JP6647975B2 - Phosphorescent light source and phosphorescent system - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a luminous light source and a luminous storage system that can be used instead of a conventional fluorescent lamp.

  Conventionally, fluorescent lamps emit light from the side, but by arranging a plurality of them, a large area can be easily illuminated.For example, a large number of fluorescent lamps are arranged in public facilities such as ceilings of offices and factories, and stations. Used. However, power consumption is large especially when a large number is used.

  On the other hand, there is a light emitting diode which consumes little power and has a long life, and which realizes surface light emission by arranging a large number of light emitting diodes on a plane. However, when a large number of light emitting diodes are arranged, there is a problem that even if the power consumption of each light emitting diode is small, the power consumption is large as a whole, so that power saving cannot be sufficiently realized. When a large number of light-emitting diodes are used, the total amount of heat radiation of the light-emitting diodes also increases. However, it is difficult to solve the heat radiation, and there is a problem that a large heat radiation area is required.

  As a solution to this problem, there is known a columnar light-emitting body that emits light from a small number of light-emitting diodes from an end of the columnar light-emitting body and realizes side emission (Patent Document 1).

  However, the columnar illuminator disclosed in Patent Literature 1 allows light of a small number of light emitting diodes to be incident from the end of the columnar illuminator, and the columnar illuminator that realizes side emission can realize power saving, Since the number of light emitting diodes is small, sufficient brightness cannot be obtained as compared with a conventional fluorescent lamp. In particular, the problem is that the central part far from the light emitting diode, which is the light source, becomes dark, and the irradiation distance of the light emitted from the side surface is short, and is limited to about 1.5 m to 2 m. there were.

  In order to solve this problem, a columnar light guide is provided with a strip-shaped light reflection layer and a lens-shaped lens layer along the longitudinal direction, and light from a light-emitting diode is incident from the end of the columnar light guide, and the strip-shaped light reflection is performed. Light incident on the layer is reflected, and the light is focused by the semi-cylindrical lens layer. Therefore, even if the number of light emitting diodes is small, the irradiation distance of the side emission light is long, and the side emission with the brightness that can withstand practical use Is known (Patent Literature 2).

JP-A-2003-141904 JP 2012-28095A

  Although the columnar light-emitting body disclosed in Patent Document 2 has a long irradiation distance of side-emitted light and a good brightness even when the number of light-emitting diodes is small, it is suitable for practical use as a lighting device. However, there is a problem that power needs to be supplied to make the light emitting diodes emit light, and even if the number of light emitting diodes is small, the power consumption increases as a whole, so that it is not possible to sufficiently realize power saving.

In order to solve the above problems, a first aspect of the present invention is directed to a transparent ultraviolet ray transmitting rod serving as a core layer, and a substantially axial direction of the ultraviolet ray transmitting rod disposed at an end of the ultraviolet ray transmitting rod is centered on the optical axis. An ultraviolet light source that irradiates ultraviolet light, a luminous layer that emits visible light excited by ultraviolet light that is directly or indirectly disposed over the entire length of the ultraviolet light transmitting rod on a part of the side surface of the ultraviolet light transmitting rod, and a side surface of the ultraviolet light transmitting rod. and an ultraviolet low refractive index transparent cladding layer than the material of the deployed ultraviolet transmission rod to another portion, a reflective layer disposed below the luminescent layer, Tona is, the reflective layer is UV-reflecting layer and visible providing phosphorescent light Ru bilayer der light reflection layer.

As a second aspect of the invention, the reflective layer, the upper layer is UV-reflecting layer, provides a phosphorescent light source of the first invention the lower layer is Ru visible light reflecting layer der.

As a third invention, the ultraviolet light source is disposed at both ends of an ultraviolet transmission rod, and the optical axis centers of both ultraviolet light sources are arranged so as not to overlap the optical axis centers of the other ultraviolet light sources. Alternatively, a luminous light source according to the second invention is provided.

As a fourth invention, there is provided the luminous light source according to any one of the first to third inventions, wherein the ultraviolet transmitting rod is cylindrical.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, there is provided the luminous light source according to any one of the first to third aspects of the invention, wherein the cross section of the ultraviolet transmitting rod has a semi-cylindrical section.

As a sixth invention, the light-storing layer is arranged in a fan-shaped area at a predetermined angle from the cylindrical axis along the side surface of the cylinder, and the reflective layer below the light-storing layer is arranged in a fan area having an angle larger than the predetermined angle. As a result, the luminous light source according to the fourth or fifth aspect of the present invention is provided in which the reflection layer portion on which the luminous layer is not disposed is disposed toward the inside of the ultraviolet transmitting rod.

As a seventh invention, except for the arrangement region of the ultraviolet light source end of the UV transmission rods, provides a phosphorescent light source according to any one of the sixth aspect of the present invention from a first aspect the UV-reflecting material is disposed I do.

As an eighth invention, a phosphorescent light source according the first invention in any one of the seventh invention, a power source for supplying electricity to the ultraviolet light source of the phosphorescent light source, supplied from the power supply and the intermittent supply And a control unit for controlling the light storage system.

As a ninth invention, there is provided the light storage system according to the eighth invention, wherein the ultraviolet light source is an ultraviolet LED.

As a tenth invention, there is provided the light storage system according to the eighth or ninth invention, wherein the power supply includes a solar panel.

  ADVANTAGE OF THE INVENTION By this invention, sufficient power saving can be implement | achieved and a brighter light storage light source and a light storage system can be provided.

Conceptual perspective view of the phosphorescent light source of the first embodiment Schematic diagram of the phosphorescent light source of the first embodiment Schematic diagram of the phosphorescent light source of the first embodiment Diagram for explaining the relationship between the refractive index of an ultraviolet transmitting rod and a transparent cladding layer Conceptual diagram showing an example in which the light emission front of an ultraviolet light source is arranged inclined toward the luminous layer Conceptual perspective view of the phosphorescent light source according to the second embodiment Conceptual diagram of the phosphorescent light source according to the third embodiment Schematic diagram of the phosphorescent light source according to the fourth embodiment Conceptual diagram of the phosphorescent light source of the fifth embodiment Conceptual diagram of the phosphorescent light source of the fifth embodiment Conceptual diagram of the phosphorescent light source of the fifth embodiment Schematic diagram of the phosphorescent light source of the sixth embodiment The figure which shows an example of the functional block of the light storage system of Embodiment 7. The figure which shows an example of the functional block of the light storage system of Embodiment 9

0100 Light storage light source 0101, 0201, 0301, 0501, 0801 UV transmission rod 0102, 0202, 0302, 0802 UV light source 0103, 0203, 0303, 0503, 0803 Light storage layer 0104, 0204, 0304, 0504, 0804 Transparent cladding layer 0105, 0205 Substantially axial direction of ultraviolet transmitting rod 0206 Optical axis center 0207,0307,0807 Ultraviolet light 0208 Visible light 0509,0809 Reflecting layer 0510 Ultraviolet reflecting layer 0511 Visible light reflecting layer 0812 Ultraviolet reflecting material 0215 Case for storing ultraviolet light source 0316 Ultraviolet transmitting rod and Interface of transparent cladding layer 0817 Gel 0920 Light storage system 0921 Power supply 0922 Control unit 0923 Solar panel

Hereinafter, embodiments of each invention will be described. It should be noted that the present invention should not be limited to these embodiments at all, and can be carried out in various modes without departing from the gist thereof. The relationship between the embodiment and the claims is as follows. Embodiments 1 and 3 mainly relate to claims 1 and 2 and the like. Embodiment 2 relates to claim 3 and the like . Implementation fourth relates mainly to claims 4 and 5. Embodiment 5 mainly relates to claim 6 . Embodiment 6 relates to claim 7 and the like. Embodiment 7 relates to claim 8 and the like. Embodiment 8 relates to claim 9 and the like . Embodiment 9 relates to claim 10 and the like .

The luminous light source of the present embodiment is characterized in that a luminous layer that emits visible light when excited by ultraviolet light, which is directly or indirectly disposed over the entire length of the ultraviolet light transmitting rod, is provided on a part of the side surface of the ultraviolet light transmitting rod.
<Embodiment 1: Overall configuration>

  FIG. 1 is a conceptual perspective view showing an example of the light storage light source of the present embodiment. 2A and 2B are conceptual diagrams showing an example of the light storage light source of the present embodiment, in which (a) is a cross-sectional view perpendicular to the substantially axial direction of the ultraviolet transmitting rod, and (b) is an ultraviolet transmitting rod. 3 shows a longitudinal sectional view along a substantially axial direction of FIG. FIG. 2A is an example in which the luminous layer is directly disposed over the entire length of the ultraviolet transmitting rod. FIG. 2B is an example in which a transparent cladding layer is arranged on the entire side surface of the ultraviolet ray transmitting rod, and the light storage layer is indirectly arranged over the entire length of the ultraviolet ray transmitting rod.

The light storage light source of the present embodiment includes an ultraviolet transmission rod (0201), an ultraviolet light source (0202), a light storage layer (0203), and a transparent cladding layer (0204). The substantially axial direction of the ultraviolet transmitting rod refers to the direction indicated by the double-headed arrow (0205).
<Embodiment 1: Configuration of each part>
(UV transmission rod)

The “ultraviolet transmitting rod” (0201) is a transparent rod serving as a core layer, and is made of a material having a high ultraviolet transmittance and a high ultraviolet durability. For example, a transparent acrylic resin such as polymethyl methacrylate resin (refractive index: about 1.49), synthetic quartz glass (refractive index: about 1.47), transparent quartz glass (refractive index: about 1.47), borosilicate glass (Approximately 1.48 in refractive index).
(UV light source)

The “ultraviolet light source” (0202) is arranged at the end of the ultraviolet transmission rod and irradiates ultraviolet light (0207) with the substantially axial direction of the ultraviolet transmission rod as the optical axis center (0206). This ultraviolet light source has a function of making light incident on the light storage layer from the end of the ultraviolet transmission rod. It is preferable that the installation position of the ultraviolet light source is located at the end of the ultraviolet transmission rod, and the light emission front surface of the ultraviolet light source is located on a plane perpendicular to the substantially axial direction of the ultraviolet transmission rod. By installing in this manner, ultraviolet rays, a generally axially of the ultraviolet transmission rod may be irradiated as an optical axis.

It is preferable to use an ultraviolet lamp, an ultraviolet LED (UV-LED), and a black light as the ultraviolet light source. Although described in detail later, it is particularly desirable to use an ultraviolet LED. The case (0215) containing the ultraviolet light source may be filled with a gel. In this case, it is desirable to use a gel having ultraviolet weather resistance. For example, a liquid silicone rubber excellent in weather resistance such as ultraviolet resistance can be filled and cured (gelled) in the case. The material used for the gel is preferably a silicone-based material from the viewpoint of ultraviolet weather resistance.
(Luminescent layer)

The “light storage layer” (0203) is disposed directly or indirectly on a part of the side surface of the ultraviolet transmitting rod over the entire length of the ultraviolet transmitting rod, and emits visible light (0208) when excited by ultraviolet light. The visible light emitted by the light storage layer is emitted from the side other than the light storage layer disposed on a part of the side surface of the ultraviolet transmitting rod, so that the entire side of the light storage light source shines brightly.

  In the present invention, the light storage layer is excited by ultraviolet light and emits visible light, but since ultraviolet light has a short wavelength and high energy, it is possible to irradiate visible light of sufficient brightness with less power consumption. . In addition, since ultraviolet rays do not emit heat, it is possible to prevent the surface of the luminous layer to be irradiated from being heated to a high temperature.

The light storage layer includes a light storage material that has a property of storing light energy and gradually releasing the stored light energy as light. As the phosphorescent material, a strontium aluminate phosphorescent powder dissolved in a solution and dried is used. Strontium aluminate refers to a substance having strontium (Sr), aluminum (Al) and oxygen (O) as main constituent elements, such as SrAl ₂ O ₄ and Sr ₄ Al ₁₄ O _25, and a strontium aluminate-based phosphorescent powder Is obtained by adding a small amount of europium (Eu), dysprosium (Dy), boron (B) or the like using a strontium aluminate salt as a mother crystal.

  The luminous layer may be a compound obtained by mixing a luminous material and a resin, or may include one or more luminous materials. The material of the light-storing layer includes various forms such as a light-storing pigment, a light-storing paint, a light-storing tape, a light-storing resin pellet, and a light-storing resin plate, but the present invention is not limited to the material of the light-storing layer.

  Further, a silicone-based material may be used as a base material of the light storage layer. Silicone-based materials have high stability against ultraviolet rays and the like as compared with resin-based materials due to the large bonding energy of the siloxane bond, which is the main skeleton, and have the characteristics of being less discolored and deteriorated by ultraviolet rays. I have. Therefore, by using the material for the light storage layer, discoloration and deterioration of the light storage material due to ultraviolet rays can be prevented.

  The luminous layer may be formed by, for example, printing or applying a luminous paint, a luminous pigment, or a luminous material to the outside of the ultraviolet transmitting rod or the transparent cladding layer. At this time, if a part of the ultraviolet transmitting rod and the transparent cladding layer is formed in a plane, printing and application are easy. However, the luminous layer does not necessarily need to be formed in a plane, and may be formed with a curved surface or the like along the side surface shape of the columnar light guide. Alternatively, as shown in Embodiment 4, the cross section perpendicular to the substantially axial direction of the ultraviolet transmitting rod is formed into a semi-cylindrical cross section, and the longitudinal sectional view along the substantially axial direction of the ultraviolet transmitting rod is formed as a substantially rectangular cross section. May be provided with a luminous layer.

  In order to attach the phosphorescent material to the outside of the ultraviolet transmitting rod or the transparent clad layer, for example, a silicone adhesive transfer tape may be used. The use of a silicone-based material as the adhesive material uses a material that does not easily discolor or deteriorate like the phosphorescent material, so that the effect of using a material that does not easily discolor or deteriorate in the bent phosphorescent layer is not diminished. It is in. A suitable silicone-based adhesive transfer tape having such properties is a silicone-based adhesive transfer tape manufactured by Sumitomo 3M Limited (product number 91022).

When a light-emitting diode is used as an ultraviolet light source, the area near the light-emitting diode becomes relatively bright and becomes darker as the distance from the light source increases. By increasing the size, the side surface of the light storage power source can be uniformly illuminated substantially in the axial direction of the ultraviolet transmitting rod. It is sufficient that at least one light storage layer is disposed, but a plurality of light storage layers may be disposed.
(Transparent cladding layer)

  The “transparent cladding layer” (0204) is disposed on another part of the side surface of the ultraviolet transmitting rod. “Other part of the side surface of the ultraviolet transmitting rod” means the side surface of the ultraviolet transmitting rod on which the luminous layer is not disposed. That is, the transparent cladding layer can be disposed on a portion other than the phosphorescent layer disposed on a part of the side surface of the ultraviolet transmitting rod as shown in FIG. 2A, or can be disposed on the ultraviolet transmitting rod as shown in FIG. 2B. This also includes the arrangement on all of the side surfaces. When the transparent cladding layer is disposed on the entire side surface of the ultraviolet transmitting rod, the light storage layer is disposed on a part of the side surface of the ultraviolet transmitting rod via the transparent cladding layer.

The transparent cladding layer has a lower ultraviolet refractive index than the material of the ultraviolet transmitting rod. For example, it is a transparent fluororesin such as PTFE, a transparent silicone resin, or the like.
(Relationship between the refractive index of the transparent rod and the transparent rod)

  In this embodiment, in order to prevent harmful ultraviolet rays from being emitted from the phosphorescent light source, the refractive index of the ultraviolet transmitting rod and the transparent cladding layer are set to have a predetermined relationship. Specifically, the refractive index of the ultraviolet transmitting rod Is set to a predetermined refractive index, and the refractive index of the transparent cladding layer is set to be lower than the refractive index of the ultraviolet transmitting rod.

FIG. 3A is a diagram for explaining the relationship between the refractive index of the ultraviolet transmitting rod and the transparent cladding layer. First, a part of the light emitted from the ultraviolet light source is reflected at the interface (0316) between the ultraviolet transmitting rod (0301) and the cladding layer (0304), and the other part passes through the ultraviolet transmitting rod and enters the transparent cladding layer. Incident. At this time, transparent for better refractive index n1 of the clad layer is lower than the refractive index n2 of the UV transmission rod, transparent cladding layer than the incident angle theta ₁ from ultraviolet transmission rod relative to the boundary surface of the UV radiation transmission rod and a transparent cladding layer towards the exit angle θ ₂ to the increases.

However, the angle of incidence on the boundary surface of the UV radiation transmission rod and the transparent cladding layer becomes large angle theta ₃ than critical angle, the light is totally reflected by the boundary surface, thus going back to ultraviolet transmission rod side. Therefore, only when the incident angle of the ultraviolet rays is equal to or smaller than the predetermined angle, the ultraviolet rays enter the transparent cladding layer. By configuring the relationship between the refractive index of the ultraviolet transmitting rod and the refractive index of the transparent cladding layer as in the present invention, it becomes possible to reduce the amount of ultraviolet light entering the transparent cladding layer, so that the ultraviolet light emitted from the ultraviolet light source is more effective. Can be used for

  As described above, when the incident angle of the ultraviolet light emitted from the ultraviolet light source becomes larger than the critical angle, the light is totally reflected by the boundary surface and returns to the light storage layer side. The LED itself has directivity, and the light from the light source irradiates the light in a fixed direction. In this case, the angle of incidence on the interface between the ultraviolet transmitting rod and the transparent cladding layer naturally increases, and total reflection easily occurs. Therefore, as described in Embodiment 8, it is desirable to use an ultraviolet LED as the ultraviolet light source.

  On the other hand, FIG. 3B is a conceptual diagram showing an example in which the light emission front of the ultraviolet light source (0302) is inclined toward the light storage layer (0303). When the light emitting front is arranged toward the luminous layer, most of the ultraviolet rays are absorbed by the luminous layer, but a part is reflected and emitted toward the transparent ultraviolet rod (0301). At this time, the angle of incidence of the ultraviolet rays on the ultraviolet transmitting rod (0304) becomes small, and it is not preferable because total reflection hardly occurs on the boundary surface between the ultraviolet transmitting rod and the transparent cladding layer. In the present invention, since the ultraviolet light source emits ultraviolet light with the optical axis direction substantially along the axis of the ultraviolet transmitting rod as the optical axis, the configuration is such that total reflection is more likely to occur.

  When the ultraviolet transmitting rod and the transparent cladding layer are configured as described above, it is possible to substantially suppress transmission of ultraviolet light from the light storage light source. However, in order to prevent emission of harmful ultraviolet rays, it is desirable that the transparent cladding layer be covered with an ultraviolet reflector. For example, it is desirable to coat a thin film of aluminum on the order of 50 to 300 angstroms. The aluminum thin film can be coated by a vapor deposition method, a sputtering method, or the like. Further, an ultraviolet reflective paint can be applied. In this way, the design is made so that even if a small amount of ultraviolet light leaks to the outside, the human body is not harmed. Further, even after coating with the ultraviolet reflecting material, the surface of the transparent cladding layer is transparent or translucent, and visible light is emitted from the transparent cladding layer without being blocked.

As a combination of materials having a lower refractive index in the transparent cladding layer than in such an ultraviolet transmitting rod, for example, the ultraviolet transmitting rod is a polymethyl methacrylate resin (refractive index: about 1.49), and the transparent cladding layer is A transparent fluororesin such as PTFE (refractive index: about 1.35 to 1.42) or a transparent silicone resin (refractive index: about 1.41), or an ultraviolet transmitting rod made of synthetic quartz glass (refractive index: about 1.47) ), Transparent quartz glass (refractive index: about 1.47), borosilicate glass (refractive index: 1.48), and the like, in which the transparent cladding layer is a transparent fluororesin such as PTFE or a transparent silicone resin. It is preferable to increase the adhesion between the glass and the resin by performing a primer treatment or the like between the glass and the PTFE resin or the transparent silicone resin.
<Embodiment 1: Effect>

The luminous light source of the present embodiment can provide a brighter luminous light source with less power consumption without emitting harmful ultraviolet rays to the outside of the system.
<Embodiment 2: Outline>

The light storage light source of the present embodiment is based on Embodiment 1, and furthermore, the ultraviolet light sources are disposed at both ends of the ultraviolet transmitting rod, and the optical axis centers of both ultraviolet light sources are aligned with the optical axis centers of the other ultraviolet light sources. It is characterized by being arranged so as not to overlap.
<Embodiment 2: Overall configuration>

  In the light storage light source, the ultraviolet light sources are arranged at both ends of the ultraviolet transmission rod, and the optical axis centers of both ultraviolet light sources are arranged so as not to overlap the optical axis centers of the other ultraviolet light sources.

FIG. 4 is a conceptual perspective view showing an example of the light storage light source of the present embodiment. The light storage light source of the present embodiment includes an ultraviolet transmission rod (0401), a plurality of ultraviolet light sources (0402), a transparent cladding layer (0403), and a light storage layer (0404). The ultraviolet transmitting rod, the transparent cladding layer, and the luminous layer are the same as those described in the first embodiment, and a description thereof will not be repeated.
(Arrangement of UV light source)

  Ultraviolet light sources are disposed at both ends of the ultraviolet transmission rod. Although the position at the end is not particularly limited, as shown in an example in FIG. 4, the optical axis centers of the respective ultraviolet light sources disposed at both ends are arranged so as not to overlap with the optical axis centers of the other ultraviolet light sources, respectively. Is done. In FIG. 4, one ultraviolet light source is disposed at each end, but a plurality of ultraviolet light sources may be disposed at each end. Since the light near the ultraviolet light source, which is the light source, is brighter, if the light from the ultraviolet light source is incident from both ends, there is no difference in the brightness at both ends, and the light storage light source can be more uniformly illuminated.

In addition, by disposing the optical axis centers so as not to overlap, the ultraviolet light emitted from the ultraviolet light sources arranged at both ends as shown in FIG. As a result, the amount of light entering the light storage layer can be increased. On the other hand, if the centers of the optical axes of the ultraviolet light sources disposed at both ends overlap, strong ultraviolet light is applied to each other, and the deterioration of the ultraviolet light sources is undesirably accelerated. In the present invention, in order to prevent such a situation, the optical axis centers of the respective ultraviolet light sources arranged at both ends are arranged so as not to overlap with the optical axis centers of the other ultraviolet light sources.
<Embodiment 2: Effect>

With the light storage light source of the present embodiment, the difference in brightness at both ends is eliminated, the light storage light source can be made to emit light more uniformly, and a bright light storage light source can be provided with less power consumption.
<Embodiment 3: Outline>

  The luminous light source of the present embodiment is characterized in that, based on the first and second embodiments, a reflective layer is further provided below the luminous layer.

  Further, the reflective layer is characterized in that it is a two-layered structure including an ultraviolet reflective layer and a visible light reflective layer.

Further, the reflection layer is characterized in that the upper layer is an ultraviolet reflection layer and the lower layer is a visible light reflection layer.
<Embodiment 3: Overall configuration>

  FIG. 5 is an example of a conceptual diagram showing a vertical cross section of the ultraviolet transmitting rod of the light storage light source of the present embodiment in a substantially axial direction. The light storage light source includes a reflection layer below the light storage layer. The light storage light source of this embodiment includes an ultraviolet transmission rod (0501), an ultraviolet light source (0502), a transparent cladding layer (0503), a light storage layer (0504), and a reflection layer (0509). The reflecting layer can have a two-layer structure of an ultraviolet reflecting layer (0510) and a visible light reflecting layer (0511). Further, it is desirable that the upper layer of the reflective layer is an ultraviolet ray reflective layer and the lower layer is a visible light reflective layer. The ultraviolet transmitting rod, the ultraviolet light source, the transparent cladding layer, and the luminous layer are the same as those described in the first and second embodiments, and a description thereof will be omitted.

FIG. 5A shows an example in which a light storage layer is directly disposed on a part of the side surface of the ultraviolet transmission rod, and the transparent cladding layer is disposed on the side surface of the ultraviolet transmission rod where no light storage layer is provided. FIG. 5 (c) 5 a reflective layer of (a) the structure of two layers, an upper layer is UV-reflecting layer, an example in which the lower layer has a visible light reflection layer. FIG. 5B shows an example in which a transparent cladding layer is arranged on the entire side surface of the ultraviolet transmitting rod, and the light storage layer is indirectly arranged on a part of the side surface of the ultraviolet transmitting rod.
(Reflective layer)

  The “reflection layer” (0509) is provided below the phosphorescent layer. The reflection layer is a band-like layer that reflects light. The ultraviolet light that has entered the light storage layer is not entirely absorbed by the light storage layer, but a part of the ultraviolet light is reflected on the surface of the light storage layer or transmitted through the light storage layer and emitted to the lower layer of the light storage layer. The reflection layer is a member provided under the light-storing layer to reflect ultraviolet rays emitted to the layer below the light-storing layer and re-enter the light into the light-storing layer. Also, not all of the visible light excited in the luminous layer is emitted from the luminous layer to the ultraviolet transmitting rod, and part of the visible light is emitted from the lower layer of the luminous layer. The reflection layer is a member that also has a function of reflecting visible light emitted to the lower layer of the luminous layer and re-entering the luminous layer. The reflective layer can prevent light from leaking from the light storage light source and increase the amount of light emitted from the light storage layer, thereby improving the brightness of the light storage light source.

The reflection layer may be formed, for example, by printing or coating a white pigment or a scattering material on the outside or inside of the cylindrical light guide. White pigments and scattering materials are materials having strong light scattering properties, for example, metal oxide particles such as Al ₂ O ₃ , TiO ₂ and SiO ₂ , sulfate particles such as BaSO ₄ , carbonate particles such as CaCO ₃ , and glass. It may be composed of one or more of inorganic compound particles such as fine powders and glass balloons, and micro-foams forming fine air cells. In addition, for example, titanium oxide, zinc oxide, aluminum, or the like may be mixed as a material having excellent ultraviolet reflectivity.

  At this time, printing and application are easy if a part of the light storage layer is formed in a plane. However, the reflective layer does not necessarily need to be formed in a plane, and may be formed with a curved surface or the like that conforms to the side surface shape of the ultraviolet transmitting rod. Alternatively, as shown in Embodiment 4, the cross section perpendicular to the substantially axial direction of the ultraviolet transmitting rod is formed into a semi-cylindrical cross section, and the longitudinal sectional view along the substantially axial direction of the ultraviolet transmitting rod is formed as a substantially rectangular cross section. When a light-storing layer is provided on the cross section of, a reflecting layer can be provided below the light-storing layer.

  Alternatively, the reflection layer may be a mirror surface obtained by polishing a metal, depositing or plating a metal on resin, metal, glass, or the like, or a reflection material in which a prism or glass beads are embedded.

The reflecting layer can have a two-layer structure of an ultraviolet reflecting layer (008) and a visible light reflecting layer (009). In the case of a two-layer structure, it is desirable that the upper layer of the reflective layer is an ultraviolet reflective layer and the lower layer is a visible light reflective layer. With such a configuration, most of the ultraviolet light is reflected by the upper ultraviolet reflective layer, and most of the visible light is reflected by the lower visible light reflective layer.
(UV reflection layer)

“Ultraviolet reflective layer” is a belt-like layer that reflects ultraviolet light. For the ultraviolet reflecting layer, for example, a reflecting material such as titanium oxide, zinc oxide, or aluminum can be used. The reflecting material may be formed by printing, coating, or the like on the outside or inside of the cylindrical light guide, or the ultraviolet reflecting layer may be formed by a method such as sputtering or vapor deposition.
(Visible light reflective layer)

  The “visible light reflecting layer” is a band-like layer that reflects visible light. The configuration is the same as that of the above-described reflective layer. Ultraviolet light reflectors are relatively expensive, but there is no need to use such ultraviolet light reflectors in the visible light reflective layer, as long as they can reflect visible light.

  There is also a method of irradiating visible light to the luminous layer using a visible light source, and radiating the stored light.However, if an ultraviolet light source is used, ultraviolet light has a shorter wavelength and higher energy than visible light, A lot of light energy can be stored, and light emission of sufficient brightness can be obtained. Therefore, it is desirable that the reflective layer more efficiently reflects ultraviolet light having high energy.

  In a configuration in which the lower layer is an ultraviolet reflective layer and the upper layer is a visible light reflective layer, a part of the ultraviolet light transmitted through the upper visible light reflective layer is absorbed and attenuated, and then reflected by the lower ultraviolet reflective layer, Furthermore, since the light is similarly attenuated when transmitting through the upper visible light reflecting layer, the ultraviolet light cannot be efficiently reflected. However, by providing an ultraviolet reflective layer as an upper layer, it is possible to efficiently reflect ultraviolet light having higher energy than visible light without attenuating it. On the other hand, visible light is partially reflected by the ultraviolet reflection layer, but most of the light is reflected by the lower visible light reflection layer, and is incident again on the light storage layer.

The reflection layer may be attached to the lower layer of the phosphorescent layer using, for example, a silicone-based adhesive transfer tape. When the reflecting layer has a two-layer structure of an ultraviolet reflecting layer and a visible light reflecting layer, for example, a silicone adhesive transfer tape can be used for attaching the reflecting layers. The reason why the silicone material is used as the adhesive material is the same as the reason described for the phosphorescent material.
<Embodiment 3: Effect>

The light-storing light source including the reflective layer of the present embodiment prevents light transmitted through the light-storing layer from leaking, and increases the amount of light emitted from the side surface of the light-storing light source to provide a brighter light-storing light source with less power consumption. can do. The effect is increased by forming the reflecting layer into two layers, an ultraviolet reflecting layer and a visible light reflecting layer, and further by forming the upper layer as an ultraviolet reflecting layer and the lower layer as a visible light reflecting layer.
<Embodiment 4: Outline>

  The luminous light source of the present embodiment is based on the first to third embodiments, and is further characterized in that the ultraviolet transmitting rod is cylindrical.

Further, the ultraviolet transmitting rod is characterized in that its cross section has a semi-cylindrical cross section.
<Embodiment 4: Overall configuration>

  FIG. 6 is an example of a conceptual diagram showing a cross-sectional view perpendicular to the substantially axial direction of the ultraviolet transmitting rod of the light storage light source of the present embodiment. FIG. 6A shows an example in which the light storage light source has a substantially cylindrical shape, FIG. 6B shows a substantially elliptical cylindrical shape, and FIG.

  The light storage light source of this embodiment includes an ultraviolet transmission rod (0601), an ultraviolet light source (0602), a transparent cladding layer (0603), a light storage layer (0604), and a reflection layer (0609). The ultraviolet transmitting rod, the ultraviolet light source, the transparent cladding layer, the luminous layer, and the reflecting layer are the same as those described in the first to third embodiments, and thus the description is omitted.

It is preferable that the light storage light source has a cylindrical shape with no corners, a substantially cylindrical shape, or a substantially elliptical cylindrical shape. Further, it is preferable that the cross section is a kamaboko cross section. This is because, in the shape having no corner, visible light is radiated uniformly from the light storage layer at the boundary surface, so that the entire light storage light source glows uniformly and brightly. However, a part such as a light storage layer and a reflection layer may be partially planar.
<Embodiment 4: Effect>

According to the light storage light source of the present embodiment, the entire light storage light source can be uniformly and brightly lit, and a brighter light storage light source can be provided with low power consumption.
<Embodiment 5: Outline>

The phosphorescent light source of the present embodiment is based on Embodiment 4, and further disposed along a cylindrical side surface in a fan-shaped range at a predetermined angle from the cylindrical axis center, and the reflective layer below the phosphorescent layer is larger than the predetermined angle. It is arranged in a large-angle fan area, and as a result, the reflection layer portion on which the luminous layer is not disposed is arranged toward the inside of the ultraviolet transmitting rod.
<Embodiment 5: Overall configuration>

  FIGS. 7A to 7C are examples of conceptual views showing cross-sectional views which intersect perpendicularly with the substantially axial direction of the ultraviolet transmitting rod of the light storage light source of the present embodiment. The overall configuration of the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. 7A. The light-storing layer (0704) is arranged along the side surface of the cylinder in a fan-shaped area at a predetermined angle from the cylinder axis, and the reflective layer (0709) below the light-storing layer is arranged in a fan area having an angle larger than the predetermined angle. As a result, the reflective layer portion on which the luminous layer is not disposed is disposed toward the inside of the ultraviolet transmitting rod. The shape can be substantially cylindrical as shown in FIG. 7A, or can be semi-cylindrical as shown in FIG. 7B. However, the present embodiment does not limit the shape of the light storage light source.

  Although FIGS. 7A and 7B show an example in which the reflective layer has one layer, a two-layer structure as shown in FIG. 7C can also be used. When the reflective layer has a two-layer structure, it is preferable that the upper layer be an ultraviolet ray reflective layer (0710) and the lower layer be a visible light reflective layer (0711). As shown in FIG. 7C (a), it is desirable that the lower layer of the ultraviolet reflective layer covers a larger area than the visible light reflective layer. In the first embodiment, it has been described that the transparent cladding layer is desirably coated with an ultraviolet reflecting material. For example, after forming an ultraviolet transmitting rod, a transparent cladding layer, and a luminous layer in a manufacturing process, the transparent cladding layer is formed. By coating the side surface composed of the layer and the luminous layer with an ultraviolet reflective material, a part of the coating can also function as an ultraviolet reflective layer. FIG. 7C (b) shows an example of such a configuration.

The luminous light source, the luminous layer is disposed along a cylindrical side surface in a fan-shaped range of a predetermined angle from the cylindrical axis,
The reflective layer below the phosphorescent layer is arranged in a fan area having an angle larger than the predetermined angle, and as a result, the reflective layer portion on which the phosphorescent layer is not disposed is arranged toward the inside of the ultraviolet transmitting rod. With this configuration, the entire lower layer portion of the light storage layer comes into contact with the reflective layer, so that light can be reflected from the lower layer of the light storage layer without leaking. Further, it is possible to mainly control the direction in which light is diffused.
<Embodiment 5: Effect>

The light storage light source according to the present embodiment further provides a light storage light source that is brighter with less power consumption without reflecting light from the lower layer of the light storage layer without leaking, emitting harmful ultraviolet light to the outside, and reducing the configuration of the present invention. Can be.
<Embodiment 6: Configuration>

The luminous light source of this embodiment is based on the first to fifth embodiments, and is characterized in that an ultraviolet reflecting material is arranged other than the arrangement region of the ultraviolet light source at the end of the ultraviolet transmitting rod.
<Embodiment 6: Outline>
(Light reflector)

  FIG. 8 is a conceptual diagram illustrating an example of the light storage light source according to the present embodiment, and is a longitudinal sectional view along a substantially axial direction of the ultraviolet transmitting rod. The “ultraviolet ray reflecting material” (0809) is arranged in an end portion of the ultraviolet ray transmitting rod and at the end of the ultraviolet ray transmitting rod other than the area where the ultraviolet ray source is arranged in order to reflect the ultraviolet rays reflected from the ultraviolet ray transmitting rod and the light storage layer. FIG. 8 is a conceptual diagram showing an example of the light storage light source of the present embodiment, and is a cross-sectional view perpendicular to the substantially axial direction of the ultraviolet transmitting rod, but shows the ultraviolet reflecting material in a mesh pattern. The light storage light source of the present embodiment includes an ultraviolet transmission rod (0801), an ultraviolet light source (0802), a cladding layer (0803), a light storage layer (0804), and a reflection layer (0809). The external line transmitting rod, the ultraviolet light source, the cladding layer, the luminous layer, and the reflecting layer are the same as those described in the first embodiment, and thus the description is omitted. Further, the gap between the end face of the ultraviolet transmitting rod and the ultraviolet light source may be filled with a gel. In this case, it is desirable to use a gel having ultraviolet weather resistance. FIG. 8 shows an example in which the gap between the end face of the ultraviolet transmitting rod and the ultraviolet light source is filled with gel (0817).

  Although the ultraviolet rays (0807) are shown by broken lines in FIG. 8, the ultraviolet reflective material prevents harmful ultraviolet rays from leaking from the end of the ultraviolet transmitting rod, and the reflected ultraviolet rays enter the luminous layer and emit visible light. In order to improve the brightness, the light amount emitted from the light storage light source is increased.

As the ultraviolet reflecting material, for example, a material in which titanium oxide or zinc oxide is applied to the surface of a sheet-like resin can be considered. In particular, titanium oxide is a suitable material as a reflector. For example, aluminum is also a suitable material as the ultraviolet reflecting material, and it is preferable to arrange a sheet-like resin surface coated by sputtering or vapor deposition or a metal aluminum plate.
<Embodiment 6: Effect>

The luminous light source of the present embodiment can prevent harmful ultraviolet light from leaking from the end of the ultraviolet light transmitting rod, and can efficiently introduce ultraviolet light into the luminous layer, so that a brighter luminous light source can be provided.
<Embodiment 7: Outline>

The light storage system of the present embodiment is based on the light storage light sources of the first to sixth embodiments, and further has a power supply for supplying electricity to the ultraviolet light source of the light storage light source and a supply from the power supply being intermittent. And a control unit for controlling.
<Embodiment 7: Configuration>

FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating an example of functional blocks of the light storage system of the present embodiment. The light storage light source of the present embodiment is basically common to the light storage light sources of Examples 1 to 6. However, the light storage system of this embodiment has a power supply for supplying electricity to the ultraviolet light source of the light storage light source, and a control unit for controlling the supply from the power supply to be an intermittent supply.
(Power supply)

The “power source” (0921) supplies electricity to the ultraviolet light source of the light storage light source. The voltage supplied by the power supply corresponds to a power supply of 100 V which is a voltage of a commercial power supply. Further, the voltage of the power supply may be a DC voltage of about 6 to 15 V obtained by AC-DC conversion from a power supply of 100 V. When the light emitting unit is a light emitting diode, it is configured to supply a direct current. Further, a voltage stabilizing circuit may be provided so that a voltage to be supplied has a predetermined value, or a noise reduction circuit for supplying power with as low noise as possible may be provided. The power supplied from the power supply is DC-AC converted and voltage converted by an inverter, a transformer, and the like, and is supplied to the ultraviolet light source of the light storage light source. Note that the functional block diagram of the light storage system in FIG. 9 does not show an inverter, a transformer, and the like. Further, the inverter, the transformer, and the like may be provided inside the power supply.
(Control unit)

  The “control unit” (0922) controls the supply from the power supply to be an intermittent supply. The purpose of providing a mechanism for intermittent supply from a power source is to reduce power consumption for light emission of a light source by repeating a process of causing a light storage layer to emit light for a long time by emitting ultraviolet light for a short time. It is in.

  As a specific configuration of the control such that the supply from the power supply is an intermittent supply, for example, a microcomputer is provided, and the light is emitted for a predetermined time using the clocking function and the control function, and then the light is emitted for a predetermined time. It is conceivable to control the light emission pattern of the ultraviolet light source so as to stop and then repeat the same processing.

  In view of the aging of the ultraviolet light source and the light storage layer, control may be performed such that the irradiation time of the ultraviolet light source becomes longer as the number of years of use increases. For example, there is a control in which the irradiation time is increased by 5 to 15% per year.

As the light emission pattern, for example, a light emission pattern is controlled to emit light for 15 seconds, stop emission of light for 15 minutes, and then repeat blinking at regular time intervals, such as repeating a similar pattern. In addition, in order to set the light emission time per day to an arbitrary constant time such as 8 hours or 10 hours, or to make the light emission continue for a long time, for example, the first 3 hours are made to emit light at 100% luminance and the next 3 hours are emitted. It is conceivable to control the light emission luminance according to the time, such as to emit light at a luminance of 50% for the time. An illuminance sensor may be provided on the LED structure to control the lighting / extinguishing time, the emission luminance, the lighting / flashing, etc. according to the illuminance.
<Embodiment 7: Effect>

According to the present embodiment, it is possible to reduce power consumption for light emission of the light storage light source by repeating the process of causing the light storage layer to emit light for a long time by emitting light in a short time.
<Embodiment 8: Outline>

The light storage system of this embodiment is based on Embodiment 7, and is further characterized in that the ultraviolet light source is an ultraviolet LED.
<Embodiment 8: Overall configuration>

The light storage system of this embodiment is basically common to the seventh embodiment. However, the invention is based on the seventh embodiment, and the ultraviolet light source is an ultraviolet LED.
(UV LED)

  “Ultraviolet LED” is an LED that emits ultraviolet light. Ultraviolet light generally refers to an electromagnetic wave having a wavelength of 10 nm to 400 nm, but an LED having a wavelength of 250 nm to 400 nm is realized as an ultraviolet LED. Ultraviolet LEDs are further divided into three wavelengths. UVA-LED having a wavelength range of 400 nm to 350 nm, UVB-LED having a wavelength range of 350 nm to 280 nm, and UVC-LED having a wavelength range of 280 nm to 250 nm. The ultraviolet LED of the present embodiment is not limited to the wavelength range. When a new short-wavelength ultraviolet LED is realized, such an ultraviolet LED can be used.

“LED” is a semiconductor element that emits light using electricity. In this specification, the term “light emitting diode” has the same meaning. By using LEDs, power saving and long life can be expected. In particular, since the frequency of periodic replacement can be drastically reduced, it is particularly suitable for use in places where replacement work occurs. When used as illumination, the light emitting diode is preferably white, but may emit any color. The ultraviolet LED is disposed at an end of the ultraviolet transmission rod and has a function of irradiating the ultraviolet light with the substantially axial direction of the ultraviolet transmission rod as an optical axis.
<Embodiment 8: Effect>

The light-storing system of this embodiment can be expected to save power and have a long life.
<Embodiment 9: Outline>

The luminous light source of the present embodiment is characterized in that a solar panel is further provided based on the seventh and eighth embodiments.
<Embodiment 9: Configuration>

The light storage system of the present embodiment is basically common to Embodiments 7 and 8. However, the invention is based on the light storage systems of Embodiments 7 and 8, and further includes a solar panel.
(Solar panel)

  The "solar panel" (1023) is obtained by connecting cells, which are single elements of a solar cell, in series and protecting them with resin, tempered glass, or a metal frame. In a solar cell, electrons in an element absorb light energy and are directly converted into electric energy by a photovoltaic effect. Amorphous silicon is used for the solar cell, and the electric power generated by the solar panel is configured to be supplied to the ultraviolet light source of the light storage light source.

  In addition, the power may be configured to be able to be received from other than the solar panel. For example, a rechargeable battery may be provided, and when power from the solar panel cannot be received, the power temporarily stored in the battery may be used. When the light emitting unit is a light emitting diode, it is configured to supply a direct current. Further, a voltage stabilizing circuit may be provided so that a voltage to be supplied has a predetermined value, or a noise reduction circuit for supplying power with as low noise as possible may be provided.

  In addition, even when bad weather continues under the control of the microcomputer of the control unit, it is possible to prevent light emission failure due to insufficient charging by controlling the lighting and blinking time.

For example, at the time of these controls, for example, the on / off switch may be turned on / off at a predetermined time using a clock function of a GPS satellite. Further, an illuminance sensor may be provided in the light storage light source, and control such as lighting on / off time, light emission luminance, lighting / flashing, etc. according to the illuminance may be performed. By such control, for example, even when bad weather continues, it is possible to prevent light emission failure due to insufficient charging.
<Embodiment 9: Effect>

  With the light storage system of the present embodiment, the power of the ultraviolet light source of the light storage light source can be supplied from the electricity of the solar panel, and further power saving can be expected.

Claims (10)

A transparent UV-transmitting rod serving as a core layer,
An ultraviolet light source that is disposed at an end of the ultraviolet light transmitting rod and irradiates ultraviolet light with an optical axis centered on a substantially axial direction of the ultraviolet light transmitting rod;
A luminous layer that emits visible light when excited by ultraviolet light that is directly or indirectly arranged over the entire length of the ultraviolet light transmitting rod on a part of the side surface of the ultraviolet light transmitting rod,
A transparent cladding layer disposed on another part of the side surface of the ultraviolet transmitting rod and having a lower refractive index than the material of the ultraviolet transmitting rod,
A reflective layer disposed below the phosphorescent layer,
Tona is,
The reflective layer is bilayer der Ru phosphorescent light of the UV-reflecting layer and the visible light reflective layer. The reflective layer, the upper layer is UV-reflecting layer, luminous light source according to claim 1 underlayer Ru visible light reflecting layer der. The light storage light source according to claim 1, wherein the ultraviolet light sources are arranged at both ends of an ultraviolet transmission rod, and the optical axis centers of both ultraviolet light sources are arranged so as not to overlap the optical axis centers of the other ultraviolet light sources. . The light storage light source according to any one of claims 1 to 3 , wherein the ultraviolet transmitting rod has a cylindrical shape. The light storage light source according to any one of claims 1 to 3 , wherein the ultraviolet transmitting rod has a semi-cylindrical cross section. The luminous layer is arranged along a cylindrical side surface in a fan-shaped range at a predetermined angle from the cylindrical axis,
The reflective layer below the phosphorescent layer is arranged in a fan range having an angle larger than the predetermined angle,
As a result, luminous light source according to claim 4 or 5 reflecting layer portion not coordinated the phosphorescent layer thereon is disposed toward the UV transmission rod inwards. The light storage light source according to any one of claims 1 to 6 , wherein an ultraviolet reflecting material is disposed in a region other than an arrangement region of the ultraviolet light source at an end of the ultraviolet transmission rod. A luminous light source according to any one of claims 1 to 7 ,
A power supply for supplying electricity to the ultraviolet light source of the phosphorescent light source,
A control unit that controls the supply from the power supply to be an intermittent supply,
Phosphorescent system having The light storage system according to claim 8 , wherein the ultraviolet light source is an ultraviolet LED. Phosphorescent system according to claim 8 or 9 wherein the power source comprises a solar panel.

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