JP7227051B2 - front lighting system - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a lighting device that illuminates the front, such as a floodlight or a vehicle headlamp.

For example, in a lighting device that illuminates the front, such as a light projector, it is required to irradiate light of a required brightness within a predetermined irradiation range onto an irradiation target located at a certain distance in front of the light source.

2. Description of the Related Art Light emitted from a lighting device such as a floodlight to a position remote from a light source outdoors may be diffused beyond a predetermined irradiation range. Therefore, light diffusion is suppressed by providing a louver to shield the light (see Patent Document 1, for example).

JP 2017-69025 A

Here, for floodlights, vehicle headlights, and the like used for specific purposes, there is a demand to increase the amount of light from the lower side while suppressing the light from the upper side. In this case, simply providing a louver can suppress the light from the upper side, but cannot increase the amount of light from the lower side.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a front illumination device capable of increasing the amount of light on the lower side.

The invention recited in claim 1, which has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems, is a front lighting device comprising a lens for irradiating forward light emitted from a light source, wherein the lens comprises light emitted from the light source. and a first lens unit provided in front of the first lens unit to refract light emitted from either the upper side or the lower side of the first lens unit obliquely downward. a second lens section composed of a refraction section that refracts and emits light, and a non-refraction section that emits light emitted from the other of the upper side and the lower side of the first lens section without refracting the light; A front lighting device characterized by comprising:

The invention recited in claim 2 is the invention recited in claim 1, wherein the bending portion is configured such that the thickness increases from the top to the bottom, and the bending portion has an inclined surface with respect to the non-refracting portion. characterized by forming

The invention recited in claim 3 is characterized in that, in the invention recited in claim 1 or 2, the lenses are configured in an array shape in which a plurality of lenses are continuously formed.

The invention recited in claim 4 is the invention recited in any one of claims 1 to 3, further comprising a housing for housing the light source and the lens, wherein the lens is located in the housing when viewed from the front. It is characterized by being provided on the lower side of the body.

The invention recited in claim 5 is the invention recited in any one of claims 1 to 4, further comprising a louver for limiting upward diffusion of light emitted from the lens. characterized by

The invention recited in claim 6 is characterized in that, in the invention recited in claim 5, at least the top surface of the louver has a light shielding function.

According to the present invention, the lens includes the first lens portion and the second lens portion, and the second lens portion is composed of the refracting portion and the non-refracting portion. It can be emitted to the side. Therefore, the amount of light on the lower side can be increased. In addition, since the amount of light on the lower side is increased by the refraction portion, it is possible to reduce the amount of light that diffuses to the upper side, thereby suppressing the light pollution caused by the light toward the upper side.

1 is a perspective view of a light projector according to an embodiment of the invention; FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the light projector shown in FIG. 1; FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the lens array shown in FIG. 2; FIG. FIG. 4 is a schematic configuration diagram of lenses that constitute the lens array shown in FIG. 3 ; 3 is a perspective view of the lens array shown in FIG. 2; FIG. FIG. 6 is a schematic configuration diagram of lenses that constitute the lens array shown in FIG. 5 ; 7 is an explanatory diagram of an example of an optical path of light emitted from a light source in the lens shown in FIG. 6; FIG. It is a perspective view of a light projector provided with a louver. FIG. 9 is a perspective view of a single louver shown in FIG. 8; FIG. 11 is a perspective view showing another configuration example of the louver;

An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS. 1 to 10. FIG. FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a floodlight as a front illumination device according to one embodiment of the present invention. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the light projector 1 shown in FIG. Here, the arrow X direction in FIG. 1 is called the width direction, the arrow Y direction is called the depth direction, and the arrow Z direction is called the height direction. In FIG. 1, the direction of the arrow Y is forward.

The light projector 1 shown in FIG. 1 is used, for example, at a wharf, a ground, or the like. Even when the light projector 1 is tilted with respect to the vertical direction, it is installed so that a handle 71, which will be described later, faces upward. That is, the front lighting device is a device whose function is to mainly illuminate the front direction of the front lighting device, rather than illuminating the surroundings of the lighting device. The projector 1 shown in FIG. 1 includes a main body 2, a light source unit 3, a wiring cover 4, and a front lens 5.

As shown in FIG. 2, the main body 2 includes a guard member 6, a housing 7, and mounting arms 21 (see FIG. 1). The housing 7 is formed in a bottomed tubular shape with an open front surface and accommodates the light source unit 3 and the wiring cover 4 . A handle 71 is formed on the housing 7 .

The guard member 6 is a member that is attached to the rear surface of the housing 7 and covers and protects the constituent members projecting rearward from the rear surface of the housing 7 . As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the guard member 6 is formed into a cage shape by bending a metal plate with a large number of through-holes into a rectangular parallelepiped shape. Ensures good ventilation. By circulating the outside air through the guard member 6, the constituent members inside can be air-cooled.

The mounting arm 21 is a mounting member that fixes the projector 1 to the installation surface, and supports the main body 2 so as to be rotatable.

The light source unit 3 includes a first array section 8 and a second array section 9 . The first array section 8 includes a lens array 81 (see FIG. 3) and an LED substrate (not shown). As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the first array section 8 is provided above the housing 7 when viewed from the front (viewed from the front lens 5 side), and the second array section 9 is provided above the housing when viewed from the front. It is provided on the underside of the body 7 . In the present embodiment, the light source unit 3 has a two-stage configuration of the first array section 8 and the second array section, but may have three stages, four stages, or the like. In that case, it is preferable to have at least one second array section 9 below the center in order to increase the amount of light directed downward while ensuring the amount of light in the central portion.

A perspective view of the lens array 81 is shown in FIG. The lens array 81 is configured by arranging lenses 82 in an array in a plurality of rows and columns. A perspective view of lens 82 is shown in FIG. As shown in FIG. 4, lens 82 is formed in the shape of a truncated cone. In the lens 82, an LED (light emitting diode), which is a light source provided on the LED substrate, is positioned on the side where the apex of the truncated cone is cut off (the side where the cross section has a smaller circle). The bottom side of the truncated cone (the side where the cross section has a larger circle) is an emission surface 82c from which light is emitted. The lenses 82 of the lens array 81 and the LEDs (light sources) of the LED substrate are associated one-to-one.

The lens 82 has a cylindrical bottomed hole 82a that is recessed from the side where the LED is positioned toward the exit surface 82c, and further has a cylindrical hole that is recessed from the exit surface 82c toward the side where the LED is positioned. A bottomed hole 82b is formed. The bottomed hole 82a and the bottomed hole 82b do not penetrate. These bottomed holes 82a and 82b have the function of condensing the light emitted from the LED and directing it to the emission surface 82c. In addition, the lens 82 reflects the light emitted from the LED that is not directed to the emission surface 82c through the bottomed holes 82a and 82b toward the emission surface 82c at the end surface serving as the side surface of the truncated cone. be. That is, the lens 82 condenses the light emitted from the light source and controls the light so that it is emitted forward.

The second array section 9 includes a lens array 91 (see FIG. 5) and an LED substrate (not shown). A perspective view of the lens array 91 is shown in FIG. The lens array 91 is configured by arranging lenses 92 in an array in multiple rows and multiple columns. A perspective view of lens 92 is shown in FIG. As shown in FIG. 6, the lens 92 is composed of a first lens portion 92a and a second lens portion 92b.

Like the lens 82, the first lens portion 92a is formed in a truncated cone shape. In the first lens portion 92a, an LED (light emitting diode), which is a light source provided on the LED substrate, is positioned on the side where the apex of the truncated cone is cut off (the side where the cross section has a smaller circle). Then, the second lens portion 92b is formed so as to overlap with the bottom side of the truncated cone (the side where the cross section has a larger circle). The lenses 92 of the lens array 91 and the LEDs of the LED substrate are associated one-to-one.

The first lens portion 92a has a cylindrical bottomed hole 92c recessed from the side where the LED is positioned toward the second lens portion 92b, and the LED is positioned from the second lens portion 92b side. A cylindrical bottomed hole 92d recessed toward the side is formed. The bottomed hole 92c and the bottomed hole 92d do not penetrate. These bottomed holes 92c and 92d have the function of condensing the light emitted from the LED and directing it to the second lens portion 92b. Further, the lens 92 directs the light emitted from the LED that is not directed to the second lens portion 92b through the bottomed holes 92c and 92d to the second lens portion 92b through the end face, which is the side surface of the truncated cone. reflected towards. That is, the first lens portion 92a controls the light so that the light emitted from the light source is condensed and emitted forward.

The second lens portion 92b is formed so as to overlap with the first lens portion 92a. That is, the second lens portion 92b is provided in front of the first lens portion 92a when configured as the projector 1 . The second lens portion 92b is composed of a non-refractive portion 92b1 and a refractive portion 92b2. The non-refracting portion 92b1 occupies the lower half (left side in FIG. 6) of the second lens portion 92b in the height direction (Z direction), and directs the light controlled by the first lens portion 92a to the outside without refracting it as it is. emit. The refracting portion 92b2 occupies the upper half (the right side in FIG. 6) in the height direction (Z direction) of the second lens portion 92b, and refracts the light controlled by the first lens portion 92a obliquely downward in the height direction. and emit it to the outside.

The bent portion 92b2 is formed so that its thickness (depth) increases downward (to the left in FIG. 6) in the height direction. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 6, the refracting portion 92b1 forms an inclined surface that is slanted with respect to the surface of the non-refracting portion 92b1. In this embodiment, the second lens portion 92b is a prism.

The second lens portion 92b is formed with a through hole 92e that penetrates the bottomed hole 92d of the first lens portion 92a. This through-hole 92e collects the light reaching the second lens portion 92b, similarly to the bottomed hole 92d.

FIG. 7 shows an example of the optical path of light emitted from the light source and passing through the lens 92 . 7 is a side view of lens 92. FIG. The light source is denoted by L in FIG. In FIG. 7, the light emitted from the light source L is collected and reflected toward the second lens portion 92b by the bottomed holes 92c and 92d and the end face of the first lens portion 92a.

Then, the light that has reached the refraction portion 92b2 positioned on the upper side of the second lens portion 92b is refracted downward and emitted (arrow A1). On the other hand, the light that reaches the non-refracting portion 92b1 positioned on the lower side of the second lens portion 92b is emitted without being refracted (arrow A2). The direction of this arrow A2 is the optical axis direction of the light projector 1 . That is, as is clear from FIG. 7, the second lens portion 92b is provided in front of the first lens portion 92a. Further, in the second lens portion 92b, the refracting portion 92b2 refracts the light emitted from the upper side of the first lens portion 92a obliquely downward, and the non-refracting portion 92b1 refracts the light emitted from the lower side of the first lens portion 92a. is emitted without being refracted.

Since the lens 92 has the refracting portion 92b2 in the second lens portion 92b that emits light, as shown in FIG. Instead, the surface becomes uneven.

In this embodiment, the lens 92 is formed so that the non-refractive portion 92b1 is on the upper side and the refracting portion 92b2 is on the lower side when housed in the housing 7. It may be formed such that the bent portion 92b2 is on the upper side on the lower side. In short, it is sufficient that the refracting portion 92b2 and the non-refracting portion 92b1 are arranged vertically and that the refracting portion 92b2 can emit incident light obliquely downward.

The wiring cover 4 is a cover member that covers wiring routed between the first array sections 8 and 8 and between the second array sections 9 and 9 in order to supply power from the housing 7 to the LED boards. is. The front lens 5 is provided in front of the light source unit 3 and the wiring cover 4 and fixed with screws or the like. The front lens 5 also has a function of covering and protecting the light source unit 3 .

Further, the light projector 1 described above can be provided with a louver on its front surface (surface from which light is emitted). FIG. 8 shows a light projector 1 provided with louvers.

The louver 10 shown in FIG. 8 is attached to the housing 7 so that the fins 14 , which will be described later, are positioned in front of the projector 1 , that is, in front of the front lens 5 .

FIG. 9 is a drawing of the louver 10 alone. The louver 10 includes an upper plate 11 , side plates 12 , 12 , a lower plate 13 and a plurality of fins 14 .

The louver 10 is formed in a tubular shape by an upper plate 11 , side plates 12 and 12 and a lower plate 13 . The upper plate 11 constitutes the outer circumference of the tube of the louver 10 and serves as a top surface. The upper plate 11 also functions as a light shielding plate, and shields part of the light emitted from the light projector 1 that diffuses upward. That is, it limits the upward diffusion of the light emitted from the light projector 1 .

The side plate 12 constitutes the outer circumference of the cylinder of the louver 10 . 8 and 9, the side plate 12 is notched on the lower side. That is, the length in the depth direction of the lower side of the side plate 12 is shorter than that of the upper side. This is so that the lens array 91 does not block light directed downward. The lower plate 13 constitutes the outer periphery of the tube of the louver 10 and is formed in a strip shape. The lower plate 13 is shorter than the upper plate 11 in length in the depth direction. This is also to prevent the lens array 91 from blocking the downward light.

The fins 14 are plate-like members provided inside a cylinder formed by the upper plate 11, the side plates 12, 12, and the lower plate 13, and are provided with their plate surfaces parallel to each other when viewed from the front. . Also, the fins 14 extend parallel to the optical axis of the light projector 1 . The length of the fins 14 in the depth direction is substantially the same length as the upper plate 11 . In this manner, the fins 14 function as a light blocking plate that blocks light emitted from the light projector 1 .

Also, the louver 10 shown in FIG. 9 is not provided in the cutout portion of the side plate 12 . In other words, the fins 14 are not provided at the position where the lens array 91 is located (see FIG. 8). This is to prevent the fins 14 from blocking light directed downward by the lens array 91 . That is, the fins 14 have a function of blocking light that diffuses upward together with the upper plate 11 . However, depending on the specifications of the projector 1, the fins 14 may be provided at a part of the position where the lens array 91 is located.

FIG. 10 shows a modification of the louver. This louver 10A is mainly used to illuminate the vicinity. The louver 10A shown in FIG. 10 includes an upper plate 11, side plates 12, 12, a lower plate 13, and one fin 14.

The louver 10A is similar to the louver 10 in that it is formed in a cylindrical shape by an upper plate 11, side plates 12 and 12, and a lower plate 13. As shown in FIG.

Also, the louver 10A is provided with only one fin 14 . The fins 14 are provided directly above the notches of the side plate 12 .

Since this louver 10A is for proximity, it is assumed that the distance to the illuminated object is short when used. Therefore, the light reaches the object to be illuminated before the emitted light spreads, so the number of fins 14 may be small. Although one fin 14 is provided in the example of FIG. 10, two or more fins may be provided. Also, the location of the fins 14 does not have to be directly above the notch. Alternatively, the fins 14 may not be provided. In other words, the louver should have the function of blocking light upward only on at least the upper plate 11 (top surface).

According to this embodiment, the light projector 1 includes a lens 92 that irradiates forward the light emitted from the light source. The lens 92 includes a first lens portion 92a that converges the light from the lens through which the light source is emitted and emits the light forward, and a light beam that is provided in front of the first lens portion 92a and emitted from the upper side of the first lens portion 92a. and a second lens portion 92b composed of a refracting portion 92b2 that refracts and emits the light obliquely downward, and a non-refracting portion 92b1 that emits light emitted from the lower side of the first lens portion 92a without refracting it, It has By doing so, since the second lens portion 92b is composed of the refracting portion 92b2 and the non-refracting portion 92b1, part of the condensed light can be emitted downward. Therefore, the amount of light on the lower side can be increased. In addition, since the amount of light on the lower side is increased by the refracting portion 92b2, it is possible to reduce the amount of light that diffuses to the upper side, thereby suppressing light pollution caused by the light that travels upward.

Further, since the refractive portion 92b2 is configured so that the thickness increases from the top to the bottom and forms an inclined surface with respect to the non-refracting portion 92b1, the boundary with the first lens portion 92a is flat. and can be easily molded with a mold.

In addition, since the lens 92 is configured as an array-like lens array 91 formed in a series of rows and columns, lenses corresponding to a plurality of light sources can be collectively formed.

Further, the light projector 1 includes a housing 7 that accommodates the first array section 8 and the second array section 9, and the second array section 9 is provided below the housing 7 when viewed from the front. Of the light emitted from 1, it is possible to increase the amount of light directed downward while ensuring the amount of light in the central portion.

In addition, since the light projector 1 is attached to the housing 7 and has the louver 10 that limits the upward diffusion of the light emitted from the lens arrays 81 and 91, the light is restricted from diffusing upward. It is possible to increase the amount of light directed downward.

In addition, since at least the top plate 11 of the louver 10 has a light shielding function, at least the upward diffusion of the light emitted from the light projector 1 can be restricted. Therefore, light pollution caused by light from the upper side can be suppressed.

In the above-described embodiment, the light projector 1 is used as the front lighting device, but any lighting device that illuminates the front, such as a headlamp attached to a vehicle, may be used.

Moreover, the present invention is not limited to the above embodiments. That is, those skilled in the art can carry out various modifications according to conventionally known knowledge without departing from the gist of the present invention. As long as such a modification still has the configuration of the front lighting device of the present invention, it is of course included in the scope of the present invention.

1 floodlight (front lighting device)
7 housing 9 second array section 10, 10A louver 11 upper plate (top surface section)
91 lens array 92 lens 92a first lens section 92b second lens section 92b1 non-refractive section 92b2 refractive section

Claims (6)

In a front lighting device equipped with a lens that irradiates forward light emitted from a light source,
The lens is
a first lens unit for condensing the light emitted from the light source and emitting it forward;
a refracting section provided in front of the first lens section for refracting and emitting light emitted from either the upper side or the lower side of the first lens section obliquely downward; and the upper side of the first lens section. or a non-refracting portion that emits light emitted from the other of the lower side without refracting;
A front lighting device comprising: 2. The front illumination device according to claim 1, wherein the refractive portion is configured to increase in thickness from top to bottom, forming an inclined surface with respect to the non-refractive portion. 3. The front lighting device according to claim 1, wherein a plurality of said lenses are arranged in a row to form an array. A housing containing the light source and the lens,
The front lighting device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the lens is provided on the lower side of the housing when viewed from the front. 5. The front illumination device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, further comprising a louver for restricting upward diffusion of light emitted from the lens. 6. The front lighting device according to claim 5, wherein at least the top surface of the louver has a light shielding function.

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