JPH09116193A - Light emitting diode device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a light emitting diode device where the adjustment of the angle of optical axis at the time of attaching a light emitting diode to a cap member can be performed simply and the narrowing of the range of optical signal transmission and the undesired divergence of angle direction of the optical signal transmission range are removed. SOLUTION: This device comprises a light emitting diode 1, a cover, 2, and a cap member 3. The light emitting diode 1 is equipped with a light emitting face 1A, a collar part 1B, and a lead 1C, and the cover 2 is equipped with an abutment part 2A where the collar part 1B abuts, and a window part 2B where the lead 1C is inserted, and the cap member 3 is equipped with an opening 3A which accommodates the light emitting face 1A within, a lens cap 3B which leads to the opening 3A and projects in globular shape and accommodates the tip of the light emitting face 1A, and a retaining part 3C which leads to the opening 3A and retains the cover 2 set therein. When the collar part 1B of the light emitting diode 1 is abutted against the abutment part 2A of the cover 2, the light emitting diode 1 can be positioned and fixed to the cover 2 by the friction between the periphery of the collar part 1B and the inner face of the abutment part 2A.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a light emitting diode device, and more particularly, when the light emitting diode is attached to a cap member, the light emitting diode device capable of finely adjusting the optical axis angle of the light emitting diode relatively easily. Regarding

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, optical information, such as
A light emitting diode device having one or a plurality of light emitting diodes is used for transmitting infrared information or transmitting an optical signal, for example, an infrared signal for controlling various control devices.

In such a light emitting diode device, there is an angle range (hereinafter referred to as an optical signal transmission range) in which an optical signal can be transmitted with the strength of a usable state, and this optical signal transmission range is in the light emitting diode device. It is set based on the intensity of light emitted by one or a plurality of light emitting diodes used and the light radiation directivity. In order to relatively widen the optical signal transmission range of the light emitting diode device, a plurality of light emitting diodes are used, and when arranging the light emitting diodes, the optical axis angles of the respective light emitting diodes are slightly different from each other. Are arranged.

On the other hand, commercially available light emitting diodes inevitably have variations in various characteristics from the viewpoint of manufacturing. Among these characteristics, the position of the maximum intensity of emitted light corresponds to the position of the optical axis of the light emitting diode. There is so-called variation of optical axis deviation, which causes deviation.

FIG. 3 is a characteristic diagram showing the relationship between the light intensity and the directivity angle of a known light emitting diode device using one light emitting diode, and FIG.
It is a characteristic view which shows the relationship between the light intensity and the directivity angle of the known light emitting diode device using one light emitting diode.

As shown in FIG. 3, in the case of a light emitting diode device using one light emitting diode, the relationship between the light intensity and the directivity angle in one light emitting diode is the same as the light intensity in the light emitting diode device. The relationship between the solid line and the directivity angle is shown.The solid line characteristic is a characteristic showing the above relationship when a light emitting diode in which the optical axis is not displaced is used, and the dotted line represents the light emitting diode in which the optical axis is displaced. It is a characteristic that represents the above relationship when used.

Further, as shown in FIG. 4, in the case of a light emitting diode device using three light emitting diodes, the sum of the characteristics representing the relationship between the light intensity and the directivity angle in each light emitting diode is the light emitting diode device. Shows the characteristic of the relationship between the light intensity and the directivity angle in, the characteristics of the thin solid line, the light-emitting diode that does not cause the optical axis deviation is arranged so that the optical axis angle of each light-emitting diode is slightly different Is a characteristic that represents the above-mentioned relationship of the individual light-emitting diodes, and a characteristic of a thick solid line is a characteristic that represents the sum of the characteristics that represent the above-mentioned relationship of the individual light-emitting diodes.

As is clear from the characteristics shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the light emitting diode device using one light emitting diode has a relatively narrow optical signal transmission range, whereas the light emitting diode device has three light emitting diodes. The light emitting diode device using the LED has a wide optical signal transmission range. Further, although not shown, in the case of a light emitting diode device using four or more light emitting diodes, three light emitting diodes are used. The optical signal transmission range is wider than that of the conventional light emitting diode device.

[0009]

In such a known light emitting diode device, when a plurality of light emitting diodes are attached to the cap member such that the optical axis angles thereof are slightly different from each other, the respective light emission of the cap member is performed. The configuration of the portion to which the diode is attached is appropriately changed so that the optical axis angle of each light emitting diode is directed in a predetermined direction when each light emitting diode is attached to the cap member.

However, as shown in FIG. 4, a plurality of light emitting diodes, for example, three light emitting diodes are used, and the caps are arranged so that the optical axis angles of these light emitting diodes are oriented in a predetermined direction. When a commercially available light emitting diode is used when the light emitting diode device is attached to a member, as described above, since the light emitting diode inevitably having the optical axis deviation is included, three light emitting diodes are included. The total sum of the characteristics representing the relationship between the light intensity and the directivity angle in the light emitting diode does not look like the bold solid line shown in FIG. 4, but rather the light intensity like the dotted line a or dotted line B shown in FIG. When the maximum value of the wave-shaped characteristics becomes so-called wave-shaped characteristics and the light intensity near the bottom of the wave-shaped characteristics decreases, the bottom of the optical signal transmission range It will produce a dead zone in the vicinity.
Thus, in the light emitting diode device, when the maximum value of the light intensity becomes wavy, the optical signal transmission range in the light emitting diode device is substantially narrowed, or the optical signal transmitted from the light emitting diode device is received. When it is detected by, the adverse effects such as the linearity at the time of light detection and the detection sensitivity are adversely affected.

In order to eliminate such adverse effects, the optical axis angles of any one or more of the light emitting diodes are attached when a plurality of or one light emitting diodes are attached to the cap member or after the attachment. However, in the known light emitting diode device, once the light emitting diode is attached to the cap member, the structure is such that the fine adjustment cannot be easily performed. The light emitting diode device has been constructed in a state where the optical axis angle is not finely adjusted, and a dead zone is generated in the optical signal transmission range to substantially narrow the optical signal transmission range, or the optical signal transmission is performed in a predetermined angle direction. There is a problem that the range cannot be set.

The present invention solves such a problem, and an object thereof is to easily adjust the optical axis angle when the light emitting diode is attached to the cap member, to narrow the optical signal transmission range and to reduce the optical signal transmission range. An object of the present invention is to provide a light emitting diode device which eliminates an undesired shift in the signal transmission range in the angular direction.

[0013]

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a light emitting diode having a light emitting surface, a collar portion and a lead, and an abutting portion with which the collar portion abuts and the lead. A cap that includes a window portion that accommodates the light emitting surface, a lens cap that is connected to the opening portion and projects into a spherical shape, and a holding portion that is connected to the opening portion and that holds the cover. And a means comprising a member.

[0014]

According to the above means, when the light emitting diode is mounted on the cap member, first, the collar portion of the light emitting diode is brought into contact with the contact portion provided on the cover, and the cover is contacted with the contact portion. The fine adjustment of the optical axis angle of the light emitting diode with respect to At this time, the abutting portion is preferably configured to have a funnel-shaped inner surface and to generate appropriate friction between the inner surface and the outer circumference of the collar portion of the light emitting diode. , The light emitting diode is
After the optical axis angle is finely adjusted manually with the flange part in contact with the contact part, the mounting position is held in that finely adjusted state, and then the optical axis angle is finely adjusted. By attaching a cover holding the light emitting diode in the above state to the cap member, it is possible to easily finely adjust the light axis angle of the light emitting diode used, that is, the light axis of the light emitting diode used. It is possible to obtain various light emitting diode devices.

Using such a light emitting diode device,
Even if the optical axes of a plurality of or one of the light emitting diodes to be used are deviated, the optical axis positions of the light emitting diodes are respectively in the predetermined angular directions, so that the dead zone is within the optical signal transmission range in the light emitting diode device. This prevents the optical signal transmission range from being narrowed and the angular direction of the optical signal transmission range from deviating from the predetermined angular direction.

[0016]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view showing a first embodiment of a light emitting diode device according to the present invention, showing a light emitting diode device using one light emitting diode.

As shown in FIG. 1, a light emitting diode (LED) 1 that emits light in the infrared region (infrared light) has a substantially bullet shape, and emits infrared light, and a light emitting portion 1A. Provided in the vicinity of the bottom portion of the portion 1A and provided in the bottom portion of the light emitting portion 1A and an oval collar portion 1B that is slightly expanded in the radial direction,
It is provided with a lead 1C to which the light emission power is supplied.
The cover 2 has a substantially rectangular flat plate shape, and includes an oval-shaped opening and a funnel-shaped opening inner surface so that the outer peripheral portion of the flange portion 1B of the light-emitting diode 1 abuts. 2A and a rectangular window portion 2B through which the lead 1C of the light emitting diode 1 is inserted. Further, the block-shaped cap member 3 is provided on the light emitting surface 1 of the light emitting diode 1.
A substantially conical opening 3A for accommodating the peripheral portion of A, and a spherically projecting lens cap 3B continuous with the opening 3A and accommodating the vicinity of the tip of the light emitting surface 1A of the light emitting diode 1
And a substantially rectangular holding portion 3C that is connected to the opening 3A and that fits and holds the cover 2 therein.

The light emitting diode device of the first embodiment having the above construction is assembled in the following manner.

First, the light emitting diode 1 and the cover 2 are prepared, the lead 1C of the light emitting diode 1 is inserted into the window 2B from the contact portion 2A side of the cover 2, and the collar portion 1B of the light emitting diode 1 is attached to the cover 2. After engaging with the opening of the contact portion 2A, the flange portion 1B is moved toward the funnel-shaped inner surface of the contact portion 2A. At this time, friction is generated between the outer periphery of the collar portion 1B and the funnel-shaped inner surface of the contact portion 2A, and if the outer periphery of the collar portion 1B is moved to a predetermined position on the funnel-shaped inner surface, the light emitting diode for the cover 2 is released. The arrangement position of 1 is semi-fixed, and the optical axis angle of the light emitting diode 1 with respect to the cover 2 is finely adjusted.

Next, the cap member 3 is prepared, and the cover 2
Light-emitting surface 1 of light-emitting diode 1 that has been finely adjusted and attached to
Insert A into the opening 3A of the cap member 3, and
The tip of the light emitting surface 1A is inserted and housed in the lens cap 1B, and the cover 2 is fitted and held in the holding portion 3C of the cap member 3. In this case, the holding unit 3C includes the light emitting diode 1
Since the fitting surface between the cover 2 and the cap member 3 is processed so that the optical axis angle of the cover 2 faces a predetermined direction,
The optical axis angle of the light emitting diode 1 is automatically set by inserting and holding the light emitting diode into the holding portion 3C.

Through the above steps, the light emitting diode device is assembled, and the rough adjustment of the optical axis angle of the light emitting diode 1 is automatically performed by inserting and holding the cover 2 in the holding portion 3C. The fine adjustment of the optical axis angle of the light emitting diode 1 occurs between the outer periphery of the flange portion 1B of the light emitting diode 1 and the funnel-shaped inner surface of the contact portion 2A of the cover 2 when the light emitting diode 1 is attached to the cover 2. It is done manually by friction.

As described above, according to the light emitting diode device of the first embodiment, the fine adjustment of the optical axis angle of the light emitting diode 1 can be easily performed when the light emitting diode 1 is mounted, and is used. It is possible to obtain a light emitting diode device capable of easily performing fine adjustment of the optical axis angle of the light emitting diode 1 according to the present invention. Further, according to this light emitting diode device, fine adjustment of the optical axis angle of the light emitting diode 1 to be used is possible. By doing so, it becomes possible to set the angular direction of the optical signal transmission range to a predetermined direction.

According to the light emitting diode device of the first embodiment, the fine adjustment of the optical axis angle of the light emitting diode 1 is fitted and held in the holding portion 3C of the block member 3 even after the light emitting diode 1 is attached. If the covered cover 2 is removed from its fitting and holding, fine adjustment can be performed again by the same process as described above.

Next, FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a second embodiment of the light emitting diode device according to the present invention.
FIG. 2A is a partially exploded perspective view of the front side, and FIG. 2B is a partially exploded perspective view of the rear side, showing a light emitting diode device using five light emitting diodes.

As shown in FIGS. 2A and 2B, a light emitting diode (LED) 5, which emits infrared light,
6, 7, 8, and 9 are all light-emitting surfaces (no figure number), collars (no figure number), and leads (no figure number)
And The covers 10, 11, 12, 13, and 14 made of five rectangular flat plates include the light emitting diode 5,
An abutting part (no drawing number) having a funnel-shaped inner surface that abuts the brim parts of 6, 7, 8, and 9, and the leads of the light emitting diodes 5, 6, 7, 8, and 9 are connected to the abutting part. Window 10A,
It has 11A, 12A, 13A and 14A. The block-shaped cap member 15 has a substantially conical opening into which the light emitting surface of each of the light emitting diodes 5, 6, 7, 8, and 9 is inserted (no figure number), and is connected to these openings, and the tip is spherical. 5 lens caps 16, 17 protruding in a line
18, 19, 20 and 5 covers 10, 11, 12,
It has five holding portions (no figure number) for fitting and holding 13 and 14, respectively. 5 lens caps 1
A light diffusing filter having a stripe pattern is formed on each of the protruding outer peripheral surfaces of 6, 17, 18, 19, and 20.

The case of assembling the light emitting diode device of the second embodiment having the above-described structure is similar to the case of assembling and forming the light emitting diode device of the first embodiment already described. The light emitting diodes 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 and cover 1
0, 11, 12, 13, 14 are prepared. in this case,
For example, as for the light emitting diode 5, its lead is inserted into the window portion 10A from the contact portion side of the corresponding cover 10 and the flange portion of the light emitting diode 5 is engaged with the opening portion of the contact portion of the corresponding cover 10. After that, the collar portion is moved toward the funnel-shaped inner surface of the contact portion. At this time, friction is generated between the outer periphery of the flange portion of the light emitting diode 5 and the funnel-shaped inner surface of the contact portion of the cover 10, and the outer periphery of the flange portion of the light emitting diode 5 is formed in the funnel shape of the contact portion of the cover 10. When the light emitting diode 5 is moved to a predetermined position on the inner surface, the arrangement position of the light emitting diode 5 with respect to the cover 10 is semi-fixed, and the optical axis angle of the light emitting diode 5 with respect to the cover 10 is finely adjusted. The same is true between the other light emitting diodes 6, 7, 8, 9 and the corresponding covers 11, 12, 13, 14 and the light emitting diodes 6, 7, 8, 9 for the covers 11, 12, 13, 14 are the same. The optical axis angle of each will be finely adjusted.

Next, a cap member 15 is prepared, and, for example, the light emitting surface of the light-emitting diode 5 that has been finely adjusted and attached to the cover 10 is inserted into the opening of the cap member 15 corresponding to the light-emitting diode 5, and the light emission is further performed. Diode 5
The front end of the light emitting surface of the light emitting diode 5 of the cap member 15 is inserted and housed in the lens cap 16.
Is fitted and held in the holding portion corresponding to. In this case, in the holding portion corresponding to the light emitting diode 5, the fitting surface between the cover 10 and the cap member 15 is processed so that the optical axis angle of the light emitting diode 5 is oriented in a predetermined direction.
The optical axis angle of the light emitting diode 5 is automatically set by inserting and holding 0 into the holding portion corresponding to the light emitting diode 5. Further, the finely adjusted light emitting diode 6 attached to the other cover 11, the finely adjusted light emitting diode 7 attached to the cover 12, the finely adjusted light emitting diode 8 attached to the cover 13, and the fine adjustment attached to the cover 13. The same applies to the completed light emitting diode 9, the cover 11 is a holding portion corresponding to the light emitting diode 6, the cover 12 is a holding portion corresponding to the light emitting diode 7, and the cover 13 is a holding portion corresponding to the light emitting diode 8. By inserting and holding the cover 14 in the holding portions corresponding to the light emitting diodes 9, the optical axis angles of the light emitting diodes 6, 7, 8, 9 are automatically set respectively.

After these steps, the light emitting diode device is assembled and constructed.
For coarse adjustment of the optical axis angles of 6, 7, 8, and 9, the covers 10, 11, 12, 13, and 14 are attached to the light-emitting diode 5,
6, 7, 8 and 9 are automatically carried out by inserting and holding the holders corresponding to 6, 7, 8 and 9.
For fine adjustment of the optical axis angles of 6, 7, 8, and 9, the light emitting diodes 5, 6, 7, 8, and 9 are covered with the covers 10, 11, and 1, respectively.
When mounting on 2, 13, 14 the light emitting diode 5,
Covers 10, 6 and 7, 8 and 9 corresponding to the outer circumference of the collar portion,
It is manually performed by the friction generated between the contact portions of 11, 12, 13, 14 and the funnel-shaped inner surface.

As described above, according to the light emitting diode device of the second embodiment, each of the light emitting diodes 5, 6,
For fine adjustment of the optical axis angles of 7, 8, and 9, the light emitting diode 5,
6,7,8,9 can be easily done when mounting the light emitting diode 5,6,7,8,
It is possible to obtain a light emitting diode device capable of easily performing fine adjustment of the optical axis angle of 9 and, by using this light emitting diode device, as shown by dotted line a or dotted line b in FIG. The dead band does not occur in the signal transmission range and the optical signal transmission range is not narrowed substantially,
Moreover, the angle direction of the optical signal transmission range can be made to substantially coincide with the predetermined direction.

Also in the light emitting diode device of the second embodiment, the light emitting diodes 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 are mounted by finely adjusting the optical axis angles of the light emitting diodes 5, 6, 7, 8, 9. Even after that, if the covers 10, 11, 12, 13, 14 fitted and held in the holding portions corresponding to the light emitting diodes 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 of the block member 15 are removed from the fitting and holding, Again, fine adjustments can be made by the same process as described above.

In the first and second embodiments, the light emitting diodes 1, 5 to 9 emit infrared light, but the light emitting diodes 1, 5 according to the present invention are described. Nos. 9 to 9 are not limited to those that generate infrared light, and may be those that generate visible light.

[0033]

As described above in detail, according to the present invention, the light emitting diodes 1, 5 to 9 are connected to the cap member 3,
At the time of mounting on the light emitting diode 15, first, the collar portion 1B of the light emitting diodes 1, 5 to 9 is brought into contact with the contact portion provided on the covers 2, 10 to 14, and the collar portion 1B is brought into contact with the contact portion. With the light emitting diode 1 for the covers 2, 10 to 14,
Fine adjustment of the optical axis angle of 5 to 9 is performed. At this time, the contact portion is preferably configured to have a funnel-shaped inner surface, and the inner surface and the light emitting diodes 1, 5 to 9 are arranged.
The light emitting diodes 1, 5 to 9 are configured so as to generate appropriate friction with the outer periphery of the collar portion 1B.
The optical axis angle is manually finely adjusted with the collar portion 1B in contact with the contact portion, and then the mounting position is held in the finely adjusted state, after which the optical axis angle is finely adjusted. If the covers 2, 10 to 14 holding the light emitting diodes 1, 5 to 9 in the above-described state are attached to the cap members 3 and 15, the light emitting diode device in which the optical axis angles of the light emitting diodes 1, 5 to 9 are finely adjusted, that is, There is an effect that it is possible to obtain a light emitting diode device capable of easily finely adjusting the optical axis angles of the light emitting diodes 1, 5 to 9 used.

According to this light emitting diode device,
Even if the plurality of or one of the light emitting diodes 1, 5 to 9 used has an optical axis shift, the optical axis positions of the light emitting diodes 1, 5 to 9 are respectively in a predetermined angular direction, and therefore the light emitting There is also an effect that a dead zone is not generated in the optical signal transmission range in the diode device and the optical signal transmission range is substantially narrowed, and the angular direction of the optical signal transmission range is not deviated from the predetermined angular direction.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a sectional view showing a first embodiment of a light emitting diode device according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a partially exploded perspective view showing a second embodiment of the light emitting diode device according to the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a characteristic diagram showing a relationship between a light intensity and a directivity angle in a known light emitting diode device using one light emitting diode.

FIG. 4 is a characteristic diagram showing the relationship between light intensity and directivity angle in a known light emitting diode device using three light emitting diodes.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 Light emitting diode (LED) 1A Light emitting surface 1B Collar portion 1C Leads 2, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14 Cover 2A Abutting portion 2B, 10A, 11A, 12A, 13A, 14A Window part 3,15 Cap member 3A Opening part 3B, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20 Lens cap 3C Holding part

 ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of front page (72) Inventor Yuichi Umeda 1-7 Yukiya Otsuka-cho, Ota-ku, Tokyo Alps Electric Co., Ltd.

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A light emitting diode having a light emitting surface, a collar portion and a lead, a cover having an abutting portion with which the collar portion abuts and a window portion through which the lead is inserted, and an opening for accommodating the light emitting surface. And a cap member including a lens cap connected to the opening and protruding in a spherical shape, and a holding part connected to the opening to hold the cover. 2. The contact portion of the cover has a funnel-shaped inner surface, and when attaching the light-emitting diode to the cover, the flange portion of the light-emitting diode contacts the funnel-shaped inner surface of the contact portion. The light emitting diode device according to claim 1, wherein the optical axis position of the light emitting diode is adjusted and fixed as appropriate. 3. The adjustment and fixing of the optical axis position of the light emitting diode is performed by friction generated between a funnel-shaped inner surface of the contact portion and an outer circumference of a collar portion of the light emitting diode. 1. The light emitting diode device according to 1. 4. The light emitting diode is a plurality of light emitting diodes that are adjusted and fixed to the cover so that optical axis positions are different, and the cap member corresponds to the plurality of light emitting diodes. The light emitting diode device according to claim 1, wherein each of the light emitting diode devices comprises a plurality of openings, the lens cap, and the holder.