JP2012058325A - Strobe light emitting device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a strobe light emitting device including fixing means that ensures reliable electrical contact between terminals of a xenon tube and a feed circuit for stable light emission.SOLUTION: A strobe light emitting device 1 is provided with a xenon tube 2 that has terminals to which power required for light emission is supplied, and a case 3 that has an opening on the front side thereof and accommodates the entire xenon tube 2 including the terminals. The case 3 is provided with a reflective surface on the back side thereof formed of a metallic reflective plate 41 that is in contact with the terminals of the xenon tube 2, and a feed circuit that supplies power to the xenon tube 2. Conductive elastic members 42a, 42b are arranged between a connection part 43 of the feed circuit and the metallic reflective plate 41.

Description

  The present invention relates to a strobe light emitting device.

  For example, a strobe light emitting device used in a flash unit of a digital camera uses a xenon tube as a light source, and this is called a reflector in which a reflecting surface of an arbitrary shape is formed to obtain a light distribution suitable for photographing. It is arranged and arranged inside.

  In order to cause the xenon tube to emit light with this device, in addition to supplying power to the electrodes at both ends of the xenon tube, it is necessary to apply a trigger voltage of several kV to the outer periphery of the glass in the discharge light emitting region of the xenon tube. It is. A transparent electrode (trigger electrode) is applied to the outer periphery of the glass in the discharge light-emitting region, and the xenon gas in the discharge light-emitting region is excited by applying a trigger voltage to the transparent electrode (trigger electrode). Happens.

  In order to perform this light emission stably, it is necessary to apply a trigger voltage to the xenon tube reliably. As an example, in a digital camera strobe, a trigger voltage is applied to the xenon tube via a metal reflector, but rubber bands are applied to both ends of the xenon tube protruding from the reflector to ensure electrical continuity. Therefore, the xenon tube is fixed in contact with the reflector.

  As such xenon tube contact fixing means, various means such as a claw structure of a molded product and a rubber sheet are adopted in addition to a rubber band, all of which utilize a portion where the xenon pipe protrudes from the reflector. To fix the contact. The xenon tube and the reflector thus fixed in contact with each other are electrically joined to the circuit portion via the connection terminal.

  However, it is not preferable from the viewpoint of light efficiency to provide an optical obstacle such as a rubber band or a claw structure inside the reflector. In addition, since the reflector portion is an appearance portion of a product such as a camera or a mobile phone, a structure that can be installed inside the reflector is likely to be limited.

  Furthermore, even when the xenon tube is installed inside the reflector, it is necessary to provide three electrical junctions related to the light emission of the xenon tube. However, for the purpose of stable light emission, the solder joint positions of the both end electrodes of the xenon tube Even if there is a deviation or a variation in the dimensions of each part, it is required that the terminal serving as the electrical connection point, particularly the trigger electrode to which the trigger voltage is applied, make a reliable contact.

  As an example of means for pressing the xenon tube against the reflector by such an elastic member, in Patent Document 1 below, a claw portion is provided on the optical member (light guide), and is composed of a light emitting tube (xenon tube) and a reflective shade (reflector). The claw portion is fitted into a hole provided in a casing (case) that houses the light source means, and the light source means, the optical member, and the casing are integrally configured, and the optical member and the arc tube There has been proposed a structure in which an elastic member is disposed between the arc tube and the arc tube is pressed against the reflective shade.

  However, in a structure in which the xenon tube does not protrude from the reflector, that is, a structure in which the entire xenon tube including the terminal is accommodated in the reflector, it is extremely difficult to provide a fixing means such as a rubber band or a claw structure inside the reflector. Yes, a new contact fixing means is required.

JP 2004-12490 A

  The present invention has been made in view of these problems, and in order to perform stable light emission even when the entire xenon tube is installed inside the reflector, a reliable electric connection between the terminal of the xenon tube and the power feeding circuit is ensured. It is an object of the present invention to provide a strobe light emitting device having a fixing means that realizes mechanical contact.

  The present invention is a stroboscopic light emitting device including a stroboscopic light source having a terminal to which power necessary for light emission is supplied, and a case having an opening on the front side and housing the entire stroboscopic light source including the terminal. A power supply circuit that forms a light reflecting surface with a conductive member in contact with the terminal of the strobe light source and supplies power to the strobe light source is provided on the back side of the inside, and a conductive property is provided between the conductive member and the power supply circuit. The elastic member which has is arrange | positioned in contact, It is characterized by the above-mentioned.

  According to the present invention, since the power supply circuit is configured to contact the light reflection surface formed of the conductive member that contacts the terminal of the strobe light source via the elastic member having conductivity, the light reflection surface is made of aluminum or the like. Even if it is formed of a metal plate, the electrical connection of the power feeding circuit to the terminal of the strobe light source is reliable, and light emission is stabilized.

  In addition, since the elastic member is in contact with the conductive member connected to the terminal of the strobe light source, the impact on the xenon tube can be reduced even if an external impact is applied to the apparatus. Accordingly, it is possible to prevent deformation and damage of the terminal portion of the xenon tube.

  In an embodiment of the present invention, the terminal is a trigger electrode provided in a discharge light emission region of a strobe light source, and a trigger voltage is applied to the trigger electrode from the power feeding circuit via the conductive member.

  Moreover, it is preferable that the said electric power feeding circuit is comprised with the conductor patterned on the bottom face of the said case.

(A) is a figure which shows the structure of the strobe light-emitting device of embodiment, (b) is BB sectional drawing of (a). FIG. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view of the strobe light emitting device of FIG. 1. The disassembled perspective view which shows the member which comprises the strobe light-emitting device of embodiment. (A) is a perspective view which shows the internal structure of the case of embodiment, (b) is the perspective view seen from the bottom face side of the said case.

  The strobe light emitting device of the embodiment will be described below with reference to FIGS.

  A strobe light emitting device 1 shown in FIG. 1 includes a xenon tube 2 as a strobe light source. The xenon tube 2 has electrode terminals 21a and 21b at both ends and a trigger electrode (not shown) formed on the outer peripheral surface of the tube as terminals to which power necessary for light emission is supplied. The entire xenon tube 2 including these electrode terminals is housed in a case 3 having an open front side (upper surface side in the drawing).

  The xenon tube 2 is composed of a cylindrical glass tube, and xenon gas is sealed inside. A transparent electrode constituting a trigger electrode for applying a trigger voltage for light emission is applied to the outer peripheral surface of the glass tube. In the xenon tube 2 configured as described above, a trigger voltage is applied to the trigger electrode in a state where a high potential difference (for example, 50 V or more) is generated in a pair of terminals 21a and 21b (between both electrodes) from a power supply circuit described later. The flash fires.

    The case 3 is formed of a highly reflective resin member whose inner surface also functions as a reflector, and the outer shape thereof is formed in a rectangular parallelepiped shape. The front side is open so that the xenon tube 2 can be stored. The light emitted from the xenon tube 2 is irradiated. Hereinafter, the surface of the opening of the case 3 is referred to as “the front surface of the case 3”, and the surface opposite to the front surface of the case 3 is referred to as “the back surface of the case 3”.

  As shown in FIGS. 2 to 4, a pair of terminal connection portions 40 a for fixing and supporting the electrode terminals 21 a and 21 b at both ends of the xenon tube 2 on the back side (the bottom side in the drawing) is provided inside the case 3. , 40b are provided at both ends in the length direction.

  In addition, a light reflecting plate is formed by a metal reflecting plate 41 which is a conductive member in contact with the trigger electrode of the xenon tube 2, and a terminal connection portion 43 of a power feeding circuit that supplies power to the xenon tube 2 is formed. By reflecting the light emitted from the xenon tube 2 by the metal reflecting plate 41, it is possible to irradiate with stronger light in the irradiation direction.

  Further, a pair of conductive elastic members 42a and 42b extending in parallel in the length direction are disposed between the metal reflector 41 and the terminal connection portion 43 of the feeder circuit. Each elastic member is made of conductively processed resin.

  Therefore, the trigger voltage is applied to the trigger electrode through the elastic members 42a and 42b and the metal reflector 41 from the connection portion 43 of the power feeding circuit with respect to the xenon tube 2 housed in the case 3.

  Case 3 forms a reflector with white resin. The metal reflector 41 can be an aluminum plate with high reflectivity. Furthermore, a rubber connector containing fine metal wires can be used as the conductive elastic members 42a and 42b. For example, a spring having conductivity is embedded in rubber, which is an elastic member, or conductivity is obtained by mixing iron powder. The metal reflector 41, the conductive elastic members 42a and 42b, and the connection portion 43 are fixed to the case 3 by vapor deposition or adhesion.

  Furthermore, in the present embodiment, in the figure, at the both ends in the length direction of the bottom surface of the case 3 and the central portion, the conductive portions 50a of the feeder circuit that are electrically connected to the both-end electrode terminals 21a and 21b and the trigger electrode of the xenon tube 2, respectively. 50b and 50c are formed, and each conductive portion has extended conductive portions 51a, 51b, and 51c extending from the bottom surface of the case 3 to both side surfaces.

  As shown in FIGS. 1B and 2, among these conductive portions, the conductive portions 50 a and 50 b on both ends of the case 3 penetrate both side walls of the case 3 from the respective extended conductive portions 51 a and 51 b. It is connected to the pair of terminal connection portions 40a and 40b via a linear conductor (only the conductive wire 52b is shown in the figure).

  The conductive portion 50c at the center of the bottom surface of the case 3 is connected to the connecting portion 43b via a linear conductor (conductive wire) 52c that penetrates the bottom wall of the case 3 from the extended conductive portion 51c. . These patterned conductive portions constitute a power supply circuit that supplies power from the external power supply of the case 3 to the xenon tube 2.

  In the case of a structure in which the entire xenon tube is housed in a case that is a reflector as in the present embodiment, the position of the xenon tube is fixed by joining the electrode terminals at both ends to the connection portions in the case with solder. At this time, the voltage application site of the xenon tube varies or the contact becomes unstable due to factors such as a deviation in the solder joint position and a variation in component dimensions. However, according to the present embodiment, the xenon tube 2 contacts the xenon tube 2. By supporting the metal reflector 41 to be supported by the conductive elastic members 42a and 42b, it is possible to absorb variations and to ensure electrical contact.

  In addition, in the configuration of the conventional strobe light emitting unit, the xenon tube and the metal plate are contacted and fixed, and then the both ends of the xenon tube are connected. In the present embodiment, the xenon tube having both ends fixed. In contrast, the metal plate can be securely contacted and fixed.

  Further, since the elastic members 42a and 42b are in contact with the metal reflector 41 connected to the terminal of the xenon tube 2, the impact on the xenon tube 2 is reduced even when an external impact is applied to the apparatus. In addition, deformation and damage of the terminal portion of the xenon tube can be prevented.

  Although the illustrated embodiment has been described above, the present invention is not limited to this and may be used in a strobe light emitting device having a structure.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Strobe light-emitting device, 2 ... Xenon tube (strobe light source), 3 ... Case, 21a, 21b ... Electrode terminal, 40a, 40b ... Terminal connection part, 41 ... Metal reflector, 42a, 42b ... Conductivity Elastic member, 43... Connecting portion, 50a, 50b, 50c.

Claims (3)

  A strobe light source having a terminal to which power necessary for light emission is supplied, and a case having an opening on the front side and housing the entire strobe light source including the terminal, and a terminal of the strobe light source on the back side in the case And a power supply circuit for supplying power to the strobe light source is provided, and a conductive elastic member is disposed between the conductive member and the power supply circuit. Strobe light emitting device characterized by   The strobe light emitting device according to claim 1, wherein the terminal is a trigger electrode provided in a discharge light emitting region of the strobe light source. The strobe light emitting device according to claim 1, wherein the power feeding circuit is formed by patterning a conductor on a bottom surface of the case.

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