JP2007227074A - Surface light-emitting device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a surface light-emitting device of thin-shape, power saving, light-weight, and low cost, using a laminated body constituted of a plurality of light guide rods and LEDs. <P>SOLUTION: The surface light-emitting device (1) comprises a laminated body (10) constituted of a plurality of light guide rods (11), power sources (30, 40) which make the light enter from end faces (16, 17) of the laminated body, and a light deflection means (R) which makes the light incident from the end faces of the laminated body emit from the light emitting face (12) of the laminated body. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a surface light-emitting device, and more particularly to a surface light-emitting device using a laminate composed of a plurality of light guide bars.

  In a surface light-emitting device used for a backlight such as a liquid crystal display, surface-emitting illumination is realized by diffusing light from a linear light source such as a neon tube using a flat light guide plate (for example, Patent Documents). 1).

  It is also known that a plurality of relatively inexpensive LEDs are arranged on a substrate at equal intervals and used as a surface emitting illumination device for directly illuminating a signboard or the like from the back side.

Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 11-237629

  However, it has not been known to use a laminate of light guide bars to construct a surface light emitting device for use in a display or lighting in a building.

  Then, an object of this invention is to provide the surface emitting device using the laminated body comprised from a some light guide rod.

  Another object of the present invention is to provide a surface light emitting device that is thin, power-saving, lightweight, and inexpensive by using a laminate composed of a plurality of light guide bars and LEDs.

  Furthermore, an object of the present invention is to provide a surface light emitting device that emits light, easy, and ecological colors using a laminate composed of a plurality of light guide bars and LEDs.

  In order to solve the above-described problem, a surface light emitting device according to the present invention includes a laminate composed of a plurality of light guide rods, a light source that emits light from an end face of the laminate, and an incident face from the end face of the laminate. It has a light deflection means for emitting light from the light emitting surface of the laminate.

  Furthermore, in the surface light emitting device according to the present invention, the light deflecting means is preferably formed by subjecting a light guide rod made of resin to a roughening treatment.

  Furthermore, in the surface light emitting device according to the present invention, it is preferable that the light deflecting means has a random uneven shape provided on the light emitting surface of the light guide bar.

  Furthermore, in the surface light emitting device according to the present invention, the light deflecting means is preferably a dot-shaped, V-shaped or U-shaped groove provided on the light-emitting surface of the light guide rod.

  Furthermore, in the surface emitting device according to the present invention, it is preferable that the light source is composed of a plurality of LEDs, and the plurality of LEDs are arranged corresponding to each of the plurality of light guide bars.

  Furthermore, the surface light emitting device according to the present invention preferably further includes a plurality of reflectors for connecting a plurality of LEDs and a plurality of light guide bars, respectively. This is because the light from each LED is efficiently incident on the light guide rod.

  Furthermore, it is preferable that the surface light emitting device according to the present invention further includes a control unit for emitting different colors from a plurality of LEDs and displaying a stripe pattern on the laminate. By displaying different colors for each light guide bar, a stripe pattern is displayed on the entire laminate.

  According to the present invention, since surface emitting illumination is performed by light from the end faces of a plurality of light guide bars, it is possible to provide a thin, power-saving, lightweight, and inexpensive surface emitting device.

  In addition, according to the present invention, light is emitted from the roughened resin surface, so that it is possible to emit light, easy, and ecological colors.

  Hereinafter, a surface light emitting device according to the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 is a front view of a wall-mounted panel surface light-emitting device 1 configured as a wall-mounted panel according to the present invention as viewed from the light-emitting surface side. FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line AA ′ in FIG. In the present embodiment, the wall-mounted panel type surface light emitting device 1 is set to 500 × 500 mm. However, the size of the wall-mounted panel type light emitting device 1 is not limited to this, and can be formed in various sizes.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the wall-mounted panel type surface light emitting device 1 includes a laminate 10 in which a plurality of light guide bars 11 are laminated, a frame 20, a first LED light source unit 30, and a second LED light source unit 40. Etc. The first and second LED light source units 30 and 40 are arranged so as to sandwich the laminate 10 from above and below in the drawing in FIG. 1 and are fixed in the frame body 20. Further, a plate-shaped protective plate 21 made of a translucent resin is disposed on the light emitting surface side (upper side in FIG. 2) of the laminate 10. A reflective sheet 50 is disposed on the back side of the laminate 10 (the lower side in the drawing in FIG. 2).

  The protective plate 21 may be formed of a transparent resin, and the surface light emitting device 1 may not have the protective plate 21. Further, the reflection sheet 50 helps to efficiently reflect the light from the first and second LED light source units 30 and 40 toward the light emitting surface, but is not necessarily provided in the surface light emitting device 1. . Furthermore, in order to control the light from the surface emitting side, a diffusion sheet or a prism sheet may be disposed in the laminate 10.

  Moreover, in the example of FIG.1 and FIG.2, although the LED light source part was arrange | positioned at the upper and lower sides of the laminated body 10, when a light quantity is enough, an LED light source part can also be arrange | positioned only at one side.

  FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an outline of the first LED light source unit 30.

  The first LED light source unit 30 includes a plurality of LEDs 31, a circuit board 31, a reflector unit 33, a circuit element 34, and the like. A plurality of LEDs 31 are arranged at equal intervals on the circuit board 32, and each LED is individually covered with a reflector portion 33. Inside the reflector part 33, aluminum vapor deposition is made, and has a function of transmitting light from the LED 31 to the light guide bar 11 efficiently. In addition, the inside of the reflector part 33 may be mirror-finished or may be coated with white paint.

  Each LED 31 is a 3-in-1 type LED in which an R color LED element 35, a G color LED element 36, and a B color LED element 37 are packaged together, and a plurality of LEDs 31 are mixed depending on the color of light from each element according to an input signal. Color emission can be performed. Each LED 31 emits light in a color designated by the current supplied from the power supply unit 39 according to the control timing and the designated color by the control unit 38. Each LED 31 may be an R single color LED, a G single color LED, a B single color LED, or a W (white) single color LED.

  The control unit 38 and / or the power supply unit 39 is configured in the circuit element 34.

  In addition, since the structure of the 2nd LED light source part 40 is the same as that of the 1st LED light source part mentioned above, the description is abbreviate | omitted here.

  FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an example of the light guide bar 11.

  The light guide bar 11 is made of polycarbonate resin having a length of 450 mm, a width of 12 mm, and a width (height) of 5 mm. The light guide rod 11 is made of MMA resin, MS resin, polyester resin such as PET, PSt resin, COP resin, COC resin, PP resin or PE resin, olefin resin, PVC resin, ionomer resin, glass or the like. May be.

  The light guide bar 11 is incident on the light emitting surface 12, the back surface 13 facing the light emitting surface 12, the side surfaces 14 and 15 adjacent to the light emitting surface 12, and the light emitting surface 12 with an inclination of approximately 90 degrees. And end surfaces 16 and 17 for the purpose. The light emitting surface 12 of the light guide bar 11 has light deflecting means for emitting light from the LRD light source unit 30 and / or the LED light source unit 40 incident from the end surface 16 and / or the end surface 17 from the light emitting surface 12 side. Is formed. The light deflection means will be described later.

  The back surface 13 and the side surfaces 14 and 15 of the light guide bar 11 are polished and finished to be smooth and clear so that the light that has entered the light guide bar 11 is not totally reflected on these surfaces and emitted to the outside. ing. Instead of performing a smooth and clear polishing finish, a low refractive index layer or a reflective layer may be provided on the back surface 13 and the side surfaces 14 and 15 of the light guide rod 11. Furthermore, in order to reflect light to the light emitting surface 12 effectively, the back surface 13 is mirror-finished, coated with a high refractive index or high reflectance paint, or the same light deflecting means as the light emitting surface 12. Can be formed. Further, the end surfaces 16 and 17 of the light guide bar 11 are subjected to a smoothing process so that the light from the first and second LED light source units 30 and 40 easily enters the light guide bar 11.

  The entire light emitting surface 12 of the light guide bar 11 is subjected to a roughening treatment, and light entering from the end face 16 or 17 is scattered by the fine uneven shape generated by the roughening, and is emitted from the light emitting surface 12. To do. The light guide rod 11 is uniformly formed with a V-shaped (or U-shaped) groove R (depth: 3 μm, width: 20 μm, pitch: 1 mm) along the z direction by the roughening treatment. These grooves function as light deflecting means.

  That is, the light deflection means (R) has a groove, dot shape, or uneven shape formed on the light emitting surface 12 regularly or randomly. Further, the light deflection means is preferably formed on the entire light emitting surface 12 along the x direction, the y direction, the z direction and / or the w direction shown in FIG. 4, for example.

  In addition, it is also possible to provide the pitch of the V-shaped (or U-shaped) grooves so as to be different between the end portion and the central portion of the light guide rod 11. In places where the pitch of the V-shaped (or U-shaped) grooves is short, there is much scattering and a lot of light emission. Therefore, the pitch of the end portion (side closer to the LED light emitting portion) of the light guide rod 11 is increased (for example, 50 mm), and the pitch of the central portion (side far from the LED light emitting portion) of the light guide rod 11 is decreased (for example, 50 μm). ), It is possible to control the light guide rod 11 so as to emit light uniformly. The shape, depth, width, and pitch of the grooves are not limited to these values, and other optimum values can be taken as appropriate.

  Moreover, the roughening process of the light emission surface 12 can be performed by cutting with a saw, cutting with an automatic cutter (for example, NC router), blasting, surface processing with a polishing machine, embossing, or the like.

  In cutting with a saw, when the light guide bar is cut out from a bulk of resin by an automatic circular saw cutter or the like, the surface cut by the saw blade can be used as the light emitting surface 12 as it is. In this case, the back surface 13, the side surfaces 14 and 15, the upper surface 16, the lower surface 17, and the like need to be polished and finished.

  Further, when the light guide bar is cut out from the resin bulk by an automatic circular saw cutter or the like by an automatic cutting machine, the cut surface can be used as the light emitting surface 12 by programming the finishing of the cut surface.

  Furthermore, in the blasting process, particles can be ejected onto the surface of the light guide rod 11 with a high-speed injector to form a random concavo-convex shape to form the light emitting surface 12.

  Further, for example, a file is used as a polishing tool, and the surface of the light guide rod 11 is processed so that the surface is scraped off, whereby the light emitting surface 12 can be obtained.

  Further, when the light guide bar 11 is manufactured by extrusion molding, a light emitting surface is obtained by providing a random uneven shape on the mold itself or by passing between rolls for surface mat processing before cooling after molding. 12 can also be formed.

  FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing the relationship between the laminated body 10 and the first LED light source unit 30.

  The laminated body 10 is configured by stacking a plurality (for example, 45) of the plurality of light guide bars 11 so that the light emitting surface 12 faces the light emitting surface of the surface light emitting device 1 and the side surfaces 14 and 15 of the plurality of light guide bars 11 are aligned. Yes. Further, the size of the cover portion 33 of the first LED light source unit 30 is configured to be exactly the same as the size of one end face 16 or 17 of one light guide rod, On the other hand, one cover part 33 corresponds. That is, one LED 31 is arranged corresponding to one light guide rod 11.

  Each LED 31 is preferably arranged so that the light emission center of each LED 31 is parallel to the longitudinal direction of each light guide bar 11, and the light emission center of each LED 31 is the light guide bar 11. More preferably, the LEDs 31 are arranged so as to coincide with the center line in the longitudinal direction.

  Although not shown, each cover part 43 and each LED 41 of the second LED light source part 40 are also on the other end face 16 or 17 side of the light guide bar 11, similarly to the first LED light source part 30. Has been placed.

  Next, a light emitting method in the surface light emitting device will be described.

  First, the light emitted from each LED 31 of the first LED light source unit 30 enters the light guide bar 11 from one side of the end face 16 or 17 of the light guide bar 11. The light that has entered the light guide rod 11 travels toward the LED 41 disposed on the opposite side while being totally reflected by the back surface 13 and the side surfaces 14 and 15 of the light guide rod 11 (see, for example, the light L in FIG. 2). ). However, since the light deflecting means (R) is provided on the entire light emitting surface 12 of the light guide bar 11, the light incident on the light guide bar 11 enters the light deflector and causes scattering (for example, FIG. 2 point P). A predetermined amount of the scattered light is emitted to the outside from the light emitting surface 12 side. There is also light that scatters and returns to the light guide rod 11 again, but is reflected by the back surface 13, the side surfaces 14 and 15 of the light guide rod 11, the reflective sheet 50, etc. The light is emitted to the outside of the surface light emitting device 1.

  As described above, since the light guide bar 11 has the back surface 13 and the side surfaces 14 and 15 all polished to be smooth and clear, the light that has entered the light guide bar 11 substantially enters the light guide. The light guide bar 11 travels only within the bar 11 or emits light from the light emitting surface 12 of the light guide bar 11 and is not diffused to other adjacent light guide bars 11.

  FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating another example of a method of laminating light guide bars.

  In the above-described example (see FIG. 5), the side surfaces of the light guide rods 11 are arranged and stacked as they are. However, as shown in FIG. 6, the convex portion 101 is formed along the side surface 14 of the light guide rod 100, and the concave portion 102 is formed along the side surface 15. The concave portion 102 can be laminated so as to fit in the direction of arrow B in the figure. In FIG. 6, the light guide rod 100 is observed from the end face side.

  By comprising in this way, it becomes possible to assemble the laminated body 10 and / or the surface emitting device 1 easily.

  FIG. 7 is a diagram showing still another example of a method for laminating light guide bars.

  In the example shown in FIG. 5, the side surfaces of the light guide rods 11 are stacked side by side as they are. However, as shown in FIG. 7A, a convex portion 111 is formed along the side surface 14 of the light guide rod 110, a concave portion 112 is formed along the side surface 15, and the convex portions of the adjacent light guide rods 100 are formed. The part 101 and the recessed part 102 can be laminated so as to be fitted while sliding in the direction of arrow C in FIG. In Fig.7 (a), the light guide rod 110 is observed from the end surface side.

  With this configuration, it is possible to easily assemble the laminate 10 and / or the surface light emitting device 1, and the light guide bars can be integrated and laminated without using an adhesive or the like. It becomes possible to strengthen the structure of the body.

  FIG. 8 is a diagram for explaining the color development of the laminate.

  FIG. 8A shows a case in which a laminated body 10 composed of a plurality of light guide bars 11 is used. As described above, since the light guide bar 11 has the back surface 13 and the side surfaces 14 and 15 all polished to be smooth and clear, the light that has entered the light guide bar 11 substantially enters the light guide. The light travels only in the bar 11, emits light only from the light emitting surface 12 of the light guide bar 11 that has entered, and does not diffuse to the other light guide bar 11 adjacent thereto. That is, the control unit 38 can display the stripe pattern on the stacked body 10.

  Therefore, as shown in FIG. 8A, when the LED 31 corresponding to each light guide bar 11 emits R light and B light alternately, the light emitting surface 12 of the light guide bar 11 also alternately turns to R color and B light. A color is emitted.

  FIG. 8B shows a case in which a stacked body 200 composed of a plurality of other light guide bars 120 is used. Unlike the light guide bar 11, the other light guide bar 120 does not perform a smooth and clear polishing finish on the side surface adjacent to the light emitting surface. That is, in the light guide rod 120, the side surface adjacent to the light emitting surface is also roughened in the same manner as the light emitting surface. Therefore, the light that has entered the light guide rod 120 is not totally reflected at the side surface adjacent to the light emitting surface. Therefore, the light that has entered the light guide rod 120 is diffused to the left and right adjacent light guide rods, and the laminated body 200 as a whole emits a color in which a plurality of colors are mixed.

  Therefore, as shown in FIG. 8B, when the LED 31 corresponding to each light guide bar 120 emits R light and B light alternately, the laminate 200 as a whole has a mixture of R and B colors. Will emit light reddish purple light.

  FIG. 9 is a diagram for explaining another color development of the laminate.

  In the example of FIG. 9, R light is emitted from the first LED light source 30 in the upper part of the light guide bar 11 in the figure, and B color is emitted from the second LED light source 40 in the lower part of the light guide bar 11 in the figure. As a result, the upper region 901 of the stacked body 10 emits R color light, the lower region 903 of the stacked body 10 emits B color light, and the intermediate portion 902 of the stacked body 10 mixes R and B colors. It emits reddish purple light. The color mixing ratio can be arbitrarily determined by controlling the emission intensity of the first LED light source 30 and the second LED light source 40.

  FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view of another panel type surface light emitting device according to the present invention.

  The other panel type surface light emitting device 2 shown in FIG. 10 is different from the panel type surface light emitting device 1 shown in FIG. The difference is that the second protective plate 23 is provided. Note that the second protective plate 23 is a plate-like body formed of a translucent resin, like the protective plate 21.

  Further, in the panel type surface light emitting device 2, the back surface 13 has a light guide bar 11 ′ having light deflecting means in the same manner as the light emitting surface 12. Therefore, the panel type surface light emitting device 2 is configured so that surface light emission can be performed from both surfaces of the laminate 10. In the panel type surface light emitting device 2, even if the light guide rod 11 having the light deflecting means only on the light emitting face 12 is used, the light is deflected and reflected on the second protective plate 23 side by the light deflecting means. Can also emit surface light.

  As described above, in the surface light emitting device 1 according to the present invention, light is emitted from the roughened resin surface of the light guide rod, so that light is emitted from a light, easy, ecological color such as ice. It has become possible to construct a lighting device.

  As described above, the surface light emitting device according to the present invention has been described using a wall-mounted panel type. However, the surface light emitting device according to the present invention takes advantage of the light weight and simple configuration, and other than the panel type. It can be used as many indoor and outdoor lighting fixtures and building materials.

It is the front view seen from the light emission surface side of the wall-hanging panel type surface light-emitting device which concerns on this invention. It is sectional drawing of the wall-hanging panel type surface emitting device shown in FIG. It is a figure which shows schematic structure of an LED light source part. It is a figure which shows an example of a light guide bar. It is a perspective view which shows the relationship between a laminated body and an LED light source part. It is a figure which shows the other example of the lamination | stacking method of a light guide bar. It is a figure which shows the further another example of the lamination | stacking method of a light-guide rod. It is a figure for demonstrating the color development of a laminated body. It is a figure for demonstrating the other light emission of a laminated body. It is sectional drawing of the other panel type surface emitting device which concerns on this invention.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1, 2 Wall-mounted panel type | mold surface light-emitting device 10,200 Laminated body 11,11 ', 100,110,120 Light guide rod 20,22 Frame 30 1st LED light source part 31,41 LED
33, 43 Reflector section 38 Control section R Light deflection means

Claims (8)

A laminate composed of a plurality of light guide rods;
A light source for entering light from an end face of the laminate,
Light deflecting means for causing light incident from the end face of the laminate to be emitted from the light emitting surface of the laminate;
A surface light emitting device.   The surface light-emitting device according to claim 1, wherein the light deflection unit is formed by subjecting the light guide rod made of resin to a roughening treatment.   The surface light-emitting device according to claim 1, wherein the light deflection unit has a random uneven shape provided on the light-emitting surface of the light guide rod.   The surface light-emitting device according to claim 1, wherein the light deflecting unit is a dot-shaped, V-shaped or U-shaped groove provided on the light-emitting surface of the light guide rod.   The surface light-emitting device according to claim 1, wherein the light source includes a plurality of LEDs.   The surface emitting device according to claim 4, wherein the plurality of LEDs are arranged corresponding to each of the plurality of light guide bars.   The surface emitting device according to claim 6, further comprising a plurality of reflectors for connecting the plurality of LEDs and the plurality of light guide bars, respectively.   The surface emitting device according to claim 7, further comprising a control unit configured to emit different colors from the plurality of LEDs and display a stripe pattern on the stacked body.

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