JP6388297B2 - Lighting device - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a lighting device in which a plurality of light-emitting elements are arranged on a flexible substrate in a predetermined direction at a predetermined pitch with a predetermined interval.

  In department stores, supermarkets, specialty stores, etc., furniture such as display shelves and display cases for displaying and selling products are widely used. As such an illuminating device for fixtures, from the viewpoint of saving space and power, an illuminating device in which a plurality of light emitting elements, for example, light emitting diodes (LEDs) are arranged on a flexible substrate at predetermined intervals with a predetermined interval. Has been proposed (Patent Document 1).

JP 2007-150271 A

  As shown in FIG. 11, such an illuminating device is generally arranged along the edge in the fixture so as not to impair the beauty of the display shelf or the like. And as shown in FIG. 11, the illuminating device may be disposed on a curved edge or may be bent during transportation.

  However, the light emitting element is less flexible than the substrate, and if an operator inadvertently bends the lighting device by taking advantage of the flexibility of the substrate, bending stress exceeding the bending resistance of the light emitting element is applied to the light emitting element. There is a risk that the light-emitting element may be damaged or the joint between the light-emitting element and the substrate may be damaged.

  In view of the above circumstances, an object of the present invention is to bend a light-emitting element itself during installation work or transportation work in a lighting device in which a plurality of light-emitting elements are arranged on a flexible substrate at a predetermined pitch and at a predetermined interval. Is to prevent damage to the light emitting element and damage to the joint between the light emitting element and the flexible substrate.

  In order to solve the above-described problems, an illumination device according to the present invention is a lighting device in which a plurality of light-emitting elements are arranged on a flexible substrate at a predetermined pitch and in a predetermined pitch in a predetermined direction of the substrate. A plurality of bending-proof reinforcing portions for suppressing bending of the light-emitting elements are disposed in a predetermined direction at a predetermined pitch with a predetermined interval corresponding to the region where the upper light-emitting element exists.

  Here, the “predetermined direction” in the lighting device of the present invention means a predetermined arbitrary direction of the light-emitting element or the bending-resistant reinforcing portion, for example, any one direction, the light-emitting element or The bending-resistant reinforcing part includes a plurality of directions for providing a regular planar arrangement.

  In addition, the “predetermined pitch” in the lighting device of the present invention means a predetermined pitch of the light emitting element or the bending-proof reinforcing portion, for example, an equal pitch at a constant value or regularity. Including a variable pitch. Further, the present invention is not limited to a strict equal pitch or a strict variable pitch, and errors due to manufacturing variations are acceptable.

  In addition, the “predetermined interval” in the lighting device of the present invention means an arbitrary spatial distance between the light emitting element or the bending resistant reinforcing portion, which is determined in advance, for example, an equal interval or regularity. Including variable intervals. Further, the present invention is not limited to exact equal intervals or variable intervals, and errors due to manufacturing variations are acceptable.

  In addition, in the lighting device of the present invention, “corresponding to the region where the light emitting elements are present on the substrate” means a wide area in the vicinity of the region where the light emitting elements are disposed on the substrate. It means a region near the side of the light emitting element arrangement region, a region near the surface opposite to the surface where the light emitting element is arranged, and the like.

  Moreover, the bending-proof reinforcement part in the illuminating device of this invention may be formed with another member arrange | positioned at the board | substrate.

  Moreover, the bending-proof reinforcement part in the illuminating device of this invention may be integrally formed in a board | substrate.

  According to the illuminating device of the present invention, a plurality of bending-proof reinforcing portions arranged at predetermined intervals with a predetermined pitch in a predetermined direction corresponding to the region where the light emitting elements exist on the substrate are curved. Even if it is arranged at the edge or bent during transportation, the substrate part except the bending-resistant reinforcing part is bent, but the bending-resistant reinforcing part, the substrate part in the vicinity of the bending-resistant reinforcing part, and the light emission The bending of the element is suppressed, and damage to the light emitting element and damage to the joint between the light emitting element and the substrate can be prevented.

Top view of lighting device Front view of lighting device Bottom view of lighting device Enlarged sectional view of the lighting device The figure which shows the arrangement | positioning aspect of an illuminating device Partial enlarged view of the vicinity of the light emitting element of the lighting device Partial enlarged view showing a first modification of the bending proof reinforcement Partial enlarged view showing a second modification of the bending-proof reinforcing portion Partial enlarged view showing a third modification of the bending-proof reinforcing portion The figure which shows 2nd Embodiment of an illuminating device. The figure which shows the illuminating device in a fixture

  A lighting device 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a plan view of the lighting device 1, FIG. 2 is a front view of the lighting device 1, and FIG. 3 is a bottom view of the lighting device 1.

  The illuminating device 1 includes a long substrate 11 having flexibility, a plurality of light emitting elements 12 disposed at predetermined intervals in the length direction on the substrate 11, and a plurality of light emitting elements 12. A transparent and flexible protective tube 13 covering the substrate 11, a power cable 14 connected to both ends of the substrate 11 in the protective tube 13, and the bending of the light emitting element 12 are formed on the substrate 11. It is mainly composed of a bending-resistant reinforcing portion 15.

  The substrate 11 will be described. The substrate 11 in the present embodiment is a long flexible printed circuit board (FPC) made of a material such as copper or glass epoxy. In addition, the said material of the board | substrate 11 is an example in this embodiment, and when applying this invention, if it is a material which has flexibility, it will not specifically limit.

  The substrate 11 in the present embodiment has a length dimension of about 100 to 5000 mm, a height dimension of about 0.1 to 1.0 mm, and a width dimension of about 5 to 20 mm. In addition, the said dimension range of the board | substrate 11 is an example in this embodiment, and when applying this invention, it is not specifically limited.

  Since the light emitting element 12, the power cable 14, and various chip parts (not shown) are soldered to the substrate 11, the light emitting element electrode (not shown) corresponding to the soldering position of the light emitting element 12 is provided at both ends of the substrate 11. The power supply electrode 11a and component electrodes (not shown) corresponding to the soldering positions of the chip components are formed. A wiring pattern for electrically connecting the light emitting element 12, the power cable 14, and various chip components (not shown) is formed on the substrate 11 through these electrodes. The wiring pattern is formed by a known method such as printing.

  In addition, preliminary electrodes 11b are formed on the substrate 11 at a predetermined pitch at a substantially intermediate position of the light emitting elements 12 on the wiring pattern. The operator can adjust the substrate 11 to a desired length by cutting the spare electrode 11b at a substantially central position indicated by a one-dot chain line in the drawing. The cut spare electrode 11b becomes a new power electrode 11a when the power cable 14 is connected.

  The spare electrode 11b in the present embodiment is formed at a pitch of 6 times the pitch of the light emitting elements 12 as shown in the figure. Therefore, the substrate 11 in this embodiment can be adjusted in units of the length of the substrate 11 on which the six light emitting elements 12 are arranged. The unit length of the substrate 11 is an example in the present embodiment, and the unit length corresponding to an arbitrary number of light emitting elements 12 may be obtained by changing the pitch of the spare electrodes 11b. In addition, each of the electrodes described above may be an electrode pair including a + side electrode and a − side electrode, and the + side electrode and the − side electrode are singular for adjusting brightness, emission color, emission order, and the like. Or the structure which added the some control electrode may be sufficient. The substrate 11 is provided with an insulating coating except for each electrode portion.

  The light emitting element 12 will be described. The light emitting element 12 in the present embodiment is composed of a semiconductor light emitting element (LED element) from the viewpoint of a small amount of heat generation and a long life. Note that the semiconductor light emitting element (LED element) as the light emitting element 12 is an example in the present embodiment, and is not particularly limited in the application of the present invention. For example, a fluorescent tube or the like may be used. Good.

  The length, width, and height directions of the light-emitting element 12 described below are directions corresponding to the length, width, and thickness directions of the substrate 11 in a state of being disposed on the substrate 11. The light emitting element 12 in the present embodiment has a lengthwise dimension of about 5 to 8 mm, a widthwise dimension of about 2 to 4 mm, and a heightwise dimension of about 2 to 4 mm. In addition, said dimension range is an example in this embodiment, and in the application of this invention, the dimension of each direction of the light emitting element 12 is not specifically limited.

  The light emitting elements 12 are arranged on the substrate 11 with a predetermined interval in the length direction at a predetermined pitch. The light emitting element 12 in this embodiment has a pitch of about 15 to 20 mm. Note that the pitch range of the light emitting elements 12 is an example in the present embodiment, and in the application of the present invention, a value larger than the dimension in the length direction of the light emitting elements 12 so that the adjacent light emitting elements 12 are spaced from each other. If so, it can be changed according to the desired brightness, power consumption, etc. in the fixture, and is not particularly limited. The light emitting element 12 in this embodiment has an interval of about 5 to 15 mm from the adjacent light emitting elements 12.

  Further, the center position in the width direction of the light emitting element 12 in the present embodiment is offset from the center position in the width direction of the substrate 11 as shown in the figure. The center position of the light emitting element 12 is a coordinate position in the width direction of the substrate 11 at the center portion in the width direction of the light emitting element 12. The center position of the light emitting element 12 is not particularly limited in the application of the present invention, and may coincide with the center position of the substrate 11 in the width direction.

  Further, the light emitting element 12 in the present embodiment emits light in a direction parallel to the substrate 11 as indicated by an arrow in the drawing. The light emitting direction of the light emitting element 12 is not particularly limited in the application of the present invention, and the light emitting element 12 may emit light in a direction perpendicular to the substrate 11.

  The protective tube 13 will be described. The protection tube 13 is hollow, and protects the substrate 11 having a plurality of light emitting elements 12 disposed therein. The protective tube 13 is made of transparent silicon. In addition, the said material of the protection tube 13 is an example in this embodiment, and in application of this invention, it is not specifically limited. Further, the protective tube 13 is sealed at both ends with end caps 131 in order to hold the substrate 11 on which the plurality of light emitting elements 12 are arranged therein.

  4 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of FIG. 2 as viewed from line AA. As shown in FIG. 4, the inner and outer surfaces of the protective tube 13 in the vicinity of the light emitting element 12 are curved surfaces 13 a. As a result, the light from the light emitting element 12 that has passed through the curved surface 13a is diffused and radiated from a direction parallel to the substrate 11 in an obliquely upward direction, as indicated by arrows in FIG.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 4, the protective tube 13 has a single groove 13 b formed on both the upper and lower outer surfaces of the substrate 11. FIG. 5 shows an arrangement state of the lighting device 1. As shown in FIG. 5, the illuminating device 1 is disposed by fitting a protrusion of a metal mounting rail into the groove 13b. The mounting rail is fixed by screws and holds the lighting device 1 between the mounting rail and the fall prevention cover. In addition, the arrangement | positioning form of the illuminating device 1 is not specifically limited, You may arrange | position using a well-known clip etc.

  The power cable 14 will be described again with reference to FIG. The power cable 14 is connected to a connector 141 at one end, and the other end is inserted into a through hole on the end cap 131 and soldered to the power electrode 11a. The power cable 14 is connected to an external power supply via the connector 141.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the illumination device 1 connects two power cables 14 to both ends of the substrate 11 and supplies power from both ends, so that stable power supply to the light emitting element can be performed. Further, the power cable 14 is preferably color-coded in order to easily determine whether it is the + side or the-side, but is not particularly limited.

  FIG. 6 is a partially enlarged view of the illumination device in the vicinity of the light emitting element 12. The bending-proof reinforcement part 15 is demonstrated using FIG. 3 and FIG. A plurality of bending-resistant reinforcing portions 15 are formed on the substrate 11 at positions corresponding to the region where the light-emitting elements 12 exist on the substrate 11, that is, on the substrate 11 in the vicinity of the light-emitting elements 12. The length, width, and height directions in the bending-resistant reinforcing portion 15 described below are directions corresponding to the length, width, and thickness directions of the substrate 11.

  The bending-proof reinforcing portions 15 are formed on the substrate 11 with a predetermined interval at a predetermined pitch in the length direction. The bending-resistant reinforcing portion 15 in the present embodiment is made of a resin plate such as a glass epoxy substrate (FR4 substrate) or PET (polyethylene terephthalate) obtained by impregnating a glass fiber cloth with an epoxy resin and performing a thermosetting process. In addition, the said material of the bending-proof reinforcement part 15 is an example in this embodiment, and in application of this invention, it is not specifically limited.

  And the bending-proof reinforcement part 15 is formed by fixing these glass epoxy boards and PET board to the board | substrate 11 by well-known methods, such as adhesion | attachment, welding, and heat welding by hot press. When the substrate 11 is reinforced by the bending-resistant reinforcing portion 15, the portion of the substrate 11 where the bending-resistant reinforcing portion 15 is formed becomes less flexible than the portion where the bending-resistant reinforcing portion 15 is not formed.

  That is, the portion where the bending-resistant reinforcing portion 15 is formed has higher bending rigidity than the portion where the bending-resistant reinforcing portion 15 is not formed, and is less likely to bend than the portion where the bending-resistant reinforcing portion 15 is formed. 15. The bending of the portion of the substrate 11 in the vicinity of the bending-resistant reinforcing portion 15 and the light emitting element 12 itself can be suppressed.

  As shown in FIGS. 3 and 6, the bending-resistant reinforcing portion 15 in the present embodiment is formed on the surface opposite to the arrangement surface of the light emitting element 12. However, the bending-resistant reinforcing portion 15 may be formed in the vicinity of the light emitting element 12, and may be formed on the side of the light emitting element 12 on the same surface as the arrangement surface of the light emitting element 12, for example.

  The dimension in the length direction of the bending-resistant reinforcing portion 15 is desirably larger by about 1 to 2 mm than the dimension in the length direction of the light emitting element 12. Moreover, as for the dimension of the length direction of the bending-proof reinforcement part 15, it is desirable for the space | interval with the adjacent bending-proof reinforcement part 15 to be 3 mm or more. In addition, each value of the said length direction dimension and the said space | interval in the bending-proof reinforcement part 15 is an example in this embodiment, and in application of this invention, it does not specifically limit.

  In addition, it is desirable that the dimension in the width direction of the bending-resistant reinforcing portion 15 is large within a range not exceeding the width direction of the substrate 11. The bending-resistant reinforcing portion 15 in the present embodiment has the same width direction dimension as the width direction of the substrate 11, but this is an example in the present embodiment and is particularly limited in the application of the present invention. It is not something.

  In addition, it is desirable that the dimension in the height direction of the bending-resistant reinforcing portion 15 is large as long as it can be inserted into the protective tube 13. The bending-resistant reinforcing portion 15 in the present embodiment has a height direction dimension of about 0.3 mm, but this is an example in the present embodiment and is particularly limited in applying the present invention. is not.

  The bending-resistant reinforcing portions 15 are formed on the substrate 11 at the same pitch as the light emitting elements 12. Further, the center position in the length direction of the bending-resistant reinforcing portion 15 and the center position in the length direction of the light emitting element 12 coincide with each other. The center position of the bending resistant reinforcing portion 15 is a coordinate position in the length direction on the substrate 11 in the central portion of the bending resistant reinforcing portion 15 in the length direction.

  In addition, the center position in the length direction of the bending-resistant reinforcing portion 15 is such that a part of the light-emitting element 12 is not arranged in a region where the bending-resistant reinforcing portion 15 is not formed. May be offset.

  Further, in the bending-resistant reinforcing part 15, one bending-resistant reinforcing part 15 suppresses bending of one light-emitting element 12, but as shown in FIG. 7, one bending-resistant reinforcing part 15 has two light-emitting elements. Twelve bendings may be suppressed. In the case of this modification, the bending resistant reinforcing portions 15 are formed with a pitch twice as large as the pitch of the light emitting elements 12.

  Further, it is desirable that the dimension in the length direction of the bending-resistant reinforcing portion 15 is larger than the value obtained by adding the dimension in the length direction of the light emitting element 12 to the pitch of the light emitting element 12. A modification in which one bending reinforcement portion 15 suppresses bending of three or more light emitting elements 12 is also possible.

  Moreover, although the bending-proof reinforcement part 15 is formed by fixing another member to the board | substrate 11, as shown in FIG. 8, it is not a different member from the board | substrate 11, but the height direction of the same material as the board | substrate 11 is used. You may form with the profile material from which a dimension differs. This modification can omit the step of fixing the bending-resistant reinforcing portion 15 in the manufacturing process of the lighting device 1.

  Further, as a modified example in which the bending-resistant reinforcing portion 15 is formed of the same member as the substrate 11, a projection obtained by pressing the substrate 11 may be used as the bending-resistant reinforcing portion 15. FIG. 9 shows the substrate 11 on which the bending proof reinforcement 15 is formed by pressing. The upper view of FIG. 9 is a plan view, and the lower view is a front view. In FIG. 9, members other than the substrate 11 and the bending resistant reinforcing portion 15 are omitted.

  In FIG. 9, the bending-resistant reinforcing portion 15 is formed with four protrusions extending in the length direction at intervals in the width direction. However, the bending rigidity of the portion where the bending-resistant reinforcing portion 15 is formed is different. If it becomes higher than this part, the shape and number of protrusions are not particularly limited.

  The substrate 11 in the present embodiment is formed by arranging a plurality of light emitting elements 12 in a line in the length direction, but the present invention is an illuminating device including a substrate 21 in which a plurality of light emitting elements 22 are two-dimensionally arranged. Is also applicable.

  FIG. 10 is a view showing an illuminating device 2 according to a second embodiment provided with a substrate 21 on which a plurality of light emitting elements 22 are two-dimensionally arranged. In FIG. 10, components other than the substrate 21, the light emitting element 22, and the bending resistant reinforcing portion 25 are omitted. The bending-resistant reinforcing part 25 is indicated by a broken line in the figure. The bending-resistant reinforcing part 25 can be formed by the same method as the bending-resistant reinforcing part 15 in the first embodiment and its modifications, and can also include a protective tube and a power cable.

  The bending-resistant reinforcing portion 25 may be formed for each light emitting element 22 as shown in the upper left diagram of FIG. 10, and as shown in the upper right diagram of FIG. 10, for every two light emitting elements 22 aligned in the vertical direction. As shown in the lower right diagram of FIG. 10, it may be formed for every two light emitting elements 22 arranged in the horizontal direction, and as shown in the lower right diagram of FIG. You may form for every 22 groups.

  In the second embodiment, bending of the light emitting element 22 can be suppressed even when the planar substrate 21 is curved around an axis parallel to the vertical direction or the horizontal direction in FIG. In addition, the number of light-emitting elements 22 in which the one bending-resistant reinforcing portion 25 suppresses bending is an example in the present embodiment, and the number of light-emitting elements 22 in which bending is suppressed is particularly limited in the application of the present invention. Is not to be done.

  As described above, according to the present embodiment, the plurality of bending-resistant reinforcing portions 15 are provided at predetermined intervals at predetermined pitches in predetermined directions corresponding to the regions where the light emitting elements 12 and 22 on the substrates 11 and 21 exist. By forming, the bending rigidity of the region where the bending-resistant reinforcing portion 15 is formed is made higher than the region where the bending-resistant reinforcing portion 15 is not formed, and the bending of the light-emitting elements 12 and 22 is suppressed. It is possible to prevent breakage of 22 and breakage of the junction between the light emitting elements 12 and 22 and the substrates 11 and 12.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1, 2 Illumination device 11, 21 Board | substrate 12,22 Light emitting element 15,25 Bending-proof reinforcement part

Claims (1)

In an illuminating device in which a plurality of light emitting elements are arranged at a predetermined pitch with a predetermined pitch in a predetermined direction of the substrate on a flexible substrate on which a wiring pattern is formed,
A plurality of bending-resistant reinforcing portions for suppressing bending of the light-emitting elements, which are arranged one- on -one in correspondence with each of the plurality of light-emitting elements on the substrate and spaced at predetermined intervals in the predetermined direction; Prepared,
Each of the bending-resistant reinforcing portions is composed of a plurality of protrusions extending in the predetermined direction provided at intervals in a direction orthogonal to the predetermined direction, and each protrusion deforms the substrate so that the upper surface of the substrate is In the concave shape, the lower surface of the substrate is formed in a convex shape,
The lighting device, wherein the light emitting element is disposed on the bending-resistant reinforcing portion.

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