U.S. patent application number 13/927351 was filed with the patent office on 2014-01-02 for vehicular rear panel.
The applicant listed for this patent is Koito Manufacturing Co., Ltd.. Invention is credited to Hiroki ISHIBASHI, Noriaki ITO, Hiroya KOIZUMI, Motohiro KOMATSU, Manabu MAEDA, Akihiro MATSUMOTO, Takao MURAMATSU, Masaaki NAKABAYASHI, Asami NAKADA, Tomoaki OTANI, Yuji SAKURAI, Takashi TERAYAMA, Tsukasa TOKIDA, Koji UCHINO, Kenji YAMADA, Norimasa YAMAMOTO.
Application Number | 20140003075 13/927351 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 49777957 |
Filed Date | 2014-01-02 |
United States Patent
Application |
20140003075 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
YAMADA; Kenji ; et
al. |
January 2, 2014 |
VEHICULAR REAR PANEL
Abstract
A vehicular rear panel with a new configuration is provided. The
vehicular rear panel according to an aspect of the present
disclosure is made of a resin material and disposed on a rear
vehicle body part. The vehicular rear panel includes a light
guiding unit configured to guide light from the light source along
an extending direction of the vehicular rear panel and a light
emitting unit configured to emit light in the light guiding unit to
a rear side of a vehicle.
Inventors: |
YAMADA; Kenji;
(Shizuoka-shi, JP) ; NAKABAYASHI; Masaaki;
(Shizuoka-shi, JP) ; UCHINO; Koji; (Shizuoka-shi,
JP) ; MAEDA; Manabu; (Shizuoka-shi, JP) ; ITO;
Noriaki; (Shizuoka-shi, JP) ; YAMAMOTO; Norimasa;
(Shizuoka-shi, JP) ; NAKADA; Asami; (Shizuoka-shi,
JP) ; SAKURAI; Yuji; (Shizuoka-shi, JP) ;
KOIZUMI; Hiroya; (Shizuoka-shi, JP) ; TOKIDA;
Tsukasa; (Shizuoka-shi, JP) ; MURAMATSU; Takao;
(Shizuoka-shi, JP) ; OTANI; Tomoaki;
(Shizuoka-shi, JP) ; KOMATSU; Motohiro;
(Shizuoka-shi, JP) ; MATSUMOTO; Akihiro;
(Shizuoka-shi, JP) ; TERAYAMA; Takashi;
(Shizuoka-shi, JP) ; ISHIBASHI; Hiroki;
(Shizuoka-shi, JP) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Koito Manufacturing Co., Ltd. |
Tokyo |
|
JP |
|
|
Family ID: |
49777957 |
Appl. No.: |
13/927351 |
Filed: |
June 26, 2013 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
362/511 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B60Q 1/0035 20130101;
B60Q 1/302 20130101; F21S 43/20 20180101; F21S 43/245 20180101;
B60Q 1/268 20130101; F21S 43/249 20180101; F21S 43/15 20180101;
B60Q 1/2661 20130101; F21S 43/239 20180101; G02B 6/0023 20130101;
F21S 43/247 20180101; F21S 43/241 20180101; G02B 6/0038 20130101;
F21S 43/14 20180101; F21S 43/235 20180101 |
Class at
Publication: |
362/511 |
International
Class: |
B60Q 1/00 20060101
B60Q001/00 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Jun 29, 2012 |
JP |
2012-147035 |
Claims
1. A vehicular rear panel comprising: a light guiding unit
configured to guide light from a light source along an extending
direction of the vehicular rear panel, and a light emitting unit
configured to emit light in the light guiding unit to a rear side
of a vehicle, wherein the rear panel is made of a resin material
and disposed on a rear vehicle body part.
2. The vehicular rear panel of claim 1, further comprising a rear
window part, wherein the light guiding unit and the light emitting
unit are provided in the rear window part.
3. The vehicular rear panel of claim 2, wherein the rear window
part includes a curved portion where scenery becomes discontinuous
when viewed from a driver side and the light guiding unit and the
light emitting unit are provided at the curved portion.
4. The vehicular rear panel of claim 1, further comprising a light
shielding part configured to suppress the light from the light
source from proceeding toward the front side of the vehicle.
5. The vehicular rear panel of claim 2, further comprising a light
shielding part configured to suppress the light from the light
source from proceeding toward the front side of the vehicle.
6. The vehicular rear panel of claim 3, further comprising a light
shielding part configured to suppress the light from the light
source from proceeding toward the front side of the vehicle.
7. The vehicular rear panel of claim 1, wherein one end of the
light guiding unit is disposed in the vicinity of the light source
installed on a vehicle body and the other end is disposed in the
vicinity of the light emitting unit.
8. The vehicular rear panel of claim 2, wherein one end of the
light guiding unit is disposed in the vicinity of the light source
installed on a vehicle body and the other end is disposed in the
vicinity of the light emitting unit.
9. The vehicular rear panel of claim 3, wherein one end of the
light guiding unit is disposed in the vicinity of the light source
installed on a vehicle body and the other end is disposed in the
vicinity of the light emitting unit.
10. The vehicular rear panel of claim 4, wherein one end of the
light guiding unit is disposed in the vicinity of the light source
installed on a vehicle body and the other end is disposed in the
vicinity of the light emitting unit.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application is based on and claims priority from
Japanese Patent Application No. 2012-147035 filed on Jun. 29, 2012
with the Japan Patent Office and the disclosure of which is
incorporated herein in its entirety by reference.
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0002] The present disclosure relates to a vehicular rear panel,
especially a vehicular rear panel which is mounted on a vehicle
such as, for example, a car.
BACKGROUND
[0003] Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No. H05-69777
discloses a high-mount stop lamp which is attached to a rear wind
shield of a vehicle, i.e., an inner upper part of the rear window
and used as a stop lamp.
SUMMARY
[0004] Recently, the resinification of a vehicular rear panel has
been sought for the purpose of such as, for example, weight
lightening of vehicles. In such a circumstance, the present
inventors have repeatedly conducted a careful research regarding a
vehicular rear panel formed of a resin material and, as a result,
have obtained a vehicular rear panel with a new configuration which
is provided with a function of a vehicular lamp such as, for
example, a stop lamp.
[0005] The present disclosure has been made based on the present
inventors' such recognition and an aspect of the present disclosure
is to provide a vehicular rear panel with a new configuration.
[0006] According to an aspect of the present disclosure, there is
provided a vehicular rear panel which is made of a resin material
and disposed at a rear vehicle body part. The vehicular rear panel
includes a light guiding unit configured to guide light from a
light source along the extending direction of the vehicular rear
panel and a light emitting unit configured to emit light within the
light guiding unit to the rear of the vehicle.
[0007] According to the above-described aspect, a vehicular rear
panel with a new configuration may be provided.
[0008] In another aspect, the vehicular rear panel may be provided
with a rear window part and the light guiding unit and the light
emitting unit may be provided on the rear window part. Also, in the
present aspect, the rear window part has a curved portion which
causes scenery to be discontinuous when viewed from a driver side
and the light guiding unit and the light emitting unit may be
provided at the curved portion. Further, in any of the
above-described aspects, the vehicular rear panel may be provided
with a light shielding part configured to suppress the light from
the light source from proceeding toward the front of the vehicle.
Furthermore, in any of the above-described aspects, one end of the
light guiding unit may be disposed in the vicinity of the light
source installed on the vehicle body and the other end may be
disposed in the vicinity of the light emitting unit. With
above-described aspects, a vehicular rear panel with a new
configuration may also be provided.
[0009] According to the present disclosure, a vehicular rear panel
with a new configuration may be provided.
[0010] The above-described summary is for illustration purposes
only and does not intend to limit in any ways. In addition to the
illustrative embodiments, examples, and features described above,
additional embodiments, examples, and features will become apparent
by referring to the drawings and the following detailed
description.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0011] FIG. 1A is a schematic front view illustrating a
configuration of a vehicular rear panel according to a first
exemplary embodiment. FIG. 1B is a cross-sectional view taken along
line A-A in FIG. 1A.
[0012] FIG. 2A is a schematic front view illustrating a
configuration of a vehicular rear panel according to a modified
example 1. FIG. 2B is a cross-sectional view taken along line B-B
in FIG. 2A.
[0013] FIG. 3A is a schematic front view illustrating a
configuration of a vehicular rear panel according to a modified
example 2. FIG. 3B is a cross-sectional view taken along line C-C
in FIG. 3A. FIG. 3C is a cross-sectional view taken along line D-D
in FIGS. 3A and 3B.
[0014] FIG. 4A is a vertical cross-sectional view of a vehicular
rear panel according to a modified example 3 in the vicinity of a
luminous part. FIG. 4B is a schematic front view illustrating a
configuration of a vehicular rear panel according to a modified
example 4. FIG. 4C is a schematic front view illustrating a
configuration of a vehicular rear panel according to a modified
example 5.
[0015] FIG. 5A is a schematic perspective view illustrating a
configuration of a portion of a vehicular rear panel according to a
modified example 6. FIG. 5B is a cross-sectional view taken along
line E-E in FIG. 5A. FIG. 5C is a schematic perspective view
illustrating a configuration of a portion of a vehicular rear panel
according to a modified example 7. FIG. 5D is a cross-sectional
view taken along line F-F in FIG. 5C.
[0016] FIG. 6 is a schematic cross-sectional view illustrating a
configuration of a vehicular rear panel according to a second
exemplary embodiment.
[0017] FIG. 7A is a schematic side view illustrating a
configuration of the rear part of the vehicle on which a vehicular
rear panel according to a third exemplary embodiment is mounted.
FIG. 7B is a schematic vertical cross-sectional view illustrating a
configuration in the vicinity of a curved portion of a rear window
part.
[0018] FIG. 7C is a schematic front view illustrating a
configuration of a vehicular rear panel according to a third
exemplary embodiment.
[0019] FIG. 8A is a schematic front view illustrating a
configuration of a vehicular rear panel according to a fourth
exemplary embodiment. FIG. 8B is a schematic front view
illustrating a configuration the vehicular rear panel in the
vicinity of a luminous part. FIG. 8C is a cross-sectional view
taken along line G-G in FIG. 8A.
[0020] FIG. 9 is a schematic vertical cross-sectional view
illustrating a configuration of a vehicular rear panel according to
a modified example 8 in the vicinity of a luminous part.
[0021] FIG. 10A is a schematic vertical cross-sectional view
illustrating a configuration of a vehicular rear panel according to
a fifth exemplary embodiment in the vicinity of a luminous part.
FIG. 10B is a schematic vertical cross-sectional view illustrating
a configuration in the vicinity of a luminous part of a vehicular
rear panel according to a modified example 9. FIG. 10C is a
schematic vertical cross-sectional view illustrating a
configuration of a vehicular rear panel according to a modified
example 10 in the vicinity of a luminous part.
[0022] FIG. 11A is a schematic rear view illustrating a
configuration in the vicinity of a luminous part of a vehicular
rear panel according to a sixth exemplary embodiment. FIG. 11B is a
cross-sectional view taken along line H-H in FIG. 11A. FIG. 11C is
an enlarged cross-sectional view of a convex part.
[0023] FIG. 12A is a schematic front view illustrating a
configuration of a vehicular rear panel according to a seventh
exemplary embodiment. FIG. 12B is a cross-sectional view taken
along line I-I in FIG. 12A.
[0024] FIG. 13A is a schematic front view illustrating a
configuration of a vehicular rear panel according to an eighth
exemplary embodiment. FIG. 13B is a cross-sectional view taken
along line J-J in FIG. 13A.
[0025] FIG. 14A is a schematic rear view illustrating a
configuration of a rear window part of a vehicular rear panel
according to a ninth exemplary embodiment. FIG. 14B is a
cross-sectional view taken along line K-K in FIG. 14A.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0026] In the following detailed descriptions, reference will be
made to the accompanying drawings which form a part of the present
application. The illustrative embodiments described in the detailed
descriptions, drawings, and the claims do not intend to limit.
Other embodiments may be used and other modified examples may be
made without departing from the spirit or scope of the subject
matter represented in the present application.
[0027] Hereinafter, detailed descriptions of the present disclosure
will be made with reference to the drawings based on the condign
exemplary embodiments. The same or equivalent components, members
and processings that are represented in each of the drawings are
assigned with the same symbols and repeated descriptions thereof
will be properly omitted. Also, the exemplary embodiments exemplify
the present disclosure rather than limiting the present disclosure
and it shall not be concluded that all the features or the
combinations described in the exemplary embodiments are necessarily
essential to the present disclosure.
First Exemplary Embodiment
[0028] FIG. 1A is a schematic front view illustrating a
configuration of a vehicular rear panel according to the first
exemplary embodiment. FIG. 1A illustrates a state in which a
vehicle 1 equipped with a vehicular rear panel 100 is viewed from
the rear side. FIG. 1B is a cross-sectional view taken along line
A-A in FIG. 1A. The vehicular rear panel 100 according to the
present exemplary embodiment is disposed on a rear vehicle body
part 2 of the vehicle 1 and made of a resin material. The vehicular
rear panel 100 is made of a material such as, for example,
polycarbonate resin or acrylic resin. The vehicular rear panel 100
of the present disclosure forms a retractable backdoor and shields
an opening 4 of the rear vehicle body part 2.
[0029] The vehicular rear panel 100 includes a backdoor outer panel
102a, a backdoor inner panel 102b, and a rear window part 104.
Hereinafter, the backdoor outer panel 102a and the backdoor inner
panel 102b will be properly called a backdoor panel 102 in block.
The backdoor panel 102 is a frame having an opening and the opening
is provided with the rear window part 104. The rear window part 104
is provided with a seal member 103 such as, for example, packing
around the peripheral edge thereof and fixed to the backdoor outer
panel 102a with the seal member 103 being interposed between the
rear window part 104 and the back door outer panel 102a. The rear
window part 104 of the present exemplary embodiment is formed from
a transparent resin material such as, for example, polycarbonate
resin or acrylic resin. The rear window part 104 is a region which
may be used for a driver's rear visibility. Also, in the vehicular
rear panel 100, the backdoor outer panel 102a and/or the backdoor
inner panel 102b and the rear window part 104 may be integrally
formed. In this case, for example, by molding a transparent resin
material into a sheet of plate and conducting a coloring on a
region which is to be a backdoor panel, the vehicular rear panel
100 in which the backdoor outer panel 102a and/or the backdoor
inner panel 102b and the rear window part 104 are integrally formed
may be obtained. Further, the whole vehicular rear panel 100 may be
transparent. In this case, the whole vehicular rear panel 100 forms
the rear window part 104.
[0030] A semiconductor light-emitting element 6 as a light source
is provided at a predetermined location of the peripheral edge of
the opening 4 of the rear vehicle body part 2. The semiconductor
light-emitting element 6 may be formed using a light-emitting
element such as, for example, LED ("light-emitting diode"), LD
("laser diode"), organic or inorganic EL ("electro luminescence").
In the present exemplary embodiment, three semiconductor
light-emitting elements 6 are arranged in the vertical direction at
each of left and right sides to correspond to light emitting units
108 to be described below with the opening 4 being interposed
between the left and right light-emitting elements 6. The vehicular
rear panel 100 includes: a light guiding unit 106 configured to
guide light from a light source which is radiated from the
semiconductor light-emitting element 6 along the extending
direction of the vehicular rear panel 100; and a light emitting
unit 108 configured to emit the light in the light guiding unit 106
toward the rear side of the vehicle. The light guiding unit 106 and
the light emitting unit 108 have light transmittance. The light
guiding unit 106 and the light emitting unit 108 of present
exemplary embodiment are provided on the rear window part 104.
Also, in the present exemplary embodiment, the light guiding unit
106 and the light emitting unit 108 are formed by a portion of the
rear window part 104. Three light guiding units 106 and three light
emitting units 108 are arranged in the vertical direction at each
of left and right sides of the rear window part 104 and extend in
the horizontal direction, respectively. Further, the vehicular rear
panel 100 of the present exemplary embodiment may take a so-called
see-through configuration which enables a driver to visually
recognize the rear side of the vehicle through the extending
regions of the light guiding units 106 and the light emitting units
108.
[0031] One end of the light guiding unit 106 is disposed in the
vicinity of the semiconductor light-emitting element 6 and the
other end is disposed in the vicinity of the light emitting unit
108. In the light guiding unit 106, a plurality of light incident
steps 110 are formed on the surface of the front side of the
vehicle (the vehicle interior side or vehicle compartment side) of
the corresponding one end of the light guiding unit 106. The light
incident steps 110 are provided in a region where the light
radiated from the semiconductor light-emitting element 6 and the
rear window part 104 overlap. The light from the source light is
refracted by the light incident steps 110 and collected inside of
the light guiding unit 106. Therefore, the above-mentioned one end
of the light guiding unit 106 forms a light incident part. The
light collected inside of the light guiding unit 106 proceeds
toward the other end inside of the light guiding unit 106 while
being reflected from the inner side surface of the vehicle and
outer side surface of the vehicle of the light guiding part 106 (in
other words, the rear window part 104) and reaches the light
emitting unit 108. The light emitting unit 108 is provided with a
plurality of light emitting steps 112 formed on the inner side
surface of the vehicle of the rear window part 104. The light
reaching the light emitting unit 108 is caused to proceed toward
the rear side of the vehicle by the light emitting steps 112 and is
emitted from the outer side surface of the vehicle of the light
emitting unit 108 toward the rear side of the vehicle. Also, the
region of the light emitting unit 108 closer to the semiconductor
light-emitting element 6 serves as a light guide i.e., as the light
guiding unit 106 configured to cause the light from the light
source to proceed to a farther region. When viewed from the
exterior side of the vehicle_1, the extending region of the light
emitting unit 108 forms a light emitting portion.
[0032] In the present exemplary embodiment, the semiconductor
light-emitting element 6 emits red light. The light guiding unit
106 and the light emitting unit 108 serve as a stop lamp and/or a
tail lamp as a vehicle beacon lamp. Also, the semiconductor
light-emitting element 6 may emit amber light and the light guiding
unit 106 and the light emitting unit 108 may serve as a turn signal
lamp. Further, when the vehicular rear panel 100 is in a closed
state, the light emitted from the semiconductor light-emitting
element 6 is radiated to the rear side of the vehicle via the light
guiding unit 106 and the light emitting unit 108, thereby serving
as a vehicle beacon lamp. Meanwhile, when the vehicular rear panel
100 is in an open state, the light emitted from the semiconductor
light-emitting element 6 is directly radiated to the rear side of
the vehicle, thereby serving as a vehicle beacon lamp.
[0033] As described above, the vehicular rear panel 100 of the
present exemplary embodiment includes a light guiding unit 106
configured to guide the light from the light source along the
extending direction of the vehicular rear panel 100 and a light
emitting unit 108 configured to emit the light inside of the light
guiding unit 106 to the rear of the vehicle. That is, the vehicular
rear panel 100 of the present exemplary embodiment has a
configuration in which a vehicular lamp is integrally provided.
Accordingly, the vehicular rear panel 100 with a new configuration
may be provided. Also, according to the vehicular rear panel 100 of
the present exemplary embodiment, for example, the number of
components, the number of assembling steps and the manufacturing
cost of the vehicular rear panel or the vehicle may be reduced
since configurations and members required to attach the vehicular
lamp to the backdoor or the vehicle body may be omitted.
[0034] In addition, in the present exemplary embodiment, the rear
window part 104 is made of a resin material. Thus, weight
lightening of the vehicular rear panel 100 may be further
facilitated. Further, since the backdoor outer panel 102a and/or
the backdoor inner panel 102b and the rear window part 104 may be
integrally formed, the number of components, the number of
assembling steps, and the manufacturing cost of the vehicular rear
panel may be further reduced. Furthermore, the rear window part 104
may be simply formed with the light guiding unit 106 and the light
emitting unit 108 since the rear window part 104 may be easily
processed. Also, in the present exemplary embodiment, the light
guiding unit 106 and the light emitting unit 108 are provided on
the rear window part 104. Accordingly, the layout flexibility of
the vehicular lamp or the design flexibility of the vehicle may be
enhanced and the decorativenss of the vehicular rear panel 100 may
be also enhanced. Further, one end of the light guiding unit 106 is
disposed in the vicinity of the light source installed on the
vehicle body and the other end is disposed in the vicinity of the
light emitting unit 108. Therefore, since the light emitting unit
108, i.e., luminous part may be separated, the layout flexibility
of the vehicular lamp or the design flexibility of the vehicle and
the decorativenss of the vehicular rear panel 100 may be further
enhanced.
[0035] As for the vehicular rear panel 100 according to the
above-described first exemplary embodiment, for example, modified
examples 1 to 7 described below may be exemplified.
Modified Example 1
[0036] FIG. 2A is a schematic front view illustrating a
configuration of the vehicular rear panel 100 according to the
modified example 1. FIG. 2B is a cross-sectional view taken along
line B-B in FIG. 2A. Also, the rear vehicle body part 2 is omitted
in FIG. 2A. The vehicular rear panel 100 according to the modified
example 1 is provided with a light guiding unit 106 formed by a
light guiding member such as, for example, an optical fiber. For
example, through gas assist molding, the rear window part 104 is
formed which has a cavity in a region where the light guiding unit
106 is to be provided. The light guiding member is inserted into
the cavity and the light guiding unit 106 is formed by the light
guiding member.
[0037] In the present example, the vehicular rear panel 100 is
provided with a light guiding unit 106a configured to extend to the
horizontal direction at the lower part of the vehicular rear panel
100 and a light guiding unit 106b configured to extend upward along
the peripheral edge portion of the rear window part 104 and reach
the upper center of the vehicular rear panel 100. A roughening
processing such as, for example, a surface texturing processing is
conducted on the light guiding member of the light guiding unit
106a and the light inside of the light guiding unit 106 is
reflected from the roughened surface and radiated to the rear of
the vehicle. Also, the cavity part provided with the rear window
part 104 may be the light guiding unit 106a. In this case, the
roughening processing is conducted on the surface of the rear
window part 104 which forms the contour of the cavity part and the
roughened surface forms a light emitting unit 108a.
[0038] One end of the light guiding unit 106a is disposed in the
vicinity of the semiconductor light-emitting element 6 installed on
the rear vehicle body part 2 (See, e.g., FIG. 1B) and the other end
is disposed in the vicinity of the light emitting unit 108b
provided at the upper center of the vehicular rear panel 100. The
light emitted from the semiconductor light-emitting element 6
passes through the inside of the light guiding unit 106, reaches
the light emitting unit 108b, and is radiated to the rear side of
the vehicle. The light guiding unit 106b and the light emitting
unit 108b may serve as a high mount stop lamp.
Modified Example 2
[0039] FIG. 3A is a schematic front view illustrating a
configuration of the vehicular rear panel according to the modified
example 2. FIG. 3B is a cross-sectional view taken along line C-C
in FIG. 3A. FIG. 3C is a cross-sectional view taken along line D-D
line in FIGS. 3A and 3B. Also, the rear vehicle body part 2 is
omitted in FIG. 3A. The vehicular rear panel 100 according to the
modified example 2 is provided with the light guiding unit 106 and
the light emitting unit 108 which serve as a high mount stop lamp
at the upper center. In the present example, a transparent
cylindrical member forms the light guiding unit 106 and the light
emitting unit 108. The cylindrical member is integrally formed on
the surface of the vehicle interior side of the rear window part
104 and disposed such that it extends in the widthwise direction of
the vehicle. A plurality of light emitting steps 112 are formed on
the inner side surface of the vehicle of the cylindrical member.
The semiconductor light-emitting element 6 is disposed at each of
left and right ends of the cylindrical member such that the light
is radiated toward the cylindrical member. The semiconductor
light-emitting element 6 is attached to a heat sink 8 having a
cover 8a. The cover 8a is disposed at the front side of the vehicle
of the cylindrical member which forms the light guiding part 106
and the light emitting part 108. The cover 8a serves as a light
shielding part which suppresses the light from the light source
from proceeding to the front side of the vehicle. In a
configuration in which red light is emitted from the light emitting
unit 108, the radiation of the red light to the front side of the
vehicle may cause, for example, a pedestrian or a driver of another
vehicle to misunderstand the longitudinal direction of the vehicle.
By providing the light shielding part, this misunderstanding may be
avoided.
[0040] The heat sink 8 is attached to the backdoor outer panel 102a
by a fastening member 9 such as, for example, a screw. In the
present modified example, the backdoor outer panel 102a and the
rear window part are integrally formed. For example, by a molding
method such as, for example, two-color molding, a single piece
product may be obtained in which a panel body made of a transparent
resin material and a frame made of a colored, e.g., black resin
material are integrally formed. In the single piece product, the
frame installed portion forms the backdoor outer panel 102a and the
other region forms the rear window part 104.
Modified Example 3
[0041] FIG. 4A is a vertical cross-sectional view of the vehicular
rear panel according to the modified example 3 in the vicinity of a
light emitting unit. The vehicular rear panel 100 according to the
modified example 3 is provided with the rear window part 104 formed
by stacking a rear window outer part 104a, a rear window inner part
104b and a middle part 104c interposed between them. The rear
window outer part 104a, the rear window inner part 104b, and the
middle part 104c are made of a transparent resin material. Also,
the middle part 104c is made of a resin material of which the
refractive index is different from those of the rear window outer
part 104a and the rear window inner part 104b. Further, the rear
window part 104 is provided with an inclined surface part 114 which
is curved in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle and
intersects the proceeding direction of the light from the light
source at an angle not less than a predetermined angle.
[0042] The semiconductor light-emitting element 6 is disposed at
one end side of the rear window part 104. The light emitted from
the semiconductor light-emitting element 6 is incident on the
middle part 104c from the surface of the above-mentioned one end
side of the rear window part 104. The light incident on the middle
part 104c is reflected from the interface of the rear window outer
part 104a and the middle part 104c and the interface of the rear
window inner part 104b and the middle part 104c and proceeds to the
extending direction of the rear window part 104 inside of the
middle part 104c. At the inclined surface part 114, the light is
directed toward the rear side of the vehicle and radiated to the
rear side of the vehicle through the middle part 104c and the rear
window outer part 104a. Since the curved portion of the rear window
is used for the light emitting unit 108 as described above, the
configuration of the vehicular rear panel 100 may be simplified.
Also, the middle part 104c may be a cavity, i.e., an air layer. In
this case, a heat insulation property may be provided to the rear
window part 104 and thus, for example, blurriness, condensation and
freeze may be suppressed and a defogger may be omitted.
Modified Example 4
[0043] FIG. 4B is a schematic front view illustrating a
configuration of the vehicular rear panel according to the modified
example 4. The vehicular rear panel 100 according to the modified
example 4 has a substantially U-shaped light guiding member
embedded to the rear window part 104. Optical diffusion particles
may be mixed in the light guiding unit 116 to receive the light
emitted from the semiconductor light-emitting element 6 and emit
light uniformly. Therefore, the light guiding member 116 forms the
light guiding unit 106 and light emitting unit 108. The light
guiding member 116 entirely emits light when the light from the
light source is incident from both ends or one end thereof.
Modified Example 5
[0044] FIG. 4C is a schematic front view illustrating a
configuration of the vehicular rear panel according to the modified
example 5. The vehicular rear panel 100 according to the modified
example 5 has a ring-shaped light guiding member 118 embedded to
the rear window part 104. Fluorescent substances are mixed in the
light guiding member 118 to receive the light emitted from the
semiconductor light-emitting element 6 and emit light. Therefore,
the light guiding member 118 forms the light guiding unit 106 and
the light emitting unit 108. The light guiding member 118 is
disposed at a position where the rear window part 104 is interposed
between the semiconductor light-emitting element 6 and the light
guiding member 118 and emits light entirely when the light radiated
from the semiconductor light-emitting element 6 passes the inside
of the rear window part 104 and reaches the light guiding member
118. For example, the semiconductor light-emitting element 6 emits
ultraviolet light or blue light and the light of which wavelength
is converted by the fluorescent substances of the light guiding
member 118 is radiated to the rear side of the vehicle.
Modified Example 6
[0045] FIG. 5A is a schematic perspective view illustrating a
portion of the vehicular rear panel according to the modified
example 6. FIG. 5B is a cross-sectional view taken along line E-E
in FIG. 5A. Also, FIG. 5A illustrates a state in which the
vehicular rear panel 100 is viewed from the front side of the
vehicle. The vehicular rear panel 100 according to the modified
example 6 is provided with Fresnel steps 120 at the end surface
opposed to the semiconductor light-emitting element 6. Further, the
principal surface of one side of the panel is cut out to form the
light emitting steps 112. The end surface provided with the Fresnel
steps 120 corresponds to one end of the light guiding unit 106. The
light emitting steps 112 formed region on the panel corresponds to
the light emitting unit 108. The light emitted radially from the
semiconductor light-emitting element 6 is formed into parallel
lights by the Fresnel steps 120 which proceed in the inside of the
light guiding unit 106 and are reflected toward the rear side of
the vehicle by the light emitting steps 112 of the light emitting
unit 108.
[0046] In the present modified example, total reflection steps
configured to cause substantially all the light which reaches the
light emitting steps 112 to be radiated to the rear side of the
vehicle are formed by the combination of the Fresnel steps 120 and
the light emitting steps 112. Accordingly, the radiation of the
light from the light source toward a driver may be suppressed.
Also, the Fresnel steps 120 formed end surface of the vehicular
rear panel 100 opposed to the end surface is provided with a light
shielding layer 122 configured to suppress the leakage of light.
The light shielding layer 122 is formed by, for example, applying
colored paint. Further, although FIG. 5A illustrates a
configuration in which three semiconductor light-emitting elements
6, three Fresnel steps 120, and three light emitting steps 112 are
arranged in the horizontal direction respectively, the number and
the arrangement of each component are not limited thereto.
Modified Example 7
[0047] FIG. 5C is a schematic perspective view illustrating a
configuration of a portion of the vehicular rear panel 100
according to the modified example 7. FIG. 5D is a cross-sectional
view taken along line F-F in FIG. 5C. Also, FIG. 5C illustrates a
state in which the vehicular rear panel 100 is viewed from the
front side of the vehicle. The vehicular rear panel 100 according
to the modified example 7 has a configuration in which a first
panel 100a and a second panel 100b disposed closer to the front
side of the vehicle than the first panel 100a are stacked one
another. Each of the first panel 100a and the second panel 100b is
provided with a Fresnel step 120, a light emitting step 112a/112b,
a light guiding unit 106a/106b, a light emitting unit 108a/108b and
a light shielding layer 122 as in the modified example 6. The light
emitting step 112a provided in the first panel 100a and the light
emitting step 112b provided in the second panel 100b are disposed
to be offset in the principal surface direction of the panel.
Accordingly, a feeling of visual depth and a three-dimensional
effect may be obtained.
[0048] Further, the number and the arrangement of the semiconductor
light-emitting element 6, the Fresnel step 120, and light emitting
steps 112a/112b are not limited to those illustrated in FIG. 5C.
For example, the light emitting step 112a and the light emitting
step 112b may be provide with semiconductor light-emitting elements
6 to radiate different colored lights, respectively. The light
emitting steps 112a and 112b may be superimposed to combine the
light radiations from emitting steps 112a and 112b. Therefore,
according to the present modified example, a vehicular lamp with
various configurations may be obtained.
Second Exemplary Embodiment
[0049] The vehicular rear panel according to the second exemplary
embodiment is provided with a light shielding part configured to
suppress the light from the light source from proceeding toward the
front side of the vehicle. Hereinafter, descriptions about the
vehicular rear panel 100 according to the present exemplary
embodiment will be made based on the features different from those
of the first exemplary embodiment. Also, the same configurations as
those of the first exemplary embodiment will be assigned with the
same symbols and the descriptions and illustrations of the
configurations and the effects will be omitted.
[0050] FIG. 6 is a schematic cross-sectional view illustrating a
configuration of the vehicular rear panel 100 according to the
second exemplary embodiment. The vehicular rear panel 100 according
to the present exemplary embodiment is formed with a light guiding
unit 106 and a light emitting unit 108 by a portion of the rear
window part 104. The light emitted from the semiconductor
light-emitting element 6 is incident on the interior of the light
guiding unit 106 from an end portion of the light guiding unit 106.
The light incident on the interior of the light guiding unit 106 is
guided along the extending direction of the rear window part 104
inside of the light guiding unit 106 and reaches the light emitting
unit 108. The light emitting unit 108 is provided with light
emitting steps 112 and the light reaching the light emitting unit
108 is directed toward the rear side of the vehicle by the light
emitting steps 112. The light from the light source is radiated
from the light emitting unit 108 to the rear side of the vehicle. A
supporting plate 124 formed from a transparent material is provided
on the surface of the front side of the vehicle of the rear window
part 104. At the predetermined location of the supporting plate
124, i.e., a region where the supporting plate 124 and the light
emitting unit 108 overlap each other when viewed from the front
side of the vehicle, a liquid crystal shutter 126 configured to
suppress the light from the light source from proceeding to the
front side of the vehicle is provided.
[0051] The liquid crystal shutter 126 is turned ON in a state where
the semiconductor light-emitting element 6 is ON and the
penetration amount of the light decreases. Especially, in a
configuration in which red light is emitted from the light emitting
unit 108, it is preferable that substantially all the light is
shielded to an extent where, for example, a pedestrian is not
capable of seeing the light to suppress the misunderstanding of the
above-described longitudinal direction of the vehicle. Also, the
liquid crystal shutter 126 is turned off in a state where the
semiconductor light-emitting element 6 is OFF and the penetration
amount of the light increases. For example, the liquid crystal 126
becomes transparent when the semiconductor light-emitting element 6
is OFF. Accordingly, a see-through configuration in which light may
be suppressed from being radiated to the front side of the vehicle
when the light emitting unit 108 is serving as a beacon lamp and a
driver is able to visually recognize the rear side of the vehicle
when the light emitting unit 108 is not serving as a beacon lamp
may be obtained.
Third Exemplary Embodiment
[0052] The vehicular rear panel 100 according to the third
exemplary embodiment has a rear window part 104 is provided with a
light guiding unit 106 and a light emitting unit 108 at a curved
portion of the rear window part. Hereinafter, descriptions about
the vehicular rear panel according to the present exemplary
embodiment will be made based on the features different from those
of the first exemplary embodiment. Also, the same configurations as
those of the first exemplary embodiment will be assigned with the
same symbols and the descriptions and illustrations of the
configurations and the effects will be omitted.
[0053] FIG. 7A is a schematic side view illustrating a
configuration of the rear part of the vehicle on which the
vehicular rear panel 100 according to the third exemplary
embodiment is mounted. FIG. 7B is a schematic vertical
cross-sectional view illustrating a configuration in the vicinity
of the curved portion of a rear window part 104. FIG. 7C is a
schematic front view illustrating a configuration of the vehicular
rear panel 100 according to the third exemplary embodiment. The
vehicular rear panel 100 according to the third exemplary
embodiment includes the rear window part 104 which is formed with a
first rear window part 104d and a second rear window part 104e. The
first rear window part 104d inclines at a predetermined angle such
that the height of the vehicle is gradually lowered from the front
side of the vehicle toward the rear side of the vehicle of the rear
vehicle body part 2. The second rear window part 104e extends from
the end portion of the rear side of the vehicle of the first rear
window part 104d with steeper inclination than that of the first
rear window part 104d. In the present exemplary embodiment, the
second rear window part 104e extends in the downward vertical
direction from the end portion of the rear side of the vehicle of
the first rear window part 104d. Also, the second rear window part
104e may extend to the rear side of the vehicle with steeper
inclination than that of the first rear window part 104d and may be
folded toward the front side of the vehicle. A connecting part of
the first rear window part 104d and the second window part 104e
forms a curved portion 104f. The curved portion 104f is a region
where the scenery becomes discontinuous when viewed from a
driver.
[0054] A light guiding unit 106 and a light emitting unit 108 are
provided at the curved portion 104f. In the present exemplary
embodiment, the curved portion 104f extends in the widthwise
direction of the vehicle and a cylindrical light guiding member
(e.g., optical fiber) in which light emitting steps 112 are formed
is embedded in the curved portion 104f, thereby forming the light
guiding unit 106 and the light emitting unit 108. Therefore, the
light guiding unit 106 and the light emitting unit 108 extend in
the widthwise direction of the vehicle. A semiconductor
light-emitting element 6 is installed on the rear vehicle body part
2 in the vicinity of each of the left and right end portions of the
curved part 104f. The light radiated from the semiconductor
light-emitting elements 6 is guided to the center side of the
curved part 104f by the light guiding unit 106 and radiated to the
rear side of the vehicle from the light emitting unit 108 as well.
Also, the semiconductor light-emitting element 6 may be provided
only at one end side. A light shielding part 128 is provided at the
front side of the vehicle of the light emitting unit 108. The
vehicular rear panel 100 according to the present exemplary
embodiment uses the curved part 104f, which is difficult to be used
for a driver's rear visibility of the vehicle, for the region where
the light guiding unit 106 and the light emitting unit 108 are
provided. Accordingly, the deterioration of a driver's rear
visibility caused by providing the light guiding unit 106 and the
light emitting unit 108 on the rear window part 104 may be
suppressed.
Fourth Exemplary Embodiment
[0055] In the vehicular rear panel 100 according to the fourth
exemplary embodiment, the light guiding unit 106 and the light
emitting unit 108 have different configurations. Hereinafter,
descriptions about the vehicular rear panel 100 according to the
present exemplary embodiment will be made based on the features
different from those of the first exemplary embodiment. Also, the
same configurations as those of the first exemplary embodiment will
be assigned with the same symbols and the descriptions and
illustrations of the configurations and the effects will be
omitted.
[0056] FIG. 8A is a schematic front view illustrating a
configuration of the vehicular rear panel 100 according to the
fourth exemplary embodiment. FIG. 8B is a schematic front view
illustrating a configuration in the vicinity of a luminous part of
the vehicular rear panel 100. FIG. 8C is a cross-sectional view
taken along line G-G in FIG. 8A. The vehicular rear panel 100
according to the fourth exemplary embodiment is provided with a
cylindrical light guiding member such as, for example, an optical
fiber disposed at a location below the rear window part 104 and
spaced apart from the rear window part 104 and a light guiding unit
106 is formed by the above-described light guiding member. In
addition, the light guiding unit 106 extends in the widthwise
direction of the vehicle and a semiconductor light-emitting element
6 is disposed in the vicinity of each of the left and right end
portions of the light guiding unit 106. A plurality of light
emitting steps 130 are provided on the bottom surface of the light
guiding unit 106. Also, a plurality of light emitting steps 132 are
provided on the surface of the front side of the vehicle of the
light guiding unit 106.
[0057] The light emitted from the semiconductor light-emitting
element 6 is incident on the end portion surface and proceeds in
the widthwise direction of the vehicle in the inside of the light
guiding unit 106. The proceeding direction of the light is directed
upward by the light emitting steps 130 and the light is radiated
from the light guiding unit 106. The rear panel part interposed
between the light guiding unit 106 and the rear window part 104 is
transparent. Therefore, the light radiated upward from the light
guiding unit 106 reaches the rear window part 104. In addition, a
portion of the light inside of the light guiding unit 106 is
directed toward the rear of the vehicle by the light emitting steps
132 and radiated from the light guiding unit 106 to the rear side
of the vehicle. Therefore, the light guiding member forming the
light guiding unit 106 also forms a light emitting unit 108.
[0058] A plurality of light emitting steps 112 are formed on the
surface of the front side of the vehicle of the rear window part
104. In the present exemplary embodiment, the light emitting steps
112 are formed by the step parts formed by reducing the thickness
of the rear window part 104 step by step. Also, in the present
exemplary embodiment, three light emitting steps 112 extending in
the widthwise direction of the vehicle, i.e., extending in parallel
to the light guiding unit 106 are arranged in the vertical
direction at each of left and right sides of the lower region of
the rear window part 104. The region of the rear window part 104
where the light emitting steps 112 are provided forms light
emitting units 108. The light radiated upward from the light
guiding unit 106 by the light emitting steps 130 proceeds upward in
the inside of the rear window part 104 and reaches each light
emitting unit 108. The light reaching each light emitting unit 108
is directed toward the rear side of the vehicle by the light
emitting steps 112 and radiated from the light emitting unit 108 to
the rear side of the vehicle.
[0059] In the present exemplary embodiment, the light of the
semiconductor light-emitting element 6, i.e., a dot-shaped light is
converted into a line-shaped light by passing through the light
guiding unit 106 and the line-shaped light is radiated to the rear
side of the vehicle from each light emitting unit 108. Thus, a
line-shaped light emitting part formed by the light emitting unit
108 may emit light more uniformly. Also, the light guiding unit 106
may be divided into two left and right parts. For example, the
number, the shape, and the arrangement of the light emitting units
108 are not limited. For example, the light emitting units 108 may
have a shape such as, for example, a letter or a figure.
[0060] The vehicular rear panel 100 according to the
above-described fourth exemplary embodiment uses the step parts
formed by reducing the thickness of the rear window part 104 step
by step as the light emitting steps 112. However, the configuration
of the vehicular rear panel 100 is not limited thereto and it may
have, for example, a configuration according to a modified example
8 described below.
Modified Example 8
[0061] FIG. 9 is a schematic vertical cross-sectional view
illustrating a configuration the vehicular rear panel according to
the modified example 8 in the vicinity of the luminous part. The
vehicular rear panel 100 according to the modified example 8 is
provided with light emitting steps 112 which are formed by cutting
out the surface of the front side of the vehicle of the rear window
part 104. In this case, although a portion of the light radiated
upward from the light guiding unit 106 is reflected to the rear
side of the vehicle by the light emitting steps 112 located at the
lower part, the remaining portion of the light radiated upward from
the light guiding unit 106 proceeds further upward through the
light emitting steps 112. The light proceeding upward is reflected
to the rear side of the vehicle from the light emitting steps 112.
Accordingly, the leakage of the light toward the front side of the
vehicle may be suppressed. In addition, in the present modified
example, the light guiding unit 106 is embedded in the interior of
the rear window part 104. Further, the rear vehicle body part 2 is
disposed in the region of the front side of the vehicle of the
light guiding unit 106.
Fifth Exemplary Embodiment
[0062] The vehicular rear panel 100 according to the fifth
exemplary embodiment is provided with a prism part serving as the
light guiding unit 106 and the light emitting unit 108.
Hereinafter, descriptions about the vehicular rear panel 100
according to the present exemplary embodiment will be made based on
the features different from those of the first exemplary
embodiment. Also, the same configurations as those of the first
exemplary embodiment will be assigned with the same symbols and the
descriptions and illustrations of the configurations and the
effects will be omitted.
[0063] FIG. 10A is a schematic vertical cross-sectional view
illustrating a configuration the vehicular rear panel according to
the fifth exemplary embodiment in the vicinity of a luminous part.
The vehicular rear panel 100 according to the fifth exemplary
embodiment is provided with a prism part 134 which protrudes to the
front side of the vehicle and integrally formed on the surface of
the front side of the vehicle of the rear window part 104. The
prism part 134 is formed with a bottom surface 134a extending in
the substantially horizontal direction and an inclined surface 134b
extending obliquely upward from the end portion of the front side
of the vehicle of the bottom surface 134a toward the rear side of
the vehicle. The semiconductor light-emitting element 6 is fixed
to, for example, the rear vehicle body part 2 (not illustrated)
such that the light emitting surface thereof faces upward under the
prism part 134. A lens 136 is provided between the semiconductor
light-emitting element 6 and the prism part 134. The light emitted
from the semiconductor light-emitting element 6 is formed into
parallel lights by the lens 136 and incident to the inside of the
prism part 134 from the bottom surface 134a. The light incident on
the inside of the prism part 134 is directed toward the rear of the
vehicle by the inclined surface 134b and radiated from the surface
of rear side of the vehicle. Therefore, the prism part 134 forms a
light guiding unit 106 and a light emitting unit 108.
[0064] In the vehicular rear panel 100 according to the present
exemplary embodiment, the rear window part 104 is made of a resin
material. Thus, the prism part 134 may be simply installed. Also,
total reflection step is formed by the combination of the lens 136
and the prism part 134. Accordingly, the radiation of the light
from the light source toward a driver may be suppressed. Further,
since the semiconductor light-emitting element 6 is installed on
the vehicle body side, the formation of electrical wiring to, for
example, the rear window part 104 may be avoided.
[0065] As for the vehicular rear panel 100 according to the
above-described fifth exemplary embodiment, modified examples 9 and
10 may be exemplified.
Modified Example 9
[0066] FIG. 10B is a schematic vertical cross-sectional view
illustrating a schematic configuration of the vicinity of a
luminous part of the vehicular rear panel according to the modified
example 9. The vehicular rear panel 100 according to the modified
example 9 is provided with a reflector 138 under the prism part
134. The prism part 134 is fixed to, for example, the surface of
the front side of the vehicle of the backdoor panel 102. Also, the
semiconductor light-emitting element 6 is disposed facing the light
emitting surface toward the rear of the vehicle. The reflector 138
is disposed at the rear side of the vehicle of the semiconductor
light-emitting element 6 and the positional relationship thereof
with the semiconductor light-emitting element 6 is set such that
the light radiated from the semiconductor light-emitting element 6
is reflected upward. The light radiated from the semiconductor
light-emitting element 6 toward the rear of the vehicle is
reflected upward by the reflector 138, incident on the prism part
134, and radiated to the rear side of the vehicle by the prism part
134. The reflector 138 guides the light radiated from the
semiconductor light-emitting element 6 to the prism part 134 along
the extending direction of the vehicular rear panel 100 and
therefore forms a portion of the light guiding unit 106.
[0067] The light from the light source is radiated to the rear side
of the vehicle via the reflector 138 and the prism part 134 when
the vehicular rear panel 100 is in a closed state and the light
from the light source is directly radiated to the rear side of the
vehicle from the semiconductor light-emitting element 6 when the
vehicular rear panel 100 is in an open state. Also, when the
vehicular rear panel 100 is in a closed state, the output of the
semiconductor light-emitting element 6 may be increased.
Modified Example 10
[0068] FIG. 10C is a schematic vertical cross-sectional view
illustrating a schematic configuration of the vicinity of a
luminous part of the vehicular rear panel according to the modified
example 10. The vehicular rear panel 100 according to the modified
example 10 is integrally formed with a light guiding unit 106
protruding toward the front side of the vehicle on the surface of
the front side of the vehicle of the rear window part 104. The
light guiding unit 106 is formed with a bottom surface 106c
extending in the substantially horizontal direction and a curved
surface 106d extending from the end portion of the front side of
the vehicle of the bottom surface 106c toward the rear side of the
vehicle. A semiconductor light-emitting element 6 is fixed to the
bottom surface 106c such that the light emitting surface faces
upward. The curved surface 106d has a shape in which a paraboloid
of revolution, of which the focus is the semiconductor
light-emitting element 6, is set as a reference plane. The curved
surface 106d is provided with a metal film 140 formed by depositing
metal such as, for example, aluminum.
[0069] The light radiated from the semiconductor light-emitting
element 6 is incident on the interior of the light guiding unit 106
from the bottom surface 106c. The light incident on the interior of
the light guiding unit 106 proceeds along the extending direction
of the rear window part 104 in the inside of the light guiding unit
106 and the proceeding direction of the incident light is directed
toward the rear of the vehicle by the curved surface 106d. Also,
the light incident on the interior of the light guiding unit 106 is
reflected to the rear side of the vehicle by the metal film 140 and
radiated toward the rear side of the vehicle from the surface of
the rear side of the vehicle of the rear window part 104.
Therefore, the curved surface 106d and the metal film 140 form the
light emitting unit 108. In addition, since the light from the
light source may be suppressed from proceeding toward the front
side of the vehicle by the metal film 140, the metal film 140 also
forms a light shielding part.
Sixth Exemplary Embodiment
[0070] The vehicular rear panel according to the sixth exemplary
embodiment is provided with a convex part (dot) serving as a light
emitting unit. Hereafter, descriptions about the vehicular rear
panel according to the present exemplary embodiment will be made
based on the features different from those of the first exemplary
embodiment. Also, the same configurations as those of the first
exemplary embodiment will be assigned with the same symbols and the
descriptions and illustrations of the configurations and the
effects will be omitted.
[0071] FIG. 11A is a schematic rear view illustrating a
configuration of the vicinity of a luminous part of the vehicular
rear panel according to the sixth exemplary embodiment. FIG. 11A
illustrates a state in which the vehicular rear panel 100 is viewed
from the front side of the vehicle. Also, the backdoor panel is
omitted. FIG. 11B is a cross-sectional view taken along line H-H in
FIG. 11A. FIG. 11C is an enlarged cross-sectional view of convex
parts.
[0072] The vehicular rear panel 100 according to the sixth
exemplary embodiment is provided with a plurality of convex parts
142 protruding toward the front side of the vehicle on the surface
of front side of the vehicle of the rear window part 104 made of a
resin material. The convex parts 142 are integrally formed with the
rear window part 104. The region where the convex parts 142 of the
rear window part 104 are provided forms a light emitting unit 108.
Also, a semiconductor light-emitting element 6 is disposed such
that it is opposed to the end portion surface of the rear window
part 104. A portion of the rear window part 104 interposed between
the convex parts 142 and the semiconductor light-emitting element 6
forms a light guiding unit 106. The light radiated from the
semiconductor light-emitting element 6 is incident on the interior
of the light guiding unit 106 from the end portion surface of the
rear window part 104. The light incident on the interior of the
light guiding unit 106 proceeds in the inside of the light guiding
unit 106 while being reflected from the inner side surface of the
vehicle and the outer side surface of the vehicle of the light
guiding unit 106 and reaches the light emitting unit 108.
[0073] The light reaching the light emitting unit 108 is directed
toward the rear of the vehicle by the inner surface of the convex
part 142 and radiated to the rear side of the vehicle from the
outer side surface of the vehicle of the light emitting part 108. A
light shielding layer 144 configured to suppress the light from
leaking from the convex parts 142 to the front side of the vehicle
is provided on the surface of the front side of the vehicle of the
convex parts 142. The light shielding layer 144 is, for example, a
film formed by applying a colored paint such as black or a
reflective layer formed by depositing a metal. For example, the
number, disposition region, density of the convex parts 142 may be
set such that a driver's rear visibility does not deteriorate.
Also, a shape such as, for example, a maker logo or an emblem may
be caused to float on the rear window part 104 by arranging the
convex parts 142 to form a shape of a letter or a figure. Further,
although the convex parts 142 have a substantially half sphere
shape in FIGS. 11A to 11C, the shape of the convex parts 142 is not
limited thereto. For example, in a case where a shape of the emblem
is caused to float, the convex parts 142 may have a consecutive
line shape which is continuous to be coincident with the figure of
the emblem, i.e., a cylindrical shape.
Seventh Exemplary Embodiment
[0074] The vehicular rear panel according to the seventh exemplary
embodiment is provided with a plurality of stippled portions
serving as a light emitting unit. Hereinafter, descriptions about
the vehicular rear panel according to the present exemplary
embodiment will be made based on the features different from those
of the first exemplary embodiment. Also, the same configurations as
those of the first exemplary embodiment will be assigned with the
same symbols and the descriptions and illustrations of the
configurations and the effects will be omitted.
[0075] FIG. 12A is a schematic front view illustrating a
configuration of the vehicular rear panel according to the seventh
exemplary embodiment. FIG. 12B is a cross-sectional view taken
along line I-I in FIG. 12A. Also, the backdoor panel is omitted.
The vehicular rear panel 100 according to the seventh exemplary
embodiment is provided with a plurality of stippled portions 146 on
the surface of the front side of the vehicle of the rear window
part 104 made of a resin material. The region where the stippled
portions 146 of the rear window part 104 are provided forms a light
emitting unit 108. Also, the semiconductor light-emitting element 6
is disposed such that it is opposed to the end surface of the rear
window part 104. A portion of the rear window part 104 interposed
between the stippled portions 146 and the semiconductor
light-emitting element 6 forms a light guiding unit 106. The
stippled portions 146 are disposed such that they form a shape of a
letter or a figure.
[0076] The light emitted from the semiconductor light-emitting
element 6 is incident on the interior of the light guiding unit 106
from the end portion surface of the rear window part 104. The light
incident on the interior of the light guiding unit 106 proceeds in
the inside of the light guiding unit 106 while being reflected from
the inner side surface of the vehicle and the outer side surface of
the vehicle of the light guiding part 106 and reaches the light
emitting part 108. The light reaching the light emitting unit 108
is directed toward the rear of the vehicle by the stippled portions
146 and radiated to the rear side of the vehicle from the outer
side surface of the vehicle of the light emitting part 108.
Accordingly, for example, a letter or a figure formed by the
stippled portions may be caused to float on the rear window part
104. Also, for example, the number, the disposition region, the
density of the stippled portions 146 may be set such that the light
emitting unit 108 does not deteriorate a driver's rear visibility.
Further, a light shielding part may be provided on the front side
surface of the vehicle of the stipple portions 146.
Eighth Exemplary Embodiment
[0077] The vehicular rear panel according to the eighth exemplary
embodiment is provided with a plurality of grooves for a defogger
at the rear window part. Hereafter, descriptions about the
vehicular rear panel according to the present exemplary embodiment
will be made based on the features different from those of the
first exemplary embodiment. Also, the same configurations as those
of the first exemplary embodiment will be assigned with the same
symbols and the descriptions and illustrations of the
configurations and the effects will be omitted.
[0078] FIG. 13A is a schematic front view illustrating a
configuration of the vehicular rear panel according to the eighth
exemplary embodiment. FIG. 13B is a cross-sectional view taken
along line J-J in FIG. 13A. The vehicular rear panel 100 according
to the eighth exemplary embodiment is provided with grooves 150 for
forming a defogger on the surface of front side of the vehicle of
the rear window part 104 made of a resin material. The grooves 150
are, for example, V-grooves. The grooves 150 are filled with a
metal material such as, for example, aluminum or silver, thereby
forming a defogger (hot-wire) 152. The region where the grooves 150
of the rear window part 104 are provided forms a light emitting
unit 108. Also, a semiconductor light-emitting element 6 is
disposed such that it is opposed the end surface of the rear window
part 104. A portion of the rear window part 104 interposed between
the grooves 150 and the semiconductor light-emitting element 6
forms a light guiding unit 106.
[0079] The light radiated from the semiconductor light-emitting
element 6 is incident on the interior of the light guiding unit 106
from the end portion surface of the rear window part 104. The light
incident on the interior of the light guiding unit 106 proceeds in
the inside of the light guiding unit 106 while being reflected from
the inner side surface of the vehicle and the outer side surface of
the vehicle of the light guiding part 106 and reaches the light
emitting part 108. The light reaching the light emitting unit 108
is directed toward the rear of the vehicle by the grooves 150 and
radiated to the rear side of the vehicle from the outer side
surface of the vehicle of the light emitting part 108. In this
configuration, the grooves 150 for forming a defogger and the
defogger 152 may be used as an optical member (a reflective member)
configured to radiate the light from the light source to the rear
side of the vehicle. Also, since the rear window part 104 is
provided with the grooves 150, dripping of defogger paint may be
suppressed. Thus, the defogger 152 may be simply formed.
Ninth Exemplary Embodiment
[0080] The vehicular rear panel according to the ninth exemplary
embodiment is provided with a configuration to attach the light
source and the rear window part to the backdoor panel part.
Hereafter, descriptions about the vehicular rear panel according to
the present exemplary embodiment will be made based on the features
different from those of the first exemplary embodiment. Also, the
same configurations as those of the first exemplary embodiment will
be assigned with the same symbols and the descriptions and
illustrations of the configurations and the effects will be
omitted.
[0081] FIG. 14A is a schematic rear view illustrating a
configuration of a rear window part of the vehicular rear panel 100
according to the ninth exemplary embodiment. FIG. 14B is a
cross-sectional view taken along the line K-K in FIG. 14A. Also,
FIG. 14A illustrates a half of the rear window part 104 of the
vehicle width direction. A portion omitted in the illustration has
a shape which is axisymmetric to the illustrated portion. Further,
FIG. 14B illustrates a state in which the rear window part 104 is
attached to the backdoor panel.
[0082] The rear window part 104 of the vehicular rear panel 100
according to the ninth exemplary embodiment is provided with a rear
window outer part 104a and a rear window inner part 104b each of
which is made of a resin material. The rear window outer part 104a
is made of a transparent resin material and provided with an
accommodation space of a semiconductor light-emitting element 6 at
the lower end thereof. The semiconductor light-emitting element 6
is accommodated such that the light emitting surface thereof faces
upwardly. A plurality of light emitting steps 112 are formed at a
predetermined location of the surface of the front side of the
vehicle of the rear window outer part 104a and the region where the
light emitting steps 112 of the rear window part 104 are provided
forms a light emitting unit 108. Also, a portion of the rear window
part 104 from the top surface 153a (ceiling surface) of the
accommodation space 153 to the light emitting unit 108 forms a
light guiding unit 106.
[0083] The light radiated from the semiconductor light-emitting
element 6 is incident on the interior of the light guiding unit 106
from the top surface 153a. The light incident on the interior of
the light guiding unit 106 proceeds in the inside of the light
guiding unit 106 while being reflected from the inner side surface
of the vehicle and the outer side surface of the vehicle of the
light guiding part 106 and reaches the light emitting part 108. The
light reaching the light emitting unit 108 is directed toward the
rear side of the vehicle by the groove portions 150 and radiated to
the rear side of the vehicle from the outer side surface of vehicle
of the light emitting part 108.
[0084] The rear window inner part 104b is disposed at the front
side of the vehicle of the rear window outer part 104a and attached
to the rear window outer part 104a. The rear window inner part 104b
is formed with a light shielding part 104b1 and a light
transmitting part 104b2. The light shielding part 104b1 is made of
a colored resin material and disposed such that it overlaps the
peripheral end portion of the rear window outer part 104a including
the accommodation space 153 in the longitudinal direction of the
vehicle. Accordingly, the leakage of the light emitted from the
semiconductor light-emitting element 6 toward the front of the
vehicle may be suppressed. The light transmitting part 104b2 is
transparent and disposed such that it overlaps the region where the
peripheral end portion of the rear window outer part 104a is
excluded in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle. A driver may
visually recognize the rear side of the vehicle via the light
transmitting part 104b2 and the rear window outer part 104a. For
example, the rear window inner part 104b integrally formed with the
light shielding part 104b1 and the light transmitting part 104b2
may be formed by, e.g., two-colored molding.
[0085] The light shielding part 104b1 is provided with an
attachment part 154 such as, e.g., a stud bolt. The rear window
part 104 may be attached to the backdoor inner panel 102b via the
attachment part 154. Also, the light shielding part 104b1 is
provided with an electric power supply unit 156 configured to
supply the electric power to the semiconductor light-emitting
element 6. As described above, in the present exemplary embodiment,
the light shielding part 104b1 configured to shield the
semiconductor light-emitting element 6 is used as an installation
location of the attachment part 154 or the electric power supply
unit 156. Thus, it is not necessary to provide an extra region
where the attachment part 154 or the electric power supply part 156
is disposed and it may be avoided that the rear window part 104
becomes large while securing a driver's rear visual recognition
region.
[0086] The present disclosure is not limited to each of the
above-described exemplary embodiments and modified examples. Each
exemplary embodiment and each modified example may be combined and
changes such as, for example, various design changes may be made
thereto based on the knowledge of a person skilled in the art. Such
combinations or embodiments or modified examples where the changes
are made are also included in the scope of the present disclosure.
New exemplary embodiments obtained by combining the above-described
respective exemplary embodiments or the respective modified
examples and new exemplary embodiments obtained by combining the
above-described respective exemplary embodiments or modified
examples and the changes described below have respective effects of
the combined exemplary embodiments, the modified examples and the
changes in combination.
[0087] In the each of the above-described exemplary embodiments and
modified examples, the light guiding unit 106 and the light
emitting unit 108 may be provided in a region where the backdoor
panel 102 is included, other than the rear window part 104. Also, a
configuration in which the panel made of a resin material is
provided with the light guiding unit and the light emitting unit
and further a configuration in which the window part made of a
resin material is provided with the light guiding unit and the
light emitting unit may be applied not only to the vehicular rear
panel but also, for example, to a vehicular side panel, a roof
panel or a front panel. The term, "transparence" in each of the
above-described exemplary embodiments and the modified examples
refers to "having light transmittance (light permeability)" and
includes colored transparence other than colorless
transparence.
[0088] From the foregoing, it will be appreciated that various
embodiments of the present disclosure have been described herein
for purposes of illustration, and that various modifications may be
made without departing from the scope and spirit of the present
disclosure. Accordingly, the various embodiments disclosed herein
are not intended to be limiting, with the true scope and spirit
being indicated by the following claims.
* * * * *