JPH06308334A - Light emitting device for optical fiber - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To miniaturize the light emitting part of a light emitting device and to uniformly emit light in a larger area than the cross-sectional area of the optical fiber. CONSTITUTION:A light emitting member formed to be columnar is formed of epoxy resin. The optical fiber 2 is fixed on the peripheral surface of the light emitting member 1, and the end face 3 on the light radiating side of the optical fiber 2 is positioned at a spot on a little inner side from the peripheral surface of the light emitting member 1. Then, an incandescent lamp 5 functioning as a light source is provided near the other end face 4 on the light incident side of the optical fiber 2.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an optical fiber light emitting device for transmitting and irradiating light from a light source through an optical fiber.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, many ornamental ornaments, displays, etc. that emit light through an optical fiber have been used. Since the light emitted through this optical fiber can irradiate only a narrow range in the optical axis direction of the optical fiber, the light emitting device using the optical fiber can be used only for extremely limited applications.

Therefore, conventionally, there has been a technique in which a ground glass is arranged so as to face the end surface of the optical fiber on the light emitting side, and the light emitted from the optical fiber is diffused and emitted by the ground glass.

There has also been a technique in which glass beads are attached to the end face of the optical fiber on the light emitting side and the light is diffused by the lens action of the glass beads.

[0005]

However, in the technique using the ground glass described above, the distance from the end face of the optical fiber on the light emitting side to the ground glass must be long.
The light emitting device cannot be downsized. Further, it is difficult to irradiate the optical fiber in the direction perpendicular to the optical axis.

Further, in the technique using glass beads, the irradiation light is not uniform, and it is difficult to irradiate in the direction perpendicular to the optical axis of the optical fiber as in the case of ground glass.

The present invention solves the above problems and allows light emitted from an optical fiber to be uniformly diffused not only in the direction of the optical axis of the optical fiber but also in the direction perpendicular to the optical axis, and is increased in size. It is an object of the present invention to provide an optical fiber light emitting device that does not have such a problem.

[0008]

An optical fiber light emitting device of the present invention is provided with a light emitting member that scatters light inside, an optical fiber that irradiates light into the light emitting member, and an end face of the optical fiber on the light incident side. And a light source.

Any light-emitting member may be used as long as it scatters light inside, for example, synthetic resins such as epoxy resin and acrylic resin, sintered body of glass powder, wax, capsule containing colloidal liquid, and glass. There is one in which light-reflecting fine powder is dispersed and mixed. In addition, a hardness improving agent can be mixed in the light emitting member in order to improve the hardness of the light emitting member. Examples of the hardness improving agent include glass powder, aluminum paste, and aluminum powder. Furthermore, the addition of this hardness improving agent also has the effect of improving the light emitting property.

The light emitting member can be formed into various shapes depending on the purpose of use of the light emitting device of the present invention. For example, forming into an abstract shape such as a cylinder, a sphere, or a rectangular parallelepiped, a character shape such as an alphabet, hiragana, or kanji, a symbol shape such as an arrow, a person shape, a telephone shape, a fish shape, or the like. You can

The light emitting member may be used alone or in combination of two or more. For example, when it is used alone, it has a male or female shape to display the toilet, and when it is used in combination, it has a combination of abstract shapes to convey specific information to the viewer. , Symbols such as arrows, or various fish shapes can be combined to decorate the wall surface.

Further, an abstract shape such as a cylinder may be arranged in a matrix, and a control unit for controlling light emission may be provided for each light emitting member to form an electronic signboard.

The optical fiber has only to be in a form capable of irradiating light inside the light emitting member, and may have a form in which light is emitted from outside the light emitting member or a form in which light is directly emitted inside the light emitting member. . For example, in the case of irradiating light from the outside, the light irradiation side end surface of the optical fiber is brought into close contact with the surface of the light emitting member, or the light irradiation side end surface of the optical fiber is faced with a gap from the surface of the light emitting member to emit light. In the case of direct irradiation inside the member, the end face of the optical fiber on the light emission side may be inserted inside the light emitting member. However, it is preferable that the end face on the light irradiation side is inserted into the inside of the light emitting member because the light emitting property on the surface of the light emitting member is good.

When the end face on the light irradiation side is attached to the light emitting member, the optical fiber is at an arbitrary angle with respect to the light emitting surface to be used by the light emitting member (the optical axis of the optical fiber is perpendicular to the light emitting surface, and the optical axis of the optical fiber emits light). Parallel to the surface, the optical axis of the optical fiber is oblique to the light emitting surface, etc.). It is preferable that the optical axis of the optical fiber is parallel to the light emitting surface because the light emitting portion can be made thin.

As another mode of irradiating the inside of the light emitting member with light, there is a mode in which the light leaking means is formed on the peripheral surface of the optical fiber and the portion where the light leaking means is formed is embedded in the light emitting member. This light leaking means is for leaking the light transmitted in the optical fiber from the peripheral surface to the outside. For example, blasting, sandpaper or the like may be used as a fine rough surface or fine light parallel to the optical axis direction. Many grooves are formed.

One or several optical fibers may be attached to the light emitting member collectively, or depending on the size and shape of the light emitting member, the optical fibers may be attached to the light emitting member in a dispersed manner at several locations.

The light source is not particularly limited, and for example, incandescent lamps, fluorescent lamps, laser beams, discharge tubes, artificial light sources such as light emitting diodes, and sunlight can be used.
It is also possible to provide filters of various colors and switch the light emitted from the light source to a plurality of colors.

The optical fiber light emitting device of the present invention can be used for a decoration device, a marking device, a display device, a part of a structure, furniture, and the like. For example, decorations on walls, floors, bridges, objects, road signs, guide signs, clock dial numbers, road displays, pool lines and pacemakers, traffic lights, neon signs, electronic signs, desk tops, etc. is there.

Since the light emitting portion of the optical fiber light emitting device of the present invention is maintenance-free, the light emitting portion cannot be easily repaired (when the light emitting portion is buried in a floor or the like,
It is suitable for devices such as when the light emitting part is provided protruding in the air. Also, since the light emitting part does not require electricity and can be used in water without using waterproof means, it is also suitable for devices placed in water. Is.

[0020]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of an optical fiber light emitting device according to the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view in which an intermediate portion of the optical fiber light emitting device is cut away. In this figure, reference numeral 1 is a cylindrical light emitting member, which is made of epoxy resin. An optical fiber 2 is fixed to the peripheral surface of the light emitting member 1, and the light emitting side end surface 3 of the optical fiber 2 is fixed.
Is located at a portion slightly inside from the peripheral surface of the light emitting member 1. An incandescent lamp 5 as a light source is provided near the other end face 4 on the light incident side of the optical fiber 2.

The optical fiber 2 can be fixed to the light emitting member 1 by inserting the optical fiber into the molten light emitting member before solidification and completely solidifying in that state.

When the optical fiber emission as described above is left,
The light emitted from the incandescent lamp 5 is transmitted through the optical fiber 2 and is emitted from the light emitting side end face 3 into the light emitting member 1. The light emitted inside the light emitting member 1 is diffused by repeating complicated scattering, and finally has a substantially uniform luminous intensity over the entire light emitting member 1.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of another embodiment of the optical fiber light emitting device of the present invention. The light emitting device shown in this figure is
The optical fiber 2 is embedded over substantially the entire length of the light emitting member 1, and a scratch 6 is formed on the peripheral surface of the embedded portion of the optical fiber 2 for leaking the light transmitted inside. In this light emitting device, light is emitted from the light emitting side end face 3
Before it reaches, the light gradually leaks from the scratch 6 to the outside to emit light over the entire length of the light emitting member 1.

FIG. 3 is also a perspective view of another embodiment of the optical fiber light emitting device of the present invention. The light emitting device shown in this figure is
The light emitting member 1 is formed in a cylindrical shape, and the optical fiber 2 is provided in a spiral shape on the bottom thereof. Then, on the peripheral surface of the spiral portion of the optical fiber 2, there is formed a scratch 6 for leaking the light transmitted inside to the outside.

FIG. 4 is a schematic view of an example in which the optical fiber light emitting device of the present invention is applied to a display plate. In this figure,
Reference numeral 11 is a substrate of a display plate, on which the light emitting member 1 is arranged in an arrow shape. And each light emitting member 1
Optical fibers 2 are attached to the back surface, and these optical fibers 2 are grouped together and an incandescent lamp 5 is provided adjacent to the light incident side end surface 4.

FIG. 5 is a schematic view of an example in which Chinese characters are formed by the optical fiber light emitting device of the present invention. In the light-emitting device shown in this figure, the light-emitting member 1 is formed in a "large" shape, and three optical fibers 2 are provided at each portion forming the "large" of the light-emitting member 1.
1, 22, 23 are buried. The scratches 6 are formed on the peripheral surfaces of these optical fibers 21, 22 and 23.
An incandescent lamp 5 is provided near the light incident side end surface 4 of the optical fibers 21, 22 and 23.

FIG. 6 is an example in which the optical fiber light-emitting device of the present invention is applied to a digital timepiece, and is a schematic view of a numeral portion for displaying the time. In the light emitting device shown in this figure, seven light emitting members 1a, 1b, 1c, 1d, 1e, 1f and 1g are arranged in an "8" shape, and these light emitting members 1a to 1g are provided with optical fibers 2a, 2g.
b, 2c, 2d, 2e, 2f and 2g are buried respectively. Further, incandescent lamps 5a, 5b, 5c, 5d, 5e, 5f and 5g are provided on the light incident side end faces 4 of these optical fibers 2a to 2g, respectively. And these incandescent lamps 5a-5g
Is electrically connected to a control unit 12 for controlling blinking of an incandescent lamp, and the control unit 12 causes a predetermined light emitting member 1 to emit light so that a predetermined number can be displayed.

FIG. 7 is a schematic view of an example in which the optical fiber light emitting device of the present invention is applied to a floor decorative tile. In the light emitting device shown in this figure, the light emitting member 1 is formed in a square plate shape,
A plurality of optical fibers 2 of the light emitting member 1 are embedded in a curved shape. Then, such a lameness member 1 is fitted on the floor 13 as a tile.

FIG. 8 is a schematic view of an example in which the optical fiber light-emitting device of the present invention is applied to a line for dividing a course of a pool. In the light emitting device shown in this figure, a light emitting member 1 is formed in a relatively long rectangular parallelepiped shape, and an optical fiber 2 is formed in the longitudinal direction thereof.
Several are buried. And such a light emitting member 1
Is embedded in the bottom 14 of the pool, and the upper surface of the light emitting member 1 is exposed.

[0031]

Industrial Applicability The present invention can be extremely miniaturized, can emit a large area in comparison with the cross-sectional area of an optical fiber, and can further favorably emit light in the direction perpendicular to the optical axis of the optical fiber. Can be made.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an optical fiber light emitting device according to an embodiment of the present invention with an intermediate portion cut away.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of another embodiment of the optical fiber light emitting device according to the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of another embodiment of the optical fiber light emitting device according to the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a schematic view of an example in which the optical fiber light emitting device according to the present invention is applied to a display plate.

FIG. 5 is a schematic view of an example in which Chinese characters are formed by the optical fiber light emitting device according to the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a schematic view of an example in which the optical fiber light emitting device according to the present invention is applied to a floor decorative tile.

FIG. 7 is a schematic view of an example in which the optical fiber light emitting device according to the present invention is applied to a floor decorative tile.

FIG. 8 is a schematic view of an example in which the optical fiber light-emitting device according to the present invention is applied to a line for dividing a course of a pool.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Light Emitting Member 2 Optical Fiber 3 Light Emitting Side End 4 Light Incident Side End 5 Incandescent Lamp (Light Source) 6 Light Leakage Scratch

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. An optical fiber light-emitting device, comprising: a light-emitting member that scatters light inside; an optical fiber that irradiates light into the light-emitting member; and a light source provided on the light-incident side end face of the optical fiber. apparatus. 2. The optical fiber light emitting device according to claim 1, wherein the light emitting side end surface of the optical fiber is attached to the light emitting member. 3. The optical fiber light emitting device according to claim 1, wherein a light leaking means is formed on a peripheral surface of the optical fiber, and a portion where the light leaking means is formed is embedded in a light emitting member. 4. The optical fiber light emitting device according to claim 1, wherein a hardness improving agent for improving hardness is mixed in the light emitting member.