DE202022000884U1 - Narrow angle radiating light shield - Google Patents

Abstract

The illuminated sign comprises a front (11), a rear (12) and at least one side surface (13), which extends between the front (11) and the rear (12) and connects them to one another, in which a light-conducting interior made of a transparent material between the front (11), back (12) and side surfaces (13), an illumination device (1,9) being arranged in connection with the side surface (13) in order to emit light into the light-conducting material, characterized in that the light is collimated before it is coupled into one or more of the side surfaces (13) and it is coupled out of the light shield via one or more surfaces (3, 14) that have been introduced into the light shield.

Description

technical field

The present invention relates to a luminous sign. It comprises a front side, a back side with at least one side surface through which light is coupled into the plate. The light is guided within the panel via total reflection and coupled out at the structures on the surface of the back or the front.

State of the art

Transparent signs with characters in the form of text, images or patterns that emit light are sometimes used for advertising, lighting, information e.g. B. used at exhibitions or as a pure decoration. The signs are made of a light transmitting material and are illuminated by one or more light sources associated with at least one of the sides of the sign. The characters are applied to the back of the shield in a manner known in the art. Signs of this type are off DE 20118 930 , DE 43 41 015 , US2001/0049893 and U.S. 5,276,591 known.

With these signs, the light is emitted evenly in all spatial directions. The brightness is therefore comparatively low. Directed emission of the light would significantly increase the intensity and would also attract attention (eye-catcher). When walking past a directional sign, you would see a flash of light, similar to a flashlight shining briefly at you. Interesting effects can be achieved by combining different angles, e.g. effects that move along when moving past.

Summary of the Invention

It is the object of the present invention to enable light shields that emit the light in a small solid angle. According to the invention, this is achieved in that the light is collimated before it is coupled into the plate and the coupling out of the plate takes place through one or more polished surfaces which are introduced into the plate.

character list

• 1 Eine bevorzugte Ausführungsform in Seitenansicht, bei der die Kollimationslinse (2) hinter der Lichtquelle (1) in Form einer langen Zylinderlinse ausgeführt ist. Die Auskopplung aus der Platte (4) erfolgt über eine in die Platte gefräste V-Nut (3) Hier wird eine Totalreflexion innerhalb der Platte genutzt. Der Strahl (5) verlässt die Platte auf der der V-Nut entgegengesetzten Seite.
• 2 Eine bevorzugte Ausführungsform in Seitenansicht, bei der die Kollimationslinse durch eine speziell geformte Seitenfläche (6) realisiert ist. Aufgrund der großen Winkel sind hier asphärische Flächen vorteilhaft.
• 3 Eine bevorzugte Ausführungsform in Seitenansicht, bei der die Auskopplung aus der Platte über eine V-Nut erfolgt, bei der die den Lichtquellen zugewandte Seite (7) einen Winkel zu den Strahlen hat, der kleiner als der Winkel der Totalreflexion ist. Die zweite Seite der Nut (8) ist dabei verspiegelt.
• 4 Eine bevorzugte Ausführungsform in perspektivischer Darstellung. Bei dieser Ausführungsform erfolgt die Kollimation über rotationssymmetrische Linsen (10) vor jeder Lichtquelle (9). Als Lichtquelle werden vorzugsweise Leuchtdioden oder Laserdioden benutzt.
• 5 Eine bevorzugte Ausführungsform in perspektivischer Darstellung. Bei dieser Ausführungsform sind die Kollimationslinsen rechts und links an die Platte angefräst. Die Nut zum Auskoppeln der Strahlung ist kreisförmig.

In the following, the invention is described in more detail with reference to the attached drawing figures. Show it:

• 1 A preferred embodiment in side view, in which the collimating lens (2) behind the light source (1) is in the form of a long cylindrical lens. The decoupling from the plate (4) takes place via a V-groove (3) milled into the plate. Total reflection within the plate is used here. The beam (5) leaves the panel on the opposite side of the V-groove.
• 2 A preferred embodiment in side view, in which the collimating lens is realized by a specially shaped side surface (6). Due to the large angles, aspherical surfaces are advantageous here.
• 3 A preferred embodiment in side view, in which the decoupling from the plate takes place via a V-groove, in which the side (7) facing the light sources has an angle to the rays which is smaller than the angle of total reflection. The second side of the groove (8) is mirrored.
• 4 A preferred embodiment in a perspective view. In this embodiment, the collimation takes place via rotationally symmetrical lenses (10) in front of each light source (9). Light-emitting diodes or laser diodes are preferably used as the light source.
• 5 A preferred embodiment in a perspective view. In this embodiment, the collimating lenses are milled onto the plate on the right and left. The groove for coupling out the radiation is circular.

QUOTES INCLUDED IN DESCRIPTION

This list of the documents cited by the applicant was generated automatically and is included solely for the better information of the reader. The list is not part of the German patent or utility model application. The DPMA assumes no liability for any errors or omissions.

Patent Literature Cited

• DE 20118930 [0002]
• DE 4341015 [0002]
• U.S. 2001/0049893 [0002]
• US5276591 [0002]

Claims (9)

The illuminated sign comprises a front (11), a rear (12) and at least one side surface (13), which extends between the front (11) and the rear (12) and connects them to one another, in which a light-conducting interior made of a transparent material between the front (11), back (12) and side surfaces (13), an illumination device (1,9) being arranged in connection with the side surface (13) in order to emit light into the light-conducting material, characterized in that the light is collimated before it is coupled into one or more of the side surfaces (13) and it is coupled out of the light shield via one or more surfaces (3, 14) that have been introduced into the light shield. light sign after claim 1 , characterized in that the light is collimated wholly or partially by one or more curved side surfaces (6) which act as a lens. light sign after claim 1 and 2 , characterized in that the decoupling takes place via one or more surfaces (3) introduced into the light shield in connection with a total reflection. light sign after claim 1 and 2 , characterized in that the decoupling takes place via one or more completely or partially mirrored surfaces (3, 8) introduced into the light shield. light sign after claim 1 until 4 , characterized in that the surfaces (3, 8) used for decoupling have a radius of curvature. light sign after claim 1 until 5 , characterized in that the light is coupled into the light shield not vertically but at one or more specific angles. Illuminated sign according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the lighting device uses light-emitting diodes or laser diodes. Illuminated sign according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the decoupling structures are introduced into the surfaces at different depths. Illuminated sign according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the decoupled beams have a full divergence angle of less than 30° (full width at half maximum) in at least one spatial direction.

Images