JPH1186602A - Candle-shaped light source for lantern - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To change the brightness of a light source according to the lapse of time for producing impression of a candle by arranging at least two bulbs vertically, flashing only the upper bulb, covering the outside of the bulbs with an opaque inner cover, and further covering the outer surface thereof with a cylindrical lens member. SOLUTION: A candle-shaped light source 10 for lantern is formed of a main body 11 and a light-emitting part 12 provided thereon, and the light- emitting part 12 is the bulb of a light-emitting element 12a arranged on the upper side, the bulb of a light-emitting element 12b arranged on the lower side, and a translucent cover 12c for covering their outer surfaces. When the bulbs are lighted, the light of the vertically arranged light-emitting elements 12a, 12b is reflected by the translucent cover 12c to emit a slender light like the flame of a candle. Furthermore, the light is expanded by a lens member arranged on the circumference and diffused over the whole inner surface of the lantern. Only the upper light-emitting element 12a of the two light-emitting elements is flashed at prescribed intervals to produce the impression of the upper part of the flame being flickered by wind.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a light source mainly used for Japanese-style indirect lighting equipment such as lanterns and lanterns (hereinafter simply referred to as lanterns), in which the brightness of the light source is changed over time. It's about trying to get the feel of a candle flame.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In general, a candle is used as a light source for lighting a lantern. However, the candle must be replaced each time it is burned out, and the handling is troublesome and there is a fear of fire. Therefore, an incandescent light bulb was put in a lantern and replaced with a candle. However, the light was turned on and off in order to make the sensation more like a candle flame. Furthermore, in recent years, with the progress of ICs and other electronic control technologies, not only the light bulbs are simply flickered, but also two light bulbs are arranged one above the other to give a sense of flame, and only the upper light bulb is kept for a predetermined time. Blinking is also performed at intervals. On the other hand, an incandescent light bulb used as a light source for flickering a lantern becomes hot due to long-time use, and there is a danger of fire.

[0003]

However, flickering at a predetermined interval has not been sufficient as a means for giving a sense of flame. In addition, when a light emitting element is used as a light source, the light source itself is small even if its luminous intensity is sufficient,
When trying to illuminate a large lantern, there is a partial difference in brightness between the lantern and it has been difficult to achieve sufficient brightness.

[0004]

An object of the present invention is to dispose at least two light bulbs vertically in the vertical direction so that only the upper light bulb blinks, and the outside of the light bulbs is covered by an inner cover made of an opaque material. The problem is solved by covering the outer surface with a cylindrical lens member. Also, 2
Among the individual light bulbs, there is provided a control means for alternately turning on and off the upper light bulb and blinking the lighting period at shorter intervals.

[0005]

When the light bulb is turned on, the light of the light bulbs arranged above and below hits the cover and is diffusely reflected, and emits a thin and long light like a candle flame. Further, the light is expanded by the lens member arranged on the outer periphery, and diverges the light on the entire inner surface of the lantern. Of the light vertically formed by the two bulbs, only the upper part flickers at a predetermined interval, and the upper part of the flame feels swaying in the wind. In addition, it blinks at shorter intervals during the lighting period.

[0006]

An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. In FIG. 1, reference numeral 10 denotes a candle-shaped light source for a lantern 20. The candle-shaped light source 10 includes a main body 11 and a light emitting section 12 provided on the main body 11. The lower surface of the main body 11 is fixed by being inserted into a nail-shaped projection 22 provided on a bottom frame 21 of a lantern 20.

FIG. 2 shows a main body 11. The main body 11 is composed of a main body 11a and a lid 11b which are openably and closably connected by a hinge 11c.
11d, two dry batteries 13, 13 are provided between the partition walls 11d, 11d, and an electronic substrate 14 is mounted above the upper partition wall 11d.

The light-emitting section 12 is composed of two light-emitting elements (LEDs), a light-emitting element 12a disposed on the upper side and a light-emitting element 12b disposed on the lower side, and a translucent cover 12c covering their outer surfaces. It is configured. In this embodiment, the color light emitted from both light emitting elements is such that the upper light emitting element 12a is yellow and the lower light emitting element 12b is orange, or the upper light emitting element 12a is white and the lower light emitting element 12b is yellow. In addition, it is preferable to make the light of the upper light emitting element 12a faint.

Reference numeral 15 denotes an automatic switch which is turned on when the main body 11 is placed on the bottom frame 21, reference numeral 16 denotes a manual switch which is manually opened / closed, and both switches 15, 16 are shown in FIG.
As is clear from the power supply circuit 30 indicated by the symbol, the power supply circuit 30 is interposed between the light emitting elements 12 a and 12 b and the dry battery 13.
In the drawing, reference numeral 31 denotes control means for controlling the blinking of the light emitting section 12 and is formed on the electronic substrate 14.
Thus, when the candle-shaped light source 10 is inserted into the projection 22 provided on the bottom frame 21 with the manual switch 16 turned on, the automatic switch 15 is closed, and the light emitting elements 12a, 12b. That is, the power supply circuit 30 connects between the two light-emitting elements 12a and 12b coupled in parallel and the dry cell 13, and the light-emitting element 12a arranged on the upper side forms a part of the control means 31. An electronic switch 32 is interposed.

The control means 31 is connected to the base of the FET type transistor constituting the electronic switch 32 and switches the transistor. As shown in FIG. 5A, the control means 31 generates a pulse wave having an inversion period P of 3 seconds. The generated first pulse generator 33 and, as shown in FIG.
Generates a 0.3 second pulse wave.
And The outputs of the pulse generators 33 and 34 are combined by the NOR element NOR, and as shown in FIG.
An extinguishing period t in which the upper light emitting element 12a is extinguished and a lighting period T in which the upper light emitting element 12a is turned on are formed, and the lighting period T is repeatedly turned on and off in a smaller cycle. Thus,
When the power supply from the dry cell 13 to the light emitting unit 12 starts, the lower light emitting element 12b always emits light without blinking. Further, the upper light emitting element 12a is turned off for 3 seconds every 3 seconds, and the remaining 3 seconds are repeatedly turned on and off at intervals of 0.3 second. In the above description, an example was described in which the lighting period T and the light-off period t were set to 3 seconds each. However, as shown in FIG.
Can be arbitrarily extended or shortened.

FIG. 6 shows another embodiment of the candle-shaped light source 10. In this case, the main body 11 has a cylindrical shape with a bottom, two light emitting elements 12a and 12b are supported at the upper end thereof, the cover 12c is made of yellow translucent plastic, and the outer surface thereof is cylindrical. The point covered by the lens member 40 is a main difference in structure. Note that components having the same functions as those of the above-described embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, and detailed description thereof will be omitted. The transparent lens member 40 screwed to the upper outer surface of the main body 11 is made of glass or acrylic, and emits light emitted from the outer surface of the cover 12c to the inner surface of the cylindrical light emitting portion of the lantern 20. Diffuse without light.

[0012]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, in the flame-shaped cover, the light emitting element illuminating the upper part flickers and the light emitting element illuminating the lower part is always lit, so that the light emitting element illuminating the upper part flickers. As the brightness above the lantern changes,
It gives an impression similar to the fluctuation of a candle flame. Further, irradiating a lantern having a wide light-emitting surface with the same brightness as a whole can be achieved even though light from a light-emitting element having a small light-emitting area is used by a lens member covering the outer surface. In addition, since the light of the light emitting element is used, the heat generation is small and there is no danger of fire, the vibration resistance is excellent, and the life is long. According to the second aspect of the present invention, the upper light bulb is repeatedly turned on and off in a relatively short period of time, so that the upper part of the flame has the appearance of being shaken by the wind. And so on.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a partially broken side view showing an embodiment of a candle-shaped light source according to the present invention, which is installed in a lantern.

FIG. 2 is a side view showing the internal structure of the candle-shaped light source with its lid opened.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along the line III-III.

FIG. 4 is an electric circuit diagram.

FIG. 5 is a waveform diagram illustrating a voltage waveform supplied to a light emitting unit.

FIG. 6 is a longitudinal sectional view showing another embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

10. Candle-shaped light source 11 ...
・ Subject 11a ・ ・ ・ Main body 11b ・ ・
・ Lid 11c ・ ・ ・ Hinges 11d ・ ・
・ Partition wall 12 ・ ・ ・ ・ ・ ・ Light emitting part 12a ・ ・
· Upper light emitting element 12c ··· translucent cover 13 ···
・ Dry cell 12b ・ ・ ・ Light emitting element on lower side 14 ・ ・ ・
・ Electronic substrate 15 ・ ・ ・ ・ ・ ・ Automatic switch 16 ・ ・ ・
・ Manual switch 20 ・ ・ ・ lantern 21 ・ ・ ・
・ Bottom frame 22 ・ ・ ・ ・ Nail-shaped projection 25 ・ ・ ・
・ Base 30 ・ ・ ・ ・ Power supply circuit 31 ・ ・ ・
.Control means 32... Electronic switch 33.
· First pulse generator 34 ··· Second pulse generator NOR ···
.Negative OR element 40... Cylindrical lens member

Claims (2)

[Claims] At least two light bulbs are arranged vertically one above the other, only the upper light bulb is flickered, the outside of the light bulbs is covered by an inner cover made of an opaque material, and the outer surface is cylindrical. A candle-shaped light source for lanterns covered with a lens member. 2. A lantern lamp according to claim 1, further comprising control means for alternately turning on and off the upper one of the two light bulbs and blinking said light bulb at shorter intervals. Candle-shaped light source.