JPH01137506A - Light distributor - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: To provide an excellent radiation characteristic of visible light and bright illumination, by forming a thin layer made of a fluorescent material on the internal surface of a transparent box body into which the light is introduced through a fiber-optic cable. CONSTITUTION: The light such as the sunbeam, etc., guided through a fiber-optic cable 4 is emitted from the end surface of the fiber-optic cable 4. A visible component of the emitted light is diffused by a thin layer 9 made of a fluorescent material and it passes through the box body 1 to be emitted outward as the illuminating light. Components except the visible light among the light emitted from the fiber-optic cable 4 excite the fluorescent material to generate fluorescence by luminescent effect, and it is emitted outward through the box body 1. Consequently, the illuminating light can be obtained from the light components except the visible light among the light guided through the fiber- optic cable 4, as well as from the visible light, thus high illumination can be obtained.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Field of Industrial Application] The present invention relates to a light scattering device for scattering light such as sunlight propagated from an optical fiber cable. For more information,
The present invention relates to a light scattering device that introduces light from an optical fiber cable into a hollow transparent box and scatters the light through the box.

[Prior Art] As a light scattering device of this type, Japanese Patent Publication No. 51469/1983 discloses a method in which light from an optical fiber cable is introduced into an incandescent lamp and the light is diffused from the inside of the glass bulb of the incandescent lamp to the outside. What was done is listed.

Further, Japanese Patent Publication No. 59-19601 describes that light is introduced from an optical fiber cable into a semi-transparent hollow cylinder and the light is scattered through the hollow cylinder.

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] Both of the above-mentioned Japanese Patent Publications No. 56-51469 and No. 59-19601 either transmit the light from the optical fiber cable as it is or only scatter it as scattered light.

Therefore, of the light energy contained in sunlight, only the visible light component is used for illumination, which poses a problem in that it is difficult to obtain sufficient brightness.

Means for Solving Problem E] The light scattering device of the present invention includes a hollow box into which light is introduced from an optical fiber cable and whose main part is translucent, and a box formed on the inner surface of the box. a thin layer of fluorescent material.

[Operation] In the light diffusion device of the present invention, the visible light component of the light introduced into the box from the optical fiber cable passes through the box while being scattered by a thin layer of fluorescent material, producing soft illumination light. Become.

In addition, components other than visible light among the light introduced into the box cause visible light components to be emitted by luminescence. That is, light with a wavelength other than visible light excites the fluorescent substance, which then transitions to a lower energy state and emits light.

Note that at least a portion of the visible light may excite a fluorescent substance by a luminescence effect to generate fluorescence.

[Example] Examples will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a sectional view of a light diffusion device according to an embodiment of the present invention. Reference numeral 1 designates a hollow box, which in this embodiment has a cylindrical shape with one end sealed, and is made of a transparent material such as glass or synthetic resin. A cap 2 is placed over the opening at one end of the box 1, and an optical fiber cable 4 is inserted into the box 1 through a central opening 3 of the cap 2. A short screw shaft 5 with a male screw carved into the outer peripheral surface is fixed to the outer surface of the opening 3, and a cap nut 6 is screwed onto the screw shaft 5 to fix the optical fiber cable 4. There is. A bushing 7 made of rubber, synthetic resin, etc. is attached to the optical fiber cable 4, and a flange portion 8 integrally provided on the bushing 7 connects the tip surface of the screw shaft 5 and the bottom surface of the cap nut 6. This structure is such that the optical fiber cable 4 is fixed therebetween.

The inner surface of the box 1 is coated with a thin layer 9 of fluorescent material over the entire surface.
is formed.

The other end (the path shown) of the optical fiber cable 4 is connected to, for example, a sunlight condensing device.

In the light diffusion device configured in this manner, light such as sunlight transmitted through the optical fiber cable 4 is radiated from the distal end surface of the optical fiber cable 4. The visible light component of this emitted light passes through the box 1 while being scattered by the thin layer 9 of fluorescent material, and is emitted to the outside as illumination light. Depending on the type of fluorescent material, this visible light component also causes fluorescence, and the generated fluorescence passes through the box 1 and is emitted to the outside.

Components other than visible light among the light emitted from the optical fiber cable 4 excites the fluorescent substance, generates fluorescence due to luminescence, and similarly passes through the box 1 and is emitted to the outside. Therefore, according to the light scattering device according to this embodiment, illumination light can be obtained not only from the visible light component of the light sent from the optical fiber cable 4, but also from light with components other than visible light. , high illuminance can be obtained.

In the present invention, inorganic fluorescent pigments such as zinc sulfide, calcium sulfide, and those with radioisotopes fixed to the surface of the phosphor are suitable as the fluorescent substance, and these are packed in a box with a thickness of about 10 to 30 μm. Preferably, it is formed on the inner surface of the body 1. This fluorescent material can be mixed with a synthetic resin component for adhesion and applied to the inner surface of the case 1, sprayed, or otherwise attached. Further, when the fluorescent substance is an inorganic substance, it is also possible to make it adhere to the inner surface of the case 1 by a method such as thermal spraying.

In the above embodiment, only one optical fiber cable 4 is connected to the box 1.
Although it is plugged in, it is also possible to plug in more than one. In this case, the optical fiber cables may be inserted into the box from the same direction or from different directions. (A plurality of them may be inserted from each direction.) The illustrated embodiment is an example of the device of the present invention, and it is clear that the device of the present invention may have a configuration other than that illustrated. For example, the shape of the box 1 may be other than a cylinder, such as a rectangular cylinder, a polygonal box, a square box, a sphere, a spheroid, or the like. To fasten the optical fiber cable 4, for example, the screw shaft 5 is provided with a slot extending in the axial direction, and the screw shaft 5 is pressed toward the optical fiber cable contact side by tightening the cap nut 6. The optical fiber cable 4 may be configured to be pressed and held from the outer periphery.

In the present invention, in order to allow as much light as possible to pass through the box, it is preferable that the area of the transparent part of the box is as large as possible. For example, in the illustrated embodiment, it is preferable that the cap 2 is also made of a transparent body, and that a thin layer of fluorescent material is formed on the inner surface of the cap 2.

[Effects] As described above, the light scattering device of the present invention has excellent visible light radiation characteristics and can provide extremely bright illumination because the fluorescent light is superimposed on the visible light component contained in the light source light. . In addition, since so-called soft illumination is achieved by scattering visible light components, it is extremely comfortable and provides the effect of not tiring the eyes even when used for a long time.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a sectional view showing an embodiment of the present invention. DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1... Box, 2... Cap, 4... Optical fiber cable, 6... Cap nut, 7... Bush, 9... Thin layer of fluorescent material.

Claims (1)

[Claims] (1) Comprising a hollow box whose main part is translucent, and a thin layer of fluorescent material formed on the inner surface of the box, into which light is introduced from an optical fiber cable. Diffusion device.