JPH06242730A - Illuminating panel - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To reduce the thickness, size and weight of the illuminating panel by storing a cold cathode discharge tube in a nearly tight contact state between two sheets of glass plates, at least one side of which are transparent, and arranging display plates, at least one of which are transparent or translucent, on the outer side thereof, apart a space in a double structure. CONSTITUTION:This illuminating panel has a sandwich structure formed by holding the cold cathode discharge tube 2 with the glass plates 1 and further holding these plates with the display plates 3. The display plates 3 are provided on the outer side of the glass plates 1 via the space 4. Since the display plates 3 are exposed to the outside world, acrylic plates having good resistance to water, acids, alkalis and oils are used for the display plates. The upper edges of the illuminating panel are covered with a frame material consisting of an aluminum extruded material 6 fixed with two pieces of supporting pipes 8 so as to clamp the display plates 3. The electrical performance of the cold cathode discharge tube is much higher than the electrical performance of a fluorescent lamp which is a hot cathode discharge tube. The electrical consumption of the former is about half the electrical consumption of the latter and the formation of the former much smaller in diameter than the fluorescent lamp is possible. The cold cathode discharge tube is thus suitable for the reduction of the thickness, size and weight.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a lighting panel that is used indoors such as wall surfaces, ceilings and partition plates, and outdoors such as hanging and projecting display panels.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, fluorescent lamps have been mainly used for illuminating landscape images, advertisements, notices, guide display boards, etc. installed on a large wall. This fluorescent lamp has a special feature such as a slim line that lights up immediately when switched on. However, since all of them are hot cathode discharge tubes, (a) space for heat dissipation is required as a problem with heat generation. However, there are drawbacks such as an increase in size as a whole, (b) rapid thermal deterioration of components, and (c) short life of the fluorescent lamp itself.

[0003]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In view of the drawbacks of hot cathode discharge tubes represented by fluorescent lamps, the present invention produces less heat,
We examined a lighting panel that can be easily miniaturized and has a long life as a lighting fixture.

[0004]

As a result, a lighting panel in which a cold cathode discharge tube 2 is housed between two insulating plates, at least one surface of which is transparent, in a close contact state, is provided, and the two insulating plates are a glass plate 1. Then, we have developed an illuminating panel having a double structure in which a display plate 3 of which at least one is transparent or semi-transparent is provided on the outside thereof with a space 4.

[0005]

Since the cold cathode discharge tube 2 does not generate heat, the lighting panel can be constructed by closely adhering the discharge tube to the glass plate 1 without providing a space for heat dissipation, thus realizing a thin and lightweight lighting panel. it can. The same applies to the case where the display panel 3 is further provided outside the glass plate 1 and the illumination panel has a double structure. Further, since the parts are not thermally deteriorated and the discharge tube itself has a long life, the lighting panel has a long life.

[0006]

1 is a partially cutaway front view of an illumination panel according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken along line AA of FIG. This lighting panel has a sandwich structure in which a cold cathode discharge tube 2 is sandwiched by a glass plate 1 and further sandwiched by a display plate 3. This is because the insulation of electric parts such as the discharge tube is taken into consideration.

The glass plate 1 on the inner side is an insulator, and the cold cathode discharge tube 2 can be housed in a state in which it is almost in close contact. Two glass plates are used, at least one surface of which is transparent so that the light of the discharge tube can be transmitted to the outside. An outer display plate 3 is provided on the glass plate 1 with a space 4 therebetween.

Since the display board 3 is exposed to the outside world, the surface is not water-resistant even if the humidity is high.
Use a plate material with good acid resistance, alkali resistance, and oil resistance.
In this embodiment, an acrylic plate is used.

In such an illumination panel, a frame material is attached to the outer periphery or one end of the panel, a support material is attached to the frame material, and the illumination panel is installed at a required position. In this embodiment, a frame member made of aluminum extruded material 6 to which two support pipes 8 are adhered covers the upper edge of the lighting panel so as to sandwich the display plate 3. The aluminum extruded material 6 is hollow and communicates with the space between the glass plates 1 in which the support pipe 8 and the cold cathode discharge tube 2 are housed and between the glass plate 1 and the display plate 3.

An electronic CR transformer 5, which is a stable reactor of the cold cathode discharge tube 2, is housed in the cavity of the aluminum extruded material 6 and is connected to the discharge tube. An energizing cord 7 for supplying electric power is connected to the transformer through a support pipe 8.

Generally, the electric performance of the cold cathode discharge tube is superior to that of a fluorescent lamp which is a hot cathode discharge tube. The power consumption of the former is about half that of the latter, and the durability is about 4 to 5 times higher. For example, comparing the life of both, it is said that the life of a fluorescent lamp is about 3000 hours, whereas that of a cold cathode discharge tube is about 15000 to 25000 hours (the width of data varies depending on the application etc.). ing. Cold cathode discharge tube
In addition to such electrical excellence, it can be made much thinner than fluorescent lamps (while fluorescent lamps are 20 mm or more, cold cathode discharge tubes are about 6 mm, etc.), thin lighting panels There are many points that are suitable for downsizing, downsizing and weight reduction.

The cold cathode discharge tube requires a high applied voltage, but consumes a small amount of current, and thus has low power consumption. However, a stable reactor that keeps the current constant is necessary because the current may increase with the discharge and destroy the discharge tube. In the present embodiment, the electronic CR transformer 5 corresponds to this stable reactor. This transformer uses leakage reactance and also has the function of simultaneously obtaining a high applied voltage.

[0013]

Since the lighting panel of the present invention can be made thin, compact and lightweight, its mounting strength can be small. As a result, the installation work is simple, and the installation and removal work at high places is easy. Further, since the heat deterioration is small and the life can be extended, the number of times of exchanging the parts is reduced, and the labor of the maintenance work can be considerably omitted. As a result, costs, including labor cost savings, can be kept low. In addition, since there is no restriction on the installation location due to heat generation and it can be installed at any location due to miniaturization and the like, there is an advantage that the application range is widened.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a partially cutaway front view of a lighting panel of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken along line AA in FIG.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Glass Plate 2 Cold Cathode Discharge Tube 3 Display Board 4 Space 5 Electronic CR Transformer 6 Aluminum Extruded Material 7 Energizing Cord 8 Support Pipe

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. An illumination panel in which a cold cathode discharge tube 2 is housed between two insulating plates, at least one surface of which is transparent, in an almost contact state. 2. The two insulating plates according to claim 1 are glass plates 1, and a display plate 3 at least one of which is transparent or semitransparent is arranged outside the glass plate 1 with a space 4 in a double structure. Lighting panel.