JPH05205505A - Direction indicating discharge lamp - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To improve a freedom degree of a shape and enhance visibility of an indicating direction by providing a picture symbol in such a position as to be identified in the order of direction indication, and controlling to apply or stop a predetermined voltage to a plurality of planar electrodes according to the disposing order. CONSTITUTION:An emergency DC power source 13 is supplied with electric power via a charger 12 under a normal condition, namely, it is always charged. All of switches 15a-15c are closed by a control circuit 18, and a DC of the emergency DC power source 13 is converted into a high frequency AC of, e.g. 20kHz by an inverter 14 so as to be applied to electrodes 9a-9c. A voltage is supplied to xenon gas staying inside a vacuum glass container 6 via a glass as a dielectric which is brought into contact with the electrodes 9a-9c, thus generating electric discharge. Since an ultraviolet ray generated by the electric discharge excites a phosphor 7 formed on the inner wall of the vacuum glass container 6, emits visible light having a wave length peculiar to the phosphor 7, and outputs a visible beam from the front surface of an output unit 9, a display unit 6 is lit as a whole, i.e., the entire arrow mark is lit.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a direction indicating discharge lamp such as a guide light for indicating the direction of an emergency exit which is an evacuation exit in the event of an emergency such as a fire.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Guide lights are installed and used not only in ordinary facilities such as offices and theaters and in store spaces, but also in environments with severe temperature conditions such as high and low temperature warehouses.

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional perspective view showing a conventional guide light, for example, a KSH1261 type guide light manufactured by Mitsubishi Electric Lighting Co., Ltd. In the drawing, 1 is an outer case embedded in the ceiling, and 2 is an outer case 1. A fluorescent lamp 3 which is a light source provided in the display part 3 which projects from the ceiling surface into the room, 4 a lighting device for lighting the fluorescent lamp 2 which is provided inside the outer box 1, and 5 also the outer box It is an emergency power source that is provided inside the unit 1 and also has a charging device.

The display portion 3 is composed of a light guide plate made of methacrylic resin having a light transmitting property and a flame retardant property, and an arrow as a pictorial symbol indicating the direction of the emergency exit is drawn on the surface thereof. This light guide plate is provided with a light diffusion reflector so that the area of reflected light increases as the distance from the light source increases.

In the guide light constructed as described above,
Normally, electric power is supplied from the commercial power source to the lighting device 4, the fluorescent lamp 2 is turned on, the luminous flux illuminates the display unit 3, and the direction of the emergency exit is indicated by an arrow. In addition, power is supplied to the charging device of the emergency power supply 5 at the same time as the lighting device 4, and the emergency power supply 5 is constantly charged in case of an emergency.

In the event of a power failure in the event of a fire or the like, power is supplied from the emergency power supply 5 to the fluorescent lamp 2 and the lamp is lit and displayed.
Illuminate and indicate the direction of the emergency exit to guide you during evacuation.

[0007]

The conventional direction indicating discharge lamp including the guide light as described above has the following problems. (1). Since the luminous efficiency of fluorescent lamps is temperature-dependent, the luminous efficiency may drop and the illuminance required as a direction indicating discharge lamp may not be obtained in high-temperature environments or in low-temperature conditions such as cold regions or frozen warehouses. is there. (2). Since the fluorescent lamp and the display unit are separated, the display effect by light emission is low, and it is difficult for the direction indicator to simultaneously satisfy the luminance uniformity and illuminance. (3). In terms of the shape of the equipment, it is difficult to make a shape that reasonably matches the installation environment such as various architectural spaces. (4). Since the visual transmission is performed only by illuminating the display portion with the fluorescent lamp, the direction indicating effect is weak.

In addition to the above, there are the following problems peculiar to the guide light. (1). Since the guide light always lights up not only in an emergency but also in a normal time, it is difficult to be reliable for normal lighting in an emergency. (2). In terms of the shape of the equipment, it is required to have a thin flat plate shape that fits comfortably in various architectural spaces and melts.
Since the fluorescent lamp and the display unit are separated, it is difficult to reduce the thickness while simultaneously satisfying the luminance uniformity and illuminance. (3). Since the visual signal is transmitted only by illuminating the display unit with a fluorescent lamp, the visibility is reduced as the field of view is reduced by smoke during a fire.

The present invention has been made to solve the above problems, and by using an excimer light source, temperature environment adaptability, luminous efficiency, luminance uniformity and illuminance can be simultaneously satisfied, and the shape can be improved. An object of the present invention is to obtain a discharge lamp for indicating a direction in which the degree of freedom is improved and the visibility of the pointing direction is improved.

[0010]

A discharge lamp for indicating a direction according to the present invention is made of a dielectric material in which a rare gas for discharge is sealed, and a translucent light having a pictorial symbol for indicating a direction is provided on the front surface thereof. Discharge vessel and the outer surface of the rear surface of the discharge vessel to excite the discharge space inside the discharge vessel, and the pictograms are provided corresponding to the positions distinguished in the order of direction indication, and the predetermined voltage Is provided with a plurality of planar electrodes, and a control circuit for applying and stopping the voltage to the plurality of planar electrodes in the order when indicating the direction.

Further, the direction indicating discharge lamp according to another invention is provided with a detector for detecting an emergency state of the living space and operating a control circuit for sequentially applying and stopping the voltage to the electrodes according to the detected output. It is a thing.

[0012]

In the discharge lamp for indicating a direction according to the first aspect of the present invention, the control circuit is provided in contact with the outside of the rear surface of the discharge vessel when indicating the direction, and the pictograms are provided in the order of indicating the directions. By applying a voltage to the plurality of planar electrodes in the order of direction indication, a discharge is generated inside the discharge vessel, and a smooth light emission movement is obtained in the direction indicated.

According to another aspect of the discharge lamp of the present invention, the emergency state detector detects the emergency state of the living space, operates the control circuit based on the detected output to contact the outside of the rear surface of the discharge vessel, and the pictorial symbol. By applying a voltage to the plurality of planar electrodes provided in the order of the direction indication in the order of the direction indication, a discharge is generated inside the discharge vessel, and a smooth light emission movement is obtained in the indicated direction.

[0014]

【Example】

Example 1. An embodiment of the present invention will be described below. 1 and 2 show an induction light to which the present invention is applied, FIG. 1 is a circuit diagram, and FIG. 2 is a perspective view with a part in section. Reference numeral 6 in the figure is a vacuum glass container in which glass is formed into a thin flat plate shape as a discharge container, and xenon gas is enclosed in 70 Torr therein. Vacuum glass container 6
A phosphor layer 7 is formed on the inner wall of the substrate except the front surface thereof. The arrow indicating the emergency exit direction is printed on the front,
The front surface on which the phosphor layer 7 is not formed serves as a light output unit 8 which irradiates the light generated in the vacuum glass container to the outside of the container. 9a to 9c are a plurality of planar electrodes arranged on the outside of the back surface of the vacuum glass container 6, which are divided into three parts in the vertical direction corresponding to the arrow portion on the front surface, namely, the arrow head portion, the arrow head portion, the arrow head portion, and further, It is provided in pairs on the part.

Reference numeral 10 is a commercial power source, and 11 is a relay, which detects that the power supply from the commercial power source 10 is cut off due to a power failure. , 12 is a charging device, 13 is a direct current power source that is constantly charged by the charging device 12, 14 is an inverter that converts the direct current from the direct current power source into a high frequency alternating current of 20 KHz, 1
Reference numerals 5a to 15c are switches provided corresponding to the respective surface electrodes, and 16a to 16c are capacitors similarly provided corresponding to the surface electrodes, and generate a discharge start voltage together with the inverter 14. Reference numeral 17 is a blinking signal circuit that operates by a relay signal that detects that the commercial power source 10 has lost power, and reference numeral 18 is a control circuit that controls turning on and off of the switches 15a to 15c.

The operation of the discharge lamp having such a structure will be described. Since the emergency DC power supply 13 is normally supplied with electric power through the charging device 12, it is always charged. The switches 15a to 15c are shown in FIG.
As shown in FIG. 5, all are closed by the control circuit 18, and the DC of the emergency DC power supply 13 is converted into a high-frequency AC of 20 KHz by the inverter 14, and the electrodes 9a, 9
b, 9c. Then, the electrodes 9a, 9b, 9
A voltage is supplied to the xenon gas in the vacuum glass container 6 through the glass, which is a dielectric that is in contact with c, and discharge is generated. The ultraviolet light generated by this discharge excites the phosphor 7 formed on the inner wall of the vacuum glass container 6, emits visible light having a wavelength peculiar to the phosphor 7, and outputs visible light from the front surface which is the light output unit 9. Therefore, the entire surface of the display unit 6, that is, the entire arrow is illuminated.

The principle of light emission will be described in detail below. Since the discharge lamp discharges through glass, which is a dielectric, the current is limited by the dielectric and the glow discharge does not develop into an arc discharge. Further, the discharge is not concentrated on a specific place, and the discharge is generated from the entire inner surface of the glass container corresponding to the external electrode. If the thickness of the glass is constant and the characteristics as a dielectric are uniform, the current density on the inner surface of the glass container facing the external electrodes will be uniform, so the density of ultraviolet rays generated will also be substantially uniform. The generation of visible light is also almost uniform. Therefore, the luminance distribution on the lamp surface becomes almost uniform. In addition, the current flows only immediately after the polarity of the applied voltage is reversed, and otherwise the current is stopped by the accumulation of charges on the inner surface of the glass container. As a result, a pulsed current flows through the lamp.

When the internal discharge state is observed in detail, the entire inner surface of the lamp facing the external electrode is covered with a substantially uniform light, and the thin thread-shaped discharge connecting the facing electrode is substantially constant. It can be seen that many stripes are generated at intervals. When a rare gas such as xenon is filled inside, the rare gas atoms are first excited to a resonance level by collision with electrons due to such discharge. Excited atoms at this resonance level collide with noble gas atoms at other ground levels to form excimers of diatomic molecules because the pressure of the rare gas is high. This excimer emits ultraviolet rays and returns to the two ground level noble gas atoms.

Since the ultraviolet rays emitted by the excimer do not cause self-absorption like the resonance ultraviolet rays of atoms, most of them reach the inner wall of the lamp and are converted into visible light by the phosphor. That is, in the case of light emission by excimer, brighter light can be obtained. Further, when xenon is used as the rare gas, it is 1 in a glow discharge lamp having an electrode inside.
Xenon resonance ultraviolet rays of 47 nm are large, whereas in this discharge lamp, excimer ultraviolet rays of about 172 nm are mainly emitted. The long wavelength of ultraviolet rays is also advantageous in terms of luminous efficiency and deterioration of the phosphor.

When the normal energization is cut off due to an emergency power failure, the emergency DC power supply 13 starts energizing the inverter 14, the control circuit 18, and the blinking signal circuit 17 for a certain period of time. Then, the relay 11 detects the power failure, operates the blinking signal circuit 17, and switches the control circuit 18 to the blinking operation mode.

FIG. 4 shows the operation of each of the switches 15a to 15c by the control circuit 18 in an emergency. First, the switch 15a in the arrowhead portion of the arrow on the display is closed and the other switches 15b and 15c are opened. ing. Therefore, a voltage is applied to the planar electrode only in the arrow-marked portion of the display portion, and only this portion is lit. Next, the switch 15a is opened, and at the same time, the switch 15b in the arrow-shaped portion of the arrow on the display section.
Is closed and a voltage is applied to the planar electrode having only the arrow-shaped arrowhead portion, and only this portion emits light. Further, next, the switch 15b is opened, and at the same time, the switch 15c in the arrowhead portion of the display portion is closed and a voltage is applied to the planar electrode only in the arrowhead portion of the display portion, and only this portion emits light. ..
This is repeated for an extremely short period of time, for example, 1 second, as one cycle, and a smooth light emission movement is obtained in the direction of the arrow head of the arrow.

In this way, the control circuit 18 controls the switches 15a to 15c, and the switches 15a to 15c are arranged independently of each other.
The two external electrodes 9a to 9c are sequentially energized with a time difference to cause excimer light emission, and smooth emission movement is performed in the discharge space of the same flat plate discharge vessel 6, and smooth emission movement is obtained in the arrowhead direction. ..

According to the first embodiment as described above, the following effects are obtained by using the excimer light emitting source. (1). The luminous efficiency does not decrease with respect to changes in the ambient temperature, and the function as a guide light can be established and maintained even in the case of an increase in the ambient temperature in an emergency such as a fire or a low temperature condition in a cold region or a frozen warehouse. (2). Since the electrodes are provided outside, the life of the light source itself is long, and the reliability of lighting the lamp in an emergency is high. (3). Since the light source has a flat plate shape and can emit light uniformly on the surface, the display effect is high, and the luminance uniformity and the illuminance are simultaneously satisfied. (4). In terms of the shape of the device, a thin flat plate can be formed more easily than the conventional device, so that it can be reasonably matched to various building spaces. (5). The direction indicated by a pictorial symbol such as an arrow indicating the evacuation exit of the display unit can be quickly recognized and recognized by smooth light emission movement, and the guidance effect can be enhanced.

Example 2. In the above embodiment, the arrow is shown only in one direction, but when the emergency exit is in both directions, it is indicated that there is a bidirectional arrowhead, and the arrowhead portion of the one that is not the evacuation exit does not emit light As in the case of 1, the arrows are turned on and off sequentially in the arrow direction, and the cycle is repeated in an extremely short time to obtain a smooth light emission movement in the arrow direction.

Example 3. In addition, since the outside of the arrow is opaquely printed on the display part and only the arrow part is made transparent, only the arrow part can be smoothly moved and emitted in the direction of the arrow. It can be further emphasized.

Example 4. It is also possible to design a figure of a human running, arrange the electrodes so that the design moves like animation, and control the blinking of the electrodes by the control circuit.

Example 5. FIG. 5 is a circuit diagram showing another embodiment of the present invention, in which the relay 11 of the first embodiment is replaced with an emergency detector 19 for detecting an emergency in the living space. In this embodiment, a smoke detector that detects smoke in the event of a fire is used as the emergency detector, and the control circuit 18 is operated by the output of this smoke detector in the same manner as in the first embodiment to sequentially switch the switches 15a to 15c. It is turned on and off, and this is repeated for an extremely short period of time, for example, 1 second, as one cycle, and smooth light emission movement is obtained in the direction of the arrow head.

Example 6. The emergency detector is not limited to the smoke detector, but may be any detector that detects an emergency in the living space, such as a high temperature detector that detects an abnormally high temperature during a fire and a vibration detector that detects vibration during an earthquake.

Example 7. This emergency detector may be a smoke detector or high temperature detector that detects smoke or abnormally high temperatures during a fire, or a vibration detector that detects vibration during an earthquake. If a plurality of detectors are provided and any one of these detectors performs a detection operation, the control circuit 1
8 is operated to sequentially turn on / off the switches 15a to 15c, and this is set as one cycle, and is sequentially repeated for an extremely short time, for example, 1 second, so as to obtain smooth light emission movement in the direction of the arrow. Can handle the situation.

Example 8. The guide light of the above-described first embodiment may be integrated with each other by back-to-back via an insulator, and the direction may be indicated from both sides.

Example 9. Further, in the above-described first embodiment, the case of using it for the guide light has been described, but it goes without saying that it can also be used for other direction indicators and sign lights.

[0032]

According to the invention of the first aspect, the following effects are obtained by using the excimer light emission source. (1). Since the luminous efficiency does not decrease with respect to the ambient temperature change, the function as a direction indicating discharge lamp can be established and maintained even in a high temperature environment or a low temperature condition such as a cold region or a frozen warehouse. (2). Since the electrodes are provided outside, the life of the light source itself is long and maintenance work is easy. (3). Since the electrodes are provided outside, there is a degree of freedom in changing the shape of the discharge vessel, and the degree of freedom in the shape of the device is higher than in the conventional device, so that it can be reasonably matched to various architectural spaces. (4). The direction indicated by the pictorial symbol such as the arrow shown on the display unit can be quickly recognized by the smooth light emission movement, and the effect of the direction indication can be enhanced.

According to the invention as set forth in claim 2, since the signal of the detector for detecting the emergency state of the living space enables smooth light emission movement in the direction indicated by the pictorial symbol, the effect according to the invention as set forth in claim 1 In addition, it is possible to give necessary direction directions in conformity with the type of emergency condition of the living space.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a circuit diagram showing a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a sectional perspective view showing the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a diagram for explaining the operation of the switch in the normal state according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is an operation explanatory diagram of the switch in the emergency of the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a circuit diagram showing a fifth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional perspective view showing a conventional guide light.

[Explanation of symbols]

 6 Discharge container 7 Phosphor layer 9a-9c Electrode a10 Commercial power supply 11 Relay 12 Charging device 13 DC power supply 14 Inverter 15a-15c switch 17 Flashing signal circuit 18 Control circuit 19 Emergency detector

 ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (72) Inventor Doji Ishii 5-1-1 Ofuna, Kamakura City Mitsubishi Electric Corporation

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A translucent discharge vessel, which is made of a dielectric material, is filled with a rare gas for discharge, and a pictogram for indicating a direction is provided on the front surface thereof, and a discharge space inside the discharge vessel is excited. A plurality of planar electrodes that are in contact with the outside of the rear surface of the discharge vessel and that are provided corresponding to the positions where the pictorial symbols are distinguished in the order of direction indication, and to which a predetermined voltage is applied,
A discharge lamp for indicating a direction, comprising: a control circuit for applying and stopping a voltage to the plurality of planar electrodes according to the order when indicating a direction. 2. The detector according to claim 1, further comprising a detector for detecting an emergency state of the living space, and operating a control circuit for sequentially applying and stopping the voltage to the electrodes according to the detected output. Indicator discharge lamp.