JP2014180267A - Led light guide plate illumination unit and cultivation device including the illumination unit - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an LED light guide plate illumination unit which does not use a blue LED, includes a wavelength component indispensable for growing plants, and capable of irradiating in white-based color on the visual sense of human, and cultivation device including the unit.SOLUTION: An LED light guide plate illumination unit comprises: an edge light which is configured that light of a plurality of white LEDs and red LEDs is made incident to at least one side of a light guide plate from a lateral direction, and one plate surface of the light guide plate emits light in white-based color; and an LED array in which a plurality of white LEDs is arrayed along one side of the light guide plate. The LED array is provided for a common substrate with the edge light while being positioned on a side opposite to a light entry side of the light guide plate. Further, the unit comprises a power supply switch capable of adjusting illuminance for each of the edge light and the LED array.

Description

  This invention relates to the illuminating unit which included the light guide plate which uses LED as a light source in a component, and the cultivation apparatus provided with this LED light guide plate illuminating unit.

  In recent years, the development of lighting devices using LEDs as light sources has been extensively used for a wide range of applications. LEDs are much smaller in power consumption than conventional incandescent lamps and fluorescent lamps and have a long life, so they are rapidly becoming popular for interior lighting, and can be made smaller and thinner. It has been widely adopted as a backlight for screens.

  In particular, high-intensity blue LEDs have been put into practical use, and blue wavelengths are also effective for plant growth, so attempts have been made to use illumination including blue LEDs for artificial plant cultivation (Patent Document 1). ).

  The LED illumination for plant cultivation in Patent Document 1 adopts red LEDs that are widely effective for plant growth in addition to blue, but the illumination is configured such that the LEDs are evenly arranged in a plane on the substrate, Since the LED is a point light source having high directivity, brightness and darkness were easily developed with such direct illumination.

  Therefore, in order to eliminate such illumination unevenness and obtain as uniform illuminance as possible, an acrylic plate with a fine V-groove etc. on the plate surface is used as a light guide plate, and the LED light is incident from the side surface. It has already been proposed to use a so-called edge light type (side light type) LED lighting panel as a light source for plant cultivation (Patent Documents 2 and 3).

JP-A-8-103167 JP 2004-49211 A JP 2007-185115 A

  In each of the lighting devices of Patent Documents 2 and 3, red and blue LEDs are employed as the LEDs arranged on the side surface of the light guide plate, paying attention to the wavelength effective for plant growth. As a specific configuration, in Patent Document 2, it is preferable to set the light emission ratio to 8 (red): 2 (blue).

  Red light of 640 to 690 nm for plants is an important light component at any growth stage. However, when the ratio of red LEDs is increased, naturally the plants are also illuminated in red, so that the original color of the plant cannot be visually recognized. This makes it impossible to observe the health of the plant correctly, and the plant illuminated in red is creepy and is not suitable for viewing.

  On the other hand, with regard to the blue wavelength, it is said that the germination of plants is promoted and the sunlitness (reflectance) becomes active, but recently, the problem of blue light has been pointed out to humans. . This is a concern that blue light having a wavelength of 450 ± 50 nm has a large energy among visible rays, and particularly has a negative effect on the retina. However, this problem is still in the research stage for the backlights of liquid crystal displays of personal computers and mobile phones, and scientific and medical elucidation has not been made, but considering the energy characteristics due to the short wavelength, The blue LED is preferably avoided as much as possible without making any adjustment.

  The present invention has been made to solve the above-described problems. The object of the present invention is to include a wavelength component that is indispensable for plant growth without using a blue LED, and to produce a white system for human vision. It is providing the LED light-guide plate illumination unit which can be irradiated, and a cultivation apparatus provided with this.

  In order to achieve the above-described object, in the present invention, an edge that receives light of each of a plurality of white LEDs and red LEDs from the side with respect to at least one side of the light guide plate and emits light from the lower surface of the light guide plate. Means including a light and an LED array provided outside the edge light along one side of the light guide plate was used.

  In this means, the edge light includes a plurality of white LEDs and red LEDs as light sources, and finally spectrum-synthesized light is emitted from the lower surface of the light guide plate. That is, when the white LED used in the present invention is spectrally analyzed, it has wavelength components of 400 to 480 nm (blue) and 530 to 650 nm (green), but lacks wavelength components near 500 nm and 660 nm. . Therefore, if it is only white LED, it will become a bluish light, and since the red component is insufficient, it is hard to contribute to the growth of a plant. Therefore, in the present invention, in order to supplement the red component near 660 nm, a red LED is also used as an edge light source. At this time, white light can be emitted by adjusting the distribution of the white LED and the red LED. In addition, although a green and yellow wavelength component will be contained by white LED, these components are also expected to act effectively on the photosynthesis of a plant, and do not inhibit photosynthesis at least.

  The light of the white LED and the red LED is independent when entering the light guide plate, but is synthesized while passing through the light guide plate and being irradiated from the plate surface, and the light emitted from the light guide plate is reduced in blueness. White system. Note that the ratio of the white LED to the red LED is preferably 2: 8 if the purpose is to contribute to the growth of a general plant, but is not limited thereto.

  In the present invention, the edge light is used as main illumination, and the auxiliary illumination is provided with an LED array. An edge light has the advantage that illumination unevenness is less likely to occur because the illuminance is almost uniform over the entire area of the plate surface (light emitting surface). Compared with a direct type in which the same number of LEDs are arranged in a plane, the illuminance decreases. Therefore, in the present invention, the shortage of illuminance is compensated by the LED array. The LED array is formed by arranging a plurality of LEDs in a one-dimensional manner, and the LED is preferably a red LED as long as it actively contributes to plant growth. However, white LEDs or other color LEDs may be used.

  In addition, regarding the luminance, it is preferable to provide an LED array on the opposite side of the light incident side in order to show a distribution that is greatest at the center portion of the light guide plate and is smallest on the opposite side of the light incident side.

  The edge light and the LED array are preferably unitized by mounting them in a plane on the edge light reflector or another substrate.

  Further, the edge light and the LED array have a common power switch, so that the lighting can be turned on / off collectively. Furthermore, the illuminance can be arbitrarily adjusted by providing a volume for adjusting the illuminance of the edge light and the LED array, or by providing a volume for separately adjusting the illuminance of the white LED and the red LED in the edge light.

  When the LED light guide plate illumination unit described above is used alone, it is supported by a pole, an arm, or the like, so that it can be used as a normal desk lamp that illuminates the hand.

  Apart from this, it is possible to constitute a cultivation apparatus for plants or the like by combining a lid provided with the LED light guide plate illumination unit and a transparent case to which the lid is detachably attached. According to this cultivation apparatus, progress can be observed while growing a plant with the light of an LED light-guide plate illumination unit by planting in a suitable culture medium within a case. At this time, according to the LED light guide plate illumination unit of the present invention, the plant can be grown by the red wavelength of the red LED that is the light source of the edge light and the blue wavelength of the white LED that is also the light source of the LED array. In addition, the edge light can visually emit white light, so that the state of the plant can be observed accurately. Furthermore, the effect | action of illuminating a plant vividly by the auxiliary illumination by an LED array is also performed.

  The culture medium is preferably a culture solution, and the plant can be grown more soundly by the synergistic effect of the spectral characteristics of the LED light guide plate illumination unit and hydroponics.

  In the present invention, “cultivation” means not only planting a plant for the purpose of use for food, medicine, ornamental use, but also breeding ornamental fish such as goldfish.

  Moreover, the contents can be used not only for living things but also for display cases (collection cases) with lighting that decorate minicars and figures.

  According to the LED light guide plate illumination unit of the present invention, there is almost no illumination unevenness, and the irradiated object can be visually recognized in a state close to the original color. In addition, blue LEDs that emit a lot of short-wavelength light that is harmful to human eyes are not used, and warm red LEDs are used. By attaching it to the case, it brightly illuminates the article contained in the case, and also exhibits a healing effect. At the same time, since it has a spectral distribution necessary for the growth of the plant, the plant can be grown healthy and the growth process can be observed, so that it was possible to obtain a cultivation device having practicality, learning ability, and appreciation.

The side view of the table-type lighting fixture which showed 1st embodiment of this invention The top view (bottom side) of the LED light-guide plate illumination unit in 1st embodiment Explanatory drawing of the tank type cultivation device which showed the second embodiment of the present invention. Back view of the lid in the second embodiment The graph which shows the spectral radiation characteristic of the LED light-guide plate illumination unit in 2nd embodiment

  Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. FIG. 1 shows one embodiment of the LED light guide plate illumination unit of the present invention, and shows an example applied to the use of a table-type lighting fixture. In the figure, 1 is an LED light guide plate illumination unit, 2 is a pole for horizontally supporting the LED light guide plate illumination unit 1, and 3 is a base for standingly fixing the pole 2 with screws or the like. The LED light guide plate illumination unit 1 is supported by a pole 2 by a muff 4 and can be adjusted in height. The pole 2 may be an arm. If the arm has a joint, the degree of freedom in changing the position of the LED light guide plate illumination unit 1 is increased.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the LED light guide plate illumination unit 1 has an edge light 5 and an LED array 6 attached to a common substrate 7. The edge light 5 has a plurality of LEDs 5b and 5c arranged along one side of a light guide plate 5a having a rectangular shape in plan view, and diffuses light in advance on one plate surface (lower surface serving as an irradiation surface) of the light guide plate 5a. The light from the LEDs 5b and 5c, which are point light sources incident from the side of the light guide plate 5a, is diffused by the prism effect on the processed plate surface. The plate surface emits light. In order to prevent the light from the LEDs 5b and 5c from leaking from other places and reducing the light emission efficiency, a reflecting plate or the like is provided on the plate surface (upper surface) facing the processed plate surface of the light guide plate 5a or on the side surface where the LEDs 5b and 5c are not present. Yes.

  In such an edge light 5, the LEDs 5b and 5c are a white LED 5b and a red LED 5c. That is, in the present invention, a plurality of white LEDs 5 b and red LEDs 5 c are used in combination as the light source of the edge light 5. Thereby, the wavelength (red light) near 660 nm, which is an insufficient wavelength of the white LED 5b, is supplemented by the red LED 5c.

  In other words, the white LED 5b compensates for the wavelength (blue light) near 450 nm, which is an insufficient wavelength of the red LED 5c. By combining the LEDs 5c, the light guide plate 5a is configured to emit white light. This is because the irradiated object is prevented from being reddish by the red LED 5c, and blue light having a short wavelength is reduced to obtain light that is gentle to human eyes.

  In addition, about specific design, such as the number of white LED5b and red LED5c, a pitch, if the said conditions are satisfy | filled, it will not specifically limit. That is, the white LEDs 5b and the red LEDs 5c can have the same number and the same pitch, or more of them can be provided. However, when this luminaire is used for plant cultivation, it is preferable that red / white ≧ 2 in terms of energy ratio for the healthy growth of the plant.

  On the other hand, the LED array 6 is formed by arranging only a plurality of white LEDs in a straight line. In this embodiment, two sets of LED arrays 6 are used, and each of them is along the opposite side of the edge light 5. It is installed. Each LED array 6 may be configured by arranging white LEDs in two or more rows according to the planned illuminance. This is because a pair of LED arrays 6 are provided in parallel to make it brighter and eliminate uneven illumination. In other words, the edge light 5 emits a high illuminance uniformly if it is directly below, but the luminous intensity is small in the oblique direction. Therefore, by providing the LED array 6, a wide range without illuminance unevenness is provided. Can be brightly illuminated. Furthermore, the edge light 5 usually has the highest luminance at the center of the plate surface (light emitting surface), and the luminance slightly decreases around the light incident surface of the light guide plate. is there.

  The LED light guide plate illumination unit according to this embodiment can be used as a table lamp, in the same application as a normal stand-type lighting fixture, as well as for plant cultivation lighting, ornamental fish such as miniature cyclamen and ornamental fish such as goldfish. There is use as breeding lighting. However, this is exemplary and can be used for other lighting applications.

  As an example, an illuminance of 3000 lux was obtained at a position 20 cm from the irradiation surface of an LED light guide plate illumination unit having dimensions of 180 mm × 250 mm in length and width, a household power supply 100 V, and power consumption 10 W.

  FIG. 3 shows a second embodiment of the present invention, in which the LED light guide plate illumination unit is applied to lighting for plant cultivation. That is, in this second embodiment, a case 8 provided with a plant culture medium and a lid 9 that is detachably attached to the case 8 are provided. As shown in FIG. The LED light guide plate illumination unit U composed of the LED array 6 is attached.

  Specifically, in the second embodiment, a case where a water tank having a width of 45 cm, a depth of 30 cm, and a height of 24.5 cm is used as the case 8 and a culture solution is added thereto to hydroponically cultivate the plant is shown.

  As for the light source, two sets of edge lights 5 are arranged side by side along the longitudinal direction of the lid 8, and the two sets of LED arrays 6 are parallel to the front and rear surfaces of the lid 8 along the juxtaposed edge lights 5. Installed on. Therefore, at home, a desired plant is planted in the case 8 and the lid 9 is used to complete the cultivation apparatus.

  FIG. 5 shows the spectral radiation characteristics of the LED light guide plate illumination unit U according to the second embodiment, where the horizontal axis represents wavelength (nm) and the vertical axis represents relative spectral radiation photons. In the same figure, the edge light 5 is “light guide plate”, the LED array 6 is “reserved”, and the red LED 5 c of the edge light 5 is “red”. The characteristics are shown when the lights are turned on at the same time and when all the lights are turned on. In the LED light guide plate illumination unit U in the second embodiment, the energy ratio of the wavelength near 640 nm (red light) and the wavelength near 450 nm (blue light) is 10: 2, particularly when all are turned on. However, the emission color was white, and the emitted light was not reddish, and almost the same light emission as that of the white LED was obtained.

  According to the cultivation apparatus having such characteristics, it is possible to illuminate the plant being cultivated in a state close to the original color, so it is possible to observe the growth process while accurately grasping the health state of the plant. it can. In addition, because the illuminance in the case (water tank) is higher than the ambient room illuminance by the LED light guide plate illumination unit, the spotlight hits the plant, the plant leaves shine green, and there are interior elements .

  Further, for plants, light of blue and red wavelengths necessary for the growth from germination to flowering is included, and such light is emitted to the plant in a state without illumination unevenness by uniform irradiation by the edge light 5. Therefore, it shows good growth.

  Some plants grow by distinguishing day and night. Therefore, in this embodiment, it is preferable to provide a power switch for turning on / off the LED light guide plate illumination unit U.

  Further, as the plant grows, the distance from the light source is reduced, so that the power switch preferably has a volume knob for adjusting the light amount of the LED light guide plate illumination unit U in order to obtain a necessary light amount accordingly. Furthermore, in order to be able to adjust the energy for each wavelength in response to plants that change the wavelength components required during the growth process, the edge light 5 has a volume knob that can adjust the amount of light separately for the white LED and the red LED. It is more preferable to provide.

  Such dimming function can also be applied to the desktop-type embodiment, and by adjusting the brightness of the hand or changing the light intensity on the irradiated object, healing by calm light is possible. The effect can also be expected.

1.U LED light guide plate illumination unit 2 Pole 3 Base 4 Muff 5 Edge light 5a Light guide plate 5b White LED
5c Red LED
6 LED array 7 Substrate 8 Case 9 Lid

Claims (6)

An edge light that receives light of each of the plurality of white LEDs and red LEDs from the side with respect to at least one side of the light guide plate, and emits light from the lower surface of the light guide plate, and along the one side of the light guide plate An LED light guide plate illumination unit comprising: an LED array provided outside an edge light. 2. The LED light guide plate illumination unit according to claim 1, wherein the LED array is provided on the same substrate as the edge light and located on the opposite side of the light incident side of the light guide plate. 3. The LED light guide plate illumination unit according to claim 1, further comprising a power switch capable of adjusting illuminance for each of the edge light and the LED array. Furthermore, the LED light-guide plate illumination unit of Claim 3 provided with the volume which adjusts the light quantity of white LED and red LED of edge light independently. A table-type LED light guide plate illumination unit formed by supporting the LED light guide plate illumination unit according to any one of claims 1 to 4 on a pole or arm tip fixed to a base end. A cultivation apparatus comprising: a lid provided with the LED light guide plate illumination unit according to any one of claims 1 to 4 on a back surface; and a transparent case on which the lid is detachably attached.