JP2006085119A - Led light source - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a light source permitting to make a display surface almost uniformly bright with a reduced number of LEDs, and allowing anybody to easily attach and wire in small man-hours even when a display surface including an R-part, for example, like characters is required. <P>SOLUTION: As a result of having pursued a case form of which an angle of incidence to the case does not exceed 45 degrees to the light of LED 5a, the case form 7 in the figure is preferable, namely, it is preferable that the distances from the LED 5a up to the inside surface and outside surface is constant in the range of 180 degrees in the whole angles in the optical axis direction of the LED 5a. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

  The present invention relates to a light source using a light emitting diode.

A square resin case with a light-emitting diode (hereinafter also referred to as “LED”) attached to the substrate that does not have drip-proofing properties, or a light-emitting diode attached to the substrate to provide drip-proofing properties. There is something stored in.
Of course, in both types, a covered electric wire for power supply is attached, but there are no more than two attachment points.

Problems to be solved by the invention

When using a drip-proof structure, for example, as a backlight for channel characters, it is necessary to facilitate attachment.
However, in order to achieve a drip-proof structure, it must be housed in a case made of resin or the like. However, depending on the shape of the case, the light from the LED may be lost, resulting in a dark and inconvenient result. It becomes uniform light emission.
When this problem is solved and used as a light source for internal illumination such as channel letters, it is necessary to make the display surface almost uniform brightness with few LEDs.
In addition, when used as an internal light source for channel characters, etc., there are many cases where there are three or more character line coupling parts, as represented by characters such as “Large”, etc. Because it must be arranged in a chain, it is necessary to use a light source more than necessary.

Therefore, according to the present invention, the display surface can be made substantially uniform brightness with few LEDs, and even if a display surface including an R portion such as a character is required, anyone can easily and do less work. The purpose is to provide a light source that can be mounted and wired with man-hours, and to reduce the number of light sources to a minimum.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a light source that can be wired with a smaller number of work steps when a plurality of light sources are required.

Means for solving the problem

The display device according to claim 1 includes a substrate having a predetermined width and a predetermined length, and a plurality of light emitting diodes disposed on one surface of the substrate at predetermined intervals, and the light emitting diodes. The light source housed in the case is a light source housed in a case, and in each of the light emitting diodes, the inner surface of the case is located within 120 degrees in all directions in the optical axis direction from the height of the center of the light emitting diode element itself. The angle between the imaginary straight line connecting the center of the element itself and the inner surface of the case and the inner surface of the case or its tangent line is 45 degrees or more on both the wide angle side and the narrow angle side, and The angle between the virtual straight line connecting the center of the element itself and the outer surface of the case and the outer surface of the case or its tangent line is 45 degrees or more on both the wide angle side and the narrow angle side.
This makes it possible to minimize the loss that occurs when LED light passes through the case at a half angle of around 45 ° C. with respect to the optical axis of the LED. In addition, since the light sources are connected by flexible lead wires, the light sources can be easily attached at an angle.

A light source according to a second aspect of the present invention is characterized in that in the light source according to the first aspect, a plurality of the light sources are arranged in a lattice shape to enable power supply in a lump.
As a result, anyone can easily mount the motor with fewer man-hours.

A light source according to a third aspect of the present invention is characterized in that in the light source according to the first aspect, three or more coated wires and / or connectors for supplying power are arranged.
As a result, anyone can easily mount the motor with fewer man-hours.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a light source having a light emitting diode as a light emitter, wherein three or more coated wires for supplying power and / or connectors are disposed.
As a result, anyone can easily mount the motor with fewer man-hours.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described by way of examples of the present invention.
In this embodiment, the light source unit 1 of the present invention is applied to a channel character, which is a relatively small size outdoor use red light emitting display device that can be used outdoors.

First, the overall configuration of the light source 1 will be described with reference to FIGS.
In this embodiment, for example, an alphabet letter B having an outer dimension, a length of 150 mm, a width of 112 mm, a thickness of 30 mm, and a character width of 22 mm will be described as an example.
As shown in FIG. 1, the display device is formed with a light source unit 1, a housing unit 2, and a display unit 3 arranged therein as main components.
The casing 2 is composed of a bottom surface 13 and a peripheral wall 11 standing on the outer periphery of the bottom surface 13, and a space surrounded by the peripheral wall 11 constitutes the letter B of the alphabet. Therefore, the cross-sectional shape of the housing portion 2 is a U-shape of the upper opening, and is shaped like a letter B when viewed from the front. The casing part 2 used what coated the zinc steel plate.
The inner side surface 12 and the bottom surface 13 are preferably white-coated in order to increase light reflection efficiency and scattering efficiency.

In the present embodiment, the light source unit 1 includes an LED 5, a substrate 4, a case 7, a covered wire 8, and a constant current diode 9.
The LED 5 is a lamp-type LED 5 a (hereinafter also referred to as “lamp LED”), and is fixed to the substrate 4 so that the optical axis of the LED 5 a is in the surface direction of the substrate 4.
In this embodiment, a red light emitting LED 5a is used.

In this embodiment, the substrate 4 has a circuit configuration in which two LEDs 5a and one constant current diode 9 are connected in series so that the LED 5a can be driven easily.
Further, a power supply pattern is provided on the back side of the substrate 4, and plus and minus coated wires 8 are attached.
In addition, on the explanatory view, there is a portion where the tip portion of the covered electric wire 8 is omitted.
This power supply pattern is preferably provided at two locations on both the positive side and the negative side so that power supply wiring to the next light source unit 1 is possible.
Further, it is more preferable that the power supply patterns are provided at three or more locations on both the plus side and the minus side so that power supply wiring to the next light source unit 1 is possible.
As a result, for example, even in the case of a character having a three-branch portion, it is possible to easily perform feed wiring.
In addition, in these cases, it is added that there is an alternative method that enables power supply to a plurality of locations by providing a large pattern.
The feed wiring may be supplied directly to the next light source unit 1 using the coated electric wire 8 or may be supplied via a connector or the like attached to the tip of the coated electric wire 8.
A connector or the like may be directly attached to the substrate 4.

The substrate 4 on which necessary parts are attached is accommodated in a transparent polycarbonate case 7. The case 7 is composed of an upper case 7a and a lower case 7b. However, in order to make the explanation easy to understand, the case 7 is collectively referred to as the case 7.
As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the case 7 has a dome shape with a uniform thickness at a portion located directly above each of the two LEDs 5 a.
This dome shape is particularly effective for minimizing the loss that occurs when the light of the LED 5a passes through the case at a half angle of around 45 ° C. with respect to the optical axis of the LED.
The contents will be described in detail below with reference to FIGS.
It is assumed that the primary light emitted from the LED 5a is 51a, and the secondary light generated by passing or reflecting through the case is 51b.
Further, a description will be given by picking up light emitted from the LED 5a in increments of 10 degrees.
For ease of explanation, although the ratio of the passing light and the reflected light varies depending on the incident angle to the case, only the stronger one of the passing light and the reflected light is shown here.
Further, regarding the deviation of light when passing through the case thickness due to the difference in incident angle, it is judged that there is almost no influence on the explanation and is not reflected on the explanatory diagram.

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view in which the substrate 4 is housed in a transparent case 7c having a uniform U-shaped cross section and cut along the optical axis of the LED 5a.
The emitted light from the LED 5a spreads around the optical axis and reaches the inner surface of the case 7c. At this time, although the angle varies depending on the material of the case 7c, if the incident angle is about 45 degrees or more, the light passing through the case 7c is stronger than the reflected light, but if the incident angle becomes 45 or less, the reflected light The ratio will be high.
Therefore, the light emitted outside the case 7c is reduced.
Accordingly, the portion between the two LEDs 5a becomes dark, and the display surface cannot be made substantially uniform brightness by the few LEDs 5a.

Therefore, as a result of pursuing the case shape such that the incident angle to the case does not become 45 degrees or less with respect to the light of the LED 5a, the shape of the case 7 in FIG. It is preferable that the distance to the inner surface and the outer surface is constant within a range of 180 degrees in all angles in the optical axis direction of the LED 5a.
However, among the light emitted from the LED 5a, the light having a full angle of 120 degrees or more in the direction of the optical axis of the LED 5a has a very low irradiation rate on the display surface. By maintaining a constant distance to the inner surface and the outer surface, substantially the same effect can be obtained.
Furthermore, although some light loss increases and disadvantages occur, the distance from the LED 5a to the inner surface and the outer surface of the case 7a does not necessarily need to be kept constant, and both the inner surface and the outer surface of the case 7a If the angle at which the outer surface or its tangent line intersects is 45 degrees or more on both the wide angle side and the narrow angle side, substantially the same effect can be obtained.
Note that the case 7 does not necessarily need to be transparent, and may have a color that matches the light emission color of the LED, or it may be preferable to add a diffusing agent or the like to have a diffusion effect depending on the intended use. Also add.

The substrate 4 to which necessary components are attached is housed in the case 7, and then silicon or the like is injected into a portion necessary for the drip-proofing treatment.
Of course, these treatments are not necessary for products that are used indoors only.
As shown in FIG. 4, the light source units 1 can be connected to each other by protrusions provided on the case 7 b for the purpose of positioning and bonding.
The location of this protrusion may be one or a plurality of locations.
Accordingly, the light source units 1 can be connected at an equal pitch. For example, when used for a large-size channel character, it is not necessary to adjust the distance between the light source units 1 at the time of attachment. Therefore, substantially uniform light emission can be obtained.
A screw hole 10 is provided at the center of the light source unit 1 so that the light source unit 1 can be fixed with screws or the like.

As shown in FIG. 1, the light source unit 1 is preferably fixed to the bottom surface 13 of the housing unit 2 using a double-sided adhesive tape 6. This is because the trouble of attaching the light source unit 1 and power supply wiring can be minimized.
Therefore, the double-sided adhesive tape 6 is attached to the bottom surface side of the light source unit 1.
At this time, the double-sided pressure-sensitive adhesive tape 6 to be used has a predetermined thickness in order to absorb the difference in shrinkage due to the difference in the linear expansion coefficient between the casing 2 and the substrate 4, and is deformed. Those having a cushioning property are preferable.
Specifically, a No. 0.75 mm-thick No. 1 film based on foamed butyl rubber manufactured by Nitto Denko Corporation. 541. The predetermined thickness may be 0.3 mm or more, more preferably 0.5 to 0.8 mm.
In this embodiment, the double-sided adhesive tape 6 is disposed on the entire back surface of the substrate 4.
However, the double-sided pressure-sensitive adhesive tape 6 is not arranged on the entire back surface of the substrate 4, but the double-sided pressure-sensitive adhesive tape 6 shorter than a predetermined length of the substrate 4 is partially arranged (for example, 10 mm pitch), which is further advantageous for dimensional shrinkage. Can be installed easily.
It is also possible to use a double-sided adhesive tape 6 that is narrower than the predetermined width of the substrate 4.
In addition, the same effect can be obtained by using magic tape instead of double-sided adhesive tape 6. For example, when using in applications where the installation location must be changed in a short period of time, such as an event, this is better. Is suitable.
In this case, the pasting area and the like are the same as those of the double-sided adhesive tape 6 described above.

A display unit 3 is attached to the upper opening of the housing unit 2.
The display unit 3 is formed of an epoxy resin.
The display unit 3 has the same shape as the upper opening of the housing unit 2, and a detachable method is adopted so that maintenance can be performed later.

Here, the structure of the light source unit 1 and the manufacturing method thereof will be described in more detail.
The substrate 4 is a strip having a predetermined length (specifically, 28 mm) and a predetermined width (specifically, 10 mm), and has a shape in which four corners are cut.
A plurality (specifically two) of LEDs 5a are fixed and electrically connected to the substrate 4 using solder in a straight line (may be a plurality of stages) at equal intervals (specifically 22 mm pitch). Is preferred.
Therefore, although there is a high possibility that a demerit will occur in quality, it may not be equally spaced, or may be staggered instead of linear.
The substrate 4 uses a double-sided wiring pattern type, and through-holes for attaching components such as the LED 5a and the constant current diode 9 are formed.
Further, a resist layer is provided on the wiring pattern formed on the substrate 4 for the purpose of insulation treatment.
As the color of the resist layer, it is preferable to use a white color for the purpose of improving the reflection efficiency and the diffusion efficiency of the light emitted from the light source unit 1. Specifically, UR-3100W JH-2 manufactured by Sanwa Chemical Industry Co., Ltd. was used.
A resist layer is also formed on the wiring pattern on the back side in order to perform an insulation process.

Further, as described above, on the back side of the substrate 4, power supply patterns are provided at two locations so that power supply wiring to the next light source unit 1 can be performed.
Further, as shown in FIG. 7, it is more preferable that the power supply patterns are provided at three or more locations so that the power supply wiring to the next light source unit 1 is possible on both the positive side and the negative side. .
In the present embodiment, the connector male 14 and the connector female 15 are each provided at the tip of the covered wire 8 as a light source unit 20 that can supply power in four places in total.
As a result, as shown in FIG. 8, for example, even in the case of a character having a three-branch portion, it is possible to easily perform a feed wiring.
In that case, it is preferable to use the light source unit 1 and the light source unit 50 in combination in consideration of cost.
In addition, in these cases, it is added that there is an alternative method that enables power supply to a plurality of locations by providing a large pattern.
The feed wiring may be supplied directly to the next light source unit 1 using the coated electric wire 8 or may be supplied via a connector attached to the tip of the coated electric wire 8.
Note that any number of light sources 1 connected by the feed wiring can be connected as long as it is within the allowable current value of the covered wire 8.
Since the light sources 1 are connected to each other by the covered coated wires 8 having flexibility, the light sources 1 can be easily attached with an angle.
Further, by providing four power supply patterns on the back side of the substrate 4, it is possible to share the power supply lines of the light source units 1 arranged in the horizontal and vertical directions, that is, in a grid pattern.
This further facilitates the supply of power to the light source unit 1.

As a result of the above, according to the present invention, the display surface can be made almost uniform brightness by the minimum number of LEDs, and even if a display surface including an R portion such as a character is required, anyone can It is possible to provide a light source that can be easily mounted and wired with less work man-hours.
In addition, when a plurality of light sources are required, it is possible to provide a light source that can be wired with a smaller number of work steps.

In addition, about the several types of light source part demonstrated above, although the external shape of the board | substrate 4 was described as strip shape, it shall also include the shape which partially includes an unevenness | corrugation.
In addition, the components such as the electronic component including the LED 5 can obtain the same effect regardless of whether a discrete product or a surface mount product is used.
Further, the same effect can be obtained by setting the number of LEDs 5 connected in series, the number of connectors, and the like as required.

The embodiments of the present invention have been described above with reference to some examples. However, the embodiments of the present invention are not limited to these examples, and can be various forms.
For example, a square wood board or resin plate used to engrave characters or figures may be used as the case, or a continuous character can be produced with a single case or display unit. However, one having a display surface larger than the housing portion is also one form thereof, and the size of the housing portion and the size and shape of the display surface are not necessarily the same.
In addition, another display may be expressed on the display surface by means of printing or the like, and of course, it can be used in combination with a conventional point light emission type display.
In addition, the figure and the like include, as a matter of course, those formed only by straight portions such as a square, a rectangle, and a triangle.
Further, for example, a liquid crystal screen may be used for the display unit surface, or a display screen that moves (rotates and changes its display) like a drum of a throttle machine may be used.
Further, the light source units may be combined, or the light source unit alone may be used alone with no lamp.
Moreover, about the material employ | adopted in the Example, the other material from which the same function (physical property) is obtained can be employ | adopted. For example, in the embodiment, the material of the casing portion is a galvanized steel plate coated, but other metal plates may be used. Painting can be omitted depending on the properties of the selected metal. Moreover, resin, wood, etc. can be used and its manufacturing method is not ask | required.
Further, the structure of the housing portion and the attachment method of the display portion need not be limited to those described in the embodiments, and other methods can be adopted as long as the same function is obtained. .
In the embodiment, an epoxy resin is used for the display portion, but acrylic, polycarbonate, vinyl chloride, glass, or the like can also be used.
Further, the surface state of the display unit may be, for example, a diamond cut state or a mat state, an uneven state represented by vacuum forming, of course, a dome-shaped mortar shape, or a plurality of surface states. Even if it uses in combination, you may provide another display board in the surface.
Moreover, although the red light emitting LED is mainly used in the embodiment, other colors may be used for the light emission color of the LED in accordance with the usage and design of the display device, and of course, a combination of multiple color LEDs is used. May be used.
Moreover, you may use combining LED of a different luminescent color in the same display surface.
For example, when applied to a small display space, a single LED may be used without using a plurality of LEDs.
Moreover, phosphors may be mixed with the display surface material, phosphors may be printed on the display surface, or another printed sheet or the like may be placed inside to generate color using ultraviolet light LEDs.
In addition, the expression “double-sided wiring pattern type” is used to describe the structure of the substrate, but this expression also includes a multilayer wiring pattern type.

The invention's effect

  As described above, according to the present invention, the display surface can be made substantially uniform brightness by the minimum number of LEDs, and even when a display surface including an R portion like a character is required, for example. Anyone can provide a light source capable of mounting and wiring LEDs easily and with a small number of work steps.

  It is explanatory drawing of the structure of the display apparatus in an Example, (a) is the front view of the state which removed the display part of the display apparatus, (b) is a vertical side view, (c) is a side view, Partly cross-sectional view along line AA in (a)   It is explanatory drawing of the structure of the light source part 1, (a) is a front view of the light source, (b) is a side view, (c) is a longitudinal side view   It is explanatory drawing of the structure of the light source part 1, (a) is the front view of the light source of the state which removed the upper case, (b) is a side view, (c) is a longitudinal side view   It is explanatory drawing at the time of connecting and using the light source part 1, (a) is a front view of the light source, (b) is a side view.   Cross section of the optical path when a U-shaped case is used   Cross-sectional view of the optical path in this example   It is explanatory drawing of the structure of the light source part 20, (a) is a front view of the light source, (b) is a horizontal side view of the state which removed the connector, (c) is a vertical side view   It is explanatory drawing of the usage method of the light source part in an Example, and the front view of the state which removed the display part of the display apparatus

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Light source part 2 Case part 3 Display part 4 Board | substrate 5 LED
5a Lamp LED
6 Double-sided adhesive tape 7 Case 7a Upper case 7b Lower case 7c Uniform thick case with U-shaped cross section 8 Covered wire 9 Constant current diode 10 Screw hole 11 Peripheral wall 12 Inner side surface 13 Bottom surface 14 Connector male 15 Connector female 20 Light source 51a Primary light 51b of LED Secondary light generated by passing through or reflecting the case

Claims (4)

  A substrate having a predetermined width and a predetermined length and a plurality of light emitting diodes arranged on one surface of the substrate at predetermined intervals, and the substrate to which the light emitting diodes are fixed is housed in a case In each of the light emitting diodes, the inner surface and the outer surface of the case located within 120 degrees in all angles in the optical axis direction from the height of the center of the light emitting diode itself are the center of the light emitting diode. The angle between the imaginary straight line connecting the inner surface of the case and the inner surface of the case and the inner surface of the case or its tangent is 45 degrees or more on both the wide angle side and the narrow angle side, and connects the center of the element itself and the outer surface of the case. The light source characterized in that the angle between the virtual straight line and the outer surface of the case or its tangent line is 45 degrees or more on both the wide angle side and the narrow angle side.   The light source according to claim 1, wherein a plurality of the light sources are arranged in a lattice shape to enable power supply in a lump.   2. The light source according to claim 1, wherein three or more coated electric wires and / or connectors for supplying power are disposed.   A light source comprising a light emitting diode as a light emitter, wherein three or more coated electric wires for power supply and / or connectors are disposed.

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