JP2007163605A - Illuminator and video display device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an illuminator capable of illuminating, from the inside with sufficient illuminance, a symbol such as a character provided on the surface of a transparent member by efficiently diffusing light from a light source. <P>SOLUTION: The light which is emitted conically from an LED 13, further spread via a half cylindrical recessed part 10f serving as a concave lens, and made incident on a satin finished slope 10b of a symbol forming section 10a is reflected so as to diffuse with an approximately perpendicular downward direction as the center. Then, the reflected light is further reflected by a recessed part slope 10e of a recessed part 10d, or reaches the recessed part slope 10e again after reflected by a front face 10-1 and passes through the space of the recessed part 10d to enter the symbol forming section 10a again, or passes through a neck section 10g to be transmitted on a symbol 14 forming side of the symbol forming section 10a, and illuminates the symbol 14 from the inside of the transparent member. At this time, the half cylindrical recessed part 10f, the satin finished slope 10b, and the recessed part slope 10e reduce the unevenness in illuminance by diffusing the light without greatly losing the light quantity to illuminate the symbol 14. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an illuminating device that illuminates characters and symbols such as company names and trademarks, and a flat panel display or flat panel using a liquid crystal panel or a plasma display panel (PDP) to which the illuminating device is applied. The present invention relates to a video display device such as a panel color television receiver.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, there are some devices that brightly illuminate characters and symbols provided on a transparent portion of a front panel of an electronic device.

Conventionally known technologies for illuminating characters on a transparent plate are disclosed in Patent Literature 1 and Patent Literature 2.
Patent Document 1 describes an edge light transparent plate used for audio equipment, video equipment, and the like, and this edge light transparent plate is subjected to white coating or white printing on an end surface. .
In this edge light transparent plate, characters are printed on the back side of a substantially strip-shaped transparent plate, illumination is arranged on one side surface of this transparent plate, and the other side surface (end surface) facing this one side surface. A white portion is formed by painting or printing. The light reflected from the white portion painted on the end face is used to illuminate an illuminating portion such as a character only by illumination from one side surface with a single light bulb.

Patent Document 2 describes an electronic device including a front panel.
This electronic device is an electronic device in which a front panel is provided in a device main body, the front panel is formed of a light guide, and a pattern portion is provided on the light guide. And by providing the light irradiating means for making the light incident on the light guide, the light incident on the light guide from the light irradiating means is reflected on the pattern part and emitted to the front side of the light guide. . As a result, the illumination light source on the front panel is reduced, and a large number of patterns are easily illuminated.

In addition, in a video display device such as a flat panel display using a PDP or a liquid crystal panel, a flat panel color television receiver, a front assembly having a transparent member is provided on the front surface, and a company name, a trademark, etc. are provided on the front surface of the transparent member. The letters and symbols are printed, light is projected from one side of the transparent member to the inside of the transparent member by a plurality of light sources, and the letters and symbols printed by the light are illuminated so that they float in the air. There are proposals that make it look shining.
JP 60-213987 (first page, FIG. 3) JP 2004-326901 A (2nd page, FIG. 2, FIG. 3)

However, in the illumination structure using the edge light transparent plate described in Patent Document 1, characters arranged near the end face where the white portion is formed can be illuminated relatively brightly, but are provided at a position away from the end face. In other words, the reflected light cannot be used sufficiently and the brightness is insufficient, and the position to be provided is limited, so that the characters cannot be laid out freely.
Further, in the electronic device described in Patent Document 2, since the optical path from the light emitting diode (LED) that emits illumination light to the pattern portion on which characters are described is relatively long, reflection of light and the internal material of the light guide member The intensity distribution of light with respect to the optical axis is leveled and lowered due to scattering and absorption caused by the cause. For this reason, even when the illuminance is sufficient for confirming multiple patterns when an electronic device is used in a dark place, the light is not visible in a relatively bright place, such as indoors, because it is insufficiently illuminated. There was an inconvenience that became difficult.

  In addition, when a plurality of LEDs are used as a plurality of light sources in a conventional video display device in which characters and symbols are illuminated by the projected light so that they appear to shine in the air. Has a disadvantage in that the quality of the light deteriorates because a plurality of light rays are reflected on the transparent member due to unevenness of illumination light from the plurality of LEDs.

  In view of this point, the present invention proposes an illuminating device that can illuminate characters and symbols with sufficient illuminance with little unevenness and a video display device to which the illuminating device is applied.

  In order to solve the above problems, the illumination device of the present invention includes a flat plate-like transparent member on which a display object of characters or figures is printed on the back side, and a plurality of light sources that illuminate from one side of the transparent member, An illumination device that illuminates a display object with light from a light source that has passed through the inside of the transparent member, the optical axis of the light source being disposed so as to be substantially orthogonal to the back surface of the transparent member, The first inclined surface is formed on the side, and a concave portion having a second inclined surface is provided in the thickness direction of the plate from the back surface of the transparent member to reflect the light to the first inclined surface, and the inside of the transparent member. It is intended to guide in the surface direction.

  In order to solve the above problems, the video display device according to the present invention is a video display device in which a front member having a flat transparent member at least part of the periphery of the video display surface is provided on the front surface. A character or graphic display object printed on the side, a first inclined surface is formed on one side surface, and a concave portion having a second inclined surface in the thickness direction of the plate from the back surface is provided, A plurality of light sources for illuminating the display object are arranged so that the optical axis is substantially orthogonal to the back surface of the transparent member, and the light from the light source is reflected on the first inclined surface in the direction of the substantially surface inside the transparent member. It is something that is guided.

  According to the illuminating device and the image display device of the present invention configured as above, the light emitted from the plurality of light sources is first reflected in the plane direction inside the transparent member by the first inclined surface, and then the second Reflected in the surface direction of the transparent member through the inclined surface, the light is diffused more widely and is totally reflected between both the front and back surfaces of the transparent member. It is possible to increase the amount of light incident on the display object of characters or figures printed on the side from the inside of the transparent member, and to illuminate brightly.

  According to the illumination device and the image display device of the present invention, the unevenness of illumination light is reduced, the amount of light incident on the character or figure display object from the inner side of the transparent member is increased, and the display object is sufficiently illuminated. Can be illuminated.

    An example of a video display device according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.

  FIG. 3 shows a front perspective view of the video display device according to this example, and FIG. 4 shows a rear perspective view of the video display device. This example is applied to a liquid crystal display panel.

In FIG. 3, reference numeral 1 denotes a front assembly which is a front member disposed around the front surface of the video display surface, 2 denotes a video display screen of a liquid crystal panel, and in FIG. 4, 3 denotes a rear cover. Between the assembly 1 and the rear cover 3, a liquid crystal panel main body (not shown), a driving circuit thereof, a tuner unit, a speaker, and the like are incorporated.
In this example, the video display screen of the video display device is 46 inches, for example, and the depth is made extremely thin, for example, 9.8 cm.

  The front assembly 1 is configured as shown in FIGS. FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the front assembly 1, and FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the front assembly 1 as viewed from the front side.

  1, 2, 10, 11, and 12 indicate an outer frame, an inner frame, and a cover frame, which are substantially left-right symmetrical rectangular frames each having an opening that is substantially the same size as the video display screen. The assembly 1 includes the outer frame 10, the inner frame 11, the cover frame 12, and the sash 20. Here, the sash 20 is provided in a frame shape on the four outer edges of the outer frame 10, and includes sash sides 20 a, 20 a, 20 b, and 20 b.

As shown in FIG. 2, the outer frame 10 is formed into a substantially rectangular transparent frame shape by injection molding or the like using a material having high transparency such as acrylic resin (methyl methacrylate resin) or polycarbonate resin. And the screw insertion hole for fixing integrally with the inner frame 11 mentioned later, and the screw insertion hole when assembling the rear cover 3 are formed.
Further, as shown in FIG. 3, a display object such as a company name or a trademark (“ABCD” in the example of FIG. 3) 14 is printed on the lower frame portion of the rectangular transparent frame of the outer frame 10 to the right side. The sensor light receiving unit 15 and the indicator 16 are provided.
Here, the sensor light receiving unit 15 receives a signal from a remote controller such as infrared rays, and the indicator 16 displays a power ON / OFF state, presence / absence of timer setting, and the like.

The inner frame 11 is formed by injection molding with a material having good moldability such as polycarbonate resin or ABS resin, and openings 11L and 11R exposing the speakers are integrally formed on the left and right sides of the frame shown in FIG. For example, gloss coating is applied thereafter. Further, a screw hole for fixing to the outer frame 10 and an engagement hole for detachably mounting a cover frame 12 described later are provided.
The cover frame 12 is formed by injection molding with a material having good moldability and good shape stability such as polycarbonate resin or ABS resin, and is formed to have substantially the same frame size as the inner frame 11, and the inner side on the back side shown in FIG. An engagement claw (not shown) for detachably attaching to the frame 11 is provided.
The sash 20 is composed of two long sash sides 20a and 20a and two short sash sides 20b and 20b, each having a substantially U-shaped cross section made of metal such as aluminum. The glossy surface is easy to reflect.

  In the front assembly 1 configured as described above, the inner frame 11 is fixed to the outer frame 10 with screws, and the engaging claws of the cover frame 12 are inserted into the engaging holes of the inner frame 11, so that the cover frame 12 Is detachably attached to the inner frame 11. The sash sides 20a, 20a, 20b, and 20b are fixed to the four peripheral edges of the outer frame 10 that is a rectangular frame. By attaching the cover frame 12 to the inner frame 11, the entire front surface side of the inner frame 11 including the speaker mounting portions 11L and 11R is covered so as to give a clean appearance.

In a liquid crystal panel display having such a front assembly 1, first, a reinforcing member by a metal frame (not shown) is assembled on the back side of the liquid crystal panel 2 (see FIG. 3). Then, with the front surface of the liquid crystal panel 2 exposed from the rectangular opening of the outer frame 10, the rear cover 3 (see FIG. 4) covers the back surface, and the rear cover 3 and the reinforcing member are fixed. The outer frame 10 is clamped and fixed between the rear cover 3 and the inner frame 11 with screws. Then, the cover frame 12 is provided on the inner frame 11, and the sash sides 20a, 20a, 20b, and 20b are fixed to the periphery of the outer frame 10.
Finally, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the liquid crystal panel display is fixed to the stand 9 to form a liquid crystal panel display device.

In the liquid crystal panel display device of this example, a rectangular frame-shaped cover frame 12 is arranged around the video display screen of the liquid crystal panel 2, and the transparent frame portion of the outer frame 10 is exposed on the outer periphery thereof. A sash 20 is provided. For this reason, since the liquid crystal panel 2 looks as if it is floating and the cover frame 12 can be detachably mounted, for example, the user can easily replace the cover frame 12 of various colors and patterns. You can change it to your liking and enjoy it.
In the example of FIG. 3, the transparent outer frame 10 is provided on the entire upper, lower, left, and right sides of the display screen, but only a part of the surface such as the lower portion may be transparent.

  Next, an illuminating device that illuminates a symbol 14 that is a display object provided on the outer frame 10 of the liquid crystal panel display device shown in FIG. 3 will be described with reference to FIGS.

First, a symbol forming portion in which a character or graphic display object is provided on the outer frame 10 will be described with reference to FIGS.
FIGS. 5A to 5C show the lower frame of the outer frame 10 with both sides of the symbol forming portion 10a formed with the symbol 14 “ABCD” formed thereon. 5A is a perspective view seen from the front side of the symbol forming portion 10a made of a transparent resin material, FIG. 5B is a perspective view seen from the back side, and FIG. 5C is a partially enlarged perspective view of the cross section of FIG. 5B. FIG. 6 shows an example of a cross-sectional shape of the symbol forming portion 10a. The cross-sectional portion of the symbol forming portion 10a shown in FIG. 5C shows the LED 13 and the sash side 20a as a light source, and the light emitted from the LED 13 is transparent. The example of the optical path in a member is shown collectively.

Symbol forming section 10a, for example, as shown in FIGS. 5A and 6, the height W of the frame is 50 mm, substantially rectangular parallelepiped to the top of the rear 10-2 of the transparent member of the lower portion of the thickness _{t 0} is 3.5mm The protruding portion 10c is provided. As shown in FIGS. 5B and 6, the protruding portion 10c has one surface of the rectangular parallelepiped and the upper surface 10-3 flush with each other, and the thickness t1 from the front surface 10-1 side is 5.2 mm. Formed.
A flat inclined surface 10b, which is a first inclined surface, is provided at the upper end of the protruding portion 10c on the front surface 10-1. The slope 10b is subjected to a matte finish on the flat surface to form minute irregularities on the surface.
Here, the inclined surface 10b is formed such that the inclination angle θ shown in FIG. 6 with respect to the optical axis of the inclined surface 10b is θ = 45 °. This is because most of the reflected light from the slope 10b of the LED 13 is guided into the transparent member of the symbol forming portion 10a.
In addition, although it is advantageous in terms of the process that the matte processing is performed simultaneously with the molding of the outer frame 10 including the symbol forming portion 10a, only the slope 10b may be separately processed by a sandblast method or the like after the molding.

Further, as shown in FIG. 5B, four semi-cylindrical recesses 10f having a cylindrical curved surface are formed at the upper portion of the substantially rectangular parallelepiped protruding portion 10c on the back surface 10-2 side of the symbol forming portion 10a. Thus, a light diffusing lens portion is formed by the transparent member between the inclined surface 10b and the semi-cylindrical concave portion 10f.
Further, as shown in FIGS. 5B and 5C, a concave portion 10d having a substantially triangular cross section is formed on the back surface 10-2 side of the symbol forming portion 10a and below the protruding portion 10c. Here, the concave inclined surface 10e shown in FIG. 6 in which the normal line of the concave portion 10d formed by the triangular cross section is inclined upward is the second inclined surface.
In this example, as shown in FIG. 6, the recess 10 d has a right-angled triangle cross-section, and its inclined side is extended in the front-rear direction perpendicular to the paper surface to form a concave inclined surface 10 e that is flat and smooth. The For example, the thickness n of the neck portion 10g formed by the recess 10d and the front surface 10-1 is n = 1 mm, the distance H1 from the optical axis L0 is H1 = 11 mm, and the front surface 10− of the recess inclined surface 10e. The inclination angle φ with respect to 1 is φ = 20 °.

As shown in FIG. 6, the symbol 14 is provided at the position of the height G2 from the bottom surface 10-4 on the back surface 10-2 side of the symbol forming portion 10a. Here, the symbol 14 is printed upside down with a character string such as “ABCD” shown in FIG. 5B, for example. This printing is performed by silk printing using, for example, ink mixed with medium ink and fluorescent white ink.
As shown in FIG. 6, the symbol 14 such as a character printed here has a vertical size 2h of approximately 10 mm, and a distance G1 between the center of the symbol 14 in the vertical direction and the optical axis L0. The distance G2 from the bottom surface 10-4 of the symbol forming portion 10a is approximately 12 mm. Therefore, in this example, the distance H0 between the optical axis L0 and the bottom surface 10-4 is about 47 mm.

Hereinafter, the cross-sectional distribution of illumination light by the symbol forming portion 10a of the outer frame 10 of this example and the illuminance of the formation surface of the symbol 14 will be described.
As light distribution characteristics in the light emission of the LED 13 used in this example, it is assumed that only light within a cone of ± 10 ° around the optical axis at the maximum in the direction of the optical axis L0 is effective. The description will be made on the assumption that it can be ignored in the spreading region, and that the optical axis of the LED 13 is arranged so as to be substantially orthogonal to the front surface 10-1 of the outer frame 10 as described above.

First, the symbol 14 made up of characters and the like, and the cross section and illumination surface of the symbol forming portion 10a when the symbol 14 is illuminated will be described.
FIG. 7 shows an arrangement of “ABCD” in the example of the character string of the symbol 14 shown in FIG. The symbol 14 has, for example, a width p ₁ of p ₁ = 14 mm, a height q ₁ of q ₁ = 10 mm, a pitch p _{0 of} each character of p ₀ = 15 mm, and a width p = 4 × p ₀ = 60 mm. , And is formed in a region having a height q = 12 mm, as shown in FIG. Note that q ₁ = 2h.
Then, a cross section 10p, parallel to the xy plane in the xyz coordinate system shown in FIG. 8, the depth (thickness direction) _{t 0} in the region a width p. The illumination surface 10q indicated by symbol 14 is a region having a width p and a height q on the back surface 10-2 which is a surface parallel to the xz plane.
In this example, as shown in FIG. 8, the LED 13 is disposed for each of the four semi-cylindrical recesses 10f formed at a pitch u.

The optical path of the light emitted from the LEDs 13 arranged in this way will be described with reference to FIG.
First, an optical path in a state where the slope 10b of the symbol forming portion 10a is not processed with a satin finish will be described. That is, most of the directional components of the light incident on and reflected by the inclined surface 10b are directed downward at right angles, so that the front surface 10-1, the rear surface 10-2, and the inclined surface 10b of the symbol forming portion 10a are totally reflected for simplicity. It will be explained as a thing.
The light emitted from the LED 13 and traveling on the optical axis L0 indicated by the solid line in FIG. 6 is reflected downward by the inclined surface 10b of the symbol forming portion 10a and then totally reflected by the concave inclined surface 10e toward the front surface 10-2. Is done. Then, the light is further totally reflected by the front surface 10-2, passes through the neck portion 10g, proceeds downward while repeating reflection between the front surface 10-1 and the back surface 10-2 of the symbol forming portion 10a, and reaches the bottom surface 10-4. It reaches. Then, a part of the bottom surface 10-4 is reflected upward as it is, and the light penetrating the bottom surface 10-4 is reflected upward by the metal surface of the sash side 20a, and again from the bottom surface 10-4, the symbol forming portion 10a. Is incident on. Here, the reflectance of the metal surface of the sash side 20a is, for example, about 20%.

Further, the light traveling in the direction of L1 indicated by a broken line and spreading upward with respect to the optical axis L0 of the LED 13 is reflected downward by the inclined surface 10b of the symbol forming portion 10a in the same manner as the light traveling in the direction of the optical axis L0. Further, the light is totally reflected toward the front surface 10-2 by the concave inclined surface 10e. The light reflection position at this time is shifted upward with respect to the reflection position of the front surface 10-2 with the light on the optical axis L0.
Since the incident angle of the light totally reflected by the front surface 10-2 to the concave inclined surface 10e is made smaller than the critical angle, a part of the light penetrates the concave inclined surface 10e and travels into the air of the concave 10d. Then, it again enters the transparent member below the concave portion 10d of the symbol forming portion 10a, totally reflects off the back surface 10-2 of the symbol forming portion 10a, proceeds downward, and reaches the bottom surface 10-4. Then, a part of the bottom surface 10-4 is reflected upward as it is, and the light penetrating the bottom surface 10-4 is reflected upward by the metal surface of the sash side 20a, and again from the bottom surface 10-4, the symbol forming portion 10a. Is incident on.
Although not shown, other light is reflected by the concave inclined surface 10e toward the front surface 10-2, and then enters the concave inclined surface 10e again to penetrate or be reflected. To the bottom 10-4.

In addition, the light traveling downward in the direction of L2 indicated by the alternate long and short dash line and extending downward with respect to the optical axis L0 of the LED 13 is reflected downward by the inclined surface 10b of the symbol forming portion 10a in the same manner as the light traveling in the direction of the optical axis L0. However, in this case, it does not reach the concave inclined surface 10e and is directly reflected by the front surface 10-2. The light reflection position at this time is shifted downward with respect to the reflection position of the front surface 10-2 with the light on the optical axis L0.
The light totally reflected by the front surface 10-2 passes through the neck portion 10g, is totally reflected by the rear surface 10-2, proceeds downward in the symbol forming portion 10a, and reaches the bottom surface 10-4. Then, the light reflected from the bottom surface 10-4 is reflected upward, and the light penetrating through the bottom surface 10-4 is reflected upward by the metal surface of the sash side 20a, and enters the symbol forming portion 10a again from the bottom surface 10-4.

Further, although not shown in the drawing, the light that spreads in the width (x) direction shown in FIG. 8, that is, the front-rear direction of the paper surface shown in FIG. 6, with respect to the optical axis L0 of the LED 13 is a semi-cylindrical recess 10f having a cylindrical curved surface and a slope 10b. Since the transparent resin portion due to has a diffusing lens effect, it further expands in the width (x) direction shown in FIG. 8 of the symbol forming portion 10a, and the cross section 10p of light by the four LEDs 13 (see FIGS. 7 and 8). The illuminance variation in () is leveled.
Further, in the above description, it is assumed that the light is totally reflected on the inclined surface 10b for the sake of simplicity. However, in this example, the inclined surface 10b of the symbol forming portion 10a is processed with a matte finish. Compared with the case of leveling, it is possible to obtain a light diffusion effect at the time of reflection without greatly dimming, and to more evenly equalize the illuminance variation in the cross section 10p of light.

In the symbol illuminating device configured as described above, the illumination light emitted from the LED 13 in a conical shape and having a substantially circular cross section is spread flat in the x direction shown in FIG. Reflected by 10b and proceeds below symbol forming portion 10a. A part of the reflected light on the inclined surface 10b is totally reflected by the concave inclined surface 10e and reaches the front surface 10-1, and then substantially downward while repeating total reflection between the rear surface 10-2 and the front surface 10-1. Proceed to illuminate symbol 14.
Further, another part of the reflected light on the inclined surface 10b is totally reflected by the concave inclined surface 10e and the front surface 10-1, and reaches the concave inclined surface 10e again, and passes through the concave inclined surface 10e in the air. The light enters the lower portion of the concave portion 10d of the forming portion 10a and enters again, and then proceeds substantially downward to illuminate the symbol 14 while totally reflecting only the back surface 10-2 or between the back surface 10-2 and the front surface 10-1.
Further, as for another part of the reflected light, the reflected light from the slope 10b reaches the front surface 10-1 directly, and the light reflected by the front surface 10-1 is reflected as it is by the rear surface 10-2 and proceeds substantially downward. Illuminate the symbol 14. Further, the sign 14 is illuminated substantially while being totally reflected between the back surface 10-2 and the front surface 10-1.
The light reaching the bottom surface 10-4 is reflected upward by the metal surface of the bottom surface 10-4 or the sash side 20a to assist the illumination of the symbol 14.

Then, the symbol forming portion 10a of the symbol illumination device of the present embodiment, compared with the illumination light in a conventional transparent plate, the light components of the thickness t ₀ direction in the transparent member (y direction shown in FIG. 8) number Therefore, the amount of light incident on the symbol 14 can be increased. That is, the illuminance of the light emitted from the four LEDs 13 is substantially equal within the plane of the cross section 10p (see FIG. 8), and symbols such as characters provided on the back surface 10-2 side of the symbol forming portion 10a. 14 can be efficiently illuminated from the inside of the transparent member. When viewed from the front surface 10-1, the entire symbol 14 can be made to float in the transparent frame of the outer frame 10.

  Next, FIG. 5 shows the simulation of the symbol illumination device and the results of the illuminance of the cross section 10p and the illumination surface 10q, which were performed on Example 1 shown in FIG. 8, Example 9 described later, and Comparative Examples 1 and 2. Description will be made with reference to FIG. 15 and Tables 1 to 3.

The simulation conditions (configuration requirements) in the example of FIG. 8 were as follows.
(1) The outer frame 10 is made of acrylic resin, and the refractive index is 1.49.
(2) The inclined surface 10b has a sloped surface θ shown in FIG.
(3) The concave inclined surface 10e has an inclination φ shown in FIG.
(4) The wavelength of the LED 13 is 550 nm, the luminous flux is 1 [Lumen], the light spreading angle of the LED 13 is 10 °, and the number of light beams is 20.
(5) Of the light incident on the symbol 14, 8% is lost and 92% is diffusely reflected to the front 10-1 side.
(6) The cross section 10p has 120 divisions with a width p = 60 mm and 7 divisions with a depth t0 = 3.5 mm (one section is a 0.5 mm square).
(7) The illumination surface 10q has 160 divisions with a width p = 60 mm and 32 divisions with a height q = 12 mm (one section is a 0.375 mm square).
(8) The reflectance at the bottom surface 10-4 is 20%.
(9) Simulate the optical path of the light emitted from the four LEDs 13 arranged at the pitch u = 17 mm with respect to the symbol forming portion 10a formed according to the dimensions in the above-described example of FIG.
In addition, it was set as the value demonstrated in the example of FIG.5 and FIG.6 except the item mentioned above.

  Next, a modification of the illumination device of this embodiment is shown in FIG. In the example of FIG. 9, the arrangement pitch of the LEDs 13 is the same and the number of arrangements is three instead of the condition (9) in the example of FIG.

  As shown in FIG. 10, the illumination device of Comparative Example 1 is obtained by processing the slope 10b (2) of the conditions of the example of FIG. is there.

  As shown in FIG. 11, the illumination device of Comparative Example 2 is not provided with the slope 10b and the recess 10d (3) of the conditions of the example of FIG. 8, and the LED 13 is illuminated from above the symbol forming unit 10a through the diffusion sheet. It is what you do.

Table 1 is a table showing a list of simulation conditions in the above-described FIG. 8 example, FIG. 9 example, and Comparative Examples 1 and 2.

The simulation is performed by obtaining the illuminance for each divided section of the cross section 10p and the illumination surface 10q shown in FIGS.
That is, the width p of the symbol forming section 10a, the height q, a rectangular parallelepiped having a thickness of t _0, divided in advance predefined block for the illumination surface 10q of symbol 14 of the rear 10-2 side is printed and cross section 10p The amount of light incident on each section is obtained by optical path simulation, and the illuminance of each section is calculated.
The cross section 10p was divided into a total of 840 sections with a width of 120 divided by a depth of 7 and the illuminance and its distribution were calculated from the amount of light passing therethrough. Further, as described above, the illumination surface 10q is divided into a total of 5120 sections as 160 divisions x 32 divisions as described above, and the amount of light that is incident on the symbol 14 of the illumination surface 10q and reflected to the front surface 10-1 side. The illuminance and its distribution were calculated from
The symbol 14 used in the actual simulation is a character string “SONY” (registered trademark) that the applicant of the present application writes on his product.

  In the simulation of the illuminance with this symbol illumination device, for the cross section 10p, from the illuminance distribution in the width (x) direction and the thickness (y) direction of the cross section from the illuminance of each of the 840 sections, Uniformity in the cross-sectional direction can be grasped. Moreover, about the illumination surface 10q, it can grasp | ascertain the bright location and dark location in a character string, and its grade by obtaining each illuminance of 5120 divisions.

First, the results of simulation for the cross section 10p will be described with reference to Table 2.

Table 2 shows that a cross section 10p having a width (p = 60 mm) and a depth (t ₀ = 3.5 mm) is divided into three regions, that is, the front (front surface 10-1), the center of the cross section, and the printing surface (back surface 10-2). An average value and a standard deviation of each value are obtained, and an example of average illuminance and its variation is shown.
Here, since the cross section 10p is 120 × 7 divisions, it is calculated for the central three divisions and the front and rear two divisions. That is, the results are organized as three strip-shaped areas of 120 × 2 division (240 divisions in front), 120 × 3 division (central 360 divisions), and 120 × 2 division (back 240 divisions).
From Table 2, the average illuminance in the cross section 10p is larger in the example in FIG. 8, the example in FIG. 9, and the comparative example 1 than in the comparative example 2. Further, although the average illuminance in FIG. 8 is smaller than that in Comparative Example 1, the illuminance variation is halved. In the example of FIG. 9, the average illuminance is small and the illuminance variation is large.

FIGS. 12A and 12B and FIGS. 13A and 13B show the illuminance on the center line of the cross section 10p in FIGS. 8 and 9, and Comparative Examples 1 and 2, respectively, and the front side from this center line 1 mm (y = 1 mm). ), The illuminance on a line away from the back side (y = −1 mm) is obtained in the width (x) direction, and the illuminance distribution is graphed by a broken line.
The example shown in FIG. 12A (example in FIG. 8) has a relatively small variation in the entire width region, whereas the example shown in FIG. 12B (example in FIG. 9) has insufficient illuminance at both ends in the width direction, and is shown in FIG. 13A. In Comparative Example 1, although the illuminance is high as a whole, the variation in the amount of light around the optical axis of the LED 13 as the light source is remarkably reflected, and the illuminance variation in the cross section 10p is large. Moreover, since the comparative example 2 uses the diffusion sheet, the illumination intensity is small as a whole.
Here, in the example of FIG. 9, the variation in the central portion is as small as in the example of FIG. 8, so the lack of illuminance at both ends in the width direction is considered to be due to the small number (3) of LEDs 13 arranged, As shown in FIG. 8 and FIG. 9, the symbol forming portion 10a of the transparent member is configured to have a concave portion 10d having a semi-cylindrical concave portion 10f, a satin surface slope 10b, and a concave inclined surface 10e. It can be seen that the illuminance distribution is greatly improved.

Next, the result of simulation for the illumination surface 10q will be described with reference to Table 3.
Table 3 shows that the illumination surface 10q having a width (p = 60 mm) and a height (q = 12 mm) is divided into upper, middle, and lower regions of the illumination surface 10q in a strip shape having a width of about 3.5 mm. For the illuminance on the character string “SONY” (registered trademark), which is the symbol 14 printed from the side, the average value and the standard deviation are obtained for the examples of FIGS. And an example of the variation.

In Table 3, the upper illuminance, the central illuminance, and the lower illuminance are divided into 10 divisions by dividing the vertical direction of 160 x 32 divisions excluding the upper and lower edges into 10 divisions, and the results are organized as three strips of 160 x 10 divisions. is doing. As a result, an average value and a standard deviation of each value of 1600 sections divided by 160 × 10 were obtained, and an average illuminance and its variation were shown.
From Table 3, the average illuminance of FIG. 8, Example 9, and Comparative Example 1 is as large as 2 to 3 times that of Comparative Example 2 using the diffusion sheet. Further, the average illuminance in the example of FIG. 8 is larger than that of the example of FIG.
In any example, since many line portions of the printed characters are arranged around the center line (z = 0) of the character string “SONY” (registered trademark), the central illuminance in Table 3 is the upper and lower illuminance. It is a large value.

FIGS. 14A and 14B and FIGS. 15A and 15B show the illuminance on the center line (z = 0) of the illumination surface 10q in the width (x) direction in the example of FIG. 8, the example of FIG. 9, the comparative example 1 and the comparative example 2, respectively. The illuminance distribution is graphed and shown as a broken line.
In FIGS. 14A and 14B and FIGS. 15A and 15B, the peak portion of the polygonal line corresponds to the gap of the character string with much reflected light from the character string, and the valley corresponds to the gap of the character string with little reflected light. It is similar.
In the example shown in FIG. 14A (example in FIG. 8), the peak height (illuminance) is about 2000 to 2500 [lux], whereas in the example shown in FIG. 14B (example in FIG. 9), the illuminance is about 1500 [lux]. The peak gradually decreases at both ends in the width direction, and the illuminance is insufficient. In Comparative Example 1 shown in FIG. 15A, a large peak is seen in part, and the illuminance variation is large. Further, in Comparative Example 2 shown in FIG. 15B, the illuminance is about 700 [Lumen], the entire illuminance is small and the illuminance is insufficient, and the peaks gradually decrease at both ends in the width direction.
That is, it can be seen from Table 3 and the results of FIGS. 14A and 14B and FIGS. 15A and 15B that the illuminance on the illumination surface 10q according to the example of FIG. 8 is relatively averaged.

According to the illumination device of this example, as shown in FIG. 6 which is a cross-sectional view of the symbol forming portion 10a in the example of FIG. 8, the light emitted in a conical shape from the LED 13 is diffused by the semicylindrical recess 10f and the inclined surface 10b. It is further expanded through the lens part, enters the inclined surface 10b of the symbol forming part 10a, and is reflected downward at a substantially right angle. At the time of this reflection, since the slope 10b is satin-finished, the light travels downward, but diffuses more widely in the cross-sectional direction of the symbol forming portion 10a.
Then, the diffused light is reflected by the concave inclined surface 10e and the front surface 10-1 of the concave portion 10d, or is reflected by the concave inclined surface 10e and the front surface 10-1, and then reaches the concave inclined surface 10e again and reaches the concave portion 10d. And passes through the neck portion 10g without being reflected by the concave inclined surface 10e to reach the symbol 14 forming side of the symbol forming portion 10a and illuminate the symbol 14. The light reaching the bottom surface 10-4 of the symbol forming portion 10a is reflected here or reflected upward by the sash side 20a provided on the bottom surface 10-4, and the light is effectively utilized to illuminate the symbol 14. To do.
At this time, the light emitted from the LEDs 13 is diffused substantially uniformly, and the symbols 14 printed on the back surface 10-2 of the symbol forming portion 10a can be illuminated so that unevenness in illuminance is reduced in the vertical and horizontal directions.
And in this example, since the slope 10b of the symbol formation part 10a is satin-finished, compared with the case where light is leveled using a diffusion sheet between the light source and the transparent member, it is not greatly dimmed. The light diffusion effect at the time of reflection can be obtained, and the illuminance variation in the transverse cross section 10p of light can be more significantly equalized.

  Further, in the video display device of this example, the illuminance of the character or graphic symbol 14 provided in the lower symbol forming portion 10 a of the outer frame 10 is made substantially equal, and the symbol forming portion 10 a is transparent around the symbol 14. Since the member is exposed, it can be illuminated as if the symbol 14 is floating.

  According to the video display device of this example, a transparent frame-shaped outer frame 10 is provided for a flat display panel such as a liquid crystal panel, and a sash 20 is provided on the outer edge of the outer frame 10 to separate the interior space from the line. I am doing so. When the video screen is viewed, the video screen appears to float in the air, giving the viewer an open sense of design.

  Of course, the present invention is not limited to the above-described examples, and various other configurations can be adopted without departing from the gist of the present invention.

It is the perspective view seen from the front side which shows the example of the front assembly by one embodiment of this invention. It is the disassembled perspective view seen from the front side which shows the example of a front assembly. It is the perspective view seen from the front side which shows the liquid crystal panel display apparatus by one embodiment of this invention. It is the perspective view which looked at the liquid crystal panel display apparatus of the example of FIG. 3 from the back side. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The symbol formation part of the illuminating device by the example of one embodiment of this invention has fractured | expanded and shown the principal part of the outer frame, A is a principal part expansion perspective view seen from the front side, B is a back side The principal part expansion perspective view seen from C, C is a cross-sectional perspective view which expands and shows the principal part of B further. It is sectional drawing of the symbol formation part of the example of FIG. It is explanatory drawing which shows the example of the symbol provided in the symbol formation part of the example of FIG. It is explanatory drawing which shows the illumination state of the symbol in one Embodiment. It is explanatory drawing which shows the illumination state of the symbol in other embodiment. It is explanatory drawing which shows the illumination state of the symbol in the comparative example 1. It is explanatory drawing which shows the illumination state of the symbol in the comparative example 2. FIG. 8 shows the illuminance distribution (front side, center, back side) in the cross section in the example of FIG. 8 and FIG. 9, and A is a line graph of the example of FIG. 8, and B is a line graph of the example of FIG. 10 shows the illuminance distribution (front side, center, back side) at the cross section in the example of FIG. 10 and FIG. 11, and A is a line graph of Comparative Example 1 and B is a line graph of Comparative Example 2. FIG. The illuminance distribution (center) by the symbols in the examples of FIGS. 8 and 9 is shown, A is a line graph of the example of FIG. 8, and B is a line graph of the example of FIG. Illustrated in FIG. 10 and FIG. 11 is an illuminance distribution (center) with symbols, and A is a line graph of Comparative Example 1 and B is a line graph of Comparative Example 2.

Explanation of symbols

  10-1 ... front face, 10a ... symbol forming part, 10b ... slope, 10d ... concave part, 10e ... concave part inclined surface, 10f ... semi-cylindrical concave part, 10g ... neck part, 13 ... LED, 14 ... symbol

Claims (5)

It has a flat plate-like transparent member on which a display object of characters or figures is printed on the back side, and a plurality of light sources that illuminate from one side of the transparent member, and has passed through the inside of the transparent member In an illumination device that illuminates the display object with light from the light source,
The optical axis of the light source is disposed so as to be substantially orthogonal to the back surface of the transparent member,
Forming a first inclined surface on one side of the transparent member, and providing a recess having a second inclined surface in the thickness direction of the plate from the back surface of the transparent member;
An illumination apparatus, wherein the light is reflected by the first inclined surface and guided in a substantially plane direction inside the transparent member. The lighting device according to claim 1.
The lighting device, wherein the first inclined surface formed on one side surface of the transparent member is finished with a satin finish. The lighting device according to claim 2.
An illumination device, wherein a concave lens having a cylindrical curved surface is formed on a surface of the transparent member that faces the light source and is illuminated on the side surface on which the first inclined surface is formed. The lighting device according to claim 3.
An illumination apparatus, wherein the concave lens having the first inclined surface and the cylindrical curved surface finished with the matte finish is formed simultaneously with the molding of the transparent member. In a video display device provided with a front member on the front surface having a flat transparent member on at least a part of the periphery of the video display surface,
The transparent member has a display object of characters or figures printed on the back side, a first inclined surface is formed on one side surface, and a second inclination from the back surface in the thickness direction of the plate Providing a recess having a surface;
A plurality of light sources for illuminating the display object are arranged such that the optical axis is substantially orthogonal to the back surface of the transparent member,
An image display device characterized in that light from the light source is reflected by the first inclined surface and guided in a substantially plane direction inside the transparent member.

Images