JP2014041787A - Vehicular lighting appliance - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To secure a planarly spread light-emitting area with a little light sources in a vehicular lighting appliance comprising a light guide body.SOLUTION: A light guide body 20 includes a curtain member 20B and a rod-shaped member 20A extending along a position of an upper end face 20Ba of the curtain member in a predetermined direction (that is a direction curved in a vehicle width direction). The rod-like member 20A is configured to make light from a light source 30 incident to a right end face 20Aa thereof and emit the light from a circumferential surface 20Ac thereof toward the curtain member 20B while guiding the light inside. Thus, the rod-like member 20A is functioned as a light source extending in a belt shape in the predetermined direction. On the other hand, the curtain member 20B is configured to emit light which is emitted from the rod-like member 20A and incident from the upper end face 20Ba, from a front face 20Bb thereof while guiding the light inside, and then a cross-sectional shape along a plane orthogonal with the predetermined direction is set to have a plurality of constrictions 20Bc. Thus, the curtain member 20B is emitted light in each of the constrictions 20Bc.

Description

  The present invention relates to a vehicular lamp provided with a light guide.

  Conventionally, as a configuration of a vehicular lamp, a light guide disposed so as to extend in a predetermined direction and a light source disposed so that light is incident on the light guide from an end surface in the predetermined direction are provided. Is known.

  “Patent Document 1” describes a configuration including a rod-shaped light guide body having a plurality of constricted portions as such a vehicular lamp. At this time, the light guide of the vehicular lamp is configured to emit light from the light source incident from the end surface thereof from the peripheral surface at each constricted portion, and thereby the light guide is provided to each constricted portion. The light is emitted at the position.

JP 2004-273336 A

  In the vehicle lamp described in the above-mentioned “Patent Document 1”, the light guide body can emit light at a plurality of locations in the predetermined direction, but the light-emitting area has a planar shape. It is not possible.

  In such a vehicular lamp, in order to ensure a light-emitting area that expands in a planar shape, as described in the above-mentioned "Patent Document 1", a plurality of rod-shaped light guides are arranged side by side, It is necessary to arrange a light source for each of them.

  However, in this case, there is a problem that a large number of light sources are required.

  The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and in a vehicular lamp provided with a light guide, a vehicular lamp that can secure a light-emitting area that extends in a planar shape with a few light sources. It is intended to provide.

  The present invention is intended to achieve the above object by devising the structure of the light guide.

That is, the vehicular lamp according to the present invention is
In a vehicle lamp comprising a light source and a light guide disposed so as to make light from the light source incident thereon,
The light guide includes a rod-shaped member and a curtain member,
The rod-shaped member is disposed so as to extend in a predetermined direction along the end surface of the curtain member, and the light from the light source is incident from the end surface of the rod-shaped member to guide the inside of the rod-shaped member. It is configured to emit from the peripheral surface of the rod-shaped member toward the curtain member,
The curtain member is configured to be emitted from the front surface of the curtain member while making light emitted from the rod-shaped member incident from an end surface of the curtain member and guiding the inside of the curtain member;
The cross-sectional shape along the plane orthogonal to the predetermined direction of the curtain member is set to a shape having a plurality of constricted portions.

  The “light source” may be disposed so that light enters only from one end face of the rod-shaped member, or may be disposed so that light enters from the other end face.

  The “curtain member” means a member formed so as to expand in a planar shape.

  The “bar-shaped member” is arranged so as to extend in a predetermined direction along the end face of the curtain member, but the specific position of the “end face” in the curtain member at that time is not particularly limited, The specific direction of the “predetermined direction” is not particularly limited.

  If the cross-sectional shape along the plane orthogonal to the predetermined direction is set to a shape having a plurality of constricted portions, the specific cross-sectional shape of the “curtain member” is not particularly limited.

  As shown in the above configuration, the vehicular lamp according to the present invention has a configuration including a curtain member and a rod-shaped member arranged so as to extend in a predetermined direction along an end surface thereof as a configuration of the light guide. However, at that time, the rod-shaped member has a configuration in which light from the light source is incident from the end surface of the rod-shaped member and guided from the peripheral surface to the curtain member while guiding the inside thereof. This rod-shaped member can be made to function as a light source extending in a strip shape in the predetermined direction.

  On the other hand, the curtain member is configured to emit the light emitted from the rod-shaped member incident from the end face thereof from the front surface while guiding the inside thereof. The curtain member is a plane orthogonal to the predetermined direction. Since the cross-sectional shape along the line is set to a shape having a plurality of constricted portions, the curtain member can emit light in each constricted portion. And thereby, the light emission area | region of a light guide can be expanded planarly in the said predetermined direction and the direction which cross | intersects this.

  Thus, according to the present invention, in the vehicular lamp provided with the light guide, it is possible to secure a light-emitting region that extends in a planar shape with few light sources.

  In the above configuration, if the light diffusion portion is formed at the position of each constricted portion on the front surface of the curtain member, the curtain member can easily emit light at each constricted portion. As a result, the light emission at each constricted portion can be made uniform.

  In the above configuration, if the constricted portions are formed so as to extend in the predetermined direction, the curtain member can be made to appear to emit light in a striped pattern extending in the predetermined direction.

  In the above configuration, if the rod-shaped member and the curtain member are integrally formed, the light emitted from the rod-shaped member can be efficiently incident on the curtain member. As a result, the utilization efficiency of the light emitted from the light source can be increased as compared with the case where the rod-shaped member and the curtain member are spaced apart.

  Here, the phrase “the bar-shaped member and the curtain member are integrally formed” means that the bar-shaped member and the curtain member are arranged in a state where they are not separated from each other. As such a mode, a mode in which the bar-shaped member and the curtain member are configured as an integrally molded product, a mode in which the bar-shaped member and the curtain member are fixed by adhesion, or the like can be employed.

Plan sectional drawing which shows the vehicle lamp which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention The front view which shows the light guide of the said vehicle lamp Sectional view taken along line III-III in FIG. FIG. 6A is a view similar to FIG. 3 showing a light guide according to a first modification of the embodiment, and FIG. 5B is a view showing a light guide according to a second modification of the embodiment. Figure similar to 3 The figure similar to FIG. 2 which shows the light guide which concerns on the 3rd modification of the said embodiment.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 is a plan sectional view showing a vehicular lamp 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention.

  As shown in these drawings, a vehicular lamp 10 according to the present embodiment is a tail lamp provided at a right rear end portion of a vehicle, and a lamp body 12 and a through hole attached to a front end opening portion of the lamp body 12 are illustrated. A light guide 20 and a light source 30 for allowing light to enter the light guide 20 are incorporated in a lamp chamber formed by the light-transmitting cover 14.

  As for the vehicular lamp 10, in FIG. 1, the direction indicated by X is “front” (“rear” for vehicles), and the direction indicated by Y is “right direction” orthogonal to “front”.

  The light guide 20 is composed of a rod-shaped member 20A that is curved and extends in the vehicle width direction, and a curtain member 20B that extends obliquely downward and forward from the rod-shaped member 20A. At that time, the rod-shaped member 20A and the curtain member 20B are configured as a single member as a transparent synthetic resin molded product made of acrylic resin or the like.

  The rod-shaped member 20A extends in a curved shape so as to wrap around from the left end surface 20Ab toward the right end surface 20Aa. The rod-shaped member 20A is directed from the peripheral surface 20Ac of the rod-shaped member toward the curtain member 20B while making light from the light source 30 incident from the right end surface 20Aa and guiding the inside of the rod-shaped member 20A by total reflection. It is comprised so that it may radiate.

  The light source 30 is a red light emitting diode, and is disposed in the vicinity of the right end surface 20Aa of the rod-shaped member 20A so that the light emitting surface faces the right end surface 20Aa. The light source 30 is supported by a light source support member 32, and the light source support member 32 is supported by the lamp body 12.

  The light guide 20 is formed such that the rod-shaped member 20A is slightly longer than the curtain member 20B in a predetermined direction in which the rod-shaped member 20A extends. The light guide 20 is supported by the light guide support members 22 and 24 at both left and right ends of the rod-shaped member 20A. At this time, the light guide support member 22 that supports the right end portion of the rod-shaped member 20A is supported by the light source support member 32, and the light guide support member 24 that supports the left end portion of the rod-shaped member 20A corresponds to the lamp body 12. It is supported by.

  2 is a front view showing the light guide 20, and FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along line III-III.

  As shown in these figures, the circumferential surface 20Ac of the rod-shaped member 20A is formed in a cylindrical shape, and light incident on the rod-shaped member 20A is curtained on a portion located obliquely above and behind the circumferential surface 20Ac. A plurality of reflective elements 20As that reflect toward the member 20B are formed.

  The plurality of reflecting elements 20As are continuously formed in the predetermined direction in the region excluding the left and right end portions of the rod-shaped member 20A. At this time, each of the reflecting elements 20As is formed in a wedge-shaped cross-sectional shape so as to protrude from the peripheral surface 20Ac of the light guide 20 to the outer peripheral side, and a cross-section along a plane orthogonal to the predetermined direction. The shape is set in an arc shape concentric with the peripheral surface 20Ac.

  Thereby, as shown in FIG. 3, the light which goes to each reflective element 20s in the middle of light guide in the rod-shaped member 20A can be handled as diverging light from the center position C of the peripheral surface 20Ac. And since the reflected light from each reflecting element 20s having a cross-sectional shape concentric with the peripheral surface 20Ac becomes retroreflected light returning to the center position C, the light emitted to the curtain member 20B is also diverged light from the center position C. Can be handled.

  On the other hand, the curtain member 20B emits the light emitted from the rod-shaped member 20A from the position of the upper end surface 20Ba of the curtain member 20B and guides the inside of the curtain member 20B from the front surface 20Bb of the curtain member 20B. It is configured to let you. In addition, since this curtain member 20B is comprised with the rod-shaped member 20A and the single member, the upper end surface 20Ba is a virtual surface.

  As for this curtain member 20B, the cross-sectional shape along the plane orthogonal to the said predetermined direction is set to the shape which has several narrow part 20Bc. Specifically, it has a cross-sectional shape in which a plurality of ellipses are sequentially connected at the first and second focal points. At this time, the plurality of constricted portions 20Bc are formed to extend in parallel to each other in the predetermined direction.

  And the light-diffusion part 20Bd is formed in the position of each constriction part 20Bc in front surface 20Bb of this curtain member 20B. At this time, each of the light diffusion portions 20Bd is formed by performing light diffusion processing such as embossing on a horizontally long belt-like region straddling the constricted portions 20B on the front surface 20Bb of the curtain member 20B.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the light incident on the curtain member 20 </ b> B is guided in the direction of the tip while repeating internal reflection due to total reflection on both front and rear surfaces thereof. The light reaches the front surface 20Bb at each constricted portion 20Bc at an incident angle less than the critical angle, and is thereby emitted forward. At that time, since the light diffusion portions 20Bd are formed at the positions of the constricted portions 20Bc on the front surface 20Bb of the curtain member 20B, the forward emitted light from the constricted portions 20Bc becomes diffused light.

  Next, the effect of this embodiment is demonstrated.

  The vehicular lamp 10 according to the present embodiment is arranged so as to extend in a predetermined direction (that is, a direction curved in the vehicle width direction) along the positions of the curtain member 20B and the upper end surface 20Ba as the configuration of the light guide 20. In this case, the rod-shaped member 20A enters the light from the light source 30 through the right end surface 20Aa of the rod-shaped member 20A and guides the inside thereof. Since the light is emitted from the peripheral surface 20Ac toward the curtain member 20B, the rod-shaped member 20A can function as a light source extending in a strip shape in the predetermined direction.

  On the other hand, the curtain member 20B is configured to emit the light emitted from the rod-shaped member 20A incident from the upper end surface 20Ba from the front surface 20Bb while guiding the inside of the curtain member 20B. Since the cross-sectional shape along the plane orthogonal to the predetermined direction is set to a shape having a plurality of constricted portions 20Bc, the curtain member 20B can emit light in each constricted portion 20Bc. And thereby, the light emission area | region of the light guide 20 can be expanded planarly in the said predetermined direction and the direction which cross | intersects this.

  As described above, according to this embodiment, in the vehicular lamp 10 including the light guide 20, it is possible to secure a light emitting region that is spread in a planar shape with a few light sources 30.

  At this time, in the present embodiment, since the rod-shaped member 20A and the curtain member 20B are configured as a single member, the emitted light from the rod-shaped member 20A can be efficiently incident on the curtain member 20B. And thereby, the utilization efficiency with respect to the emitted light from the light source 30 can be enhanced as compared with the case where the rod-shaped member 20A and the curtain member 20B are arranged apart from each other.

  In the present embodiment, since the light diffusion portions 20Bd are formed at the positions of the constricted portions 20Bc on the front surface 20Bb of the curtain member 20B, the curtain members 20B can easily emit light at the constricted portions 20Bc. In addition, the light emission can be made uniform.

  At this time, since each of the constricted portions 20Bc is formed so as to extend in the predetermined direction, the curtain member 20B can be seen to emit light with a striped pattern extending in the predetermined direction.

  In the above-described embodiment, the rod-shaped member 20A is described as being formed longer than the curtain member 20B. However, the configuration in which the curtain member 20B is formed longer than the rod-shaped member 20A or both are the same length. It is also possible to adopt a configuration formed by the above.

  In the above-described embodiment, the plurality of reflecting elements 20As are described as being continuously formed in the predetermined direction with a wedge-shaped cross-section so as to protrude from the peripheral surface 20Ac to the outer peripheral side, but the peripheral surface 20Ac It is also possible to adopt a configuration formed so as to be recessed from the inner periphery to the inner peripheral side, a configuration formed with a cross-sectional shape other than a wedge shape, or a configuration formed intermittently in the predetermined direction.

  In the above embodiment, the light source 30 has been described as being disposed in the vicinity of the right end surface 20Aa of the rod-shaped member 20A. However, the configuration in which the light source 30 is disposed in the vicinity of the left end surface 20Ab, the right end surface 20Aa, and the left end surface It is also possible to adopt a configuration in which each is arranged in the vicinity of 20 Ab.

  In the above-described embodiment, the light emitting diode is used as the light source 30, but a configuration using other types of light sources is also possible.

  In the above-described embodiment, the rod-shaped member 20A has been described as being arranged so as to bend and extend in the vehicle width direction. However, the rod-like member 20A may be configured to extend in the vertical direction or other oblique directions. Is possible.

  In the above embodiment, the case where the vehicular lamp 10 is a tail lamp provided at the right rear end of the vehicle has been described. However, the same configuration as that of the above embodiment is adopted regardless of the location and function provided in the vehicle. By doing so, it is possible to obtain the same effect as the above-described embodiment.

  Next, a modification of the above embodiment will be described.

  First, a first modification of the above embodiment will be described.

  FIG. 4A is a view similar to FIG. 3 showing the light guide 120 according to this modification.

  As shown in the figure, the light guide 120 of this modification is different from the above embodiment in the configuration of the curtain member 120B.

  That is, also in this modified example, the light diffusion portions 120Bd are formed at the positions of the constricted portions 120Bc on the front surface 120Bb of the curtain member 120B. A horizontally long belt-like region straddling the constricted portion 120Bc is cut away in a circular arc shape to form a concave cylindrical lens.

  Since the curtain member 120B extends obliquely downward and forward from the rod-shaped member 20A, the light incident on the curtain member 120B and reaching the light diffusing portion 120Bd of each constricted portion 120Bc in the middle of the light guide is concave. In the light diffusion portion 120Bd formed as a cylindrical lens, the light is diffused and emitted forward at an emission angle relatively close to the horizontal direction.

  By adopting the configuration of this modification, it is possible to make the curtain member 120B of the light guide 120 appear to emit bright light with a striped pattern extending in the predetermined direction when the lamp is viewed from the front.

  Note that it is also possible to adopt a configuration in which light diffusion processing such as embossing is further applied to each light diffusion portion 120Bd in this modification.

  Next, a second modification of the above embodiment will be described.

  FIG. 4B is a view similar to FIG. 3 showing the light guide 220 according to this modification.

  As shown in the figure, the present modification is different from the above-described embodiment in that the rod-shaped member 220A and the curtain member 220B constituting the light guide 220 are formed of separate members. At that time, the curtain member 220B is disposed in a state in which the upper end surface 220Ba is spaced apart from the circumferential surface 220Ac of the rod-shaped member 220A at equal intervals.

  Even when the configuration of the present modification is employed, substantially the same operational effects as those of the above-described embodiment can be obtained.

  In addition, instead of the configuration of this modification, the upper end surface 220Ba of the curtain member 220B can be bonded to the peripheral surface 220Ac of the rod-shaped member 220A. In this case, the above embodiment is used. The same effect can be obtained.

  Next, a third modification of the above embodiment will be described.

  FIG. 5 is a view similar to FIG. 2, showing a light guide 320 according to this modification.

  As shown in the figure, the light guide 320 of this modification is different from the above embodiment in the configuration of the curtain member 320B.

  That is, also in this modification, the cross-sectional shape along the plane orthogonal to the predetermined direction of the curtain member 320B is set to a shape having a plurality of constricted portions 320Bc, but each constricted portion 320Bc is in the predetermined direction. It differs from the case of the said embodiment in the point extended so that it may wave. At this time, the waveform shapes of the constricted portions 320Bc are formed so as to be shifted by a half wavelength between the constricted portions 320Bc adjacent in the vertical direction. The configuration of each light diffusion unit 320Bd is the same as that in the above embodiment.

  By adopting the configuration of this modified example, the light guide 320 can emit light with a pattern different from that in the above embodiment, while obtaining the same operational effects as in the above embodiment.

  In addition, the numerical value shown as a specification in the said embodiment and its modification is only an example, and of course, you may set these to a different value suitably.

  The invention of the present application is not limited to the configuration described in the above-described embodiment and its modifications, and a configuration with various other changes can be adopted.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Vehicle lamp 12 Lamp body 14 Translucent cover 20,120,220,320 Light guide 20A, 220A Bar-shaped member 20Aa Right end surface 20Ab Left end surface 20Ac, 220Ac Peripheral surface 20As Reflective element 20B, 120B, 220B, 320B Curtain member 20Ba , 220Ba Upper end surface 20Bb, 120Bb Front surface 20Bc, 120Bc, 320Bc Constricted portion 20Bd, 120Bd, 320Bd Light diffusion portion 22, 24 Light guide support member 30 Light source 32 Light source support member C Center position

Claims (3)

In a vehicle lamp comprising a light source and a light guide disposed so as to make light from the light source incident thereon,
The light guide includes a rod-shaped member and a curtain member,
The rod-shaped member is disposed so as to extend in a predetermined direction along the end surface of the curtain member, and the light from the light source is incident from the end surface of the rod-shaped member to guide the inside of the rod-shaped member. It is configured to emit from the peripheral surface of the rod-shaped member toward the curtain member,
The curtain member is configured to be emitted from the front surface of the curtain member while making light emitted from the rod-shaped member incident from an end surface of the curtain member and guiding the inside of the curtain member;
A vehicular lamp characterized in that a cross-sectional shape along a plane orthogonal to the predetermined direction of the curtain member is set to a shape having a plurality of constricted portions.   The vehicular lamp according to claim 1, wherein a light diffusion portion is formed at a position of each constricted portion on the front surface of the curtain member.   The vehicular lamp according to claim 1, wherein each of the constricted portions is formed to extend in the predetermined direction.

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