JP4618002B2 - Lighting equipment - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an illumination device using an EL (electroluminescence) light source.

  The organic EL light source generally has a structure in which an anode layer, a hole transport layer, a light emitting layer, an electron injection layer, and a cathode layer made of a transparent electrode are laminated in this order on one surface of a transparent substrate. By applying a voltage between the anode layer and the cathode layer, the electrons injected from the cathode layer side and the holes injected from the anode layer side recombine in the light emitting layer, so that the light emitted from the light emitting layer is emitted. It is taken out through the transparent electrode and the transparent substrate.

  As the transparent substrate, glass is generally used in terms of airtightness, surface smoothness, heat resistance, and the like. Each layer such as an electrode film and a light emitting layer formed thereon is formed by a technique such as vapor deposition because it needs to be a uniform thin film.

  Since the light emitting layer easily reacts with water and oxygen and deteriorates, a structure in which the electrode film or the light emitting layer formed on the substrate is sealed with glass or a metal cover so as to be shielded from the outside air is required.

In general, power is supplied to the organic EL light source by electric wires respectively attached to the anode layer and the cathode layer. For example, an external terminal is pulled out through a low-melting-point solder glass between a substrate and a cover that covers the surface of the substrate (see Patent Document 1).
JP 63-226684 A

  The light-emitting layer of the organic EL light source easily reacts with water, oxygen, and the like, and it is an indispensable condition for extending the life of the organic EL light source to completely shut off the air containing them. For this reason, common materials for organic EL light source substrates, lid materials, and sealing materials have been limited to glass and metals.

  However, glass is highly transparent, but its application is limited in terms of formability and weight. In the case of metal, there was no light transmission, and only one side of the organic material could be used.

  In addition, since the substrate is a flat substrate and the sealing member in close contact with the flat substrate is a substantially flat plate, the organic EL light source is limited to a flat structure. In addition, if a sealing part is formed on the electrode film or the light emitting layer, the light emitting layer may be deteriorated by a chemical change due to the sealant or heat at the time of sealing, and the sealing process is limited in terms of method and material. There are many.

  Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a lighting device that can relax the limitation of shape and material, prevent deterioration, and ensure mechanical strength and hermeticity.

The illuminating device of the present invention has two EL light sources formed in a cylindrical shape having two connection electrodes only at one end side and having an outer surface as a light emitting surface, and a pair of lamp pins at both ends. The two EL light sources are housed side by side in the axial direction, and a straight tube in which the connection electrode is connected to the lamp pin.

  According to the illumination device of the present invention, since the EL light source is hermetically housed in the container, the electrode film and the light emitting layer forming or emitting layer forming the EL light source, and the sealing for sealing the EL light source in the container Since this step can be considered as another step in terms of reaction and conduction, the degree of freedom of the sealing structure and material is increased, and a simpler method can be employed. For example, by performing sealing at a site different from the substrate, sealing can be performed so that the influence on the light emitting layer on the substrate is reduced, and a more reliable sealing structure can be taken.

  In addition, since the substrate does not serve as a structure as a light source, the mechanical strength of the substrate is relaxed and the degree of freedom in terms of material is increased.

A container having an outer shape as a light source can be arbitrarily set in shape, and a light source having a shape similar to that of a fluorescent lamp can be produced.

  A first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. That is, in this illumination device, the organic EL light source 1 is sealed with the translucent container 2.

  The organic EL light source 1 is formed by laminating electrode films 4 and 5 on both surfaces of an organic EL light emitting layer 3 having a structure in which a hole transport layer, a light emitting layer, and an electron injection layer are sequentially laminated, and one electrode film 5 is transparent. The substrate 6 is supported. That is, the electrode film 4 is formed on the substrate 6, the organic EL light emitting layer 3 is formed on the electrode film 4, and another electrode film 5 is formed on the organic EL light emitting layer 3. Connection electrodes 7 and 8 are provided on the electrode films 4 and 5, respectively, and protrude from the substrate 6 in the same direction.

  The container 2 uses, for example, a substantially bulb-like, for example, a bulb-shaped transparent glass or plastic hermetically sealed valve, the lower end opening is closed by the lid 10, and the lid 10 and the opening are sealed by the sealing portion 11. A through-hole 12 through which the connection electrodes 7 and 8 penetrate in an airtight manner is formed in the lid 10. The inside of the container 2 is, for example, a vacuum or a state close to a vacuum, or is filled with a gas that does not react or hardly reacts with the organic EL light emitting material. As this gas, for example, an inert gas such as He, Ne, Ar, or Kr is used. The organic EL light source 1 is housed inside the container 2 and sealed against the outside air so that the light emitting surface of the organic EL light source 1 faces the outside of the container 2.

  In this way, the organic EL light source 1 having the electrode films 4 and 5 and the organic EL light emitting layer 3 on the substrate 6 and having no sealing layer or sealing member on the substrate 6 is translucent and is free from the outside air. The connecting electrodes 7 and 8 for the anode and the cathode for passing through the container 2 from the substrate 6 to the outside of the container 2 pass through the container 2.

  The electrode films 4 and 5 may be transparent on both surfaces, and when the substrate 6 side is transparent, the substrate 6 is also transparent. Further, only a part of the container 2 may be transparent, and a film of a reflective surface may be formed on a part of the inner surface.

  A second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. That is, in the first embodiment, the organic EL light source 1 includes the electrode films 4 and 5 laminated on both surfaces of the organic EL light emitting layer 3, and the electrode film 5 is made transparent so as to be the light emitting surface. It is wound in a cylindrical shape so as to face the outside of the container 2. Further, the container 2 has a lower end opening that is closed by the lid 10 smaller than that of the first embodiment, and has a shape closer to a sphere. Others are the same as in the first embodiment. In addition, it forms so that the board | substrate 6 side may become an outer side, and you may make the board | substrate 6 and the electrode film 4 transparent.

  A third embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. That is, in the first embodiment, the organic EL light source 1 is formed by rounding one or a plurality of sheet-like ones having the same laminated structure as the above-described embodiment into a cylindrical shape, and the container 2 is tubular, for example, A straight tube lamp-shaped transparent resin or glass cylinder is formed, and the organic EL light source 1 is enclosed inside. The transparent electrode film or electrode film serving as the light emitting surface and the substrate face the outside of the container 2. A pair of lamp pins 13 and 14 provided at both ends of the container 2 are connected to the connection electrodes of the organic EL light source 1.

  A fourth embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. That is, in the first embodiment, the container 2 has the concave portion 15 formed on the outer surface, and the lighting circuit portion 16 is accommodated in the concave portion 15. The organic EL light source 1 is formed by bending a sheet of the same laminated structure as that of the first embodiment into a cylindrical shape, and is fitted in a recess 15 protruding into the container 2. The connection electrodes 7 and 8 of the organic EL light source 1 are penetrated through the through portion 12 formed in the recess 15 and connected to the lighting circuit portion 16, and an external terminal 17 is provided in the lighting circuit portion 16. The lighting circuit unit 16 may include a power supply circuit.

  As another embodiment, the organic EL light source 1 may be formed by directly depositing an electrode film and the organic EL light emitting layer 3 on the inner surface of the container 2 such as a transparent glass bulb.

  Further, the organic EL light source 1 may be configured with a structure in which a plurality of strip-shaped ones are arranged, and may be configured to be enclosed in the container 2 so that the light emitting surface faces the outside of the container 2.

  Further, the organic EL light source 1 may be not only cylindrical but also bent, for example, in a U shape.

1 is a perspective view of a first embodiment of the present invention. It is a perspective view of 2nd Embodiment. It is a perspective view of 3rd Embodiment. (A) is a longitudinal sectional view of the fourth embodiment, and (b) is a transverse sectional view.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Organic EL light source 2 Container 3 Organic EL light emitting layer 4, 5 Electrode film
6 Substrate 7, 8 Connecting electrode 12 Through part 15 Recess 16 Lighting circuit part

Claims (1)

Two EL light sources formed in a cylindrical shape having two connection electrodes only on one end side and having an outer surface as a light emitting surface, and a pair of lamp pins on both ends , and the two EL light sources An illuminating device comprising: a straight pipe which is stored vertically aligned in the axial direction and which has the connection electrode connected to the lamp pin.

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