Patent ID: 12194918

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

Hereinafter, a vehicle interior lighting device100according to an embodiment will be described with reference to the drawings. In the drawings, arrows “FR,” “UP,” and “RH” respectively represent the forward direction (traveling direction), the upward direction, and the right direction of a vehicle10. The directions opposite to the arrows “FR,” “UP,” and “RH” respectively represent the rearward direction, the downward direction, and the left direction of the vehicle. Hereinafter, when the description is given simply using front and rear, right and left, and up and down directions, unless otherwise specified, they respectively represent front and rear in the vehicle front-and-rear direction, right and left in the vehicle right-and-left direction (vehicle width direction), and up and down in the vehicle up-and-down direction.

First, the vehicle10on which the vehicle interior lighting device100according to the embodiment is mounted will be described with reference toFIGS.1to3. As shown inFIG.1, the vehicle10is a four-door sedan including left and right front doors21L and21R, left and right rear doors25L and25R, a driver seat12R and passenger seat12L at a front side of a passenger compartment11, and a rear seat13at a rear side of the passenger compartment11. In the passenger compartment11, a steering wheel14is mounted in front of the driver seat12R, and an instrument panel15is disposed in front of the steering wheel14. The instrument panel15is an interior trim which is provided at the front side of the passenger compartment11and in which a speedometer and other driving instruments are arranged. As shown inFIGS.1and2, left and right air outlet nozzles16L and16R for blowing air-conditioned air in the vehicle rearward direction toward the inside of the passenger compartment are arranged on right and left side ends of the instrument panel15.

As shown inFIG.3, a front door trim24R which is a front interior component is mounted on the passenger compartment side of the right front door21R. The front door trim24R is composed of a right front door trim body22R which constitutes a right front inner surface of the passenger compartment11, and a right front door decoration panel23R mounted on a passenger compartment side surface of the right front door trim body22R. A front lever51R for opening and closing the front door21R is mounted on the front door decoration panel23R, and a front armrest53R is provided on the lower side of the front door decoration panel23R.

A rear door trim28R which is a rear interior component is mounted on the passenger compartment side of the right rear door25R. The rear door trim28R is composed of a right rear door trim body26R which constitutes a right rear inner surface of the passenger compartment11, and a right rear door decoration panel27R mounted on a passenger compartment side surface of the right rear door trim body26R. A rear lever55R for opening and closing the rear door25R is mounted on the rear door decoration panel27R, and a rear armrest56R is provided on the lower side of the rear door decoration panel27R. The front door decoration panel23R and the rear door decoration panel27R are plate-shaped components extending in the vehicle front-and-rear direction and are arranged in alignment with each other in the vehicle front-and-rear direction.

The front door trim body22R and the rear door trim body26R are components made of resin and have, on their surfaces, a fine uneven pattern which does not reflect much light. On the other hand, the front door decoration panel23R and the rear door decoration panel27R are components having a smooth surface with a pattern, such as, for example, wood grain and are of higher reflectance than the front door trim body22R and the rear door trim body26R.

The left front door21L is symmetrical with the right front door21R and has a left front door trim24L composed of a left front door trim body22L and a left front door decoration panel23L mounted on the interior side of the passenger compartment. The front door decoration panel23L has a front lever51L (seeFIG.2) for opening and closing the left front door21L. The left rear door25L is also symmetrical with the right rear door25R and has a left rear door trim28L composed of a left rear door trim body26L and a left rear door decoration panel27L mounted on the interior side of the passenger compartment. The rear door decoration panel27L has a rear lever (not shown) for opening and closing the left rear door25L.

In addition, left and right center pillars17L and17R are respectively arranged between the left front and rear doors21L and25L and between the right front and rear doors21R and25R.

Returning toFIG.1again, the vehicle interior lighting device100mounted on the vehicle10will be described. The vehicle interior lighting device100is composed of front light-emitting sections33L and33R respectively mounted on the left and right sides at the front side of the passenger compartment11and rear light-emitting sections36L and36R respectively mounted on the left and right sides at the rear side of the passenger compartment11. The front light-emitting sections33L and33R emit light obliquely outward toward the vehicle rear side while the vehicle10is moving or stopped, to thereby illuminate the front portions of the front door trims24L and24R, which are the front interior components. The rear light-emitting sections36L and36R also emit light obliquely outward toward the vehicle front side while the vehicle10is moving or stopped, to thereby illuminate the rear portions of the rear door trims28L and28R, which are the rear interior components.

The right front light-emitting section33R will now be described. As shown inFIGS.1and2, the right front light-emitting section33R is mounted on a right outer side portion of the air outlet nozzle16R located at the right end of the instrument panel15. As shown inFIGS.3and4, a mortise-shaped depression32R is provided in a vehicle-width-direction outer-side portion of the right air outlet nozzle16R of the instrument panel15. The mortise-shaped depression32R is enlarged obliquely outward toward the vehicle rear side and has a light emitting element31R therein. Light emitted from the light emitting element31R is guided by a tapered surface of the mortise-shaped depression32R and travels obliquely toward the right rear side of the vehicle10along optical paths91R and92R indicated by single-dotted lines inFIGS.1and4and illuminates the front door decoration panel23R of the right front door21R and the front portion of the front door trim body22R around it. The light emitting element31R and the depression32R constitute the front light-emitting section33R. The color of light emitted from the light emitting element31R may be, for example, light bulb color or daylight color, or may be green, blue, or other colors.

As explained above, the front door trim body22R is a component made of resin and has, on its surface, a fine uneven pattern, which does not reflect much light. On the other hand, the front door decoration panel23R has a smooth surface and has a reflectance higher than the front door trim body22R. Therefore, when light illuminates the front door decoration panel23R and the front portion of the front door trim body22R around it, the front door trim body22R does not appear to glow much, and only the front portion of the front door decoration panel23R appears to glow as indicated by cross-hatching inFIG.7. The area indicated by the cross-hatching inFIG.7will be referred to as a right front illuminated area61R. As explained above, the front door decoration panel23R is a strip-shaped component extending in the vehicle front-and-rear direction, and the front illuminated area61R thus becomes a strip-shaped area extending from the front toward the rear of the vehicle10. The light emitted from the light emitting element31R travels obliquely toward the vehicle right rear side, and therefore, the brightness in the front illuminated area61R gradually decreases toward the rear side of the vehicle10, and the light fades out near in front of the front lever51R. This causes passengers to perceive the front illuminated area61R as a strip of light emitted from the front toward the rear of the vehicle10.

The left front light-emitting section33L is symmetrical with the right front light-emitting section33R. It is composed of a depression (not shown) provided in a vehicle-width-direction outer-side portion of the left air outlet nozzle16L of the instrument panel15, and a light emitting element (not shown) mounted in the depression. Light emitted from the light-emitting element of the left front light-emitting section33L travels obliquely toward the vehicle left rear side of the vehicle10along the optical paths91L and92L indicated by single-dotted lines inFIG.1and illuminates the front door decoration panel23L of the left front door21L and the front portion of the front door trim body22L around it, thereby providing a left front illuminated area61L indicated by cross-hatching inFIG.7. The range and brightness of the left front illuminated area61L is the same as that of the right front illuminated area61R.

Next, the right rear light-emitting section36R will be described. As shown inFIG.3, the right rear light-emitting section36R is mounted inside a vehicle rear portion26Rd of the rear door trim body26R located at the vehicle rear side of the right rear door decoration panel27R.

As shown inFIGS.5and6, a general portion26Ra of the rear door trim body26R on which the rear door decoration panel27R is mounted has a groove26Rb into which the rear door decoration panel27R is fitted. The rear door decoration panel27R is fitted into the groove26Rb so that its surface27Ra on the side of the passenger compartment11is as high as a surface26Rc at the upper side of the rear door trim body26R on the side of the passenger compartment11. The vehicle rear portion26Rd of the rear door trim body26R protrudes toward the inside of the passenger compartment11more than the surface27Ra of the rear door decoration panel27R, and a longitudinal groove-shaped notch26Rf is formed in a vehicle front side surface26Re of the vehicle rear portion26Rd near the surface27Ra of the rear door decoration panel27R so as to be recessed toward the passenger compartment11side. The notch26Rf forms a gap29R between the vehicle rear portion26Rd of the rear door trim body26R and the surface27Ra of the rear door decoration panel27R.

The rear light-emitting section36R is composed of a light guide rod34R and a light-emitting element35R disposed at one end of the light guide rod34R. The light guide rod34R propagates light incident from the light emitting element35R disposed at its one end internally and emits the light from its side. As shown inFIGS.3,5, and6, the light guide rod34R is mounted inside the rear door trim body26R so that its longitudinal direction extends along the gap29R between the rear door trim body26R and the surface27Ra of the rear door decoration panel27R. The light guide rod34R has fine indentations extending in the vehicle front-and-rear direction to emit light in a horizontal direction. In addition, the light guide rod34R is mounted at an angle such that its light-emitting surface faces obliquely outward toward the vehicle front side. As a result, the light guide rod34R emits light, which is incident from the light emitting element35R, in a horizontal direction from the gap29R as shown by an arrow95inFIG.6so that it travels obliquely outward toward the vehicle front side. The emitted light travels obliquely toward the right front side of the vehicle10along an optical path93R indicated by a single dotted line inFIG.1and illuminates the rear portion of the rear door decoration panel27R of the right rear door25R, as indicated by cross-hatching inFIG.8. The area indicated by cross-hatching inFIG.8will be referred to as a right rear illuminated area62R. The color of light emitted from the light emitting element35R may be, for example, light bulb color or daylight color, or may be green, blue, or other colors.

As explained above, the rear door decoration panel23R is a strip-shaped component with a smooth surface extending in the vehicle front-and-rear direction, and the front illuminated area62R thus becomes a strip-shaped area extending from the rear toward the front of the vehicle10. The light emitted from the rear light-emitting section36R travels obliquely toward the right front side of the vehicle10, and therefore, the brightness in the rear illuminated area62R gradually decreases toward the front side of the vehicle10, and the light fades out near behind the rear lever55R. This causes the passengers to perceive the rear illuminated area62R as a strip of light emitted from the rear toward the front of the

The rear door trim body26R has a fine uneven pattern on its surface and does not reflect much light. Even when light from the rear light-emitting section36R hits the rear door trim body26R, it does not appear to glow much, and only the rear portion of the rear door decoration panel27R appears to glow like a strip as indicated by the cross-hatching inFIG.7.

The left rear light-emitting section36L is symmetrical with the right rear light-emitting section36R and is composed of a light guide rod (not shown) and a light-emitting element (not shown). The light guide rod of the rear light-emitting section36L emits light incident from the light-emitting element obliquely outward toward the vehicle front side from a gap (not shown) between the rear door decoration panel27L and the vehicle rear portion (not shown) of the rear door trim body26L. The emitted light travels obliquely toward the left front side of the vehicle10along an optical path93L indicated by a single-dotted line inFIG.1and illuminates the rear portion of the left rear door decoration panel23L, thereby providing a left rear illuminated area62L as shown inFIG.1. The range and brightness of the left rear illuminated area62L is the same as that of the right rear illuminated area62R.

As explained above, in the vehicle interior lighting device100, the four light-emitting sections; that is, the left and right front light-emitting sections33L,33R and the left and right rear light-emitting sections36L,36R, are arranged at the four corners of the passenger compartment11, to thereby respectively provide the left and right front illuminated areas61L,61R and the left and right rear illuminated areas62L,62R. The right front illuminated area61R and the right rear illuminated area62R and the left front illuminated area61L and the left rear illuminated area62L allow the passengers to perceive visually the expanse of the passenger compartment11in the vehicle front-and-rear direction. Furthermore, the left and right front illuminated areas61L,61R and the left and right rear illuminated areas62L,62R allow the passengers to perceive visually the expanse of the passenger compartment11in the vehicle width direction. The vehicle interior lighting device100can thus allow the passengers to have a visual sensation as if the passenger compartment11were expanded. In addition, by indirectly illuminating the four corners of the passenger compartment11comprising the left and right front light-emitting sections33L,33R and the left and right rear light-emitting sections36L,36R, it is possible to produce a space in which the passengers can feel comfortable and relaxed.

The left and right front illuminated areas61L and61R are strip-like areas extending from the front toward the rear of the vehicle10. The brightness in the area gradually decreases toward the rear side of the vehicle10and fades out. This causes the passengers to perceive the area as a strip of light emitted from the front toward the rear of the vehicle10. The left and right rear illuminated areas62L and62R are also strip-like areas extending from the rear toward the front of the vehicle10. The brightness in the area gradually decreases toward the front side of the vehicle10and fades out. This causes the passengers to perceive the area as a strip of light emitted from the rear toward the front of the vehicle10. Areas of no light are then created between the front illuminated areas61L,61R and the rear illuminated areas62L,62R. This can allow the passengers to have a stronger visual sensation as if the passenger compartment11were expanded in the front-and-back direction.

Thus, the vehicle interior lighting device100can allow the passengers to perceive visually the expanse of the passenger compartment11and produce a space in which the passengers can feel comfortable and relaxed.

Although, in the above description, the vehicle interior lighting device100has been described as being mounted on the four-door sedan vehicle10, this is not limiting, and, for example, it may be mounted on a two-door vehicle. In this case, the rear light-emitting sections36L and36R may be mounted not in the rear doors25L and25R but in interior components constituting sidewalls of the passenger compartment11behind the front doors21L and21R so that they can illuminate rear portions of those interior components. Furthermore, when the vehicle interior lighting device100is mounted on a vehicle without doors on the right side, such as, for example, a bus, the front light-emitting section33R and the rear light-emitting section36R may be mounted in an interior component constituting a right side surface of the passenger compartment11so that they can illuminate the right front and rear portions of the passenger compartment11.

Although, in the above description, the front light-emitting sections33L and33R have been described as being respectively arranged at the left and right side ends of the instrument panel15at the front side of the vehicle, this is not limiting, and they may be arranged on side end surfaces of other interior components, as long as they can illuminate the front portions of the front door trims24L and24R, which are the front interior components.

Next, a vehicle interior lighting device200according to another embodiment will be described with reference toFIG.9. The portions that are identical to those included in the vehicle interior lighting device100described above with reference toFIGS.1and8are assigned the same reference signs, and their repeated descriptions will be omitted. First, a right front light-emitting section39R of the passenger compartment11will be described.

As shown inFIG.9, in the vehicle interior lighting device200, the front light-emitting section39R is composed of a light guide rod37R and a light-emitting element38R, like the rear light-emitting section36R. The structure of the front light-emitting section39R is such that the rear light-emitting section36R is flipped back and forth.

The front light-emitting section39R is mounted inside a vehicle front portion22Rd of the front door trim body22R located at the vehicle front side of the front door decoration panel23R, to thereby emit light obliquely outward toward the vehicle rear side from a gap30R between the front door decoration panel23R and the front door trim body22R. The front light-emitting section39R provides a front illuminated area63R that is a strip-like area extending from the front toward the rear of the vehicle10on the front portion of the front door decoration panel23R.

A left front light-emitting section (not shown) of the passenger compartment11has a symmetrical structure with the right front light-emitting section39R, and emits light obliquely outward toward the vehicle rear side from a gap (not shown) between the front door decoration panel23L and the front door trim body22L, to thereby provide a front illuminated area (not shown) that is a strip-like area extending from the front toward the rear on the front portion of the front door decoration panel23L.

Like the vehicle interior lighting device100, the vehicle interior lighting device200can allow the passengers to have a visual sensation as if the passenger compartment11were expanded and produce a space in which the passengers can feel comfortable and relaxed by indirectly lighting the four corners of the passenger compartment11.