JP2001143501A - Signal lamp - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a signal lamp having excellent portability and operability and capable of being used for a long period of time and preventing a decrease in luminance during its use. SOLUTION: The signal lamp 1 for railway has nine two-colors LEDs of red and green and fours white LEDs as light emitting sources. These two-color LEDs and white color LEDs are packaged on a printed circuit board, a colorless transparent optical convex lens 6 made of synthetic resin is disposed in front of the printed circuit board in such a way that center positions of the respective LEDs and a focus of the lens 6 coincide with each other, and the respective LEDs are received within the face of the lens 6. A lithium ion battery 10 is detachably fitted on the lower portion of the backside of a case body 2a of the signal lamp 1. Further, a seesaw-type power supply switch 7 is provide on the upper portion of the left side of the case body 2a, and a slide-type indication color-converting switch 8 is provided on the upper portion of the right side of the case body 2a. Besides, an LED 11 for checking a degree of consumption of the battery 10 is installed in the vicinity of the power supply switch 7 on the backside of the case body 2a.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a signal light, and more particularly, to a signal light used in railways.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a signaling light used by a liaison member (a signaling person) is used to communicate a railway signal specified in a railway. When using this signal light, the irradiation light (display light) emitted from the signal light is divided into three colors of white, red and green (blue) according to the railway signal to be communicated.
In addition to switching to the color, the communicator performs a motion such as raising the signaling light up, swinging up, down, left and right, thereby transmitting the will of the communicator to the other party (driver, conductor, worker, etc.).

[0003]

The signal lights currently used by the present applicant were developed during the old JNR era,
It has many problems, such as: (1) Since an incandescent light bulb is used as a light source, both power consumption and heat generation are large. In addition, rechargeable nickel cadmium batteries are used as a power source for incandescent light bulbs. However, since incandescent light bulbs consume large amounts of power, the batteries are quickly consumed and the illuminance decreases after a short period of use (about 2 hours). Become impossible.

[0004] (2) Since the signal lamp does not have a function of detecting the degree of consumption of the battery, the degree of consumption cannot be determined, and the illuminance may decrease during use. As a supplement when the battery is exhausted, a spare lamp in which a red synthetic resin filter lens is arranged in front of a separately provided incandescent lamp is added.

(3) When irradiating red light or green (blue) light from a signaling lamp, a red or green (blue) synthetic resin filter lens is switched and arranged in front of an incandescent lamp. Therefore, a synthetic resin filter lens of two colors, red and green, and a mechanism for moving and switching the synthetic resin filter lens in front of the incandescent lamp are required.

(4) According to the above (1) to (3), a signal lamp housing for accommodating a large number of constituent members (two incandescent lamps, two-color synthetic resin filter lenses, a switching mechanism thereof, batteries, etc.). Since the external dimensions of the body are large and the weight of each component is large, it is necessary to make the housing a steel plate in order to ensure sufficient strength. In addition, to make it easier for liaisons to raise,
It is necessary to provide a large handle for the signal light. for that reason,
The overall dimensions of the signal light including the handle become very large (height: 190 mm x width: 90 mm x depth: 100 m)
m) and its weight is also large (about 900 g),
The portability and operability become very poor.

(5) Since the power switch of the signal light is provided on the rear side of the housing, the signal light must be handled with both hands when the power switch is turned on and off. (6) Since the display color switch for switching the color (display color) of the irradiation light is provided near the handle, the display color switch may be erroneously operated depending on how the handle is held.

An object of the present invention is to provide a signaling lamp capable of solving the above-mentioned problems.

[0009]

Means for Solving the Problems and Effects of the Invention According to the first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a semiconductor light emitting device or an electric field source as a light emitting source provided for each set display color. A light-emitting element, a battery as a power supply for energizing the light-emitting element to emit light, and a display color for selecting a light-emitting element of a desired display color from the light-emitting elements and energizing the selected light-emitting element from the battery The gist of the present invention is a signal light provided with a selection means.

Therefore, according to the first aspect of the present invention,
By using a semiconductor light emitting element or an electroluminescent element which is small, lightweight, hardly generates heat, has low power consumption, and has high illuminance (brightness) as a light emitting source, both the power consumption and the amount of heat generated by the signaling lamp can be reduced. Further, since the semiconductor light emitting element or the electroluminescent element has a semi-permanent life, it is not necessary to replace an incandescent lamp as a light emitting source as in a conventional signal lamp. The power consumption of the semiconductor light emitting element or the electroluminescent element is small, so that the consumption of the battery is slowed down and the battery can be used continuously for a long period of time. Further, since the semiconductor light emitting element or the electroluminescent element is small and lightweight, the entire signal light can be reduced in size and weight to improve portability and operability.

Next, a second aspect of the present invention is the first aspect.
The gist of the present invention is that the signal light includes an optical lens disposed in front of the light emitting element. Therefore,
According to the invention described in claim 2, the irradiation light from the light emitting element is collimated or diffused or focused by the optical lens,
By irradiating the illuminating light efficiently from the signaling light, the visibility of the signaling light can be improved, and the intention of the contact person can be reliably transmitted to the contact person.

Next, a third aspect of the present invention is the second aspect.
Wherein the light emitting element is provided in plurality for each display color, each light emitting element is arranged in a predetermined shape, and the center position of each arranged light emitting element coincides with the focal point of the optical lens. In addition, the gist is that each light-emitting element is accommodated in the plane of the optical lens.

Therefore, according to the third aspect of the present invention,
The effect of the invention according to claim 2 is further enhanced because the center position of each of the arranged light emitting elements coincides with the focal point of the optical lens and each light emitting element is contained in the plane of the optical lens. Can be. Next, according to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the signaling lamp according to any one of the first to third aspects, a battery consumption level detecting unit for detecting the battery consumption level is provided. I do.

Therefore, according to the invention described in claim 4,
The contact person (signaler) who uses the signal light can take appropriate measures such as replacing the battery according to the detection result of the battery consumption level detection means. It can be prevented beforehand. Therefore, it is not necessary to add a spare light as in the conventional signal light, and it is possible to further reduce the size and weight of the signal light.

[0015] It should be noted that the constituent elements described in the above [Claims] and [Means for Solving the Problems and Effects of the Invention] and the constituent members described in [Embodiments of the Invention] will be described later. The correspondence is as follows.
“Display color selection means” corresponds to the display color switch 8.

"Battery consumption level detecting means" corresponds to the light emitting diode 11 for battery power level checking.

[0017]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS One embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1A is a plan view, FIG. 1B is a front view, and FIG.
1C shows a left side view, FIG. 1D shows a right side view, and FIG. 2 shows a rear view.

The housing 2 of the signal light 1 has a shallow box-shaped housing body 2a having an open front surface, and a U-shaped cross section which is provided over the open front surface of the housing body 2a. And a front panel 2b. Both the housing body 2a and the front panel 2b are formed by bending or pressing an aluminum plate. Then, the bent upper and lower ends of the front panel 2b and the housing body 2a are screwed with two male screws 3, respectively, so that the housing body 2a and the front panel 2b are integrated.

A mounting bracket 4 is engaged with one of the two male screws 3 screwed to the upper part of the signal light 1, and a rectangular ring-shaped portable ring 5 is movably fitted to the mounting bracket 4. Have been combined. At approximately the center of the front panel 2b, a colorless and transparent circular synthetic resin optical convex lens 6 is projected.

A seesaw power switch 7 is provided on the upper left side of the housing body 2a. In addition, a slide-type display color switch 8 is provided on the upper right side of the housing body 2a. A portable clip (hook) 9 is provided at the upper center on the back side of the housing body 2a. A rechargeable lithium-ion battery 10 for powering the signaling light 1 is detachably attached to a lower portion on the back side of the housing body 2a. A light emitting diode (LED) 11 for checking the degree of battery consumption (battery check) of the rechargeable lithium-ion battery 10 is provided near the power switch 7 on the back side of the housing body 2a.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged view of a main part of the front panel 2b and the lens 6. A printed circuit board 12 is housed in the housing body 2a of the signaling lamp 1, and the printed circuit board 1
2 is arranged in parallel with the front panel 2b. The printed circuit board 12 has nine red-green (blue) two-color light-emitting diodes (LEDs) 13 and nine white light-emitting diodes (L
ED) 14 are mounted, and a total of 13 LEDs 13 and 14 are mounted. On the printed circuit board 12, the two-color LEDs 13 are arranged so as to fit in a substantially square frame at equal intervals of three rows and three rows, and the white LED 14 is a two-color LED 1.
They are arranged so as to fit in a substantially square frame at equal intervals in a gap of 3. Then, a printed circuit is provided to the lens 6 such that the center position of each of the LEDs 13 and 14 arranged in the substantially square frame coincides with the focal point F of the lens 6 and the LEDs 13 and 14 are accommodated in the plane of the lens 6. Substrate 12
Is arranged. Therefore, when each of the LEDs 13 and 14 is turned on, the light is converted into parallel light by the lens 6 and is efficiently illuminated with high illuminance, so that the visibility of the signaling lamp can be improved. The will of the contact person can be reliably transmitted to the other party.

The shape of the lens 6 is appropriately changed (for example,
By making a concave lens, etc.).
Irradiation light from the EDs 13 and 14 may be diffused or focused. FIG. 4 is an electric circuit diagram of the signaling lamp 1.

A red LED 1 is provided inside the two-color LED 13.
3r and a green (blue) LED 13g are connected in series in a forward direction and are built-in.
The cathode of the ED 13g and the cathode of the red LED 13r (the anode of the green LED 13g) are respectively connected to lead wires and led out.

The battery consumption check LED 11 is the same standard product as the two-color LED 13 and has a red LE inside.
D11r and a green (blue) LED 11g are connected in series in a forward direction and are built therein. I have.

The display color changeover switch 8 comprises two switches 8a and 8b having three contacts.
The aa, 8ab, and 8ac are switched corresponding to the respective contacts 8ba, 8bb, and 8bc of the switch 8b. The plus terminal of the rechargeable lithium-ion battery 10 is connected via a power switch 7 to the anode of the red LED 11r of the LED 11 for battery consumption check and to the switch 8b. The negative terminal of the rechargeable lithium-ion battery 10 has a battery consumption check L
The cathode of the green LED 11g of the ED 11 and the switch 8
a. LE for battery consumption check
D11 red LED11r cathode (green LED11r)
g) is floating.

The nine two-color LEDs 13 are connected in parallel. The anode of each red LED 13r is connected to the contact 8bc of the switch 8b, and the cathode of each green LED 13g is connected to the contact 8aa of the switch 8a.
The cathode of each red LED 13r (each green LED 1r)
3g is connected to the contact 8ac of the switch 8a via the Zener diode 15 connected in the reverse direction, and is connected to the contact 8b of the switch 8b via the resistor 16.
a.

The four white LEDs 14 are connected in parallel, the anode is connected to the contact 8bb of the switch 8b, and the cathode is connected to the contact 8ab of the switch 8a. The LEDs 11r, 11g, 13r, 13g, 1
The rating of 4 is anode-cathode terminal voltage: 2.2
V, current between anode and cathode terminals: 20 mmA. The Zener diode 15 has a breakdown voltage of 2.2.
V and the resistor 16 is 3Ω. The rechargeable lithium-ion battery 10 is obtained by diverting a commercially available mobile phone, and has a rated voltage of 3.6 V and a rated current of 600.
mmA.

Next, the display color switching operation of the signal light 1 configured as described above will be described. To turn on the beacon light 1 to emit any one of white, red, and green irradiation light, first, the power switch 7 is turned on.

When the display color of the signal light 1 is switched to white (when the white light is emitted from the signal light 1),
The slide position of the display color changeover switch 8 is set to a predetermined position (for example, an intermediate position), and the switch 8a is connected to the contact 8ab, and the switch 8b is connected to the contact 8bb. Then, power is supplied to the white LEDs 14 connected in parallel from the rechargeable lithium-ion battery 10, and the white LEDs 14 are turned on.

When the display color of the signaling light 1 is switched to red (when red light is emitted from the signaling light 1), the slide position of the display color switch 8 is set to a predetermined position (for example, a lower position). , Switch 8a is connected to contact 8ac, and switch 8b is connected to contact 8bc. Then, the red LEDs 13 r connected in parallel from the rechargeable lithium-ion battery 10 via the zener diode 15 connected in the reverse direction are respectively energized, and the red L
The ED 13r lights up.

When the display color of the signal light 1 is switched to green (when green light is emitted from the signal light 1), the slide position of the display color switch 8 is set to a predetermined position (for example, an upper position). The switch 8a is connected to the contact 8aa, and the switch 8b is connected to the contact 8ba. Then, power is supplied from the rechargeable lithium-ion battery 10 to the green LEDs 13g connected in parallel via the resistor 16, and the green LEDs 13g are turned on.

The reason why the zener diode 15 is provided is to prevent a voltage (overvoltage) higher than the rated voltage from being applied to the red LED 13r and to prevent a failure. The reason for providing the resistor 16 is to prevent the battery 16 of the rechargeable lithium-ion battery 10 from being damaged by applying a voltage higher than the rated voltage to the green LED 13g by lowering the battery voltage of the rechargeable lithium-ion battery 10 with the resistor 16. is there. By the way, resistor 16
Is provided, the rechargeable lithium-ion battery 10 is quickly consumed due to power consumption by the resistor 16, so that the green L
When protecting ED13g from overvoltage, red LED1
Similar to 3r, it is preferable to use a Zener diode that consumes almost no power. However, commercially available green LE
Since the D13g lights at a higher voltage than the red LED 13r, normal green light cannot be obtained from the green LED 13g when a standard Zener diode 15 having a breakdown voltage of 2.2V is used. Therefore, in the present embodiment, the resistor 1 is inevitably provided for overvoltage protection of the green LED 13g.
6 is used, but if a Zener diode having an optimum breakdown voltage can be obtained, a Zener diode may be used also for overvoltage protection of the green LED 13g.

Next, the operation of checking the battery consumption of the signaling lamp 1 will be described. When the power switch 7 is turned on, a rechargeable lithium-ion battery 10
Electric power is supplied to the LEDs 11r and 11g of the ED 11.
At this time, if the rechargeable lithium-ion battery 10 is fully charged and has not been exhausted at all, both the LEDs 11r and 11g are turned on.

Further, when the rechargeable lithium-ion battery 10 in the fully charged state is mounted, each LED 13
When one of r, 13g, and 14 is turned on and the signal light 1 is continuously used, the green LED is used after approximately 3.5 hours of continuous use.
11g goes out and only the red LED 11r goes on, about 4
Both LEDs 11r and 11g are turned off by continuous use of time.

Here, immediately after both the LEDs 11r, 11g are turned off, the LEDs 13r, 13g, 14
Is turned on with sufficient illuminance, so that the signal light 1 can be used continuously. Then, approximately two hours after the LEDs 11r and 11g are both turned off, the LEDs 13r and 1g are turned off.
The illuminance of 3g, 14 drops, and the signal light 1 becomes unusable.

As described above, according to the signal light 1 of the present embodiment, the following operations and effects can be obtained. [1] Since the LEDs 13 and 14 which are small and light, emit little heat, consume little power, and have high illuminance (brightness) are used as light emitting sources, both the power consumption and the amount of heat generated by the signaling lamp 1 can be reduced. Further, since the LEDs 13 and 14 have a semi-permanent life, there is no need to replace the incandescent lamp as a light emitting source as in a conventional signal lamp.

Further, a small and lightweight rechargeable lithium-ion battery 10 commercially available for mobile phones is used as a power source, and replacement of the rechargeable lithium-ion battery 10 is simpler and easier than the back side of the housing body 2a. It can be carried out. Since the power consumption of the LEDs 13 and 14 is small, the consumption of the rechargeable lithium-ion battery 10 is delayed, and continuous use for a long time (6 hours or more) becomes possible. Therefore, the labor required for replacing the rechargeable lithium-ion battery 10 can be saved.

[2] Battery Depletion Check LED 11 for Detecting Depletion of Rechargeable Lithium-Ion Battery 10
Is provided on the back side of the housing body 2a. Therefore, the liaison person (signaler) who uses the signal light 1 is the LED 11
It is possible to determine the degree of consumption of the rechargeable lithium-ion battery 10 step by step by simply visually checking the lighting / off states of the r and 11 g. Therefore, for example, if the blue LED 11g is turned off, the signal light 1 is used while paying attention to the
If both r and 11g are turned off, the rechargeable lithium-ion battery 10 can be promptly replaced, so that appropriate measures can be taken, such as preventing the illuminance from dropping during use of the signal light 1. can do.

Therefore, according to the present embodiment, it is not necessary to add a spare light as in the conventional signal light. [3] The switching of the display color is performed by selectively switching the lighting of the red / green two-color LED 13 and the white LED 14 by switching the wiring with the display color switch 7 as described above. Therefore, according to the present embodiment, a large and heavy component such as a conventional signaling light (a synthetic resin filter lens of two colors of red and green, and the synthetic resin filter lens is movable in front of the incandescent lamp) And a mechanism for switching between them) becomes unnecessary.

[4] Due to the above [1] to [3], the external dimensions of the housing 2 of the signaling lamp 1 are reduced, and the constituent members 3 to 1
Since the weight of the housing 6 is also small, the housing 2 can be made of a lightweight aluminum plate. Further, since the housing 2 is small and lightweight, there is no need to provide a handle as in a conventional signal lamp. Therefore, the external dimensions of the signal light 1 are extremely small (height: 120 mm × width: 90 mm × depth:
35mm) and its weight is small (about 160g), so it is possible to put it in the breast pocket of the contact person,
Portability and operability can be greatly improved.

[5] A seesaw power switch 7 is provided on the upper left side of the housing 2, and a slide-type display color changeover switch 8 is provided on the upper right side of the housing 2. Therefore, according to the present embodiment, since the display color changeover switch is not provided near the handle unlike the conventional signal light, the erroneous operation of the display color changeover switch 8 can be avoided. Further, while holding the housing 2 with the right hand, the power switch 7 can be operated with the right index finger or the middle finger, and the display color changeover switch 8 can be operated with the right thumb, and the signal light 1 is handled with one hand. be able to.

[6] It is possible to pass a string (not shown) or attach a key holder (not shown) to the portable ring 5, and a contact person can hang the string on the neck or attach the key holder to a belt or the like. By doing so, the signaling light 1 can be easily carried. In addition, the signal light 1 can be easily carried by hooking the portable clip 9 on a breast pocket or a belt.

The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, but may be modified as follows. Even in such a case, an operation or effect equivalent to or higher than that of the above-described embodiment can be obtained. . (1) Although the rechargeable lithium-ion battery 10 is used in the above embodiment, any type of battery (for example, a rechargeable nickel metal hydride battery, a rechargeable nickel cadmium battery, , Alkaline batteries, etc.).

(2) In the above embodiment, the housing 2 is formed by bending or pressing an aluminum plate. However, if it is possible to reduce the weight, bending or pressing of various light alloys or pressing of various types can be performed. The housing 2 may be formed by injection molding of a light alloy or a synthetic resin. In that case, the housing 2 may be formed in a shape that is easy for a contact person to grasp.

(3) In the above embodiment, an LED is used as a light emitting source.
Although 13 and 14 are used, another semiconductor light emitting element (for example, a semiconductor laser diode or the like) or an electroluminescence (EL: Electro Luminescence) element may be used as a light emitting source. (4) In the above embodiment, the two-color LED 13 is used, but a red monochromatic LED and a green monochromatic LED may be used in combination.

(5) In the above embodiment, each of the LEDs 13 and 14
Are arranged as shown in FIG. 3, but if sufficient illuminance can be obtained, the number and arrangement of the LEDs 13, 14 may be changed as appropriate. In addition, even in that case, each LED 1
It is necessary to make the center positions of the lenses 3 and 14 coincide with the focal point F of the lens 6 and to put the LEDs 13 and 14 in the plane of the lens 6. At this time, if the positions of the LEDs 13 and 14 can be reliably set, the LEDs 13 and 14 need not be mounted on the printed circuit board 12.

(6) In the above embodiment, the colorless and transparent circular synthetic resin convex lens 6 is used. However, if sufficient illuminance and a required display color can be obtained, a colored lens or a glass lens may be used. , May be formed in an appropriate shape other than a circle. (7) In the above embodiment, the seesaw type power switch 7 and the slide type display color changeover switch 8 are used, and the switches 7 and 8 are arranged on the upper left and right side surfaces of the housing 2. If possible, each of the switches 7 and 8 may be replaced with another type of switch such as a push switch, and the mounting location may be changed as appropriate.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1A is a plan view, FIG. 1B is a front view, and FIG. 1 is a signal light according to an embodiment of the present invention.
(C) is a left side view, and FIG. 1 (d) is a right side view.

FIG. 2 is a rear view of the signal light according to the embodiment;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged view of a main part of the signal light according to the embodiment.

FIG. 4 is an electric circuit diagram of a signal light according to one embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Signal light 2 ... Housing 2a ... Housing body 2b ...
Front panel 3 ... Male screw 4 ... Mounting bracket 5 ... Portable ring
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 6 ... Lens 7 ... Power switch 8, 8a, 8b ... Display color changeover switch 8aa, 8ab, 8ac, 8ba, 8bb, 8bc ... Contact point 9 ... Portable clip 10 ... Rechargeable lithium ion battery 11 ... LED for battery consumption check DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 12 ... Printed circuit board 13 ... Two-color LED 11g, 13g ... Green LED 11r, 13r ... Red LED 14 ... White LED 15 ... Zener diode 16 ... Resistor

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continuing on the front page (72) Inventor Koichi Fujiwara 1-4-1 Meiji Station, Nakamura-ku, Nagoya City, Aichi Prefecture Inside Tokai Railway Company (72) Inventor Seiji Hitomi Meiji Station, Nakamura-ku, Nagoya City, Aichi Prefecture 1-4-1 Tokai Passenger Railway Co., Ltd.

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A semiconductor light emitting element or an electroluminescent element as a light emitting source provided for each set display color, a battery as a power supply for energizing the light emitting element to emit light, and a desired one of the light emitting elements Select the light emitting element of the display color,
A signal color selecting means for energizing the selected light emitting element from the battery. 2. The signal light according to claim 1, further comprising an optical lens disposed in front of said light emitting element. 3. The signal light according to claim 2, wherein a plurality of the light-emitting elements are provided for each display color, each light-emitting element is arranged in a predetermined shape, and a center position of each of the arranged light-emitting elements. While the focus of the optical lens matches,
A signaling lamp, wherein each light emitting element is accommodated in a plane of the optical lens. 4. The signaling lamp according to claim 1, further comprising a battery consumption level detecting means for detecting the battery consumption level.