JP2011204497A - Led lighting system - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an LED lighting system capable of changing an area of a light-emitting part (a light-emitting surface) and the amount of the light to be emitted depending on the intended use.SOLUTION: A light-emitting unit 4a including a reflecting plate 7a, an LED 5a and a light guide plate 6a is slidably supported in a space between a reflecting plate 7b and a light guide plate 6b of a light-emitting unit 4b including the reflecting plate 7b, an LED 5b and the light guide plate 6b. When the light-emitting unit 4a is slid and stored in the light-emitting unit 4b, surface-emitted illumination is performed by means of: the light guide plate 6a of the light-emitting unit 4a and the light guide plate 6b of the light-emitting unit 4b in a superimposed state; and the reflecting plate 7a of the light-emitting unit 4a. When the light-emitting unit 4a is pulled out of the light-emitting unit 4b, surface-emitted illumination is performed by means of the reflecting plates, the LEDs and the light guide plates of the light-emitting units 4a and 4b.

Description

  The present invention relates to an LED illumination device that emits light from a light emitting surface of a light guide plate by irradiating irradiation light using an LED (light emitting diode) as a light source from a side surface of the light guide plate.

  In recent years, high-luminance LEDs have been realized, and the development of LEDs, which have been mainly used for display, has been developed for illumination. LEDs are characterized by energy saving and long life compared to light-emitting elements such as incandescent bulbs and fluorescent lamps, and it is considered that the future of LED lighting devices will continue to expand.

  Since the LED is a point light source, if the LED illumination device adopts a structure that simply irradiates the object with the point light source, an unnecessary shadow is generated around the object, which makes the illumination difficult to see. is there. For example, when a document creation operation is performed using an illumination device that directly irradiates an object from a high-intensity LED, the shadow of the creator's hand or writing instrument is compared to the case of using conventional illumination such as a fluorescent lamp. There is a problem that the user's eyes are likely to get tired due to the difference in contrast. In addition, it is conceivable to arrange an LED lighting device by arranging a large number of LEDs, but in such a structure with a plurality of LEDs that are directly irradiated as described above, a plurality of shadows overlap depending on the number of LEDs. There is a problem of causing eye strain.

  In view of this point, in recent years, a configuration has been proposed in which a light guide plate is used, incident light from an LED that is a point light source is diffusely reflected in the light guide plate, and illumination is performed by surface light emission from the exit surface of the light guide plate. For example, Patent Document 1 describes a technique related to substrate replacement of a surface emitting illumination device using this type of light guide plate.

Japanese Patent Application No. 2009-110278

  The area of the light emitting part (light emitting surface) that performs illumination by surface light emission using the light guide plate as described above was constant. Although it would be convenient if the area of the light emitting part (light emitting surface) could be adjusted according to the application, a configuration that can change the area of the light emitting part (light emitting surface) has not been known.

  For example, if the area of the light-emitting part (light-emitting surface) can be adjusted to a convenient size in situations where it is difficult to perform work due to the influence of the shadow of the operator's hand, the influence of the shadow will be reduced and work will be easier. By making the area of the light-emitting portion (light-emitting surface) variable, it is expected that the size can be reduced when stored or not used.

  Then, the subject of this invention is providing the LED illuminating device which can change the area of a light emission part (light emission surface), or emitted light quantity according to a use.

  In order to solve the above-mentioned problem, in the present invention, in the LED illumination device that emits light from the light-emitting surface of the light guide plate by irradiating light emitted from the LED from the side surface of the light guide plate in which the reflector is disposed on the rear surface, A first light-emitting unit composed of an LED and a light guide plate is slidable in a space between the reflector and the light guide plate of a second light-emitting unit composed of the reflector, LED and light guide plate A light guide plate of the first light emitting unit and a light guide plate of the second light emitting unit, which are supported and stacked in a state where the first light emitting unit is slid relative to the second light emitting unit; In the state where the surface emitting illumination is performed by the reflector of the first light emitting unit and the first light emitting unit is pulled out from the second light emitting unit, those of the first and second light emitting units. The reflector Les adopted a configuration in which the surface-emitting lighting is performed by the LED and the light guide plate.

  Alternatively, the first light-emitting unit having a configuration in which the first light-emitting unit is slidably stored with respect to the second light-emitting unit has a second light-emitting unit having a similar structure and a rotation shaft. A configuration is adopted in which the two are pivotably coupled to each other.

  According to the above configuration, it is possible to perform surface emission illumination in a state where the first light emitting unit is slid and stored with respect to the second light emitting unit, and in a state where the first light emitting unit is pulled out. By placing the light emitting unit in the slide retracted state, the light emission brightness per unit area of the light emitting surface is increased when the light emitting unit is turned on, and an illumination effect close to that of spot illumination can be obtained. The size during use can be kept small. In addition, by adopting the slide storage mechanism, a surface emitting lighting device with a variable light emitting area can be realized. For example, it becomes difficult to work due to the influence of the shadow of the user's hand, or there is an illumination range to a wide space. In the situation where it is necessary, the influence of the shadow can be suppressed by increasing the area of the light emitting portion, and the irradiation area is increased.

  In addition, if a configuration in which the first light emitting unit is rotatably coupled to the second light emitting unit having the same structure via the rotation shaft, the surface emitting illumination can be performed uniformly over a wider range. In addition, the irradiation angle can be adjusted by changing the angle formed between the first light emitting unit and the second light emitting unit.

It is a perspective view of the LED lighting apparatus which employ | adopted this invention. It is the side view which showed the structure around the light emission part of the LED lighting apparatus of FIG. It is the side view which showed the slide structure of the light emission part of the LED lighting apparatus of FIG. It is a top view of the light emission part of the LED lighting apparatus of FIG. It is the side view which showed the structure from which the light emission part of the LED lighting apparatus which employ | adopted this invention differs. It is the top view which showed the light emission part of FIG. 5 in the unfolded state. It is explanatory drawing which showed the illumination function of the light emission part of FIG.

  Hereinafter, the present invention will be described based on embodiments shown in the drawings. Below, the structure of the LED lighting apparatus of a form like a desk lamp is illustrated. However, the configuration of the light emitting unit of the LED lighting device described below can be applied not only to a desk lamp, but also to a lighting device such as a flashlight that can be carried independently by the light emitting unit itself.

  The structure of the LED lighting apparatus of a present Example is shown in FIGS. FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an LED lighting device according to the present embodiment employing the present invention, FIG. 2 is a side view around a light emitting portion of the LED lighting device of FIG. 1, and FIG. 3 is a side view of a light emitting portion of the LED lighting device of FIG. FIG. 4 and FIG. 4 are top views of the light emitting part of the LED lighting device of FIG.

  FIG. 1 shows the entire table lamp of this embodiment. As shown in the figure, the table lamp of this embodiment includes a base 1, a column 2, an arm 3, and a light emitting unit 4. Each of these parts is made of a material such as plastic.

  The base unit 1 includes a connector unit (not illustrated) that receives supply of an LED lighting current (described later) from an external AC adapter (not illustrated), and also includes a switch unit 50 that controls on / off of LED lighting. A cable (not shown) is arranged from the switch unit 50 to the light emitting unit 4 through the arm unit 3. As this cable, a flexible type such as a curl cord (FIG. 4) described later is used.

  A support column 2 is erected on the base unit 1. The support column 2 and the arm unit 3 of the present embodiment are respectively composed of an upper support column 21 and a lower support column 22, and a lower arm 31 and an upper arm 33, all of which are provided for the purpose of reducing the weight and improving the design. Has a long hole.

  A lower arm 31 of the arm portion 3 is pivotally supported in the elongated hole of the upper support column 21 via a support shaft 23.

  An upper arm 33 is pivotally supported on the upper end of the lower arm 31 via a support shaft 32.

  The light emitting unit 4 including the light emitting unit 4a and 4b is attached to the tip of the upper arm 33.

  The light emitting unit 4 includes a light emitting unit 4a and a light emitting unit 4b that houses the light emitting unit 4a. FIG. 1 shows a state in which the light emitting unit 4b is pulled out from the light emitting unit 4a.

  FIG. 2 shows the support column 2 (upper support column 21), the arm unit 3 (upper and lower arms 31, 33), and the light emitting unit 4 from the side. In FIG. 2, the light emitting unit 4 shows the internal structure in perspective (breaking). In FIG. 2, the light emitting unit 4a is accommodated in the light emitting unit 4b.

  The light emitting unit 4 includes light emitting unit 4a and 4b. The light emitting unit 4a can be slidably accommodated with respect to the light emitting unit 4b. The light emitting units 4a and 4b are light guide plates 6a and 6b and LEDs 5a and 5b disposed on the side surfaces of the light guide plates 6a and 6b, respectively. It is composed of two reflecting plates 7a and 7b.

  FIG. 3 shows the light emitting unit 4a and the light emitting unit 4b with the light emitting unit 4b pulled out from the light emitting unit 4a.

  As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the LEDs 5a and 5b of the light emitting unit 4a and the light emitting unit 4b are arranged on the side surfaces of the light guide plates 6a and 6b, and irradiate the edges. The light guide plates 6a and 6b are processed such that surface light emission is mainly caused by irregular reflection on the front surface or back surface (satin finish or dot processing), and the light emission surfaces of the light guide plates 6a and 6b are below (FIGS. 1 and 3). (Below).

  A plurality (for example, four in the example of FIG. 4) of LEDs 5a and 5b are arranged at equal intervals on each side surface of the light guide plates 6a and 6b to be combined.

  The back surfaces (upper surfaces in FIGS. 1 and 3) of the light emitting unit 4a and 4b are reflecting plates 7a and 7b. Here, for simplification, it also serves as the housing of the light emitting unit 4a and 4b, but the reflectors 7a and 7b may be provided separately from the housing of the light emitting unit 4a and 4b. In FIG. 3, the lower surfaces of the light emitting unit 4a and 4b are each covered with, for example, a white and glossy member (for example, a face appears when viewed), or a white coating process with high reflection diffusivity is applied. Therefore, it is possible to efficiently irradiate illumination light from the light emitting surface on the lower surface of the light guide plates 6a and 6b.

  The light emitting unit 4a is configured to be slidably accommodated with respect to the light emitting unit 4b. As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the light emitting unit 4a is formed of the light guide plate 6b and the reflecting plate 7b of the light emitting unit 4b. The slide is accommodated in a space provided therebetween. The light emitting unit 4a is slidably supported by rails (not shown) provided on both inner edges of the light emitting unit 4b.

  The light emitting unit 4a is pulled out to a predetermined maximum drawing position (for example, the position shown in FIG. 1), and then is pulled out beyond that position so that the light emitting unit 4a is not pulled out and dropped off at a predetermined position of the engaging portion of the light emitting unit 4a and the light emitting unit 4b. A stopper (not shown) is provided.

  FIG. 4 shows the drawing state of FIG. 3 transparently from above. The cable 12 for supplying power to the light emitting unit 4a is composed of a curl cord as shown (or another flexible cable having elasticity). In FIG. 4, the cable 12 is illustrated outside the light emitting unit 4a, 4b for easy understanding. However, the cable 12 is preferably disposed in an appropriate space in the light emitting unit 4a, 4b in a stretchable state. . In FIG. 4, reference numeral 11 denotes clamps for fixing the light guide plates 6a and 6b and the reflecting plates 7a and 7b to predetermined positions.

  In the above configuration, the light emitting unit 4a is slidably accommodated in a space provided between the light guide plate 6b and the reflecting plate 7b of the light emitting unit 4b. Therefore, when the first light-emitting unit 4a is stored in the second light-emitting unit 4b as shown in FIG. Since the light plates 6a and 6b are transparent (or translucent), they transmit light even when they are overlapped. Therefore, the light emitted from the LEDs 5a and 5b is combined to cause the light guide plate 6b to emit light, and thus the light emitting surface. The luminous intensity (per unit area) is the maximum of this device. In the state of FIG. 2, only the reflecting surface of the reflecting plate 7a functions as a reflecting surface.

  On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 3, when the first light emitting unit 4a is pulled out, the irradiation area is approximately doubled. The light emission luminance (per unit area) of the light emitting surface is half that of FIG. 2, but the area of the light emitting portion increases, so that the irradiation area increases and the work of a wide space is facilitated. The influence of shadow can be reduced.

  As described above, the LED lighting device of this embodiment employs a slide storage mechanism, and in the state where the first light emitting unit 4a is slid and stored with respect to the second light emitting unit 4b, the LED lighting device is pulled out. Surface emitting illumination can be performed even in the state where the light is emitted. By placing the light emitting unit in the slide retracted state, the light emission brightness per unit area of the light emitting surface is increased when the light emitting unit is turned on, and an illumination effect close to that of spot illumination can be obtained. The size during use can be kept small. Further, by adopting the slide storage mechanism, it is possible to realize a surface-emitting illumination device with a variable light-emitting portion area. For example, in a situation where the work becomes difficult due to the influence of the shadow of the user's hand, the light-emitting portion area is increased. Thus, there is an advantage that the influence of the shadow is suppressed and the user's work is facilitated.

  5 to 7 show a structure in which the light emitting unit 8 having the same structure as the light emitting unit 4 of the slide storage structure of the above embodiment is coupled via a rotating shaft so that it can be folded.

  5 and 6 correspond to FIGS. 2 and 4 of the above embodiment, FIG. 5 is a side view showing the structure of the light emitting portion of the LED lighting device of this embodiment, and FIG. 6 is a development of the light emitting portion of FIG. It is the top view shown in the state. FIG. 7 is an explanatory view showing the illumination function of the light emitting section of FIG.

  5 and 6, the light emitting unit 8 has the same structure as the light emitting unit 4 and includes light emitting unit 8a and 8b. The light emitting unit 8a and 8b are similar to the light emitting unit 4a and 4b in the light guide plate 6a, 6b, and LEDs 5a and 5b disposed on the side surfaces of the light guide plates 6a and 6b, respectively, and two reflecting plates 7a and 7b.

  The light emitting unit 8a, 8b is rotatably coupled to the light emitting unit 4a, 4b via a rotation shaft 13 (FIG. 6). In FIG. 5, the rotating shaft 13 is located on the other side of the light emitting unit 4 a, 4 b light emitting unit 8 a, 8 b in the slide retracted state and is not shown, but the light emitting unit 8 a, 8b is folded on the light emitting unit 4a, 4b in an upside down direction with respect to the light emitting unit 4a, 4b (folded storage state).

  6 expands the light emitting unit 8a, 8b through the rotating shaft 13 from the folded storage state of FIG. 5, and the light emitting unit 4a, 8a through the slide mechanism described above. The state pulled out from 8b is shown.

  The rotating shaft 13 has a size hidden behind the light emitting units 4 and 8 as shown in FIG. 5, and its length is the same as that when the light emitting units 4 and 8 are stored as shown in FIG. It is almost equal to the thing.

  As shown in FIG. 6, in this state, in the expanded / drawn state, the area of the light emitting portion is about four times that in the retracted state (FIG. 5 or FIG. 2 of the above embodiment), and the surface emitting illumination is more uniformly in a wider range. can do. In addition, as shown in FIG. 7, the irradiation angle can be adjusted by changing the angle formed between the light emitting units 4 and 8 via the rotation shaft 13. The power supply to the light emitting unit 8a, 8b is performed via an electrical contact in the rotating shaft 13 or a cable wiring.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Base part 2 Support | pillar part 3 Arm part 4 Light emission part 5a, 5b LED
6a, 6b Light guide plate 7a, 7b Reflector 8 Light emitting part 12 Cable 13 Rotating shaft 21 Upper support 23, 32 Support shaft 31 Lower arm 33 Upper arm 50 Switch part

Claims (2)

In the LED lighting device that emits light from the light emitting surface of the light guide plate by irradiating the light emitted from the LED from the side surface of the light guide plate with the reflector disposed on the rear surface,
A first light emitting unit composed of the reflector, LED, and light guide plate is disposed in a space between the reflector and the light guide plate of the second light emitting unit composed of the reflector, LED, and light guide plate. Slidably supported,
In a state where the first light emitting unit is slid and stored with respect to the second light emitting unit, the light guide plate of the first light emitting unit and the light guide plate of the second light emitting unit in the stacked state, and the first Surface emitting illumination is performed by the reflector of the light emitting unit of
In the state where the first light emitting unit is pulled out from the second light emitting unit, surface emitting illumination is performed by the reflecting plate, LED and light guide plate of each of the first and second light emitting units. LED lighting device.   The first light-emitting unit having a configuration in which the first light-emitting unit is slidably stored with respect to the second light-emitting unit has a second light-emitting unit having the same structure and a rotation shaft. The LED illumination device according to claim 1, wherein the LED illumination device is movably coupled.

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