JPH07209519A - Road traffic sign - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To omit a light source for an optical fiber and reduce the cost of a device itself by returning light which leaks from a light guide plate into the light guide plate again by a reflecting layer which is provided at least on the reverse surface of the light guide plate. CONSTITUTION:The traffic sign consists of the light guide plate 3 which projects light, made incident from a side end surface of a traffic light, to the front side, the optical fiber 7 which has its incidence end 4 opposite the lamp 5 of the traffic light to receive the light and also has its projection end 6 connected optically to the side end surface of the light guide plate 3, and the reflecting layer 8 and a display plate 9. The light emitted by the lamp 5 enters the incidence end 4 of the optical fiber 7 and is propagated in the optical fiber 7. The light which is made incident on the light guide plate 3 and made incident from the side end surface is projected to the front side from the projection end 6 which is optically connected to the side end surface of the light guide plate 3. At this time, the light which leaks from the light guide plate 3 is returned to the light guide plate 3 again by the reflecting layer 8 provided on the reverse surface of the light guide plate 3. Consequently, the display plate 9 provided on the front side of the light guide plate 3 is irradiated from behind to display its sign characters by illumination.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a road sign, and more particularly to a road sign with a signal lamp installed therein which illuminates using an optical fiber.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Various proposals have been made for road signs and traffic signs using optical fibers. For example,
A road traffic signal device (Japanese Patent Publication No. 52-10635) that has a predictive signal before this signal and has a predictive signal for performing this color change by optical fiber transmission, road markings, and road markings with optical fibers embedded in marking lines , Light-emitting devices such as marking lines (Jitsuko Sho 53-10109), luminescence that makes transparent bodies installed on protective walls in safety zones shine with optical fibers, reflective road marking facilities (Jitsuko Sho 53-148), and light-emitting elements , A traffic sign that connects a pillar and a guide sign installed on the road with an optical fiber to display in conjunction with a signal lamp (Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 3-965)
No. 08), a road sign device in which the exit end of the optical fiber is provided on the sign plate along the contour of the sign pattern (actual Kaihei 1-152).
No. 46), a signboard is installed on one or both sides of a signboard frame, and one end face of an optical fiber is embedded along the display part such as letters and patterns of the signboard, and the other is connected to a light emitter (actual Kaihei 4 -65814) and the like.

[0003]

However, in the above-mentioned road signs and traffic signs using the optical fiber, the light source for emitting light from the optical fiber must be prepared and installed for the optical fiber. There is a disadvantage that the cost becomes high and the electric wiring and the system become complicated and complicated.

On the other hand, a stop line display mechanism in which the light of a traffic signal is guided to a stop line on the road surface by an optical fiber (Act.
3-11550), it is proposed to use the light of a traffic light to omit the optical fiber light source. However, there is an inconvenience in that the optical fiber is buried and the optical fiber must be used for a relatively long distance from the light source to the stop line.

The present invention has been made on the basis of the background described above, and an object thereof is to omit an optical fiber light source, reduce the cost of the apparatus itself, and
An object of the present invention is to provide a road sign that simplifies electric wiring and a system, and that does not require complicated optical fiber burying and requires a short optical fiber transmission from a light source.

[0006]

The above-mentioned problems can be solved by the present invention. That is, the road sign according to the present invention is
This road sign is installed vertically on a signal light, and this road sign has a light guide plate that emits light incident from at least one side end face to the front side, and an incident end that is opposite to the lamp of the signal light and that is incident light. An optical fiber whose emission end is optically connected to a side end surface of the light guide plate, a reflection layer provided on at least the back surface of the light guide plate, and a display plate provided on the front surface of the light guide plate. Is. The road sign used in the present invention comprises a light guide plate, an optical fiber, a reflection layer and a display plate.

The optical fiber used in the present invention is a silica type optical fiber having a clad (sheath) and a core (core), or a plastic type optical fiber, and its structure has a refractive index that changes stepwise. There are a step index type multimode optical fiber, a step index type single mode optical fiber having a single mode in which the refractive index changes stepwise, and a graded index type multimode optical fiber that propagates different modes. A large number of optical fibers can be used depending on the type of application.

Polymethylmethacrylate resin (PMM) is used as a material for the plastic core material.
A, including homopolymers and copolymers of methyl methacrylate in this specification), deuterated PMMA, polystyrene-based polymers, poly-4-methylpentene-1, silicon-based polymers and the like. . Further, the clad (sheath) material has a smaller refractive index than the core material, and for example, a fluoropolymer, for example, a vinylidene fluoride polymer (including a copolymer in the present specification), a Examples include fluoroalkyl methacrylate-based polymers and methacrylic acid ester-based polymers.

The light guide plate used in the present invention is made of a transparent material and emits light incident from at least one side end face to the front side. Examples of the transparent material include transparent resins such as acrylic resin, styrene resin, and polycarbonate resin, glass, and the like, and acrylic resin is preferable. The size and shape of the light guide plate can be appropriately changed and selected according to the type of application. Further, various surface treatments can be performed to improve the brightness and make the brightness uniform.

The reflective layer used in the present invention is provided on at least the back surface of the light guide plate. A regular reflection layer such as aluminum vapor deposition or silver vapor deposition, or a scattering reflection layer coated with a white pigment can be used, and the position thereof can be arranged not only on the back surface but also on the side end surface. The display plate used in the present invention is provided on the front surface of the light guide plate, and can display a marking pattern, a marking character / pattern, etc. when illuminated from the back surface or in the daytime when it is not illuminated.

[0011]

The road sign according to the present invention having the above structure operates and operates as follows. This road sign is hung on the signal light of the traffic signal at the road intersection. Light emitted from a lamp of a signal lamp enters an incident end of an optical fiber facing the lamp and propagates in the optical fiber. Light that enters the light guide plate and enters from the side end face is emitted to the front side from the emission end that is optically connected to the side end face of the light guide plate. At this time, the light leaking from the light guide plate is returned to the inside of the light guide plate by the reflection layer provided on at least the back surface of the light guide plate, and the light can be effectively used. Illuminated from the back of the display plate provided on the front of the light guide plate,
Display the marking pattern, marking characters and pictures.

[0012]

The present invention will be specifically described with reference to the following examples. An embodiment of a road sign according to the present invention is schematically shown in an internal perspective view of FIG. 1 and an external perspective view of FIG. In this embodiment, the road sign 2 is installed vertically on the signal lamp 1, and the road sign 2 includes a light guide plate 3 that emits light incident from a side end surface of 1 to the front side, and an incident end 4 of the signal lamp lamp 5. An optical fiber 7 which is opposite to which light is incident and whose emission end 6 is optically connected to a side end surface of the light guide plate, and a reflection layer 8 which is provided on the back surface of the light guide plate 3
And a place name “Nikko” display plate 9 provided on the front surface of the light guide plate.

The use and operation of the road sign of this embodiment will be described. The road sign 2 is hung on the signal light 1 of the traffic signal at the road intersection. The signal light displays three colors of red, yellow, and blue, and a lamp is provided for each. The light emitted from the lamp 5 of the signal lamp 1 enters the incident end 4 of the optical fiber 7 facing the lamp 5 and propagates in the optical fiber. From the emitting end 6 optically connected to the side end surface of the light guide plate 3,
Light incident on the side end face is emitted to the front side.
At this time, the light guide plate 3 is formed by the reflective layer 8 provided on the back surface of the light guide plate.
The light leaked from the inside returns to the inside of the light guide plate. The place name "Nikko" display plate 9 provided on the front surface of the light guide plate 3 is illuminated from the back side to illuminate and display the place name "Nikko" sign character.

The present invention is not limited to the above embodiments, and various modifications included in the technical idea disclosed in the present invention are also within the scope of the present invention.

[0015]

With the road marking according to the present invention, the light source for optical fiber can be omitted, the cost of the device itself can be reduced, the electric wiring and the system can be simplified, and the optical fiber can be buried without complicated construction. A short optical fiber transmission from the light source is sufficient.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is an internal perspective view of an embodiment of a road sign according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an external perspective view of an embodiment of a road sign according to the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 signal light 2 road sign 3 light guide plate 4 entrance end 5 lamp 6 exit end 7 optical fiber 8 reflection layer 9 display plate

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A road sign hung on a signal light, comprising:
The road sign has a light guide plate that emits light incident from at least one side end face to the front side, an incident end that is opposite to a lamp of a signal light to enter the light, and an emission end that is optical with the side end face of the light guide plate. Road sign, which comprises an optical fiber electrically connected to the light guide plate, a reflection layer provided on at least the back surface of the light guide plate, and a display plate provided on the front surface of the light guide plate.