JPH10338074A - Luminous license plate - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a luminous license plate which uses light emitting diodes as light sources and causes letters to emit light uniformly, with the light of the letters not becoming nonuniform even after many years of use. SOLUTION: A light scattering plate 7 made from a translucent resin is provided on the back of license plate, and light-emitting diodes 8 are arranged so that light is incident from at least one end face of the light scattering plate. A light reflecting area 77 is provided on the back of the light scattering plate in such a way that its area increases from the end face on which the light is incident to the other end face, the light reflecting area comprising hexagons in an area far from the light incidence end, with the hexagons arranged alternately from one end face on which the light is incident to the other.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a light-emitting license plate, and more particularly, to a light-emitting license plate using a light emitting diode to emit a number or the like.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Generally, a number plate is a metal plate on which predetermined characters (including numbers) are written. The number plate is attached to the front and rear portions of a vehicle, and at the same time, it is mounted on a vehicle at night. It is illuminated by a number light.

In order to improve the visibility at night,
As shown in FIG. 6 to FIG. 8, the opening / closing frame 2 attached to the entire surface of the flat case 1 is punched with a predetermined ground color and three characters, and a transparent synthetic resin plate is applied to the three characters. While fixing the attached license plate 4,
There is also known a character license plate in which a case 5 is provided with an illumination lamp 5 and characters on a license plate 4 are illuminated by the illumination lamp 5 at night or the like.

As a light source of such a license plate, a light bulb is currently used, but in order to make the letters 3 of the license plate shine evenly, the color becomes lighter toward the upper part of the light bulb 5 as it goes around the light bulb. A light dispersion plate 7 having a light dispersion region 6 made of a printed seal or paint is interposed between the light bulb 5 and the license plate 4.

The thickness of a light-emitting license plate using the above-described light bulb 5 tends to be slightly thicker because it is regulated by the dimensions of the light bulb 5. Further, since the bulb 5 generates high heat, the paint or the seal forming the light dispersion area 6 of the light dispersion plate 7 may be peeled off after long use.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned problems, and uses a light emitting diode as a light source and uniformly illuminates a character. It is intended to provide an optical license plate.

[0007]

Means for Solving the Problems To solve the above-mentioned problems, a character-type license plate according to the present invention is provided with an opening / closing frame attached to the entire surface of a case, which is colored in a prescribed ground color and has a character. In a character light-emitting license plate in which a portion is punched out and a character plate is fixed with a license plate plate on which a transparent synthetic resin plate is adhered, and a light-emitting diode is provided inside the case to make the character portion shine. A light dispersing plate made of a translucent resin is provided on the back surface of the plate plate, and the light emitting diodes are arranged so that light is incident from at least one end surface of the light dispersing plate. A light reflection area is provided so that the area gradually increases from the incident end face to the other end face, and the light reflection area is hexagonal in an area farther from the light incidence end. , And the wherein the light are alternately arranged to each other to the other from the end surface of incidence.

According to the present invention, a light emitting diode is used as the light source, and light is incident from an end face of a transparent light dispersion plate made of a translucent resin. Therefore, the thickness of the case can be reduced. . Further, a light reflection area is provided on the light dispersion plate such that the area is sequentially increased from the light incident end face to the other end face, and the light reflection area is hexagonal in an area far from the light incident end, and the light is Since they are arranged alternately from the incident end face to the other end, uniform light can be emitted from the surface of the light dispersion plate, and characters can be illuminated uniformly. Further, since the light source is a light-emitting diode, the light-transmitting resin does not become cloudy due to thermal damage, and characters can be illuminated well for many years.

[0009]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS One embodiment of a light-emitting license plate according to the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a plan view of the light-emitting license plate according to the present invention when an open / close frame is opened, and FIG. FIG. 2 shows a sectional view of a main part.

As is apparent from these figures, the character-type license plate according to the present invention is provided with an opening / closing frame 2 attached to the entire surface of a flat case 1 and is colored with a prescribed ground color and punches out three characters. A license plate plate 4 in which a transparent synthetic resin plate is adhered to the character 3 is fixed (see FIGS. 5 to 7). A flange 11 is formed over the entire periphery at the peripheral end of the case 1, and an elastic sealing material 12 is formed over substantially the entire periphery of the flange 11. When the opening / closing frame 2 is closed, the sealing material 12 comes into contact with the convex portion 41 of the license plate 4 attached to the opening / closing frame 2 so that water or the like does not enter the case 1. (See FIG. 1).

In the present invention, a light dispersion plate 7 made of a transparent light-transmitting resin, for example, an acrylic resin or a methacrylic resin, is provided below the license plate 4. FIG. 3 is a sectional view showing the structure of the light dispersion plate 7. As is clear from FIG. 3, the main body 71 made of a transparent light-transmitting resin, for example, an acrylic resin or a methacrylic resin, A surface coating film 72 and a back surface coating film 73 for protecting the main body 71 are provided to protect the main body 71. This coating film 7
Reference numerals 2 and 73 are provided to protect the main body 71 from the poor weather resistance of the light-transmitting resin as described above.
This is for preventing defects such as clouding even after long-term use. The surface coating 72 is preferably a translucent silver-colored film. This is because, as a result of the experiment, light transmitted through the light dispersion plate 7 is likely to be uniformly emitted to the surface. On the other hand, it is preferable that the back surface coating film 73 does not easily emit light in the direction of the back surface, and it is preferable to provide an opaque film or the like. .

An end face 74 of the light dispersion plate 7 on which light is incident.
The light emitting diode 8 is provided opposite to the concave portion 75. That is, a plurality of light emitting diodes 8 are provided on the side surface in the case 1 as shown in FIG. In this embodiment, it is formed on the upper and lower side surfaces, but it is apparent that the side surface may be formed. The light dispersion plate 7 has a flange 76, and the flange 76 engages with and is supported by the flange 11 of the case 1.

Further, the light dispersion plate 7 has a light reflection area 77 on the back surface thereof (see FIGS. 1 and 3). The light reflection area 77 can be formed by printing with a silver film, silver paint, or the like. As shown in FIG. 1, the light reflection area 77 is provided so that the area is gradually increased from both end faces 74 where the light emitting diodes 8 are provided to the center. If the light reflection area 77 becomes large, the amount of reflected light also becomes large. Thus, by distributing the light reflection areas 77 in this manner, the reflection of light sequentially increases from the end face 74 to the other end face. Therefore, light emitted from the surface of the light dispersion plate 7 is uniform over the entire surface. It has been found that the maximum dimension of the reflection area 77 is preferably about 1.5 to 2 mm in diameter. In this example,
Since the light emitting diode 8 is provided on the upper and lower side surfaces, a light reflecting area 77 having a large area is provided in the center portion. However, when provided on only one side surface, the light reflecting diode 77 is provided on the other side surface from the side surface on which the light emitting diode 8 is provided. The area of the light reflection area 77 is sequentially increased.

In the present invention, as shown in FIG. 4, the light reflecting area 77 has a circular shape on the light incident end face side, and a portion having a large area (a central portion in this embodiment) is formed as follows.
It is hexagonal. Moreover, the light reflection areas 77 are provided alternately, and the density of the light reflection areas 77 decreases as the area of the light reflection areas 77 decreases (closer to the light incident end). The portion farther from the light incident end is hexagonal, so that the light reflector 77 can be provided more densely than in the case of a circular shape, and the light reflection effect increases. As described above, the light reflector 77 is formed in a circular shape in the vicinity of the light incident end face and in a hexagonal shape in a place far from the light incident end face, and the light reflection areas are alternately provided to make the light uniform. Light dispersion plate 7
Can be emitted from the surface.

FIG. 5 is a diagram schematically showing a method of mounting the light emitting diodes. As is apparent from FIG. 5, a plurality of light emitting diodes 8 are provided on a printed circuit board 9 so as to be detachable and detachable. Also, an engagement piece 13 is formed in the case 1, a terminal portion 14 for connecting to a DC power supply is provided at one end, and an electrical connection is possible by fitting with an outlet 91. Good.

As is well known, since the license plate is exposed to severe conditions (typhoon, storm, vibration, etc.), the light emitting diode 8 and the printed circuit board 9 described above are waterproofed, and Although the seal member 12 for preventing intrusion of water, dust, and the like is provided, the replacement may be facilitated because the seal member 12 may be broken due to the water, vibration, or the like. In view of the above, the light emitting diode 8 is preferably provided on the upper surface, as shown in the embodiment, if the structure of the light-emitting license plate permits. Case 1 regardless of the presence of the sealing material 12
This is because water or the like that has entered inside flows downward, so that it is difficult for water to contact the upper surface.

[0017]

As described above, according to the light-emitting license plate of the present invention, a light emitting diode is used as the light source, and light is incident from the end face of the transparent light dispersion plate made of a light-transmitting resin. As a result, the case can be made thinner. Further, a light reflection area is provided on the light dispersion plate such that the area is sequentially increased from the light incident end face to the other end face, and the light reflection area is hexagonal in an area far from the light incident end, and the light is Since they are arranged alternately from the incident end face to the other end, uniform light can be emitted from the surface of the light dispersion plate, and characters can be illuminated uniformly. Further, since the light source is a light-emitting diode, the light-transmitting resin does not become cloudy due to thermal damage, and characters can be illuminated well for many years.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a plan view of an essential part when an open / close frame of an embodiment of a license plate according to the present invention is opened.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view of a main part of the embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view of the light dispersion plate of the embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a plan view showing the structure of a light dispersion area.

FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram showing a mounting state of the light emitting diode and a printed circuit board.

FIG. 6 is a plan view of a conventional light-emitting license plate.

FIG. 7 is a plan view showing a state in which an open / close frame of a conventional light-emitting license plate is opened.

FIG. 8 is a plan view of a conventional light dispersion plate.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Case 2 Opening / closing frame 3 Character part 4 License plate 5 Illumination light 6 Light dispersion area 7 Light dispersion plate 71 Main body 72 Surface coating film 73 Back coating film 77 Light reflection area 8 Light emitting diode 9 Printed circuit board

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. An opening / closing frame attached to the entire surface of a case,
It is colored in a prescribed ground color, and punches out a character part, fixes a license plate plate in which a transparent synthetic resin plate is adhered to the character part, and provides a light emitting diode inside the case so that the character part shines. In the letter-shaped license plate, a light dispersion plate made of a translucent resin is provided on the back surface of the license plate plate, and the light emitting diodes are arranged so that light is incident from at least one end surface of the light dispersion plate. A light reflection area is provided on the back surface of the light dispersion plate so that the area is sequentially increased from the end face on which the light is incident to the other, and the light reflection area is hexagonal in an area farther from the light incidence end, and the light Characterized in that they are arranged alternately from one end face to the other to the other. 2. The light reflection area according to claim 1, wherein the light reflection areas are circular in an area closer to the light incident end, and are alternately arranged from the end face on which the light is incident to the other end. Character license plate. 3. A coating film is provided on the front surface and the back surface of the light dispersion plate, the surface coating film is a semi-transparent silver gray color, and the back surface coating film is opaque. Item 2. The luminescent license plate according to item 1 or 2. 4. The illuminable license plate according to claim 1, wherein said light reflection area is provided by a silver paint or a silver film. 5. The light emitting diode according to claim 1, wherein the light emitting diode is detachably provided on a printed circuit board, and the printed circuit board is replaceably provided on any side surface in the case. Either luminous license plate.