JP2004319238A - Light guide device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a light guide device which is advantageous for making a large area emit light with a uniform brightness while reducing the cost and space to be occupied. <P>SOLUTION: The light guide device 20 is made of a transparent synthetic resin material which allows light to pass, and has a light exit part 22 and two light introduction parts 24. The light exit part 22 has a light exit surface 2202 formed to have a long and narrow shape with its length sufficiently greater than its vertical height. The light guide device 20 is configured such that beams of light incident from light incident surfaces 2402 on both sides pass through the respective light introduction parts 24 to be reflected off reflection surfaces 2402, and travel from both ends of the light exit part 22 toward a center of the length of the light exit part 22, and that these traveling beams of light are reflected upon diffusing at a light diffusing surface 2204 and are emitted forward from the light exit surface 2202 so as to achieve a substantially uniform brightness along a direction in which the light exit surface 2202 extends. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a light guide device.
[0002]
[Prior art]
A display device such as an indicator provided on a surface of a housing of an electronic device or the like is configured to display an operation state of the electronic device by a lighting operation, a light-out operation, or a blinking operation.
As such a display device, there has been provided a device including a single light-emitting means such as an LED and a light-guiding device for guiding light emitted from the light-emitting means to the outer surface of the housing (for example, Patent Document 1). 1, see FIG. 2).
[0003]
[Patent Document 1]
JP 10-199314 A
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
Such a conventional light guide device has a configuration in which light emitted from a single light emitting unit is directly or reflected by a reflection surface and emitted from the surface of the light guide device facing the outside of the housing. When the surface has a large area, there is a disadvantage that uneven brightness tends to occur.
Further, when the surface of the light guide device has a large area, it is necessary to provide a large number of light emitting means in order to illuminate the large area, which is disadvantageous in that a large occupied space is required and cost is reduced. It is.
The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and it is an object of the present invention to provide a light guide device which is advantageous in emitting light over a large area with uniform brightness while suppressing occupation space and cost. It is in.
[0005]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to achieve the above object, the light guide device of the present invention is formed of a transparent synthetic resin material through which light is transmitted, and has a light emitting portion having a length, and two light beams provided at both ends of the light emitting portion. Having an introduction portion, the light emitting portion has a front surface located in one of the directions orthogonal to the length direction, and a rear surface located in the other direction orthogonal to the length direction, wherein the front surface is A light emitting surface, the rear surface is a diffusion surface, each light introducing portion is bent from both ends in the length direction of the light emitting portion, and a light incident surface is provided at a tip of each light introducing portion, The light incident from each of the light incident surfaces travels from both ends of the light emitting portion toward the center in the longitudinal direction of the light emitting portion through each light introducing portion, and the traveling light is transmitted to the diffusion surface. The light is diffused and reflected at the light emitting surface so that the brightness becomes substantially uniform over the extending direction of the light emitting surface. Characterized in that it is configured to emit forward from the light exit surface.
Therefore, according to the present invention, the light incident from the two light incident surfaces passes through the respective light introducing portions, is diffused and reflected by the diffusion surface of the light emitting portion, and has substantially uniform brightness over the extending direction of the light emitting surface. Since the light is emitted forward from the light emitting surface so as to be as described above, it is advantageous in emitting light over a wide area without uneven brightness. Further, since two light emitting means for making light incident on each light incident surface may be provided in accordance with each light incident surface, it is advantageous in suppressing occupied space and cost.
[0006]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, embodiments of a switch device according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.
1 is a perspective view of an optical disk device to which the light guide device of the present invention is applied, FIG. 2 is a side view of a light guide device portion, FIG. 3 is a configuration diagram of the light guide device, and FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view of the light guide device. 5 is an assembly plan view of the light guide device, FIG. 6 is a view taken in the direction of arrow A in FIG. 5, FIG. 7 is a view taken in the direction of arrow B in FIG. 5, FIG. 8A is a plan view of the light guide device, and FIG. 3 is an enlarged view of a diffusion surface of the light guide device.
[0007]
As shown in FIG. 1, the optical disk device 100 has a rectangular plate-shaped housing 102 having a height, a width in the left-right direction, and a length in the front-rear direction.
A front panel 103 is attached to an operation unit of the housing 102. The front panel 103 includes an upper front surface 104, a lower front surface 106, and an inclined surface 108 connecting the upper front surface 104 and the lower front surface 106. The face 108 faces obliquely upward at the front.
An elongated opening 116 is formed in the lower front surface 106, a tray 118 is provided so as to be able to protrude and retract from inside and outside of the housing 102 through the opening 116, and an operation knob 123 is provided on the left end of the lower front surface 116. Have been.
The tray 118 has a disk-shaped rotating portion 120 provided on the upper surface of a rectangular plate-shaped tray main body so as to be rotatable around its central axis. The rotating section 120 is provided with five disk accommodation sections for accommodating the optical disk 2 along the circumferential direction thereof. Then, one of the optical disks 2 accommodated in each disk accommodating unit is selected by the rotation of the rotating unit 120, and the selected optical disk 2 is rotated by the rotation driving means, and information recording and reproduction are performed by the optical pickup. Is configured.
As shown in FIG. 3, inside the housing 102, a printed circuit board 107 is arranged in the vertical and horizontal directions behind the upper front surface 104 and the lower front surface 106 so as to face the upper front surface 104 and the lower front surface 106 at an interval. Is provided to extend.
As shown in FIG. 1, an opening of a rectangular plate extending in the width direction is formed in the center of the upper front surface 104 in the width direction, and a transparent plate 112 is incorporated in the opening. As shown in FIG. A fluorescent display tube 114 in the form of a rectangular plate is provided at a portion of the printed circuit board 107 facing the rear of the transparent window 112 so as to extend in a width.
At the left end of the inclined surface 108, an operation button 122 for opening and closing a power switch is provided.
[0008]
At the center in the width direction of the inclined surface 108, five operation buttons 10 for selecting a disk are provided in a straight line along the width direction.
Each of the operation buttons 10 constitutes a switch device 11, and these switch devices 11 are provided corresponding to the above-mentioned five disk storage portions, and the optical disk device 100 is configured such that any one of the operation buttons 10 is pressed. Thus, the optical disc 2 placed in the disc storage section corresponding to the operation button 10 is selected, and the recording or reproducing operation is performed on the optical disc 2.
[0009]
An opening 115 extending in the width direction is provided at the center in the width direction of the lower front surface 106 above the opening 116, and the light guide device 20 according to the present invention is incorporated through the opening 115.
The light guide device 10 is configured to be turned on, turned off, or blinked according to the operation state or operation state of the optical disk device 100.
[0010]
As shown in FIGS. 5, 6, and 7, the light guide device 20 is formed of a transparent synthetic resin material through which light is transmitted, and has a light emitting portion 22 having a length, and provided at both ends of the light emitting portion 22. And two light introduction sections 24 provided.
The light emitting portion 22 has a rectangular cross section and is formed to extend linearly, and has upper and lower surfaces and front and rear surfaces. The upper and lower surfaces and the front and rear surfaces are located in a direction orthogonal to the length direction of the light emitting portion 22, and the front surface is a light emitting surface 2202, and the rear surface is a diffusion surface 2204.
The light emitting surface 2202 is formed in an elongated shape whose length is sufficiently larger than the vertical height.
The diffusing surface 2204 is provided so that the light incident from the one light introducing portion 24 is forwardly transmitted from the entire region extending from the end of the light emitting surface 2202 on the one light introducing portion 24 side to the middle in the length direction of the light emitting surface 2202. And the entire area where the light incident from the other light introducing portion 24 extends from the end of the light emitting surface 2202 on the side of the other light introducing portion 24 to the middle in the longitudinal direction of the light emitting surface. From the front.
Specifically, as shown in FIG. 8A, the diffusion surface 2204 is closest to the light emitting surface 2202 at an intermediate position in the extending direction of the light emitting unit 22, and is in the extending direction of the light emitting unit 22. It is provided so as to be gradually separated from the light emitting surface 2202 toward the both ends.
More specifically, the diffusing surface 2204 includes a first diffusing surface 2204A located on one side in the extending direction from an intermediate position in the extending direction of the light emitting unit 22 and an intermediate position in the extending direction of the light emitting unit 22. And a second diffusion surface 2204B located on the other side in the extending direction.
In addition, the diffusion surface 2204 includes a large number of minute uneven portions 2205 that diffuse and reflect light. In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 8B, the uneven portion 2205 is formed by forming a large number of fine ridges extending vertically at intervals in the direction in which the light emitting portion 22 extends. This ridge is constituted by two planes intersecting at an angle of 90 degrees.
[0011]
The two light introducing portions 24 are provided at both ends in the longitudinal direction of the light emitting portion 22, are bent 90 degrees from both ends in the longitudinal direction of the light emitting portion 22, and extend rearward. A light incident surface 2402 is provided.
A reflection surface 2404 is formed at a portion where the light introducing portion 24 is connected at both ends in the length direction of the light emitting portion 22.
The light guide device 20 is configured such that the light incident from the light incident surfaces 2402 on both sides passes through the respective light introduction portions 24 and is reflected by the reflection surface 2402, and the light exit portion 22 is positioned at both ends of the light exit portion 22 at the center in the length direction. As the light travels toward the light-emitting surface 2202, the light that travels is diffused and reflected by the diffusion surface 2204, and is emitted forward from the light-emitting surface 2202 so that the brightness becomes substantially uniform over the extending direction of the light-emitting surface 2202. Is configured.
[0012]
As shown in FIG. 4, a diffusion member 26 formed of a milky synthetic resin material through which light passes is provided at a position in front of the light exit surface 2202.
The diffusion member 26 has a plate portion 2602 and a main body 2604.
The plate portion 2602 has an incident surface facing the light exit surface 2202 and a light exit surface facing the incident surface, and the main body 2604 has an elongated shape protruding from the light exit surface side and fitted to the opening 115. Is formed.
[0013]
As shown in FIGS. 5 and 7, an LED (light emitting diode) 28 as a light emitting means is provided at a position facing each light incident surface 2402.
The two LEDs 28 are attached to the printed circuit board 107, and are configured to be turned on and off independently of each other by a drive current supplied from the printed circuit board 107.
[0014]
The light guide device 20 is assembled as follows.
As shown in FIG. 3, the main body 2604 of the diffusion member 26 is fitted into the opening 115 from the back side of the lower front surface 106, and the plate portion 2602 is engaged with the lower front surface 106 around the opening 115.
Next, the light emitting surface 2202 of the light emitting portion 22 is brought into contact with the incident surface of the plate portion 2602 of the diffusion member 26, and the light incident surfaces 2402 of the two light introducing portions 24 are positioned so as to face the LEDs 28, respectively. The light guide device 20 is mounted on the housing 102 via the illustrated mounting member.
[0015]
Next, functions and effects of the light guide device 20 will be described.
As shown in FIGS. 3 and 5, when one LED 28 is turned on, for example, when the right LED 28 is turned on, the light emitted from the right LED 28 is incident on the right light incident surface 2402 and becomes the right light introducing portion. The light is reflected by the right reflecting surface 2402 through the light source 24 and the traveling direction is changed by 90 degrees. Then, the light that travels from the right end to the left end of the light emitting unit 22 is diffused and reflected by the first diffusion surface 2204A, and has substantially uniform brightness over the right half in the extending direction of the light emission surface 2202. Thus, the light is emitted forward from the right half of the light emission surface 2202.
The light emitted from the right half of the light emitting surface 2202 is incident on the plate portion 2602 of the diffusion member 26 and travels forward in the main body 2604. The traveling light is further diffused in the main body 2604 and is further diffused in the main body 2604. Is emitted forward from the front right half.
When the left LED 28 is turned on, the light emitted from the left LED 28 is incident from the left light incident surface 2402, passes through the left light introducing portion 24, is reflected by the left reflecting surface 2402, and travels in a direction of 90 degrees. Be changed. Then, the light traveling from the left end to the right end of the light emitting unit 22 is diffused and reflected by the second diffusing surface 2204B, and has substantially uniform brightness over the left half of the extending direction of the light emitting surface 2202. Thus, the light is emitted forward from the left half of the light emission surface 2202.
The light emitted from the left half of the light emitting surface 2202 is incident on the plate portion 2602 of the diffusion member 26 and travels forward in the main body 2604. The traveling light is further diffused in the main body 2604 and is further diffused in the main body 2604. Are emitted forward from the left half of the front part of.
Therefore, when the two LEDs 28 are turned on together, the portion inside the opening 115 emits light with substantially uniform brightness over its length direction, which is advantageous for emitting light over a wide area without uneven brightness. In addition, by emitting light over a large area with uniform brightness, visibility is improved, and it is also advantageous in enhancing luxury.
In addition, since two LEDs 28 may be provided in accordance with each light incident surface 2402, the occupied space can be reduced, which is advantageous in reducing costs.
[0016]
Further, when the two LEDs 28 are blinked alternately, that is, when one LED 28 is turned on, the other LED 28 is turned off, and when the one LED 28 is turned off, the other LED 28 is turned on. Is repeated, the right half and the left half of the main body 2604 of the diffusion member 26 alternately flash with substantially uniform brightness inside the opening 115, so that the flashing state of light is varied while improving visibility. It can be.
For this reason, according to the light guide device 20 of the present embodiment, for example, the first display state in which the entire area of the main body 2604 in the opening 115 is lit by the two LEDs 28 being lit together, Blinks in the same cycle, so that the entire area of the main body 2604 in the opening 115 blinks, and as described above, the two LEDs 28 alternately blink, so that the right side of the main body 2604 in the opening 115 It is possible to realize three types of display states, that is, a third display state in which the half and the left half are blinking alternately.
Accordingly, these three types of display states can display three types of operation states of the optical disc device 100, and thus have the advantage that various display states can be realized with a small number of component configurations. For example, when the power-on state is indicated by a first display state, the pause operation is indicated by a second display state, and the optical disc mounted on the rotating unit 120 is of a format that cannot be recorded or reproduced by the optical disc apparatus 100. Can be shown in the third display state.
Further, in the present embodiment, since diffusion member 26 is provided in front of light emission surface 2402 of light emission portion 24 of light guide device 20, unevenness 2405 portion of diffusion surface 2404 passes through light emission surface 2402 and casing 102. Is not visually recognized from the outside, which is advantageous in improving the beauty of the housing 102.
[0017]
In the present embodiment, a case has been described in which the present invention is applied to an optical disk device, but the present invention is of course applied to other electronic devices.
[0018]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to provide a light guide device that is advantageous in causing a large area to emit light without uneven brightness while suppressing the occupied space and cost.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an optical disc device to which a light guide device of the present invention is applied.
FIG. 2 is a side view of a light guide device portion.
FIG. 3 is a configuration diagram of a light guide device.
FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view of the light guide device.
FIG. 5 is an assembled plan view of the light guide device.
6 is a view as viewed in the direction of arrow A in FIG. 5;
FIG. 7 is a view taken in the direction of arrow B in FIG. 5;
8A is a plan view of a light guide device, and FIG. 8B is an enlarged view of a reflection surface of the light guide device.
[Explanation of symbols]
100 optical disk device, 102 housing, 115 opening 20, light guide device 22, light emitting unit 24 light introducing unit 26 diffusion member 28 LED 2202 ... A light exit surface, 2204 a diffusion surface, 2402 a light incidence surface, 2404 a reflection surface.

Claims (10)

It is formed of a transparent synthetic resin material through which light is transmitted, and has a light emitting portion having a length, and two light introducing portions provided at both ends of the light emitting portion,
The light emitting portion has a front surface located in one of the directions perpendicular to the length direction, and a rear surface located in the other direction perpendicular to the length direction, the front surface being a light emitting surface, The rear surface is a diffusion surface,
Each of the light introducing portions is bent from both ends in the length direction of the light emitting portion, and a light incident surface is provided at a tip of each of the light introducing portions,
The light incident from each of the light incident surfaces travels from both ends of the light emitting portion toward the center in the longitudinal direction of the light emitting portion through each light introducing portion, and the traveling light is transmitted to the diffusion surface. The light is diffused and reflected at the light emitting surface, and the light is emitted forward from the light emitting surface so as to have substantially uniform brightness over the extending direction of the light emitting surface.
A light guide device characterized by the above-mentioned. The light guide device according to claim 1, wherein the light emitting portion is formed to extend linearly. 2. The light guide according to claim 1, wherein the light emitting portion is formed to extend linearly, and the light introducing portion is bent at right angles from both ends in the extending direction of the light emitting portion and extends rearward. apparatus. A reflecting surface is formed at a portion where the light introducing portion is connected at both ends in the longitudinal direction of the light emitting portion, and light incident from the light incident surface is reflected by the reflecting surface and guided to the light emitting portion. The light guide device according to claim 1, wherein the light guide device is configured to be closed. The diffusing surface is configured such that light incident from one of the light introducing portions is emitted forward from an entire region extending from an end of the light emitting surface on the one light introducing portion side to an intermediate portion in a longitudinal direction of the light emitting surface. The light incident from the other light introducing portion is emitted forward from the entire region extending from the end of the light emitting surface on the other light introducing portion side to the middle in the longitudinal direction of the light emitting surface. The light guide device according to claim 1, wherein the light guide device is configured as follows. The diffusion surface is closest to the light emitting surface at an intermediate position in the extending direction of the light emitting portion, and is provided to be inclined so as to gradually separate from the light emitting surface toward both ends in the extending direction of the light emitting portion. The light guide device according to claim 1, wherein the light guide device is provided. 2. The light guide device according to claim 1, wherein the diffusion surface includes a large number of minute uneven portions that diffuse and reflect the light. 3. Light emitting units that are turned on and off independently of each other are provided at locations facing the respective light incident surfaces, and light emitted from these two light emitting units is incident on the respective light incident surfaces. The light guide device according to claim 1, wherein: 2. The light guide device according to claim 1, wherein the light emitting surface is formed in an elongated shape whose length is sufficiently larger than a height in a vertical direction orthogonal to the length direction. 3. 2. The light guide device according to claim 1, wherein a diffusion member formed of a milky synthetic resin material through which light passes is provided at a position in front of the light exit surface.

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