Al—Cr, or the like may also be used. - As in the example described with reference to
FIG. 25 , inFIG. 31A , the linearanode feeder portion 482 and the linearcathode feeder portion 484 are provided along the outer periphery of the back surface of the planar light-emittingstructure 486. Theanode feeder portion 482 has a substantially U-shape that extends along three sides of the outer periphery of the rectangular planar light-emittingstructure 486 and includes twoterminal portions 482 a that extend into the remaining one side at the right and left ends thereof. Thecathode feeder portion 484 extends along the remaining one side. Consequently, the twoterminal portions 482 a of theanode feeder portion 482 and thecathode feeder portion 484 are located on the lower side of the planar light-emittingstructure 486. - When measured along the outer periphery of the planar light-emitting
structure 486, theanode feeder portion 482 is much longer than thecathode feeder portion 484. As the anode feeder portion is longer than the cathode feeder portion in this manner, the area of the anode feeder portion is further increased, and the luminance unevenness of the planar light-emitting structure can be reduced as compared to the conventional technique. -
FIG. 31B is a schematic plan view of aflexible circuit 490 to be bonded to the planar light-emittingstructure 486 illustrated inFIG. 31A . Theflexible circuit 490 is substantially T-shaped and includes a linearterminal disposition portion 493 in which twoanode terminals 492 electrically connected to the respectiveterminal portions 482 a of theanode feeder portion 482 and acathode terminal 494 electrically connected to thecathode feeder portion 484 are provided and aconnection portion 491 in which a conductor formation connecting theanode terminals 492 and thecathode terminal 494 to an externalpower source connector 497 is formed. Anisotropic conductive adhesive films are interposed between the twoterminal portions 482 a of theanode feeder portion 482 and theanode terminals 492 and between thecathode feeder portion 484 and thecathode terminal 494, and thus the planar light-emittingstructure 486 and theflexible circuit 490 are bonded to each other as illustrated inFIG. 31C . -
FIG. 32A is an enlarged view of theterminal disposition portion 493 of theflexible circuit 490 illustrated inFIG. 31B . As illustrated inFIG. 32A , theanode terminals 492 are disposed at respective ends of theterminal disposition portion 493, and thecathode terminal 494 is disposed around the intersection of theterminal disposition portion 493 and theconnection portion 491.Conductor formations 496 are connected to theanode terminals 492, and aconductor formation 498 is connected to thecathode terminal 494. Theconductor formations terminal disposition portion 493 and theconnection portion 491 of theflexible circuit 490. The anode terminals, the cathode terminal, and the conductor formations are formed as formations on the flexible circuit through a well-known method. - The
anode terminals 492 are provided so as to match the positions of theterminal portions 482 a of theanode feeder portion 482 that are disposed at respective ends of the lower side of the planar light-emittingstructure 486. Therefore, as can be seen fromFIG. 32A , afree area 495 in which no formation is constituted is present between eachanode terminal 492 and thecathode terminal 494. -
FIG. 32B is a schematic sectional view taken along the line H-H indicated inFIG. 32A , and illustrates a state in which theflexible circuit 490 is affixed to the back surface of the planar light-emittingstructure 486 with the anisotropic conductiveadhesive film 483 interposed therebetween. - The surfaces of the
anode terminals 492 and thecathode terminal 494 formed as formations on theflexible circuit 490 are higher than the surface of thefree areas 495 in which no formation is constituted. Thus, if pressure is applied (e.g., by using a pressure-bonding head) in the direction indicated by the arrows inFIG. 31B when theflexible circuit 490 is affixed to the planar light-emittingstructure 486, the pressure is not applied to the anisotropic conductiveadhesive film 483 uniformly due to the projections of theanode terminals 492 and thecathode terminal 494. Consequently, the strength of bonding by the anisotropic conductive adhesive film is weaker in thefree areas 495 than in theanode terminals 492 and thecathode terminal 494. An air space is formed between theflexible circuit 490 and the planar light-emittingstructure 486 at a portion where the bonding strength is weak. Moisture can enter this air space during a high-temperature high-humidity test of a vehicle lamp or while the vehicle is running, which can cause the flexible circuit to peel off. -
FIG. 33 is an enlarged view of aterminal disposition portion 423 of aflexible circuit 420 improved to prevent the peeling according to another example of the present embodiment. - As illustrated in
FIG. 33 , in theflexible circuit 420 according to the present example, a non-current-carryingdummy formation 425 is constituted between eachanode terminal 422 and acathode terminal 424. Thedummy formations 425 are constituted as formations simultaneously when theanode terminals 422 and thecathode terminal 424 are constituted, but thedummy formations 425 are not electrically connected toconductor formations dummy formations 425. - If pressure is applied to the
flexible circuit 420 when theflexible circuit 420 is affixed to the back surface of the planar light-emittingstructure 486 with an anisotropic conductive adhesive film interposed therebetween, the pressure can be applied uniformly on the anisotropic conductive adhesive film because of thedummy formations 425, and thus the anode terminals, the cathode terminal, and the dummy formations are bonded uniformly to the planar light-emitting structure. Therefore, an air space is less likely to be formed between the flexible circuit and the planar light-emitting structure. Consequently, a situation in which moisture enters an air space during a high-temperature high-humidity test of the vehicle lamp or while the vehicle is running is prevented, and thus the flexible circuit can be prevented from peeling off. - It is preferable that the formations be constituted continuously so that no free area is present between the
dummy formations 425 and theanode terminals 422 andcathode terminal 424. The reason for this is that, if even a slight free area is present, an air space is likely to be formed at that portion. In addition, it is preferable that thedummy formations 425, theanode terminals 422, and thecathode terminal 424 have substantially the same film thickness. When there is a different in the film thickness, an air space is likely to be formed at a portion where the thickness changes. Furthermore, it is preferable that patterns of thedummy formations 425, theanode terminals 422, and thecathode terminal 424 have substantially the same pitch. This makes it possible to eliminate a variation in the bonding strength caused by a variation in pitch. - With a structure in which a planar light-emitting structure and a flexible circuit are bonded with an anisotropic conductive adhesive film such as the one described above, a breaking test needs to be carried out after bonding in order to reliably check whether feeder portions on the planar light-emitting structure and terminals on the flexible circuit are electrically connected. Therefore, a total inspection is not possible.
-
FIG. 34A is an enlarged view of aterminal disposition portion 433 of aflexible circuit 430 improved for an inspection according to another example of the present embodiment. As illustrated inFIG. 34A , a pair ofterminals 435 for checking the connection is added to eachanode terminal 432, and a pair ofterminals 437 for checking the connection is added to acathode terminal 434. -
FIG. 34B is a schematic sectional view taken along the line I-I indicated inFIG. 34A , and illustrates a state in which theflexible circuit 430 is affixed to the back surface of the planar light-emittingstructure 486 with the anisotropic conductiveadhesive film 483 interposed therebetween. As can be seen fromFIG. 34 , theterminals anode terminals 432 and thecathode terminal 434, respectively, and penetrate through theflexible circuit 430 so as to be exposed in a side opposite to the terminals. Therefore, by trying to pass the electricity through theterminals structure 486 and the terminals on theflexible circuit 430 are electrically connected can be inspected with ease. In this manner, according to the present example, the planar light-emitting structure and the flexible circuit that have been bonded can be inspected nondestructively, and the inspection is simple. Thus, a total inspection can be carried out. - The examples described with reference to
FIGS. 33 and 34 can be used in combination. Specifically, thedummy formation 425 illustrated inFIG. 33 may be formed between theanode terminal 432 and thecathode terminal 434 illustrated inFIG. 34 . - In addition, the linear terminal disposition portions in which the anode terminals and the cathode terminals are disposed have been described in the examples described with reference to
FIGS. 33 and 34 , but the terminals may partially have shapes other than a straight line. For example, these examples can also be applied to an arc-shaped flexible circuit that is electrically connected to an anode feeder portion and a cathode feeder portion such as those illustrated inFIG. 29C . - Vehicle lamps in which a light-emitting diode (LED) is used as a light source is known to have a problem in that static electricity that has accumulated in an outer cover or a projection lens of a lamp can jump to the LED, causing the LED to malfunction. Thus, to date, countermeasures have been taken by, for example, grounding members, such as an extension, disposed around an LED.
- It is known that such a malfunction also occurs in a vehicle lamp in which a planar light-emitting structure, such as an organic EL panel, is used as a light source when static electricity jumps to the planar light-emitting structure in a similar manner. Typically, a planar light-emitting structure is comparatively larger than an LED, and thus such countermeasures as those taken against static electricity in an LED are considered to be insufficient.
-
FIG. 35A is a schematic plan view of the back side (i.e., surface opposite from the light-emitting surface) of a planar light-emittingstructure 450 in which a countermeasure against static electricity is taken according to another example of the present embodiment. - An
anode feeder portion 452 electrically connected to the anode layer of the planar light-emitting structure and acathode feeder portion 454 electrically connected to the cathode layer of the planar light-emitting structure are provided on the back surface of the planar light-emittingstructure 450. A flexible circuit (not illustrated) is bonded onto theanode feeder portion 452 and thecathode feeder portion 454 with an anisotropic conductive adhesive film interposed therebetween. Furthermore, athin metal film 468 is provided on the back surface of the planar light-emittingstructure 450 so as to cover a substantial portion thereof, and themetal film 468 is either grounded (470) or connected to a negative wire (472). With this configuration, a malfunction of the planar light-emitting structure caused by static electricity that has accumulated in a lens or the like can be prevented. Themetal film 468 covers a substantial portion of the planar light-emitting structure and is thus particularly effective as a countermeasure against static electricity. - The
metal film 468 also helps to improve the heat dissipation performance of the planar light-emittingstructure 450. The shape or the thickness of themetal film 468 may partially be varied (e.g., the thickness is increased at a portion with higher heat radiation) so that the temperature distribution on the surface of the planar light-emittingstructure 450 becomes uniform. - The
metal film 468 can be formed by affixing a foil-like metal film on therear glass substrate 22 in the configuration of the planar light-emitting structure illustrated inFIG. 1 or through metal vapor deposition. In either case, the metal film can be affixed or deposited after a flexible circuit is affixed to the feeder portions on the planar light-emitting structure. Accordingly, an increase in the fabrication cost can be suppressed. - Aside from the
anode feeder portion 452 and thecathode feeder portion 454 to which the flexible circuit is bonded, another pair of ananode feeder portion 462 and acathode feeder portion 464 may be provided (e.g., on a side opposite to the planar light-emitting structure), and aZener diode 466 may be provided so as to connect these feeder portions. TheZener diode 466 is connected so as to be a reverse bias to the planar light-emitting structure 450 (seeFIG. 35B ). With this configuration, static electricity flows through theZener diode 466 when a static electricity voltage of a reverse polarity is applied to the planar light-emittingstructure 450, and thus a malfunction of the planar light-emittingstructure 450 can be prevented. - Instead of providing a Zener diode on the back surface of the planar light-emitting structure, a Zener diode may be provided on the flexible circuit that is bonded onto the
anode feeder portion 452 and thecathode feeder portion 454. With this configuration, no separate feeder portion for a Zener diode needs to be provided on the planar light-emitting structure, and thus the cost can be reduced. - One or both of the
metal film 468 and theZener diode 466 described above may be provided. In addition, these structures can also be applied to the other examples described above in a similar manner. - In the foregoing embodiments, a configuration in which the terminal portions of the anode feeder portion and the cathode feeder portion are located on the lower side of the planar light-emitting structure has been described, but such positions are not limited to be on the lower side. For example, in the case of a rectangular planar light-emitting structure such as the one illustrated in
FIG. 25 orFIG. 31 , the positions of theanode feeder portion 372 and thecathode feeder portion 374 may be vertically inverted, and theterminal portions anode feeder portion 372 and theterminal portions cathode feeder portion 374 may be located on the upper side of the planar light-emitting structure. In each of the examples illustrated inFIG. 29 as well, the positions of the anode feeder portion and the cathode feeder portion may be vertically inverted. The anode feeder portion and the cathode feeder portion may be located on a lateral side. - In the foregoing embodiments, a flexible circuit is used to supply electric power to the planar light-emitting structure. Alternatively, a substrate having an inflexible structure, such as a printed circuit, may be used.
- In the foregoing embodiments, a generally flat planar light-emitting structure has been described. Alternatively, a planar light-emitting structure may be curved or bent by using, instead of a glass substrate, an ultrathin glass or a transparent resin that can accommodate to a curved surface. In this case as well, the arrangement of the anode wiring and the cathode wiring, the use of the fixing members, the convex portions provided on the base of the fixing members, and so on can be applied in a similar manner to those in the case of a flat planar light-emitting structure.
- The present embodiment also includes the following configurations.
- 1. A Vehicle Lamp, Comprising:
- a planar light-emitting structure having a first substrate on which an organic EL emission portion is formed, a single linear anode feeder portion and a single linear cathode feeder portion electrically connected to the organic EL emission portion being provided on a back surface along an outer periphery thereof; and
- a second substrate connected to the planar light-emitting structure so as to make contact with the anode feeder portion and the cathode feeder portion,
- the anode feeder portion being longer than the cathode feeder portion when measured along the outer periphery of the planar light-emitting structure.
- 2. The vehicle lamp according to 1, wherein
- the second substrate is configured to make contact with two terminal portions of the anode feeder portion located on the outer periphery of the planar light-emitting structure.
- 3. The vehicle lamp according to 1 or 2, wherein
- the anode feeder portion has a portion that is formed in an annular shape along the outer periphery of the planar light-emitting structure.
- 4. The vehicle lamp according to any one of 1 through 3, wherein
- terminal portions of the anode feeder portion and of the cathode feeder portion are provided so as to be located on one side of the planar light-emitting structure, and
- the second substrate is disposed along the one side of the planar light-emitting structure so as to make contact with all of the terminal portions.
- 5. The vehicle lamp according to any one of 1 through 4, further comprising:
- a fixing member that includes
- a concave portion that supports the outer periphery of the planar light-emitting structure, and
- a base that opposes the back surface of the planar light-emitting structure,
- the base having a convex portion provided at a position corresponding to a portion at which the anode feeder portion or the cathode feeder portion is connected to the second substrate.
- 6. The vehicle lamp according to 5, wherein
- the second substrate is connected to a lower side of the planar light-emitting structure, and
- a hole is formed in the concave portion at a portion located on the lower side.
- 7. The vehicle lamp according to any one of 1 through 6, wherein
- the second substrate is a flexible circuit.
- 8. The vehicle lamp according to any one of 1 through 7, wherein
- a current-carrying wiring formation that makes contact with the anode feeder portion or the cathode feeder portion and that passes electricity thereto and a non-current-carrying dummy formation that does not pass electricity are formed on the second substrate, and
- the current-carrying wiring formation and the non-current-carrying dummy formation have a substantially identical film thickness.
- 9. The vehicle lamp according to any one of 1 through 8, wherein
- a Zener diode is interposed between the anode feeder portion and the cathode feeder portion.
- 10 organic EL panel (planar light-emitting structure); 12, 22 glass substrate; 30 light source unit; 32 organic EL panel; 32 a feeder portion; 36 framing member; 38 elastic member; 40 rear cover; 50 light source unit; 52 conductive elastic member; 56 busbar; 60, 70 framing member; 80 organic EL panel; 90 rear cover; 100 light source unit; 112, 122 glass substrate; 130 organic EL panel; 134 projection; 134 a feeder portion; 136 projection; 140, 142 bracket (fixing member); 144 elastic contact portion; 380, 390, 410 planar light-emitting structure; 318 organic EL emission layer; 330 fixing member; 332 rib; 334 base; 336 concave portion; 338 convex portion; 340 drain hole; 342 anisotropic conductive adhesive film; 350 flexible circuit; 372, 382, 392, 412 anode feeder portion; 372 a, 372 b terminal portion; 374, 384, 394, 414 cathode feeder portion; 374 a, 374 b terminal portion; 376 second anode feeder portion; 400 vehicle lamp
- According to the present invention, stress exerted on a substrate for a planar light-emitting structure can be reduced in a vehicle lamp provided with a planar light-emitting structure.
Claims (15)
1. A vehicle lamp, comprising:
a planar light-emitting structure having a substrate on which an organic electroluminescent emission element is provided;
a framing member for fixing the planar light-emitting structure inside a vehicle-lamp light cabinet; and
an elastic member interposed between the planar light-emitting structure and the framing member, fixing the planar light-emitting structure under the elastic member's biasing force.
2. The vehicle lamp according to claim 1 , wherein:
electrical contacts for the supplying of electric power to the organic electroluminescent element are provided in portions of a peripheral margin of the planar light-emitting structure;
and
the elastic member is disposed fronting on the electrical contacts, and is configured such as to feed electric power via the electrical contacts.
3. The vehicle lamp according to claim 2 , wherein the elastic member is disposed in a portion of a side of the framing member fronting on the planar light-emitting structure.
4. The vehicle lamp according to claim 3 , wherein the elastic member is of conductive rubber.
5. The vehicle lamp according to claim 3 , wherein a busbar for supplying electric power to the elastic member is provided either inside the framing member or on a side thereof confronting the planar light-emitting structure.
6. The vehicle lamp according to claim 1 , wherein the elastic member is disposed such as to provide between the planar light-emitting structure and the framing member a penetrating space for passing air therethrough of temperature elevated by heat emitted from the planar light-emitting structure.
7. A vehicle lamp, comprising:
a planar light-emitting structure having a first substrate on which an organic electroluminescent emission element is formed, a single linear anode feeder element and a single linear cathode feeder element electrically connected to the organic electroluminescent emission element being provided on a back surface along an outer periphery thereof; and
a second substrate connected to the planar light-emitting structure such as to be in contact with the anode feeder element
and the cathode feeder element; wherein
the anode feeder element is longer than the cathode feeder element as gauged along the outer periphery of the planar light-emitting structure.
8. The vehicle lamp according to claim 7 , wherein the second substrate is configured to make contact with two terminuses of the anode feeder element, located on the outer periphery of the planar light-emitting structure.
9. The vehicle lamp according to claim 7 , wherein the anode feeder element includes a section shaped in an annular form along the outer periphery of the planar light-emitting structure.
10. The vehicle lamp according to claim 7 , wherein:
terminuses of the anode feeder element and of the cathode feeder element are provided such as to be located one-sidedly on the planar light-emitting structure; and
the second substrate is disposed along the one side of the planar light-emitting structure such as to make contact with all of the terminuses.
11. The vehicle lamp according to claim 7 , further comprising:
a fixing member that includes
a concave portion supporting the outer periphery of the planar light-emitting structure, and
an underside opposing the back surface of the planar light-emitting structure; wherein
the underside has a convex portion provided in a location thereon corresponding to where either the anode feeder element or the cathode feeder element is connected to the second substrate.
12. The vehicle lamp according to claim 11 , wherein:
the second substrate is connected to a lower-end side of the planar light-emitting structure; and
a hole is formed in the concave portion in a portion thereof located on its lower-end side.
13. The vehicle lamp according to claim 7 , wherein the second substrate is a flexible circuit.
14. The vehicle lamp according to claim 7 , wherein:
a current-carrying wiring formation in contact with either the anode feeder element or the cathode feeder element, and a non-current-carrying dummy formation are formed on the second substrate; and
the wiring formation and the dummy formation are of substantially identical film thickness.
15. The vehicle lamp according to claim 7 , wherein a Zener diode is interposed between the anode feeder element and the cathode feeder element.
Priority Applications (1)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
US15/977,800 US10462858B2 (en) | 2013-12-25 | 2018-05-11 | Vehicle lamp |
Applications Claiming Priority (9)
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JP2013-267689 | 2013-12-25 | ||
JP2013267689 | 2013-12-25 | ||
JP2014-020576 | 2014-02-05 | ||
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JP2014199841 | 2014-09-30 | ||
JP2014-199841 | 2014-09-30 | ||
PCT/JP2014/083879 WO2015098822A1 (en) | 2013-12-25 | 2014-12-22 | Vehicle lamp |
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US10883693B2 (en) | 2017-01-25 | 2021-01-05 | Koito Manufacturing Co., Ltd. | Vehicle lamp |
US20190063705A1 (en) * | 2017-08-23 | 2019-02-28 | Stanley Electric Co., Ltd. | Vehicle lamp |
US10663132B2 (en) * | 2017-08-23 | 2020-05-26 | Stanley Electric Co., Ltd. | Vehicle lamp |
US11796404B2 (en) | 2018-03-29 | 2023-10-24 | Minebea Mitsumi Inc. | Strain gauge |
US10641452B2 (en) | 2018-08-22 | 2020-05-05 | Ford Global Technologies, Llc | Vehicle illumination system having a lens with a sawtooth profile |
US10775016B1 (en) | 2019-04-04 | 2020-09-15 | Ford Global Technologies, Llc | Vehicle lighting system |
Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
---|---|
JPWO2015098822A1 (en) | 2017-03-23 |
US10462858B2 (en) | 2019-10-29 |
WO2015098822A1 (en) | 2015-07-02 |
EP3088797A4 (en) | 2017-11-08 |
EP3088797A1 (en) | 2016-11-02 |
JP6483621B2 (en) | 2019-03-13 |
CN108644732A (en) | 2018-10-12 |
CN105814360A (en) | 2016-07-27 |
CN105814360B (en) | 2019-06-11 |
EP3372891A1 (en) | 2018-09-12 |
CN108644732B (en) | 2020-12-29 |
US20180270921A1 (en) | 2018-09-20 |
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Legal Events
Date | Code | Title | Description |
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AS | Assignment |
Owner name: KOITO MANUFACTURING CO., LTD., JAPAN Free format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST;ASSIGNORS:SHIDO, MASAYA;ONODA, YUKIHIRO;ITO, TORU;AND OTHERS;REEL/FRAME:038834/0447 Effective date: 20160512 |
|
STCB | Information on status: application discontinuation |
Free format text: ABANDONED -- FAILURE TO RESPOND TO AN OFFICE ACTION |