JP2024112235A - Light generating device and lighting system - Google Patents

Abstract

A light generating device and a lighting system that easily provide a relaxing effect are provided.
[Solution] The light-generating device 10 comprises a first wall portion 11, a translucent second wall portion 13 that is provided a predetermined distance away from the first wall portion 11 and forms a closed area 12 between the first wall portion 11, a translucent liquid 14 sealed in the area 12 between the first wall portion 11 and the second wall portion 13, and a granular phosphorescent material 15 sealed in the area 12 between the first wall portion 11 and the second wall portion 13, wherein the distance between the first wall portion 11 and the second wall portion 13 is within the range of 0.5 mm or more and 5 mm or less, the liquid 14 has a viscosity of 2 mPa·s or more and 100 mPa·s or less, and the phosphorescent material 15 has an equivalent diameter of 50 μm or more.
[Selected Figure] Figure 1

Description

The present invention relates to a light generating device and lighting system that provides a relaxing effect.

In recent years, as more and more people are teleworking from home as diverse working styles become more prevalent, there has been interest in easy ways to relax at home after work. Lighting devices that provide a relaxing effect by utilizing the light emitted from phosphorescent materials are being used as interior lighting. When phosphorescent materials are irradiated with light of a certain wavelength (hereafter referred to as excitation light), they absorb the energy of the excitation light and emit light with a wavelength in the visible range, and then continue to emit visible light even after the irradiation of the excitation light has stopped.

Patent Document 1 discloses that a lighting device that has a storage section in a lamp shade or candle shade made of a translucent material and stores a phosphorescent material therein can provide a mental relaxation effect to people in a room or around a candle.

Patent Document 2 discloses that a luminous device for coasters has a decorative structure in which luminous powder particles are dispersed and fixed between transparent materials, and that it creates an elegant atmosphere in the surrounding area that is soothing to the human soul.

Utility Model Registration No. 3169272 JP 2005-246926 A

However, the lighting fixtures and luminous devices disclosed in Patent Documents 1 and 2 aim to achieve a relaxing effect by changing the atmosphere in a room with the fantastic glow of the light emitted by the luminous material, and there was a demand for an easy and more effective way to relax at home after finishing work.

Therefore, the object of the present invention is to provide a light generating device and lighting system that can easily provide a relaxing effect.

The inventors of the present invention discovered that watching countless tiny granules falling through a clear liquid due to gravity calms the mind, reduces anxiety and irritation, and helps one relax. They also discovered that watching the countless tiny granules of phosphorescent material glowing as they fall in a dimly lit room has an even greater relaxing effect, leading to the completion of the present invention.

When countless particles (including granular matter) fall through a liquid due to gravity, they do not fall in a uniform straight line, but collide with other particles or get caught up in the flow of the liquid, causing them to fluctuate irregularly as they fall. This type of fluctuation, which displaces irregularly but shows a certain degree of regularity, is called "1/f fluctuation," and it is thought that when we come into contact with "1/f fluctuation," we feel comfortable because it correlates with human biorhythms. Specific examples of "1/f fluctuation" include the flame of a candle or a campfire, the murmuring of a stream, the sound of waves at the beach, sunlight filtering through the trees, tree rings, the spacing between wood grain, and the beating of a human heart.

The concept of the present invention relates to a light generating device comprising a first wall, a translucent second wall provided at a predetermined distance from the first wall and forming a closed area between the first wall, a translucent liquid sealed in the area between the first wall and the second wall, and a granular phosphorescent material sealed in the area between the first wall and the second wall, the distance between the first wall and the second wall being within a range of 0.5 mm to 5 mm, the liquid having a viscosity of 2 mPa·s to 100 mPa·s, and the phosphorescent material having an equivalent diameter of 50 μm or more. Here, the second wall refers to the area that intersects with the straight line connecting the phosphorescent material and the eye among the parts that form the closed area when the phosphorescent material is viewed in normal use, and the first wall refers to the area that faces the second wall.

Furthermore, it is preferable that granular matter is enclosed in the region between the first wall portion and the second wall portion, and that the granular matter has an equivalent diameter of 50 μm or more and has either or both of an apparent specific gravity and a particle size different from those of the phosphorescent material. Furthermore, it is preferable that air bubbles are enclosed in the region between the first wall portion and the second wall portion.

The concept of the present invention also relates to a lighting system that includes the above-mentioned light generating device and a light irradiating device for irradiating excitation light onto a phosphorescent material.

The present invention provides a light generating device and lighting system that can easily provide a relaxing effect.

FIG. 1 is a partial cross-sectional view that illustrates a light generating device according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a partial cross-sectional view that illustrates a light generating device according to an embodiment of the present invention that is different from that shown in FIG. FIG. 3 is a configuration diagram of a lighting system according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of a light-generating device according to a first specific embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 5 is a configuration diagram of a lighting system according to a first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 6A is a plan view of a light generating device in an illumination system according to a second specific embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 6B is a partial cross-sectional view taken along line VIB-VIB including a light emitting device. FIG. 7A is a cross-sectional view taken along line VIIA-VIIA of a lighting system according to a third specific embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 7B is a front view of the lighting system according to the third specific embodiment of the present invention. 11 is an image showing the light-generating device before being displaced for Example 4. 9 is an image showing the light-generating device immediately after being displaced from the state shown in FIG. 8, relating to Example 4. 10 is an image showing the light generating device after time has elapsed from the state shown in FIG. 9 in accordance with Example 4. 11 is an image showing the light generating device after time has elapsed from the state shown in FIG. 10 in accordance with the fourth embodiment. 12 is an image showing the light generating device after time has elapsed from the state shown in FIG. 11 in accordance with Example 4. 13 is an image showing the light generating device after time has elapsed from the state shown in FIG. 12 in accordance with Example 4. 14 is an image showing the light generating device after time has elapsed from the state shown in FIG. 13, in accordance with Example 4. 15 is an image showing the light generating device after sufficient time has passed since the state shown in FIG. 14, in accordance with Example 4.

The following describes in detail the embodiments of the present invention with reference to the drawings. The embodiments of the present invention include design modifications, such as changing or deleting part of the configuration, without changing the scope of the present invention.

1 is a schematic diagram showing a partial cross section of a light generating device according to an embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 1, the light generating device 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a first wall 11, a second wall 13 having translucency that is provided at a predetermined distance from the first wall 11 and forms a closed region 12 between the first wall 11, a translucent liquid 14 sealed in the region 12 between the first wall 11 and the second wall 13, and a granular phosphorescent material 15 sealed in the region 12 between the first wall 11 and the second wall 13. In particular, the distance between the first wall 11 and the second wall 13 is within a range of 0.5 mm or more and 5 mm or less, the liquid 14 has a viscosity of 2 mPa·s or more and 100 mPa·s or less, and the phosphorescent material 15 has an equivalent diameter of 50 μm or more. The phosphorescent material 15 may be called a phosphorescent body. The viscosity of the liquid 14 is measured at a temperature of 25° C. in the environment in which it is used. Here, the equivalent diameter of the phosphorescent material 15 means the diameter of a sphere that is equal to the volume of the phosphorescent material 15 when the phosphorescent material 15 is approximated as a sphere.

The first wall 11 and the second wall 13 may each have any shape, but are preferably spaced apart within a predetermined range except for the portion where the first wall 11 and the second wall 13 are joined and the vicinity thereof. The region 12 between the first wall 11 and the second wall 13 is sealed by partially joining the first wall 11 and the second wall 13, and the liquid 14 and the phosphorescent material 15 are enclosed in the region 12 and do not leak out.

The distance between the first wall portion 11 and the second wall portion 13 is preferably within a range of 0.5 mm to 5 mm, excluding the portion where the two are joined and the vicinity thereof. Here, "the distance between the first wall portion 11 and the second wall portion 13" refers to the distance between any point on the surface of the first wall portion 11 facing the second wall portion 13 and the point where the normal to that point intersects with the surface of the second wall portion 13 facing the first wall portion 11. The distance between the first wall portion 11 and the second wall portion 13 may vary depending on the location.

The state in which the granular phosphorescent material 15 does not gather together but breaks up and falls while fluctuating has a relaxing effect on people, so if the distance between the first wall 11 and the second wall 13 is greater than the above range, the granular phosphorescent material 15 gathers together and falls in a short time, and the fluctuating of the falling particles cannot be seen, so a sufficient relaxing effect is not obtained, which is not preferable. On the other hand, if the distance between the first wall 11 and the second wall 13 is smaller than the above range, the amount of granular phosphorescent material 15 that can be enclosed between the first wall 11 and the second wall 13 decreases and it becomes darker, which is not preferable as the relaxing effect decreases.

Here, by having unevenness on either or both of the opposing surface of the first wall 11 on the second wall 13 side and the opposing surface of the second wall 13 on the first wall 11 side, the distance between the first wall 11 and the second wall 13 may be less than 0.5 mm or 5 mm or more in some parts. This is because the falling of the phosphorescent material 15 can have a relaxing effect similar to that of 1/f fluctuation.

The material of the second wall portion 13 is not particularly limited as long as it is translucent. In other words, the second wall portion 13 is only required to be transparent so that the granular phosphorescent material 15 in the region 12 between the second wall portion 13 and the first wall portion 11 can be visually confirmed, and may be colored. The material of the second wall portion 13 is selected from inorganic glass, transparent resin, etc. The transparent resin is appropriately selected from acrylic resin, polyester resin, epoxy resin, polyethylene resin, polycarbonate, polyvinyl chloride resin, nylon resin, urethane resin, etc.

The material of the first wall 11 is not particularly limited. If the first wall 11 is made of the same or similar material as the second wall 13, it is preferable because it is easy to partially join the first wall 11 and the second wall 13. The first wall 11 may be transparent or opaque, and may be solid or hollow. If the first wall 11 has a hole penetrating in the longitudinal direction, i.e., in the vertical direction, it is preferable that the first wall 11 has translucency. This is because a light source for irradiating the phosphorescent material 15 with excitation light can be placed in the hole, as described later. In this case, the material of the first wall 11 is selected from inorganic glass, transparent resin, etc. The transparent resin is appropriately selected from acrylic resin, polyester resin, epoxy resin, polyethylene resin, polycarbonate, polyvinyl chloride resin, nylon resin, urethane resin, etc.

If the viscosity of the liquid 14 is low and the falling speed of the granular phosphorescent material 15 is fast, the relaxing effect is low, so the viscosity of the liquid 14 is preferably 2 mPa·s or more, more preferably 5 mPa·s or more, and even more preferably 10 mPa·s or more. If the viscosity of the transparent liquid 14 is high and the falling speed of the granular phosphorescent material 15 is slow, the relaxing effect is low, so the viscosity of the liquid 14 is preferably 100 mPa·s or less, more preferably 50 mPa·s or less, and even more preferably 30 mPa·s or less.

The type of liquid 14 is not limited, but examples of materials that are translucent, have low hazards, and are easy to handle include water, glycols such as ethylene glycol and propylene glycol, glycerin, and liquid paraffin. Silicone oil is particularly suitable because it does not affect the physical properties of the phosphorescent material 15 and has a stable viscosity.

The type of granular phosphorescent material 15 is not limited, but strontium aluminate, strontium silicate, zinc sulfide, or other granular material with phosphorescent properties can be used, and two or more types of granular phosphorescent material 15 can be mixed and used. The phosphorescent material 15 has a higher density than the liquid 14. This is to allow the phosphorescent material 15 to fall in the liquid 14.

In order to obtain a relaxing effect, it is necessary that the particles of the granular phosphorescent material 15 are large enough to be visible when the light generating device 10 is picked up and looked at. The particle diameter of the granular phosphorescent material 15 is not limited, but is preferably 50 μm or more, more preferably 70 μm or more, and even more preferably 100 μm or more. If the particle diameter is smaller than this range, the particles of the phosphorescent material 15 cannot be seen and the entire liquid looks cloudy, which is not preferable. In addition, the phosphorescent material 15 does not need to be spherical, and the surface of the phosphorescent material 15 may be uneven. The particle diameter of the phosphorescent material 15 may be within the above range as long as the equivalent diameter when assumed to be spherical. The upper limit of the size of the phosphorescent material 15 is a size that allows the phosphorescent material 15 to easily fall by gravity through the liquid 14 in the region 12 between the first wall portion 11 and the second wall portion 13.

The light generating device 10 can be in various shapes such as a columnar shape, a cylindrical shape, an egg shape, a substantially rectangular shape, a flat plate shape, a folding screen shape, a curved plate shape, etc. The light generating device 10 preferably extends in the longitudinal direction and has a size that allows it to be held in the hand and turned up and down in the longitudinal direction. For example, in the middle part of the light generating device 10 excluding the upper and lower parts in the longitudinal direction, the distance between the first wall part 11 and the second wall part 13 is within a preferred range, and the phosphorescent material 15 can move freely in any direction while emitting light along each opposing surface of the first wall part 11 and the second wall part 13, so that the relaxing effect is further enhanced. With regard to the maximum part of the cross section perpendicular to the vertical direction of the light generating device 10, the diameter of the circle when approximated by the smallest circle so as to include the cross section of the maximum part as much as possible is 2 cm or more, more preferably 3 cm or more, and 16 cm or less, more preferably 10 cm or less. For example, if the cross section of the largest part is an ellipse, the length of the long axis of the ellipse corresponds to the "diameter of the approximated circle", if the cross section of the largest part is a polygon such as a triangle or a rectangle, the diameter of the circle passing through as many of the convex vertices of the polygon as possible corresponds to the "diameter of the approximated circle", if a part of the cross section of the largest part includes an arc, the diameter of the circle that constitutes the arc corresponds to the "diameter of the approximated circle", and if the cross section of the largest part is a combination of a curve and a straight line, the diameter of the circle that passes through as many of the curves as possible and includes as many of the curves as possible, corresponds to the "diameter of the approximated circle". On the other hand, the longitudinal dimension is preferably 4 cm or more and 32 cm or less, more preferably 20 cm or less, and even more preferably 15 cm or less.

Next, FIG. 2 shows a schematic cross section of a part of a light generating device according to an embodiment of the present invention different from that shown in FIG. 1. In the embodiment of the present invention, it is further preferable that granular material 16 is enclosed in the region 12 between the first wall portion 11 and the second wall portion 13. Here, the granular material 16 differs from the phosphorescent material 15 in either or both of the apparent specific gravity and particle size. The granular material 16 has a higher density than the liquid 14. This is to allow the granular material 16 to fall in the liquid 14. The granular material 16 has an equivalent diameter of 50 μm or more when approximated as a sphere. The granular material 16 can be one or more selected from colored sand, granular fluorescent material, metal powder, resin powder, and glass beads. Granular material 16 differs from phosphorescent material 15 in either or both of apparent specific gravity and particle size. Therefore, when phosphorescent material 15 and granular material 16 are dropped simultaneously into liquid 14, they fall at different speeds, and therefore do not mix uniformly after settling, forming striped or mottled patterns, which can further enhance the relaxation effect. Granular material 16 can be colored a different color from phosphorescent material 15 to further enhance the relaxation effect.

In an embodiment of the present invention, it is preferable that air bubbles 17 are enclosed in the region 12 between the first wall 11 and the second wall 13. When the air bubbles 17 are present in the liquid 14, the phosphorescent material 15 and granular material 16 on the air bubbles 17 fall more slowly, so that the irregularity increases and the relaxation effect can be further enhanced. When the light generating device 10 is left stationary to allow the phosphorescent material 15 and granular material 16 to settle, and then the light generating device 10 is turned 180 degrees, if all the phosphorescent material 15 and granular material 16 are on the air bubbles 17, the phosphorescent material 15 and granular material 16 will not fall, so it is preferable that the volume of the air bubbles 17 is smaller than the value obtained by multiplying the area of the interface with the liquid 14 when the light generating device 10 is left stationary to allow the phosphorescent material 15 and granular material 16 to settle in the absence of air bubbles by the distance between the first wall 11 and the second wall 13.

As shown in FIG. 3, the lighting system 1 according to the embodiment of the present invention includes a light generating device 10 and a light irradiating device 20 for irradiating excitation light to the phosphorescent material 15. The light irradiating device 20 includes a light source 21. The light source 21 may be any light source that irradiates light of a wavelength corresponding to the excitation energy of the phosphorescent material 15. The light source 21 may be selected from an LED lamp, an EL lamp, a fluorescent lamp, a mercury lamp, a halogen lamp, an incandescent lamp, or the like. The light source 21 may be arranged so that the light emitted from the light source 21 passes through the translucent portion of either or both of the first wall portion 11 and the second wall portion 13 to irradiate the phosphorescent material 15. The light generating device 10 is intended to be held and viewed, and is preferably arranged so that the light generating device 10 can be easily removed from a base or the like. Details will be described later.

According to the light generating device 10 of the embodiment of the present invention, the movement of the granular phosphorescent material 15 that emits light can be made to have a relaxing effect similar to "1/f fluctuation", and by watching this, the relaxing effect can be easily obtained. According to the lighting system 1 of the embodiment of the present invention, the excitation light can be efficiently irradiated onto the granular phosphorescent material 15, so that the relaxing effect can be easily obtained and it can also be used as interior lighting.

More specific embodiments are described below.

(First specific embodiment)
An example of a light generating device 10 according to a specific first embodiment of the present invention is shown in FIG. 4. The second wall 13 is a hollow body made of transparent acrylic resin. The first wall 11 is a molded body made of transparent or opaque acrylic resin, and is bonded to the second wall 13 by convex parts formed at both the upper and lower ends, forming a sealed region 12 surrounded by the first wall 11 and the second wall 13, and the distance between the first wall 11 and the second wall 13 is in the range of 0.5 mm to 5 mm. Silicone oil with a viscosity of 2 mPa·s to 100 mPa·s is adopted as the transparent liquid 14. The particle diameter of the phosphorescent material 15 and the granular material 16 is 50 μm or more, and is a size that allows them to be enclosed in the region 12 and move freely in any direction including the up and down direction along the opposing surfaces of the first wall 11 and the second wall 13. Air bubbles 17 are enclosed in the region 12.

A lighting system 1 according to a first specific embodiment of the present invention is shown in FIG. 5. The lighting system 1 includes a light generating device 10 and a light irradiation device 20 shown in FIG. 4. The light irradiation device 20 includes a base 22 that supports the lower part of the light generating device 10, and a stage 23 that holds the base 22. The stage 23 has one or more LED lamps arranged as a light source 21 for irradiating excitation light from below the base 22. The light source 21 irradiates the lower part of the light generating device 10 with excitation light from below or diagonally below, with the light generating device 10 placed on the base 22. This allows the excitation light to be irradiated to the phosphorescent material 15 that has settled in the above-mentioned region 12 of the light generating device 10 and the phosphorescent material 15 that is settling.

The base 22 of the light irradiation device 20 is made of a translucent material, and one or more LED lamps are placed under the base 22 as the light source 21, so that the excitation light can be efficiently irradiated onto the granular phosphorescent material 15, and the light generating device 10 can be quickly picked up after irradiation.

(Specific Second Embodiment)
FIG. 6A shows a plan view of the light generating device 10 in the lighting system 1 according to a specific second embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 6B shows a partial cross section along the line VIB-VIB including the light irradiation device 20. As with the irradiation system 1 shown in FIG. 3 and FIG. 5, the irradiation system 1 includes the light generating device 10 and the light irradiation device 20. In the light generating device 10, the second wall 13 is a transparent acrylic resin molded body, the first wall 11 is an acrylic resin molded body that transmits the excitation light of the phosphorescent material 15, and the first wall 11 and the second wall 13 are bonded at the top and bottom by annular joints 18a and 18b made of acrylic resin. As a result, the first wall 11 and the second wall 13 form a sealed region 12. The distance between the first wall 11 and the second wall 13 is in the range of 0.5 mm to 5 mm. Silicone oil or the like having a viscosity in the range of 2 mPa·s to 100 mPa·s is selected as the liquid. The particle diameter of the phosphorescent material 15 and the granular material 16 is 50 μm or more. The cross section perpendicular to the up-down direction of the first wall portion 11 and the connecting portions 18a, 18b may be annular in shape having an endless shape, and are not limited to annular or ring-shaped as shown in the figure.

The light irradiation device 20 includes a base 25 for placing the light generating device 10, and a stand 26 for installing multiple light sources 21 at different heights in the center of the base 25. Multiple LED lamps as light sources 21 are provided at different heights from the base 25 so as to irradiate excitation light in different outward directions (radially). The base 25 may be provided with a recess, groove, or protrusion to determine the position of the light generating device 10.

The light irradiation device 20 has LED lamps arranged as light sources 21 radially in the center of the base 25 on which the light generating device 10 is placed, so that excitation light can be efficiently irradiated onto the granular phosphorescent material 15 from the surface of the first wall 11 of the light generating device 10 on the second wall 13 side, and the light generating device 10 can be quickly picked up after irradiation.

(Specific Third Embodiment)
A cross section along line VIIA-VIIA of the illumination system 1 according to a specific third embodiment of the present invention is shown in FIG. 7A, and a front view is shown in FIG. 7B. As with the illumination system 1 shown in FIG. 3 and FIG. 5, the illumination system 1 shown in FIG. 7A and FIG. 7B includes a light generating device 10 and a light irradiating device 20. In the light generating device 10, the second wall 13 is a transparent acrylic resin molded body, the first wall 11 is a transparent or opaque acrylic resin molded body, and the first wall 11 and the second wall 13 are bonded at the top and bottom by acrylic resin joints 18a, 18b. As a result, the first wall 11 and the second wall 13 form a sealed region 12. The distance between the first wall 11 and the second wall 13 is in the range of 0.5 mm to 5 mm. A silicone oil having a viscosity in the range of 2 mPa·s to 100 mPa·s is selected as the liquid. The particle diameter of the phosphorescent material 15 and the granular material 16 is 50 μm or more. The region 12 shown in Fig. 7A does not have a circular or endless shape in a cross section perpendicular to the up-down direction as shown in Fig. 6A, but has an end shape formed by the sealing portions 19a, 19b, the first wall portion 11, and the second wall portion 13. The end shape can be any straight line, curved shape, such as a U-shape, an L-shape, or a part of an arc, or a combination of these.

In the light irradiation device 20, a plurality of LED lamps are arranged as light sources 21 for irradiating excitation light from below the stage 23. This allows excitation light to be irradiated to the phosphorescent material 15 that has settled in the above-mentioned region 12 of the light generating device 10 and the phosphorescent material 15 that is settling. If the first wall portion 11, the joint portions 18a, 18b, and the sealing portions 19a, 19b are made of a translucent acrylic resin, this is preferable because the phosphorescent material 15 can be efficiently excited by light that has passed through the first wall portion 11, the joint portions 18a, 18b, and the sealing portions 19a, 19b. As described in the specific second embodiment, a stand 26 as shown in FIG. 6B may be erected on the stage 23, a light source 21 may be attached to the stand 26, and excitation light may be irradiated outward from the light source 21, thereby irradiating the phosphorescent material 15 with excitation light via the first wall portion 11.

Example 1
The light generating device 10 shown in Fig. 4 was produced. A second wall 13 made of transparent acrylic resin with a maximum diameter of 80 mm and a height of 140 mm in a cross section perpendicular to the vertical direction was used, and the first wall 11 and the second wall 13 were bonded to the first wall 11 made of acrylic resin with a distance of 2 mm between them. In the area 12 surrounded by the first wall 11 and the second wall 13, a silicone oil with a viscosity of 19 mPa·s (Shin-Etsu Chemical Co., Ltd. KF-96-20CS) was used as the liquid 14, and a granular phosphorescent material (apparent specific gravity 3.7) with a particle diameter of 150 μm to 425 μm obtained by classifying a commercially available aluminate phosphorescent pigment with a luminescent color of blue-green using stainless steel sieves with openings of 150 μm and 425 μm was filled. The apparent density refers to the density calculated by adding the volume of the substance itself and the volume of the internal voids, and the apparent specific gravity refers to the mass ratio to the same volume of pure water at 4°C under a pressure of 1013.25 hPa (the same applies below to the numerical values of apparent specific gravity).

A daylight LED light was used to irradiate the granular phosphorescent material 15 with excitation light from the outside of the second wall 13 of the light-generating device 10 for 20 minutes, after which the irradiation was stopped and the light-generating device 10 was turned upside down by 180 degrees. When this was done, countless blue-green particles fell randomly, and after about 2 to 4 minutes all the particles had fallen. Watching them fall was calming and had a relaxing effect.

Example 2
Instead of the granular phosphorescent material 15 used in Example 1, a granular phosphorescent material 15 (apparent specific gravity 3.7) having a particle size of 150 μm to 425 μm obtained by classifying a commercially available aluminate phosphorescent pigment with a luminous color of blue-green using a stainless steel sieve with an opening of 150 μm and 425 μm, and a granular color sand 16 (apparent specific gravity 2.6) having a particle size of 100 μm to 212 μm obtained by classifying a commercially available color sand in which silica sand is colored blue with an inorganic pigment using a stainless steel sieve with an opening of 100 μm and 212 μm were used. The light generating device 10 was manufactured in the same manner as in Example 1, except that the mass ratio of the phosphorescent material 15 and the granular material 16 was mixed to be 88:12 and enclosed in the region 12 between the first wall portion 11 and the second wall portion 13.

As in Example 1, the granular phosphorescent material 15 was irradiated with excitation light from outside the second wall portion 13 of the light-generating device 10 using a daylight LED light for 20 minutes, after which the irradiation was stopped and the light-generating device 10 was turned upside down by 180 degrees. After approximately 2 to 4 minutes, all of the granular phosphorescent material 15 and the colored sand of the granular matter 16 had fallen. Watching the blue-green particles fall irregularly was calming and had a relaxing effect. After the granular matter had fallen, the granular phosphorescent material and colored sand formed a layered pattern, creating a comfortable atmosphere.

Example 3
In Example 2, a small amount of air bubbles was further enclosed in the light-generating device 10, and the light-generating device 10 was left to stand to allow the mixed granules of granular phosphorescent material 15 and colored sand granules 16 to settle, and then the amount of air bubbles was adjusted so that the ratio of the area of the interface between the mixed granules and the air to the sum of the area of the interface between the mixed granules and the air and the area of the interface between the mixed granules and the silicone oil immediately after the light-generating device 10 was turned upside down by 180 degrees was 0.6.

As in Example 2, the granular phosphorescent material 15 was irradiated with excitation light from outside the second wall portion 13 of the light-generating device 10 using a daylight LED light for 20 minutes, and then irradiation was stopped and the light-generating device 10 was turned upside down by 180 degrees. The blue-green particles fell irregularly, and the falling motion became more irregular due to the movement of air bubbles, and after about 2 to 4 minutes, all of the mixed granular material had fallen. Watching this falling state was calming and had a relaxing effect. After the granular material had fallen, the granular phosphorescent material and colored sand formed a layered pattern, creating a comfortable atmosphere.

Example 4
For the light generating device 10 produced in Example 3, as in the light irradiation device 20 of Fig. 5, an ultraviolet LED lamp was used as the light source 21 arranged under a cylindrical base part 22 made of transparent acrylic resin, and the light generating device 10 was placed on the base part 22 of the light irradiation device 20 and ultraviolet light was irradiated for 5 minutes. After that, the light generating device 10 was picked up and turned up and down 180 degrees, and the granular phosphorescent material 15 that fell irregularly while emitting blue-green light was seen, which calmed the mind and provided a relaxing effect. The same results were obtained for the light generating devices 10 produced in Examples 1 and 2.

Regarding Example 4, the light generating device 10 was photographed in a darkroom after the ultraviolet irradiation was stopped. An image of the light generating device 10 before being inverted is shown in FIG. 8, an image of the light generating device 10 immediately after being inverted from the state shown in FIG. 8 is shown in FIG. 9, and images of the change in the light generating device 10 over time are shown in FIG. 10 to FIG. 15. As shown in FIG. 8, it can be seen that the phosphorescent material 15 and granular material 16 have settled at the bottom of the region 12 of the light generating device 10, and the liquid 14 is present above them. When the light generating device 10 is inverted up and down, as shown in FIG. 9, the phosphorescent material 15 and granular material 16 are present at the top of the region 12 of the light generating device 10, most of the liquid 14 is present below them, and air bubbles 17 are present in a band shape on the boundary between the phosphorescent material 15 and granular material 16 and the liquid 14. After that, as shown in FIG. 10 to FIG. 13, the luminescent material 15 and granular material 16 that are not on the air bubbles 17 move to the bottom of the region 12, and the luminescent material 15 and granular material 16 on the air bubbles 17 also lose their shape, and after a sufficient amount of time has passed, as shown in FIG. 14, all of the luminescent material 15 and granular material 16 have sunk to the bottom of the region 12 of the light generating device 10.

Example 5
As shown in FIGS. 6A and 6B , a pipe-shaped second wall portion 13 made of transparent acrylic resin having an outer diameter of 100 mm and a height of 150 mm, a first wall portion 11 made of acrylic resin that transmits excitation light and is joined by acrylic resin joints 18a and 18b with a distance between the first wall portion 11 and the second wall portion 13 being 2 mm, and silicone oil (KF-96-20CS, Shin-Etsu Chemical Co., Ltd.) having a viscosity of 19 mPa·s and a commercially available phosphorescent material 15 having a blue-green luminous color are inserted into an area 12 surrounded by the first wall portion 11 and the second wall portion 13. The aluminate phosphorescent pigment was classified using a stainless steel sieve with an opening of 150 μm and 425 μm to obtain a granular phosphorescent material 15 (apparent specific gravity 3.7) having a particle size of 150 μm to 425 μm, and a commercially available color sand obtained by coloring silica sand blue with an inorganic pigment was classified using a stainless steel sieve with an opening of 100 μm and 212 μm to obtain a color sand powder 16 (apparent specific gravity 2.6) having a particle size of 100 μm to 212 μm, which was mixed in a mass ratio of 88:12, and a small amount of air bubbles 17 were enclosed. The amount of air bubbles 17 was adjusted so that the ratio of the area of the interface between the granular mixture and air to the sum of the area of the interface between the granular mixture and air and the area of the interface between the granular mixture and silicone oil, which is generated immediately after the light generating device 10 is left stationary to settle the mixed granular material, is 0.6.

The light irradiation device 20 is placed inside the first wall 11 of the light generating device 10, and irradiates the granular phosphorescent material 15 with excitation light from the side of the first wall 11 that does not face the second wall 13. After irradiating the excitation light for 5 minutes, the light generating device 10 was picked up and turned 180 degrees up and down, and the viewer felt a sense of calm and had a relaxing effect when they saw the material with the blue-green glowing particles falling irregularly.

(Comparative Example 1)
Instead of the silicone oil used in Example 1, a silicone oil with a viscosity of 1 mPa·s was used, and a light-generating device was produced in the same manner as in Example 1. All of the granular phosphorescent material fell off within 15 seconds after the light-generating device was turned upside down by 180 degrees, and no relaxing effect was obtained.

(Comparative Example 2)
A light-generating device was produced in the same manner as in Example 1, except that the distance between the first wall 11 and the second wall 13 was set to 6 mm. When the light-generating device was turned upside down by 180 degrees, the granular phosphorescent material fell together, so the fluctuation of the falling particles could not be visually recognized, and no relaxing effect was obtained.

The present invention is not limited to the illustrated form, and the design of parts other than the essential parts of the present invention may be modified as appropriate. If the first wall portion 11 can be distinguished between inside and outside in relation to the second wall portion 13, the first wall portion 11 may be called the "inner wall portion." Similarly, if the second wall portion 13 can be distinguished between inside and outside in relation to the first wall portion 11, the second wall portion 13 may be called the "outer wall portion."

Reference Signs List 1: Illumination system 10: Light generating device 11: First wall portion 12: Area 13: Second wall portion 14: Liquid 15: Luminous material 16: Powdery material 17: Air bubbles 18a, 18b: Joint portions 19a, 19b: Sealing portion 20: Light irradiation device 21: Light source 22: Base portion 23: Stage 25: Base 26: Stand

Claims (4)

A first wall portion;
a second wall portion having a light-transmitting property and provided at a predetermined distance from the first wall portion to form a closed area between the first wall portion and the second wall portion;
a transparent liquid sealed in the region between the first wall and the second wall;
A granular phosphorescent material is enclosed in the region between the first wall portion and the second wall portion;
Equipped with
The distance between the first wall portion and the second wall portion is within a range of 0.5 mm to 5 mm,
The liquid has a viscosity of 2 mPa·s or more and 100 mPa·s or less,
The light generating device, wherein the phosphorescent material has an equivalent diameter of 50 μm or more. Further, particulate matter is enclosed in the region between the first wall and the second wall,
2. The light generating device according to claim 1, wherein the particulate matter has an equivalent diameter of 50 μm or more and has either or both of an apparent specific gravity and a particle size different from those of the phosphorescent material. The light generating device of claim 1, further comprising air bubbles sealed in the region between the first wall and the second wall. A light generating device according to any one of claims 1 to 3;
A light irradiation device for irradiating the phosphorescent material with excitation light;
A lighting system comprising:

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