JP3987838B2 - Linear lighting device - Google Patents

Linear lighting device Download PDF

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JP3987838B2
JP3987838B2 JP2004133841A JP2004133841A JP3987838B2 JP 3987838 B2 JP3987838 B2 JP 3987838B2 JP 2004133841 A JP2004133841 A JP 2004133841A JP 2004133841 A JP2004133841 A JP 2004133841A JP 3987838 B2 JP3987838 B2 JP 3987838B2
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light
light guide
longitudinal direction
cross
end surface
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JP2004312753A (en
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哲朗 中村
栄一郎 田中
隆彦 村田
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Panasonic Corp
Panasonic Holdings Corp
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Panasonic Corp
Matsushita Electric Industrial Co Ltd
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本発明は、例えば光学的画像読み取り装置において、原稿面を主走査方向に線状に照明する線状照明装置に関するものである。   The present invention relates to a linear illumination device that illuminates a document surface linearly in a main scanning direction, for example, in an optical image reading device.

従来の線状照明装置を便宜上、光学的画像読み取り装置を例にとって説明する。   For the sake of convenience, a conventional linear illumination device will be described taking an optical image reading device as an example.

近年、光学的画像読み取り装置は、ファクシミリ、スキャナー、バーコードリーダー等の読み取り装置として広く使用されており、この種の装置の原稿照射手段にはLEDチップを線状に配列したLEDアレイが使用されている。   In recent years, optical image reading apparatuses have been widely used as reading apparatuses such as facsimiles, scanners, bar code readers, etc., and an LED array in which LED chips are arranged in a linear form is used for the document irradiation means of this type of apparatus. ing.

図14は従来の光学的画像読み取り装置の構造図を示すものである。図14において原稿51は、原稿照射手段として用いるLEDアレイ52によって照射されており、該原稿51で反射した光はロッドレンズアレイ53によって正立等倍で導かれ、光電変換素子アレイ45に入力され、電気信号に変換されるようになっている。   FIG. 14 shows a structural diagram of a conventional optical image reading apparatus. In FIG. 14, an original 51 is irradiated by an LED array 52 used as an original irradiating unit, and the light reflected by the original 51 is guided by the rod lens array 53 at an equal magnification and input to the photoelectric conversion element array 45. , Converted into electrical signals.

ここで光電変換素子アレイ54から原稿51までの距離は、通常10mm前後であり、ロッドレンズアレイ53を構成する各ロッドレンズは、0.6φmm前後の円柱状である。   Here, the distance from the photoelectric conversion element array 54 to the original 51 is usually around 10 mm, and each rod lens constituting the rod lens array 53 has a cylindrical shape around 0.6 φmm.

図15は従来のLEDアレイの構成を示したものであり、回路導体層を形成した基板61上にLEDチップ62を複数個、直線状に並べた構成としている。通常、一つの基板上には、24個〜32個のLEDチップ62が配列されており、LEDチップ62の一個の長さ寸法は2mm前後で、それぞれのLEDチップ62は5mm前後の間隔で配置されている。   FIG. 15 shows a configuration of a conventional LED array, in which a plurality of LED chips 62 are linearly arranged on a substrate 61 on which a circuit conductor layer is formed. Usually, 24 to 32 LED chips 62 are arranged on one substrate, and one LED chip 62 has a length of about 2 mm, and each LED chip 62 is arranged at an interval of about 5 mm. Has been.

又、後述の特許文献1には、導光体の両端、あるいは一端に光源を配置し、該光源よりの光を上記導光体を介して伝搬させる構成の原稿照射手段が開示されている。この構成では、導光体の長手方向の一側面に光拡散部、例えば、三角波面を形成し、長手方向の他側面より線状の光を集中して出射することが可能になる。
特開平08−043633号公報
Patent Document 1 described below discloses a document irradiating unit having a configuration in which light sources are arranged at both ends or one end of a light guide, and light from the light source is propagated through the light guide. In this configuration, a light diffusion part, for example, a triangular wave surface is formed on one side surface in the longitudinal direction of the light guide, and linear light can be concentrated and emitted from the other side surface in the longitudinal direction.
JP 08-043333 A

ところで、原稿照射手段は走査方向に線状の光ビームが得られれば足りるが、上記のLEDアレイを用いる構成では、LEDチップ62はそれぞれ副走査方向にも光が拡散するので照射効率が低くなる欠点がある。又、LEDチップが所定間隔を設けて配置されているので、原稿面上の照度のばらつきが生じ、シェ−ディング補正等の処理を必要とするとともに、該処理を施したとしても画像読み取り装置自体の画像の読み取りの性能は低下する。又、原稿面の照度のばらつきを抑えようとすると原稿51からLEDアレイ52までの距離をある程度の距離に保つ必要が生じ、さらに数多くのLEDチップを使用することとなり、ユニット自体のサイズも大きく、また、コストアップの要因となっていた。   By the way, the document irradiating means only needs to obtain a linear light beam in the scanning direction. However, in the configuration using the above LED array, the LED chip 62 diffuses light also in the sub-scanning direction, so that the irradiation efficiency is lowered. There are drawbacks. In addition, since the LED chips are arranged at a predetermined interval, variations in illuminance on the document surface occur, requiring processing such as shading correction, and even if such processing is performed, the image reading apparatus itself The image reading performance is reduced. Further, if it is attempted to suppress variations in the illuminance on the document surface, it is necessary to keep the distance from the document 51 to the LED array 52 to some extent, and more LED chips are used, and the size of the unit itself is large. In addition, the cost was increased.

又、上記特許文献1に記載の導光体を透過する光の中上記三角波面に照射された光は、該三角波面の外部が導光体より屈折率の低い空気であるので、導光体内部に全反射して、最終的には他側面より出射することになる。しかしながら、全ての光が反射されて導光体内部へ戻るわけではなく、一部の光は導光体外部へ漏れ、伝送効率を悪くするという欠点がある。   Further, among the light transmitted through the light guide described in Patent Document 1, the light irradiated on the triangular wave front is air having a lower refractive index than the light guide outside the triangular wave front. The light is totally reflected inside and finally exits from the other side. However, not all the light is reflected and returns to the inside of the light guide, and a part of the light leaks to the outside of the light guide and has a disadvantage that transmission efficiency is deteriorated.

本発明は、LEDアレイの照射効率を落とさず、原稿面の照度のばらつきを抑えることができる線状照明装置を提供することを目的とする。又、光出射面から原稿までの距離を短くしてサイズが小さい線状照明装置を提供することを目的とする。更に、導光体内部を伝搬する光が出射面以外から極力外部に漏れないようにして光の伝送効率を飛躍的に向上することができ、LEDチップの数を飛躍的に減らすことができる線状照明装置を提供することを目的とする。また、更に、低コストな線状照明装置を提供することを目的とする。   An object of the present invention is to provide a linear illumination device capable of suppressing variations in illuminance on an original surface without reducing the irradiation efficiency of an LED array. It is another object of the present invention to provide a linear illumination device having a small size by shortening the distance from the light emitting surface to the original. Further, the light that propagates inside the light guide can be prevented from leaking outside from the exit surface as much as possible, and the light transmission efficiency can be drastically improved, and the number of LED chips can be drastically reduced. An object of the present invention is to provide an illumination device. Furthermore, it aims at providing a low-cost linear illuminating device.

本発明は上記目的を達成するために以下の手段を採用している。まず、本発明は、透光性を有する導光体1と、上記導光体1の長手方向の一側表面に設けた光屈折・反射領域2と、上記導光体1の一端部表面に光源とを備えた線状照明装置を前提としている。この構成によって、上記光源から放出された光は導光体1の内部に入射して、上記光屈折・反射領域2で屈折または反射し、上記導光体1の上記光屈折・反射領域2に対向する長手方向の他側面から外部に線状ビームとして出射することになる。   The present invention employs the following means in order to achieve the above object. First, the present invention provides a light guide 1 having translucency, a light refraction / reflection region 2 provided on one surface of the light guide 1 in the longitudinal direction, and a surface of one end of the light guide 1. A linear illumination device including a light source is assumed. With this configuration, light emitted from the light source enters the light guide 1 and is refracted or reflected by the light refracting / reflecting region 2, and is reflected on the light refracting / reflecting region 2 of the light guide 1. The light is emitted as a linear beam from the opposite side surface in the longitudinal direction.

上記の線状照明装置において、本発明は、多数の三角波面で構成された上記光屈折・反射領域2と、空間を隔てて該光屈折・反射領域2を覆うように拡散面8を備える構成とする。   In the linear illumination device described above, the present invention includes the light refraction / reflection region 2 composed of a large number of triangular wavefronts, and a diffusion surface 8 so as to cover the light refraction / reflection region 2 with a space therebetween. And

これによって、導光体1に入射した光の内、上記光屈折・反射領域2以外の部分に入射した光は、該導光体1の内面で全反射を繰り返して導光体1の内部を伝搬し、最終的には光屈折・反射領域2に入射して、それに対向する出射面から線状ビームとして出射する。このとき、該光屈折・反射領域2が多数の三角波面で構成されているので、上記光屈折・反射領域2に入射した光は鋭角(あるいは鋭角に近い角)に下方向に反射されて出射面から出射することになり、効率よく出射されることになる。更に、たとえ、上記光屈折・反射領域2に入射した光が、該光屈折・反射領域2を透過した場合であっても、該光屈折・反射領域2上に形成された拡散面8によって、導光体1の内部に戻されるので、高効率を保った状態で線状のビームを形成することができる。   As a result, of the light incident on the light guide 1, the light incident on the portion other than the light refraction / reflection region 2 repeats total reflection on the inner surface of the light guide 1 and passes through the inside of the light guide 1. It propagates and finally enters the photorefractive / reflective region 2 and exits as a linear beam from the exit surface facing it. At this time, since the light refraction / reflection region 2 is composed of a large number of triangular wavefronts, the light incident on the light refraction / reflection region 2 is reflected downward at an acute angle (or an angle close to the acute angle) and emitted. It will radiate | emit from a surface and will radiate | emit efficiently. Furthermore, even if the light incident on the light refraction / reflection region 2 is transmitted through the light refraction / reflection region 2, the diffusion surface 8 formed on the light refraction / reflection region 2 Since it returns to the inside of the light guide 1, a linear beam can be formed while maintaining high efficiency.

また、上記拡散面8は、上記光屈折・反射領域2と光学的マッチングをとらない空間(例えば空気層)を隔て配置されているため、上記拡散面8に直接入射する光の量が少なくなり、効率を向上することができる。さらに、上記拡散面8は、外部に線状ビームとして出射する光出射面を除き、導光体全周面を覆う構成を採用することができる。 Further, since the diffusing surface 8 is disposed with a space (for example, an air layer) that does not optically match the light refraction / reflection region 2, the amount of light directly incident on the diffusing surface 8 is reduced. , Can improve efficiency. Further, the diffusing surface 8 can employ a configuration that covers the entire circumferential surface of the light guide except for a light emitting surface that emits as a linear beam to the outside.

上記導光体1の光を出射する長手方向の他側面は、上記導光体1の両端面に対して垂直な面であることが必要である。これによって、原稿等の光照射面と該他側面(光出射面)との平行を保つことができる。   The other side surface of the light guide 1 in the longitudinal direction that emits light needs to be a surface perpendicular to both end surfaces of the light guide 1. Accordingly, the light irradiation surface of the document or the like and the other side surface (light emission surface) can be kept parallel.

上記導光体1の断面形状は、円、楕円等が考えられる。断面形状が楕円の導光体1を用いた場合には、該楕円の一方の焦点上に光屈折・反射領域2が配置される構成が望ましい。また、上記導光体1は、径の異なる2つの円を組み合わせた断面形状形成とすることもできる。この場合、径の大きい円に光伝搬機能を持たせ、径の小さい円に光出射機能を持たせるようにする。   The cross-sectional shape of the light guide 1 may be a circle or an ellipse. When the light guide 1 having an elliptical cross section is used, a configuration in which the light refraction / reflection region 2 is disposed on one focal point of the ellipse is desirable. The light guide 1 may be formed in a cross-sectional shape by combining two circles having different diameters. In this case, a circle having a large diameter has a light propagation function, and a circle having a small diameter has a light emission function.

上記光源から出射した光を効率良く導光体1に導くために、光源と導光体1の間に接続部6が設けられる。ここで該接続部6は、光源よりの導光体1の一端部への入射光が、該導光体1の内壁で全反射する条件を満たす長手方向の長さと径を備えるようにするのが望ましい。   In order to efficiently guide the light emitted from the light source to the light guide 1, a connection portion 6 is provided between the light source and the light guide 1. Here, the connecting portion 6 has a length and a diameter in the longitudinal direction that satisfy the condition that the incident light from the light source to the one end portion of the light guide 1 is totally reflected by the inner wall of the light guide 1. Is desirable.

上記導光体1の上記他端には、該他端に達した光を処理するための光終端部38が配置される。該光終端部38は、その外周部および端面に外部からの光を遮断するための光遮光層又は光を拡散する光拡散層又は光を反射する光反射層を設けた構成とする。   At the other end of the light guide 1, a light terminating portion 38 for processing the light reaching the other end is disposed. The light terminating portion 38 is provided with a light shielding layer for blocking light from the outside, a light diffusing layer for diffusing light, or a light reflecting layer for reflecting light on the outer peripheral portion and the end face.

上記光源は、凹反射面5に形成され回路基板上に発光ダイオードを配置する構成とする。上記発光ダイオードと上記導光体1もしくは接続部6は、上記導光体1と同じ屈折率を持つ透明樹脂であり、かつ上記発光ダイオードと上記導光体1は光学的マッチングをとって接続される。   The light source has a configuration in which a light emitting diode is disposed on a circuit board formed on the concave reflecting surface 5. The light emitting diode and the light guide 1 or the connecting portion 6 are transparent resins having the same refractive index as the light guide 1, and the light emitting diode and the light guide 1 are connected by optical matching. The

以上説明したように本発明は、三角波面で構成された光屈折・反射領域の上部に該光屈折・反射領域を覆うと共に、光を拡散する拡散面とを備えているので、該光屈折・反射領域において照射された光は、外部に漏れることなく導光体の長手方向の他側面より出射することとなり、伝送効率を向上させることができる。特に、上記光屈折・反射領域と上記拡散面との間に、上記導光体との光マッチングをとらない空間を形成することによって、その効果を更に高めることができる。   As described above, the present invention is provided with the light refraction / reflection area on the upper part of the light refraction / reflection area constituted by the triangular wave front and the diffusion surface for diffusing light. The light irradiated in the reflection region is emitted from the other side surface in the longitudinal direction of the light guide without leaking to the outside, and transmission efficiency can be improved. In particular, the effect can be further enhanced by forming a space between the light refraction / reflection region and the diffusing surface so as not to match the light with the light guide.

又、上記導光体の一端に光源を配置するとともに、該導光体の一端から他端に向かうに従って該導光体の断面積を小さくする構成とすることによって、導光体が光量に応じた断面積となり、更に効率を上げることができる。   In addition, by arranging a light source at one end of the light guide and reducing the cross-sectional area of the light guide from one end to the other end of the light guide, the light guide can respond to the amount of light. The cross-sectional area is increased and the efficiency can be further increased.

上記導光体の断面形状が種々の形状とすることができるが、楕円あるいは2つの半径の異なる円と当該2つの円の接線とからなる構成とすることにより、原稿面へ照射する効率が高く、照度のばらつきが小さい線状照明装置が可能となる。又、線状照明装置と原稿面との間隔を短くできるので、低コスト、高品質及び高分解能で画像を読み取れる小型でかつ軽量の光学的画像読み取り装置を実現することができる。   Although the cross-sectional shape of the light guide can be various, the efficiency of irradiating the document surface is high by using an ellipse or a structure composed of two circles having different radii and tangent lines of the two circles. In addition, a linear illumination device with small variations in illuminance is possible. In addition, since the distance between the linear illumination device and the original surface can be shortened, a small and lightweight optical image reading device capable of reading an image with low cost, high quality and high resolution can be realized.

(第1の実施形態)
以下本発明の第1の実施の形態の線状照明装置について、図面を参照しながら説明する。
(First embodiment)
Hereinafter, a linear illumination device according to a first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

図1(a)は、本発明の第1の実施の形態に係る線状照明装置の側面断面図であり、図1(b)は、本発明の第1の実施の形態に係る線状照明装置の平面図である。図2は、本発明の第1の実施の形態に係る線状照明装置のA−A’面の断面図である。図3は、本発明の第1の実施の形態に係る線状照明装置の光屈折・反射領域及び/又は拡散面の概略図であり、図4は、本発明の第1の実施の形態に係る線状照明装置の導光体部分のみを拡大した図である。図5は、本発明の第1の実施の形態に係る線状照明装置の光屈折・反射領域を拡大した図であり、図6は、本発明の第1の実施の形態に係る線状照明装置の光源部を拡大した側面図である。又、図7、図8は、本発明の第1の実施の形態における線状照明装置の導光体部分の断面図である。   Fig.1 (a) is side sectional drawing of the linear illuminating device based on the 1st Embodiment of this invention, FIG.1 (b) is the linear illuminating based on the 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is a top view of an apparatus. FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the A-A ′ plane of the linear illumination device according to the first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a schematic view of a light refraction / reflection region and / or a diffusing surface of the linear illumination device according to the first embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 4 shows the first embodiment of the present invention. It is the figure which expanded only the light guide part of the linear illuminating device which concerns. FIG. 5 is an enlarged view of the light refraction / reflection area of the linear illumination device according to the first embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 6 is a linear illumination according to the first embodiment of the present invention. It is the side view to which the light source part of the apparatus was expanded. 7 and 8 are cross-sectional views of the light guide portion of the linear illumination device according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

本発明に用いる導光体の断面形状は図3、図7、図8に示すように円形、楕円形又は2つの円を組み合わせた形状が考えられるが以下図3に示す円形である場合を例に説明する。   The cross-sectional shape of the light guide used in the present invention can be a circle, an ellipse, or a combination of two circles as shown in FIGS. 3, 7, and 8. The following is an example of the circle shown in FIG. Explained.

図1(a)、(b)に示すように、導光体1は透光性を有する材料より成り、両端面から中央部に向かって断面の円の径が小さくなる構成として、該導光体1の長手方向の一側表面には多数の三角波面から成る光屈折・反射領域2が設けられる。上記導光体1の両端部には後述する接続部6を介して光源部を構成する凹面状の回路基板3が配置され、該回路基板3の中央部に発光ダイオード(LED)素子4が配置される。又、上記光屈折・反射領域2を覆うように、該光屈折・反射領域2と光学的マッチングをしない空間(例えば空気層)を隔てて、拡散効果の強い白色樹脂のシートや反射効果の強いアルミシートよりなる拡散面8が備えられる。更に、導光体1の両端面には、拡散層7を外周部に備えるとともに、断面の形状が円形でかつ導光体1の径と同じか又はそれより小さい接続部6が設けられている。   As shown in FIGS. 1 (a) and 1 (b), the light guide 1 is made of a material having translucency, and the light guide has a configuration in which the diameter of a circle in a cross section decreases from both end faces toward the center. On one side surface of the body 1 in the longitudinal direction, a light refraction / reflection region 2 composed of a number of triangular wave fronts is provided. A concave circuit board 3 constituting a light source part is disposed at both ends of the light guide 1 via a connection part 6 to be described later, and a light emitting diode (LED) element 4 is disposed at the center of the circuit board 3. Is done. In addition, a white resin sheet having a strong diffusion effect or a strong reflection effect is provided so as to cover the light refraction / reflection region 2 with a space (for example, an air layer) that is not optically matched with the light refraction / reflection region 2. A diffusion surface 8 made of an aluminum sheet is provided. Furthermore, on both end faces of the light guide 1, a diffusion layer 7 is provided on the outer peripheral portion, and a connection portion 6 having a circular cross section and having the same diameter as or smaller than the diameter of the light guide 1 is provided. .

上記導光体1は、原稿面に照射するときの原稿面上の各部の照度の均一性を保つ必要上、両端部より中央部に向かうに従い断面積が小さくなる形状となっており、中央部において最小となる。すなわち、導光体1を透過する光量は後述するように両端の光源から遠くなるに従って少なくなるので、その径も光量に対応して小さくすると原稿面への照射強度が原稿面上の各部で均一となる。このような構成において、導光体1の両端の発光ダイオ−ド素子4より導光体1の端面に対して、光が入射すると、該光は、後に詳しく説明するように導光体1内で全反射を繰り返して中央部に向かうとともに上記光屈折・反射領域2に対向する直線上の出射面より出射されることになる。   The light guide 1 has a shape in which the cross-sectional area becomes smaller from both ends toward the central part in order to maintain uniformity of illuminance of each part on the original surface when irradiating the original surface. At the minimum. That is, the amount of light transmitted through the light guide 1 decreases with distance from the light sources at both ends as will be described later. Therefore, if the diameter is reduced corresponding to the amount of light, the irradiation intensity on the original surface is uniform in each part on the original surface. It becomes. In such a configuration, when light is incident on the end face of the light guide 1 from the light emitting diode elements 4 at both ends of the light guide 1, the light enters the light guide 1 as will be described in detail later. Thus, total reflection is repeated and the light is emitted from a straight emission surface facing the photorefractive / reflective region 2 while moving toward the center.

尚、上記接続部6の外周に形成された拡散層7は例えば透明シリコン樹脂とTiO2 の混合体を塗布することでもよいし、あるいは、白色樹脂で作製したキャップを差し込んだ構成としてもよい。また、上記導光体1及び光屈折・反射領域2を構成する多数の三角波面及び接続部6を透明樹脂を用いてインジェクション成形により一体成形するのが好ましい。   The diffusion layer 7 formed on the outer periphery of the connecting portion 6 may be formed by applying a mixture of transparent silicon resin and TiO2, for example, or may be configured by inserting a cap made of white resin. In addition, it is preferable to integrally form a large number of triangular wavefronts and connection portions 6 constituting the light guide 1 and the light refraction / reflection region 2 by injection molding using a transparent resin.

上記回路基板3は、所定の厚みのAl基板上に絶縁層を100μm程度形成し、その絶縁層の表面の全面に銅箔(厚み35〜70μm)を貼り、その銅箔をエッチングにより削除し回路を形成する。この回路上のみにAu(又はAg)を0.3μm程度電解(または無電解)メッキにより形成し、つぎに、凸金型を用いたスタンピング法により、凹反射面5が形成される。   The circuit board 3 is formed by forming an insulating layer of about 100 μm on an Al substrate having a predetermined thickness, attaching a copper foil (thickness of 35 to 70 μm) to the entire surface of the insulating layer, and removing the copper foil by etching. Form. Only on this circuit, Au (or Ag) is formed by electrolytic (or electroless) plating of about 0.3 μm, and then the concave reflecting surface 5 is formed by a stamping method using a convex mold.

上記凹反射面5の形状としては逆円錐台型が効率よく、これにより該回路基板3の中央部に配置された発光ダイオード(LED)素子4からの光を前方へ(すなわち、導光体1の端面方向へ)、しかも必要な角度分布で放射することができる。次に、ダイマウンターを用いて、発光ダイオード(LED)素子4を回路基板3上の凹反射面5の逆円錐台の底面上に実装する。   As the shape of the concave reflecting surface 5, an inverted frustoconical shape is efficiently used, whereby light from the light emitting diode (LED) element 4 disposed at the center of the circuit board 3 is forwardly forwarded (that is, the light guide 1. In the direction of the end face), and can radiate with the required angular distribution. Next, the light emitting diode (LED) element 4 is mounted on the bottom surface of the inverted truncated cone of the concave reflecting surface 5 on the circuit board 3 using a die mounter.

発光ダイオード(LED)素子4は、モノクロ画像読み取り用としてはGaP又は高輝度のものが必要な場合には、例えば4元系のAlGaInP等の緑色のベアチップを用いる。純赤色LED(例えばGaAlAs)素子、純緑色LED(例えばGaN)素子、純青色LED(例えばGaN)素子を線状照明装置に各1素子づつ実装して、赤、緑、青と順次点灯することにより光源切り替え型のカラー画像読み取り線状照明装置も実現できる。   The light emitting diode (LED) element 4 uses a green bare chip such as a quaternary AlGaInP, for example, when GaP or a high-luminance element is required for reading a monochrome image. A pure red LED (for example, GaAlAs) element, a pure green LED (for example, GaN) element, and a pure blue LED (for example, GaN) element are mounted on the linear illumination device one by one, and are sequentially lit in red, green, and blue. Thus, a light source switching type color image reading linear illumination device can also be realized.

上記導光体1の断面は、図2に示すように円形の形状でありその端面の径は例えば5mm程度であり、上記光屈折・反射領域2に対向する直線上の出射面に光を収束させるため、一部が長手方向に凹溝状に部分的に切除され、該切除部に上記光屈折・反射領域2が設けられている。更に、上記したように該光屈折・反射領域2上に、該光屈折・反射領域2と光学的マッチングをしない空間を隔て、拡散面8が設けられる構成となっている。上記接続部6の径は、導光体1の径と同じか又は少し小さい程度例えば2〜5mmの範囲で設定され実際は3.2mm程度で設定されている。   The cross-section of the light guide 1 is circular as shown in FIG. 2 and the diameter of its end face is, for example, about 5 mm, and the light is converged on a straight exit surface facing the light refraction / reflection area 2. For this purpose, a part thereof is partially excised in a groove shape in the longitudinal direction, and the photorefractive / reflective region 2 is provided in the excised part. Further, as described above, the diffusion surface 8 is provided on the light refraction / reflection region 2 with a space not optically matched with the light refraction / reflection region 2 being provided. The diameter of the connecting portion 6 is set in the range of, for example, 2 to 5 mm, which is the same as or slightly smaller than the diameter of the light guide 1, and is actually set to about 3.2 mm.

上記光屈折・反射領域2は、基本的には図1(b)に示すように、導光体1の長手方向に同一幅で形成されているが、導光体1を伝搬する光の量が中央部程少なくなるところから、図3(a)で示すように、上記光屈折・反射領域2は、出射強度の均一性を保つために、導光体1の両端面から中央部に向かっていくに従って、光屈折・反射領域2の幅を次第に大きくする構成にしても良いし、又、図3(b)に示すように、長手方向に一定長さで一定幅の光屈折・反射領域2を間欠的に配置して、出射強度の均一性を保ってもよいし、又、図3(d)に示すように、上記間欠部分の長さを中央部になる程小さくしてもよい。更に、図3(c)に示すように、光屈折・反射領域2を長手方向に間欠的な配置にして、かつ導光体1の両端面から中央部に向かっていくに従い光屈折・反射領域2の幅を次第に大きくする構成にしてもよい。   The light refraction / reflection region 2 is basically formed with the same width in the longitudinal direction of the light guide 1 as shown in FIG. 1B, but the amount of light propagating through the light guide 1 As the center of the light refracting / reflecting region 2 becomes uniform from the both end faces of the light guide 1 toward the center, as shown in FIG. The width of the light refraction / reflection region 2 may be gradually increased with time, and as shown in FIG. 3B, the light refraction / reflection region having a certain length and a certain width in the longitudinal direction. 2 may be arranged intermittently to maintain the uniformity of the emission intensity, or, as shown in FIG. 3 (d), the length of the intermittent portion may be reduced toward the center. . Further, as shown in FIG. 3C, the light refraction / reflection regions 2 are arranged intermittently in the longitudinal direction, and the light refraction / reflection regions are arranged from both end faces of the light guide 1 toward the central portion. The width of 2 may be gradually increased.

尚、上記したように光屈折・反射領域2は、上記拡散面8により覆われており、上記拡散面8は上記光屈折・反射領域2と同じ形状とするのが好ましいが、光出射面を除いた導光体1を覆う構成にしてもよい。   As described above, the light refracting / reflecting region 2 is covered with the diffusing surface 8, and the diffusing surface 8 preferably has the same shape as the light refracting / reflecting region 2, but the light emitting surface is You may make it the structure which covers the light guide 1 except.

上記したように接続部6、光屈折・反射領域2は、導光体1の材料と同じ透明樹脂材料でインジェクション成形されるが、このときの材料の屈折率を例えば約1.5程度とすると、光の伝送効率が向上する。また、この透明樹脂としては、エポキシ系や変性アクリレート系のUV硬化型樹脂であって、例えば、透光性、耐熱性、インジェクション成形時の樹脂の流れ性を考慮すると、耐熱アクリル、ポリカーボネイト、非晶質ポリオレフィン等を用いるのが好ましい。   As described above, the connection portion 6 and the light refraction / reflection region 2 are injection-molded with the same transparent resin material as the material of the light guide 1, but when the refractive index of the material at this time is about 1.5, for example. , The light transmission efficiency is improved. The transparent resin is an epoxy or modified acrylate UV curable resin. For example, in consideration of translucency, heat resistance, and flowability of the resin during injection molding, heat-resistant acrylic, polycarbonate, non-transparent resin is used. It is preferable to use a crystalline polyolefin or the like.

又、図4に示すように、導光体1の内部を通過する光を全反射するように、導光体1の長さLの範囲が50mm〜300mm、入射側導光体の径R1及び先端導光体の径R2の範囲が0.3<R2/R1<0.7であれば光出射面から主走査方向に光強度が均一な線状ビ−ムの光を出射することができる。   As shown in FIG. 4, the length L of the light guide 1 is 50 mm to 300 mm, the diameter R1 of the incident side light guide and the light guide 1 so that the light passing through the light guide 1 is totally reflected. If the range of the diameter R2 of the distal end light guide is 0.3 <R2 / R1 <0.7, it is possible to emit linear beam light with uniform light intensity in the main scanning direction from the light emitting surface. .

本実施の形態では、特に導光体1は長さLが例えば115mm、両端面の径R1が例えば5mm、中央部の径R2が例えば2.7mm程度に形成され、導光体1の内部を通過する光を全反射することが可能となり、これによって光強度が均一な線状ビ−ムを得ることができる。   In the present embodiment, in particular, the light guide 1 is formed to have a length L of, for example, 115 mm, a diameter R1 of both end faces of, for example, 5 mm, and a central portion of a diameter R2 of, for example, about 2.7 mm. The light passing therethrough can be totally reflected, whereby a linear beam having a uniform light intensity can be obtained.

図5に示すように、三角波面の形状は、三角波面の先端角度θが60°〜120°、三角波面のピッチPが30μm〜500μmの範囲内であればどのような形状でもよく、本発明では、ピッチが例えば300μm、先端角度が例えば90°としている。   As shown in FIG. 5, the triangular wavefront may have any shape as long as the tip angle θ of the triangular wavefront is in the range of 60 ° to 120 ° and the pitch P of the triangular wavefront is in the range of 30 μm to 500 μm. In this case, the pitch is 300 μm, for example, and the tip angle is 90 °, for example.

上記構成において、図6に示すように、光源より出射した光の一部は直接、また他の一部は一旦上記凹反射面5に入射して反射された後、導光体1に入射することになる。   In the above configuration, as shown in FIG. 6, a part of the light emitted from the light source is directly incident, and the other part is incident on the concave reflecting surface 5 and then reflected and then incident on the light guide 1. It will be.

このように、導光体1に入射した光の中、長手方向xのみの光成分b1は接続部6に入射した後、導光体1の内部を真直する。これに対し、上記長手方向に垂直な方向yの成分を持つ光成分の中、接続部6を介して直接導光体1に入射した光(例えばb3)は、大部分導光体1の側面で全反射されて、光屈折・反射領域2にいずれ到達する。そして、この光成分b3は光屈折・反射領域2の三角波面において屈折されることにより、下方に向けて急激に角度を曲げられ、導光体1の内部を介して光出射面(他側面)から下方へと出射されて原稿面を照射する。また、光屈折・反射領域2での屈折により、光屈折・反射領域2の上部へ抜けてしまう光成分b4は、該光屈折・反射領域2と光学的マッチングをしない空間を介し、拡散面8に入射し、該拡散面8において拡散され、再度、光屈折・反射領域2を介して導光体1に入射し、導光体1の光出射面から下方へと出射され原稿面51を照射する。   As described above, the light component b1 only in the longitudinal direction x out of the light incident on the light guide 1 is incident on the connecting portion 6 and then straightens the inside of the light guide 1. On the other hand, among the light components having the component y in the direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction, the light (for example, b3) directly incident on the light guide 1 via the connecting portion 6 is mostly the side surface of the light guide 1. Is totally reflected and eventually reaches the light refraction / reflection region 2. The light component b3 is refracted at the triangular wave surface of the light refracting / reflecting region 2 so that the angle is suddenly bent downward, and the light emitting surface (other side surface) passes through the inside of the light guide 1. Is emitted downward and irradiates the document surface. Further, the light component b4 that escapes to the upper part of the light refraction / reflection area 2 due to refraction at the light refraction / reflection area 2 passes through the space that does not optically match the light refraction / reflection area 2 and diffuses the surface 8. , Is diffused at the diffusion surface 8, enters the light guide 1 again through the light refraction / reflection region 2, is emitted downward from the light exit surface of the light guide 1, and irradiates the document surface 51. To do.

上記において、直接導光体1へ入射した殆ど全ての光が導光体1の側面で全反射するように、接続部6の直径をD、長さをL、接続部6及び導光体1の屈折率をnLGとした時、 L>(D/2)tan(sin-1(1/nLG)) ・・・(1)
となる条件式(1)を満たすように各々ディメンジョンは決定されている。
In the above, the diameter of the connecting portion 6 is D, the length is L, the connecting portion 6 and the light guide 1 so that almost all the light directly incident on the light guide 1 is totally reflected by the side surface of the light guide 1. Where n LG is the refractive index, L> (D / 2) tan (sin −1 (1 / n LG )) (1)
Each dimension is determined so as to satisfy the conditional expression (1).

なお、接続部6に入射した光のうち接続部6の側面側に到達する光成分b2は、一旦、拡散層7により拡散され、その大部分を導光体1に入射できるようにしている。もしこの拡散層7がなければ、光は接続部6の側面から直接外側へ出射され、接続部6の直下に存在する原稿面の照度が部分的に著しく高くなり照度ばらつきが大きくなる。又、当該接続部6の外周に設けた拡散層7は反射層でも良く、拡散層と同じ効果が得られる。更に、拡散層の代わりに外部からの光を遮断するための遮光層を設けてもよい。ただし、この場合は、上記した光成分b2が、遮光層で吸収され、その結果、拡散層、反射層を設けた場合に比べ、照度ばらつきはなくなるが、照射効率は悪くなる。   The light component b 2 that reaches the side of the connection portion 6 out of the light incident on the connection portion 6 is once diffused by the diffusion layer 7 so that most of the light component b 2 can enter the light guide 1. If this diffusion layer 7 is not provided, light is emitted directly from the side surface of the connection portion 6 to the outside, and the illuminance of the document surface existing directly below the connection portion 6 is partly significantly increased, resulting in large variations in illuminance. Further, the diffusion layer 7 provided on the outer periphery of the connection portion 6 may be a reflection layer, and the same effect as the diffusion layer can be obtained. Furthermore, you may provide the light shielding layer for interrupting | blocking the light from the outside instead of a diffusion layer. However, in this case, the light component b2 described above is absorbed by the light shielding layer, and as a result, there is no illuminance variation as compared with the case where the diffusion layer and the reflection layer are provided, but the irradiation efficiency is deteriorated.

このように接続部6の拡散層7より導光体1へ入射した光の成分b2は、上記光成分b3、b4と同様に導光体1内を伝搬し、光ビームとして出射される。上記のようなメカニズムに基づいて線状光ビームを形成するA4サイズ用の線状照明装置についてその特性を評価すると以下のようになる。   As described above, the light component b2 incident on the light guide 1 from the diffusion layer 7 of the connecting portion 6 propagates in the light guide 1 and is emitted as a light beam in the same manner as the light components b3 and b4. The characteristics of an A4 size linear illumination device that forms a linear light beam based on the above mechanism are evaluated as follows.

LED素子(GaP、λ=565nm)の数が4素子の場合では、原稿面照度400lx.、照度のばらつき(線状照明装置の光出射面と原稿面との間隔1.1mmで測定)約10%を実現した。従来の線状照明装置と比較すると、LED素子数を約1/8に削減することができた。また、従来、光源から原稿面51までの距離が、約8〜10mm程度必要であったのが、本実施の形態では上記光出射面から原稿までの距離を1.5mm以内に近づけても、照度のばらつきを許容限度内(10%)に抑えることができた。これにより、60%の低コスト化を実現でき、画像読み取り装置自体のサイズを約半分にすることができた。   When the number of LED elements (GaP, λ = 565 nm) is 4, the original surface illuminance of 400 lx. The variation in illuminance (measured at a distance of 1.1 mm between the light emitting surface of the linear illumination device and the original surface) was about 10%. Compared with the conventional linear illumination device, the number of LED elements could be reduced to about 1/8. Conventionally, the distance from the light source to the document surface 51 is about 8 to 10 mm, but in the present embodiment, even if the distance from the light emitting surface to the document is within 1.5 mm, The variation in illuminance could be kept within the allowable limit (10%). As a result, the cost can be reduced by 60%, and the size of the image reading apparatus itself can be halved.

なお、上記光屈折・反射領域2と拡散面8の間に形成された空間は、導光体1より屈折率の小さい物質(例えば空気層)で形成することによって、光屈折・反射領域2での全反射を助長することになり、該拡散面8が、光屈折・反射領域2上に直接形成された場合に比べて著しく効果を高めることができる。   The space formed between the light refraction / reflection region 2 and the diffusing surface 8 is formed of a material having a refractive index smaller than that of the light guide 1 (for example, an air layer). Thus, the effect can be remarkably enhanced as compared with the case where the diffusing surface 8 is formed directly on the light refraction / reflection region 2.

以上のように、第1の実施の形態に係る線状照明装置は、原稿面への照射効率が高く、照度のばらつきを小さくすることができるため、低コスト、高品質、高分解能で画像を読み取れる、小型でかつ軽量の光学的画像読み取り装置を実現することが可能となる。   As described above, since the linear illumination device according to the first embodiment has high illumination efficiency on the document surface and can reduce variations in illuminance, an image can be obtained at low cost, high quality, and high resolution. A small and lightweight optical image reading apparatus that can be read can be realized.

(変形例1)
次に、図7に示すように、導光体1のA−A’断面で切断した断面の形状を、楕円としてもよい。楕円15の長径は例えば6mm,短径は例えば3mmで構成した。この場合、導光体1の一部を、楕円15の長径に垂直であり、2つの焦点14の内の1つを通る切断線に沿って削除し、該切断線が形成する面上に光屈折・反射領域2を配置する構成としている。なお、接続部6は、導光体1の短径と同じか、それより若干小さく例えば2〜3mmの範囲で形成され、光源部よりの光を導光体1に導く構成としている。
(Modification 1)
Next, as shown in FIG. 7, the shape of the cross section cut along the AA ′ cross section of the light guide 1 may be an ellipse. The major axis of the ellipse 15 is 6 mm, for example, and the minor axis is 3 mm, for example. In this case, a part of the light guide 1 is removed along a cutting line that is perpendicular to the major axis of the ellipse 15 and passes through one of the two focal points 14, and light is projected onto the surface formed by the cutting line. The refraction / reflection area 2 is arranged. In addition, the connection part 6 is the same as the short diameter of the light guide 1, or is formed in the range of 2-3 mm for example, and it is the structure which guides the light from a light source part to the light guide 1. FIG.

上記のような構成にすると、光屈折・反射領域2において屈折・反射された光が、導光体1の内側面で全反射し、出射する光の線幅が絞られることとなり、原稿面に照射する光の照度が、断面の形状が円の時と比べ、1.5倍となる。特に、楕円の2つの焦点のうちの一方の焦点の位置に光屈折・反射領域2を配置した場合、該一方の焦点から発射した光は楕円の他方の焦点に一旦収束しあるいは直接楕円外部に形成される焦点に収束するので更に、伝送効率を良くすることができる。   With the configuration as described above, the light refracted / reflected in the light refraction / reflection region 2 is totally reflected on the inner surface of the light guide 1, and the line width of the emitted light is narrowed down. The illuminance of the irradiated light is 1.5 times that when the cross-sectional shape is a circle. In particular, when the photorefractive / reflective region 2 is arranged at the position of one of the two focal points of the ellipse, the light emitted from the one focal point once converges on the other focal point of the ellipse or directly outside the ellipse. Since it converges on the formed focal point, the transmission efficiency can be further improved.

このように、導光体1の断面の形状を楕円とすることで、原稿面への照射効率が高くなり、照度ばらつきが小さくなるため、低コスト、高品質、高分解能で画像を読み取れる、小型でかつ軽量の光学的画像読み取り装置を提供することが可能となる。さらに、原稿面に出射する光の線幅が絞られることとなり、断面が円の場合に比べ、照射する光の照度を強めることができる。   Thus, by making the shape of the cross section of the light guide 1 an ellipse, the irradiation efficiency to the original surface is increased and the illuminance variation is reduced, so that the image can be read with low cost, high quality, and high resolution. And a light-weight optical image reading apparatus can be provided. Furthermore, the line width of the light emitted to the document surface is narrowed, and the illuminance of the irradiated light can be increased compared to the case where the cross section is a circle.

(変形例2)
また、図8に示すように、導光体1をA−A’面で切断した断面の形状を、2つの半径の異なる円24、25と該2つの円に接する直線より構成される形状にしてもよい。すなわち、上記2つの円24、25は、光源からの光を伝搬する第一の円24と、原稿面へ光が出射するレンズ機能を備えた第二の円25とからなる。更に、上記第一の円24に、光屈折・反射領域2が長手方向の一側面に形成され、拡散面8が光屈折・反射領域2及び第二の円25の一部を覆うように備えられる。なお、この時の第一の円24、第二の円25の径寸法は、例えばそれぞれ5mm(最大)、3mmとなっているが、この寸法に限定されるものではない。
(Modification 2)
Further, as shown in FIG. 8, the cross-sectional shape of the light guide 1 cut along the AA ′ plane is formed by two circles 24 and 25 having different radii and straight lines in contact with the two circles. May be. That is, the two circles 24 and 25 include a first circle 24 that propagates light from the light source and a second circle 25 that has a lens function for emitting light to the document surface. Further, a light refraction / reflection region 2 is formed on one side surface in the longitudinal direction on the first circle 24, and a diffusion surface 8 is provided so as to cover the light refraction / reflection region 2 and a part of the second circle 25. It is done. Note that the diameter dimensions of the first circle 24 and the second circle 25 at this time are, for example, 5 mm (maximum) and 3 mm, respectively, but are not limited to these dimensions.

この時、上記各例と同様、中央部にいくに従って第一の円24、第二の円25の断面積を小さくしてもよいが、中央部程導光体1を伝搬する光量が少なくなることを考慮すると、第一の円24の断面積のみを中央部に向かうに従って、小さくするのが好ましい。一方、第二の円25は、導光体1の長手方向のいずれの断面においても断面積は同じとなるように形成されている。更に、上記第一の円24の端部と光源部とが接続部6を介し接続される構成となっており、接続部6の径は、第一の円24の径と同じ例えば5mmか、それより若干小さい径に設定されている。   At this time, as in each of the above examples, the cross-sectional areas of the first circle 24 and the second circle 25 may be reduced toward the center portion, but the amount of light propagating through the light guide 1 is reduced toward the center portion. Considering this, it is preferable to reduce only the cross-sectional area of the first circle 24 toward the center. On the other hand, the second circle 25 is formed to have the same cross-sectional area in any cross section in the longitudinal direction of the light guide 1. Furthermore, the end portion of the first circle 24 and the light source portion are connected via the connection portion 6, and the diameter of the connection portion 6 is, for example, 5 mm, which is the same as the diameter of the first circle 24, The diameter is set slightly smaller than that.

上記のような構成にすると、断面の形状が円の時と比べ、光屈折・反射領域2において屈折・反射された光が、導光体1の側面ですべて全反射し、第二の円25の外側であって2つの円24、25の中心を結ぶ直線の延長上に収束するため、出射する光の線幅が絞られることとなり、原稿面に照射する光の照度が導光体1の断面形状が円である場合の1.5倍となる。   With the configuration as described above, the light refracted / reflected in the light refraction / reflection region 2 is totally reflected on the side surface of the light guide 1 as compared with the case where the cross-sectional shape is a circle, and the second circle 25 , The line width of the emitted light is reduced, and the illuminance of the light irradiating the original surface is reduced by the light guide 1. This is 1.5 times the case where the cross-sectional shape is a circle.

上記のように、光屈折・反射領域側の第一の円24の半径が、光出射側の第二の円25の半径より大きくなることと導光体1の断面の形状が、第一の円24と第二の円25とが外形線L1,L2に接するように構成すると、光出射面以外の箇所から光が漏れることが少なく、光の伝送効率を最も向上させることができる。また上記光出射側の第二の円25の半径を変えることで、原稿面に照射する光の線幅や焦点距離を自由に変えることが可能となる。   As described above, the radius of the first circle 24 on the light refraction / reflection region side is larger than the radius of the second circle 25 on the light emission side, and the cross-sectional shape of the light guide 1 is the first If the circle 24 and the second circle 25 are configured to contact the outer lines L1 and L2, light is less likely to leak from portions other than the light exit surface, and the light transmission efficiency can be most improved. Further, by changing the radius of the second circle 25 on the light emitting side, it becomes possible to freely change the line width and focal length of the light applied to the document surface.

この場合における線状照明装置の特性を評価すれば、LED素子の数が4素子の場合では、原稿面に照射する光の照度は、1000lx.で、照度のばらつきも10%(光出射面と原稿面との間隔1.1mmで測定)を実現できた。従来の線状照明装置と比較すると、LED素子数を約1/8に削減することができ、光源から原稿面までの距離は、従来約8〜10mm程度必要であったのが、本発明では上記光出射面から原稿までの距離を1.5mm以内に近づけても照度のばらつきを許容限度内(10%)に抑えることが可能となる。これにより、75%の低コスト化を実現でき、画像読み取り装置自体のサイズを約半分にすることができた。又、カラー画像の場合では、原稿面照度が赤、緑、青色素子とも2000lx.照度のばらつき10%以下を確保できた。   If the characteristics of the linear illumination device in this case are evaluated, when the number of LED elements is 4, the illuminance of the light applied to the document surface is 1000 lx. Thus, the illuminance variation was 10% (measured at a distance of 1.1 mm between the light exit surface and the document surface). Compared with the conventional linear illumination device, the number of LED elements can be reduced to about 1/8, and the distance from the light source to the original surface conventionally requires about 8 to 10 mm. Even if the distance from the light emitting surface to the original is made within 1.5 mm, it is possible to suppress variations in illuminance within an allowable limit (10%). As a result, the cost can be reduced by 75%, and the size of the image reading apparatus itself can be reduced to about half. In the case of a color image, the original surface illuminance is 2000 lx. An illuminance variation of 10% or less was secured.

このように、導光体1の断面の形状を2つの半径の異なる円と該2つの円に接する直線で構成することで、原稿面への照射効率が高くなり、照度ばらつきが小さくなるため、低コスト、高品質、高分解能で画像を読み取れ、かつ小型で軽量な光学的画像読み取り装置を提供することが可能となる。さらに、原稿面に出射する光の線幅が絞られることとなり、断面形状が円の場合に比べ、原稿面に照射する光の照度を強めることができる。また、光の線幅や焦点距離を自由にかえることも可能となる。   Thus, by configuring the cross-sectional shape of the light guide 1 with two circles having different radii and straight lines in contact with the two circles, the irradiation efficiency to the document surface is increased, and the illuminance variation is reduced. It is possible to provide a small and lightweight optical image reading apparatus that can read an image with low cost, high quality, and high resolution. Furthermore, the line width of the light emitted to the original surface is reduced, and the illuminance of the light applied to the original surface can be increased compared to the case where the cross-sectional shape is a circle. In addition, the line width and focal length of light can be freely changed.

(第2の実施形態)
以下本発明の第2の実施の形態の線状照明装置について、図面を参照しながら説明する。
(Second Embodiment)
A linear illumination device according to a second embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

図9(a)は、本発明の第2の実施の形態に係る線状照明装置の側面断面図であり、図9(b)は、本発明の第2の実施の形態に係る線状照明装置の平面図である。図10は、本発明の第2の実施の形態に係る線状照明装置のB−B’面の断面図であり、図11は、本発明の第2の実施の形態に係る線状照明装置の光屈折・反射領域及び/又は拡散面の概略図である。図12は、本発明の第2の実施の形態に係る線状照明装置の導光体部分のみを拡大した図である。図13は、本発明の第2の実施の形態に係る線状照明装置の光終端部の側面を拡大した断面図である。   Fig.9 (a) is side sectional drawing of the linear illuminating device based on the 2nd Embodiment of this invention, FIG.9 (b) is the linear illuminating based on the 2nd Embodiment of this invention. It is a top view of an apparatus. FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view of the line BB ′ surface of the linear illumination device according to the second embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 11 is a linear illumination device according to the second embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a schematic view of a light refraction / reflection region and / or a diffusing surface. FIG. 12 is an enlarged view of only the light guide portion of the linear illumination device according to the second embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 13: is sectional drawing to which the side surface of the optical terminal part of the linear illuminating device which concerns on the 2nd Embodiment of this invention was expanded.

図9に示すように導光体1の一端に光源を配置し、他端は光終端部としている。以下、本実施の形態では、第1の実施の形態と異なる構成についてのみ主に詳しく説明する。   As shown in FIG. 9, a light source is disposed at one end of the light guide 1, and the other end is an optical terminal. Hereinafter, in the present embodiment, only the configuration different from that of the first embodiment will be mainly described in detail.

導光体1は一端から他端に進むにつれ、導光体1の断面の断面積が小さくなり、他端において最小となる。また、導光体1の他端には光終端部38が形成され、その外周部に光拡散層39が、また、端面に光反射層40が設けられている。又、導光体1を透過する光量は、光源から他端に向かうに従って少なくなるので、上記第1の実施の形態で用いた光源に代えて光拡散層39及び光反射層40を設ける構成としても原稿面への照射強度の均一性を確保することができる。他の部分については、第1の実施の形態と同じ構成であり、説明を省略する。なお、同一部分には同一番号を記して説明する。   As the light guide 1 advances from one end to the other end, the cross-sectional area of the cross section of the light guide 1 becomes smaller and becomes the minimum at the other end. Further, a light terminating portion 38 is formed at the other end of the light guide 1, a light diffusing layer 39 is provided on the outer peripheral portion thereof, and a light reflecting layer 40 is provided on the end surface. Further, since the amount of light transmitted through the light guide 1 decreases from the light source toward the other end, the light diffusing layer 39 and the light reflecting layer 40 are provided in place of the light source used in the first embodiment. Also, it is possible to ensure the uniformity of the irradiation intensity on the document surface. Other parts are the same as those in the first embodiment, and a description thereof will be omitted. The same parts will be described with the same numbers.

上記光終端部38は、導光体1と同じ透明樹脂からできており、導光体1、接続部6及び多数の三角波面で構成される光屈折・反射領域2と一体でインジェクション成形することが好ましい。又、光終端部38の外周部分に形成された光拡散層39は、拡散層7と同様に透明シリコン樹脂にTiO2を混ぜ合わせた拡散材を塗布して形成される。この光拡散層39は、白色樹脂で作製したキャップを差し込んで作製してもよい。更に、光終端部38の端面に形成された光反射層40は、光終端部38にAlを蒸着またはディッピングあるいはAl箔を透明接着剤で貼り付けることにより形成される。   The light termination portion 38 is made of the same transparent resin as the light guide 1 and is injection-molded integrally with the light refraction / reflection region 2 composed of the light guide 1, the connection portion 6, and a large number of triangular wavefronts. Is preferred. The light diffusing layer 39 formed on the outer peripheral portion of the light terminating portion 38 is formed by applying a diffusing material in which TiO2 is mixed with transparent silicon resin in the same manner as the diffusing layer 7. The light diffusion layer 39 may be produced by inserting a cap made of white resin. Further, the light reflecting layer 40 formed on the end face of the optical terminal 38 is formed by depositing or dipping Al on the optical terminal 38 or attaching an Al foil with a transparent adhesive.

次に、図10に示すように、導光体1の断面の形状も第1の実施の形態と同様、導光体1の一部が凹溝状に切除され、該切除部に光屈折・反射領域2が設け、更に該光屈折・反射領域2上に、該光屈折・反射領域2と光学的マッチングをしない空間を隔てて拡散面8が設けられる構成としている。   Next, as shown in FIG. 10, the cross-sectional shape of the light guide 1 is also cut out into a concave groove shape in the same manner as the first embodiment. A reflection region 2 is provided, and a diffusion surface 8 is provided on the light refraction / reflection region 2 with a space not optically matched with the light refraction / reflection region 2 being provided.

上記光屈折・反射領域2は、第1の実施の形態と同様、基本的には図9(a)に示すように長手方向に同じ幅で形成されるが、導光体1を伝搬する光の量が他端程少なくなることから、図11(a)に示すように、出射強度の均一性を保つために導光体1の一端から他端に向かっていくに従って、光屈折・反射領域2の幅を次第に大きくする構成にしてもよいし、更に図11(c)に示すように、この状態で光屈折・反射領域2を間欠的に配置してもよい。又、図11(b)に示すように、長手方向に同じ幅、かつ長手方向に一定長さの光屈折・反射領域2が一定の間欠性を持って配置される構成としてもよいし、更に、図11(d)に示すように一端から他端に向かうに従い上記間欠幅を徐々に小さくした構成としてもよい。   The light refraction / reflection region 2 is basically formed with the same width in the longitudinal direction as shown in FIG. 9A, as in the first embodiment, but the light propagating through the light guide 1 As the other end decreases, the photorefractive / reflective region increases from one end of the light guide 1 toward the other end in order to maintain the uniformity of the emission intensity, as shown in FIG. The width of 2 may be gradually increased, or the light refraction / reflection area 2 may be intermittently disposed in this state as shown in FIG. Further, as shown in FIG. 11 (b), the light refraction / reflection region 2 having the same width in the longitudinal direction and a certain length in the longitudinal direction may be arranged with a certain intermittentness. As shown in FIG. 11D, the intermittent width may be gradually reduced from one end to the other end.

尚、上記光屈折・反射領域2は、上記拡散面8により覆われており、上記拡散面8は、第1の実施の形態と同様、上記光屈折・反射領域2と同じ形状、あるいはそれよりも大きい形状、例えば、光出射面を除いた導光体1の全面お覆う形状とするのが好ましい。   The light refraction / reflection region 2 is covered with the diffusion surface 8, and the diffusion surface 8 has the same shape as the light refraction / reflection region 2 or the same as the first embodiment. It is preferable to use a shape that covers the entire surface of the light guide 1 except the light exit surface.

本実施の形態では、図12に示すように、導光体1は一端の径R1が例えば5mm、他端の径R2が例えば2mm、長さLが例えば230mm程度の寸法であり、この寸法で高い効率の線状ビームを出射することができた。   In the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 12, the light guide 1 has a diameter R1 at one end of, for example, 5 mm, a diameter R2 at the other end of, for example, 2 mm, and a length L of, for example, about 230 mm. A highly efficient linear beam could be emitted.

第1の実施の形態と同様に、LED素子に赤色、緑色、青色素子を用いて、それぞれ1素子ずつ実装し、カラ−画像読み取り装置の線状照明装置も実現できる。   Similarly to the first embodiment, a red, green, and blue element is used for each LED element, and each element is mounted, and a linear illumination device for a color image reading apparatus can be realized.

以上のように構成された線状照明装置について、以下その動作を説明する。なお、光源5から出射された光の成分のうち、途中で出射される光の伝搬経路についてはすでに説明した通りであるので光終端部38に達した光の出射経路に関しての説明のみ行うこととする。   About the linear illuminating device comprised as mentioned above, the operation | movement is demonstrated below. Of the components of the light emitted from the light source 5, the propagation path of the light emitted in the middle is as already described, and therefore only the description of the light emission path reaching the light terminal section 38 will be given. To do.

図13に示すように、発光ダイオード(LED)素子4から放出された光のうち、導光体1、光屈折・反射領域2、拡散面8で反射、屈折及び拡散した光の成分C1が、導光体1から光終端部38に入射すると光反射層40で反射する。このように光反射層40で反射した光が、改めて導光体1の内部に入射すると、光屈折・反射領域2において屈折して急激に下方に向けて進む。その後、導光体1の下方の側面から出射して、原稿面を照射する。   As shown in FIG. 13, among the light emitted from the light emitting diode (LED) element 4, the light component C 1 reflected, refracted and diffused by the light guide 1, the light refraction / reflection region 2, and the diffusion surface 8 is When the light enters the light terminal 38 from the light guide 1, it is reflected by the light reflecting layer 40. Thus, when the light reflected by the light reflection layer 40 is incident on the inside of the light guide body 1 again, it is refracted in the light refraction / reflection region 2 and rapidly advances downward. Thereafter, the light is emitted from the lower side surface of the light guide 1 to irradiate the document surface.

また、導光体1から光終端部38に入射してきた光の成分C2が、光反射層40に到達せずに、光拡散面39に達した場合には、光拡散層39によって拡散して、そのまま、導光体1へ再度入射したり、対向する光の拡散層39に入射してここで再び拡散したり、あるいは光反射層40で反射して導光体1へ再度入射して導光体1の下方の側面から出射し、原稿面を照射する。   Further, when the light component C2 that has entered the light terminal portion 38 from the light guide 1 does not reach the light reflecting layer 40 but reaches the light diffusing surface 39, it is diffused by the light diffusing layer 39. As it is, the light enters the light guide 1 again, enters the light diffusion layer 39 of the opposite light and diffuses again here, or is reflected by the light reflection layer 40 and reenters the light guide 1 to be guided. The light is emitted from the lower side surface of the light body 1 to irradiate the original surface.

つまり、導光体1に入射した光のうち全反射を繰り返して光終端部38まで到達した光成分C1、C2は、光反射層40で再度全反射されて導光体1にもどり再利用されるか、または光拡散層39で拡散されることで再利用されて、損失なく原稿面の照射に利用される。   In other words, the light components C1 and C2 that have repeatedly undergone total reflection in the light incident on the light guide 1 and have reached the light terminal portion 38 are totally reflected again by the light reflecting layer 40 and returned to the light guide 1 for reuse. Alternatively, it is reused by being diffused by the light diffusion layer 39 and used for irradiating the original surface without loss.

なお、接続部6の外周部に備えられた拡散層7と同様、光拡散層39に代えて光反射層、又は光遮光層を用いても上記した作用と同じ効果が得られる。光遮光層を用いると該光終端部38に到達した光を無視することになるが、光源よりの光は、光出射面より、出射しているので光終端部38に達する光量は無視しても全体に大きな影響を与えない。又、光反射層40に代えて、光拡散層、光遮光層を用いても前述したような同じ効果が得られる。   Similar to the diffusion layer 7 provided on the outer peripheral portion of the connection portion 6, the same effect as described above can be obtained even if a light reflection layer or a light shielding layer is used instead of the light diffusion layer 39. When the light shielding layer is used, the light reaching the light terminal 38 is ignored. However, the light from the light source is emitted from the light exit surface, so the light reaching the light terminal 38 is ignored. Does not affect the whole. Further, the same effect as described above can be obtained by using a light diffusion layer or a light shielding layer instead of the light reflection layer 40.

上記のようなメカニズムに基づいて線状ビームを形成するA4サイズ用の線状照明装置についてその特性を評価すれば、LED素子(GaP、λ=565nm)数を3素子とし、出射面と原稿面との距離を1.1mmにした場合であっても、原稿面照度は370lx.、照度のばらつきは約10%を実現した。これを従来のLEDアレイと比較すると、LED素子数を約1/10に削減することができる。また、線状照明装置の光源から原稿面51までの距離は、従来LEDアレイが約8〜10mm程度必要であったのが、本実施の形態に係る線状照明装置では上記光出射面と原稿の距離を1.5mm以内に近づけても照度のばらつきを許容限度内(10%)に抑えることができた。これにより、65%の低コスト化を実現できると共に、本実施の形態に係る線状照明装置を搭載した画像読み取り装置ではそのサイズを約半分にすることができた。   When evaluating the characteristics of an A4 size linear illumination device that forms a linear beam based on the mechanism as described above, the number of LED elements (GaP, λ = 565 nm) is 3, and the exit surface and the document surface Even when the distance to the document is 1.1 mm, the illuminance on the original surface is 370 lx. The illuminance variation was about 10%. Compared with a conventional LED array, the number of LED elements can be reduced to about 1/10. Further, the distance from the light source of the linear illumination device to the document surface 51 is conventionally about 8 to 10 mm for the LED array, but in the linear illumination device according to the present embodiment, the light emitting surface and the document are arranged. Even if the distance was reduced within 1.5 mm, the variation in illuminance could be kept within the allowable limit (10%). As a result, the cost can be reduced by 65%, and the size of the image reading apparatus equipped with the linear illumination device according to the present embodiment can be reduced to about half.

なお、本実施の形態においても、上記光屈折・反射領域2と拡散面8との間に形成された空間を、導光体1より屈折率の小さい物質で形成することにより、光屈折・反射領域2の反射効率を高めることができる。   In the present embodiment also, the space formed between the light refraction / reflection region 2 and the diffusing surface 8 is formed of a material having a refractive index smaller than that of the light guide 1, thereby allowing light refraction / reflection. The reflection efficiency of the region 2 can be increased.

以上のように、第2の実施の形態に係る線状照明装置は、原稿面への照射効率が高く、照度ばらつきを小さくすることができるため、低コスト、高品質、高分解能で画像を読み取れる、小型でかつ軽量の光学的画像読み取り装置を実現することが可能となる。   As described above, the linear illumination device according to the second embodiment has high irradiation efficiency on the document surface and can reduce variations in illuminance, so that an image can be read at low cost, high quality, and high resolution. It is possible to realize a small and lightweight optical image reading apparatus.

(変形例1)
さらに、図7に示すように、第1の実施形態と同様、導光体1を図7のB−B’面で切断した断面形状を楕円にしてもよい。この場合、断面の形状が円の時に比べ、照射する光が楕円の長径の延長線上に収束するため、原稿面を照射する線幅が絞られ、原稿面に照射する光の照度が1.5倍となる。
(Modification 1)
Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 7, the cross-sectional shape obtained by cutting the light guide 1 along the BB ′ plane in FIG. In this case, compared to the case where the cross-sectional shape is a circle, the light to be irradiated converges on an extension line of the major axis of the ellipse. Doubled.

また、楕円の2つの焦点のうち1方の焦点の位置に光屈折・反射領域2を配置した場合が、光の収束率が最も良く、光の伝送効率を良くすることができる。なお、上記の説明では光学的マッチングをしない拡散面8は、光屈折・反射領域2と空間を介して形成されたが、第1の実施の形態と同様、光屈折・反射領域2上に直接形成されても同じ効果が得られる。   Further, when the light refraction / reflection region 2 is arranged at one of the two focal points of the ellipse, the light convergence rate is the best, and the light transmission efficiency can be improved. In the above description, the diffusing surface 8 that is not optically matched is formed through the space between the light refraction / reflection region 2 and directly on the light refraction / reflection region 2 as in the first embodiment. Even if formed, the same effect can be obtained.

以上のように、第2の実施の形態に係る線状照明装置は、原稿面への照射効率が高く、照度ばらつきを小さくすることができるため、低コスト、高品質、高分解能で画像を読み取れる、小型でかつ軽量の光学的画像読み取り装置を実現することが可能となる。さらに、原稿面に出射する光の線幅が絞られることとなり、断面形状が円の場合に比べ、照射する光の照度を強めることができる。   As described above, the linear illumination device according to the second embodiment has high irradiation efficiency on the document surface and can reduce variations in illuminance, so that an image can be read at low cost, high quality, and high resolution. It is possible to realize a small and lightweight optical image reading apparatus. Furthermore, the line width of the light emitted to the document surface is reduced, and the illuminance of the irradiated light can be increased compared to the case where the cross-sectional shape is a circle.

(変形例2)
また、図8に示すように、導光体1の断面の形状を2つの半径の異なる円と該2つの円に接する直線から構成してもよい。光を伝搬する第一の円24の半径を、光が出射する第二の円25の半径よりも大きくし、導光体1の断面の形状が、第一の円24と第二の円25及び、該第一の円24と第二の円25の接線L1,L2とより構成することが、光源よりの入射光を全反射するのに最適な条件であり、これによって伝送効率を向上することができる。
(Modification 2)
Further, as shown in FIG. 8, the cross-sectional shape of the light guide 1 may be composed of two circles having different radii and straight lines in contact with the two circles. The radius of the first circle 24 that propagates light is made larger than the radius of the second circle 25 that emits light, and the cross-sectional shapes of the light guide 1 are the first circle 24 and the second circle 25. And, it is the optimum condition to totally reflect the incident light from the light source by constituting the tangents L1, L2 of the first circle 24 and the second circle 25, thereby improving the transmission efficiency. be able to.

本実施の形態では、第一の円24は導光体1の断面積が一端から他端に向かうに従い小さくなっており、一方、第二の円25は、長手方向のいずれの部分であても断面積が同じとなるように構成されている。第1の実施の形態と同様に、第一の円24、第二の円25の径寸法は、例えばそれぞれ最大5mm、3mmとなっているが、この寸法に限定されるものではない。接続部6の径は、第一の円24の径と等しい(例えば5mm)径か、あるいはそれよりも小さい(例えば2mm)径で形成され、第一の円24と接続されている。   In the present embodiment, the first circle 24 becomes smaller as the cross-sectional area of the light guide 1 goes from one end to the other end, while the second circle 25 is any portion in the longitudinal direction. It is comprised so that a cross-sectional area may become the same. Similar to the first embodiment, the diameters of the first circle 24 and the second circle 25 are, for example, 5 mm and 3 mm at maximum, respectively, but are not limited to these dimensions. The connecting portion 6 has a diameter equal to (for example, 5 mm) the diameter of the first circle 24 or a smaller diameter (for example, 2 mm), and is connected to the first circle 24.

上記のような構成にすると、光屈折・反射領域2において屈折・反射された光が、導光体1の内部で全反射し、小さい円25の外側であって2つの円24、25の中心を結ぶ直線の延長上に収束するため、出射する光の線幅が絞られ、原稿面に照射する光の照度が1.5倍となる。   With the above configuration, the light refracted / reflected in the light refracting / reflecting region 2 is totally reflected inside the light guide 1, outside the small circle 25 and at the center of the two circles 24, 25. Therefore, the line width of the emitted light is reduced, and the illuminance of the light irradiating the document surface is 1.5 times.

また、第二の円25の半径を変えることにより、原稿に照射する光の線幅や焦点距離を自由に変えることができる。その結果、最適な伝送効率の図れる線状照明装置を提供できる。   Further, by changing the radius of the second circle 25, the line width and focal length of the light irradiated on the document can be freely changed. As a result, it is possible to provide a linear illumination device that can achieve optimum transmission efficiency.

LED素子数を2素子とし,光出射面から原稿面までの距離を1.1mmにした場合であっても、原稿面に照射する光の照度は、600lx.で、照度のばらつきは10%を実現できた。従来の線状照明装置と比較すると、LED素子数を約1/10削減することができ、従来は光源と原稿面の距離は、従来約8〜10mm程度必要であったのが、本実施の形態の場合、光出射面から原稿迄の距離を1.5mm以内に近づけても照度のばらつきを許容限度内(10%)に抑えることが可能となる。これにより、80%の低コスト化を実現でき、画像読み取り装置自体のサイズを約半分にすることができた。一方、カラー画像の場合では、原稿面照度が赤、緑、青色素子とも1200lx.照度ばらつき10%以下を確保できた。   Even when the number of LED elements is two and the distance from the light emitting surface to the document surface is 1.1 mm, the illuminance of light applied to the document surface is 600 lx. Thus, the variation in illuminance was 10%. Compared with the conventional linear illumination device, the number of LED elements can be reduced by about 1/10. Conventionally, the distance between the light source and the document surface has conventionally been about 8 to 10 mm. In the case of the embodiment, even if the distance from the light emitting surface to the original is made within 1.5 mm, it is possible to suppress the variation in illuminance within the allowable limit (10%). As a result, the cost can be reduced by 80%, and the size of the image reading apparatus itself can be halved. On the other hand, in the case of a color image, the original surface illuminance is 1200 lx. An illuminance variation of 10% or less was secured.

以上のように、第2の実施の形態に係る線状照明装置は、原稿面への照射効率が高く、照度ばらつきを小さくすることができるため、低コスト、高品質、高分解能で画像を読み取れる、小型でかつ軽量の光学的画像読み取り装置を実現することが可能となる。さらに、原稿面に出射する光の線幅が絞られることとなり、断面形状が円の場合に比べ、原稿面に照射する光の照度を強めることができる。また、光の線幅や焦点距離を自由にかえることも可能となる。   As described above, the linear illumination device according to the second embodiment has high irradiation efficiency on the document surface and can reduce variations in illuminance, so that an image can be read at low cost, high quality, and high resolution. It is possible to realize a small and lightweight optical image reading apparatus. Furthermore, the line width of the light emitted to the original surface is reduced, and the illuminance of the light applied to the original surface can be increased compared to the case where the cross-sectional shape is a circle. In addition, the line width and focal length of light can be freely changed.

本発明の第1の実施の形態に係る線状照明装置の側面の断面図及び平面図である。It is sectional drawing and the top view of the side surface of the linear illuminating device which concern on the 1st Embodiment of this invention. 本発明の第1の実施形態に係る線状照明装置のA−A’断面図である。It is A-A 'sectional drawing of the linear illuminating device which concerns on the 1st Embodiment of this invention. 本発明の第1の実施の形態に係る線状照明装置の光屈折・反射領域及び/又は拡散面の概略図である。1 is a schematic view of a light refraction / reflection region and / or a diffusing surface of a linear illumination device according to a first embodiment of the present invention. 本発明の第1の実施の形態に係る線状照明装置の導光体部分のみを示した図である。It is the figure which showed only the light guide part of the linear illuminating device which concerns on the 1st Embodiment of this invention. 本発明の第1の実施の形態に係る線状照明装置の光屈折・反射領域の拡大図である。It is an enlarged view of the photorefractive / reflective area | region of the linear illuminating device which concerns on the 1st Embodiment of this invention. 本発明の第1の実施の形態に係る線状照明装置の光源部の拡大図である。It is an enlarged view of the light source part of the linear illuminating device which concerns on the 1st Embodiment of this invention. 本発明の第1及び第2の実施の形態に係る線状照明装置のA−A’断面図である。It is A-A 'sectional drawing of the linear illuminating device which concerns on the 1st and 2nd embodiment of this invention. 本発明の第1及び第2の実施の形態に係る線状照明装置のA−A’断面図である。It is A-A 'sectional drawing of the linear illuminating device which concerns on the 1st and 2nd embodiment of this invention. 本発明の第2の実施の形態に係る線状照明装置の側面の断面図及び平面図である。It is sectional drawing and a top view of the side surface of the linear illuminating device which concerns on the 2nd Embodiment of this invention. 本発明の第2の実施の形態に係る線状照明装置のB−B’断面図である。It is B-B 'sectional drawing of the linear illuminating device which concerns on the 2nd Embodiment of this invention. 本発明の第2の実施の形態に係る線状照明装置の光屈折・反射領域及び/又は拡散面の概略図である。It is the schematic of the photorefractive / reflective area | region and / or diffusion surface of the linear illuminating device which concerns on the 2nd Embodiment of this invention. 本発明の第2の実施の形態に係る線状照明装置の導光体部分のみを示した図である。It is the figure which showed only the light guide part of the linear illuminating device which concerns on the 2nd Embodiment of this invention. 本発明の第2の実施の形態に係る線状照明装置の光終端部の拡大図である。It is an enlarged view of the optical terminal part of the linear illuminating device which concerns on the 2nd Embodiment of this invention. 従来の光学的画像読み取り装置の構成図である。It is a block diagram of the conventional optical image reading apparatus. 従来の線状照明装置のLEDアレイ部分のみの構成図である。It is a block diagram of only the LED array part of the conventional linear illuminating device.

符号の説明Explanation of symbols

1 導光体
2 光屈折・反射領域
3 回路基板
4 発光ダイオード(LED)素子
5 凹反射面
6 接続部
7 光拡散層
8 拡散面
14 楕円の焦点
15 楕円
24 第一の円
25 第二の円
38 光終端部
39 光拡散層
40 光反射層
52 LEDアレイ
53 ロッドレンズアレイ
54 光電変換素子アレイ
61 基板
62 LEDチップ
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Light guide 2 Light refraction / reflection area 3 Circuit board 4 Light emitting diode (LED) element 5 Concave reflection surface 6 Connection part 7 Light diffusion layer 8 Diffusion surface 14 Ellipse focus 15 Ellipse 24 First circle 25 Second circle 38 Light Termination 39 Light Diffusing Layer 40 Light Reflecting Layer 52 LED Array 53 Rod Lens Array 54 Photoelectric Conversion Element Array 61 Substrate 62 LED Chip

Claims (12)

透光性を有する導光体と、前記導光体の長手方向の一側表面に設けた光屈折・反射領域と、前記導光体の一端部表面に光源とを備え、前記光源から放出された光を前記導光体内部に入射させ、前記光屈折・反射領域で屈折または反射した光を、前記導光体の前記光屈折・反射領域に対向する長手方向の他側面から外部に出射する線状照明装置において、
導光体と同一材料であって、三角波面で構成された前記光屈折・反射領域と、
前記三角波面の隣り合う波面間に存在しないように隔てて配置されつつ、前記光屈折・反射領域の全面を隔てて覆う拡散面と
記光源が配置された一端面から長手方向に他端面に向かうに従い前記導光体の断面の断面積が次第に小さくなる前記導光体と、
を備え、
前記導光体の端面に平行な断面の形状が長手方向のいずれの位置においても相似であり、かつ該断面の形状が楕円の長径に垂直であるとともに、2つの焦点のうちの1つを通る切断線で切った形状であり、
前記導光体の光が出射する長手方向の他側面が前記光源が配置された前記導光体の一端面に対して垂直な面であり、かつ該他側面が前記光屈折・反射領域に対向する直線状であることを特徴とする線状照明装置。
A light guide having translucency, a photorefractive / reflective region provided on one longitudinal surface of the light guide, and a light source on one end surface of the light guide, and emitted from the light source. Is incident on the inside of the light guide, and the light refracted or reflected by the light refracting / reflecting region is emitted to the outside from the other side surface in the longitudinal direction facing the light refracting / reflecting region of the light guide. In the linear lighting device,
The light refraction / reflection region made of the same material as the light guide and configured with a triangular wave front;
A diffusion surface that covers the entire surface of the light refraction / reflection region while being spaced apart so as not to exist between adjacent wave fronts of the triangular wave front ,
And gradually decreases the light guide body cross-sectional area of the cross section of the light guide toward the other end surface in the longitudinal direction from one end surface before Symbol light source is arranged,
With
The cross-sectional shape parallel to the end face of the light guide is similar at any position in the longitudinal direction, and the cross-sectional shape is perpendicular to the major axis of the ellipse and passes through one of the two focal points. It is a shape cut with a cutting line,
The other side surface in the longitudinal direction from which the light of the light guide is emitted is a surface perpendicular to one end surface of the light guide where the light source is disposed, and the other side surface faces the light refraction / reflection region. A linear illumination device characterized by being linear.
透光性を有する導光体と、前記導光体の長手方向の一側表面に設けた光屈折・反射領域と、前記導光体の一端部表面に光源とを備え、前記光源から放出された光を前記導光体内部に入射させ、前記光屈折・反射領域で屈折または反射した光を、前記導光体の前記光屈折・反射領域に対向する長手方向の他側面から外部に線状ビームとして出射する線状照明装置において、
導光体と同一材料であって、三角波面で構成された前記光屈折・反射領域と、
前記三角波面の隣り合う波面間に存在しないように、前記三角波面の上面の上方に配置され、前記光屈折・反射領域の全面を隔てて覆う拡散面と
記光源が配置された一端面から長手方向に他端面に向かうに従い前記導光体の断面の断面積が次第に小さくなる前記導光体と、
を備え、
前記導光体の端面に平行な断面の形状が長手方向のいずれの位置においても相似であり、かつ該断面の形状が楕円の長径に垂直であるとともに、2つの焦点のうちの1つを通る切断線で切った形状であり、
前記導光体の光が出射する長手方向の他側面が前記光源が配置された前記導光体の一端面に対して垂直な面であり、かつ該他側面が前記光屈折・反射領域に対向する直線状であることを特徴とする線状照明装置。
A light guide having translucency, a photorefractive / reflective region provided on one longitudinal surface of the light guide, and a light source on one end surface of the light guide, and emitted from the light source. Is incident on the inside of the light guide, and the light refracted or reflected by the light refraction / reflection area is linearly formed from the other side in the longitudinal direction facing the light refraction / reflection area of the light guide. In a linear illumination device that emits as a beam,
The light refraction / reflection region made of the same material as the light guide and configured with a triangular wave front;
A diffusion surface disposed above the upper surface of the triangular wavefront so as not to exist between adjacent wavefronts of the triangular wavefront, and covering the entire surface of the photorefractive / reflective region ;
And gradually decreases the light guide body cross-sectional area of the cross section of the light guide toward the other end surface in the longitudinal direction from one end surface before Symbol light source is arranged,
With
The cross-sectional shape parallel to the end face of the light guide is similar at any position in the longitudinal direction, and the cross-sectional shape is perpendicular to the major axis of the ellipse and passes through one of the two focal points. It is a shape cut with a cutting line,
The other side surface in the longitudinal direction from which the light of the light guide is emitted is a surface perpendicular to one end surface of the light guide where the light source is disposed, and the other side surface faces the light refraction / reflection region. A linear illumination device characterized by being linear.
透光性を有する導光体と、前記導光体の長手方向の一側表面に設けた光屈折・反射領域と、前記導光体の一端部表面に光源とを備え、前記光源から放出された光を前記導光体内部に入射させ、前記光屈折・反射領域で屈折または反射した光を、前記導光体の前記光屈折・反射領域に対向する長手方向の他側面から外部に線状ビームとして出射する線状照明装置において、
前記一側表面に設けられ、導光体と同一材料であって、光屈折・反射を行なう三角波面状を有する三角波面部と、
前記三角波面部の隣り合う波面間に存在しないように隔てて配置されつつ、前記三角波面部の全面を隔てて覆う拡散面と
記光源が配置された一端面から長手方向に他端面に向かうに従い前記導光体の断面の断面積が次第に小さくなる前記導光体と、
を備え、
前記導光体の端面に平行な断面の形状が長手方向のいずれの位置においても相似であり、かつ該断面の形状が楕円の長径に垂直であるとともに、2つの焦点のうちの1つを通る切断線で切った形状であり、
前記導光体の光が出射する長手方向の他側面が前記光源が配置された前記導光体の一端面に対して垂直な面であり、かつ該他側面が前記光屈折・反射領域に対向する直線状であることを特徴とする線状照明装置。
A light guide having translucency, a photorefractive / reflective region provided on one longitudinal surface of the light guide, and a light source on one end surface of the light guide, and emitted from the light source. Is incident on the inside of the light guide, and the light refracted or reflected by the light refraction / reflection area is linearly formed from the other side in the longitudinal direction facing the light refraction / reflection area of the light guide. In a linear illumination device that emits as a beam,
A triangular wavefront portion provided on the one side surface, made of the same material as the light guide, and having a triangular wavefront shape for performing light refraction and reflection;
A diffusion surface that covers the entire surface of the triangular wavefront portion while being spaced apart so as not to exist between adjacent wavefronts of the triangular wavefront portion ;
And gradually decreases the light guide body cross-sectional area of the cross section of the light guide toward the other end surface in the longitudinal direction from one end surface before Symbol light source is arranged,
With
The cross-sectional shape parallel to the end face of the light guide is similar at any position in the longitudinal direction, and the cross-sectional shape is perpendicular to the major axis of the ellipse and passes through one of the two focal points. It is a shape cut with a cutting line,
The other side surface in the longitudinal direction from which the light of the light guide is emitted is a surface perpendicular to one end surface of the light guide where the light source is disposed, and the other side surface faces the light refraction / reflection region. A linear illumination device characterized by being linear.
透光性を有する導光体と、前記導光体の長手方向の一側表面に設けた光屈折・反射領域と、前記導光体の一端部表面に光源とを備え、前記光源から放出された光を前記導光体内部に入射させ、前記光屈折・反射領域で屈折または反射した光を、前記導光体の前記光屈折・反射領域に対向する長手方向の他側面から外部に線状ビームとして出射する線状照明装置において、
前記一側表面に設けられ、導光体と同一材料であって、光屈折・反射を行なう三角波面状を有する三角波面部と、
前記三角波面の隣り合う波面間に存在しないように、前記三角波面部の上面の上方に配置され、前記三角波面部の全面を隔てて覆う拡散面と
記光源が配置された一端面から長手方向に他端面に向かうに従い前記導光体の断面の断面積が次第に小さくなる前記導光体と、
を備え、
前記導光体の端面に平行な断面の形状が長手方向のいずれの位置においても相似であり、かつ該断面の形状が楕円の長径に垂直であるとともに、2つの焦点のうちの1つを通る切断線で切った形状であり、
前記導光体の光が出射する長手方向の他側面が前記光源が配置された前記導光体の一端面に対して垂直な面であり、かつ該他側面が前記光屈折・反射領域に対向する直線状であることを特徴とする線状照明装置。
A light guide having translucency, a photorefractive / reflective region provided on one longitudinal surface of the light guide, and a light source on one end surface of the light guide, and emitted from the light source. Is incident on the inside of the light guide, and the light refracted or reflected by the light refraction / reflection area is linearly formed from the other side in the longitudinal direction facing the light refraction / reflection area of the light guide. In a linear illumination device that emits as a beam,
A triangular wavefront portion provided on the one side surface, made of the same material as the light guide, and having a triangular wavefront shape for performing light refraction and reflection;
A diffusion surface that is disposed above the upper surface of the triangular wavefront portion so as not to exist between adjacent wavefronts of the triangular wavefront, and covers the entire surface of the triangular wavefront portion ;
And gradually decreases the light guide body cross-sectional area of the cross section of the light guide toward the other end surface in the longitudinal direction from one end surface before Symbol light source is arranged,
With
The cross-sectional shape parallel to the end face of the light guide is similar at any position in the longitudinal direction, and the cross-sectional shape is perpendicular to the major axis of the ellipse and passes through one of the two focal points. It is a shape cut with a cutting line,
The other side surface in the longitudinal direction from which the light of the light guide is emitted is a surface perpendicular to one end surface of the light guide where the light source is disposed, and the other side surface faces the light refraction / reflection region. A linear illumination device characterized by being linear.
透光性を有する導光体と、前記導光体の長手方向の一側表面に設けた光屈折・反射領域と、前記導光体の一端部表面に光源とを備え、前記光源から放出された光を前記導光体内部に入射させ、前記光屈折・反射領域で屈折または反射した光を、前記導光体の前記光屈折・反射領域に対向する長手方向の他側面から外部に出射する線状照明装置において、
導光体と同一材料であって、三角波面で構成された前記光屈折・反射領域と、
前記三角波面の隣り合う波面間に存在しないように隔てて配置されつつ、前記光屈折・反射領域の全面を隔てて覆う拡散面と
記光源が配置された一端面から長手方向に他端面に向かうに従い前記導光体の断面の断面積が次第に小さくなる前記導光体と、
を備え、
前記導光体の端面に平行な断面の形状が長手方向のいずれの位置においても相似であり、かつ該断面の形状が2つの半径の異なる円の一部と、該2つの円の接線より構成される形状であり、
前記導光体の光が出射する長手方向の他側面が前記光源が配置された前記導光体の一端面に対して垂直な面であり、かつ該他側面が前記光屈折・反射領域に対向する直線状であることを特徴とする線状照明装置。
A light guide having translucency, a photorefractive / reflective region provided on one longitudinal surface of the light guide, and a light source on one end surface of the light guide, and emitted from the light source. Is incident on the inside of the light guide, and the light refracted or reflected by the light refracting / reflecting region is emitted to the outside from the other side surface in the longitudinal direction facing the light refracting / reflecting region of the light guide. In the linear lighting device,
The light refraction / reflection region made of the same material as the light guide and configured with a triangular wave front;
A diffusion surface that covers the entire surface of the light refraction / reflection region while being spaced apart so as not to exist between adjacent wave fronts of the triangular wave front ,
And gradually decreases the light guide body cross-sectional area of the cross section of the light guide toward the other end surface in the longitudinal direction from one end surface before Symbol light source is arranged,
With
The cross-sectional shape parallel to the end face of the light guide is similar at any position in the longitudinal direction, and the cross-sectional shape is composed of a part of two circles having different radii and the tangent line of the two circles. Is the shape to be
The other side surface in the longitudinal direction from which the light of the light guide is emitted is a surface perpendicular to one end surface of the light guide where the light source is disposed, and the other side surface faces the light refraction / reflection region. A linear illumination device characterized by being linear.
透光性を有する導光体と、前記導光体の長手方向の一側表面に設けた光屈折・反射領域と、前記導光体の一端部表面に光源とを備え、前記光源から放出された光を前記導光体内部に入射させ、前記光屈折・反射領域で屈折または反射した光を、前記導光体の前記光屈折・反射領域に対向する長手方向の他側面から外部に線状ビームとして出射する線状照明装置において、
導光体と同一材料であって、三角波面で構成された前記光屈折・反射領域と、
前記三角波面の隣り合う波面間に存在しないように、前記三角波面の上面の上方に配置され、前記光屈折・反射領域の全面を隔てて覆う拡散面と
記光源が配置された一端面から長手方向に他端面に向かうに従い前記導光体の断面の断面積が次第に小さくなる前記導光体と、
を備え、
前記導光体の端面に平行な断面の形状が長手方向のいずれの位置においても相似であり、かつ該断面の形状が2つの半径の異なる円の一部と、該2つの円の接線より構成される形状であり、
前記導光体の光が出射する長手方向の他側面が前記光源が配置された前記導光体の一端面に対して垂直な面であり、かつ該他側面が前記光屈折・反射領域に対向する直線状であることを特徴とする線状照明装置。
A light guide having translucency, a photorefractive / reflective region provided on one longitudinal surface of the light guide, and a light source on one end surface of the light guide, and emitted from the light source. Is incident on the inside of the light guide, and the light refracted or reflected by the light refraction / reflection area is linearly formed from the other side in the longitudinal direction facing the light refraction / reflection area of the light guide. In a linear illumination device that emits as a beam,
The light refraction / reflection region made of the same material as the light guide and configured with a triangular wave front;
A diffusion surface disposed above the upper surface of the triangular wavefront so as not to exist between adjacent wavefronts of the triangular wavefront, and covering the entire surface of the photorefractive / reflective region ;
And gradually decreases the light guide body cross-sectional area of the cross section of the light guide toward the other end surface in the longitudinal direction from one end surface before Symbol light source is arranged,
With
The cross-sectional shape parallel to the end face of the light guide is similar at any position in the longitudinal direction, and the cross-sectional shape is composed of a part of two circles having different radii and the tangent line of the two circles. Is the shape to be
The other side surface in the longitudinal direction from which the light of the light guide is emitted is a surface perpendicular to one end surface of the light guide where the light source is disposed, and the other side surface faces the light refraction / reflection region. A linear illumination device characterized by being linear.
透光性を有する導光体と、前記導光体の長手方向の一側表面に設けた光屈折・反射領域と、前記導光体の一端部表面に光源とを備え、前記光源から放出された光を前記導光体内部に入射させ、前記光屈折・反射領域で屈折または反射した光を、前記導光体の前記光屈折・反射領域に対向する長手方向の他側面から外部に線状ビームとして出射する線状照明装置において、
前記一側表面に設けられ、導光体と同一材料であって、光屈折・反射を行なう三角波面状を有する三角波面部と、
前記三角波面部の隣り合う波面間に存在しないように隔てて配置されつつ、前記三角波面部の全面を隔てて覆う拡散面と
記光源が配置された一端面から長手方向に他端面に向かうに従い前記導光体の断面の断面積が次第に小さくなる前記導光体と、
を備え、
前記導光体の端面に平行な断面の形状が長手方向のいずれの位置においても相似であり、かつ該断面の形状が2つの半径の異なる円の一部と、該2つの円の接線より構成される形状であり、
前記導光体の光が出射する長手方向の他側面が前記光源が配置された前記導光体の一端面に対して垂直な面であり、かつ該他側面が前記光屈折・反射領域に対向する直線状であることを特徴とする線状照明装置。
A light guide having translucency, a photorefractive / reflective region provided on one longitudinal surface of the light guide, and a light source on one end surface of the light guide, and emitted from the light source. Is incident on the inside of the light guide, and the light refracted or reflected by the light refraction / reflection area is linearly formed from the other side in the longitudinal direction facing the light refraction / reflection area of the light guide. In a linear illumination device that emits as a beam,
A triangular wavefront portion provided on the one side surface, made of the same material as the light guide, and having a triangular wavefront shape for performing light refraction and reflection;
A diffusion surface that covers the entire surface of the triangular wavefront portion while being spaced apart so as not to exist between adjacent wavefronts of the triangular wavefront portion ;
And gradually decreases the light guide body cross-sectional area of the cross section of the light guide toward the other end surface in the longitudinal direction from one end surface before Symbol light source is arranged,
With
The cross-sectional shape parallel to the end face of the light guide is similar at any position in the longitudinal direction, and the cross-sectional shape is composed of a part of two circles having different radii and the tangent line of the two circles. Is the shape to be
The other side surface in the longitudinal direction from which the light of the light guide is emitted is a surface perpendicular to one end surface of the light guide where the light source is disposed, and the other side surface faces the light refraction / reflection region. A linear illumination device characterized by being linear.
透光性を有する導光体と、前記導光体の長手方向の一側表面に設けた光屈折・反射領域と、前記導光体の一端部表面に光源とを備え、前記光源から放出された光を前記導光体内部に入射させ、前記光屈折・反射領域で屈折または反射した光を、前記導光体の前記光屈折・反射領域に対向する長手方向の他側面から外部に線状ビームとして出射する線状照明装置において、
前記一側表面に設けられ、導光体と同一材料であって、光屈折・反射を行なう三角波面状を有する三角波面部と、
前記三角波面の隣り合う波面間に存在しないように、前記三角波面部の上面の上方に配置され、前記三角波面部の全面を隔てて覆う拡散面と
記光源が配置された一端面から長手方向に他端面に向かうに従い前記導光体の断面の断面積が次第に小さくなる前記導光体と、
を備え、
前記導光体の端面に平行な断面の形状が長手方向のいずれの位置においても相似であり、かつ該断面の形状が2つの半径の異なる円の一部と、該2つの円の接線より構成される形状であり、
前記導光体の光が出射する長手方向の他側面が前記光源が配置された前記導光体の一端面に対して垂直な面であり、かつ該他側面が前記光屈折・反射領域に対向する直線状であることを特徴とする線状照明装置。
A light guide having translucency, a photorefractive / reflective region provided on one longitudinal surface of the light guide, and a light source on one end surface of the light guide, and emitted from the light source. Is incident on the inside of the light guide, and the light refracted or reflected by the light refraction / reflection area is linearly formed from the other side in the longitudinal direction facing the light refraction / reflection area of the light guide. In a linear illumination device that emits as a beam,
A triangular wavefront portion provided on the one side surface, made of the same material as the light guide, and having a triangular wavefront shape for performing light refraction and reflection;
A diffusion surface that is disposed above the upper surface of the triangular wavefront portion so as not to exist between adjacent wavefronts of the triangular wavefront, and covers the entire surface of the triangular wavefront portion ;
And gradually decreases the light guide body cross-sectional area of the cross section of the light guide toward the other end surface in the longitudinal direction from one end surface before Symbol light source is arranged,
With
The cross-sectional shape parallel to the end face of the light guide is similar at any position in the longitudinal direction, and the cross-sectional shape is composed of a part of two circles having different radii and the tangent line of the two circles. Is the shape to be
The other side surface in the longitudinal direction from which the light of the light guide is emitted is a surface perpendicular to one end surface of the light guide where the light source is disposed, and the other side surface faces the light refraction / reflection region. A linear illumination device characterized by being linear.
透光性を有する導光体と、前記導光体の長手方向の一側表面に設けた光屈折・反射領域と、前記導光体の一端部表面に光源とを備え、前記光源から放出された光を前記導光体内部に入射させ、前記光屈折・反射領域で屈折または反射した光を、前記導光体の前記光屈折・反射領域に対向する長手方向の他側面から外部に出射する線状照明装置において、
導光体と同一材料であって、三角波面で構成された前記光屈折・反射領域と、
前記三角波面の隣り合う波面間に存在しないように隔てて配置されつつ、前記光屈折・反射領域の全面を隔てて覆う拡散面と
記光源が配置された一端面から長手方向に他端面に向かうに従い前記導光体の断面の断面積が次第に小さくなる前記導光体と、
前記導光体の前記光源が配置されない前記他端面に平行な断面の形状が該他端面から長手方向へ一定距離だけ同じ形状である光終端部と、
を備え、
前記導光体の端面に平行な断面の形状が長手方向のいずれの位置においても相似であり、かつ該断面の形状が実質的に円であり、
前記導光体の光が出射する長手方向の他側面が前記光源が配置された前記導光体の一端面に対して垂直な面であり、かつ該他側面が前記光屈折・反射領域に対向する直線状であることを特徴とする線状照明装置。
A light guide having translucency, a photorefractive / reflective region provided on one longitudinal surface of the light guide, and a light source on one end surface of the light guide, and emitted from the light source. Is incident on the inside of the light guide, and the light refracted or reflected by the light refracting / reflecting region is emitted to the outside from the other side surface in the longitudinal direction facing the light refracting / reflecting region of the light guide. In the linear lighting device,
The light refraction / reflection region made of the same material as the light guide and configured with a triangular wave front;
A diffusion surface that covers the entire surface of the light refraction / reflection region while being spaced apart so as not to exist between adjacent wave fronts of the triangular wave front ,
And gradually decreases the light guide body cross-sectional area of the cross section of the light guide toward the other end surface in the longitudinal direction from one end surface before Symbol light source is arranged,
A light terminating portion having a cross-sectional shape parallel to the other end surface where the light source of the light guide is not disposed is the same shape by a fixed distance from the other end surface; and
With
The cross-sectional shape parallel to the end face of the light guide is similar at any position in the longitudinal direction, and the cross-sectional shape is substantially a circle,
The other side surface in the longitudinal direction from which the light of the light guide is emitted is a surface perpendicular to one end surface of the light guide where the light source is disposed, and the other side surface faces the light refraction / reflection region. A linear illumination device characterized by being linear.
透光性を有する導光体と、前記導光体の長手方向の一側表面に設けた光屈折・反射領域と、前記導光体の一端部表面に光源とを備え、前記光源から放出された光を前記導光体内部に入射させ、前記光屈折・反射領域で屈折または反射した光を、前記導光体の前記光屈折・反射領域に対向する長手方向の他側面から外部に線状ビームとして出射する線状照明装置において、
導光体と同一材料であって、三角波面で構成された前記光屈折・反射領域と、
前記三角波面の隣り合う波面間に存在しないように、前記三角波面の上面の上方に配置され、前記光屈折・反射領域の全面を隔てて覆う拡散面と
記光源が配置された一端面から長手方向に他端面に向かうに従い前記導光体の断面の断面積が次第に小さくなる前記導光体と、
前記導光体の前記光源が配置されない前記他端面に平行な断面の形状が該他端面から長手方向へ一定距離だけ同じ形状である光終端部と、
を備え、
前記導光体の端面に平行な断面の形状が長手方向のいずれの位置においても相似であり、かつ該断面の形状が実質的に円であり、
前記導光体の光が出射する長手方向の他側面が前記光源が配置された前記導光体の一端面に対して垂直な面であり、かつ該他側面が前記光屈折・反射領域に対向する直線状であることを特徴とする線状照明装置。
A light guide having translucency, a photorefractive / reflective region provided on one longitudinal surface of the light guide, and a light source on one end surface of the light guide, and emitted from the light source. Is incident on the inside of the light guide, and the light refracted or reflected by the light refraction / reflection area is linearly formed from the other side in the longitudinal direction facing the light refraction / reflection area of the light guide. In a linear illumination device that emits as a beam,
The light refraction / reflection region made of the same material as the light guide and configured with a triangular wave front;
A diffusion surface disposed above the upper surface of the triangular wavefront so as not to exist between adjacent wavefronts of the triangular wavefront, and covering the entire surface of the photorefractive / reflective region ;
And gradually decreases the light guide body cross-sectional area of the cross section of the light guide toward the other end surface in the longitudinal direction from one end surface before Symbol light source is arranged,
A light terminating portion having a cross-sectional shape parallel to the other end surface where the light source of the light guide is not disposed is the same shape by a fixed distance from the other end surface; and
With
The cross-sectional shape parallel to the end face of the light guide is similar at any position in the longitudinal direction, and the cross-sectional shape is substantially a circle,
The other side surface in the longitudinal direction from which the light of the light guide is emitted is a surface perpendicular to one end surface of the light guide where the light source is disposed, and the other side surface faces the light refraction / reflection region. A linear illumination device characterized by being linear.
透光性を有する導光体と、前記導光体の長手方向の一側表面に設けた光屈折・反射領域と、前記導光体の一端部表面に光源とを備え、前記光源から放出された光を前記導光体内部に入射させ、前記光屈折・反射領域で屈折または反射した光を、前記導光体の前記光屈折・反射領域に対向する長手方向の他側面から外部に線状ビームとして出射する線状照明装置において、
前記一側表面に設けられ、導光体と同一材料であって、光屈折・反射を行なう三角波面状を有する三角波面部と、
前記三角波面部の隣り合う波面間に存在しないように隔てて配置されつつ、前記三角波面部の全面を隔てて覆う拡散面と
記光源が配置された一端面から長手方向に他端面に向かうに従い前記導光体の断面の断面積が次第に小さくなる前記導光体と、
前記導光体の前記光源が配置されない前記他端面に平行な断面の形状が該他端面から長手方向へ一定距離だけ同じ形状である光終端部と、
を備え、
前記導光体の端面に平行な断面の形状が長手方向のいずれの位置においても相似であり、かつ該断面の形状が実質的に円であり、
前記導光体の光が出射する長手方向の他側面が前記光源が配置された前記導光体の一端面に対して垂直な面であり、かつ該他側面が前記光屈折・反射領域に対向する直線状であることを特徴とする線状照明装置。
A light guide having translucency, a photorefractive / reflective region provided on one longitudinal surface of the light guide, and a light source on one end surface of the light guide, and emitted from the light source. Is incident on the inside of the light guide, and the light refracted or reflected by the light refraction / reflection area is linearly formed from the other side in the longitudinal direction facing the light refraction / reflection area of the light guide. In a linear illumination device that emits as a beam,
A triangular wavefront portion provided on the one side surface, made of the same material as the light guide, and having a triangular wavefront shape for performing light refraction and reflection;
A diffusion surface that covers the entire surface of the triangular wavefront portion while being spaced apart so as not to exist between adjacent wavefronts of the triangular wavefront portion ;
And gradually decreases the light guide body cross-sectional area of the cross section of the light guide toward the other end surface in the longitudinal direction from one end surface before Symbol light source is arranged,
A light terminating portion having a cross-sectional shape parallel to the other end surface where the light source of the light guide is not disposed is the same shape by a fixed distance from the other end surface; and
With
The cross-sectional shape parallel to the end face of the light guide is similar at any position in the longitudinal direction, and the cross-sectional shape is substantially a circle,
The other side surface in the longitudinal direction from which the light of the light guide is emitted is a surface perpendicular to one end surface of the light guide where the light source is disposed, and the other side surface faces the light refraction / reflection region. A linear illumination device characterized by being linear.
透光性を有する導光体と、前記導光体の長手方向の一側表面に設けた光屈折・反射領域と、前記導光体の一端部表面に光源とを備え、前記光源から放出された光を前記導光体内部に入射させ、前記光屈折・反射領域で屈折または反射した光を、前記導光体の前記光屈折・反射領域に対向する長手方向の他側面から外部に線状ビームとして出射する線状照明装置において、
前記一側表面に設けられ、導光体と同一材料であって、光屈折・反射を行なう三角波面状を有する三角波面部と、
前記三角波面の隣り合う波面間に存在しないように、前記三角波面部の上面の上方に配置され、前記三角波面部の全面を隔てて覆う拡散面と
記光源が配置された一端面から長手方向に他端面に向かうに従い前記導光体の断面の断面積が次第に小さくなる前記導光体と、
前記導光体の前記光源が配置されない前記他端面に平行な断面の形状が該他端面から長手方向へ一定距離だけ同じ形状である光終端部と、
を備え、
前記導光体の端面に平行な断面の形状が長手方向のいずれの位置においても相似であり、かつ該断面の形状が実質的に円であり、
前記導光体の光が出射する長手方向の他側面が前記光源が配置された前記導光体の一端面に対して垂直な面であり、かつ該他側面が前記光屈折・反射領域に対向する直線状であることを特徴とする線状照明装置。
A light guide having translucency, a photorefractive / reflective region provided on one longitudinal surface of the light guide, and a light source on one end surface of the light guide, and emitted from the light source. Is incident on the inside of the light guide, and the light refracted or reflected by the light refraction / reflection area is linearly formed from the other side in the longitudinal direction facing the light refraction / reflection area of the light guide. In a linear illumination device that emits as a beam,
A triangular wavefront portion provided on the one side surface, made of the same material as the light guide, and having a triangular wavefront shape for performing light refraction and reflection;
A diffusion surface that is disposed above the upper surface of the triangular wavefront portion so as not to exist between adjacent wavefronts of the triangular wavefront, and covers the entire surface of the triangular wavefront portion ;
And gradually decreases the light guide body cross-sectional area of the cross section of the light guide toward the other end surface in the longitudinal direction from one end surface before Symbol light source is arranged,
A light terminating portion having a cross-sectional shape parallel to the other end surface where the light source of the light guide is not disposed is the same shape by a fixed distance from the other end surface; and
With
The cross-sectional shape parallel to the end face of the light guide is similar at any position in the longitudinal direction, and the cross-sectional shape is substantially a circle,
The other side surface in the longitudinal direction from which the light of the light guide is emitted is a surface perpendicular to one end surface of the light guide where the light source is disposed, and the other side surface faces the light refraction / reflection region. A linear illumination device characterized by being linear.
JP2004133841A 1997-03-04 2004-04-28 Linear lighting device Expired - Lifetime JP3987838B2 (en)

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