JP2006351436A - Optical fiber illuminating device and its manufacturing method - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an optical fiber illuminating device which can emit planar light in ample amount, can optionally adjust the design and the emission amount of the light, can be used not only for surface-decorative applications, such as walls and trees, but also for common illumination applications and advertisement applications, such as billboards, and that excels in designability. <P>SOLUTION: The optical fiber illuminating device 10 is constituted of a planar light-emitting body 12 in which a sheet 20 is formed of a plural of optical fibers 18 that are parallel with one another and light-outgoing ports 26 reaching cores 18a of the optical fibers 18 are bored at predetermined positions of the surface of the sheet 20, a light source 14 for supplying a light L to the interior of the optical fibers 18, and a drive circuit 16 for controlling light emission of the light source 14. Consequently, an ample amount of light L can be emitted from the light-outgoing ports 26, and by optionally selecting the positions of the light-outgoing ports 26 provided on the surface of the sheet 20, the design for the light L which goes out planarly can be made into a desired one. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a decoration device using an optical fiber, and more particularly to a device capable of giving a beautiful light decoration to a surface such as a wall or a ceiling.

  In recent years, various types of decoration devices using optical fibers have been proposed. Of these, as a technique for decorating the surface of walls, trees, etc., a planar light emitter configured such that a side surface of a curved optical fiber emits light while knitting an optical fiber to form a stretchable surface. Has been proposed (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

According to such a technique, a beautiful light decoration can be applied to surfaces such as walls and trees.
JP 2003-45202 A

  However, the above-described technology has a problem that since the amount of light emitted from the surface of the planar light emitter is relatively small, the impact is insufficient and it is difficult to use it for advertising purposes such as general lighting and billboards. It was.

  In addition, the light design and the amount of emitted light are uniquely determined by the shape of the planar light emitter, and the design of the light and the amount of emitted light cannot be adjusted other than by changing the lighting cycle of the light source, resulting in poor design. It was a thing.

  Therefore, the main problem of the present invention is that a sufficient amount of light can be emitted in a planar shape, and the design and light emission amount of the light can be arbitrarily adjusted, not only for surface decoration applications such as walls and trees. Another object of the present invention is to provide an optical fiber illuminating device excellent in design that can be used for general lighting applications and advertising applications such as signboards.

  According to the first aspect of the present invention, “a sheet 20 is formed by a plurality of optical fibers 18 substantially parallel to each other, and an optical outlet 26 reaching the core 18 a of the optical fiber 18 is formed at a predetermined position on the surface of the sheet 20. The light emitter 12 is attached to the end of the optical fiber 18 and supplies light L toward the inside of the optical fiber 18. The drive circuit 16 controls the light emission of the light source 14. It is the optical fiber lighting device 10 characterized by the above.

  In the present invention, since the planar light emitter 12 is formed by drilling the light outlet 26 reaching the core 18a of the optical fiber 18 at a predetermined position on the surface of the sheet 20, the light L having a sufficient amount of light from the light outlet 26 is formed. In addition, by arbitrarily selecting the position of the light exit 26 provided on the surface of the sheet 20, the design of the light L that emits light in a plane can be made desired.

  According to the second aspect of the present invention, in the optical fiber illuminating device 10 according to the first aspect, “the optical fiber 18 is knitted or arranged so as to face in two or more directions and is directed in each direction. The light source part 14 is attached to the end part of each optical fiber 18 ".

  In the present invention, the planar light emitter 12 is configured such that the optical fiber 18 faces two or more directions, and a separate light source unit 14 is attached to each end of the optical fiber 18 facing each direction. Therefore, for example, the design of the light outlet 26 provided in each optical fiber 18 facing each direction is changed, or the color tone of the light source unit 14 attached to each optical fiber 18 in each direction is changed, and the drive circuit 16 is changed. By controlling the light amount, the light emission time, the light emission period, and the like of the light source unit 14 using a light source, many variations can be given to the design of the light L emitted from the planar light emitter 12.

  The invention described in claim 3 is the optical fiber lighting device 10 according to claim 2, characterized in that “the optical fibers 18 substantially parallel to each other are separated from each other and the sheet 20 is formed into a net shape”. Thus, the flexibility of the sheet 20 is improved, and it is possible to follow a three-dimensional shape. For example, the sheet 20 can be covered with an object on a desk and light emitted along the shape of the object. It becomes like this. That is, the usage application of the illumination device 10 can be expanded.

  According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the optical fiber illuminating device 10 according to any one of the first to third aspects, the light source sections 14 are attached to both longitudinal ends of the optical fiber 18. Thus, the light L can be incident from both ends of the optical fiber 18, and the luminance of the light L emitted from the light outlet 26 can be improved. For this reason, the character or pattern of the light L expressed by the planar light emitter 12 can be made clearer, and can be more suitably used as general illumination.

  The invention described in claim 5 is the optical fiber illuminating device 10 according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein “the light source unit 14 is provided with a fragrance containing portion for containing a fragrance”. Thus, the fragrance substance accommodated in the fragrance substance accommodation section is warmed with the operation of the light source section 14, and the fragrance drifts around the planar light-emitting body 12. For this reason, a so-called “healing space” can be created around the optical fiber lighting device 10 by light and fragrance.

  The invention described in claim 6 is characterized in that, in the optical fiber illuminating device 10 according to any one of claims 1 to 5, "the planar light emitter 12 is disposed and used in water". is there.

  In the optical fiber lighting device 10 of the present invention, since no electricity flows through the optical fiber 18 constituting the planar light emitter 12, waterproofing is unnecessary, and it can be easily used as underwater decoration lighting as it is. .

  The invention described in claim 7 is the optical fiber illuminating device 10 according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein “the light source unit 14 includes a light source 14a including red, green, and blue LEDs as one unit. Thus, by controlling the number of LEDs that emit light using the drive circuit 16 and the amount of light emitted, the color tone of the light emitted by the planar light emitter 12 is greatly adjusted. It becomes possible.

  The invention described in claim 8 is a method of manufacturing the optical fiber illuminating device 10 according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein “the laser beam is applied to the surface of the optical fiber 18 to reach the core 18a. The light exit 26 is drilled ". Thus, by using a laser for drilling the light outlet 26, the fine light outlet 26 can be accurately formed at a predetermined position on the surface of the planar light emitter 12.

  According to the present invention, since light can be emitted with a sufficient amount of light from a light exit provided at an arbitrary position on the surface of the planar light emitter, when light is emitted from the surface of the planar light emitter, characters are represented. Even in such a case, a clear light character can be expressed with a sufficient amount of light.

  In addition, the design of light emitted from the planar light emitter and the amount of light emitted can be arbitrarily changed, and planar light emission excellent in design can be obtained.

  Therefore, a sufficient amount of light can be emitted in a planar shape, and the light design and light emission amount can be adjusted arbitrarily, so that it can be used not only for surface decorations such as walls and trees, but also for general lighting applications and signboards. It is possible to provide an optical fiber lighting device that can be used for advertising purposes and has excellent design.

  Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. An optical fiber illuminating device 10A (10) of one embodiment (first embodiment) of the present invention shown in FIG. 1 irradiates a designed planar light, and is roughly composed of a planar light emitter 12, The light source unit 14 and the drive circuit 16 are configured.

  The planar light emitter 12 includes a sheet 20 formed of a plurality of optical fibers 18 parallel to each other (expanded in a planar shape).

  As shown in FIG. 2, the optical fiber 18 forming the sheet 20 is formed of a core 18a that is a propagation path of the light L and a material having a refractive index lower than that of the core 18a, and surrounds the surface of the core 18a. This is a fibrous member having a concentric two-layer (core-sheath) structure, which is constituted by the clad 18b.

  Here, the optical fiber 18 used in the present invention may be any of a glass optical fiber made of multicomponent glass, a plastic optical fiber made of PMMA (methacrylic) plastic, and the like. That is, the material constituting the optical fiber 18 is not particularly limited.

  Moreover, it is preferable that the diameter of this optical fiber 18 is the range of 0.1-5.0 mm, More preferably, it is 0.3-1.0 mm. When the diameter of the optical fiber 18 is less than 0.1 mm, it becomes difficult to process the light outlet 26 described later. Conversely, when the diameter is larger than 5.0 mm, the sheet 20 becomes heavy and the optical fiber illumination device 10 is handled. This is because the sex becomes worse. The optical fiber 18 may be used in the state of a single yarn, or may be used in the state of a twisted yarn in which a plurality of single yarns are bundled and twisted.

  As a method of forming the sheet 20 using such an optical fiber 18, a method of forming a sheet by bonding optical fibers 18 arranged in parallel with each other with an adhesive (not shown), or applying an adhesive And a method of adhering optical fibers 18 arranged in parallel to each other on the surface of the film or fabric.

  At one end in the longitudinal direction of the optical fiber 18 formed on the sheet 20 by the method as described above, a converging portion 22 is formed by bundling the optical fiber 18 into one or a plurality (finally two in the case of FIG. 1). The light source unit 14 is attached to the converging unit 22. In addition, a reflection member 24 is attached to the other end in the longitudinal direction of the optical fiber 18 to return the light L propagating through the core 18a back into the core 18a so as not to be emitted from the other end.

  The optical fiber 18 forming the sheet 20 is normally configured so that the light L does not leak from the clad 18b. However, in the present invention, a sufficient amount of light L is emitted from the surface of the sheet 20 into a planar shape. In order to express characters and patterns with the light L, a plurality of light outlets 26 reaching the core 18a are formed at predetermined positions on the surface of the sheet 20 (more specifically, the optical fiber 18 forming the sheet 20) (see FIG. 2). In addition, while providing the convergence part 22 in the longitudinal direction one end part of the optical fiber 18 shape | molded on the sheet | seat 20, the planar light-emitting body 12 is completed by forming the light exit 26 in the surface of the sheet | seat 20 in this way.

  Here, as a method of forming the light exit 26 on the surface of the optical fiber 18, it is preferable to perform processing with a laser processing machine with an XY table control using a laser such as a YAG laser or a carbon dioxide gas laser or a laser marker. It is. In particular, in a laser processing machine with an XY table control, the laser beam is focused on the surface of the sheet 20 and the XY axis is program-controlled, so that precise fine processing of an arbitrary shape is possible. It is possible to accurately form the fine light exit 26 at a predetermined position.

  The light source unit 14 is connected to the converging unit 18 of the planar light emitter 12, and supplies light L from the end of the optical fiber 18 toward the inside (specifically, the core 18a). As shown in the figure, a light source 14a using an LED and a condensing device 14b such as a lens that condenses the light L emitted from the light source 14a and supplies it to the end of the optical fiber 18 without leakage.

  Here, examples of the light source 14a using LEDs include those using white LEDs alone and those using red, green, and blue LEDs as one unit. Among these, when the red, green, and blue LEDs are used as one unit, the color tone of the light emitted from the planar light emitter 12 can be significantly adjusted.

  The light source unit 14 is connected to the drive circuit 16 via the wiring 28.

  The drive circuit 16 is for controlling the light emission of the light source unit 14, and includes a power source that supplies power to the light source unit 14, the light amount of the light L emitted from the light source unit 14, the color tone, the light emission time, and the light emission cycle. Is configured by a microcomputer, a relay, or the like that variably controls according to a predetermined command.

  Next, the operation of the optical fiber illuminating device 10A of the present embodiment configured as described above will be described. First, when the drive circuit 16 is operated to supply power to the light source unit 14, the light source 14a starts to emit light, and the light L enters the optical fiber 18 from the converging unit 22 via the light collecting device 14b. . The light L that has entered the optical fiber 18 propagates through the core 18a and reaches the other end of the optical fiber 18, but from the light outlet 26 provided in the middle toward the outside of the optical fiber 18. As shown in FIG. 1A, the letter L and the pattern of the light L appear according to the position where the light outlet 26 is disposed.

  According to the present embodiment, the planar light emitter 12 is formed by drilling the light outlet 26 reaching the core 18 a of the optical fiber 18 at a predetermined position on the surface of the sheet 20, so that a sufficient amount of light is emitted from the light outlet 26. The light L can be emitted, and by arbitrarily selecting the position of the light outlet 26 provided on the surface of the sheet 20, the design of the light L emitted in a planar shape can be made desired. Therefore, it can be used not only for surface decoration but also for general lighting applications and advertising applications such as signboards.

  In the above-described embodiment, the converging portion 22 is provided at one end portion in the longitudinal direction of the optical fiber 18 constituting the planar light emitter 12, and the reflection member 24 is attached to the other end portion in the longitudinal direction. As shown in FIG. 4, a converging part 22 is also provided at the other longitudinal end of the optical fiber 18, and the light source part 14 to which the drive circuit 16 is connected via the wiring 28 is attached to the converging part 22. Also good. Thus, by entering the light L from both ends of the optical fiber 18, the luminance of the light L emitted from the light outlet 26 can be improved, and the letters and patterns of the light L expressed by the planar light emitter 12 can be improved. It can be made clearer.

  In the above example, an LED is used as the light source 14a. However, instead of this LED, a point light source (not shown) such as an incandescent bulb or a high-pressure discharge lamp, or a line such as a fluorescent lamp or a cold cathode lamp is used. A light source (not shown) may be used as the light source 14a. Among these, when a linear light source such as a fluorescent lamp or a cold cathode lamp is arranged at the focal point of the parabolic reflector and used as the light source 14a, it is necessary to provide the converging portion 22 at the end of the surface light emitter 12. In addition, the light source unit 14 may not be provided with the light condensing device 14b. It is necessary to separately provide a light shielding member (not shown) that shields light from the surroundings.

  In the above-described embodiment, the light source unit 14 also generates heat as the light source 14a emits light. For this reason, if the light source part 14 is provided with a fragrance containing part (not shown) for containing a fragrant substance such as aroma oil, the aroma substance such as aroma oil is warmed with the lighting of the light source 14a. It is possible to enjoy the fragrance of the fragrance material simultaneously with the light emitted from the planar light emitter 12. That is, it is possible to create a so-called “healing space” by light and fragrance.

  In the above-described example, the optical fiber illumination device 10A is used for surface decoration or advertising. However, the planar light emitter 12 of the optical fiber illumination device 10A is placed in water such as a bath, a pool, or a water tank. It may be arranged and used as underwater decorative lighting. Since no electricity flows through the optical fiber 18 constituting the planar light emitter 12, waterproofing is unnecessary, and it can be used as it is as underwater decorative lighting.

  Next, the optical fiber lighting device 10B (10) of the second embodiment shown in FIG. 5 will be described.

  The difference from the first embodiment described above is that the plurality of optical fibers 18 parallel to each other are knitted so as to face a plurality of directions. Specifically, as shown in FIG. The optical fiber 18 oriented in the X direction) and the optical fiber 18 oriented in the direction substantially orthogonal to the X direction (Y direction) are knitted to form a sheet 20 and light directed in each direction (X and Y directions). The light source unit 14 is attached to each of the fibers 18. Since the other parts are the same as those in the first embodiment (including modifications thereof), the description of the first embodiment is used instead of the description of the present embodiment.

  In the optical fiber lighting device 10B of the second embodiment, the optical fibers 18 facing two directions (X direction and Y direction) that are substantially orthogonal to each other are knitted, and the optical fibers 18 facing the X direction and the Y direction are directed. Since the independent light source unit 14 is attached to each of the optical fibers 18, the following effects can be obtained.

  That is, in the portion where the light exit 26 provided in the optical fiber 18 facing the X direction and the light exit 26 provided in the optical fiber 18 facing the Y direction are close to each other (α portion in FIG. 5), each light exit The light L emitted from 26 is superposed, and the amount of light L is larger than the portion (β portion in FIG. 5) where the light exit 26 is provided only in one of the optical fibers 18. Therefore, it is possible to give contrast to the light L emitted from the planar light emitter 12 by appropriately selecting the position where the light outlet 26 is disposed.

  Further, when the light exits 26 are provided with different designs in the respective optical fibers 18 directed in the respective directions, and the light source sections 14 attached to the respective optical fibers 18 in the respective directions are alternately turned on using the drive circuit 16. The light L having two different designs appears alternately from the surface of the planar light emitter 12. In the case where such a light outlet 26 is provided, when the light source unit 14 attached to each optical fiber 18 in each direction is turned on at the same time, two different designs of light L are superimposed. Needless to say.

  Further, if light sources 14 having different colors are used as the light source sections 14 attached to the optical fibers 18 in the respective directions, the light L can be emitted with a complicated and beautiful design.

  In this way, the planar light emitter 12 is configured such that the optical fiber 18 faces a plurality of directions, and a separate light source unit 14 is attached to each of the optical fibers 18 facing each direction, whereby the planar light emission. Many variations can be given to the design of the light L emitted from the body 12. That is, according to the optical fiber illuminating device 10B of the present embodiment (second embodiment), planar light emission with excellent design can be produced.

  In the above-described embodiment, the sheet 20 is formed by weaving the optical fiber 18 facing the X direction and the optical fiber 18 facing the Y direction. However, the optical fiber 18 facing these directions is shown. The sheet 20 may be formed by fixing the intersecting points with a fixing means such as an adhesive without knitting the fabric.

  Further, when the sheet 20 is formed, the optical fibers 18 that are substantially parallel to each other may be separated from each other so that the sheet 20 has a net shape. By doing so, the flexibility of the sheet 20 is improved, and it becomes possible to follow a three-dimensional shape. For example, the sheet 20 is covered with an object on a desk and light is emitted along the shape of the object. You will also be able to.

  In the above example, the planar light emitter 12 is configured such that the optical fiber 18 faces the two directions of the X direction and the Y direction substantially orthogonal to the X direction, but as shown in FIG. In addition, a plurality of optical fibers 18 parallel to each other include a first direction (X direction), a second direction (Y direction) intersecting the first direction at an angle of about 60 °, and these The planar light emitter 12 may be configured to face the third direction (Z direction) intersecting at an angle of about 60 ° with respect to both of the two directions. Although not shown, the planar light emitter 12 may be configured such that the optical fiber 18 faces four or more directions. In this way, by increasing the direction in which the optical fiber 18 constituting the planar light emitter 12 faces, the variation of the light L emitted from the planar light emitter 12 can be further increased, and the light with a more complicated and beautiful design. L can be emitted.

It is the schematic which shows the optical fiber illuminating device of one Example (1st Example) of this invention. It is a principal part expanded sectional view of the optical fiber in FIG. It is the schematic which shows the light source part of the optical fiber illuminating device of 1st Example. It is the schematic which shows the optical fiber illuminating device of the other Example of this invention. It is the schematic which shows the optical fiber illuminating device of the other Example (2nd Example) of this invention. It is an enlarged plan view which shows the principal part of the optical fiber illuminating device of the other Example of this invention.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 ... Optical fiber illuminating device 12 ... Planar light-emitting body 14 ... Light source part 14a ... Light source 14b ... Condensing device 16 ... Drive circuit 18 ... Optical fiber 20 ... Sheet 22 ... Converging part 24 ... Reflective member 26 ... Light exit 28 ... Wiring

Claims (8)

A sheet-like light emitter that forms a sheet with a plurality of optical fibers substantially parallel to each other, and has a light outlet that reaches the core of the optical fiber at a predetermined position on the surface of the sheet;
A light source attached to an end of the optical fiber and supplying light toward the inside of the optical fiber;
An optical fiber illumination device comprising: a drive circuit that controls light emission of the light source unit.   2. The optical fiber is knitted or arranged so as to face in two or more directions, and a light source part is attached to each end of the optical fiber facing in each direction. An optical fiber illuminating device described in 1.   The optical fiber illuminating apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the optical fibers substantially parallel to each other are separated from each other, and the sheet is formed into a net shape.   The optical fiber illuminating device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein a light source unit is attached to both longitudinal ends of the optical fiber.   The optical fiber illuminating device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the light source part is provided with an aromatic substance containing part for containing an aromatic substance.   6. The optical fiber illuminator according to claim 1, wherein the planar light emitter is disposed in water and used.   The optical fiber illuminating device according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the light source unit includes a light source including red, green, and blue LEDs as one unit. It is a manufacturing method of the optical fiber illuminating device in any one of Claims 1 thru | or 7, Comprising:
A method of manufacturing an optical fiber illuminating device, wherein a laser light is applied to a surface of the optical fiber to form a light outlet having a depth reaching the core.