JPH04360123A - Edge light system plane light source - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To provide the edge light system plane light source which has superior environment resistance reliability by facilitating the replacement of a fluorescent light and surely positioning and holding a reflecting film. CONSTITUTION:The edge light system plane light source is constituted by storing and fixing a plate type light transmission body 4, the reflecting film 7 which covers the outer peripheral surface of part of the fluorescent lamp with its reflecting surface in, and the fluorescent lamp which is arranged while the peripheral surface of the uncovered part of the film faces the peripheral flank of the light transmission body integrally in a case 1 through a fixing jig 8a. The upper end part of the reflecting film of the fluorescent lamp is fixed and united with the light transmission body fixing jig and when the light transmission body is fixed to the case with the above fixing jig, the upper end part of the reflecting film is pressed against the light projection surface of the light transmission body with the above fixing jig and thus fixed.

Description

[Detailed description of the invention]

0001

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an edge light type surface light source used for backlights of liquid crystal display devices, evacuation lights using fluorescent lamps, various display boards, and the like.

0002

2. Description of the Related Art In an edge-light type surface light source using a light guide and a fluorescent lamp, a fluorescent lamp reflector is used to improve the efficiency of light entering the light guide, which is the destination of the fluorescent light. As the fluorescent lamp reflector, a reflective film material such as a metal film such as Ag or Al or a diffuse reflective film coated with TiO2 or the like is often used from the viewpoint of cost and weight reduction. Furthermore, an edge-light type surface light source using a light guide and a fluorescent lamp is usually used while being housed in a case.

As shown in FIG. 5, conventionally, the fluorescent lamp reflective film 7 is wrapped around approximately half the circumference of the fluorescent lamp 2, and its upper and lower ends are connected to the light exit surface 5 and the light non-exit surface of the light guide 4. 6 and are bonded to the upper and lower edges thereof with adhesive 3, respectively.

Normally, the adhesive part between the fluorescent lamp reflective film 2 and the light output surface 5 of the light guide 4 is bonded with a weak adhesive such as double-sided adhesive tape in order to facilitate replacement of the fluorescent lamp 2 at the end of its life. It is attached using material. That is, when replacing the fluorescent lamp 2, the reflective film 7 is peeled off at the adhesive portion of the light guide 4 on the light exit surface 5 side.

On the other hand, when housing the edge-light type surface light source in the case 1, a fixing jig for fixing the light guide 4 is required. FIG. 2 shows an example of an edge light type surface light source that is housed and fixed in the case 1 using the light guide fixing jig 8. As shown in FIG. As is clear from this example, in the conventional edge-light type surface light source light guide fixing jig, the ends of the reflective film 2 are adhesively fixed to the upper and lower edges of the light guide 4 as described above. It is sufficient to simply fix the light body 4 to the case 1, and therefore, the fixing jig 8 used for this purpose has an extremely simple structure having a roughly Z-shaped shape as shown in FIG. The four corners of the light guide 4 are simply fixed with four fixing jigs 8 using screws or the like.

[0006]

That is, according to the prior art, when replacing a fluorescent lamp, it is assumed that the reflective film is peeled off from the light exit surface of the light guide. For this reason, the adhesive force at the adhesive portion between the light exit surface of the light guide and the reflective film is set to be weak. As a result, there are disadvantages in that the reflective film on the light exit surface side of the light guide is significantly inferior in terms of retention strength and reliability in environments such as temperature and vibration.

The present invention has been developed with the aim of eliminating these drawbacks, and provides an edge structure that facilitates the replacement of fluorescent lamps, ensures reliable positioning and retention of the reflective film, and has excellent environmental resistance and reliability. It is an attempt to provide a light-type surface light source.

[0008]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The drawbacks of the prior art arise from the fact that the reflective film of the fluorescent lamp is adhered to the light exit surface of the light guide as described above. Therefore, the present invention fixes and integrates the upper end of the reflective film of the fluorescent lamp with the light guide fixing jig, and when fixing the light guide to the case with this light guide fixing jig, the light guide is fixed. This invention attempts to solve the above-mentioned problems of the prior art by employing a method of pressing and fixing the upper end of the reflective film against the light exit surface of the light guide using a jig.

That is, the gist of the present invention is to provide a plate-shaped light guide, a reflective film that covers a part of the outer peripheral surface of a fluorescent lamp with the reflective surface inside, and a reflective film that covers a part of the outer peripheral surface of the fluorescent lamp with the reflective surface inside, and the uncoated peripheral surface of the film as the light guide. In an edge-light type surface light source in which a fluorescent lamp disposed facing the circumferential side of the body is integrally housed and fixed in a case via a fixing jig, the fixing jig is attached to the edge of the light output surface of the light guide. The edge is arranged parallel to the fluorescent lamp along the edge, and both ends of the edge are removably fixed to the case, and the edge of the reflective film and the fixing jig are fixed and integrated by appropriate means. It is a light method surface light source.

0010

[Function] One end of the reflective film is adhesively fixed to the back side of the light guide fixing jig so that the reflective surface of the reflective film is on the inside, and the other end of the reflective film is attached to the back of the light guide fixing jig. It is fixed to the end surface on the non-emission surface side in the same manner as usual.

When replacing a fluorescent lamp, first the light guide fixing jig is removed from the case, and together with the fixing jig, the reflective film is separated from the used fluorescent lamp. Next, remove the old fluorescent lamp, set an unused fluorescent lamp, wrap the reflective film around part of the circumference of the fluorescent lamp, and use the back side of the fixing jig to attach the end of the reflective film to the light guide. Fix the light guide fixing jig in a predetermined position of the case using a conventional method while pressing it against the light exit surface of the case.

Therefore, the light guide fixing jig has the function of fixing the light guide to the case, and also the function of pressing and holding the end of the reflective film against the light exit surface of the light guide using the back surface of the fixing jig. will have the following.

[0013]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The present invention will be specifically explained below with reference to illustrated embodiments. In the following explanation, members that are substantially the same as the conventional members shown in FIGS. 6 and 7 are given the same reference numerals, and detailed explanations of these members will be omitted.

1 to 3 show typical embodiments of the present invention, in which 1 is a casing, 2 is a fluorescent lamp,
3a is an adhesive, 4 is a light guide, 5 is a light exit surface of the light guide 4,
Reference numeral 6 denotes a non-light emitting surface of the light guide 4, 7 a reflective film, 8a a light guide fixing jig, and 9 a screw.

Here, the light guide fixing jig 8a is made of a long plate material that has fixing parts 8b to the case 1 at both ends and has the end length of the light output surface 5 of the light guide 4. As shown in FIG. 3, one end of the reflective film 7 is bonded and integrated with the surface attached to the light guide 4 with an adhesive 3a with the reflective surface facing down. On the other hand, the other end of the reflective film 7 is fixed along the edge of the light non-emitting surface 6 of the light guide 4 as in the conventional case.

With the above structure, when the light guide 4 is fixed to the case 1 with the screws 9 or the like using the light guide fixing jig 8a, both ends of the reflective film 7 are connected to the light exit surface 5 of the light guide 4 and the light shield. It is reliably held in a state where it is strongly pressed against the emission surface 6.

Now, when it is time to replace the fluorescent lamp 2 of the edge-light type surface light source of the present invention, first turn the screw 9 to remove the light guide fixing jig 8a from the case 1, and then remove the light guide fixing jig 8a from the case 1. Separate the tool 8a and the reflective film 7 from the fluorescent lamp 2,
Replace the old and new fluorescent lamps 2. After this exchange is complete,
The light guide fixing jig 8a is attached to the end of the light output surface 5 of the light guide 4 along the fluorescent lamp 2 so as to wrap the reflective film 7 around the newly set fluorescent lamp 2 from the outside. Next, the light guide fixing jig 8a is fixed to the case 1 by tightening the screws 9. At this time, by tightening the screws 9, the light guide fixing jig 8a and the light emitting surface 5 of the light guide 4 are pinched, and between the light non-emitting surface 6 of the light guide 4 and the case 1. The upper and lower ends of the reflective film 7 are strongly pressed against the light emitting surface 5 and the light non-emitting surface 6 of the light guide 4 by a light guide fixing jig 8a, as shown in a partially enlarged view in FIG. In combination with the above-mentioned adhesion, the film holding by the three members 8a, 4, and 1 becomes strong.

FIG. 4 shows another embodiment of the present invention,
In this embodiment, as a means for integrating the light guide fixing jig 8a and the reflective film 7, pins such as staples are used instead of adhesive to tighten them together.

[0019]

As is clear from the above explanation, according to the present invention, one end of the reflective film of a fluorescent lamp is integrated with the light guide fixing jig, and the end of the reflective film is integrated with the light guide. It is sandwiched between the fixing jig and the light output surface of the light guide and is held down by the light guide fixing jig, so at least the reflective film is firmly held on the light guide light output surface. Therefore, the environmental reliability against changes in temperature, vibration, etc. is significantly improved compared to the conventional technology.

Furthermore, according to the present invention, even when replacing a fluorescent lamp, since the light guide fixing jig and the reflective film are integrated, it is easy to simply operate the screws etc. that fix the light guide fixing jig to the case. This makes it easier and faster to replace the device than in the prior art.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view conceptually showing an edge-light type surface light source of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken along line A-A in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged view of part B in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a diagram corresponding to FIG. 3 showing another embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 5 is a partial cross-sectional view of a conventional edge-light surface light source.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view conceptually showing the edge-light type surface light source.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 Case 2 Fluorescent lamps 3, 3a Adhesive 4 Light guide 5 (light guide) light exit surface 6
(Light guide) Light non-emission surface 7 (For fluorescent lamp) Reflective film 8, 8a Light guide fixing jig 9 Screw 10 Pin

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A plate-shaped light guide, a reflective film that covers a part of the outer circumferential surface of the fluorescent lamp with the reflective surface inside, and a circumferential surface of the uncoated part of the film on the circumferential side of the light guide. In an edge-light type surface light source in which a fluorescent lamp arranged facing each other is housed and fixed in a case integrally via a fixing jig, the fixing jig is arranged parallel to the fluorescent lamp along the edge of the light guide. An edge-light type surface light source characterized in that the coating end of the reflective film and the fixing jig are fixed and integrated by appropriate means, and both ends of the reflective film are attached and removably fixed to the case. .