JP2014002961A - Surface illumination system - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a surface illumination system including a plurality of surface illuminating devices, that can individually control optical characteristics of light emitted from each surface illuminating device.SOLUTION: A surface illumination system comprises: a plurality of light-emitting units divided into a reference unit that is preliminarily and arbitrarily selected light-emitting unit, and a sub unit; an external control terminal; and system control means performing lighting control of the reference unit. The reference unit, and the sub unit that is a slave unit using the reference unit as a master unit, or all sub units respectively have communication means of receiving optical characteristic information transmitted by the external control terminal. Light-emission control means controls light-emission of a first sub unit and a second sub unit so that relation between the optical characteristics of light emitted from the master unit and that of light emitted from the sub unit that serves as the slave unit becomes a predetermined relation indicated by the optical characteristic information received from the external control terminal by the communication means.

Description

  The present invention relates to a surface illumination system, and more particularly to a surface illumination system including a plurality of surface illumination devices.

  Due to diversification of lighting devices, lighting devices capable of changing color temperature and emission color, surface emitting lighting devices, and the like have been developed. By configuring an illumination system using a plurality of such illumination devices, for example, a relatively large room can be illuminated, and various lighting patterns can be obtained.

  In particular, in recent years, semiconductor lighting devices composed of LEDs, organic EL elements, and the like have been developed, and lighting devices capable of freely changing luminance and emission color have been commercialized. An illumination system that uses such an illumination device to control lighting of another illumination device based on the color and brightness of light emitted from the illumination device has also been developed. Specifically, a configuration in which the lighting devices are connected by electrical wiring (Patent Document 1) and a configuration in which the lighting unit is controlled wirelessly using an RFID attached to the lighting unit are disclosed (Patent Document 1). Reference 2).

  In the specification of Japanese Patent Application No. 2011-273612 by the same applicant as the applicant of the present application, each surface light emitting unit is based on the light emitted by the adjacent surface light emitting units in a surface illumination system using a plurality of surface light emitting units. A configuration for controlling the light characteristics of emitted light is disclosed.

International Publication No. 1999/031560 Special table 2010-503168

  In the case where an LED, an organic EL element, or the like is used as the light emitting element of the lighting device, such a lighting device is configured by arranging a plurality of light emitting elements of a plurality of colors, for example, three colors. In an illumination system using such an illuminating device, it is necessary to control the light emission color of the light emitting element. However, since a plurality of light emitting elements are used, the degree of freedom of the light emission color is increased and the control complexity is increased. . In addition, when controlling lighting systems by individually supplying each lighting device with instructions such as light emission colors using electrical signals such as digital signals, use multiple control lines or use complex protocols for communication. Since control is required, there is a problem that wiring and control become complicated. In particular, in the case of a surface illumination device, a small difference in light characteristics for each light-emitting element is conspicuous, and it is important to control this.

  With respect to these points, in Patent Document 1, the illumination system is configured to include not only the wiring for digital data that transmits lighting information but also a power supply circuit for communication control signals, a transmission / reception signal level adjustment circuit, and the like. The problem remains in that the wiring becomes more complicated. In Patent Documents 1 and 2, the lighting device is controlled using a communication protocol, so that a dedicated communication processor is required, and a configuration capable of performing advanced control becomes complicated and costly. There are still challenges in terms of growth.

  In the configuration disclosed in the specification of Japanese Patent Application No. 2011-273612, it is preferable that the light characteristics of the light emitted by each surface emitting unit can be individually controlled.

  The present invention has been made to solve the above-described problems, and an object of the present invention is to easily control light emission of a plurality of surface illumination devices with a simple configuration and to provide each surface illumination device. It is an object of the present invention to provide a surface illumination system and a method for controlling the surface illumination system that can individually control the light emission of the surface illumination system.

  In order to achieve the above object, the surface illumination system of the present invention is divided into a reference unit that is a surface light emitting unit arbitrarily selected in advance and a subordinate unit that is a surface light emitting unit other than the reference unit. A surface light emitting unit, an external control terminal, and a system control unit that can be connected to the reference unit and that controls lighting of the reference unit. The subordinate unit is one of the surface light emitting units other than its own light emitting unit. The base unit is a first subordinate unit whose base unit is the reference unit, and the (X + 1) subordinate unit (X is an integer of 1 or more) whose base unit is the Xth subordinate unit. The external control terminal transmits a unit, the slave unit that is the slave unit having the reference unit as the master unit, or all the slave units, Communication means for receiving light characteristic information indicating a relationship of light characteristics of light emitted by a slave unit serving as a slave unit with respect to light characteristics of light emitted by the surface light emitting unit, each slave unit emitting surface light serving as the master unit A light transmission means for guiding a part of the light emitted by the master unit into the surface light emitting unit between the unit, a light detection means for detecting a light characteristic of the light guided by the light transmission means, The relationship between the light characteristic of the light emitted from the surface emitting unit serving as the master unit detected by the light detection means and the light characteristic of the light emitted from the subordinate unit serving as the slave unit to the master unit is expressed as follows. It further includes light emission control means for controlling light emission of each of the subordinate units so that the predetermined relationship indicated by the light characteristic information received from the control terminal is obtained.

  With such a configuration, the light characteristic of the light emitted from the subordinate unit is adjusted based on the light characteristic of the light emitted from the surface emitting unit serving as the master unit of the subordinate unit. That is, when the light characteristic of the light emitted from the reference unit is changed, the light characteristic of the light emitted from the first slave unit having the reference unit as a parent device is changed, and the light characteristic of the light emitted from the first slave unit is changed. The light characteristic of the light emitted by the second slave unit having the first slave unit as a parent device is changed. Then, by changing the light characteristic of the light emitted from the second slave unit, the light characteristic of the light emitted from the third slave unit having the second slave unit as a parent device is changed. In this way, the light characteristics of the light emitted by the slave units are also adjusted sequentially according to the change in the light characteristics of the light emitted by the reference unit. Here, the subordinate unit is provided with a light transmission means for guiding a part of light emitted from the surface emitting unit serving as the parent device to its own light detecting means between the surface emitting unit serving as the parent device, Is preferably adjacent to a surface emitting unit serving as a base unit.

  In addition, the communication means receives the light characteristic information transmitted by the external control terminal, and the light characteristic of the light emitted from the surface emitting unit serving as the master unit and the light of the light emitted from the subordinate unit serving as the slave unit with respect to the master unit Since the light emission control means controls the light emission of each subordinate unit so that the relationship with the characteristic becomes a predetermined relation indicated by the light characteristic information, the light characteristic of the light emitted from each subordinate unit can be individually changed. .

  The subordinate unit may be configured so as to be adjacent to a surface emitting unit serving as a master unit.

  The light emission control unit may be configured to adjust the luminance of the subordinate unit serving as the slave unit to a constant ratio with respect to the luminance of the surface light emitting unit serving as the master unit. According to such a configuration, the luminance of the slave unit serving as the slave unit and the brightness of the slave unit serving as the master unit can be adjusted based on the optical characteristic information received by the communication unit so as to have a constant ratio. it can.

  The light emission control unit may light a plurality of subordinate units of the plurality of surface light emitting units with a predetermined color pattern.

  The external control terminal transmits to the communication means a control signal for turning on all the surface emitting units, the plurality of surface emitting units are turned on according to the control signal, and the external control terminal is operated by a user. The imaging device connected to the external control terminal may be controlled according to the above, and the lighting state of all the surface emitting units may be photographed. According to such a configuration, it becomes possible for the external control terminal to perform image recognition based on the imaging results of the lighting states of all the light emitting units, and to identify and recognize each light emitting unit.

  The external control terminal emits each surface light emission together with at least one of the position of each surface light emitting unit, the light emitting direction, and the interval between the light emitting units based on an image photographed by the imaging device according to a user operation. It is preferable to perform image recognition processing for recognizing the arrangement of units. With such a configuration, the external control terminal is configured such that the external control terminal determines the position of each surface light emitting unit, the light emitting direction, and each light emitting unit based on an image captured by the image sensor according to a user operation. With at least one of the intervals, the arrangement of the surface emitting units can be recognized. Then, by displaying these recognition results on the screen, it is possible to facilitate an instruction operation for each surface emitting unit by the user.

  The external control terminal preferably performs correction of a shooting angle at the time of shooting or correction of image distortion by a lens of an image sensor before or after the image recognition process.

  The external control terminal preferably graphically displays the surface emitting unit after the image recognition processing on a display. By comprising in that way, the instruction | indication operation with respect to each surface emitting unit by a user can be made easy.

  It is preferable that the external control terminal performs graphic display so that the arrangement and interval of the surface light emitting units can be recognized. By comprising in that way, the instruction | indication operation with respect to each surface emitting unit by a user can be made easy.

  The external control terminal may recognize a unique identifier or serial number assigned to each surface emitting unit in the image recognition process.

  The external control terminal transmits a control signal for lighting and displaying the unique identifier or the serial number to each surface emitting unit to cause the communication means to light and display the unique identifier or the serial number on each surface emitting unit. The unique identifier or the serial number of each surface light emitting unit is recognized based on the image of each of the surface light emitting units on which the unique identifier or the serial number photographed in accordance with a user's operation is displayed. May be.

  The external control terminal recognizes the unique identifier or the serial number by executing a test mode in which a control signal for lighting and displaying the unique identifier or the serial number on each surface emitting unit is transmitted to the communication unit. It may be.

  The external control terminal identifies each surface light emitting unit by associating each surface light emitting unit with the unique identifier or the serial number based on the image recognition processing result, and in accordance with a user operation, a predetermined surface Information may be transmitted to the light emitting unit.

  The external control terminal identifies each surface light emitting unit by associating each surface light emitting unit displayed on the display with the unique identifier or the serial number based on the image recognition processing result, and Accordingly, information may be transmitted to a predetermined surface emitting unit. By comprising in that way, the instruction | indication operation with respect to each surface emitting unit by a user can be made easy.

  The light emission control means of the slave unit among the surface emitting units has a predetermined relationship that the relationship between the master unit and the slave unit is indicated by the light characteristic information among the information transmitted from the external control terminal. Lighting control may be performed so that

  Each subordinate unit is set with a unique identifier in advance. When each subordinate unit receives information corresponding to its own unique identifier via the communication means, the light emission control means Lighting control may be performed so that the predetermined relationship indicated by the light characteristic information is obtained.

  The external control terminal may include an information transmission unit that transmits information to all the surface emitting units, or may include an information transmission unit that transmits information to the reference unit.

  The reference unit may transmit the information transmitted from the information transmitting unit to the adjacent surface emitting unit via the light transmitting unit of the adjacent surface emitting unit, or each subordinate via a power line. It may be transmitted to the unit.

  The information transmitting means may transmit a unique identifier or serial number assigned to each surface emitting unit, the light characteristic information, and a control signal for lighting and displaying the unique identifier or serial number. .

  The information transmitting means may transmit information by wireless communication, wired communication, optical communication, infrared communication, or power line communication.

  The reference unit may emit light modulated by the information received from the information transmitting unit and transmit the information to another adjacent surface emitting unit.

  The light emission control means of the other surface light emitting unit may demodulate the light to extract the information and emit light modulated by the information to transmit the information to another adjacent surface light emitting unit. Good.

  Each of the surface light emitting units may have an illuminance sensor, the light emission control means controls lighting brightness and illuminance according to a measurement result of the illuminance sensor, and the external control terminal measures the illuminance sensor. Depending on the result, it is configured to transmit light characteristic information indicating the relationship of the light characteristic of the light emitted from the surface emitting unit as the slave unit to the light characteristic of the light emitted from the surface light emitting unit as the master unit. Also good. According to such a structure, it becomes possible to vary the light characteristic of the light which each surface light emission unit emits according to the illumination intensity around each surface light emission unit.

  The external control terminal may have a structure capable of connecting at least one of an image sensor, an information transmission unit, a display, and a key input device.

  The external control terminal preferably includes an image sensor. The external control terminal preferably has a built-in display.

  According to the surface illumination system of the present invention, the light characteristic of the light emitted from the subordinate unit is adjusted based on the light characteristic of the light emitted from the surface light emitting unit serving as the master unit of the subordinate unit. At this time, since the relationship between the light characteristic of the light emitted from the surface emitting unit serving as the master unit detected by the light detection means and the light characteristic of the light emitted from the slave unit serving as the slave unit is controlled to be a predetermined relationship. The light characteristics of the light emitted from the slave units can be easily controlled with a simple configuration.

  In addition, the communication means receives the light characteristic information transmitted by the external control terminal, and the light characteristic of the light emitted from the surface emitting unit serving as the master unit and the light of the light emitted from the subordinate unit serving as the slave unit with respect to the master unit Since the light emission control means controls the light emission of each subordinate unit so that the relationship with the characteristic becomes a predetermined relation indicated by the light characteristic information, the light characteristic of the light emitted from each subordinate unit can be individually changed. .

It is a perspective view which shows schematic structure of the surface illumination system which concerns on 1st Example of this invention. It is the elements on larger scale seen from the light emission surface of the surface lighting apparatus shown in FIG. It is sectional drawing which follows the III-III line of FIG. It is sectional drawing which follows the VI-VI line of FIG. It is the top view which represented typically the surface illumination system shown in FIG. It is a block diagram which shows the structural example of the reference | standard unit of 1st Example. It is a timing chart which shows the example of the lighting display performed in a reference unit and each subordinate unit, when a reference unit transmits test information and each subordinate unit receives test information. It is a timing chart which shows the other example of the lighting display performed in a reference | standard unit and each subordinate unit, when a reference | standard unit transmits test information and each subordinate unit receives test information. It is a block diagram which shows the structural example of an external control terminal. It is explanatory drawing which shows the imaging | photography state by an external control terminal. It is a front view of an external control terminal. It is a block diagram which shows the structural example of the subordinate unit of 1st Example. It is a block diagram which shows the example of a connection of the reference | standard unit and subordinate unit in 1st Example. It is a flowchart which shows the light emission control of the reference | standard unit in 1st Example. It is a flowchart which shows the light emission control of the subordinate unit used as the subunit | mobile_unit adjacent to the reference | standard unit which is a main | base station in 1st Example. It is a flowchart which controls the light which the subordinate unit used as a subunit | mobile_unit emits based on the light which the subordinate unit used as a main | base station emits in 1st Example. It is a block diagram which shows the structural example of the reference | standard unit and subordinate unit of a 1st modification. It is a block diagram which shows the example of a connection of the reference | standard unit and subordinate unit in a 1st modification. It is a flowchart which shows the light emission control of the reference | standard unit in a 1st modification. It is a flowchart which shows the light emission control of the subordinate unit used as the subunit | mobile_unit adjacent to the reference | standard unit which is a main | base station in the 1st modification. It is a flowchart which controls the light which the subordinate unit used as a subunit | mobile_unit emits based on the light which the subordinate unit used as a main | base station emits in a 1st modification. It is a block diagram which shows the structural example of the reference | standard unit of a 2nd modification. It is a block diagram which shows the structural example of the subordinate unit of a 2nd modification. It is a block diagram which shows the example of a connection of the reference | standard unit and subordinate unit in a 2nd modification. It is a timing chart which shows the example of the lighting display performed in a reference unit and each subordinate unit, when a reference unit transmits or receives pattern information and each subordinate unit transmits or receives pattern information. It is a flowchart which shows the light emission control of the reference | standard unit in a 2nd modification. It is a flowchart which shows the light emission control of the subordinate unit used as the subunit | mobile_unit adjacent to the reference | standard unit which is a main | base station in the 2nd modification. It is a flowchart which controls the light which the subordinate unit used as a subunit | mobile_unit emits based on the light which the subordinate unit used as a main | base station emits in a 2nd modification. It is a block diagram which shows the structural example of the reference | standard unit and subordinate unit of a 3rd modification. It is a block diagram which shows the example of a connection of the reference | standard unit and subordinate unit in a 3rd modification. It is a flowchart which shows the reference | standard unit light emission control in a 3rd modification. Is a flow chart showing a light emission control of the dependent unit 2S ₁₂ serving as a slave unit which is adjacent to the reference unit is a master unit in a third modification. It is a flowchart which controls the light which the subordinate unit used as a subunit | mobile_unit emits based on the light which the subordinate unit used as a main | base station emits in a 3rd modification. It is the top view which represented typically the 4th modification of the surface illumination system of 1st Example shown in FIG. It is a flowchart which shows control of the subordinate unit which made the reference | standard unit the main | base station in the surface illumination system which concerns on the other modification of 1st Example. It is a flowchart which shows control of the subordinate unit which makes an adjacent subordinate unit a main | base station in the surface illumination system which concerns on the other modification of 1st Example. It is the top view which represented typically the surface illumination system which shows the other modification of 1st Example. It is sectional drawing which follows the VI-VI line of FIG. 2 in the surface illumination system which concerns on 2nd Example of this invention. It is a perspective view which shows schematic structure of the surface illumination system which concerns on 3rd Example of this invention. It is sectional drawing which follows the VI-VI line of FIG. 2 in the surface illumination system which concerns on 3rd Example of this invention. It is sectional drawing which follows the VI-VI line of FIG. 2 in the surface illumination system which concerns on the modification of 3rd Example of this invention.

  DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings based on some examples. In addition, this invention is not limited to the content described below, In the range which does not deviate from the summary of this invention, it can change arbitrarily and can implement. The drawings used in the following description schematically show the surface illumination system and the like according to the present invention, and are partially emphasized, enlarged, reduced, or omitted to deepen understanding. In some cases, it does not accurately represent the scale or shape of each component. Further, various numerical values used in the following description are only examples, and can be variously changed as necessary.

<First embodiment>
FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a schematic configuration of a surface illumination system 1 according to a first embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 1, the surface illumination system 1 is configured by arranging a plurality of surface illumination devices (light emitting units) 2 at predetermined intervals. Each surface lighting device 2 has a relationship in which one surface lighting device 2 is a parent device and the other surface lighting device 2 is a child device for every two adjacent surface lighting devices 2 whose combinations are determined in advance. Further, the surface illumination device 2 that becomes a slave device in one combination may be a parent device in another combination, that is, in combination with another adjacent surface illumination device 2. Such a combination of the parent device and the child device will be described in detail later.

  The surface illumination device 2 includes a light emitting light source as described later, and emits light from the light emitting surface 4 to the outside. Through-holes 8 are formed to face each of the opposing side surface portions 6 of the two adjacent surface lighting devices 2 with the relationship between the parent device and the child device, and through the through-holes 8 as will be described later. Thus, a part of light emitted from one surface illumination device 2 serving as a parent device between two adjacent surface illumination devices 2 enters the other surface illumination device 2 serving as a child device.

  A part of the surface illumination system 1 viewed from the light emitting surface 4 side of the surface illumination device 2 is shown in FIG. 2 as a schematic diagram. The surface illumination device 2 is provided with a plurality of organic EL elements 12 that are elongated as light emitting sources as shown by broken lines in FIG. A region of the light emitting surface 4 where the organic EL element 12 is not disposed, that is, a peripheral portion of each surface illumination device 2 is a non-light emitting region A.

(Overall configuration of surface illumination device)
3 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line III-III of the surface illumination device 2 in FIG. As shown in FIG. 3, a sealing cover 14 that prevents adsorption of moisture and oxygen is bonded to the organic EL element 12 on the substrate 10. A protective plate 16 for protecting the substrate 10 is extended on the surface of the substrate 10 opposite to the surface on which the organic EL element 12 is disposed. A frame member 18 having an L-shaped cross section is provided on the entire circumference of the protection plate 16. On the frame member 18, the light that reaches the frame member 18 without a part of the light emitted from the organic EL element 12 being emitted outward from the substrate 10 or the protection plate 16 is transmitted from the light emitting surface 4 side in the frame member 18. The reflection plate 20 is disposed so as to be radiated outward. Although not shown, a hollow portion formed by the frame member 18 and the reflection plate 20 accommodates wiring, control lines, and the like for supplying power to the organic EL element 12. The substrate 10 is bonded and fixed to the frame member 18, and the frame member 18 is bonded and fixed to the cover 22.

  Next, each component of the surface illumination device 2 will be described in detail.

(substrate)
In the present embodiment, the substrate 10 is a plate-shaped transparent substrate made of glass. The substrate 10 may be a metal plate, ceramics, a plastic film, or the like. In particular, a transparent substrate made of glass or a transparent resin substrate such as polyester, polymethacrylate, polycarbonate, or polysulfone used in this embodiment is desirable. In addition, wiring for supplying power to each organic EL element 12 is formed on the substrate 10.

(Organic EL device)
In this embodiment, a plurality of organic EL elements 12 having different emission colors are disposed on the substrate 10. For example, in this embodiment, the emission colors are red, green, and blue, and the codes of the organic EL elements 12 are distinguished and used corresponding to these emission colors. That is, the organic EL element 12R whose emission color is red, the organic EL element 12G whose emission color is green, and the organic EL element 12B whose emission color is blue are repeatedly arranged on the substrate 10 at equal intervals in parallel in this order. . The red, green, and blue light emitted from the organic EL elements 12R, 12G, and 12B arranged in this way are combined, and the combined light emitted from the light emitting surface 4 becomes white light.

  Although not shown, in this embodiment, the organic EL element 12 is configured by laminating an anode, a charge transport layer, a light emitting layer, and a cathode in this order on the substrate 10. The following are mentioned as a luminescent material used for the said light emitting layer.

Examples of the light emitting material that gives blue light emission include naphthalene, perylene, pyrene, anthracene, coumarin, p-bis (2-phenylethenyl) benzene, and derivatives thereof. Examples of the light emitting material that gives green light emission include quinacridone derivatives, coumarin derivatives, and aluminum complexes such as Al (C ₉ H ₆ NO) ₃ . Examples of a light-emitting material that emits red light include DCM (4- (dicyanomethylene) -2-methyl-6- (p-dimethylaminostyryl) -4H-pyran) -based compounds, benzopyran derivatives, rhodamine derivatives, benzothioxanthene derivatives. And azabenzothioxanthene. In addition, such a luminescent material may use only any one type, and may use two or more types together by arbitrary combinations and ratios.

  In addition, the kind of luminescent color is not restricted to the color mentioned above, What is necessary is just to select suitably according to the luminescent color calculated | required by the surface illumination apparatus 2. FIG. Further, even when white light is obtained from the surface illumination device 2 as combined light, in addition to the above combination, for example, blue light and yellow light, red light and blue-green light (cyan light), or green light and red-purple light ( A combination such as magenta light) may be employed.

  Further, the shape of the organic EL element 12 is not limited to the above-described shape, and can be appropriately changed. For example, the organic EL element 12 may be formed in a small square shape and arranged on the substrate 10 in a matrix.

(Sealing cover)
In the present embodiment, the sealing cover 14 is formed from a material having low moisture permeability and low oxygen permeability. For example, it may be formed of an inorganic material such as glass or ceramic, a metal material such as stainless steel, iron or aluminum, a polyester or polystyrene such as polyethylene terephthalate or polyethylene naphthalate, or a polymer material such as polycarbonate or polycycloolefin.

  In addition, it is preferable to increase the light emission efficiency of the surface illumination device 2 by applying white coding or the like with high light reflectance on the inner surface of the sealing cover 14.

(Protective plate)
In this embodiment, the protection plate 16 is made of glass and has a transparent plate shape. In addition, a polymer film substrate may be used for the protective plate 16, and for example, a transparent resin substrate such as polyester, polyethylene terephthalate, polyethylene naphthalate or the like is desirable.

  Moreover, in order to further promote the synthesis of light emitted from each of the organic EL elements 12R, 12G, and 12B, for example, a protective plate such as milky white may be used.

(reflector)
In this embodiment, the reflecting plate 20 is formed in a flat plate shape. After being emitted from the organic EL element 12, the reflecting plate 20 is refracted and reflected in the substrate 10 or the protective plate 16 and radiated outward from the protective plate 16. Instead, the light reaching the reflecting plate 20 is reflected and emitted from the light emitting surface 4 side to the outside. Thereby, it is possible to narrow the non-light-emitting area A described above, and the light-emitting area on the light-emitting surface 4 of each surface illumination device 2 can be seen continuously, and the aesthetic appearance can be improved.

  In addition, the shape of the reflecting plate 20 is not limited thereto, and may be formed integrally with the frame member 18, and the cross section of the reflecting plate 20 in this case may not be hollow. Further, instead of the reflecting plate 20, a diffusing plate in which irregularities are formed so that light diffuses in the reflecting plate 20 may be used.

(Configuration between surface lighting devices)
FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along line IV-IV of the surface illumination device 2 shown in FIG. A through-hole (light transmission means) 8 is provided at a position facing each other in the side surface portion 22a of the covering cover 22 that is the side surface portion 6 of the adjacent surface lighting device 2a and the surface lighting device 2b that is the child device. It has been drilled. Light guide members (light transmission means) 24a and 24b are fitted in the through holes 8, respectively. The light guide member 24a fitted in the through hole 8 of the surface illumination device 2a emits light that has reached the light guide member 24a through the substrate 10 after the organic EL element 12 of the surface illumination device 2a emits light. Is. The light guide member 24b fitted in the through hole 8 of the surface illumination device 2b is for guiding the light emitted from the light guide member 24a to the light receiving sensor (light detection means) 26. The light guide members 24a and 24b and the light receiving sensor 26 are arranged in the order of the combination of the parent device and the child device described later.

  The light receiving sensor 26 detects, for example, at least one light characteristic of luminance and chromaticity of light incident on the light receiving sensor 26. In the present embodiment, both luminance and chromaticity are detected as the optical characteristics. Here, an optical lens may be disposed between the light guide members 24 a and 24 b disposed in the surface illumination device 2 b and the light receiving sensor 26. By arranging the optical lens, the light receiving sensitivity of the light receiving sensor 26 can be increased. Note that the characteristics of light detected by the light receiving sensor 26 are not limited to luminance and chromaticity, and may be either one. Specific examples of the light receiving sensor 26 include a photodiode, a CCD image sensor, and a CMOS image sensor. When detecting the chromaticity, a color filter may be provided on the light receiving surface side of the light receiving sensor 26 to determine the chromaticity.

  In the present embodiment, the reflecting plate 20 located on the light receiving sensor 26 is partially cut away in order to arrange the light receiving sensor 26. Instead of this, the inclination of the reflecting plate 20 may be changed from that of the other three sides along only one side of the frame member 18 on which the light receiving sensor 26 is arranged.

(Light guide member)
In this embodiment, the light guide members 24a and 24b are made of, for example, a hollow cylindrical member whose inner side is covered with a reflector, an optical fiber, glass, acrylic resin, vinyl chloride resin, polycarbonate resin, silicon rubber, or the like. Also good. Moreover, as the light guide members 24a and 24b in the present embodiment, a material having a transmittance of 50% or more and a refractive index of 1.3 or more with respect to light having a wavelength of 589.3 nm when the thickness is 3 mm is preferable. By using such light guide members 24a and 24b, a part of the light emitted from the surface illumination device 2a can be made incident on the light receiving sensor 26 disposed in the adjacent surface illumination device 2b.

(Configuration of surface lighting system)
FIG. 5 is a plan view of the surface illumination system 1 according to the first embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 5, the surface illumination system 1 includes m × n surface illumination devices 2, and any one of them is selected as a reference unit. In this embodiment, it is selected the surface lighting device 2S ₁₁ as a reference unit, the reference unit surface lighting device other than 2S ₁₁ 2S ₁₂ ~2S _mn is a dependent unit. The selection of the reference unit may be performed by providing a switch for switching the reference unit or the subordinate unit in the surface illumination device 2 and using this switch, or may be performed by a remote controller or an operation unit described later.

Further, in accordance with the order of the arrows shown in FIG. 5, the light guide member 24a and the light guide member 24a are disposed in the through hole 8 formed in the side surface portion 6 of the surface illumination device 2 serving as the master unit. light guide member 24b and the light receiving sensor 26 is arranged in the through hole 8 of the surface lighting device 2 serving as a slave unit which is formed in a position facing the hole 8, each surface illuminating device 2S ₁₂ ~2S in order of arrows The light characteristics of the light emitted by _mn are controlled.

In the subordinate units 2S _{12 to} 2S _mn shown in FIG. 5, the reference unit 2S ₁₁ is a parent unit of the subordinate unit 2S ₁₂ (first subordinate unit), and the subordinate unit 2S ₁₂ is in a relationship of a child unit of the reference unit 2S ₁₁ . Thereafter, the subordinate unit 2S ₁₂ becomes the master unit of the adjacent subordinate units 2S ₁₃ (second subordinate unit), subordinate units 2S ₁₃ is a relation of the slave unit. Thereafter, the slave unit 2S ₁₃ becomes a master unit of the slave unit 2S ₁₄ (third slave unit), and the slave unit 2S ₁₄ becomes a slave unit. Thus, the parent-child relationship of the subordinate units is sequentially switched to the subordinate unit 2S _mn ((X + 1) th subordinate unit, X is an integer of 1 or more) according to the arrow in FIG.

Accordance with the above configuration, the following, reference unit a surface illuminator 2S ₁₁ 2S _11, illustrating a surface illuminator 2S ₁₂ ~2S _mn read as subordinate unit 2S ₁₂ ~2S _mn. FIG. 6 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration example of the reference unit according to the first embodiment.

As shown in FIG. 6, in the first embodiment, the reference unit 2S ₁₁ is provided with a power control circuit 30 that supplies power to each organic EL element 12 arranged in the reference unit 2S ₁₁ . A controller 31 and an operation unit 34 are connected to the power control circuit 30 via the controller 31. The controller 31 controls the lighting / non-lighting of the reference unit 2S _11, controls the optical characteristics such as luminance and chromaticity (lighting control) to. The operation unit 34 functions as a man-machine interface for associating the user with the surface illumination system 1 and may be configured by, for example, operation keys and a display unit. The controller 31 obtains the amount of power of each organic EL element 12 necessary for obtaining the light having the characteristics input and instructed from the operation unit 34, and sends a command to the power control circuit 30. In addition, a memory 36 is connected to the controller 31, and the instructed characteristic and the electric energy necessary for obtaining this characteristic are associated with each other in advance and stored in the memory 36.

The power control circuit 30, a plurality of organic EL elements 12R, which are arranged in the reference unit 2S _11, the organic EL element 12G, the organic EL element 12B are connected respectively, the power control circuit 30 to each organic EL element 12 Control the amount of power each supplied.

As shown in FIG. 6, the reference unit 2S ₁₁ is provided with an infrared sensor 35 (communication means) that receives an infrared signal transmitted from the external control terminal 40. The infrared sensor 35 receives the test information (control signal) and the pattern information by the infrared signal transmitted from the external control terminal 40, converts them into an electrical signal, and sends the converted electrical signal test information and the pattern information to the controller 31. input.

As shown in FIG. 6, the reference unit 2 </ b> S ₁₁ is provided with a transmission modem 32 that sends test information and pattern information from the controller 31 to the power supply line 50 via the power supply terminal 51.

The test information will be described. The test information, to the external control terminal 40 to identify each subordinate unit 2S ₁₂ ~2S _mn, is information for respectively turning on the display a predetermined character string or number to each subordinate unit 2S ₁₂ ~2S _mn. Specifically, for example, the test information instructs each of the slave units 2S _{12 to} 2S _mn to light up and display the serial number set in advance, the last few digits of the serial number, and the like. Information. In the present embodiment, in order to identify each slave unit 2S ₁₂ ~2S _mn, but the serial number is used, identifying if the respective dependent units 2S ₁₂ ~2S _mn, not limited to the serial number Further, it may be a unique identifier by a character string or a symbol string such as a manufacturing number or a number of each of the subordinate units 2S _{12 to} 2S _mn assigned at the time of installation.

7, when the reference unit 2S ₁₁ transmits the test information, and when the dependent units 2S ₁₂ ~2S _mn receives the test information is performed in the reference unit 2S ₁₁ and each subordinate unit 2S ₁₂ ~2S _mn It is a timing chart which shows the example of lighting display.

In the example shown in FIG. 7, first, the color organic EL element of the reference unit 2S ₁₁ and each subordinate unit 2S ₁₂ ~2S _mn, when transmits the test information (reference unit 2S _11), or upon receiving (slave unit 2S ₁₂ , 2S _mn ), once turned off, then turned on. Each of the slave units 2S _{12 to} 2S _mn repeatedly displays the serial number in a predetermined cycle. The organic EL elements of the respective colors of the reference unit 2S ₁₁ may be turned on after being turned off once, or may be kept turned off without being turned on. Also, the organic EL elements of the respective colors of the reference unit 2S ₁₁ may repeatedly display the serial number.

8, when the reference unit 2S ₁₁ transmits the test information, and when the dependent units 2S ₁₂ ~2S _mn receives the test information is performed in the reference unit 2S ₁₁ and each subordinate unit 2S ₁₂ ~2S _mn It is a timing chart which shows the other example of lighting display. Note that the test information in this example includes the lower-order digits (for example, the lower four digits of the serial number of the subordinate unit that lights up the serial number among the subordinate units 2S _{12 to} 2S _mn . It may be a number or a small number of digits). In another example shown in FIG. 8, when the test information is transmitted (reference unit 2S ₁₁ ) or received (subordinate units 2S ₁₂ , 2S _mn ), the test information is once turned off and then turned on. Then, the reference unit 2S ₁₁ and each subordinate unit 2S ₁₂ ~2S _mn is lit and displayed under number digit serial number indicated in the test information. Then, the reference unit 2S ₁₁ and the subordinate units 2S _{12 to} 2S _mn whose lower digits of the serial number indicated by the test information match the lower digits of the serial number (in the example shown in FIG. 8, the subordinate unit 2S ₁₂ ) The serial number is repeatedly lit and displayed at a predetermined cycle. As in the example shown in FIG. 7, the organic EL elements of the respective colors of the reference unit 2S ₁₁ may be turned off after being once turned off, or may be turned off without being turned on. You may continue.

Incidentally, when the reference unit 2S ₁₁ transmits the test information, and when the dependent units 2S ₁₂ ~2S _mn receives the test information, the reference unit 2S ₁₁ and each subordinate unit 2S ₁₂ ~2S _mn further different lighting Display may be performed. Specifically, for example, first, when the test information is transmitted (reference unit 2S ₁₁ ) or received (subordinate units 2S ₁₂ , 2S _mn ), the test information is once turned off and then turned on. Then, the reference unit 2S ₁₁ and each subordinate unit 2S ₁₂ ~2S _mn is lit and displayed under number digit serial number respectively. Then, for example, of the reference units 2S ₁₁ and each subordinate unit 2S ₁₂ ~2S _mn, the serial number is lit display under first digit when the binary representation of the serial number to the unit is "1", the other Turn off the unit. Next, of the reference unit 2S ₁₁ and each subordinate unit 2S ₁₂ ~2S _mn, numbers below second digit when the binary representation of the serial number "1" is the unit the serial number is lit display, the other Turn off the unit. In this way, the serial number is sequentially lit and displayed on the unit whose number is “1” in each digit at the time of binary representation of the serial number.

When the reference unit 2S ₁₁ transmits the test information, and when the dependent units 2S ₁₂ ~2S _mn receives the test information, lighting display yet to be performed in the reference unit 2S ₁₁ and each subordinate unit 2S ₁₂ ~2S _mn Another example will be described. In this example, first, when the test information is transmitted (reference unit 2S ₁₁ ) or received (subordinate units 2S ₁₂ , 2S _mn ), the test information is once turned off and then turned on. Then, the reference unit 2S ₁₁ and each subordinate unit 2S ₁₂ ~2S _mn is lit and displayed under number digit serial number respectively. Furthermore, for example, the reference unit 2S ₁₁ and each subordinate unit 2S ₁₂ ~2S _mn, for example, the serial number is lit displays sequentially the serial number is small, the other units unlit. Thus, the reference unit 2S ₁₁ and each subordinate unit 2S ₁₂ ~2S _mn, will the serial number is lit and displayed one by one in the order serial number is small. The order of lighting display the reference unit 2S ₁₁ and the serial number to each subordinate unit 2S ₁₂ ~2S _mn is not limited to the order serial number is small, may be a descending order, it may be in other orders .

The external control terminal 40 shoots the lighting state of the reference unit 2S ₁₁ and each of the slave units 2S _{12 to} 2S _mn in which any of the above-described processes is performed according to the user's operation, and the reference unit 2S ₁₁ and each slave unit The serial numbers 2S _{12 to} 2S _mn are recognized.

  Here, the external control terminal 40 will be described. FIG. 9A is a block diagram illustrating a configuration example of the external control terminal 40. In the example illustrated in FIG. 9A, the external control terminal 40 includes an information processing unit 41. The information processing unit 41 is connected to a display 42, a photographing unit 43 (imaging device), an operation unit 44 (key input device), and an output interface 45 (information transmission unit). The display 42, the photographing unit 43, the operation unit 44, and the output interface 45 may be mounted on the external control terminal 40, respectively. The operation means 44 and the display 42 may be realized by a touch panel.

The photographing unit 43 performs a photographing process according to a user operation performed on the operation unit 44. Specifically, for example, performs the imaging processing for generating image data obtained by photographing the reference unit 2S ₁₁ and each subordinate unit 2S ₁₂ ~2S _mn in accordance with the operation of the user has been made on the operation unit 44, the information processing unit to the image data 41. Incidentally, imaging processing, as described above, when the reference unit 2S ₁₁ transmits the test information, and when the dependent units 2S ₁₂ ~2S _mn receives the test information, the reference unit 2S ₁₁ and each subordinate unit 2S _This is executed when the lighting display is performed at _{12 to} 2S _mn .

The information processing unit 41 performs image recognition processing based on the input image data. Specifically, the information processing unit 41, for example, recognizes based on the input image data, the reference unit 2S ₁₁ and each of the serial numbers that are lit and displayed on the subordinate unit 2S ₁₂ ~2S _mn, each the position of the reference unit 2S ₁₁ and each subordinate unit 2S ₁₂ ~2S _mn, emission direction, and at least one with of the interval between each unit, the recognizing image recognition processing sequence of each surface illuminating device performs. Note that the information processing unit 41 preferably performs correction of the shooting angle at the time of shooting or distortion correction of the image by the lens of the shooting unit 43 before or after the image recognition process. When image distortion correction is performed, it is preferable to display the image after distortion correction on the display 42.

In addition, the information processing unit 41 displays an image based on the input image data on the display 42 as a graphic. Then, the information processing unit 41 includes a reference unit 2S ₁₁ and each subordinate unit 2S ₁₂ ~2S _mn in an image was graphically displayed on the display 42, and the serial number of the reference units 2S ₁₁ and each subordinate unit 2S ₁₂ ~2S _mn were respectively associated, according to a user operation made to the operating means 44, directly or indirectly to transmit the pattern information to the reference unit 2S ₁₁ and each subordinate unit 2S ₁₂ ~2S _mn to the output interface 45. Then, the light having an optical characteristic reference unit 2S ₁₁ and each subordinate unit 2S ₁₂ ~2S _mn emitted can be changed individually.

  FIG. 9B is an explanatory diagram showing a shooting state by the external control terminal 40. FIG. 9C is a front view of the external control terminal 40. In the example shown in FIGS. 9B and 9C, the external control terminal 40 is equipped with at least a photographing unit 43, an operation unit 44, and a display 42. The external control terminal 40 is realized by, for example, a smartphone that is a multi-function mobile communication terminal including the display 42, the photographing unit 43, the operation unit 44, and the output interface 45, or an information communication terminal device that is fixedly installed. .

As shown in FIG. 9B, when the photographing unit 43 of the external control terminal 40 photographs the surface illumination devices 2S _{11 to} 2S _mn according to the operation of the operation unit 44 by the user, as shown in FIG. 9C. The image recognition processing result is displayed on the display 42 as a graphic. Specifically, in the example illustrated in FIG. 9C, the surface illumination devices 2S _{11 to} 2S ₃₄ whose serial numbers are lit and displayed based on the test information are recognized as the illuminations _{11 to 34} , respectively. That is, the information processing unit 41 associates the surface illumination devices 2S _{11 to} 2S ₃₄ with the serial numbers on which the surface illumination devices 2S _{11 to} 2S ₃₄ are turned on, and displays them on the display 42 as the illuminations _{11 to 34.} ing. Further, FIG. 9C shows that the arrangement of the surface light emitting devices is recognized by the image recognition processing together with the positions of the surface lighting devices 2S _{11 to} 2S ₃₄ and the intervals between the surface lighting devices.

Note that if the boundary between the surface illuminator 2S ₁₁ ~2S _mn is not clear, it is difficult to the information processing unit 41 recognizes the respective surfaces lighting apparatus 2S ₁₁ ~2S _34, the information processing unit 41 Causes the output interface 45 to transmit test information that causes each of the surface lighting devices 2S _{11 to} 2S _mn to be in a lighting display state one by one. Then, the information processing unit 41 performs shooting processing when each of the surface lighting devices 2S _{11 to} 2S _mn is in the lighting display state, and each surface lighting device 2S ₁₁ to 2S ₁₁ to 2 is based on the image data generated by each shooting processing. Recognize 2S _mn respectively.

Further, the arrangement and serial numbers of the surface lighting devices 2S _{11 to} 2S _mn may be input to the information processing unit 41 based on an operation performed on the operation unit 44 by the user.

The pattern information will be described. The pattern information designates at least one surface illuminating device among the subordinate units 2S _{12 to} 2S _mn , and the surface illuminating device emits light characteristics of the light emitted by the surface illuminating device serving as a parent unit of the surface illuminating device. It is the information which shows the relationship of the optical characteristic of light. That is, the pattern information is information for instructing to individually change the light characteristics of the light emitted from the subordinate units 2S _{12 to} 2S _mn . Accordingly, the pattern information includes information (for example, a serial number) indicating a surface illumination device whose light characteristics of emitted light are to be changed, and information indicating the change contents of the light characteristics.

  The information processing unit 41 of the external control terminal 40 generates pattern information according to an operation performed on the operation unit 44 by the user, and causes the output interface 45 to output the generated pattern information. Specifically, when the display 42 is a touch panel, when the area on the display 42 where the surface illumination device whose light characteristics to be emitted are to be changed is touched by the user, the information processing unit 41 Causes the display 42 to display a screen on which the ratio of the luminance and chromaticity with the light characteristics of the light emitted by the adjacent surface illumination device can be set. And the pattern information according to operation performed by the user using the said screen is generated.

  In addition, the information processing unit 41 follows the arrangement order of the surface illumination devices displayed on the display 42 according to the operation performed on the operation unit 44 by the user (that is, the arrangement order in which each surface illumination device is actually installed). ), Pattern information instructing to change the brightness, chromaticity, etc. of each surface lighting device at a predetermined rate may be generated. With such pattern information, the entire surface illumination system is designed so that the amount of light emitted gradually increases from the surface illumination devices installed in the hallway rows to the surface illumination devices installed in the window rows. A light emission pattern can be set. Moreover, the light characteristic of the light emitted for each row in which each surface illumination device is installed can be changed. And if the light characteristic of the light which one surface lighting apparatus in the said row | line | column changes is changed, the surface lighting apparatus which is a subunit | mobile_unit which uses the said one surface lighting device directly or indirectly in the said row | line | column emits. The light characteristics of the light can be changed.

  The output interface 45 transmits the pattern information and test information generated by the information processing unit 41 to the surface illumination device. Specifically, for example, transmission is performed by infrared communication, transmission is performed via a mobile phone communication network, transmission is performed by wireless LAN (Local Area Network) communication, transmission is performed by power line communication, or via a wired LAN. Send, send via the Internet, send by near field communication such as ZigBee (registered trademark), send by Bluetooth (registered trademark), via a wired optical communication line or electric communication line Or send.

FIG. 10 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration example of the subordinate unit of the first embodiment. As shown in FIG. 10, each of the slave units 2S _{12 to} 2S _mn includes a light receiving sensor 26, a memory 36, a controller 38, a power control circuit 30, a plurality of organic EL elements 12R, an organic EL element 12G, an organic EL element 12B, and A receiving modem 33 (communication means) is provided, and is connected to the power supply line 50 by a power supply terminal 51. In the present embodiment, since the configurations of the reference unit and the subordinate unit are partially shared, the subordinate units 2S _{12 to} 2S _mn also have the operation unit 34. The function shall not be used. Similarly, in FIG. 6, the reference unit 2S ₁₁ is shown to have a light receiving sensor 26, when operating as a reference unit shall not use this feature.

In this embodiment, the reference unit 2S ₁₁ and the subordinate units 2S _{12 to} 2S _mn are connected by a common power line 50. With this configuration, the receiving modem 33 of the slave units 2S _{12 to} 2S _mn can receive the test information and pattern information transmitted by the transmitting modem 32 of the reference unit 2S ₁₁ via the power supply line 50. Then, the controllers 38 of the slave units 2S _{12 to} 2S _mn execute processing according to the test information or pattern information received by the reception modem 33. Further, the controller 38 executes a process according to the light received by the light receiving sensor 26. More specifically, the controller 38 uses each organic EL necessary for obtaining light having characteristics according to instructions indicated in the test information or pattern information or light having characteristics according to light received by the light receiving sensor 26. A process for obtaining the electric energy of the element 12 and sending a command to the power control circuit 30 is performed. Then, the power control circuit 30 controls the amount of power supplied to each organic EL element 12, and from each organic EL element 12, a light having a characteristic according to an instruction indicated in the test information or pattern information, or a light receiving sensor Light having characteristics corresponding to the light received by 26 is emitted. In particular, a slave unit that matches the information included in the pattern information indicating the surface illumination device whose light characteristics of emitted light are to be changed (for example, a slave unit having a serial number that matches the serial number included in the pattern information) ) Controller 38 obtains the electric energy of each organic EL element 12 necessary for emitting the light having the changed light characteristic according to the information indicating the change contents of the light characteristic included in the pattern information, Processing to send a command to the control circuit 30 is performed. Then, the power control circuit 30 controls the amount of power supplied to each organic EL element 12 so that each organic EL element 12 emits light having a characteristic according to the instruction indicated in the pattern information. In other words, the relationship between the light characteristics of the light emitted from the surface lighting device serving as the parent device and the light characteristics of the light emitted from the surface lighting device serving as the child device to the parent device is a predetermined relationship indicated by the pattern information. It becomes possible to individually control the surface illumination device as the slave unit.

Figure 11 is a block diagram showing a connection example of the reference unit 2S ₁₁ and dependent units 2S _12. As shown in FIG. 11 and described above, the reference unit 2S ₁₁ and the slave unit 2S ₁₂ are connected via the power line 50.

As shown in FIG. 11, when the infrared sensor 35 of the reference unit 2S ₁₁ receives information (test information and pattern information are simply referred to as information) transmitted from the external control terminal 40, the infrared sensor 35 converts the information into an electrical signal. Input to the controller 31. The transmission modem 32 sends the information converted into an electrical signal and input to the controller 31 to the power supply line 50. The receiving modem 33 of the slave unit 2S ₁₂ receives the information sent to the power supply line 50 and inputs it to the controller 38. Then, as described above, the controller 38 executes processing corresponding to the test information or pattern information received by the receiving modem 33 and processing corresponding to the light received by the light receiving sensor 26.

Control of the surface illumination system 1 according to the first embodiment of the present invention configured as described above will be described with reference to FIG. Figure 12 is a flow chart showing a light emission control of the reference unit 2S _11. The controller 31 executes a light emission control of the reference unit 2S ₁₁ in accordance with the flowchart of FIG. 12.

(Adjusting the brightness and color temperature of the reference unit)
In step S1, reads the luminance and color temperature of the reference unit 2S ₁₁ set by the user from the operation unit 34. The brightness set here may be set continuously or stepwise from, for example, between the brightness at which the organic EL element 12 is not lit and the maximum brightness. Similarly, the color temperature may be set continuously or stepwise from, for example, a light bulb color to a daylight color.

  In step S2, the amount of electric power supplied to each organic EL element 12R, organic EL element 12G, and organic EL element 12B is determined so that the luminance and color temperature set in step S1 are obtained. Here, for the power amount with respect to the luminance, for example, the power amount with respect to the luminance and the color temperature may be obtained from a map stored in the memory 36.

  When the infrared sensor 35 receives test information or pattern information from the external control terminal 40 (Y in step S3), the test information or pattern information is converted into an electrical signal and input to the controller 31. In step S4, the transmission modem 32 transmits the test information or pattern information input to the controller 31 to the slave unit via the power terminal 51 and the power line 50.

  In step S5, the controller 31 supplies each of the organic EL elements 12R, the organic EL elements 12G, and the organic EL elements 12B so that the luminance and color temperature correspond to the test information or pattern information input from the infrared sensor 35. The amount of power to be obtained is obtained, and the amount of power obtained in step S2 is corrected.

  In step S6, the controller 31 controls each organic EL element 12R, organic EL element 12G, organic EL element from the power control circuit 30 so that the electric energy obtained in step S2 or the electric energy corrected in step S5 is obtained. The amount of power supplied to 12B is adjusted.

(Brightness and chromaticity adjustment of subordinate units based on the reference unit)
FIG. 13 is a flowchart showing the light emission control of the slave unit 2S _{12 that is} the slave unit adjacent to the reference unit 2S ₁₁ that is the master unit (light emission control step). The slave unit controller 38 executes the light emission control of the slave unit according to the flowchart of FIG. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 5, it is a flowchart for controlling the luminance and color temperature of the adjacent slave unit 2S ₁₂ (first slave unit) based on the luminance and color temperature of the reference unit 2S _11. explain.

In step S110, by a part of the light emitted from the reference unit 2S ₁₁ adjacent to each incident on the light receiving sensor 26 of the sub unit 2S ₁₂ via the light guide member 24a, 24b, the brightness and the light emitted from the reference unit 2S ₁₁ Detect chromaticity.

In step S120, the brightness and chromaticity detected in step S110 are corrected using the correction coefficient stored in the memory. The correction coefficient to be used is obtained from the spectrum attenuation characteristics of the light guide members 24a and 24b, for example. The light guide member 24a, since optical transparency transmittance possessed by the 24b is not necessarily 100%, that part of the light emitted from the reference unit 2S ₁₁ passes the light guide member 24a, a 24b, the reference unit 2S ₁₁ There is a possibility that the light characteristics detected by the light receiving sensor 26, that is, the luminance and chromaticity are different from the light characteristics of emitted light. Accordingly, the above-described steps are performed so that the luminance and chromaticity correction coefficients based on the spectral attenuation characteristics of the light guide members 24a and 24b are obtained in advance and stored in the memory 36, and the attenuation characteristics are compensated in the step S120. by correcting by multiplying the correction coefficient to the detected brightness and chromaticity in S110, it is adjusted substantially equal to the luminance and chromaticity of the actual light emitting luminance and the chromaticity detected by the light receiving sensor 26 of the reference unit 2S ₁₁ it can.

In step S130, the luminance and chromaticity of light emitted from the subordinate unit 2S ₁₂ calculates the amount of power to be substantially equal to the luminance and the chromaticity were corrected in the above step S120. Here, the method for calculating the electric energy is the same as the method described in step S2.

If the receiving modem 33 receives the test information or pattern information from the reference unit 2S ₁₁ (Y in step S140), the controller 38, at step S150, the to be luminance and color temperature corresponding to the test information or pattern information The amount of power supplied to each organic EL element 12R, organic EL element 12G, and organic EL element 12B is obtained, and the amount of power obtained in step S130 is corrected.

  In step S160, the controller 38 controls each organic EL element 12R, organic EL element 12G, and organic EL element from the power control circuit 30 so that the power amount obtained in step S130 or the power amount corrected in step S150 is obtained. The amount of power supplied to 12B is adjusted.

(Brightness adjustment of subordinate units based on subordinate units)
FIG. 14 is a flowchart for controlling the light emitted from the slave unit as the slave unit based on the light emitted from the slave unit as the master unit (light emission control step). As described above, after controlling the optical characteristics using the slave unit 2S ₁₂ whose light characteristics are controlled based on the light emitted from the reference unit 2S ₁₁ as the master unit and the slave unit 2S ₁₃ as the slave unit, By switching the machines, the light characteristics of the light emitted from each subordinate unit is controlled to control the light characteristics of the subordinate unit. The following description, as an example, the dependent units 2S ₁₂ (first subordinate unit, the master unit) based on the dependent unit 2S ₁₃ (second subordinate unit, the slave unit) adjacent to the subordinate unit 2S ₁₂ controls the is there.

In step S201, by a part of the light emitted by the neighboring subordinate units 2S ₁₂ is incident on the light receiving sensor 26 of the sub unit 2S ₁₃ via the light guide member 24a, 24b, the luminance of light emitted from the subordinate units 2S ₁₂ and Detect chromaticity. By using the light guide members 24a and 24b in this way, the same effects as described in step S110 can be obtained.

In step S202, the luminance and chromaticity detected in step S201 are corrected. The correction coefficient to be used is the same as that in step S120. The brightness detected by the light receiving sensor 26 by correcting the brightness and chromaticity detected in step S201 by multiplying them by a correction coefficient so as to compensate for the spectral attenuation characteristics of the light guide members 24a and 24b obtained in advance. And the chromaticity can be set substantially equal to the luminance and chromaticity of the light emitted by the subordinate unit 2S ₁₂ .

At step S203, so that light characteristics of light emitted from the subordinate unit 2S ₁₃ becomes substantially equal to the corrected luminance and chrominance in step S202, calculates the power amount of the luminance and chromaticity of light emitted from the subordinate unit 2S ₁₃ To do. Here, the calculation method of the electric energy is the same as the method described in step S2.

If the receiving modem 33 receives the test information or pattern information from the reference unit 2S ₁₁ (Y in step S204), the controller 38, at step S205, so that the luminance and the color temperature corresponding to the test information or pattern information The amount of power supplied to each organic EL element 12R, organic EL element 12G, and organic EL element 12B is obtained, and the amount of power obtained in step S203 is corrected.

  In step S206, the controller 38 controls each organic EL element 12R, organic EL element 12G, organic EL element from the power control circuit 30 so that the electric energy obtained in step S203 or the electric energy corrected in step S205 is obtained. The amount of power supplied to 12B is adjusted.

Similarly, this flowchart is performed for the remaining subordinate units 2S _{14 to} 2S _mn while changing the relationship between the master unit and the slave unit.

Thus, according to this embodiment, based on the brightness and chromaticity of the reference unit 2S ₁₁ controls the luminance and chromaticity of the subordinate units 2S _12, subordinate units based on the brightness and chromaticity of the subordinate units 2S ₁₂ By sequentially controlling the brightness and chromaticity of 2S ₁₃ and finally controlling the brightness and chromaticity of the subordinate unit 2S _mn , the brightness and light emitted by the adjacent surface illumination devices 2 as shown in FIG. The chromaticity is controlled sequentially. That is, the light reference unit 2S ₁₁ is emitted, the light guide member 24a, 24b enters the subordinate units 2S ₁₂ through, is controlled to be substantially equal to the luminance and chromaticity of the reference unit 2S _11. Next, subordinate units 2S ₁₂ of emitting portion of the light guide member 24a of the light, 24b enters into the adjacent subordinate units 2S ₁₃ via the luminance and chromaticity of the subordinate units 2S ₁₃ is substantially equal to the subordinate unit 2S ₁₂ It is controlled to become. Thus, by changing the brightness and chromaticity of the reference unit 2S _11, it is possible to sequentially control the brightness and chromaticity to subordinate units 2S ₁₂ ~2S _mn.

  Further, since the light emitted from the surface illumination device 2 is guided to the light receiving sensor 26 using the light guide members 24a and 24b, the light is not easily affected by scattered light other than the surface illumination device 2, and the luminance and chromaticity of the subordinate unit are reduced. Control accuracy can be improved.

  Furthermore, by performing lighting display according to the test information received by each surface lighting device 2, the external control terminal 40 can recognize the serial number of each surface lighting device 2, and the external control terminal 40 The pattern information including the information indicating the serial number of each recognized surface lighting device 2 can be transmitted to each surface lighting device 2 to individually change the light characteristics of the light emitted by each surface lighting device. More specifically, the relationship between the light characteristics of the light emitted from the surface lighting device serving as the parent device and the light characteristics of the light emitted from the surface lighting device serving as the child device to the parent device is a predetermined relationship indicated by the pattern information. As described above, it becomes possible to individually control the surface illumination device as the slave unit.

(First modification of surface illumination system)
Further, a first modification of the first embodiment will be described below. In the first embodiment described above, the infrared sensor 35 of the reference unit 2S ₁₁ receives information from the external control terminal 40, and the information (more specifically, the information after being converted into an electrical signal) is the reference. The information is transmitted to the subordinate units 2S _{12 to} 2S _mn by being sent to the power supply line 50 by the transmission modem 32 of the unit 2S ₁₁ .

On the other hand, in the first modification, the modem 300 installed outside the reference unit 2S ₁₁ and connected to the power line 50 receives information from the external control terminal 40, and the modem 300 receives the received information. by sending to the power line 50, the information is transmitted to the reference unit 2S ₁₁ and dependent units 2S ₁₂ ~2S _mn. In the first modified example, the reference unit 2S ₁₁ and the slave units 2S _{12 to} 2S _mn are both connected to the power supply line 50.

Further, in the first modification, configuration and structure as the subordinate unit 2S ₁₂ ~2S _mn reference unit 2S ₁₁ is common.

FIG. 15 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration example of the reference unit and the subordinate unit of the first modification. As shown in FIG. 15, the reference unit 2S ₁₁ and the slave units 2S _{12 to} 2S _{mn of} the first modification include a reception modem 33 instead of the transmission modem 32 in the reference unit 2S ₁₁ shown in FIG. Further, the reference unit 2S ₁₁ and dependent units 2S ₁₂ ~2S _mn of the first modified example may not include an infrared sensor 35. In other configurations of the reference unit 2S ₁₁ and the subordinate units 2S _{12 to} 2S _{mn of} the first modification, the same components as those in the reference unit 2S ₁₁ shown in FIG. .

The receiving modem 33 of the reference unit 2S ₁₁ and the slave units 2S _{12 to} 2S _{mn of} the first modification receives the information sent from the modem 300 to the power line 50 and inputs it to the controller 31.

FIG. 16 is a block diagram illustrating a connection example of the reference unit 2S ₁₁ and the subordinate unit 2S ₁₂ in the first modification. As shown in FIG. 16 and described above, the reference unit 2S ₁₁ and the slave unit 2S ₁₂ are connected via the power line 50.

As shown in FIG. 16, when the modem 300 installed outside the reference unit 2S ₁₁ receives the information transmitted from the external control terminal 40, the modem 300 transmits the received information to the power supply line 50. The sent information is received by the receiving modem 33 of the reference unit 2S _{11 and} the receiving modem 33 of the subordinate unit 2S ₁₂ and input to the controller 31. Then, as described above, the controller 31 of the reference unit 2S ₁₁ and the slave unit 2S ₁₂ performs processing according to the test information or pattern information received by the receiving modem 33 or processing according to the light received by the light receiving sensor 26. Execute.

Control of the surface illumination system 1 according to the first modification of the first embodiment of the present invention configured as described above will be described with reference to FIG. Figure 17 is a flow chart showing a light emission control of the reference unit 2S ₁₁ of the first modification. The controller 31 executes a light emission control of the reference unit 2S ₁₁ in accordance with the flow chart of FIG. 17.

(Adjusting the brightness and color temperature of the reference unit)
In step S31, it reads the luminance and color temperature of the reference unit 2S ₁₁ set by the user from the operation unit 34. The brightness set here may be set continuously or stepwise from, for example, between the brightness at which the organic EL element 12 is not lit and the maximum brightness. Similarly, the color temperature may be set continuously or stepwise from, for example, a light bulb color to a daylight color.

  In step S32, the amount of power supplied to each organic EL element 12R, organic EL element 12G, and organic EL element 12B is determined so as to achieve the brightness and color temperature set in step S31. Here, for the power amount with respect to the luminance, for example, the power amount with respect to the luminance and the color temperature may be obtained from a map stored in the memory 36.

  When the receiving modem 33 receives test information or pattern information from the external control terminal 40 via the modem 300 (Y in step S33), the controller 31 receives the test information or pattern information received by the receiving modem 33 in step S34. The amount of power supplied to each organic EL element 12R, organic EL element 12G, and organic EL element 12B is determined so that the luminance and color temperature correspond to each other, and the amount of power determined in step S32 is corrected.

  In step S35, the controller 31 controls the organic EL element 12R, the organic EL element 12G, and the organic EL element from the power control circuit 30 so that the electric energy obtained in step S32 or the electric energy corrected in step S34 is obtained. The amount of power supplied to 12B is adjusted.

(Brightness and chromaticity adjustment of subordinate units based on the reference unit)
FIG. 18 is a flowchart showing the light emission control of the slave unit 2S _{12 that is} the slave unit adjacent to the reference unit 2S ₁₁ that is the master unit (light emission control step). The controller 31 of the slave unit executes the light emission control of the slave unit according to the flowchart of FIG. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 5, it is a flowchart for controlling the luminance and color temperature of the adjacent slave unit 2S ₁₂ (first slave unit) based on the luminance and color temperature of the reference unit 2S _11. explain.

In step S41, by a part of the light emitted from the reference unit 2S ₁₁ adjacent to each incident on the light receiving sensor 26 of the sub unit 2S ₁₂ via the light guide member 24a, 24b, the brightness and the light emitted from the reference unit 2S ₁₁ Detect chromaticity.

In step S42, the brightness and chromaticity detected in step S41 are corrected using the correction coefficient stored in the memory. The correction coefficient to be used is obtained from the spectrum attenuation characteristics of the light guide members 24a and 24b, for example. The light guide member 24a, since optical transparency transmittance possessed by the 24b is not necessarily 100%, that part of the light emitted from the reference unit 2S ₁₁ passes the light guide member 24a, a 24b, the reference unit 2S ₁₁ There is a possibility that the light characteristics detected by the light receiving sensor 26, that is, the luminance and chromaticity are different from the light characteristics of emitted light. Therefore, the above-described steps are performed so that the luminance and chromaticity correction coefficients based on the spectral attenuation characteristics of the light guide members 24a and 24b are obtained in advance and stored in the memory 36, and the attenuation characteristics are compensated in step S42. by correcting by multiplying the correction coefficient to the detected brightness and chromaticity in S41, it is adjusted substantially equal to the luminance and chromaticity of the actual light emitting luminance and the chromaticity detected by the light receiving sensor 26 of the reference unit 2S ₁₁ it can.

At step S43, the luminance and chromaticity of light emitted from the subordinate unit 2S ₁₂ calculates the amount of power to be substantially equal to the luminance and the chromaticity were corrected in step S42. Here, the method for calculating the electric energy is the same as the method described in step S2.

  When the receiving modem 33 receives the test information or pattern information from the modem 300 (Y in step S44), the controller 31 sets each of the brightness and color temperature according to the test information or pattern information so as to obtain the brightness and color temperature in step S45. The amount of electric power supplied to each of the organic EL element 12R, the organic EL element 12G, and the organic EL element 12B is obtained, and the electric amount obtained in step S43 is corrected.

  In step S46, the controller 31 controls each of the organic EL elements 12R, the organic EL elements 12G, and the organic EL elements from the power control circuit 30 so that the power amount obtained in step S43 or the power amount corrected in step S45 is obtained. The amount of power supplied to 12B is adjusted.

(Brightness adjustment of subordinate units based on subordinate units)
FIG. 19 is a flowchart for controlling the light emitted from the slave unit as the slave unit based on the light emitted from the slave unit as the master unit (light emission control step). As described above, after controlling the optical characteristics using the slave unit 2S ₁₂ whose light characteristics are controlled based on the light emitted from the reference unit 2S ₁₁ as the master unit and the slave unit 2S ₁₃ as the slave unit, By switching the machines, the light characteristics of the light emitted from each subordinate unit is controlled to control the light characteristics of the subordinate unit. The following description, as an example, the dependent units 2S ₁₂ (first subordinate unit, the master unit) based on the dependent unit 2S ₁₃ (second subordinate unit, the slave unit) adjacent to the subordinate unit 2S ₁₂ controls the is there.

In step S51, by a part of the light emitted by the neighboring subordinate units 2S ₁₂ is incident on the light receiving sensor 26 of the sub unit 2S ₁₃ via the light guide member 24a, 24b, the luminance of light emitted from the subordinate units 2S ₁₂ and Detect chromaticity. By using the light guide members 24a and 24b in this way, the same effects as described in step S110 can be obtained.

In step S52, the brightness and chromaticity detected in step S51 are corrected. The correction coefficient to be used is the same as that in step S120. Luminance detected by the light receiving sensor 26 by correcting the luminance and chromaticity detected in step S51 by applying a correction coefficient so as to compensate for the spectral attenuation characteristics of the light guide members 24a and 24b obtained in advance. And the chromaticity can be set substantially equal to the luminance and chromaticity of the light emitted by the subordinate unit 2S ₁₂ .

In step S53, so that the optical characteristics of light emitted from the dependent unit 2S ₁₃ becomes substantially equal to the corrected luminance and chrominance in step S52, calculates the amount of power of the luminance and chromaticity of light emitted from the subordinate unit 2S ₁₃ To do. Here, the calculation method of the electric energy is the same as the method described in step S2.

  When the receiving modem 33 receives test information or pattern information from the modem 300 (Y in step S54), in step S55, the controller 31 sets each brightness and color temperature according to the test information or pattern information so that the brightness and color temperature are obtained. The amount of power supplied to each of the organic EL element 12R, the organic EL element 12G, and the organic EL element 12B is obtained, and the amount of power obtained in step S53 is corrected.

  In step S56, the controller 31 controls each organic EL element 12R, organic EL element 12G, organic EL element from the power control circuit 30 so that the electric energy obtained in step S53 or the electric energy corrected in step S55 is obtained. The amount of power supplied to 12B is adjusted.

Similarly, this flowchart is performed for the remaining subordinate units 2S _{14 to} 2S _mn while changing the relationship between the master unit and the slave unit.

  According to the first modification, test information and pattern information can be transmitted to each subordinate unit by using the reception modem 33 connected to the power supply line 50, and the same effect as in the above-described embodiment can be obtained.

(Second modification of the surface illumination system)
A second modification of the first embodiment will be described below. In the first modification described above, the receiving modems 33 of the reference unit 2S ₁₁ and the subordinate units 2S _{12 to} 2S _mn respectively receive information sent to the power supply line 50 by the modem 300.

On the other hand, in the second modified example, the modem 400 installed outside the reference unit 2S ₁₁ and connected to the input interface 401 (communication means) receives information from the external control terminal 40, and the controller 31 By controlling the power control circuit 30 according to information, the organic EL element 12 emits light according to the information, and the light receiving sensor 26 (communication means) of the slave units 2S _{12 to} 2S _mn receives the light. and transmits the information to subordinate units 2S ₁₂ ~2S _mn.

FIG. 20 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration example of the reference unit of the second modified example. As shown in FIG. 20, the reference unit 2S ₁₁ of the second modified example includes information indicating an operation performed on the operation unit 34 instead of the reception modem 33 in the reference unit 2S ₁₁ of the first modified example shown in FIG. The modem 400 includes an input interface 401 for inputting information received from the external control terminal 40. In the reference unit 2S ₁₁ of the second modification, the same components as those in the reference unit 2S ₁₁ shown in FIG.

FIG. 21 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration example of the subordinate unit of the second modified example. As shown in FIG. 21, each of the slave units 2S _{12 to} 2S _mn includes a light receiving sensor 26, a memory 36, a controller 38, a power control circuit 30, a plurality of organic EL elements 12R, an organic EL element 12G, an organic EL element 12B, and A receiving modem 33 is provided. In the present embodiment, since the configurations of the reference unit and the subordinate unit are partially shared, the subordinate units 2S _{12 to} 2S _mn also have the operation unit 34 and the input interface 401, but operate as a subordinate unit. Shall not use these functions. Similarly, in FIG. 20, the reference unit 2S ₁₁ is shown to have a light receiving sensor 26, when operating as a reference unit shall not use this feature.

Figure 22 is a block diagram showing a connection example of the subordinate units 2S ₁₂ and reference unit 2S ₁₁ in the second modified example. As shown in FIG. 22, as described above, the modem 400 that has received information from the external control terminal 40 inputs information to the input interface 401, and the controller 31 determines the power control circuit according to the information input to the input interface 401. by light is emitted in accordance with the information and controls the 30 from the organic EL element 12, the light guide member 24a, via 24b transmits the information to subordinate units 2S ₁₂ ~2S _mn.

23, when the reference unit 2S ₁₁ transmits or receives the pattern information, and when the dependent units 2S ₁₂ ~2S _mn sends or receives pattern information, reference unit 2S ₁₁ and each subordinate unit 2S ₁₂ ~2S It is a timing chart which shows the example of the lighting display performed in _mn . In the example shown in FIG. 23, when the pattern information is transmitted or received, the reference unit 2S ₁₁ and the subordinate units 2S _{12 to} 2S _mn are once turned off and then turned on. Then, the reference unit 2S ₁₁ and each subordinate unit 2S ₁₂ ~2S _mn is lit and displayed under number digit serial number indicated by the pattern information. And the lighting display according to the content of pattern information is performed. Specifically, for example, a predetermined relationship is established with respect to the light characteristics of the light emitted from the surface illumination device serving as the master unit with respect to the subordinate unit having the serial number that matches the lower digits of the serial number indicated by the pattern information. Lights up to indicate that. In addition, these lighting displays may be repeatedly performed with a predetermined period. Further, the present invention is not limited to the case where the lower digits of the serial number are lit and displayed, and all the serial numbers may be lit and displayed.

The controller 38 of each of the subordinate units 2S _{12 to} 2S _mn becomes a master unit according to the contents of the pattern information when the lower digits of its serial number match the lower digits of the serial number indicated by the pattern information. The power control circuit 30 is controlled so that the relationship between the light characteristics of the light emitted from the surface illumination device and the light characteristics of the light emitted from its own organic EL element becomes a predetermined relationship. Specifically, for example, the light characteristics of the light emitted from its own organic EL element are such that the luminance and chromaticity have a certain ratio or difference with respect to the light characteristics of the light emitted from the surface lighting device as the master unit. To adjust.

  Note that the controller 38 is connected to a time measuring means for providing time information indicating the time, and the controller 38 has a light characteristic of the light emitted from its own organic EL element with respect to the light characteristic of the light emitted from the surface lighting device serving as the master unit. The ratio or difference between the luminance and chromaticity may be adjusted to be different according to the time indicated by the time information provided by the time measuring means. Specifically, for example, when the time indicated by the time information provided by the time measuring means indicates a midnight time zone (for example, from 10 pm to 5 am), the light emitted from its own organic EL element The brightness and chromaticity ratio and difference of the light characteristics of the light emitted from its own organic EL element and the light characteristics of the light emitted from the surface lighting device as the master unit are adjusted so that the brightness of the light is lower than other time zones. May be.

  The controller 38 is connected to illuminance measuring means (illuminance sensor) for providing illuminance information indicating ambient illuminance, and the controller 38 is a surface illuminating device serving as a parent device of the light characteristics of light emitted from its own organic EL element. The ratio or difference in luminance, light quantity, and chromaticity with respect to the light characteristics of the light emitted from the light may be adjusted so as to vary depending on the illuminance indicated by the illuminance information provided by the illuminance measurement means. Specifically, for example, when the illuminance indicated by the illuminance information provided by the illuminance measurement means is greater than or equal to a predetermined illuminance, the brightness and the amount of light emitted by the organic EL element are reduced so that The ratio or difference of the luminance or light quantity of the light characteristic of the light emitted from the organic EL element with respect to the light characteristic of the light emitted from the surface illumination device as the master unit may be adjusted.

The operation of the subordinate unit based on the pattern information described above can also be applied to the above-described embodiments and modifications. That is, even if the pattern information is configured to be transmitted / received via the power supply line 50 as in the above-described embodiments, the controller 38 of each of the subordinate units 2S _{12 to} 2S _mn The power control circuit 30 is controlled so that the relationship between the light characteristics of the light emitted from the surface lighting device serving as the master unit and the light characteristics of the light emitted from its own organic EL element becomes a predetermined relationship. More specifically, according to the contents of the pattern information, it is possible to adjust the light characteristics of the light emitted from the organic EL element based on the time and the ambient illuminance.

Control of the surface illumination system 1 according to the second modification of the present invention configured as described above will be described with reference to FIG. Figure 24 is a flow chart showing a light emission control of the reference unit 2S ₁₁ of the second modification. The controller 31 executes a light emission control of the reference unit 2S ₁₁ in accordance with the flowchart of FIG. 24.

(Adjusting the brightness and color temperature of the reference unit)
In step S61, it reads the luminance and color temperature of the reference unit 2S ₁₁ set by the user from the operation unit 34. The brightness set here may be set continuously or stepwise from, for example, between the brightness at which the organic EL element 12 is not lit and the maximum brightness. Similarly, the color temperature may be set continuously or stepwise from, for example, a light bulb color to a daylight color.

  In step S62, the amount of electric power supplied to each organic EL element 12R, organic EL element 12G, and organic EL element 12B is determined so as to achieve the luminance and color temperature set in step S61. Here, for the power amount with respect to the luminance, for example, the power amount with respect to the luminance and the color temperature may be obtained from a map stored in the memory 36.

  When the input interface 401 receives test information or pattern information from the external control terminal 40 via the modem 400 (Y in step S63), the controller 31 performs external control via the modem 400 in step S64. The amount of power supplied to each organic EL element 12R, organic EL element 12G, and organic EL element 12B is determined so as to emit light according to the test information or pattern information received from the terminal 40, and the amount of power determined in step S62. Correct.

In step S65, the controller 31 sets each organic EL element 12R, organic EL element 12G, and organic EL element from the power control circuit 30 so that the electric energy obtained in step S62 or the electric energy corrected in step S64 is obtained. The amount of power supplied to 12B is adjusted. Then, part of the input interface 401 in accordance with the test information or pattern information received from the external control terminal 40 through the modem 400 light, toward a subordinate unit adjacent via light guide member 24a of the reference unit 2S ₁₁ Is emitted.

(Brightness and chromaticity adjustment of subordinate units based on the reference unit)
FIG. 25 is a flowchart showing the light emission control of the slave unit 2S _{12 that is} the slave unit adjacent to the reference unit 2S ₁₁ that is the master unit (light emission control step). The slave unit controller 38 executes the light emission control of the slave unit according to the flowchart of FIG. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 5, it is a flowchart for controlling the luminance and color temperature of the adjacent slave unit 2S ₁₂ (first slave unit) based on the luminance and color temperature of the reference unit 2S _11. explain.

In step S71, by a part of the light emitted from the reference unit 2S ₁₁ adjacent to each incident on the light receiving sensor 26 of the sub unit 2S ₁₂ via the light guide member 24a, 24b, the brightness and the light emitted from the reference unit 2S ₁₁ Detect chromaticity.

In step S72, the brightness and chromaticity detected in step S71 are corrected using the correction coefficient stored in the memory. The correction coefficient to be used is obtained from the spectrum attenuation characteristics of the light guide members 24a and 24b, for example. The light guide member 24a, since optical transparency transmittance possessed by the 24b is not necessarily 100%, that part of the light emitted from the reference unit 2S ₁₁ passes the light guide member 24a, a 24b, the reference unit 2S ₁₁ There is a possibility that the light characteristics detected by the light receiving sensor 26, that is, the luminance and chromaticity are different from the light characteristics of emitted light. Therefore, the above-described steps are performed so that the luminance and chromaticity correction coefficients based on the spectral attenuation characteristics of the light guide members 24a and 24b are obtained in advance and stored in the memory 36, and the attenuation characteristics are compensated in the step S72. by correcting by multiplying the correction coefficient to the detected brightness and chromaticity in S71, it is adjusted substantially equal to the luminance and chromaticity of the actual light emitting luminance and the chromaticity detected by the light receiving sensor 26 of the reference unit 2S ₁₁ it can.

In step S73, the luminance and chromaticity of light emitted from the subordinate unit 2S ₁₂ calculates the amount of power to be substantially equal to the luminance and the chromaticity were corrected in step S72. Here, the method for calculating the electric energy is the same as the method described in step S2.

  When the input interface 401 receives test information or pattern information from the external control terminal 40 via the modem 400 (Y in step S74), the controller 38 performs external control via the modem 400 in step S75. The amount of power supplied to each organic EL element 12R, organic EL element 12G, and organic EL element 12B is determined so as to emit light according to the test information or pattern information received from the terminal 40, and the amount of power determined in step S73. Correct.

In step S76, the controller 38 controls each organic EL element 12R, organic EL element 12G, and organic EL element from the power control circuit 30 so that the electric energy obtained in step S73 or the electric energy corrected in step S75 is obtained. The amount of power supplied to 12B is adjusted. Then, part of the input interface 401 in accordance with the test information or pattern information received from the external control terminal 40 through the modem 400 light, toward a subordinate unit adjacent via light guide member 24a of the reference unit 2S ₁₁ Is emitted.

(Brightness adjustment of subordinate units based on subordinate units)
FIG. 26 is a flowchart for controlling the light emitted from the slave unit as the slave unit based on the light emitted from the slave unit as the master unit (light emission control step). As described above, after controlling the optical characteristics using the slave unit 2S ₁₂ whose light characteristics are controlled based on the light emitted from the reference unit 2S ₁₁ as the master unit and the slave unit 2S ₁₃ as the slave unit, By switching the machines, the light characteristics of the light emitted from each subordinate unit is controlled to control the light characteristics of the subordinate unit. The following description, as an example, the dependent units 2S ₁₂ (first subordinate unit, the master unit) based on the dependent unit 2S ₁₃ (second subordinate unit, the slave unit) adjacent to the subordinate unit 2S ₁₂ controls the is there.

At step S81, by a part of the light emitted by the neighboring subordinate units 2S ₁₂ is incident on the light receiving sensor 26 of the sub unit 2S ₁₃ via the light guide member 24a, 24b, the luminance of light emitted from the subordinate units 2S ₁₂ and Detect chromaticity. By using the light guide members 24a and 24b in this way, the same effects as described in step S110 can be obtained.

In step S82, the luminance and chromaticity detected in step S81 are corrected. The correction coefficient to be used is the same as that in step S120. Luminance detected by the light receiving sensor 26 by correcting the luminance and chromaticity detected in step S81 by applying a correction coefficient so as to compensate for the spectral attenuation characteristics of the light guide members 24a and 24b obtained in advance. And the chromaticity can be set substantially equal to the luminance and chromaticity of the light emitted by the subordinate unit 2S ₁₂ .

At step S83, the as optical characteristics of light emitted from the subordinate unit 2S ₁₃ becomes substantially equal to the corrected luminance and chromaticity in the step S82, the calculated power amount of the luminance and chromaticity of light emitted from the subordinate unit 2S ₁₃ To do. Here, the calculation method of the electric energy is the same as the method described in step S2.

  When the input interface 401 receives test information or pattern information from the external control terminal 40 via the modem 400 (Y in step S84), the controller 38 performs external control via the modem 400 in step S85. The amount of power supplied to each organic EL element 12R, organic EL element 12G, and organic EL element 12B is determined so as to emit light according to the test information or pattern information received from the terminal 40, and the amount of power determined in step S83. Correct.

In step S86, the controller 38 controls each of the organic EL elements 12R, the organic EL elements 12G, and the organic EL elements from the power control circuit 30 so that the power amount obtained in step S83 or the power amount corrected in step S85 is obtained. The amount of power supplied to 12B is adjusted. Then, part of the input interface 401 in accordance with the test information or pattern information received from the external control terminal 40 through the modem 400 light, toward a subordinate unit adjacent via light guide member 24a of the reference unit 2S ₁₁ Is emitted.

Similarly, this flowchart is performed for the remaining subordinate units 2S _{14 to} 2S _mn while changing the relationship between the master unit and the slave unit.

  According to the second modification, test information and pattern information can be transmitted to each subordinate unit by using the modem 400, and the same effects as those of the above-described embodiment and the first modification can be obtained.

(Third modification of the surface illumination system)
Further, a third modification of the first embodiment will be described below. In each example described above, the information transmitted by the external control terminal 40 is transmitted to the slave units 2S _{12 to} 2S _mn via the power line 50 and the reference unit 2S ₁₁ .

On the other hand, in the third modification, the information transmitted by the external control terminal 40 is directly input to the reference unit 2S ₁₁ and the subordinate units 2S _{12 to} 2S _mn .

FIG. 27 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration example of a reference unit and subordinate units according to a third modification. As shown in FIG. 27, the reference unit 2S ₁₁ and the slave units 2S _{12 to} 2S _{mn of} the third modification are the same as those in the transmission modem 32 in the reference unit 2S ₁₁ shown in FIG. 6 and the slave unit 2S ₁₂ shown in FIG. The receiving modem 33 may not be provided. Since the other configurations of the reference unit 2S ₁₁ and the subordinate units 2S _{12 to} 2S _{mn of} the third modification are the same as those in the reference unit 2S ₁₁ shown in FIG. Omitted.

Figure 28 is a block diagram showing a connection example of the subordinate units 2S ₁₂ and reference unit 2S ₁₁ in the third modification. Shown in FIG. 28, as described above, in the reference unit 2S ₁₁ and subordinate unit 2S ₁₂ directly to the information is input from the external control terminal 40 to each of the infrared sensor 35 (communication means).

As shown in FIG. 28, when the infrared sensor 35 of the reference unit 2S ₁₁ receives information transmitted from the external control terminal 40, it converts it into an electrical signal and inputs it to the controller 31. And the controller 31 performs the process according to the input information. In addition, when the infrared sensor 35 of the slave unit 2S ₁₂ receives the information transmitted from the external control terminal 40, it converts it into an electrical signal and inputs it to the controller 31. And the controller 31 performs the process according to the input information, and the process according to the light which the light reception sensor 26 received.

Control of the surface illumination system 1 according to the third modification of the present invention configured as described above will be described with reference to FIG. Figure 29 is a flow chart showing a light emission control of the reference unit 2S _11. The controller 31 executes a light emission control of the reference unit 2S ₁₁ in accordance with the flowchart of FIG. 29.

(Adjusting the brightness and color temperature of the reference unit)
At step S91, the read luminance and the color temperature of the reference unit 2S ₁₁ set by the user from the operation unit 34. The brightness set here may be set continuously or stepwise from, for example, between the brightness at which the organic EL element 12 is not lit and the maximum brightness. Similarly, the color temperature may be set continuously or stepwise from, for example, a light bulb color to a daylight color.

  In step S92, the amount of electric power supplied to each organic EL element 12R, organic EL element 12G, and organic EL element 12B is determined so as to achieve the brightness and color temperature set in step S1. Here, for the power amount with respect to the luminance, for example, the power amount with respect to the luminance and the color temperature may be obtained from a map stored in the memory 36.

  When the infrared sensor 35 receives test information or pattern information from the external control terminal 40 (Y in step S93), the controller 31 receives the test information or pattern information received by the infrared sensor 35 from the external control terminal 40 in step S94. The amount of power supplied to each organic EL element 12R, organic EL element 12G, and organic EL element 12B is obtained so that the luminance and color temperature according to the above are obtained, and the amount of power obtained in step S92 is corrected.

  In step S95, the controller 31 controls each organic EL element 12R, organic EL element 12G, organic EL element from the power control circuit 30 so that the electric energy obtained in step S92 or the electric energy corrected in step S94 is obtained. The amount of power supplied to 12B is adjusted.

(Brightness and chromaticity adjustment of subordinate units based on the reference unit)
FIG. 30 is a flowchart showing the light emission control of the slave unit 2S _{12 that is} the slave unit adjacent to the reference unit 2S ₁₁ that is the master unit (light emission control step). The subordinate unit controller 31 executes light emission control of the subordinate unit according to the flowchart of FIG. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 5, it is a flowchart for controlling the luminance and color temperature of the adjacent slave unit 2S ₁₂ (first slave unit) based on the luminance and color temperature of the reference unit 2S _11. explain.

In step S101, by a part of the light emitted from the reference unit 2S ₁₁ adjacent to each incident on the light receiving sensor 26 of the sub unit 2S ₁₂ via the light guide member 24a, 24b, the brightness and the light emitted from the reference unit 2S ₁₁ Detect chromaticity.

In step S102, the brightness and chromaticity detected in step S101 are corrected using the correction coefficient stored in the memory. The correction coefficient to be used is obtained from the spectrum attenuation characteristics of the light guide members 24a and 24b, for example. The light guide member 24a, since optical transparency transmittance possessed by the 24b is not necessarily 100%, that part of the light emitted from the reference unit 2S ₁₁ passes the light guide member 24a, a 24b, the reference unit 2S ₁₁ There is a possibility that the light characteristics detected by the light receiving sensor 26, that is, the luminance and chromaticity are different from the light characteristics of emitted light. Accordingly, the above-described steps are performed so that the luminance and chromaticity correction coefficients based on the spectral attenuation characteristics of the light guide members 24a and 24b are obtained in advance and stored in the memory 36, and the attenuation characteristics are compensated in step S102. by correcting by multiplying the correction coefficient to the detected brightness and chromaticity in S101, it is adjusted substantially equal to the luminance and chromaticity of the actual light emitting luminance and the chromaticity detected by the light receiving sensor 26 of the reference unit 2S ₁₁ it can.

In step S103, the luminance and chromaticity of light emitted from the subordinate unit 2S ₁₂ calculates the amount of power to be substantially equal to the luminance and the chromaticity were corrected in step S102. Here, the method for calculating the electric energy is the same as the method described in step S2.

  When the infrared sensor 35 receives test information or pattern information from the external control terminal 40 (Y in step S104), the controller 31 receives the test information or pattern information received by the infrared sensor 35 from the external control terminal 40 in step S105. The electric power supplied to each organic EL element 12R, organic EL element 12G, and organic EL element 12B is obtained so that the luminance and color temperature according to the above are obtained, and the electric energy obtained in step S103 is corrected.

  In step S106, the controller 31 sets each organic EL element 12R, organic EL element 12G, organic EL element from the power control circuit 30 so that the electric energy obtained in step S103 or the electric energy corrected in step S105 is obtained. The amount of power supplied to 12B is adjusted.

(Brightness adjustment of subordinate units based on subordinate units)
FIG. 31 is a flowchart for controlling the light emitted from the slave unit as the slave unit based on the light emitted from the slave unit as the master unit (light emission control step). As described above, after controlling the optical characteristics using the slave unit 2S ₁₂ whose light characteristics are controlled based on the light emitted from the reference unit 2S ₁₁ as the master unit and the slave unit 2S ₁₃ as the slave unit, By switching the machines, the light characteristics of the light emitted from each subordinate unit is controlled to control the light characteristics of the subordinate unit. The following description, as an example, the dependent units 2S ₁₂ (first subordinate unit, the master unit) based on the dependent unit 2S ₁₃ (second subordinate unit, the slave unit) adjacent to the subordinate unit 2S ₁₂ controls the is there.

In step S111, by a part of the light emitted by the neighboring subordinate units 2S ₁₂ is incident on the light receiving sensor 26 of the sub unit 2S ₁₃ via the light guide member 24a, 24b, the luminance of light emitted from the subordinate units 2S ₁₂ and Detect chromaticity. By using the light guide members 24a and 24b in this way, the same effects as described in step S110 can be obtained.

In step S112, the luminance and chromaticity detected in step S111 are corrected. The correction coefficient to be used is the same as that in step S120. Luminance detected by the light receiving sensor 26 by correcting the luminance and chromaticity detected in step S111 by applying a correction coefficient so as to compensate for the attenuation characteristics of the spectrum of the light guide members 24a and 24b obtained in advance. And the chromaticity can be set substantially equal to the luminance and chromaticity of the light emitted by the subordinate unit 2S ₁₂ .

At step S113, so that light characteristics of light emitted from the subordinate unit 2S ₁₃ becomes substantially equal to the corrected luminance and chrominance in step S112, calculates the power amount of the luminance and chromaticity of light emitted from the subordinate unit 2S ₁₃ To do. Here, the calculation method of the electric energy is the same as the method described in step S2.

  When the infrared sensor 35 receives test information or pattern information from the external control terminal 40 (Y in step S114), the controller 31 receives the test information or pattern information received by the infrared sensor 35 from the external control terminal 40 in step S115. The electric power supplied to each organic EL element 12R, organic EL element 12G, and organic EL element 12B is obtained so that the luminance and color temperature according to the above are obtained, and the electric energy obtained in step S113 is corrected.

  In step S116, the controller 31 controls each organic EL element 12R, organic EL element 12G, organic EL element from the power control circuit 30 so that the electric energy obtained in step S113 or the electric energy corrected in step S115 is obtained. The amount of power supplied to 12B is adjusted.

Similarly, this flowchart is performed for the remaining subordinate units 2S _{14 to} 2S _mn while changing the relationship between the master unit and the slave unit.

According to the third modification, the external control terminal 40 directly transmits test information and pattern information to the infrared sensors 35 of the reference unit 2S ₁₁ and the subordinate units 2S _{12 to} 2S _mn. The same effects as those of the modification can be obtained.

(Fourth modification of the surface illumination system)
Further, a fourth modification of the first embodiment will be described below. In this modification, the light guide member 24 and the light receiving sensor 26 provided in each surface illumination device 2 are added. Specifically, FIG. 32 shows a plan view of the surface illumination system 1 viewed from the light emitting surface 4 of the surface illumination device 2.

  The combination of the parent device and the child device described above is sequentially performed according to the arrows shown in FIG. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 32, in the positions of the respective arrows shown at the boundaries of the surface illumination device 2, the through-holes 8 that are formed at positions facing the side surface portions 6 of the adjacent surface illumination devices 2 are formed. The light guide members 24a and 24b are fitted, and the light receiving sensor 26 is disposed in the through-hole 8 into which the light guide member 24b is fitted, and the light characteristics of the light emitted by each surface illumination device 2 are controlled in the order of the arrows. To go.

Here, as shown in FIG. 32, when the reference unit 2S ₁₁ is used and the subordinate units are 2S ₁₂ to 2S _mn , a part of the light emitted from the reference unit 2S ₁₁ is passed through the light guide members 24a and 24b, respectively. The light is incident on the light receiving sensor 26 arranged in the slave units 2S ₁₂ (first slave unit) and 2S ₂₁ (first slave unit) adjacent to 2S ₁₁ . The slave units 2S ₁₂ and 2S ₂₁ are controlled according to the above-described steps S110 to S140 so that the luminance and chromaticity of the light detected by the light receiving sensor 26 are substantially equal. Next, subordinate units 2S ₁₂ of emitting portion of the light guide member 24a of the light, dependent units 2S ₁₃ (second subordinate unit) adjacent via 24b, respectively on the light receiving sensor 26 of the 2S ₂₂ (second subordinate unit) Incident, the slave units 2S ₁₃ and 2S ₂₂ are controlled according to the above-described steps S201 to S204. Thus, the luminance and chromaticity of the slave units 2S _{12 to} 2S _mn are sequentially controlled according to the arrows in FIG. With such a configuration, a part of the light can be transmitted to each of the two adjacent surface illumination devices 2, so that the brightness and chromaticity of each surface illumination device 2 can be controlled more quickly. be able to.

(Modification of light emission control)
Another modification of the first embodiment will be described below. In this modification, the brightness of the surface illumination system 1 is adjusted so as to vary stepwise for each horizontal arrangement of the surface illumination devices 2. In this case, the color temperature is adjusted to be the same as in the first embodiment. As an example of such adjustment, in the surface illumination device 2 shown in the schematic diagram of the surface illumination system 1 shown in FIG. 5, the arrangement of the reference units 2S ₁₁ to the subordinate units 2S _1n is defined as a row, and the brightness is increased for each row. Adjust to be different. The outline of such adjustment will be described below.

First, in the rows of the reference unit 2S ₁₁ to the dependent unit 2S _1n , the luminance of the light emitted from each of the dependent units 2S _{12 to} 2S _1n is controlled so as to be approximately equal to the luminance of the light emitted from the reference unit 2S ₁₁ . Next, the row of subordinate units 2S ₂₁ ~ subordinate units 2S _2n adjacent reference unit 2S ₁₁ ~ subordinate units 2S _1n is to increase the luminance by a predetermined ratio r with respect to the reference unit 2S _11, subordinate units 2S ₂₁ Controls the luminance of the light emitted by the subordinate unit 2S _2n . Furthermore, the line of subordinate units 2S ₃₁ ~ subordinate units 2S _3n adjacent subordinate units 2S ₂₁ ~ subordinate units 2S _2n, only predetermined ratio r with respect to the luminance of light emitted from the subordinate units 2S ₂₁ ~ subordinate units 2S _2n luminance The light emitted from the subordinate unit 2S ₃₁ to the subordinate unit 2S _3n is controlled.

The predetermined ratio described above is set in advance in, for example, the memory 36 provided in each first surface lighting device 2 whose luminance is adjusted, and the luminance of each surface lighting device 2 is controlled based on this. At this time, for example, when the light of the surface illumination device 2 is transmitted according to the flow shown in FIG. 5, a predetermined ratio r is stored in each of the slave units that are slave units when moving from one row to another row. 36 is set, and 1 is set in the memory 36 as a ratio to the other subordinate units except these. For more information, shown on the basis of the reference unit 2S ₁₁ 33, a flow chart illustrating the control of the adjacent subordinate units 2S _12, and a flowchart showing the control of the dependent units 2S _2n adjacent based on the subordinate unit 2S _1n Figure 34 .

As shown in FIG. 33, in step S121, the luminance corrected in step S12 is further corrected using a preset ratio r. Since the ratio of the dependent units 2S ₁₂ adjacent to the reference unit 2S ₁₁ is set at 1, the obtained brightness will be the same as the luminance corrected in step S12.

Incidentally, the subordinate units adjacent in the same row, the ratio of the sub unit to be the slave unit is set at 1, for example, a subordinate unit 2S ₁₂ to the master unit, if the subordinate unit 2S ₁₃ is the slave unit, brightness of the light obtained in the dependent unit 2S ₁₃ is equal to the luminance of the sub units 2S ₁₂ is the parent machine.

Next, the subordinate unit 2S _1n will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. As shown in FIG. 34, in step S221, the luminance corrected in step S22 is further corrected using a preset ratio r. Ratio r that is set in the dependent unit 2S _2n adjacent subordinate unit 2S _1n is a predetermined ratio, such as brightness increases from the dependent units 2S _1n, the amount determined power power amount corrected in step S22 To a predetermined ratio r. By controlling the luminance in this way, as shown in FIG. 35, the luminance of each surface illumination device 2 is adjusted to change stepwise.

  In this way, by setting a predetermined ratio r in advance in the memory 36 of the slave unit that becomes a slave when moving from one row to another according to the arrangement of the surface illumination devices 2, the surface illumination is performed. The brightness of the system 1 can be increased step by step, which is particularly effective when the surface illumination system 1 is used for the purpose of decoration or relaxation. In addition, when the indoor brightness varies depending on the location, it is also possible to adjust the brightness so that the apparent brightness is substantially the same at any location in the room.

  In the other modified examples described above, the luminance of the surface illumination device 2 is corrected at a predetermined ratio r. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the luminance of the surface illumination device 2 may be corrected with a predetermined difference d. Good. In this case, in step S121 and step S221 described above, the adjustment amount is corrected by adding or subtracting the predetermined difference d. Further, the ratios r set for each subordinate unit need not all be the same value, and may be appropriately changed as necessary.

  Furthermore, the surface illumination device 2 that constitutes the surface illumination system 1 reduces the luminance of the surface illumination device 2 disposed outside the surface illumination system 1, for example, and adjusts the luminance so that it gradually increases toward the inside. May be.

As another modification, each surface lighting device 2 turns on / off each element of the organic EL elements 12R, 12G, and 12B according to the set lighting pattern so that the surface lighting system 1 has a predetermined lighting pattern. You may make it do. In this case, lighting / non-lighting may be stored in advance in the memory 36 in accordance with the set lighting pattern. This is effective when the surface illumination system 1 is used as a decoration. Incidentally, the brightness of the planar illumination device 2 for lighting may also be controlled to be substantially equal to the reference unit 2S _11.

  In addition, the relationship between the light characteristics of the light emitted from the surface lighting device 2 serving as the parent device and the light characteristics of the light emitted from the surface lighting device 2 serving as the child device to the surface lighting device 2 serving as the parent device is predetermined. You may control so that it may become a relationship. For example, a plurality of surface illumination devices 2 included in the surface illumination system 1 are turned on / off according to a predetermined pattern. You may make it control the lighting state of the surface illumination apparatus 2 used as a machine.

  Further, in order to change the brightness of each surface lighting device 2 included in the surface lighting system 1 in a predetermined pattern, the slave unit is connected to the parent device according to the brightness of light emitted from the surface lighting device 2 serving as the parent device. You may control the brightness | luminance of the light which the surface illumination apparatus 2 used as follows. Furthermore, a child is connected to the parent device according to the light emission color of the light emitted from the surface lighting device 2 serving as the parent device so that the plurality of surface lighting devices 2 of the surface lighting system 1 change with a predetermined color pattern. You may make it control the emission color of the light which the subordinate unit used as a machine emits.

<Second embodiment>
Next, the surface illumination system 1 according to the second embodiment will be described below. The surface illumination system 101 according to the present embodiment is different from the first embodiment in that a light-transmitting elastic member is used in addition to the light guide members 24a and 24b, and other configurations are common. . Therefore, the description of the common part is omitted, and the difference is described.

(Configuration between surface lighting devices)
FIG. 36 is a sectional view taken along the line VI-VI in FIG. 2 in the surface illumination system 101 according to the second embodiment of the present invention. A light guide member 24a is fitted into the through-hole 8 of the surface illumination device 201a serving as the master unit. A light guide member 24b is fitted into the through hole 8 of the surface illumination device 201b, and guides the light emitted from the light guide member 24a of the surface illumination device 201a to enter the light receiving sensor 26. Between the side surface portions 6 of the surface illumination devices 201a and 201b, two elastic members (light transmission means) 24c and 24c having light transmission properties are sandwiched and emitted from the light guide member 24a of the surface illumination device 201a. A part of the light emitted from the surface illumination device 201a is guided to the light guide member 24b of the surface illumination device 201b through these elastic members 24c.

(Elastic member)
In this embodiment, the elastic member 24c is formed of a transparent material, and has a thickness such that the two elastic members 24c are in pressure contact with the corresponding side surface portions 6 in a state where the two are overlapped. In this embodiment, the two elastic members 24c are sandwiched between the side surface portions 6 of the surface lighting devices 201a and 201b. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the surface lighting device 201a and the surface lighting device 201b are pressed against each other. It may be sandwiched by one elastic member 24c having a thickness.

  The elastic member 24c may be formed of, for example, a resin member such as silicon rubber or a polymer material such as polyethylene. The elastic member 24a thus formed preferably has a Young's modulus of 1 GPa or less and a transmittance of 50% or more for light having a wavelength of 589.3 nm when the thickness is 3 mm, more preferably 70. % Or more, and a material having a characteristic of a refractive index of 1.3 or more is preferable.

  As described above, in this embodiment, the elastic member 24c is sandwiched between the side surface portions 6 of the surface illumination device 201a and the surface illumination device 201b, thereby reliably transmitting light between the surface illumination devices 201 and the surface illumination. Since the adhesion between the devices 201 can be improved, the same effects as those of the first embodiment can be obtained, and the structural stability of the surface illumination system 101 can be improved.

<Third embodiment>
Next, the surface illumination system 102 according to the third embodiment will be described below. In the surface illumination system 102 according to the present embodiment, a connecting member is disposed on the light emitting surface 4 side of the surface illumination device 202 instead of the through hole 8 and the light guide members 24a and 24b, and the first embodiment, and The structure around the light receiving sensor 26 is different, and other configurations are common. Therefore, the description of the common part is omitted, and the difference is described.

  FIG. 37 shows a schematic configuration of the surface illumination system 102 according to the third embodiment of the present invention. As will be described later, a connecting member 24d is attached to the light emitting surface 4 side between the two surface illumination devices 202 that are combined with each other in a relationship between the parent device and the child device so as to bridge the frame member 18. The shape of the connecting member 24d is not limited to this, and for example, the connecting member 24d may be provided over the entire side of the light emitting surface 4 of the surface illumination device 202. Also, the arrangement of the connecting members 24d shown in FIG. 37 follows the order shown by the arrows shown in FIG.

  FIG. 38 is a sectional view taken along the line VI-VI in FIG. 2 in the surface illumination system 102 according to the third embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 38, the surface illumination device 202 serving as the parent device is the surface illumination device 202a, and the surface illumination device 202 serving as the child device is the surface illumination device 202b. On the light emitting surface 4 side of the surface illumination device 202a and the surface illumination device 202b, a connecting member (light transmission means, light transmission path) 24d for connecting the adjacent surface illumination device 202a and the surface illumination device 202b is attached. The connecting member 24d is formed by filling a hollow covering material 39 with a transparent resin. One end 25 of the connecting member 24d is attached so as to face the frame member 18 of the surface illumination device 202a, and the covering material 39 is opened. The other end 25 is connected to the frame member 18 of the surface illumination device 202b. The covering material 39 is opened so as to face each other.

(Connecting member)
In the present embodiment, the connecting member 24d is formed of a material having a relatively high reflectance on the inside of the covering material 39. The connecting member 24d has an inclination 24s formed at a position facing the reflecting plate 20 of the surface illumination device 202a, and an inclination 24t formed at a position opposed to the light receiving sensor 26 disposed in the surface illumination device 202b. The inclination angles of the inclination 24s and the inclination 24t may be equal or different, but are angles at which light reflected by the inclination 24s enters the light receiving sensor 26 after entering the inclination 24t.

  Since the end 25 of the connecting member 24d is attached so as to face the frame member 18 of the surface illumination device 202, a part of the light emitted from the organic EL element 12 is not emitted outward from the protective plate 16. When entering the frame member 18, this light is reflected by the reflecting plate 20 and enters the slope 24 s from the opening 25 on the surface illumination device 202 a side. The incident light is reflected by the inclination 24s and incident on the inclination 24t, and is reflected by the inclination 24t and emitted toward the light receiving sensor 26 disposed on the frame member 18 of the surface illumination device 202b. The thickness d of the connecting member 24d in the covering material 39 is preferably 4 mm or more, and more preferably 8 mm or more.

  As described above, in this embodiment, the connecting member 24d in which the coating material 39 having a high reflectance is filled with the transparent resin is used as the frame member 18 on the light emitting surface 4 side of the adjacent surface lighting device 202a and surface lighting device 202b. As a result, a part of the light emitted from the surface illumination device 202a can be efficiently guided to the light receiving sensor 26 disposed in the adjacent surface illumination device 202b.

  Further, since it is only necessary to attach the connecting members 24d between the adjacent surface illumination devices 202 after the surface illumination devices 202 are all installed, it is not necessary to drill and align the through holes 8, and the working time is shortened. Work efficiency can be improved.

  The connecting member 24d may be formed hollow without being filled with a transparent resin.

(Modification of connecting member)
As a modification of the third embodiment, as shown in FIG. 39, a light transmission member (light transmission means, light transmission path) 24e made of a transparent material may be used instead of the connecting member 24d. One end portion 25a of the light transmission member 24e is attached at a position facing the reflecting plate 20 of the surface illumination device 202a serving as the master unit, and the other end portion 25a is received by the surface illumination device 202b serving as the slave unit. It is attached at a position facing the sensor 26.

  When a part of the light emitted from the organic EL element 12 is incident on the frame member 18 without being radiated outward from the protective plate 16, the light is reflected by the reflection plate 20 and is emitted from the end 25a on the surface illumination device 202a side. The light enters the light transmission member 24e. The incident light thus passes through the inside of the light transmission member 24e, is emitted from the end 25a on the illumination device b side, and is emitted toward the light receiving sensor 26 disposed in the surface illumination device 202b. The light transmission member 24c may be, for example, an optical fiber, an acrylic resin, a vinyl chloride resin, a polycarbonate resin, or silicon rubber. The light transmission member 24c is preferably made of a material having a transmittance of 50% or more for light having a wavelength of 589.3 nm at a thickness of 3 mm, more preferably 70% or more, and a refractive index of 1.3. The above is preferable.

  In this way, by using the light transmission member 24c to transmit part of the light emitted from the surface lighting device 202a serving as the parent device to the surface lighting device 2b of the adjacent child device, the same as in the third embodiment. An effect can be obtained.

  Although the description of the embodiment is finished as described above, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment.

  For example, in the first embodiment, the light guide members 24a and 24b are fitted into the through holes 8. However, the present invention is not limited to this. A part of light emitted from the surface lighting device 2 serving as the parent device may be guided to the surface lighting device 2 serving as the child device. In the second embodiment, the transparent elastic member 24c is used. However, an opaque elastic member in which a portion corresponding to the through hole 8 of the elastic member 24c is hollow may be used.

  Moreover, in each said Example, it is set as the mechanism which introduce | transduces a part of light which one surface illuminating device emits into the other surface illuminating device among adjacent surface illuminating devices. A part of light emitted from one surface illumination device may be guided to the other surface illumination device via an optical fiber or the like.

  In the first embodiment, the positions and number of the light guide member 24 and the light receiving sensor 26 are changed and the two light emission control orders are shown. However, this is an example, and the light emission control order is this. It is not limited to. Moreover, in the said 3rd Example, although the connection member 24d was arrange | positioned according to the order of light emission control, this is an example and you may make it arrange | position the connection member 24d between all the surface illumination apparatuses 2. FIG. In this case, similarly to the first embodiment, the light receiving sensors 26 are arranged in the order of the light emission control.

Further, in the above first embodiment has been selected as a reference unit for surface lighting device 2S _11, the reference units are arbitrarily selected irrespective of the position and arrangement of the planar illumination device.

  In each of the above embodiments, the light emission source is described as the organic EL element 12, but the present invention is not limited to this, and the light emission source may be a light emission element such as an LED.

  In each of the above embodiments, the number of subordinate units has been described as m × n−1. However, it is preferable that the number of subordinate units is large in order to control a large number of surface lighting devices. However, it is preferable that the number is less in that an error or blur due to propagation of optical characteristics is less likely to occur. Specifically, the number of subordinate units is preferably 2 or more, more preferably 3 or more, and particularly preferably 4 or more. On the other hand, the number of subordinate units is preferably 100 or less, more preferably 50 or less, particularly preferably 30 or less, and most preferably 10 or less.

  In each of the above embodiments, information is transmitted by power line communication or optical communication. In power line communication, it is preferable that power is modulated with information using a phase modulation method (PSK (Phase-Shift Keying) method) or a frequency modulation method (FSK (Frequency-Shift Keying) method). There is less possibility of strong noise being radiated as in the case where the amplitude modulation method (ASK (Amplitude-Shift Keying) method) is adopted, and the circuit configuration is simpler than that of the quadrature amplitude modulation method (QAM (Quadrature Amplitude Modulation) method). It is because it can be made. Since the frequency modulation method is relatively easier to handle than the phase modulation method, it is more preferable to employ the frequency modulation method.

  In optical communication, it is preferable that light is modulated with information by a pulse width modulation method (PWM (Pulse Width Modulation) method) or a three-color dimming method using a digital signal and transmitted. The three-color dimming method using a digital signal is a method in which information is transmitted by changing the light emission states of the organic EL elements 12R, 12G, and 12B to a high light amount and a low light amount according to information. This is because there is no complication of the circuit configuration due to the difference between the signal strength levels and the need for an AGC (Automatic Gain Control) circuit as in the three-color dimming method using analog signals and the amplitude modulation method. is there. And it is preferable that information is transmitted during a light control period after power supply is started to each surface illumination device.

  Note that the external control terminal 40 may store information such as the recognized position and the serial number of each surface lighting device in an external server or the like via a communication network. In the case of such a configuration, it becomes possible to individually control the light emission state of each surface illumination device from a communication device other than the external control terminal 40 based on the information stored in the server.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1,101,102,103 Plane illumination system 2,201,202,203 Plane illumination apparatus 8 Through-hole (light transmission means)
12 Organic EL element 24a, 24b Light guide member (light transmission means)
24c Elastic member (light transmission means)
24d Connecting member (light transmission means)
24e Light transmission member (light transmission means)
26 Light receiving sensor (light detection means)
_{2S 11, 201S 11, 202S 11} , 203S 11 reference units _{2S 12 ~2S mn, 201S 12 ~201S} mn, 202S 12 ~202S mn, 203S 12 ~203S mn subordinate unit 26 light-receiving sensor (communication means)
33 Receiving modem (communication means)
35 Infrared sensor (communication means)
401 Input interface (communication means)
45 Output interface (information transmission means)
50 Power line

Claims (29)

A plurality of surface emitting units divided into a reference unit which is a surface emitting unit arbitrarily selected in advance and a subordinate unit which is a surface emitting unit other than the reference unit;
An external control terminal;
It is connectable to the reference unit, and comprises system control means for performing lighting control of the reference unit,
The subordinate unit is
One of the surface light emitting units other than its own light emitting unit is a master unit, and the master unit is a first subordinate unit that is the reference unit;
The base unit is composed of the (X + 1) th subordinate unit (X is an integer of 1 or more), which is the Xth subordinate unit,
The reference unit, the slave unit that is the slave unit having the reference unit as the master unit, or all the slave units are transmitted by the external control terminal and light emitted from the surface emitting unit that is the master unit. A communication means for receiving optical characteristic information indicating a relation of optical characteristics of light emitted by a slave unit serving as a slave unit with respect to the characteristics;
Each subordinate unit is
Light transmission means for guiding a part of light emitted from the parent device into the surface emitting unit between the surface emitting unit serving as the parent device,
A light detecting means for detecting a light characteristic of the light guided by the light transmitting means;
The relationship between the light characteristic of the light emitted from the surface emitting unit serving as the master unit detected by the light detection means and the light characteristic of the light emitted from the subordinate unit serving as a slave unit to the master unit is expressed by the communication means as described above. A surface illumination system comprising light emission control means for controlling light emission of each of the subordinate units so that a predetermined relationship indicated by the light characteristic information received from an external control terminal is obtained.   The surface lighting system according to claim 1, wherein the subordinate unit is adjacent to a surface light emitting unit serving as a parent device.   The said light emission control means adjusts so that the brightness | luminance of the subordinate unit used as the said subunit | mobile_unit may become a fixed ratio with respect to the brightness | luminance of the surface emitting unit used as the said main | base station. Surface lighting system.   4. The surface illumination system according to claim 1, wherein the light emission control unit lights a plurality of the subordinate units of the plurality of surface light emitting units with a predetermined color pattern. 5. The external control terminal transmits a control signal for lighting all the surface emitting units to the communication means,
The plurality of surface emitting units are lit according to the control signal,
5. The external control terminal controls an image sensor connected to the external control terminal according to a user's operation, and captures lighting states of all surface emitting units. The surface illumination system described.   The external control terminal emits each surface light emission together with at least one of the position of each surface light emitting unit, the light emitting direction, and the interval between the light emitting units based on an image photographed by the imaging device according to a user operation. 6. The surface illumination system according to claim 5, wherein image recognition processing for recognizing the arrangement of units is performed.   The surface illumination system according to claim 6, wherein the external control terminal performs correction of a shooting angle at the time of shooting or correction of image distortion by a lens of an image sensor before or after the image recognition process.   The surface illumination system according to claim 6 or 7, wherein the external control terminal graphically displays the surface emitting unit after the image recognition processing on a display.   The surface illumination system according to claim 8, wherein the external control terminal performs graphic display so that the arrangement and interval of the surface light emitting units can be recognized.   10. The surface illumination system according to claim 6, wherein the external control terminal recognizes a unique identifier or serial number assigned to each surface light emitting unit in the image recognition process.   The external control terminal transmits a control signal for lighting and displaying the unique identifier or the serial number to each surface emitting unit to cause the communication means to light and display the unique identifier or the serial number on each surface emitting unit. Recognizing the unique identifier or serial number of each surface light emitting unit based on the image of each surface light emitting unit on which the unique identifier or the serial number photographed in accordance with a user operation is displayed. The surface illumination system according to claim 10, wherein:   The external control terminal recognizes the unique identifier or the serial number by executing a test mode in which a control signal for lighting and displaying the unique identifier or the serial number on each surface emitting unit is transmitted to the communication unit. The surface illumination system according to claim 11.   The external control terminal identifies each surface light emitting unit by associating each surface light emitting unit with the unique identifier or the serial number based on the image recognition processing result, and in accordance with a user operation, a predetermined surface The surface illumination system according to claim 10, wherein information is transmitted to the light emitting unit.   The external control terminal identifies each surface light emitting unit by associating each surface light emitting unit displayed on the display with the unique identifier or the serial number based on the image recognition processing result, and The surface illumination system according to claim 10, wherein information is transmitted to a predetermined surface emitting unit.   The light emission control means of the slave unit among the surface emitting units has a predetermined relationship that the relationship between the master unit and the slave unit is indicated by the light characteristic information among the information transmitted from the external control terminal. The surface lighting system according to claim 13 or 14, wherein lighting control is performed so that Each subordinate unit has a unique identifier set in advance,
When each subordinate unit receives information corresponding to its own unique identifier via the communication means, the light emission control means has a predetermined relationship indicated by the light characteristic information among the information. Lighting control is performed, The surface illumination system in any one of Claims 13 thru | or 15 characterized by the above-mentioned.   The surface illumination system according to any one of claims 1 to 16, wherein the external control terminal includes information transmission means for transmitting information to all the surface light emitting units.   The surface illumination system according to any one of claims 1 to 16, wherein the external control terminal includes information transmission means for transmitting information to the reference unit.   19. The surface illumination according to claim 18, wherein the reference unit transmits information transmitted from the information transmitting unit to the adjacent surface emitting unit via the light transmitting unit of the adjacent surface emitting unit. system.   The surface illumination system according to claim 18, wherein the reference unit transmits information transmitted from the information transmission unit to the subordinate units via a power line.   The information transmitting means transmits a unique identifier or serial number assigned to each surface emitting unit, the light characteristic information, and a control signal for lighting and displaying the unique identifier or serial number. The surface illumination system according to any one of claims 17 to 20.   The surface illumination system according to any one of claims 17 to 21, wherein the information transmission unit transmits information by wireless communication, wired communication, optical communication, infrared communication, or power line communication.   The surface according to any one of claims 17 to 22, wherein the reference unit emits light modulated by information received from the information transmitting means, and transmits the information to another adjacent surface emitting unit. Lighting system.   The light emission control means of the other surface light emitting unit demodulates the light to extract the information, emits light modulated by the information, and transmits the information to another adjacent surface light emitting unit. 24. A surface illumination system according to claim 23.   The surface illumination system according to any one of claims 1 to 24, wherein each of the surface light emitting units has an illuminance sensor. The light emission control means controls the lighting brightness and illuminance according to the measurement result of the illuminance sensor,
The external control terminal is a light indicating a relationship between a light characteristic of the light emitted from the surface light emitting unit serving as the slave unit and a light characteristic of the light emitted from the surface light emitting unit serving as the slave unit to the light characteristic of the light emitted from the surface light emitting unit serving as the parent device according to the measurement result of the illuminance sensor. The surface illumination system according to claim 25, wherein the characteristic information is transmitted.   27. The surface illumination according to claim 1, wherein the external control terminal has a structure capable of connecting at least one of an image sensor, an information transmission unit, a display, and a key input device. system.   The surface illumination system according to any one of claims 1 to 27, wherein the external control terminal incorporates an image sensor.   The surface illumination system according to any one of claims 1 to 28, wherein the external control terminal has a built-in display.