Illuminating device

• US 8,403,546 B2
• Filed: 09/07/2010
• Issued: 03/26/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 09/30/2009
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: DENSO Corporation
• Original Assignee: DENSO Corporation
• Inventors: Kurokawa, Kazumasa
• Primary Examiner(s): Ton, Anabel
• Application Number:
  US12/876,471
• Publication Number:
  US 20110075434A1
• Time in Patent Office: 931 Days
• Field of Search: 362/235, 362/459, 362 971- 973, 362/217.02, 359/676
• US Class Current: 362/459
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 3/14 lighting through the surface to be illuminated
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2027/0118 comprising devices for improving the contrast of the display / brillance control visibility
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/0101 characterised by optical features G02B27/0172 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 3/00 Simple or compound lenses
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 5/02 Diffusing elements; Afocal elements

Abstract

An illuminating device includes a light source body and a lens array. The light source body includes a plurality of light sources. The lens array includes an opposed surface, a reverse surface, a plurality of lenses, a recess, and a projection. The plurality of lenses corresponds respectively to the plurality of light sources. The plurality of lenses includes a first lens and a second lens, which is located adjacent to the first lens. The recess is formed at an end portion of the first lens adjacent to the second lens. The projection is formed at an end portion of the second lens adjacent to the first lens. The projection is coupled with the recess, so that at least a part of a boundary line between the first lens and the second lens is formed in a concave-convex shape as a result of a combination of the recess and the projection.

Claims

1. An illuminating device comprising:

a light source body that includes a plurality of light sources; and

a lens array that includes;

an opposed surface that is opposed to the light source body;

a reverse surface that is on a reverse side of the opposed surface;

a plurality of lenses, which correspond respectively to the plurality of light sources, the plurality of lenses including;

a first lens that has a first curved surface, which is formed on the reverse surface and projects on the reverse side; and

a second lens that is located adjacent to the first lens and has a second curved surface, which is formed on the reverse surface and projects on the reverse side;

a recess that is formed at an end portion of the first lens adjacent to the second lens; and

a projection that is formed at an end portion of the second lens, wherein the projection of the second lens is received in the recess of the first lens.

2. The illuminating device according to claim 1, wherein:

the recess is one of a plurality of recesses;

the projection is one of a plurality of projections; and

the projections and recesses are formed along an entire length of the boundary line.

3. The illuminating device according to claim 1, wherein the projection is arc-shaped.

4. The illuminating device according to claim 1, wherein the projection is U-shaped.

5. The illuminating device according to claim 1, wherein the projection is V-shaped.

6. The illuminating device according to claim 1, wherein the projection is rectangular shaped.

7. The illuminating device according to claim 1, further comprising a diffuser plate that is configured to diffuse light emitted from the lens array.

8. The illuminating device according to claim 1, wherein:

the illuminating device is a head up display that is adapted to be disposed in a vehicle having a front panel;

the head up display includes a liquid crystal display panel that is configured to control a transmission rate of light for each picture element or for each segment; and

the head up display is adapted to be disposed in the vehicle such that the front panel is irradiated with light, which is emitted from the lens array, through the liquid crystal display panel, and then the light reflected by the front panel is delivered to a pupil of an observer in the vehicle.

9. The illuminating device according to claim 1, wherein a plurality of alternating projections and recesses are formed along the end portion of the first lens and a plurality of alternating projections and recesses are formed along the end portion of the second lens, wherein the projections on the first lens are received in the recesses of the second lens, and wherein the projections on the second lens are received in the recesses of the first lens.

10. The illuminating device according to claim 9, wherein the projections on the end portions of the first and second lenses are arcuate-shaped.

11. The illuminating device according to claim 9, wherein the projections on the end portions of the first and second lenses are U-shaped.

12. The illuminating device according to claim 9, wherein the projections on the end portions of the first and second lenses are V-shaped.

13. The illuminating device according to claim 9, wherein the projections on the end portions of the first and second lenses are rectangular-shaped.