Patent ID: 7287886

Claim:
An interior illuminator for an automobile that is attached to a ceiling of the automobile, comprising: a cold cathode tube having a predetermined length; a cold cathode tube driving circuit for driving the cold cathode tube; a manipulation switch for turning on and off the cold cathode tube; and a housing that houses the cold cathode tube driving circuit and holds the cold cathode tube and the manipulation switch, wherein the housing is attached in a position on a longitudinal center line of the automobile and behind the driver's seat, and the cold cathode tube has a glass tube comprising a first portion of a circumferential perimeter along an entire length of the glass tubes which emits light and a second portion of the circumferential perimeter along an entire length of the glass tubes which does not emit light, wherein light emitted from said first portion of the perimeter of the glass tube emitting light is substantially directed to a lower illumination range than the lower edge of a window glass located behind the driver's seat.