Vehicle interior illumination device

Abstract

A vehicle interior illumination device comprises: a housing secured to a vehicle interior; a light source secured to an inside of the housing; an illumination lens disposed on a surface on the vehicle interior side of the housing, which transmits light from the light source for illuminating the vehicle interior; an electrode formed as a thin film on a surface on the light source side of the illuminating lens; and an illuminating power control unit which is connected to the electrode, and which switches the light source power on and off based on changes in capacitance between the electrode and a person, which are caused by the person making contact with a vehicle interior side surface of the illuminating lens.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a cross-section of a vehicle interior illumination device according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a vehicle interior illumination device according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a power control circuit used in the embodiments of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a cross-section of a vehicle interior illumination device according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a cross-section of a vehicle interior illumination device according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6A is a plan view of an illumination lens of a vehicle interior illumination device according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6B is a cross-section of the vehicle interior illumination device shown in FIG. 6A.

FIG. 7A is a perspective view of a vehicle interior illumination device according to conventional technology, and a cross-section thereof.

FIG. 7B is a cross-section of the switch section of the vehicle interior illumination device shown in FIG. 7A.

FIG. 7C is a perspective view of a vehicle interior illumination device according to other conventional technology, and a cross-section thereof.

FIG. 7D is a cross-section of the illumination section and switch section of the vehicle interior illumination device shown in FIG. 7C.

Claims

1. A vehicle interior illumination device comprising: a housing secured to a vehicle interior;a light source secured to an inside of said housing;an illumination lens disposed on a surface on the vehicle interior side of said housing, which transmits light from said light source for illuminating said vehicle interior;an electrode disposed on the surface on the light source side of said illuminating lens; andan illuminating power control unit which is connected to said electrode, and which switches said light source power on and off based on changes in capacitance between said electrode and a person, which are caused by said person making contact with a vehicle interior side surface of said illuminating lens.

2. A vehicle interior illumination device according to claim 1, wherein said electrode is formed as a thin film on a section which transmits light from said illuminating lens.

3. A vehicle interior illumination device according to claim 1, wherein there is further provided: an electrical circuit board which is secured to a surface on the vehicle exterior side of said housing, and is connected to said illuminating power control unit; anda connecting member which is an elastically deformable conductor which connects said circuit board and said electrode.

4. A vehicle interior illumination device according to claim 1, wherein said electrode is formed from a conductive material as a thin film on a surface on a light source side of said illuminating lens, by means of printing, coating, vacuum deposition, or sputtering.

5. A vehicle interior illumination device comprising: a housing secured to a vehicle interior;a light source secured to an inside of said housing;an illumination lens disposed on a surface on a vehicle interior side of said housing, which transmits light from said light source for illuminating said vehicle interior;a conductive resin disposed on a surface on a light source side of said illuminating lens; andan illuminating power control unit which is connected to said conductive resin, and which switches said light source power on and off based on changes in capacitance between said conductive resin and a person, which are caused by said person making contact with a vehicle interior side surface of said illuminating lens.

6. A vehicle interior illumination device according to claim 5, wherein said conductive resin is integrally formed with said illuminating lens by means of insert molding.