JP2001081743A - Self-emission type road sign - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a self-emission type road sign capable of visually recognizing light radiated from an illuminant with high luminance even when there is no driver for an automobile, pedestrian or the like on a front. SOLUTION: The self-emission type road sign has a case 1, a solar cell 2 housed in the case 1, a battery 3 charged by the solar cell 2, an illuminant radiating light, a control circuit for supplying the illuminant 4 with power, using the battery 3 as a power supply and a windshield 5 covering these equipments. The road sign has a light-transmitting film 6 diffusing light to the extending section of light radiated from the illuminant 4 and controlling a diffusion angle (the diffusion direction) at that time.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention diffuses light emitted from a luminous body in a vertical direction and / or a horizontal direction in order to clearly indicate a median strip, a road shoulder, a corner, and the like of a road, so that the light is visually recognized with high brightness. The present invention relates to a self-luminous road sign.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Light paths on self-luminous road signs, for example, blinking road studs, corner poles at corners, and the like, are disclosed in JP-A-9-31930 and JP-A-9-53215. Through a light-collecting lens or a light tunnel (optical cable, etc.) from a light-emitting body such as an LED, and converges the light flux of the light source mainly linearly, and as a bright spot in the localization direction, a driver of a car, a pedestrian, etc. Person).

However, in the case where the light beam is converged as described above and becomes a bright spot in the localization direction, when the observer moves to a position deviating from the light beam, the brightness is greatly reduced. In such a case, the visibility is improved by increasing the bright spot or increasing the light source, but in any case, the energy consumption increases, the number of components (for example, a light source lamp) increases, and the storage battery increases. Energy capacity.

[0004] Further, assuming that the observer is not in front, a luminous body having a certain angle of luminous flux to the left and right is installed, the position of the entire sign is changed at an angle, and a light beam for a curve is installed. There is a problem that the cost increases because the light source lamp array needs to be installed at a different angle for a straight line.

[0005]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, even when the observer is not in front, the number of bright spots is not increased, the light source is not strengthened, and the luminous flux is set to a certain angle to the left and right. Without installing the illuminated body held, changing the position of the entire sign by changing the angle, and changing the angle of the light source row for curves and straight lines,
An object of the present invention is to provide a self-luminous road sign capable of visually recognizing light emitted from a light emitter with high luminance.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a self-luminous road sign which is particularly effective on a straight road, an up / down road, an uneven road, and the like. . A third aspect of the present invention provides a self-luminous road sign according to the first aspect of the present invention, which is particularly effective on a curved road in addition to a straight road, an up / down road, an uneven road, and the like. Is what you do. A fourth aspect of the present invention provides a self-luminous road sign having excellent durability in addition to the first, second, or third aspect of the present invention.

[0007]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention provides a case, a solar cell housed in the case, a storage battery charged by the solar cell, a light-emitting body that emits light, and power supply to the light-emitting body using the storage battery as a power supply. Self-luminous road sign having a control circuit and a windshield covering the same, comprises a light-transmitting film that diffuses light to an extended portion of light emitted from the luminous body and controls a diffusion angle (a diffusion direction). Self-luminous road sign.

[0008] The present invention also relates to the self-luminous road sign described above, wherein the light diffusion angle is at most 5 degrees downward and at most 10 degrees upward with respect to the light irradiation axis. The present invention also relates to the self-luminous road sign described above, wherein the light diffusion angle is at most 5 degrees downward, at most 10 degrees upward, and at most 30 degrees each in the left-right direction with respect to the light irradiation axis. Furthermore, the present invention relates to the self-luminous road sign, wherein the translucent film is provided between the windshield and the luminous body.

[0009]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Embodiments of the present invention will be described below.
This will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a sectional front view of a self-luminous road sign (road stud) according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a road exposed portion of the self-luminous road sign (road stud) according to the embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram showing the light diffusion angle and FIG. 3 is a graph showing the relationship between the light diffusion angle to the left and right with respect to the irradiation axis of the light emitted from the light emitter and the luminance.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, a self-luminous road sign according to the present invention includes a case 1, a solar cell 2 in the case 1, a storage battery 3 charged by the solar cell 2, and a light emitting device. Light emitting body 4 and light emitting body 4
A control circuit (not shown) for supplying power to the windshield 5 is further accommodated therein, and further diffuses the light to the extended portion of the light emitted from the windshield 5 and the light emitter 4 that cover these, ) Is attached.

The self-luminous road sign according to the present invention has the above-described structure. When the luminous body 4 is turned on, light emitted from the luminous body 4 passes through the light-transmitting film 6 and passes through the slope of the windshield 5. It is refracted and radiated to the outside. 1 and 2, reference numeral 7 denotes an irradiation axis, and reference numeral 8 denotes a light diffusion angle. In the present invention, light emitted from the luminous body 4 can be visually recognized with high brightness even when the observer is not in front by diffusing the light by the translucent film 6 and controlling the diffusion direction. It is like that. FIG. 2 shows a preferable light diffusion angle.

The luminous body used in the present invention is LE
D lamps, miniature lamps, etc., among them, the power consumption is extremely low, and high-speed blinking is possible and the life is long.
It is preferable to use an ED lamp. As the solar cell, generally known ones are used and there is no particular limitation, but it is preferable to use polycrystalline silicon. As the storage battery, a nickel hydride battery, a nickel cadmium battery, a small lead seal storage battery, or the like is used.

The case is made of SMC (sheet molding compound), BMC (bulk molding compound), polycarbonate resin, etc., and the windshield is made of ABS (acryl butadiene styrene) resin, acrylic resin, polycarbonate resin, etc. Other than the upper part of the solar cell and the upper part of the illuminant installation part, the upper part is formed of metal.

The material of the translucent film is not particularly limited as long as it is a transparent resin. For example, it is preferable to use an acrylic resin, a polystyrene resin, a polycarbonate resin, an ABS resin or the like. The light-transmitting film used for diffusing light and controlling the diffusion angle is a resin having the above-mentioned resin provided with irregularities on one surface of a roll or having irregularities on one surface of a compression mold. The film can be obtained by compressing or molding the material to form irregularities, specifically, semi-elliptical irregularities on one surface of the film.
The light emitted from the light-emitting body can be diffused by the unevenness formed on the surface of the light-transmitting film. The diffusion angle can be controlled by adjusting the shape or height of the unevenness.
In order to achieve the object of the present invention, the height of the unevenness is 10 to 13
About μm is sufficient, and the thickness of the light-transmitting film is about 0.01 to 0.5 mm.

In the present invention, when used on a straight road, an up / down road, an uneven road, or the like, the light diffusion angle of the translucent film is at most 5 degrees below the light irradiation axis. Is preferably at most 3 degrees, more preferably at most 2 degrees. The minimum (lower limit) is determined by the gradient of the road, the height difference of the unevenness, and the like, and is not particularly limited. Further, it is preferably at most 10 degrees upward, more preferably at most 8 degrees, and even more preferably at most 5 degrees. The minimum (lower limit) is sufficient if the height is such that an observer or a small child who is riding in a vehicle with a low body can be visually recognized.

On the other hand, when used on a curved road other than the above-described road, it is preferable that the angle be up to 30 degrees in the left-right direction with respect to the light irradiation axis, and up to 25 degrees.
Degree, more preferably at most 20 degrees. The minimum (lower limit) is determined by the width of the road, the angle of the curve, and the like, and is not particularly limited. The light diffusion angle is preferable because the smaller the angle, the higher the luminance.

When the light-transmitting film used in the present invention is attached between the windshield and the luminous body, dust and mud are prevented from adhering, and the unevenness formed on the film surface is worn to diffuse light. This is preferable because the problem that it becomes impossible can be prevented. There is no particular limitation on the method of attaching the light-transmitting film, but for example, the light-transmitting film can be attached to the tip of the luminous body by integral molding or pasting. In the present invention, the irradiation axis of light means a direction axis when the light emitted from the light emitter is linearly irradiated from the windshield to the outside without diffusing.

Next, the operation of the self-luminous road sign (road stud) of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. During the daytime when the amount of solar radiation is large, the electromotive force collected by the solar cell 2 is charged into the storage battery 3, and when the surroundings become dark in the evening and the amount of solar radiation decreases, the electromotive force generated by the solar cell 2 decreases, and the voltage falls below a certain level. Then, the control circuit (not shown) supplies the electric power of the storage battery 3 to each of the light-emitting members 4 so that each of the light-emitting members 4 can be controlled to blink.

[0019]

The present invention will be described below with reference to examples. Example 1 A self-luminous road stud of the present invention is formed by molding a polycarbonate resin containing a reinforcing material such as glass fiber or calcium carbonate into the shape shown in FIG. Was left as a cavity, and the other portion was formed of an acrylic resin so as to cover the upper surface of the case 1 to produce a windshield 5. Next, at the tip of the hollow portion of the windshield 5,
A transparent film made of a transparent polycarbonate resin having a thickness of 0.13 mm and capable of controlling the light diffusion angle to 2.5 degrees in the vertical direction and 30 degrees in the horizontal direction to the light irradiation axis ( Diffusion film using surface release hologram manufactured by Hitachi Chemical Co., Ltd.) 6
Was bonded with a dicyanoacrylate instant adhesive.

The solar cell 2 uses a polycrystalline silicon solar cell, and is installed just below the center of a windshield 5 exposed on a road surface (GL) so that sunlight can be easily received.
That is, a storage battery 3 made of a small lead seal was installed at the bottom of the case 1. In addition, LED lamps were used as the light emitters 4, and four were inserted into the hollow part formed in the windshield 5 at right and left sides.
The self-luminous road stud thus obtained is electrically connected between the solar cell 2, the storage battery 3, the respective luminous bodies 4, and a control circuit (not shown).

Example 2 Instead of the translucent film made of polycarbonate resin used in Example 1, the light diffusion angles were 0.5 degrees in the vertical direction and 30 degrees in the horizontal direction with respect to the light irradiation axis. 0.26 mm thick transparent polycarbonate resin translucent film (Hitachi Chemical Industry Co., Ltd.)
A self-luminous road stud having the same structure as in Example 1 except that a diffusion film using a surface release hologram manufactured by Nippon Kayaku was used.

COMPARATIVE EXAMPLE 1 A self-luminous road stud having the same structure as that of Example 1 was obtained except that a translucent film made of a polycarbonate resin was not used.

Next, the self-luminous road studs obtained in Examples 1 and 2 and Comparative Example 1 were subjected to a luminance comparison test using the same luminous body. The result is shown in FIG. As shown in FIG. 3, the self-luminous road studs obtained in Examples 1 and 2 showed almost no decrease in brightness in the range from the front to the left and right in a range of up to 15 degrees. It can be seen that the luminance of the light-emitting road studs decreases rapidly except for the front.

In the embodiment of the present invention, the self-luminous road studs which are used by embedding them in the median strip of the road among those which clearly indicate the median strip, shoulders, corners, etc. of the road have been described. The same effect can be obtained with a self-luminous road sign.

[0025]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, the self-luminous road sign does not increase the number of bright spots, increase the light source, and adjust the luminous flux to a right or left angle even when the observer is not in front. It is radiated from the luminous body without installing the luminous body that it has, changing the position of the entire sign at an angle, or changing the angle of the light source row for curves and straight lines It is a self-luminous road sign that can be visually recognized with high brightness and is industrially extremely suitable.

The self-luminous road sign according to claim 2 is the same as the self-luminous road sign according to claim 1, particularly for a straight road,
This is a self-luminous road sign that is effective on ascending and descending roads and uneven roads. The self-luminous road sign according to claim 3 is particularly effective for the self-luminous road sign according to claim 1, particularly on a straight road, an up / down road, an uneven road, and a curved road. Is a self-luminous road sign. The self-luminous road sign according to the fourth aspect is the first or second aspect.
Or a self-luminous road sign excellent in durability in addition to the self-luminous road sign described in 3.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional front view of a self-luminous road sign (road stud) according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram showing a light diffusion angle at a road exposed portion of a self-luminous road sign (road stud) according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a graph showing a relationship between a light diffusion angle of light emitted from a light emitting body to the left and right with respect to an irradiation axis and luminance.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Case 2 Solar cell 3 Storage battery 4 Light-emitting body 5 Windshield 6 Translucent film 7 Irradiation axis 8 Light diffusion angle

Continued on the front page (72) Inventor Sadayuki Takeda 5-12-15 Namekawa Honmachi, Hitachi City, Ibaraki Prefecture F-term (reference) 2D064 AA02 AA03 AA22 BA05 BA13 CA03 EB05 EB35 GA02 GA03

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A case, a solar cell housed in the case, a storage battery charged by the solar cell, a light-emitting body that emits light, a control circuit for supplying power to the light-emitting body using the storage battery as a power supply, and covering these A self-luminous road sign having a windshield, wherein the self-luminous road sign includes a light-transmitting film that diffuses light to an extended portion of light emitted from a light emitter and controls a diffusion angle (a diffusion direction). 2. The self-luminous road sign according to claim 1, wherein the light diffusion angle is at most 5 degrees below and at most 10 degrees above the light irradiation axis. 3. The self-luminous road sign according to claim 1, wherein the light diffusion angle is a maximum of 5 degrees downward, a maximum of 10 degrees upward and a maximum of 30 degrees each in the left-right direction with respect to the light irradiation axis. 4. The self-luminous road sign according to claim 1, wherein the translucent film is provided between the windshield and the luminous body.