JP2001307530A - Surface emitting device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a surface emitting device that emits light uniformly without a dark spot between units, even when plural surface emitting units are arranged side by side. SOLUTION: This surface emitting device comprises a transparent plate 4, a pair of rod-like lamps 5 arranged at the end sides of the plate 4 along the ends and reflectors 6 that cover the lamps and reflect light of the lamps toward the ends of the transparent plate 4 and transmit light partially. Then, this surface emitting device comprises plural surface emitting unit 3, which are arranged adjacent to each other in the same plane approximately, and prisms 7 arranged in the length direction of the lamps so as to lay across two transparent plates 4 and straddling the lamps 5.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an edge light type surface light emitting device used for a backlight of an illuminated signboard or the like.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In a surface light emitting device of this type, a rod-shaped lamp is provided on an end face side of a transparent plate so as to be along the end face, and light from the lamp is made incident on the end face of the transparent plate and emitted from the plate face of the transparent plate. Things. The edge light type surface light emitting device can be made thinner than a direct type surface light emitting device in which a plurality of fluorescent lamps are arranged in a case having a translucent front panel, and the light of the fluorescent lamps is parallel lines. It does not appear as a lamp-shaped image.

[0003]

However, in order to manufacture a surface emitting device having a large area, it is necessary to use a lamp having a large luminance and increase the thickness of the transparent plate. It is difficult to illuminate the area uniformly, and there is a limit to practical use in terms of the burden of weight increase and cost.

Therefore, as shown in FIG. 4, it has been proposed to arrange a plurality of surface light-emitting units (3) formed of a combination of a transparent plate (4) and a rod-shaped lamp (5) in the same plane. . In this case, the reflector (6) which covers each lamp (5) and concentrates the light of the lamp on the end face of the transparent plate (4) is formed of resin so as to transmit a part of the light.
Although a translucent base plate (2) is covered with an interval from (3), the area between adjacent surface light-emitting units (3) becomes dark like a band, and it is still impossible to illuminate a large surface uniformly. Seldom used for practical use.

The present invention discloses a surface emitting device capable of emitting light as uniformly as possible over a large area.

[0006]

A surface light emitting device according to the present invention is provided between two transparent plates (4) and (4) disposed close to each other in substantially the same plane so as to extend along the end face of the transparent plate (4). A rod-shaped lamp (5) is provided, and the light of the lamp (5) is made incident on the end face of the transparent plate (4) to make the transparent plate.
In the surface light emitting device that emits light from the plate surface of (4) and illuminates the translucent base plate (2) covered by the transparent plates (4) and (4), the two transparent plates (4) and (4) straddle the lamp. A prism body (7) is provided along the longitudinal direction of the lamp (5), and at least one of the entrance surface and the exit surface of the prism body (7) has a fine uneven surface for irregularly reflecting light. It has become.

A rod-shaped lamp (5) is provided on the end face side of the transparent plate (4) along the end face, and a reflector (6) for directing the light of the lamp to the end face of the transparent plate (4) with respect to the lamp. Surface light emitting units (3) and (3) covered by
A prism body (7) may be provided along the longitudinal direction of the lamp across the transparent plates (4) and (4) across the lamp (5).

A transparent strip-shaped light collector (8) is provided between the reflectors (6) (6) of the adjacent surface light-emitting units (3) (3) along the lamp, and the light collector (8) is provided. A reflector (9) for reflecting light from the light collector (8) toward the prism (7) may be provided at a position opposite to the prism (7).

[0009]

[Operation and Effect] Light transmitted through the reflector (6) and the transparent plate (4) enters the prism body (7), is collected, and is repeatedly reflected in the prism body (7) and emitted. The brightness of the light emitted from the prism body (7) and the light emitted from the emission surfaces of the transparent plates (4) and (4) are comparable to those of the transparent plates (4) and (4). The base plate (2) can be substantially uniformly illuminated. At least one of the entrance side and the exit side of the prism body (7) is a fine uneven surface that diffusely reflects light, so that the prism body (7) is linear in comparison with other parts. It can be prevented from shining brightly.

[0010]

FIG. 1 shows a state in which the present invention is applied to a backlight of an illuminated signboard. A plurality of, in this embodiment, three surface emitting units (3) are provided in a frame (1). ) (3) (3) are arranged close to each other in substantially the same plane.

A translucent base plate (2) is fitted into the opening surface of the transparent plate (4). The base plate (2) plays a role of concealing the existence of the surface light emitting unit (3) from the outside and irregularly reflecting the light from the surface light emitting unit (3) and emitting the light to the outside. (Matte-finished) milky synthetic resin semi-transparent plaque plate.

Each surface light-emitting unit (3) is a rectangular transparent plate.
At both end surfaces along the longitudinal direction of (4), a bar-shaped lamp (5) is provided along the end surface, and as shown in FIG.
A reflector (6) is attached to both sides of the transparent plate (4) in the longitudinal direction surrounding the (5) (the reflector is omitted in FIG. 1).

The transparent plate (4) is made of a highly transparent resin such as an acrylic resin in order to reduce the weight, and the end surface on the lamp (5) side and the exit surface (41) on the base plate (2) side are formed. It is mirror finished.

On the surface of the transparent plate 4 opposite to the exit surface 41, as is well known, fine grooves whose groove depth and groove width gradually differ by gradation printing (dot printing) or laser. The light reflecting sheet (43) is applied, and the light incident from the end face is emitted almost uniformly from the emission surface (41) regardless of the distance from the lamp (5). Can be.

The reflector (6) is formed of a synthetic resin and functions to concentrate most of the light from the lamp (5) on the end face of the transparent plate (4) and to transmit a part of the light through the reflector (6). Make

Between the reflectors (6) and (6) of the adjacent surface emitting units (3) and (3), a strip-shaped light collector (8) having a rectangular cross section is interposed along the lamp (5). The right-angle prism body (7) extends across both the transparent plates (4) and (4) across the lamps (5) and (5) and the light collector (8), and the ridge line (71) on the right-angle side becomes the base plate (2). Lamp towards the side
It is provided along the longitudinal direction of (5).

The prism body (7) is a transparent or almost transparent semi-transparent body, and the width of the bottom surface (72) on the side of the surface light emitting unit (3) is equal to the distance between the adjacent transparent plates (4) and (4). Greater than L1,
The light emitted from the reflecting surface (41) of the transparent plate (4) and the reflector (6)
Can be made to enter the prism body (7).

In the embodiment, the bottom surface of the prism body (7) is large enough to completely cover the reflectors (6) and (6) and protrude from the transparent plate (4). The exit surfaces (72) and (72) on both sides of the (7) ridge line (71) of the prism body are irregular surfaces having fine irregularities (satin finish) so as to diffusely reflect light.

The prism (7) side edge of the light collector (8) is fitted into a groove (74) formed on the bottom surface of the prism (7). On the side edge opposite to the above, a reflection plate (9) for blocking light emission from the side edge to the outside is provided with a transparent plate (4).
And are provided in parallel.

Devices such as an inverter (not shown) required for the configuration of the surface light emitting device can be provided in the space between the bottom plate (11) of the frame (1) and the surface light emitting unit (3). No.

However, the light of the lamp (5) is directly or reflected by the reflector (6) and enters from the end face of the transparent plate (4), and the brightness of the light from the exit surface (41) of the transparent plate (4) is increased. It is emitted without spots.

Part of the light of the lamp (5) is a reflector
After passing through (6), it is incident on the prism body (7).
The prism body enters from (8) and is prismed from the end face on the prism body (7) side.
(7). Further, light is incident on the both side edges in the longitudinal direction of the bottom surface (72) of the prism body (7) either directly from the emission surface (41) of the transparent plate (4) or through the reflector (6).

The light that has entered the prism body (7) is repeatedly reflected in the prism body (7) and is emitted, whereby the light emitted from the prism body (7) and the transparent plate (4) are emitted.
The brightness of the light emitted from the emission surface of (4) is comparable to that of the surface plate.
The wide base plate (2) straddling (3), (3) and (3)) appears to shine almost uniformly.

The exit surfaces (73) and (73) of the prism body (7) are minute uneven surfaces that diffusely reflect light, so that the prism body (7) is linearly brighter than other parts. It can be prevented from shining. By attaching a translucent film (21) to the back surface of the base plate (2) at a position corresponding to the prism body (7), the base plate (2) does not feel the shadow difference more.

FIG. 3 shows another embodiment of the present invention. A lamp is placed between adjacent transparent plates (4) (4) in substantially the same plane.
(5) is arranged along the end face of the transparent plate (4), and the lamp is
A strip-shaped reflector (6) is provided along the longitudinal direction of the lamp (5) across the transparent plates (4) and (4) across the (5), and the reflector (6) is provided for the lamp (5). Lamp on the other side of the (5)
The transparent plate (4) is replaced with a strip-shaped reflector (9) that totally reflects the light of
Deployed across (4).

The bottom surface of the right-angle prism body (7) is placed on the reflector (6).

The light of the lamp (5) is reflected directly on the reflector (6) or the reflector (9), enters the end face of the transparent plate (4), and emerges from the exit surface (41).

A part of the light of the lamp (5) is reflected by the reflector (6).
Passes through and enters the prism body (7).
Light is incident on the both side edges in the longitudinal direction of the bottom surface of (7) from the emission surface (41) of the transparent plate (4) directly or through the reflector (6). Thus, in the same manner as described above, the brightness of the light emitted from the prism body (7) and the brightness of the light emitted from the emission surfaces of the transparent plates (4) and (4) are comparable.

In implementing the present invention, the prism body (7)
The cross-sectional shape is not limited as long as the above-mentioned effects can be obtained, but it is desirable that the ridge line (71) on the side of the base plate (2) is narrower so as to be linear as shown in the drawing, If it becomes planar, this part becomes too bright.

In the above embodiment, the projections (73) and (73) of the prism body have fine projections and depressions. However, only the bottom (72), which is the entrance, or the bottom (72) is formed. It is also possible to provide fine irregularities on both surfaces of the light emitting surface (73).

The present invention is not limited to the configuration of the above embodiment, and various modifications can be made within the scope of the claims.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a front view showing an arrangement state of a plurality of surface light emitting units.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken along the line AA of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view showing another embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a sectional view of a conventional example.

[Explanation of symbols]

 (2) Base plate (3) Surface emitting unit (4) Transparent plate (5) Rod lamp (6) Reflector (7) Prism body (8) Condenser

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁷ Identification symbol FI Theme court ゛ (Reference) // F21Y 103: 00 F21Y 103: 00

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A rod-shaped lamp (5) is provided between two transparent plates (4) arranged close to each other in substantially the same plane along the end face of the transparent plate (4). The light of (5) is made incident on the end face of the transparent plate (4) and emitted from the plate surface of the transparent plate (4).
(4) In a surface light emitting device for illuminating a translucent base plate (2) covered by (4), a prism body (7) is straddled across both transparent plates (4) and (4) across a lamp and a lamp (5). A surface emitting device characterized in that at least one of the entrance surface and the exit surface of the prism body (7) is a fine uneven surface for irregularly reflecting light. . 2. A rod-shaped lamp (5) is provided on the end face side of the transparent plate (4) along the end face, and the light of the lamp is directed toward the end face of the transparent plate (4) with respect to the lamp. A surface light-emitting unit (3) is configured by covering with a reflector (6) that transmits light, and a plurality of surface light-emitting units (3) and (3) are arranged adjacently in substantially the same plane, and straddle the lamp (5). The surface emitting device according to claim 1, wherein a prism body (7) is provided along the two transparent plates (4) along the longitudinal direction of the lamp. 3. A transparent strip-shaped light collector (8) is provided between reflectors (6) (6) of adjacent surface light-emitting units (3) (3) along a lamp, 3. The surface light emitting device according to claim 2, wherein a reflector (9) for reflecting light from the light collector (8) toward the prism (7) is provided at a position opposite to the prism (7).