JPH0381903A - Display device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To allow a single light source to make indication for a plurality of indicator lamp parts in different colors by incorporating plastic fluorescent fiber capable of displaying in different colors. CONSTITUTION:Each indicator lamp part 1 accommodates plastic fluorescent fiber 3 in a cylindrical case 2. Electric signal from a power supply 11 is fed to a light emitting element 8 via an electro-photo transducing circuit 9 and is emitted in the form of optical signal. This output light is transmitted through an optical fiber 6 and cast onto the plastic fluorescent fiber 3 in the indicator lamp part 1. There are a plurality of such plastic fluorescent fibers 3 for differ ent colors, and a fiber or fibers 3 to suit the purpose are selectively incorporated in this indicator lamp part 1, which is mounted in a specified position on the panel P. The fiber 3 emits light according to the fluorescent pigment which the fiber itself possesses, and emitted light in different colors to suit the purpose can be viewed through a front face clear plate 4 of the indicator lamp part 1 from the front side of the panel P.

Description

[Detailed description of the invention]

[Industrial Application Field] The present invention relates to a display device used in a power distribution panel, a control panel, etc., which emits light from a light source located away from the installation position of an indicator lamp that is mounted exposed on the surface of the panel. The present invention relates to a display device that transmits light through a fiber and causes an indicator light to emit light. [Prior Art] Conventional display devices have a built-in light source using a light emitting element such as an incandescent lamp or LED as an indicator light, and are supplied with power via electric wires from a power source or control unit located away from the display device. The light source was flashing. In such display devices, when the power supply wire is a long wire, erroneous lighting may occur due to inter-line capacitance with other adjacent wires or induced voltage when the main circuit wires are close together. There are some problems. In addition, when used in an explosive atmosphere, it was necessary to provide an explosion-proof structure. As a display device that solves the above-mentioned problems, as shown in FIG. 2, a lens 3 whose one surface exposed on the surface of the panel 2 serves as a light emitting surface is housed in a hollow tubular case 1.
It is known that one end of an optical fiber 4 is attached to the other surface of the lens 3 in contact with or in close proximity to it. A light source is provided at the other end of the optical fiber 4, and the light emitted from the light source is transmitted through the optical fiber 4, enters the lens 3, and is diffused by the lens 3. [Problems to be Solved by the Invention] The above-described display device using an optical fiber can solve the conventional problems of erroneous 3-lighting due to electromagnetic influence and the construction of an explosion-proof structure. However, on the other hand, the display part of display devices is not only monochromatic, but also red, green, etc. depending on the application.
It is necessary to deal with different colors such as yellow, and in this case, prepare multiple types of light sources that emit the required emission color, or prepare multiple types of colored lenses that can be used as indicators for indicator lights. However, there is a problem in that the manufacturing cost becomes high. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In view of the above-mentioned problems, an object of the present invention is to provide an inexpensive display device in which the light source is monochromatic and the indicator light section can display a plurality of different colors. [Means for Solving the Problems] In the present invention, in order to achieve the above object, the light source emits monochromatic light, and the device is configured as follows. In other words, an indicator light unit containing a plastic fluorescent fiber capable of displaying different colors and an electric/optical converter containing a light emitting element that emits light with a wavelength lower than that of the fluorescent dye of the plastic fluorescent fiber are optically connected using an optical fiber. and the light emitted from the light emitting element was made to enter the plastic fluorescent fiber.

[For use]

By incorporating plastic fluorescent fibers that can display different colors such as red, green, and yellow into the indicator light section, a single light source device can illuminate these multiple types of plastic fluorescent fibers with a single color. You can display multiple indicator lamps in different colors. [Embodiment] Fig. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of a display device according to an embodiment of the present invention, in which an indicator lamp part l houses a plastic fluorescent fiber 3 inside a cylindrical case 2, and its front end surface is transparent plate 4
covered with. The rear end surface of the plastic fluorescent fiber 3 is optically connected to one end surface of an optical fiber 6 via an optical connector 5-1, and the other end surface of the optical fiber 6 is connected to an electrical/optical converter via an optical connector 5-2. 7 is connected. 8 and an electrical/optical conversion circuit 9. The output side of the electrical/optical conversion circuit 9 is connected to the light emitting element 8, and the input side is connected to a power source 11 via an electrical input contact 1G. To explain the operation of this display device, first, the electrical input contact 1
When 0 is turned on, the electrical signal from the power supply 11 passes through the electrical/optical conversion circuit 9 and is sent to a light emitting element (for example, an incandescent lamp, an LED, etc.)
8 and output as an optical signal. This emitted light is transmitted through the optical fiber 6 and enters the plastic fluorescent fiber 3 of the indicator lamp section 1. Here, the plastic fluorescent fiber 3 housed in the indicator light part 1 is prepared in multiple colors such as red, green, and yellow, and the indicator light part 1 can be used to display power, operation, stop, etc. according to the purpose. A colored plastic fluorescent fiber 3 is selected and built in, and the monochromatic light signal emitted from the light emitting element 8 is attached to a predetermined location on the panel 2 surface and is transmitted through the optical fiber 6 to the indicator light section. 1 of the plastic fluorescent fiber 3. As a result, the plastic fluorescent fiber 3 emits light according to its own fluorescent dye, and this light emission is from the front side of the panel P to which the indicator light section 1 is attached. The fluorescent fiber 3 is made by covering a transparent core containing a fluorescent dye with a high refractive index with a clad material having a lower refractive index than the transparent core, and light having a wavelength lower than that of the fluorescent dye is incident on this plastic fluorescent fiber 3. Then, this incident light is absorbed by the fluorescent dye, and the fluorescence is emitted into the core in the same direction. When the fluorescent light enters the interface between the core and the cladding, part of it is emitted to the outside depending on the angle of incidence, while the other part undergoes repeated total reflection at the interface between the core and the cladding and is finally emitted to the fiber end face. In the indicator light section l, which has built-in plastic fluorescent fibers 3 of red, green, and yellow colors corresponding to the purpose of the indicator light section, an incandescent lamp that emits light over the entire visible light range is used as the light emitting element 8 of the electric/optical converter 7. When used, it can be applied to all of the indicator lamp parts l of any luminescent color corresponding to the purpose. In addition, when using LEDs to extend the life of the light emitting element 8, red, green,
A green LED having the shortest wavelength among the yellow colors may be used as the light emitting element 8. [Effects of the Invention] In this invention, a plastic fluorescent fiber is used for the light emitting part of the indicator light section, and the input to the indicator light section is achieved by inputting an optical signal transmitted by the optical fiber into the plastic fluorescent fiber. The problems of erroneous lighting due to electromagnetic effects and the construction of explosion-proof structures have been solved, and the indicator light section can also be used as a light source for color-coded displays such as red, green, and yellow depending on the application. The output light of the electric/optical converter can be monochromatic, and the electric/optical converter can be made inexpensive, making it possible to provide an inexpensive display device as a whole.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of a display device according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a sectional view of an optical fiber transmission type display device. 1: Indicator light section, 3 Niblast fluorescent fiber, 6: Optical fiber, 7: Electrical/optical converter, 8: Light emission Figure 2

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1) An indicator light unit that includes a plastic fluorescent fiber that can display in different colors and an electric lamp unit that includes a light emitting element that emits light with a lower wavelength than the fluorescent dye of the plastic fluorescent fiber.
A display device, characterized in that the display device is optically connected to a light converter through an optical fiber, and the light emitted from the light emitting element is made to enter the plastic fluorescent fiber.