JP2002352615A - Cold-cathode lamp unit and surface light emitting panel - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To make a cold-cathode lamp replaceable in a surface light emitting panel made by combining a thin tube cold-cathode lamp and a surface light emitting panel. SOLUTION: The thin tube cold-cathode lamp 31 is housed in a protecting container 5 having an opening or a transmissive wall 54 formed on one surface in the length direction and having the strength capable of protecting the cold- cathode lamp 32 from the shock during transportation, a reflecting means 33 for concentrating the light of the cold-cathode lamp 31 on the opening or the transmissive wall is installed in the protecting container 5, and the protecting container 5 is fit to the end surface of a plate-shaped surface light emitting panel 2 so that the cold-cathode lamp is replaceable.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a surface-emitting panel which emits light from a thin tubular cold-cathode lamp to a plate surface of a plate-like panel body, and which comprises a cold-cathode lamp unit and / or a plurality of cold-cathode lamp units A cold cathode lamp unit in which the cold cathode lamps are elongated in the longitudinal direction.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art As shown in FIG. 6, a conventional surface light-emitting panel has a cold cathode lamp (31) (31) facing both end surfaces of a plate-shaped surface light-emitting panel body (2). 31) is provided, covered with a synthetic resin reflector (32), and the reflector (32) is attached to the surface light emitting panel main body (2) with adhesive tapes (4) and (4).

[0003] On the surface of the panel body (21) opposite to the emission surface (20), gradation printing (halftone printing) or a fine groove row (21) having gradually different groove depths and groove widths is formed by a laser. , And a reflective film (22) is attached thereon. Gradient printing (dot printing) or groove array (21)
Is for making the light emission of the surface light emitting panel main body (2) as uniform as possible regardless of the distance from the cold cathode lamp (31).

[0004] The life of the cold cathode lamp (31) is 20,000 to 5
0000 hours, which is much longer than fluorescent light,
The cold-cathode lamp (31) has a length corresponding to the size of the surface-emitting panel body (2).
Even if the life of (31) expires, there is no idea to replace the cold cathode lamp (31), and the entire surface light emitting panel (1) including the surface light emitting panel main body (2) is replaced. However, the large surface-emitting panel main body (2) is expensive in material itself, and the gradation printing or groove array processing is expensive and expensive.

Further, since the cold cathode lamp (31) is covered only by a reflector having a low intensity which is not intended to protect the lamp (31) for the purpose of condensing light, the surface emitting panel During the transportation of (1), there was often a problem that the cold cathode lamp (31) was damaged by an impact during use. Further, since the cold cathode lamp (31) is a thin tube, there is a technical limit to the length that can be manufactured. To accommodate the large panel body (2), a plurality of cold cathode lamps (31) must be long. In this case, the adjacent cold cathode lamps (31) and (31) cannot be connected without gaps, and the ends of the cold cathode lamps (31) are used to attach electrodes. There is a problem that a non-light-emitting portion is formed, and a dark place is generated between the adjacent lamps, and this is reflected on the surface light-emitting panel main body (2) and hinders uniformity of the surface light emission. The present invention is to clarify a cold-cathode lamp unit and a surface-emitting panel that can solve the above problems.

[0006]

According to the cold cathode lamp unit of the present invention, one surface along the longitudinal direction has an opening (50) or a transparent wall (54).
The protection rod (5) having a strength capable of protecting the cold-cathode lamp (31) from impact during transportation is formed by a thin tubular cold-cathode lamp (3).
1), and the protection rod (5) is provided with a reflection means (3) for concentrating the light of the cold cathode lamp (31) on the opening (50) or the transparent wall (54).
3), and can be exchangeably attached to the end face of the plate-shaped surface light-emitting panel body (2).

The cold-cathode lamp unit of the present invention is arranged such that a plurality of thin tubular cold-cathode lamps (31) (31) are adjacent in the longitudinal direction and the ends of the adjacent cold-cathode lamps overlap. Have been.

[0008]

[Operation and effect] The cold cathode lamp (31) is housed in a protection rod (5) and is unitized, and the protection rod (5) is a cold cathode lamp.
(31) has the strength to protect it from impact during transportation,
The cold cathode lamp (31) can be prevented from being damaged during transportation. If the cold cathode lamp (31) is damaged by an unexpectedly large impact, or if the life of the cold cathode lamp (31) expires, only the cold cathode lamp unit (3) can be replaced, which is economical, and the surface emitting panel body The problem of garbage disposal caused by discarding (2) can be reduced.

If a plurality of cold cathode lamps (31) and (31) are arranged in the length direction such that their ends overlap, the length of the lamp unit can be arbitrarily determined by adjusting the overlap length L. it can. The overlapping part of the cold cathode lamps (31) and (31) is brighter than other parts,
By the gradation printing (halftone printing) applied to the back surface of (2) or the design of the fine groove array (21), the light emission from the emission surface of the surface light emitting panel main body (2) can be made as uniform as possible.

By arranging a plurality of fixed-length cold-cathode lamps (31) to make them longer, it is possible to manufacture the cold-cathode lamps (31) at a lower cost and to reduce the delivery time as compared with the case where a long-length cold-cathode lamp (31) is made to order. Can be shortened.
In addition, a plurality of fixed-length cold cathode lamps (31) must be arranged in the length direction even for a surface-emitting panel body (2) of a size that cannot be accommodated by a single cold cathode lamp (31). Can respond.

[0011]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a main part in a state where a cold cathode lamp unit (3) is detached from a surface light emitting panel main body (2), and FIG. It is the top view which fractured. The surface light-emitting panel (1) is configured such that cold cathode lamp units (3) and (3) are detachably attached to left and right ends of a surface light-emitting panel body (2).

The surface light emitting panel main body 2 is a transparent plate having a thickness of 3 to 5 mm, and is formed of a highly transparent resin such as an acrylic resin in the embodiment in order to reduce the weight.
On the surface of the panel body (21) opposite to the emission surface (20), as is well known, a fine groove row (21) in which the groove depth and groove width are gradually changed by gradation printing (dot printing) or laser. ), And a reflective film (22) is attached thereon.

The cold cathode lamp unit (3) comprises a cold cathode lamp (31) and a protection rod (5) for accommodating and protecting the cold cathode lamp (31).
And a reflection means (33) for collecting the light of the cold cathode lamp (31) on the end face of the surface light emitting panel main body (2).

As is well known, the cold cathode lamp (31) has electrodes disposed at both ends of a thin tube having a diameter of 2 to 3 mm, discharges in an atmosphere of a low-pressure inert gas sealed in the thin tube, and coats the inner surface of the tube. It excites a fluorescent substance and emits visible light, has the advantage of low heat generation, low power consumption, and long life.

The protection rod (5) is made of a material that can withstand the tube temperature of the cold cathode lamp (31), in this embodiment, acrylic resin.
A band-shaped bottom wall (51) and side walls (52) (52) projecting from both side edges along the longitudinal direction of the bottom wall (51) have a U-shaped cross section. Both ends of the protection rod (5) are closed by end plates (53) and (53). The opening (50) of the protection rod (5) has such a size that the end of the surface light-emitting panel main body (2) fits without much looseness.

In the protection rod (5), a reflector having a substantially U-shaped cross section is a reflecting means (33) extending between the bottom wall (51) and both end plates (53).
A cold cathode lamp (31) is accommodated in a reflector (32). The positioning and holding of the cold cathode lamp (31) is performed in the same manner as in a conventional fluorescent device, as shown in FIG. 2 by a protection rod (36) provided at both ends of the protection rod (5). (5), for example, by providing dedicated sockets at both ends. Power cord extending from the end of the cold cathode lamp (31)
The (35) penetrates through the bottom wall (51) of the protection rod (5) and is drawn out to the outside, and is connected to an energizing means (not shown) including an inverter.

The means for locking the cold cathode lamp unit (3) and the surface light emitting panel body (2) includes a protection rod (5) and a surface light emitting panel body
If it is possible to attach the cold cathode lamp unit (3) to the end of the surface light emitting panel main body (2) in a replaceable manner, such as by using a screw, etc. It doesn't matter.

However, the cold cathode lamp (31) is housed in the protection rod (5) to form a unit, and the protection rod (5) has a strength capable of protecting the cold cathode lamp (31) from impact during transportation. This prevents the cold cathode lamp (31) from being damaged during transportation. If the cold cathode lamp (31) is damaged by an unexpectedly large impact, or if the life of the cold cathode lamp (31) expires, only the cold cathode lamp unit (3) can be replaced, which is economical, and the surface emitting panel body The problem of garbage disposal caused by discarding (2) can be reduced.

FIG. 3 shows a structure in which the side walls (52) and (52) are closed by a transparent wall (54) on the side of the opening (50) of the protection rod (5) to surround four sides of the cold cathode lamp (31). In this case, the cold-cathode lamp (31) is sealed in the protection rod (5), and the protection effect can be enhanced. FIG. 4 shows another embodiment in which the bottom of the protection rod (5) is a round bottom, and a reflecting layer (34) made of a reflective paint, a reflective film, or the like is formed on the round bottom as a reflection means (33). .

FIG. 5 shows that a plurality of, in this embodiment two, cold cathode lamps (31), (31) are provided in the protective rod (5) in the longitudinal direction and both cold cathode lamps (31), (31). 5 shows another embodiment in which the end portions are arranged so as to overlap each other. Two cold cathode lamps (31) (3
If 1) is arranged in the length direction so that the ends overlap,
The length of the lamp unit can be arbitrarily determined by adjusting the overlap length L and the length of the protection rod (5). There is no technical problem in producing the long protection rod 5, and even if a plurality of protection tubes are added and made long, there is no influence on lighting. The overlapping portions of the cold cathode lamps (31) and (31) are brighter than the other portions. This is because of the gradation printing (halftone printing) or the fine groove array applied to the back of the surface light emitting panel body (2). By the design of (21), it is possible to make the light emission on the emission surface of the surface light emitting panel body (2) as uniform as possible.

By arranging a plurality of fixed-length cold-cathode lamps (31) to make them longer, it is possible to manufacture the cold-cathode lamps (31) at a lower cost and to reduce the delivery time as compared with the case where the long-sized cold cathode lamps (31) are made to order. Can be shortened.
In addition, a plurality of fixed-length cold cathode lamps (31) must be arranged in the length direction even for a surface-emitting panel body (2) of a size that cannot be accommodated by a single cold cathode lamp (31). Can respond.

The technical idea of arranging a plurality of cold-cathode lamps (31) and (31) in the longitudinal direction with their ends overlapping is of course valid as an invention even if the protection rod (5) is omitted. is there.

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 perspective view of a main part of a surface light emitting panel main body and a cold cathode lamp unit.

FIG. 2 is a plan view in which a part of the surface light emitting panel is broken.

FIG. 3 is a partially cutaway plan view of a surface-emitting panel using a cold-cathode lamp unit in which four sides of the cold-cathode lamp are surrounded by protective rods.

FIG. 4 is a cross section of another embodiment of the cold cathode lamp unit.

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of a cold cathode lamp elongated by a plurality of cold cathode lamps.

FIG. 6 is an explanatory view of a conventional surface emitting panel.

[Explanation of symbols]

 (1) Surface emitting panel (2) Surface emitting panel body (3) Cold cathode lamp unit (31) Cold cathode lamp (32) Reflector (33) Reflecting means (5) Protection rod

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A thin protection tube (5) formed on one side along a longitudinal direction by an opening (50) or a transparent wall (54) and having a strength capable of protecting a cold cathode lamp (31) from an impact during transportation. The cold-cathode lamp (31) is housed, and the protection rod (5) is accommodated in the cold-cathode lamp (3).
A reflecting means (33) for concentrating the light of (1) on the opening (50) or the transparent wall (54) is provided, and can be exchangeably attached to the end surface of the plate-shaped surface light emitting panel main body (2). Cold cathode lamp unit. 2. A plurality of cold cathode lamps in a protection rod (5).
2. The cold-cathode lamp unit according to claim 1, wherein the cold-cathode lamp units are arranged so that the ends of the cold-cathode lamps are adjacent to each other in the longitudinal direction and the ends of the adjacent cold-cathode lamps overlap. 3. A plurality of tubular cold-cathode lamps (31) (31)
Are arranged adjacent to each other in the longitudinal direction and so that the ends of adjacent cold cathode lamps overlap each other. 4. A surface-emitting panel in which the cold-cathode lamp unit (3) according to claim 1 is disposed to face an end surface of a plate-like surface-emitting panel main body.