JP2003156628A - Condenser for optical fiber illumination - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a condenser for optical fiber illumination which secures uniformity of condensing and has excellent light condensing efficiency. SOLUTION: The condenser (1) for optical fiber illumination which comes into contact with the light-emitting surface of an optical fiber illuminator consisting of a plurality of optical fibers formed in a ring shape and corresponds to the shape of the light-emitting surface comprises a hollow cylinder-shaped optic medium (2) having an outer shape of the same diameter, and a reflector (3) arranged at the outer circumference of the optic medium (2). The optic medium (2) consists of a light incidence part (2a), a tapered internal surface (2b) having a diameter expanded along a light emission direction and a smooth surface, and the outer circumferential surface (2c).

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a light collector for uniformly collecting light emitted from an optical fiber lighting device.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, there is known an optical fiber ring-shaped illumination condenser prism for condensing light emitted from an optical fiber ring-shaped illumination device on a ring center axis. (Refer to Japanese Utility Model Registration No. 2548582) However, in the above configuration, since the light emitted from the emission surface of the optical fiber illuminating device spreads with a predetermined opening angle, the aperture incident on the condensing portion of the condensing prism Since a part of the light having a large angle exceeds the critical angle on the light collecting surface, it is refracted to the outside of the light collecting body without being reflected on the light collecting surface. As a result, although the uniformity of light collection is improved, on the other hand, in terms of the amount of irradiation light, the illuminance after the condenser prism is attached is lower than the illuminance before the attachment, and the problem is that the condenser efficiency is poor. was there. On the other hand, in order to deal with this problem, light is applied to the outer peripheral surface and the end surface of the hollow cylindrical light-transmitting body that is in contact with the emitting surface of the optical fiber illuminating device including a plurality of optical fibers formed in a ring shape or a rectangular shape. Condensing light by diffusing light toward the inside by roughening the reflection surface that reflects toward the inside (the internal space of the hollow cylindrical light-transmitting body) and the inner peripheral surface by sandblasting, etc. The vessels are also known. (See Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 10-12011) However, in this configuration, two reflecting surfaces are provided and one reflecting surface is provided.
Since it is necessary to attach a rough surface to the place, the manufacturing process becomes complicated,
As a result, productivity is low and not always a good idea.

[0003]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a concentrator for optical fiber illumination, which secures uniformity of condensing and is excellent in condensing efficiency.

[0004]

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION The inventors of the present invention have found out that the conventional problem can be solved by adopting a structure in which light is not diffused on the inner side surface (inner surface) of a hollow cylindrical light-transmitting body. did.

Thus, according to the present invention, the outer diameter which is in contact with the emission surface of the optical fiber illuminating device composed of a plurality of optical fibers formed in a ring shape or a rectangular shape and which corresponds to the shape of the surface has the same outer diameter. In a concentrator including a hollow cylindrical or hollow light-transmitting body and a reflector disposed on the outer periphery of the light-transmitting body, the inner surface of the light-transmitting body expands in the light emission direction. Provided is a concentrator for illuminating an optical fiber, which is tapered to have a diameter and whose inner surface is a smooth surface that does not diffuse light.

[0006]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Hereinafter, an example in which the present invention is applied to a ring-shaped illumination device, and therefore a hollow cylindrical body is adopted as a light collector will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a vertical sectional view showing an example of the optical fiber illumination condenser of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a diagram for explaining that uniform light and high light converging property are obtained in FIG. 1 to 2
In (1), a concentrator for illuminating an optical fiber, the concentrator is a hollow cylindrical light-transmitting body (2) and the light-transmitting body (2).
It is composed of a reflector (3) arranged on the outer periphery of the. Further, the translucent body (2) includes a light incident portion (2a), a tapered inner side surface (2b) whose diameter is expanded along the light emitting direction and whose surface is smooth, and an outer peripheral surface (2c). Consists of.

A feature of the present invention is that the inner peripheral surface of the light transmissive body (2) is constituted by the tapered inner side surface as described above and is reflected on the outer peripheral surface (2c) of the light transmissive body (2). The body is arranged. By doing so, uniform light with no decrease in light quantity can be obtained. Hereinafter, this point will be described in more detail with reference to FIG. In the figure,
An example in which a ring-shaped optical fiber illuminating device (4) is attached to the hollow cylindrical concentrator of 1 is shown in a vertical section. Light that has entered the light incident portion (2a) of the light transmissive body (2) at various angles from the emission portion (4a) of the illumination device (4) passes through the light transmissive body (2) and finally It reaches the tapered inner side surface (2b) of the translucent body (2). At that time, the light incident on the light incident portion (2a) of the light transmissive body (2) with a relatively small opening angle is refracted at various refraction angles as indicated by a and b on the tapered inner side surface (2b). On the other hand, the light is condensed toward the irradiation surface or the object to be irradiated which is outside the translucent body (2). On the other hand, the light that has entered the light incident portion (2a) of the translucent body (2) with a relatively large opening angle and has passed through the translucent body (2) is as shown by p and q:
After reaching the outer peripheral surface (2c) of the translucent body (2) and reaching the tapered inner side surface (2b) while being reflected by the reflector (3) toward the inner surface of the translucent body (2), As indicated by c and d, the light is emitted at various refraction angles toward the irradiation surface outside the light-transmitting body (2).

In the above-mentioned embodiment, all the light incident on the light-transmitting body (2) is refracted by the tapered inner side surface (2b). This is because the surface of the tapered inner side surface (2b) is sandblasted in the present invention. This is because the light condensing function is given to this surface by setting it as a smooth surface that has not been roughened. Therefore, in the present invention, light that diffuses into the space surrounded by the tapered inner side surface (2b), that is, light that goes backward in the incident direction of the light and illuminates the space does not occur.
As a result, refracted light from both the left and right sides of the translucent body (2), actually from the entire circumference, are mixed together and are condensed as uniform light on the irradiation surface. Furthermore, since the light leaked from the outer peripheral surface (2c) of the light transmissive body (2) to the outside is reflected on the outer surface of the hollow cylindrical body having the same outer diameter, the recovery efficiency is remarkably high. As a result, it is possible to obtain uniform light with excellent illumination efficiency without a decrease in light amount. In the above description, the refraction behavior of the light incident on the left side of the light-transmitting body (2) has been described with reference to the figure, but the light-transmitting body (2) facing the refraction behavior is opposite.
The light incident on the right side of is also symmetrically emitted toward the irradiation surface.

In the present invention, the translucent body (2) is
Various materials having good transparency such as glass, acrylic resin, and plastic can be used, but when heat resistance is required at this time, glass or heat resistant resin is preferable. Further, the outer diameter, inner diameter, taper angle, and length of the tapered inner side surface (2b) may be appropriately selected depending on conditions such as the irradiation area and irradiation position. Furthermore, the shape of the taper is not only straight,
It may be curved. On the other hand, as the material of the reflector (3), a member that reflects light may be used, and various metals such as aluminum, a member in which metal is vapor-deposited on the inner surface, and various materials in which a reflecting member is attached to the inner surface can be adopted. Furthermore, a light collector (1)
It is desirable to provide the light-transmitting body (2) or the tubular reflecting body (3) with the mounting portion (5) in order to facilitate mounting on the ring-shaped optical fiber lighting device (4). As a specific example of the mounting portion (5), a female screw portion is provided on the inner peripheral surface of the light incident portion (2a) of the light transmitting body (2), or a male screw is formed on the upper outer peripheral surface of the tubular reflector (3). Various mounting methods such as mounting with screws can be adopted.

The specific example of the condenser of the present invention is as follows.
0 mm, length 40 mm, inner diameter of entrance end (2a) 18 m
m, inner diameter of tip (outlet) 28 mm, inner surface (2b)
A cylindrical aluminum light-reflecting body having an inner diameter of 30.1 mm, a wall thickness of 2 mm, and a length of 44 mm is arranged on the outer periphery of a hollow cylindrical light-transmitting body (2) made of acrylic resin having a taper angle of 6.3 degrees. This is attached to a ring type optical fiber illuminator of 150w. In the above description, an example of a hollow cylindrical concentrator for a ring-shaped lighting device is shown. However, if a rectangular lighting device is used, a hollow rectangular concentrator is used accordingly. Various modifications and applications are possible within the scope of the present invention.

[0011]

According to the present invention, the illumination efficiency is improved in spite of the simple structure in which the transparent body (2) having a flat inner surface and the tapered shape and the reflector (3) surrounding the transparent body are combined. It is possible to obtain a remarkable effect that excellent uniform light can be obtained. Further, in the present invention, since the light condensing part uses a smooth surface that does not require special processing, there is no need to provide a reflective surface on the inner surface of the light-transmitting body or perform a diffusion surface treatment as in the conventional case. Therefore, the manufacturing process of the condenser is simplified, and the productivity is improved.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a vertical sectional view of a concentrator for optical fiber illumination according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating that uniform light and high light converging property are obtained in FIG.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 Optical fiber lighting concentrator 2 translucent body 2a Light incident part 2b Tapered inner surface 2c outer peripheral surface 3 reflector 4 Optical fiber lighting device 4a Output part of optical fiber lighting device 5 Mounting part

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A hollow cylindrical shape or a hollow shape having an outer diameter that is in contact with an emission surface of an optical fiber illuminating device composed of a plurality of optical fibers formed in a ring shape or a rectangular shape and has an outer diameter corresponding to the shape of the surface. In a concentrator including a rectangular light-transmitting body and a reflector disposed on the outer periphery of the light-transmitting body, the inner surface of the light-transmitting body has a tapered shape that expands in the light emission direction. In addition, the inner surface thereof is a smooth surface that does not diffuse light, and a condenser for optical fiber illumination. 2. A mounting portion for mounting the optical fiber illuminating device is provided on the translucent body or the cylindrical reflector for mounting the optical fiber illuminating light collector. Item 2. The optical fiber lighting concentrator according to Item 1.