JP2016219228A - Light emitting device and vehicular lighting fixture - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To form luminance distribution in which luminance on one side part is high and the luminance decreases toward the other side part side on the opposite side from the one side part side, in a light emitting device in which a semiconductor light emitting element (for example, a laser light source) and a wavelength conversion member are combined and a vehicular lighting fixture using the same.SOLUTION: A light emitting device 20 includes: a semiconductor light emitting element; and a wavelength conversion member 28 for receiving the light from the semiconductor light emitting element and converting at least one part of the light into the light of a different wavelength. The wavelength conversion member 28 includes a curved part 28c between one side part 28a and the other side part 28b on the opposite side from it, and the curved part 28c curves in such a manner that luminance distribution on a virtual light source surface D passing the one side part 28a decreases toward the other side part 28b side from the one side part 28a side.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 4

Description

  The present invention relates to a light emitting device and a vehicle lamp, and more particularly to a light emitting device and a vehicle lamp that combine a semiconductor light emitting element (for example, a laser light source) and a wavelength conversion member.

  Conventionally, in the field of vehicular lamps, a light-emitting device in which a semiconductor light-emitting element (semiconductor laser element) and a wavelength conversion member (phosphor plate) are combined is known (for example, see Patent Document 1).

JP 2011-86432 A

  However, in the field of vehicular lamps (particularly vehicular headlamps), from the viewpoint of forming a clear cut-off line, the luminance on one long side of the substantially rectangular light source image is high, and the one is On the other hand, there is a demand for a luminance distribution (gradient luminance distribution) in which the luminance decreases from the long side to the other long side on the opposite side. Therefore, there is a problem that the gradient luminance distribution cannot be realized.

  The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and in a light-emitting device in which a semiconductor light-emitting element (for example, a laser light source) and a wavelength conversion member are combined and a vehicle lamp using the light-emitting device, one side portion is provided. It is an object to form a luminance distribution suitable for a vehicular lamp in which the luminance is high and the luminance decreases from one side to the other side.

  In order to achieve the above object, the invention described in claim 1 includes a semiconductor light emitting element, a wavelength conversion member that receives light from the semiconductor light emitting element and converts at least a part of the light into light of a different wavelength, The wavelength conversion member includes a curved portion between one side portion and the other side portion on the opposite side, and the curved portion is a virtual light source surface passing through the one side portion. Is curved so as to decrease from the one side to the other side.

  According to the first aspect of the present invention, in a light-emitting device in which a semiconductor light-emitting element (for example, a laser light source) and a wavelength conversion member are combined and a vehicle lamp using the light-emitting device, the luminance of one side is high, and A luminance distribution suitable for a vehicular lamp whose luminance decreases as it goes from one side to the other side on the opposite side can be formed.

  This is because the wavelength conversion member (curved portion) is curved so that the luminance distribution on the virtual light source surface passing through the one side portion decreases from the one side portion side toward the other side portion side. It is because.

  The invention according to claim 2 is the invention according to claim 1, further comprising an optical fiber that propagates light from the semiconductor light emitting element, wherein the optical fiber is provided on at least a part of a side surface of the emission end portion. And a light emitting portion that emits the light propagated by the optical fiber to the outside of the optical fiber, and the wavelength conversion member is configured so that the light emitted from the light emitting portion is incident on the bending portion. The portion is provided in a state of covering the light emitting portion.

  According to the second aspect of the present invention, the luminance of one side is high on the side surface of the emission end of the optical fiber, and as it goes from one side to the other side on the opposite side. A luminance distribution suitable for a vehicular lamp whose luminance is lowered can be formed.

  The invention according to claim 3 is the optical fiber according to claim 2, wherein the optical fiber includes a core and a clad surrounding the core, and the clad is an emission end of the optical fiber. A clad portion constituting a portion, the clad portion from which the light propagated by the optical fiber is emitted, wherein the light emitting portion is a metal region other than the region functioning as the light emitting portion in the clad portion. It is characterized by being covered with a reflective surface made of metal.

  According to invention of Claim 3, there can exist an effect similar to Claim 2.

  According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the invention according to the third aspect, the region functioning as the light emitting portion includes a first plane including the axis of the optical fiber and an axis of the optical fiber in the cladding portion. The wavelength conversion member is a region of 180 ° or less formed by the second plane perpendicular to the first plane, and the wavelength conversion member is formed in a region of 180 ° or less formed by the first plane and the second plane, The curved portion is provided in a state of being curved along the clad portion.

  According to the fourth aspect of the invention, the same effect as in the second aspect can be obtained.

  The invention according to claim 5 is the invention according to claim 3 or 4, further comprising a heat dissipating member, wherein the optical fiber and the heat dissipating member metal-join the metal reflective film and the heat dissipating member. It is characterized by being joined.

  According to the fifth aspect of the present invention, it is possible to suppress a decrease in the light emission efficiency of the wavelength conversion member due to heat generated at the emission end portion (mainly the wavelength conversion member) of the optical fiber.

  This is because, since the optical fiber and the heat radiating member are bonded by metal bonding, the heat generated at the emission end portion (mainly the wavelength conversion member) of the optical fiber can be efficiently radiated.

  According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, in the invention according to any one of the first to fifth aspects, the wavelength conversion member receives light from the semiconductor light emitting element and transmits at least a part of the light to each other. It includes a plurality of wavelength conversion members that convert light of different wavelengths, and the plurality of wavelength conversion members are arranged in series in the axial direction of the optical fiber.

  According to the invention described in claim 6, as the plurality of wavelength conversion members, for example, a wavelength conversion member that emits white light (for example, for headlamps) upon receiving light from the semiconductor light emitting device, By using a wavelength converting member that receives light and emits orange light (for example, for a turn signal lamp), and a wavelength converting member that receives light from a semiconductor light emitting element and emits red light (for example, for a stop lamp), A light engine can be realized.

  The present invention can also be specified as follows.

  The light-emitting device according to claim 1, and an optical system configured to form a predetermined light distribution pattern by projecting a luminance distribution on the virtual light source surface. The system is a vehicular lamp that projects a luminance distribution on the virtual light source surface so that the one side portion having higher luminance than the other side portion is positioned above.

  According to the present invention, in a light emitting device in which a semiconductor light emitting element (for example, a laser light source) and a wavelength conversion member are combined and a vehicle lamp using the light emitting device, the luminance of one side is high and the one side is A luminance distribution suitable for a vehicular lamp whose luminance decreases from the side toward the other side of the opposite side can be formed.

It is the schematic of the vehicle lamp 10 using the light-emitting device 20 which is one Embodiment of this invention. It is the arrow line view which looked at the light-emitting device 20 shown in FIG. 1 from the arrow A direction. (A) The arrow view which looked at the light-emitting device 20 shown in FIG. 2 from the arrow B direction, (b) The arrow view which looked at the light-emitting device 20 shown in FIG. 6 is a graph showing a luminance distribution on a virtual light source surface D. It is an example of a predetermined light distribution pattern P formed on a virtual vertical screen (disposed approximately 25 m ahead from the front of the vehicle) facing the front of the vehicle. 3 is a schematic diagram illustrating a manufacturing process of the light emitting device 20. FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram illustrating a modification of the light emitting device 20. FIG.

  Hereinafter, a vehicle lamp using a light emitting device according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 is a schematic view of a vehicular lamp 10 using a light emitting device 20 according to an embodiment of the present invention.

  As shown in FIG. 1, a vehicular lamp 10 according to the present embodiment includes a light emitting device 20 and an optical system 12 configured to irradiate light from the light emitting device 20 to the front of the vehicle to form a predetermined light distribution pattern. It has.

  The optical system 12 is, for example, an optical system configured to form a low beam light distribution pattern or a lamp unit configured to form a high beam light distribution pattern, and a known one can be used. FIG. 1 shows an example in which a direct projection type (also referred to as a direct projection type) optical system (projection lens) is used as the optical system 12. Of course, the present invention is not limited to this, and a projector-type or reflector-type optical system may be used as the optical system 12.

  The light emitting device 20 includes a semiconductor light emitting element 22, a condensing lens 24 that condenses light Ray (for example, laser light) from the semiconductor light emitting element 22, and an optical fiber 26 that propagates the light Ray collected by the condensing lens 24. A wavelength conversion member 28 that receives light Ray propagated by the optical fiber 26 and converts at least a part of the light Ray into light of a different wavelength, a ferrule 30 that holds the optical fiber 26, and the like.

  The semiconductor light emitting element 22 may be an LED element, but in consideration of the coupling property with the optical fiber 26, a semiconductor laser such as a laser diode (LD) that oscillates laser light (for example, laser light in a blue region). An element (laser light source) is desirable. There may be one or more semiconductor light emitting elements 22. The light from the semiconductor light emitting element 22 is collected by the condenser lens 24 and propagated to the wavelength conversion member 28 by the optical fiber 26.

  The condenser lens 24 is used for the purpose of condensing light from the semiconductor light emitting element 22. The material of the condenser lens 24 is, for example, inorganic glass.

  2 is an arrow view of the light emitting device 20 shown in FIG. 1 as viewed from the direction of arrow A, FIG. 3A is an arrow view of the light emitting device 20 shown in FIG. 2 as viewed from the direction of arrow B, and FIG. FIG. 3 is an arrow view of the light emitting device 20 shown in FIG.

  As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the optical fiber 26 includes a core 32 and a clad 34 surrounding the core 32. The material of the optical fiber 26 is preferably quartz in consideration of heat resistance, light resistance, and transmittance, but is not limited to this, and may be glass or plastic such as PMMA. Further, the cross-sectional shape of the optical fiber 26 is not limited to a circle, and may be an ellipse. The size of the optical fiber 26 is desirably φ200 μm or less.

  The optical fiber 26 includes a light emitting portion 36 that emits light propagating through the optical fiber 26 to the outside of the optical fiber 26 at least at a part of the side surface of the emitting end portion 26b.

  The clad 34 is a clad portion that constitutes the emission end portion 26b of the optical fiber 26, and includes a clad portion 34b from which light propagated by the optical fiber 26 is emitted. The clad portion 34b is formed on at least one of the core portion 32b and the clad portion 34b that constitute the emission end portion 26b of the optical fiber 26, and is a scattering structure for breaking the condition of total reflection between the core 32 and the clad 34 ( For example, it is configured by forming (mixing) a minute diffuser such as a diffusion filler or a reflector. As a scattering structure, the thing as described in Japanese translations of PCT publication No. 2014-523603 can be used, for example.

  The light emitting portion 36 is an area of the cladding portion 34b that functions as the light emitting portion 36 (for example, the first plane p1 including the axis of the optical fiber 26 and the axis of the optical fiber 26 and orthogonal to the first plane p1. 90 ° region formed by the second plane p2 (see FIG. 2) (for example, a 270 ° region formed by the first plane p1 and the second plane p2 and the tip of the output end portion 26b of the optical fiber 26). Surface) is covered with a metallic reflective film 38 (corresponding to the metallic reflective surface of the present invention).

  The material of the metallic reflective film 38 is preferably aluminum, Ag, or an Ag alloy having a high reflectance even on the short wavelength side. The thickness of the metallic reflective film 38 is set to a thickness that provides a desired reflectance.

  The light collected by the condensing lens 24 is introduced into the optical fiber 26 (core 32) from the incident end portion 26a of the optical fiber 26, and the core 32 utilizes total reflection at the boundary between the core 32 and the clad 34. The light is propagated to the emission end portion 26b of the optical fiber 26 while being confined inside, and is reflected by the metal reflection film 38 at the emission end portion 26b of the optical fiber 26 (or without being reflected by the metal reflection film 38). Further, after being scattered by the scattering structure, it is emitted from the light emitting part 36.

  The wavelength conversion member 28 includes a curved portion 28c between one side portion 28a and the other side portion 28b on the opposite side. The wavelength conversion member 28 is provided in a 90 ° region formed by the first plane p1 and the second plane p2 in a state where the curved portion 28c is curved along the cladding portion 34b. Specifically, the wavelength converting member 28 is in a state where the curved portion 28c is in close contact with the light emitting portion 36 and covers the light emitting portion 36 so that the light emitted from the light emitting portion 36 enters the curved portion 28c. Is provided.

  As the wavelength conversion member 28, for example, a phosphor that emits yellow light can be used (when the light from the semiconductor light emitting element 22 is laser light in a blue region). In addition, phosphors that emit three colors of red, green, and blue can be used (when the light from the semiconductor light emitting element 22 is laser light in the near ultraviolet region). As a phosphor that emits yellow light, for example, Ce-doped YAG can be used. For the purpose of diffusing the light emitted from the light emitting portion 36, a diffuser can be used in combination with the phosphor. For example, a diffusing material such as alumina particles can be dispersed in the phosphor. These phosphors and diffusing materials may be used as a wavelength conversion member by mixing them with, for example, an inorganic glass binder or silicone resin.

  The wavelength conversion member 28 that has received the light (for example, blue laser beam) that has been propagated through the optical fiber 26 and emitted from the light emitting unit 36 transmits the blue laser beam that passes through the wavelength converting member 28 (see the primary light in FIG. 4). And white light (pseudo white light) is emitted by color mixture of light emitted by laser light in a blue region (yellow light; see secondary light in FIG. 4). The shape of the light emitting part (wavelength converting member 28) is preferably a rectangular shape of about 1: 2 to 1: 6.

  As shown in FIG. 4, the luminance distribution in the virtual light source surface D including one side portion 28a (in contact with one side portion 28a) and parallel to the tangential plane of this place is such that the luminance on one side portion 28a side is It becomes high and decreases as it goes from the one side portion 28a side to the other side portion 28b side. This is because the wavelength conversion member 28 (curved portion 28c) is provided in a state of being curved along the cladding portion 34b.

  The optical system 12 projects a luminance distribution on the virtual light source surface D, thereby, as shown in FIGS. 5 (a) and 5 (b), a virtual vertical screen (approx. 25 m forward from the front of the vehicle). The predetermined light distribution pattern P including the cut-off line CL at the upper edge is formed. At that time, the luminance distribution on the virtual light source surface D is projected in a state where the one side portion 28a having higher luminance than the other side portion 28b is positioned above, and therefore the cut-off line CL becomes clear with a high contrast ratio. And the predetermined light distribution pattern P is excellent in the light distribution feeling that the light intensity decreases in a gradation as it goes downward from the cutoff line CL.

  The ferrule 30 is a holding member for holding the optical fiber 26. The ferrule 30 is made of ceramic, copper, or the like having a high heat dissipation from the viewpoint of functioning the ferrule 30 as a heat radiating member that radiates heat generated at the emission end portion 26b (mainly the wavelength conversion member 28) of the optical fiber 26. A metal such as aluminum is desirable. When cost is taken into consideration, commonly used SUS, zirconia, or the like can be used. Considering miniaturization of the vehicular lamp 10, the ferrule 30 is preferably about 1 to 3 cm.

  The ferrule 30 and the optical fiber 26 are bonded by metal bonding (metal bonding using Sn / Ag / Cu solder or nano filler) between the metal pattern 40 fixed to the ferrule 30 and the metal reflection film 38. ing. 2 and 3 represents a metal bonding layer.

  The metal pattern 40 is a pattern having the same width as the diameter of the optical fiber 26 and is made of a metal such as Ti / Pt / Au, for example. Note that an adhesive containing a metal filler may be used instead of metal bonding.

  As a result, a heat dissipation path including the optical fiber 26 → the metal reflection film 38 → the metal bonding layer 42 → the metal pattern 40 → the ferrule 30 is configured. Heat generated at the emission end portion 26b (mainly, the wavelength conversion member 28) of the optical fiber 26 is efficiently radiated through this heat radiation path (see the downward arrow in FIG. 2). Thereby, it is suppressed that the light emission efficiency of the wavelength conversion member 28 falls by the heat | fever which generate | occur | produces in the output end part 26b (mainly wavelength conversion member 28) of the optical fiber 26. FIG.

  The light emitting device 20 can be manufactured as follows.

  FIG. 6 shows a manufacturing process of the light emitting device 20.

  First, as shown in FIG. 6A, an optical fiber 26 in which a scattering structure is formed on at least one of a core portion 32b and a clad portion 34b constituting the emission end portion 26b of the optical fiber 26 is prepared.

  Next, as shown in FIG. 6B, a region (for example, a 90 ° region formed by the first plane p1 and the second plane p2) functioning as the light emitting portion 36 in the clad portion 34b is covered with a mask M1. The other region (for example, a region of 270 ° formed by the first plane p1 and the second plane p2) is covered with a metal reflective film 38 by vapor deposition or plating.

  Next, as shown in FIG. 6C, the metal reflective film 38 is covered with a mask M2, and the mask M1 is removed.

  Next, as shown in FIG. 6D, a region (for example, a 90 ° region formed by the first plane p1 and the second plane p2) functioning as the light emitting portion 36 in the clad portion 34b is sprayed. Covering with the wavelength conversion member 28 by electrodeposition. Thereby, the wavelength conversion member 28 is disposed in a state of being in close contact with the light emitting portion 36 and covering the light emitting portion 36 in a form including the curved portion 28c curved along the clad portion 34b.

  Next, as shown in FIG. 6E, the mask M2 is removed.

  Next, as shown in FIG. 6F, the ferrule 30 is prepared, and the ferrule 30 and the optical fiber 26 are bonded by metal bonding between the metal pattern 40 and the metal reflective film 38 under reflow or high temperature conditions. Join.

  The light emitting device 20 can be manufactured as described above.

  According to the present embodiment, in the light emitting device 20 in which the semiconductor light emitting element 22 and the wavelength conversion member 28 are combined and the vehicular lamp 10 using the light emitting device 20, the luminance of the one side portion 28a is high, and the one side portion. It is possible to form a luminance distribution (gradient luminance distribution) in which the luminance decreases from the 28a side toward the other side portion 28b side.

  This is because the wavelength conversion member 28 (curved portion 28c) is provided in a curved state along the cladding portion 34b, that is, the wavelength light source 28 (curved portion 28c) passes through one side 28a. This is because the luminance distribution on the surface D is curved so as to decrease from the one side portion 28a side toward the other side portion 28b side.

  Moreover, according to this embodiment, it is suppressed that the luminous efficiency of the wavelength conversion member 28 falls by the heat | fever which generate | occur | produces in the output end part 26b (mainly wavelength conversion member 28) of the optical fiber 26. FIG.

  This is because the optical fiber 26 and the ferrule 30 (heat radiating member) are joined by metal joining, so that heat generated at the emission end portion 26b (mainly the wavelength converting member 28) of the optical fiber 26 is efficiently radiated. It is because it can be.

  Further, according to the present embodiment, the wavelength conversion member 28 can emit rectangular light (or substantially rectangular light) (in plan view). Further, by adjusting the size of the wavelength conversion member 28, a small light emitting surface (and thus a small vehicle lamp 10) can be realized. Moreover, even if the size of the wavelength conversion member 28 is reduced, the wavelength conversion member 28 can be easily mounted at a target location.

  In addition, according to the present embodiment, a desired rectangular light emission size can be freely realized simply by defining the diameter of the optical fiber 26 and the size of the wavelength conversion member 28. As a result, rectangular light emission suitable for a vehicular lamp can be easily realized.

  Next, a modified example will be described.

  In the above-described embodiment, an example in which the wavelength conversion member 28 (curved portion 28c) is curved along the clad portion 34b has been described. However, the wavelength conversion member 28 (curved portion 28c) is not limited to this. As long as the luminance distribution on the virtual light source surface D parallel to the tangential plane in the portion 28a decreases from the one side portion 28a toward the other side portion 28b, it may be curved in any form.

  In the above embodiment, the ferrule 30 and the optical fiber 26 are illustrated as being configured by joining the metal pattern 40 and the metal reflective film 38 by metal joining, but the present invention is not limited thereto, and the metal pattern 40 is not limited thereto. May be omitted, and the ferrule 30 and the optical fiber 26 (the metallic reflection film 38) may be directly bonded to each other by metal bonding.

  Moreover, in the said embodiment, although the 90 degree area | region which the 1st plane p1 and the 2nd plane p2 make was made into the light-projection part 36, and the wavelength conversion member 28 was provided in the said area | region, this was illustrated. Not limited to this, a region of 180 ° or less formed by the first plane p1 and the second plane p2 may be used as the light emitting portion 36, and the wavelength conversion member 28 may be provided in the region. By setting a region larger than 90 ° formed by the first plane p1 and the second plane p2 as the light emitting unit 36 (and providing the wavelength converting member 28 in the region), the light emitting unit 36 and the wavelength converting member The light (light flux) emitted from 28 can be increased. In particular, a region of 0 ° to 90 ° is desirable. This is because it is possible to realize a luminance distribution more suitable for the vehicular lamp in which the luminance gradient (gradient luminance distribution) appears most clearly.

  In the above-described embodiment, the configuration using one wavelength conversion member 28 is exemplified. However, the configuration is not limited to this. For example, as illustrated in FIG. 7, the light from the semiconductor light emitting element 22 is used as the wavelength conversion member 28. Wavelength conversion member 28A that receives white light (for example, for headlamps), wavelength conversion member 28B that receives light from semiconductor light emitting element 22 and emits orange light (for example, for turn signal lamps), semiconductor light emitting element A plurality of wavelength conversion members may be arranged in series in the axial direction of the optical fiber 26, such as a wavelength conversion member 28 </ b> C that receives light from 22 and emits red light (for example, for stop lamps). In this way, a light engine can be realized. FIG. 7 shows only the main configuration.

  Each numerical value shown in the above embodiment and each modified example is an exemplification, and any appropriate numerical value different from this can be used.

  The above embodiment is merely an example in all respects. The present invention is not construed as being limited to these descriptions. The present invention can be implemented in various other forms without departing from the spirit or main features thereof.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 ... Vehicle lamp, 12 ... Optical system, 20 ... Light-emitting device, 22 ... Semiconductor light emitting element, 24 ... Condensing lens, 26 ... Optical fiber, 26a ... Incident end part, 26b ... Outlet end part, 28, 28A-28C ... wavelength conversion member, 28a ... one side, 28b ... the other side, 28c ... curved part, 30 ... ferrule, 32 ... core, 32b ... core part, 34 ... clad, 34b ... clad part, 36 ... light emission , 38 ... Metal reflective film, 40 ... Metal pattern, 42 ... Metal bonding layer

Claims (7)

A semiconductor light emitting device;
A light guide including a light emitting portion that propagates light from the semiconductor light emitting element and emits the propagated light;
A wavelength conversion member that is disposed in the vicinity of the light emitting portion, receives light from the semiconductor light emitting element, and converts at least a part of the light into light of a different wavelength;
The wavelength conversion member includes a curved portion between one side portion and the other side portion on the opposite side,
The curved portion is a light-emitting device that is curved such that a luminance distribution on a virtual light source surface parallel to a tangential plane on the one side portion decreases from the one side portion side toward the other side portion side. The light guide is an optical fiber;
The light emitting portion is formed on at least a part of a side surface of the emitting end portion of the optical fiber,
The light emitting device according to claim 1, wherein the wavelength conversion member is provided in a state where the curved portion covers the light emitting portion so that the light emitted from the light emitting portion enters the curved portion. . The optical fiber is an optical fiber including a core and a clad surrounding the core,
The clad is a clad portion constituting an emission end portion of the optical fiber, and includes a clad portion from which light propagated by the optical fiber is emitted,
The light emitting device according to claim 2, wherein the light emitting unit is configured by covering a region other than a region functioning as the light emitting unit in the cladding portion with a metal reflection surface. The region functioning as the light emitting portion is formed by a first plane that includes the axis of the optical fiber and a second plane that includes the axis of the optical fiber and is orthogonal to the first plane. Is the region below °,
4. The light emitting device according to claim 3, wherein the wavelength conversion member is provided in a region of 180 ° or less formed by the first plane and the second plane in a state where the curved portion is curved along the cladding portion. apparatus. A heat dissipating member;
The light emitting device according to claim 3 or 4, wherein the optical fiber and the heat radiating member are bonded together by metal bonding the metal reflective film and the heat radiating member. The wavelength conversion member includes a plurality of wavelength conversion members that receive light from the semiconductor light emitting element and convert at least a part of the light into light having different wavelengths,
The light emitting device according to any one of claims 2 to 5, wherein the plurality of wavelength conversion members are arranged in series in an axial direction of the optical fiber. A light emitting device according to any one of claims 1 to 6,
An optical system configured to form a predetermined light distribution pattern by projecting a luminance distribution on the virtual light source surface, and
The optical system projects a luminance distribution on the virtual light source surface so that the one side portion having a higher luminance than the other side portion is positioned above.

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