Abstract: A surface emitting apparatus includes a light guide plate, a plurality of point light sources, a diffusing member, and a spacer member. The light guide plate has an end surface and a light emitting surface and is configured to allow light incident on the end surface to be emitted from the light emitting surface. The plurality of point light sources is provided to oppose the end surface of the light guide plate. The diffusing member is provided on a light emitting surface side of the light guide plate. The spacer member defines a space between the light emitting surface and the diffusing member such that a distance between the light emitting surface and the diffusing member is larger than a thickness of the light guide plate.

Abstract: A scuff plate has a first light guide element having a groove of predetermined shape formed in an underside of the element when viewed from below, a first light source that guides light to the first light guide element, light emission unit that is disposed below the first light guide element and that upwardly emits light differing in color from the first light source, and a half mirror layer interposed between the first light guide element and the light emission unit. Light from the first light source is guided to the first light guide element, and the guided light undergoes reflective diffusion at the groove (a character section). As a consequence, a desired character, or the like, is luminously displayed. In the meantime, light generated by the light emission unit exits through the first light guide element, whereupon an area (a background area) other than the groove (the character section) is illuminated in color that differs from the color of light from the first light source.

Abstract: In a lighting device provided on a ceiling of an interior of a vehicle, the lighting device has: a map lamp including: a case; a first light guide plate accommodated in the case, and having a light incident area on an end face and a light radiation area on a flat plate surface of the interior side of the vehicle; a first light source part having a plurality of LED lamps, the LED lamps being opposed to the light incident area and arranged in an array; and a prism lens provided in the light radiation area side of the first light guide plate. The map lamp allows the light of the first light source part to be incident on the first light guide plate from the light incident area, radiates the light from the light radiation area to convert the light into a planar light, and then converts the light into a light advancing in a prescribed direction to light a prescribed area in the interior of the vehicle.

Abstract: A lighting device includes: a light guide plate having a light incident part in an end face and a light radiation part in a flat plate surface; a light source part opposed to the light incident part; a light shield member with which an area near the light incident part on the flat plate surface of the light guide plate is covered; and a switch part including a switch main body, a switch knob and a pressing member connected to the switch knob to press the switch main body by pressing down the switch knob. An end part of the switch knob opposed to a center of the flat plate surface of the light guide plate is located on the light shield member, and the end face of the light guide plate is located between a first virtual line passing the end part of the switch knob and perpendicular to the flat plate surface of the light guide plate and a second virtual line passing the center of the switch main body and perpendicular to the flat plate surface of the light guide plate.

Abstract: In an in-vehicle illumination device including: a room lamp section provided with a first light source section, and a light guide plate that guides a light of the first light source section from an end surface thereof and emits the light from a front surface thereof; a first switch for use by the room lamp section; and a vanity mirror section provided with a mirror, when the first light source section is turned on through operation of the first switch, a mode change is made to a room lamp illumination mode in which a first illumination light comes from the room lamp section, and also when the vanity mirror section is in use, the first light source section is turned on, and a mode change is made to a vanity mirror illumination mode in which a second illumination light comes from the room lamp section. The resulting in-vehicle illumination device can be excellent in practicality with the smaller size, and can achieve improvement in terms of design.

Abstract: In an in-vehicle illumination device including: a room lamp section provided with a first light source section and a light guide plate, a map lamp section provided with a second light source section and a lens, a first switch for use by the room lamp section, and a second switch for use by the map lamp section, a light source configuring the first light source section and a light source configuring the second light source section are mounted on any same heat sink member. In the resulting in-vehicle illumination device, measures are taken against heat generation, and the reduction of size and weight is achieved. The design quality of the illumination device can be also improved.

Abstract: A surface emitting apparatus includes a light guide plate, a plurality of point light sources, a diffusing member, and a spacer member. The light guide plate has an end surface and a light emitting surface and is configured to allow light incident on the end surface to be emitted from the light emitting surface. The plurality of point light sources is provided to oppose the end surface of the light guide plate. The diffusing member is provided on a light emitting surface side of the light guide plate. The spacer member defines a space between the light emitting surface and the diffusing member such that a distance between the light emitting surface and the diffusing member is larger than a thickness of the light guide plate.

Abstract: In a lighting device provided on a ceiling of an interior of a vehicle, the lighting device has: a map lamp including: a case; a first light guide plate accommodated in the case, and having a light incident area on an end face and a light radiation area on a flat plate surface of the interior side of the vehicle; a first light source part having a plurality of LED lamps, the LED lamps being opposed to the light incident area and arranged in an array; and a prism lens provided in the light radiation area side of the first light guide plate. The map lamp allows the light of the first light source part to be incident on the first light guide plate from the light incident area, radiates the light from the light radiation area to convert the light into a planar light, and then converts the light into a light advancing in a prescribed direction to light a prescribed area in the interior of the vehicle.

Abstract: A lighting device includes: a light guide plate having a light incident part in an end face and a light radiation part in a flat plate surface; a light source part opposed to the light incident part; a light shield member with which an area near the light incident part on the flat plate surface of the light guide plate is covered; and a switch part including a switch main body, a switch knob and a pressing member connected to the switch knob to press the switch main body by pressing down the switch knob. An end part of the switch knob opposed to a center of the flat plate surface of the light guide plate is located on the light shield member, and the end face of the light guide plate is located between a first virtual line passing the end part of the switch knob and perpendicular to the flat plate surface of the light guide plate and a second virtual line passing the center of the switch main body and perpendicular to the flat plate surface of the light guide plate.

Abstract: A scuff plate has a first light guide element having a groove of predetermined shape formed in an underside of the element when viewed from below, a first light source that guides light to the first light guide element, light emission unit that is disposed below the first light guide element and that upwardly emits light differing in color from the first light source, and a half mirror layer interposed between the first light guide element and the light emission unit. Light from the first light source is guided to the first light guide element, and the guided light undergoes reflective diffusion at the groove (a character section). As a consequence, a desired character, or the like, is luminously displayed. In the meantime, light generated by the light emission unit exits through the first light guide element, whereupon an area (a background area) other than the groove (the character section) is illuminated in color that differs from the color of light from the first light source.

Abstract: In an in-vehicle illumination device including: a room lamp section provided with a first light source section, and a light guide plate that guides a light of the first light source section from an end surface thereof and emits the light from a front surface thereof; a first switch for use by the room lamp section; and a vanity mirror section provided with a mirror, when the first light source section is turned on through operation of the first switch, a mode change is made to a room lamp illumination mode in which a first illumination light comes from the room lamp section, and also when the vanity mirror section is in use, the first light source section is turned on, and a mode change is made to a vanity mirror illumination mode in which a second illumination light comes from the room lamp section. The resulting in-vehicle illumination device can be excellent in practicality with the smaller size, and can achieve improvement in terms of design.

Abstract: In an in-vehicle illumination device including: a room lamp section provided with a first light source section and a light guide plate, a map lamp section provided with a second light source section and a lens, a first switch for use by the room lamp section, and a second switch for use by the map lamp section, a light source configuring the first light source section and a light source configuring the second light source section are mounted on any same heat sink member. In the resulting in-vehicle illumination device, measures are taken against heat generation, and the reduction of size and weight is achieved. The design quality of the illumination device can be also improved.

Abstract: There is provided a vehicle interior illumination system wherein a linear illumination unit having an elongated linear illuminating portion which extends in a longitudinal direction of a vehicle passenger compartment ceiling is provided along each of left- and right-hand edges of the vehicle passenger compartment ceiling and light emitted from the linear illuminating portion directly illuminates the vehicle passenger compartment.

Abstract: This invention is to offer an indication system and method of a meter part having excellent visibility and designing property. Alight is irradiated from the first light source toward the indicating panel from the side of the indicating face for making the background part of the indicating panel luminous with a complementary color to a color indicating the indicator part of pointers, graduations, numerals and others.

Abstract: A planar light emitting device has a planar light emitter. It has a layered structure composed of a transparent body and a semi-transparent body. The transparent body is made of a transparent synthetic resin containing no light scattering material. The semi-transparent body is made of a semi-transparent synthetic resin containing a light scattering material. The transparent body and the semi-transparent body are joined to form a diffusion layer therebetween. An LED array is disposed at one side of the planar light emitter. The diffusion layer has a sea-islands structure. An island resin has a dimension of 0.1 to 50 microns. The light entering the island resin attenuates therein without reflecting at once due to its complicated shape. Namely, the light entering the diffusion layer generates uniform brightness.

Abstract: This invention is to offer an indication system and method of a meter part having excellent visibility and designing property. Alight is irradiated from the first light source toward the indicating panel from the side of the indicating face for making the background part of the indicating panel luminous with a complementary color to a color indicating the indicator part of pointers, graduations, numerals and others.

Abstract: A vehicle display lighting device the lighting device includes a light emitting assembly arranged along the outer circumference of the display dial in front of the front surface. The light emitting assembly directs lights across at least the front surface of the display dial. The lighting device also includes a control assembly for controlling the operation of the light emitting assembly. The light emitting assembly may one or more light sources for emitting light, and a transmitting assembly for radiating the light from the light source across at least the front surface of the display dial.

Abstract: A planar light emitting device has a planar light emitter. It has a layered structure composed of a transparent body and a semi-transparent body. The transparent body is made of a transparent synthetic resin containing no light scattering material. The semi-transparent body is made of a semi-transparent synthetic resin containing a light scattering material. The transparent body and the semi-transparent body are joined to form a diffusion layer therebetween. An LED array is disposed at one side of the planar light emitter. The diffusion layer has a sea-islands structure. An island resin has a dimension of 0.1 to 50 microns. The light entering the island resin attenuates therein without reflecting at once due to its complicated shape. Namely, the light entering the diffusion layer generates uniform brightness.

Abstract: A planar light emitting device has a planar light emitter. It has a layered structure composed of a transparent body and a semi-transparent body. The transparent body is made of a transparent synthetic resin containing no light scattering material. The semi-transparent body is made of a semi-transparent synthetic resin containing a light scattering material. The transparent body and the semi-transparent body are joined to form a diffusion layer therebetween. An LED array is disposed at one side of the planar light emitter. The diffusion layer has a sea-islands structure. An island resin has a dimension of 0.1 to 50 microns. The light entering the island resin attenuates therein without reflecting at once due to its complicated shape. Namely, the light entering the diffusion layer generates uniform brightness.