JP2008116609A - Light transmission body for illuminator - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To refract light without using a parabolic mirror, to efficiently guide light and emit it, and to facilitate miniaturization and/or thin profile. <P>SOLUTION: Between a light guide section 1 and an extended section 4 where a light source 5 is arranged on an end face of its leading edge, there is provided an inflection section 3 where the light from the light source 5 that is made incident on the light guiding section 1 through the extended section 4 is inflected to be made incident on the light guiding section 1. The inflection section 3 is composed of a first inflection face 3a that is formed tilting to a face parallel to the light emitting face 1a of the light guiding section 1 and that makes light reflect on a reflection face 1b and then emit it from the light emitting face 1a, and a second inflection face 3b that is formed tilting greater than the first inflection face 3a to the face parallel to the light emitting face 1a and that makes the light reflect on the reflection face 1a and then emit it from the light emitting face 1a. The first inflection face 3a is provided on the end side of the light guiding section 1, and the second inflection face 3b is provided on the base side of the extended section 4. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a light guide for an illuminating device for causing a meter for a vehicle (automobile or single vehicle) or an operation panel of an electrical appliance to be displayed by entering light from a light emitting diode (hereinafter referred to as LED).

  Conventional light guides for this type of lighting device are used in, for example, automobile speedometers, in which the light guide has an elongated isosceles trapezoidal shape in front view and a substantially L-shaped side cross-sectional shape. The pieces are arranged adjacent to each other so as to have a substantially fan shape in plan view (Patent Document 1).

This light guide piece has a sawtooth shape in which one side in the thickness direction is a light reflecting surface, the other side is a light emitting surface, and many concave portions having a triangular cross section are formed in the length direction of the light reflecting surface. Further, a parabolic mirror having a reflection surface on the inside is provided at the corner portion of the light guide piece, and the light from the LED incorporated in the light guide piece is substantially parallel by the reflection surface of the parabolic mirror. So that the light enters the light guide formed by the light reflecting surface and the light emitting surface.
JP-A-9-152360

  However, since the conventional light guide for an illuminating device refracts and emits light from the LED by a parabolic mirror, it is necessary to lengthen the light guide in order to emit light from the light exit surface substantially uniformly. If you try to secure the length of the light guide part, the light source will move away from the exit surface and the light guide efficiency will deteriorate, while if you want to improve the light guide efficiency, you need to increase the thickness of the light guide part In addition to the fact that the light source is further away from the exit surface and the light emission efficiency is lowered, there is a problem that it is not possible to cope with downsizing and / or thinning.

  Therefore, the present invention provides a light guide for an illuminating device that can refract light without using a parabolic mirror, efficiently guide light to emit light, and can cope with downsizing and / or thinning. The issue is to provide.

A light guide for an illuminating device according to the present invention includes a light guide having a reflective surface on which a plurality of prisms are formed, a light emitting surface provided in parallel to the reflective surface, and an end of the light guide The light source is arranged at a right angle or obliquely at the end, and the light source is disposed on the end face of the tip, and the light source is provided between the light extension and the extension, and the light from the light source passing through the extension is bent. A light guide for an illuminating device having an inflection portion to be incident on the light guide portion, wherein the inflection portion is provided to be inclined with respect to the light emitting surface, and is emitted after being first reflected on the reflecting surface. The first curved surface that exits from the surface and the second curved surface that is provided with a larger inclination with respect to the light emitting surface than the first curved surface, and first reflects from the light emitting surface and then exits from the light emitting surface. The first curved surface is provided on the end portion side of the light guide portion, and the second curved surface is provided on the proximal end portion side of the extension portion following the first curved surface. Are, first flexure curved and the second variable curved surface respectively and satisfies the following equation.

nsin (180-Z1-2X)> 1 (1)
nsin (2X−Z2)> 1 (2)
nsin (2Z1 + 2X−90 + Z3)> 1 (3)
nsin (2Z2-2X + 90 + Z3)> 1 (4)
nsin (270-2Z1-2X-Z5)> 1 (5)
nsin (90-2Z2 + 2X-Z5)> 1 (6)
However,
n: Refractive index of the material of the light guide plate Z1: Angle formed between the surface parallel to the light emitting surface and the first curved surface Z2: Angle formed between the surface parallel to the light emitting surface and the second curved surface Z3: perpendicular to the light emitting surface Angle formed between the surface and the outer surface of the extension Z4: Angle formed between the surface perpendicular to the light emitting surface and the inner surface of the extension Z5: Between the surface parallel to the light emitting surface and the inner peripheral surface of the inflection portion Angle formed X: Angle formed between the reflecting surface of the prism and the reflecting surface facing the light emitting surface It is preferable that the light guide for lighting device of the present invention further adopts a configuration that satisfies the following formula.

Z5 = θ1 (7)
However, θ1: an angle formed by the reflecting surface and the reflected light reflected by the second curved surface and then reflected by the light emitting surface. In this case, the light reflected by the first curved surface is reflected by the reflecting surface, Since the light reflected by the bivariate curved surface is reflected by the light emitting surface and the reflection angle of these reflected lights is set based on the above formula, the angle reflected by each prism of the light guide unit Are substantially the same, and are emitted from the light emitting surface substantially uniformly.

  Moreover, the illuminating device of this invention is equipped with the light guide for illuminating devices of Claim 1 or 2, It is characterized by the above-mentioned.

  According to this configuration, it is possible to provide an illumination device that can maintain high light emission efficiency even at a position where the light source is separated.

  As described above, according to the light guide for lighting device according to the present invention, the light from the light source is reflected on the first curved surface, then reflected on the reflecting surface first, and reflected on the second curved surface. Next, the light is reflected on the light emitting surface first, and is incident on the light guide portion with the reflection angle of each reflected light with respect to the reflecting surface and the light emitting surface being substantially the same. The light emitted from the surface can be emitted substantially uniformly, and even if the light source is separated from the light emitting surface, the light guiding efficiency in the light guiding unit can be prevented from decreasing, and the light emitting efficiency in the light emitting surface can be suppressed from decreasing. Can do. Moreover, since the fall of light guide efficiency and light emission efficiency can be suppressed, it is not necessary to increase the thickness of a light guide so much, and it can respond to size reduction and / or thickness reduction.

  In addition, according to the lighting device according to the present invention, since the light guide for the lighting device is used, the light source can be provided at a position relatively distant from the light emitting surface, and the size and / or thickness can be reduced. It is possible to provide a lighting device with a high degree of design freedom.

  The best mode for carrying out the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

  FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of a light guide for a lighting device according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of a main part of FIG.

  The light guide for lighting device according to the present embodiment has a substantially L-shaped cross section, and is bent from the linear light guide 1 disposed horizontally and the base end of the light guide 1. It is comprised from the extension part 4 extended slightly diagonally downward via the part 3. FIG.

  The light guide unit 1 includes a flat surface parallel to the outer side and the inner side, and the outer flat surface serves as the light emitting surface 1a and the inner flat surface serves as the reflecting surface 1b. Further, a plurality of prisms 2 are formed on the inner flat surface along a direction orthogonal to the length direction. In each prism 2, the inclined surface 2a on the side facing the inflection portion 3 is a reflection surface, and the light from the inflection portion 3 is determined by the angle X formed between the bottom surface (inner flat surface) and the inclination surface 2a. Is set so as to be emitted substantially at right angles to the light emitting surface 1a.

  The inflection part 3 is provided with the 1st inflection surface 3a and the 2nd inflection surface 3b which were formed in the shape of an abbreviated character on the outside side. The first curved surface 3a is formed to extend obliquely downward from the base end portion of the light emitting surface 1a with an inclination angle Z1 with respect to the light emitting surface (horizontal plane) 1a, and the second curved surface 3b is parallel to the light emitting surface 1a. It is formed to extend further obliquely downward from the end of the first curved surface 3a with an inclination angle Z2 with respect to the horizontal plane. As shown in FIG. 2, the tilt angle Z2 is set larger than the tilt angle Z1.

  Further, on the inner surface, a relief portion 3c formed by extending obliquely downward with an inclination angle Z5 with respect to the reflection surface (horizontal plane) 1b from the base end portion of the reflection surface 1b, and an inclination angle Z4 with respect to the upright surface. And an inner side surface 4b of the extension portion 4 to be described later, which is formed to extend obliquely downward from the end portion of the escape portion 3c. The inner side surface 4b includes a case where it is an upright surface (Z4 = 0 degree).

  Further, the bent portion of the first curved surface 3a and the second curved surface 3b and the bent portion of the inner surface 4b of the escape portion 3c and the extension portion 4 face each other, and the proximal end portion of the first curved surface 3a and the relief portion An opening portion that is expanded with the base end portion of the portion 3c is formed, and is contracted from the opening portion toward each of the bent portions. From the contracted opening portion, the second variable curved surface 3b and The extension portion 4 expands toward the tip of the inner side surface 4b of the extension portion 4, and the extension portion 4 and the light guide portion 1 communicate with each other through the above-described opening portions to form a light guide path of the LED 5 described later. .

  The first reflected light 6a reflected by the first deformed surface 3a is first reflected by the reflecting surface 1b and reflected by the second deformed surface 3b so as to be reflected by the prism 2 and emitted from the light emitting surface 1a. The second reflected light 6b is first reflected by the light emitting surface 1a so as to be reflected by the prism 2 and emitted from the light emitting surface 1a, and the escape portion 3c smoothly guides the second reflected light 6b to the light guide unit 1. It is formed to be.

  An angle θ1 of the second reflected light 6b with respect to the light emitting surface 1a and an angle θ1 of the first reflected light 6a with respect to the reflecting surface 1b are set so that each of the reflected lights 6a and 6b is emitted from the light emitting surface 1a substantially uniformly and efficiently. The angles Z1 and Z2 of the first curved surface 3a and the second curved surface 3b are set so as to be the same.

  That is, even when the light source (LED 5) is separated from the light guide unit 1, the light emission efficiency and the light guide efficiency are not significantly reduced.

The extension portion 4 has an upper end opening communicated with the opening portions of the second deformed curved surface 3b and the escape portion 3c, and a lower end opening is provided directly above the light emitting portion of the LED 5 serving as a light source. The outer side surface 4a and the inner side surface 4b are inclined at substantially the same inclination angle Z3, Z4 with respect to the upright surface. That is, the outer side surface 4a and the inner side surface 4b are provided in parallel.
(Example)
Next, examples will be described.

  The first variable curved surface 3a and the second variable curved surface 3b satisfy the following expressions, respectively.

nsin (180-Z1-2X)> 1 (1)
nsin (2X−Z2)> 1 (2)
nsin (2Z1 + 2X−90 + Z3)> 1 (3)
nsin (2Z2-2X + 90 + Z3)> 1 (4)
nsin (270-2Z1-2X-Z5)> 1 (5)
nsin (90-2Z2 + 2X-Z5)> 1 (6)
However, n: Refractive index of the material of the light guide plate Z1: Angle formed between the surface parallel to the light emitting surface 1a and the first curved surface 3a Z2: Between the surface parallel to the light emitting surface 1a and the second curved surface 3b Angle Z3: Angle formed between the surface perpendicular to the light emitting surface 1a and the outer surface 4a of the extension 4 Z4: Angle formed between the surface perpendicular to the light emitting surface 1a and the inner surface 4b of the extension 4 Z5: Angle formed by reflecting surface 1b (or light emitting surface 1a) and relief portion 3c X: Angle formed by inclined surface (reflecting surface) 2a of prism 2 and reflecting surface 1b facing light emitting surface 1a Preferably, Z5 = θ1 ... (7)
However, θ1: an angle formed between the reflecting surface 1b and the first reflected light 6a reflected on the reflecting surface 1b and then reflected on the first deforming surface 3a, and the light reflected on the light emitting surface 1a and the second deforming surface 3b. Angle formed by the second reflected light 6b reflected on the light emitting surface 1a And when the material of the light guide for the lighting device is acrylic, the refractive index n = 1.49
Here, assuming that X = 52 ° (the value of X is not particularly determined, and is an empirical value)
From the above formulas (1) to (6),
From Z1 <33.8 ° (1) From Z2 <61.8 ° (2)
From Z1> 11.6 ° (3) From Z2 <25.6 ° (4)
From Z1 <59.4 ° (5) From Z2 <73.4 ° (6)
11.6 ° <Z1 <33.8 °
25.6 <Z2 <61.8 °
Is guided.

Z1 to Z2 that satisfy these (1) to (6) are set. For example, in this example:
Z1 = 25 °
Z2 = 55 °
It is said.

Furthermore, Z5 = θ1
Here, Z4 = 5 °, W1 (length dimension of the light guide section 1) = 22 mm, W2 (length dimension of the extension section) = 10 mm, t1 (thickness dimension of the light guide section 1) = 0.8 mm, t2 (Thickness dimension of the extension 4) = 1.0 mm.

  According to the light guide for lighting device according to the present invention, even if the light source is separated from the light emitting surface, it is possible to suppress a decrease in the light emission efficiency of the light emitting surface. Can be used in a wide range of operation panels.

The block diagram of the light guide for illumination devices in one Embodiment of this invention (A) is a cross-sectional view of the inflection part of FIG.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Light guide part 1a ... Light-emitting surface 1b ... Reflective surface 2 ... Prism 2a ... Inclined surface (reflective surface)
3 ... Inflection part 3a ... 1st inflection surface 3b ... 2nd inflection surface 3c ... Relief part 4 ... Extension part 4a ... Outer side surface 4b ... Inner side surface 5 ... Light source

Claims (3)

A light guide part having a reflective surface on which a plurality of prisms are formed, and a light emitting surface provided in parallel to the reflective surface, and a tip part provided at a right angle or obliquely at an end of the light guide part And an inflection portion that is provided between the light guide portion and the extension portion, and inflections the light from the light source that passes through the extension portion and causes the light to enter the light guide portion. A light guide for a lighting device,
The inflection portion is provided to be inclined with respect to the light emitting surface, and is first reflected on the reflecting surface and then emitted from the light emitting surface, and is larger than the first curved surface with respect to the light emitting surface. The first curved surface is provided on the end portion side of the light guide unit, and is configured to be inclined and configured by a second curved surface that is first reflected from the light emitting surface and then emitted from the light emitting surface. Is provided on the base end side of the extension portion following the first curved surface, and the first curved surface and the second curved surface satisfy the following expressions, respectively.

nsin (180-Z1-2X)> 1 (1)
nsin (2X−Z2)> 1 (2)
nsin (2Z1 + 2X−90 + Z3)> 1 (3)
nsin (2Z2-2X + 90 + Z3)> 1 (4)
nsin (270-2Z1-2X-Z5)> 1 (5)
nsin (90-2Z2 + 2X-Z5)> 1 (6)
However,
n: Refractive index of the material of the light guide plate Z1: Angle formed between the surface parallel to the light emitting surface and the first curved surface Z2: Angle formed between the surface parallel to the light emitting surface and the second curved surface Z3: perpendicular to the light emitting surface Angle formed between the surface and the outer surface of the extension Z4: Angle formed between the surface perpendicular to the light emitting surface and the inner surface of the extension Z5: Between the surface parallel to the light emitting surface and the inner peripheral surface of the inflection portion Angle X: Angle formed by the reflecting surface of the prism and the reflecting surface facing the light emitting surface
The light guide for lighting device according to claim 1, further satisfying the following formula:
Z5 = θ1 (7)
However, θ1: Angle formed by the reflection surface and the reflected light reflected on the second curved surface and then reflected on the light emitting surface
An illumination apparatus comprising the light guide for an illumination apparatus according to claim 1.

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