WO2023228913A1

WO2023228913A1 - Illumination device

Info

Publication number: WO2023228913A1
Application number: PCT/JP2023/019004
Authority: WO
Inventors: 優太中村
Original assignee: ニデックプレシジョン株式会社
Priority date: 2022-05-24
Filing date: 2023-05-22
Publication date: 2023-11-30

Abstract

This illumination device 10 comprises: a light source 11 that emits illumination light; an optical system 12; a branching unit 13 that branches illumination light emitted from the light source 11; a plurality of detection units 15, 16 that detect the light quantity of light which has arrived via the branching unit 13; holding parts 180 that respectively hold the plurality of detection units 15, 16; and a lens barrel 30 that accommodates the branching unit 13, the plurality of detection units 15, 16, and the holding parts 180. The lens barrel 30 has a mounting plane, which is a plane intersecting a first direction that intersects the optical axis of the optical system 12, and to which is attached, from the first direction, the holding units 180 for holding the plurality of detection units 15, 16. The optical system 12 and the light source 11 are mounted on the lens barrel 30 along a second direction conforming to the optical axis.

Description

lighting equipment

The present invention relates to a lighting device.

BACKGROUND ART Moving objects such as automobiles have been known in the past that are equipped with lighting devices and perform various displays by projecting light from the lighting devices. The moving body of Patent Document 1 is equipped with an illumination device that illuminates an illuminated area with coherent light emitted from a light source via a diffractive optical element. The direction in which the moving body moves is projected onto this illuminated area according to the pattern formed on the diffractive optical element. That is, the lighting device functions as a direction display device. The coherent light emitted from the light source has high intensity, but by passing through the diffractive optical element, it is attenuated to an intensity that does not have any adverse effect even if it enters the human eye.

JP 2021-27014 Publication

If light whose intensity is not attenuated due to damage etc. is emitted and enters the human eye, there is a risk of harm to the human eye, so it is necessary to detect abnormalities in the device to ensure safety. required. In Patent Document 1, the diffractive optical element and the housing are attached to each other by electrically connecting two terminals, and when the connection between the terminals is interrupted, the falling off of the diffractive optical element is detected. However, the apparatus of Patent Document 1 cannot detect damage other than falling off, such as a hole being formed in a part of the diffractive optical element. It is necessary to provide a detection section to detect such damage to the diffractive optical element. However, there is a problem in that the provision of the detector within the lighting device increases the outer diameter of the lighting device, making the lighting device larger. Furthermore, there is a problem in that assembly becomes complicated when attaching a plurality of detectors.

An illumination device according to an embodiment includes a light source that emits illumination light, an optical system, a branching section that branches the illumination light emitted from the light source, and a plurality of light sources that detect the amount of light that has arrived via the branching section. A detection section, a holding section that holds each of the plurality of detection sections, the branch section, a housing section that accommodates the plurality of detection sections and the holding section. The housing section is a plane that intersects with a first direction that intersects the optical axis of the optical system, and has a mounting plane on which the holding section that holds the plurality of detection sections is attached from the first direction. The optical system and the light source are attached to the housing part along a second direction along the optical axis.

According to the present invention, an increase in the outer diameter of the lighting device is suppressed, contributing to miniaturization of the device.

FIG. 1 is an external perspective view of a lighting device according to an embodiment. FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the lighting device. FIG. 3A is an external perspective view of the lens barrel. FIG. 3B is a side view of the lens barrel. FIG. 3C is a rear external view of the lens barrel. FIG. 4 is a partial cross-sectional view showing a part of the cross-sectional view shown in FIG. 2 in an enlarged manner. FIG. 5A is an external perspective view of the first holding section, the second holding section, the first detection section, and the second detection section. FIG. 5B is a cross-sectional view taken along line BB in FIG. 5A. FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing the main part configuration of the lighting device. FIG. 7 is a flowchart illustrating the operation of the lighting device. FIG. 8 is a flowchart illustrating the operation of the lighting device. FIG. 9 is a flowchart illustrating the operation of the lighting device of the first modification.

Hereinafter, the lighting device of the embodiment will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

<Lighting device>
The lighting device is installed in a moving body that is a movable device such as a railway vehicle, a car, a trolley, a ship, an airplane, a helicopter, a drone, and a robot. The illumination device emits illumination light in the direction of movement of the moving object, and projects, for example, information regarding the movement of the moving object onto a road surface or the like. The illumination device projects, as information regarding the progress, for example, an arrow indicating the direction of travel and characters such as "go straight", "turn right", "decelerate", and "accelerate". Note that the illumination device is not limited to one that projects the above-mentioned arrows and characters, but may also project patterns, symbols, marks, illustrations, characters, pictograms, and the like. Note that there is no limit to the number of lighting devices that can be mounted on the moving object, and it may be one, or two or more lighting devices.

FIG. 1 is an external perspective view of a lighting device 10 according to an embodiment, and FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the lighting device 10 taken along line AA in FIG. 1. The lighting device 10 includes a lens barrel 30, an inner tube 40, an outer tube 50, and an outer tube 60. The lens barrel 30 is a cylindrical member, and is a holder that holds the light source 11, the branching part 13, the first detection part 15, the second detection part 16, and the first detection part 15 and the second detection part 16. 180 and a part of the optical system 12. Note that, as will be described in detail later, the holding section 180 includes a first holding section 18 that holds the first detection section 15 and the branching section 13, and a second holding section 19 that holds the second detection section 16. .

For convenience of explanation, an x-axis parallel to the optical axis Ax of the optical system 12, a y-axis perpendicular to the x-axis and along the vertical direction of the paper of FIG. 1, and a z-axis perpendicular to the x-axis and the y-axis. Set up a Cartesian coordinate system consisting of Furthermore, in the following description, the + side of the x-axis may be referred to as the front, the - side of the x-axis as the rear, the + side of the y-axis as upward, and the - side of the y-axis as downward.

The inner cylinder 40 is a cylindrical member that houses the remainder of the optical system 12 inside, and is housed in the lens barrel 30 at one end (x-axis + side) of the lens barrel 30. The outer cylinder 50 is a cylindrical member, and houses the control board 17 and the other end (x-axis − side) of the lens barrel 30 therein. The outer peripheral tube 60 is a cylindrical member and accommodates an end portion of the lens barrel 30 on one side (x-axis + side).

<Lens barrel 30>
3A is an external perspective view of the lens barrel 30, FIG. 3B is a side view of the lens barrel 30, and FIG. 3C is an external view of the lens barrel 30 on the x-axis − side (backward). The lens barrel 30 is composed of a first barrel 31 and a second barrel 32 that are concentric with the optical axis Ax of the optical system 12 and have different outer diameters. The light source 11 , the branch section 13 , the first detection section 15 , and the second detection section 16 are assembled into the first barrel 31 .

<First barrel 31>
The first barrel 31 is formed with a mounting plane 330 to which the holding portion 18 is mounted. Specifically, the mounting plane 330 is formed on the y-axis + side (upper side) of the first barrel 31, and the 1st mounting plane 311 is formed on the y-axis − side (lower side) of the first barrel 31. and a second mounting plane 312. The first mounting plane 311 is a plane parallel to the zx plane, which is formed at a position on the y-axis that is shorter in distance from the optical axis Ax than the outer diameter of the first barrel 31 . The first holding part 18 (see FIG. 2), which holds the first detection part 15 and the branch part 13, is attached to the first mounting plane 311. The first holding part 18 that holds the first detection part 15 is arranged on the first mounting plane 311 from the upper side (y-axis + side), and is attached by screwing or the like. That is, the attachment direction of the first holding part 18 is a direction from the upper side along the y-axis (y-axis + side) toward the optical axis Ax.

The second mounting plane 312 is a plane parallel to the zx plane formed at a position on the y-axis that is shorter in distance from the optical axis Ax than the outer diameter of the first barrel 31. The second holding section 19 (see FIG. 2), which holds the second detection section 16, is attached to the second mounting plane 312. The second holding part 19 that holds the second detection part 16 is arranged on the second mounting plane 312 from the lower side (y-axis − side), and is attached by screwing or the like. That is, the mounting direction of the second holding portion 19 is from the lower side along the y-axis (y-axis − side) toward the optical axis Ax. Note that details of the first holding section 18 and the second holding section 19 will be described later.

Note that the first mounting plane 311 and the second mounting plane 312 do not need to be parallel to the zx plane. That is, the first attachment plane 311 and the second attachment plane 312 may be planes that intersect with the direction (first direction) intersecting the optical axis Ax. In this case, the attachment direction of the first holding part 18 is a direction from the upper side toward the optical axis Ax along the first direction. The mounting direction of the second holding portion 19 is from the lower side toward the optical axis Ax along the first direction.

A third mounting surface 313 parallel to the yz plane is formed at the end of the first mounting surface 311 and the second mounting surface 312 on the −x-axis side. In other words, the third mounting surface 313 is the end surface of the lens barrel 30 on the x-axis − side (the other side in the second direction). A light source holder 111 (see FIG. 2) that holds a light source 11 (details of which will be described later) is attached to the third mounting surface 313 from the x-axis side (backward) by screwing or the like. In other words, the light source 11 is attached to the lens barrel 30 on the negative x-axis side with respect to the first detection section 15 and the second detection section 16. A control board 17 is attached to the x-axis negative side (backward) of the light source holder 111 by screws or the like.

A through hole 314 having a shape extending in the vertical direction centered around the optical axis Ax is formed in the third mounting surface 313. The through hole 314 is an opening through which a wiring 153 connecting the first detection section 15 and the control board 17 and a wiring 163 connecting the second detection section 16 and the control board 17, details of which will be described later, pass through.

A first lens 121 and a second lens 122 that constitute the optical system 12 are attached to the x-axis + side (front) of the first barrel 31. In other words, the optical system 12 is attached to the lens barrel 30 on the x-axis + side with respect to the first detection section 15 and the second detection section 16. That is, in the illumination device 10, the lens barrel 30, the optical system 12 provided on the x-axis + side (one side in the second direction) with respect to the first detection section 15 and the second detection section 16, and the The light source 11 provided on the other side in the second direction is assembled integrally.

A recess 310 is formed in the outer wall of the first barrel 31 along the outer periphery. The recess 310 is provided with a sealing member 315 such as an O-ring. A screw hole 316 into which the mounting screw 90 is inserted is formed on the x-axis + side of the outer wall of the first barrel 31 with respect to the recess 310. This mounting screw 90 connects the lens barrel 30 and an outer cylinder 50, the details of which will be described later.

<Second barrel 32>
The second barrel 32 is formed in front of the first barrel 31. The outer diameter of the second barrel 32 is larger than the outer diameter of the first barrel 31. The second barrel 32 accommodates a third lens 123 of the optical system 12 attached to an inner cylinder 40, the details of which will be described later. A fitting portion 320 is formed on the inner peripheral surface near the front end of the second barrel 32 . The fitting portion 320 is a threaded groove, and fits into a threaded portion 403 (see FIG. 4) formed in the inner cylinder 40, which will be described later.

A recess 321 is formed in the outer wall of the second barrel 32 along the outer periphery. A sealing member 322 such as an O-ring is provided in the recess 321 . A screw hole 323 into which the mounting screw 91 is inserted is formed on the x-axis − side of the outer wall of the second barrel 32 with respect to the recess 321 . This mounting screw 91 connects the lens barrel 30 and an outer cylinder 60, the details of which will be described later. A screw hole 324 into which the mounting screw 92 is inserted is formed on the x-axis + side of the outer wall of the second barrel 32 with respect to the recess 321. This mounting screw 92 fixes the inner cylinder 40, which will be described in detail later, to the lens barrel 30.

<Inner cylinder 40>
FIG. 4 is an enlarged partial cross-sectional view showing the vicinity of the end on the + side of the x-axis of the cross-sectional view shown in FIG. The inner cylinder 40 is a cylindrical member, and the third lens 123 is attached therein. The inner cylinder 40 is housed within the second barrel 32 of the lens barrel 30. On the outer wall of the inner cylinder 40, a first radial fitting part 401, a second radial fitting part 402, and a threaded part 403 are formed in this order from the x-axis side along the outer peripheral surface. The first radial fitting portion 401 and the second radial fitting portion 402 are protrusions that protrude outward (in a direction away from the optical axis Ax) with respect to the outer circumferential surface 404 of the inner cylinder 40. The first diameter fitting portion 401 and the second diameter fitting portion 402 come into contact with the inner wall of the second barrel 32 of the lens barrel 30 when the inner cylinder 40 is accommodated in the lens barrel 30 .

The threaded portion 403 is formed near the end of the inner tube 40 on the x-axis + side, and when the inner tube 40 is accommodated inside the second barrel 32, it fits into the fitting portion 320 formed in the second barrel 32. . Thereby, the inner cylinder 40 is rotatably attached to the lens barrel 30 around the optical axis Ax. As the inner cylinder 40 rotates within the lens barrel 30, the inner cylinder 40 moves in the front-back direction with respect to the lens barrel 30 along the optical axis Ax. As a result, when the inner tube 40 is attached to the lens barrel 30, the position of the inner tube 40 along the optical axis Ax (that is, the position of the third lens 123) can be adjusted. That is, it becomes possible to adjust the position of the inner tube 40 in the optical axis Ax direction with a simple configuration.

The outer peripheral surface 404 between the first diameter fitting part 401 and the second diameter fitting part 402 of the outer wall of the inner cylinder 40 is fitted with the lower end of the mounting screw 92 inserted into the threaded hole 324 of the lens barrel 30. This is the contact surface that comes into contact. In other words, the diameter of the outer peripheral surface 404, which is the contact surface with the mounting screw 92, is smaller than the diameters of the first radial fitting part 401 and the second radial fitting part 402, which radially fit into the outer cylinder 60. The inner tube 40 whose position has been adjusted is fixed to the lens barrel 30 by the attachment screw 92 coming into contact with the outer circumferential surface 404 . In other words, the inner cylinder 40 can be moved along the x-axis direction between the first radial fitting part 401 and the second radial fitting part 402 during position adjustment. Therefore, the third lens 123 of the optical system 12 can be moved and adjusted in the direction of the optical axis Ax, and the spread angle of the illumination light emitted from the light source 11 outside the illumination device 10 can be adjusted.

Furthermore, since the inner tube 40 after movement adjustment is fixed by the mounting screw 92, the position of the third lens 123 in the optical axis Ax direction can be fixed easily and with high reliability. It is also conceivable that the force applied during fixation with the mounting screws 92 may cause unevenness on the outer circumferential surface 404 due to curling, gouging, or the like. However, since the diameter of the outer circumferential surface 404 is smaller than the diameter of the first diameter fitting part 401 and the second diameter fitting part 402, the area where the unevenness occurs is inner than the first diameter fitting part 401 and the second diameter fitting part 402. The tube 40 is prevented from protruding toward the side (outside) away from the optical axis Ax in the radial direction. As a result, when the inner tube 40 is removed from the lens barrel 30 when repairing the lighting device 10, problems such as uneven portions on the outer peripheral surface 404 coming into contact with the inner wall of the lens barrel 30 may occur. things are suppressed.

The first diameter fitting part 401 and the second diameter fitting part 402 come into contact with the inner wall of the second barrel 32 of the lens barrel 30 when the inner tube 40 is accommodated in the lens barrel 30. That is, by contacting the inner cylinder 40 and the lens barrel 30 at two or more places, the inner cylinder 40 is prevented from being inclined with respect to the optical axis Ax within the lens barrel 30. Furthermore, since the outer circumferential surface 404, which is the contact surface of the mounting screw 92, is located between the first diameter fitting part 401 and the second diameter fitting part 402 along the x-axis, the mounting screw 92 can be Due to the force applied, the force that makes the inner tube 40 tilt with respect to the optical axis Ax is suppressed.

<Outer cylinder 60>
The outer circumferential tube 60 has a cylindrical shape that extends toward the − x-axis side with the end wall surface 61 on the x-axis + side as the bottom. An opening 610 is formed in the center of the end wall surface 61. A portion of the illumination light emitted from the light source 11, the details of which will be described later, is emitted to the outside of the illumination device 10 through this opening 610. A diffraction section 14, the details of which will be described later, is attached to the x-axis − side of the end wall surface 61 via a sealing member 601 such as a waterproof tape. Note that the area of the surface of the diffraction section 14 parallel to the yz plane is larger than the area of the aperture 610. This sealing member 601 prevents water entering from the attachment portion between the diffraction section 14 and the opening 610 through the water intrusion path R1 from reaching the inside of the outer circumferential cylinder 60.

The inner diameter of the outer peripheral cylinder 60 is larger than the outer diameter of the second barrel 32 of the lens barrel 30. The lens barrel 30 is inserted into the outer cylinder 60 from the x-axis − side. As a result, the second barrel 32 of the lens barrel 30, the inner cylinder 40 attached to the second barrel 32, and the third lens 123 are accommodated in the outer cylinder 60.

A screw hole 602 is formed near the end of the outer circumferential tube 60 on the x-axis − side. The screw hole 602 is formed at a position overlapping in the x-axis direction with the screw hole 323 formed in the second barrel 32 of the lens barrel 30 housed in the outer peripheral cylinder 60. By inserting the mounting screw 91 into this screw hole 602 and the screw hole 323 formed in the second barrel 32, the outer circumferential tube 60 is connected to the lens barrel 30 by screwing.

As described above, the second barrel 32 is provided with the sealing member 322 in front of the screw hole 323 (on the x-axis + side). This sealing member 322 prevents water from entering through the water ingress route R2 through the screw holes 323 and 602, and water from entering through the water seepage route R3 from the rear side (x-axis − side) end of the outer cylinder 60. is suppressed from reaching the inside of the outer cylinder 60. Since the sealing member 322 is provided in the recess 321 formed on the outer circumferential surface of the second barrel 32, the sealing member 322 is provided in the radial direction of the lighting device 10, compared to the case where the sealing member is provided from the outside of the second barrel 32. It is possible to suppress the increase in size.

<Outer cylinder 50>
As shown in FIG. 2, the outer cylinder 50 has a cylindrical shape extending toward the + side of the x-axis with an end wall surface 51 on the x-axis negative side (backward) as the bottom. The inner diameter of the outer cylinder 50 is larger than the outer diameter of the first barrel 31 of the lens barrel 30. The outer cylinder 50 accommodates the first barrel 31 of the lens barrel 30 inside near the end on the + side (front) of the x-axis. Further, the control board 17 attached to the light source holder 111 behind the third attachment surface 313 of the first barrel 31 is housed in the outer cylinder 50 .

The outer cylinder 50 is attached to the outside of the first barrel 31 from the x-axis side (backward) of the lens barrel 30. A screw hole 511 is formed at the end of the outer cylinder 50 on the + side of the x-axis. The screw hole 511 is formed at a position overlapping the screw hole 316 formed in the first barrel 31 in the x-axis direction. By inserting the mounting screw 90 into the screw hole 511 and the screw hole 316 formed in the first barrel 31, the outer cylinder 50 is connected to the lens barrel 30 by screwing.

As described above, the first barrel 31 is provided with a sealing member 315 behind the screw hole 316 (on the −x-axis side). This sealing member 315 prevents water from entering through the water ingress route R4 (see FIG. 2) through the screw holes 316 and 511, and from water entering from the front (x-axis + side) end of the outer cylinder 50 through the water ingress route R5 (see FIG. 2)) is prevented from reaching the inside of the outer cylinder 50. Since the sealing member 315 is provided in the recess 310 formed on the outer circumferential surface of the first barrel 31, the sealing member 315 is provided in the radial direction of the lighting device 10, compared to the case where the sealing member is provided from the outside of the first barrel 31. It is possible to suppress the increase in size.

A connector 70 used for connecting the lighting device 10 to an external device is attached to the end wall surface 51. A through hole 501 is formed near the center (optical axis Ax) of the end wall surface 51, through which the wiring connecting the control board 17 and the connector 70 passes. Note that the surface of the connector 70 parallel to the yz plane is larger than the through hole 501, and the connector 70 is attached to the end wall surface 51 via a sealing member 502 such as an O-ring. This sealing member 502 prevents water entering from the attachment portion of the connector 70 and the end wall surface 51 through the water intrusion path R6 (see FIG. 2) from reaching the inside of the outer cylinder 50.

<Light source 11>
The light source 11 is, for example, a laser diode (semiconductor laser), and receives power and emits illumination light, which is laser light (coherent light), in the x-axis + direction. The light source 11 is attached via the light source holder 111 from the x-axis − side of the third attachment surface 313 of the lens barrel 30 described above. The light source holder 111 is a disc-shaped member having a smaller diameter than the inner diameter of the first barrel 31 of the lens barrel 30. An opening 111a is formed in the light source holder 111 near the center (optical axis Ax). By inserting the light source 11 into this opening 111a from the x-axis negative side, the light source 11 is held by the light source holder 111. By attaching this light source holder 111 to the third mounting surface 313, the light source 11 is arranged on the optical axis Ax. The light source holder 111 is formed with a screw hole for screwing to the third mounting surface 313 and a screw hole for screwing to the control board 17. The light source 11 changes the amount of illumination light by being controlled by a control unit 170 (see FIG. 6) mounted on the control board 17 and described later. Note that the light source 11 is not limited to being attached to the light source holder 111, and the lighting device 10 may not include the light source holder 111 and the light source 11 may be attached to the third attachment surface 313 of the first barrel 31.

<Optical system 12>
The optical system 12 is a collimator lens that is arranged on the x-axis + side with respect to the light source 11 and shapes the illumination light emitted from the light source 11 into parallel light. The optical system 12 includes the first lens 121, the second lens 122, and the third lens 123, as described above. The first lens 121 and the second lens 122 are attached within the first barrel 31 of the lens barrel 30 . As described above, the third lens 123 is attached to the inner tube 40 and housed in the second barrel 32 of the lens barrel 30 via the inner tube 40. Note that the optical system 12 is not limited to having the three lenses described above, and may have two or less lenses, or four or more lenses.

<Branch portion 13>
The branching unit 13 is an optical member such as a beam splitter or a half mirror, and branches the traveling direction of the incident illumination light into an x-axis + side and a y-axis + side. That is, the branching section 13 transmits a part of the illumination light emitted from the light source 11 and reflects the other part (remaining part) toward the + side of the y-axis. The branch part 13 is held by a first holding part 18 whose details will be described later, and is housed in the first barrel 31 of the lens barrel 30. The branching section 13 is arranged on the optical axis Ax of the optical system 12. Note that in the illumination device 10 of this embodiment, a case is shown in which the branching section 13 is arranged on the x-axis negative side with respect to the optical system 12; It may be placed on the + side.

<First detection unit 15>
FIG. 5A is an external perspective view of the first holding part 18, second holding part 19, first detection part 15, and second detection part 16, and FIG. 5B is a cross-sectional view taken along line BB in FIG. 5A.

The first detection section 15 includes a substrate 151 and a light receiving section 152 configured by a photoelectric conversion element such as a photodiode. The first detection section 15 is arranged on the + side of the y-axis with respect to the branch section 13 . That is, the first detection unit 15 is housed within the lens barrel 30 on the y-axis + side with respect to the optical axis Ax. The first detection section 15 is held by a first holding section 18 whose details will be described later, and is attached to a first attachment plane 311 formed on the first barrel 31 of the lens barrel 30 together with the branch section 13 from the y-axis + side. The first detection unit 15 is electrically connected to the control board 17 by wiring 153. As described above, the wiring 153 passes through the through hole 314 formed in the third mounting surface 313.

<Second detection unit 16>
The second detection section 16 includes a substrate 161 and a light receiving section 162 formed of a photoelectric conversion element such as a photodiode. The second detection section 16 is arranged on the negative side of the y-axis with respect to the branch section 13. That is, the second detection unit 16 is housed within the lens barrel 30 on the negative side of the y-axis with respect to the optical axis Ax. Thereby, the first detection section 15 and the second detection section 16 are housed in the lens barrel 30, facing each other with the optical axis Ax in between. The second detection unit 16 is held by a second holding unit 19, the details of which will be described later, and is attached to a second attachment plane 312 formed on the first barrel 31 of the lens barrel 30 from the y-axis − side. The second detection unit 16 is electrically connected to the control board 17 by wiring 163. As described above, the wiring 163 passes through the through hole 314 formed in the third mounting surface 313.

<First holding part 18>
The first holding section 18 holds the branch section 13 and the first detection section 15 as described above. The first holding section 18 includes a first mounting section 181 that holds the first detection section 15 and a second mounting section 182 that holds the branch section 13.

<First mounting part 181>
The first attachment portion 181 is a member having a protrusion 184 that protrudes toward the +y-axis side along the edge of a plate-shaped surface member 183 along the zx plane. An opening 185 is formed near the center of the surface member 183. The substrate 151 of the first detection section 15 is arranged at the upper end (y-axis + side) of the protrusion 184 of the first attachment section 181 . The light receiving section 152 is attached to the surface of the substrate 151 on the negative side of the y-axis. Therefore, the first detection unit 15 receives the light that passes through the aperture 185 and travels toward the + side of the y-axis.

Among the protrusions 184, the protrusion 184a on the x-axis + side protrudes more toward the y-axis + side than the protrusion 184b on the x-axis - side. Therefore, the substrate 151 attached to the protrusion 184 is inclined with respect to the zx plane. That is, the light receiving section 152 of the first detection section 15 has an inclination with respect to the direction (y-axis direction) orthogonal to the optical axis Ax. Therefore, as will be described later, the illumination light is reflected at the branching section 13 and reaches the light receiving section 152 of the first detection section 15, and the light reflected at the light receiving surface of the light receiving section 152 is transmitted to the light receiving section 152. It is suppressed that the light travels in the opposite direction along the same optical path as that at the time of incidence. That is, the light reflected by the light receiving surface of the light receiving section 152 enters the branching section 13 again, is reflected, travels toward the negative side of the x-axis, and is suppressed from entering the light source 11.

Incidentally, in the protrusion 184, the protrusion 184b on the x-axis negative side may protrude more toward the y-axis + side than the protrusion 184a on the x-axis plus side. That is, it is sufficient that the height of the protrusion 184 (the amount of protrusion toward the + side of the y-axis) is different in the front-rear direction. Alternatively, the height (amount of protrusion toward the +y-axis side) of the protrusion 184 may be different in the left-right direction (z-axis direction).

<Second mounting part 182>
The second attachment part 182 is a rectangular cylindrical member that is formed on the negative side of the y-axis of the first attachment part 181 and extends toward the negative side of the y-axis from a bottom part 190 arranged on the positive side of the y-axis. An opening 190a is formed in the bottom portion 190. The second attachment part 182 holds the branch part 13 by accommodating the branch part 13 therein from the y-axis negative side. An opening 188 and an opening 189 are formed in the x-axis − side surface 186 and x-axis + side surface 187 near the center of the second mounting portion 182, respectively. When the first holding part 18 is attached to the lens barrel 30, the

openings

188 and 189 are aligned on the optical axis Ax. Thereby, the illumination light emitted from the light source 11 enters the branching section 13 through the opening 188, and the light that has passed through the branching section 13 travels through the opening 189 toward the + side of the x-axis. Furthermore, the light of the illumination light that enters the branching part 13 through the opening 188 and is reflected at the branching part 13 travels toward the first attachment part 181 on the + side of the y-axis through the opening 190a.

<Second holding part 19>
The second holding section 19 holds the second detection section 16 as described above. The second holding portion 19 is a member having a protrusion 192 that protrudes toward the negative side of the y-axis along the edge of a plate-shaped surface member 191 along the zx plane. An opening 193 is formed near the center of the member 192. The substrate 161 is arranged at the lower end (y-axis − side) of the protrusion 192 of the second holding part 19. The light receiving section 162 is attached to the surface of the substrate 161 on the y-axis + side. Therefore, the second detection unit 16 receives the light that passes through the aperture 193 and travels toward the negative side of the y-axis.

Among the protrusions 192, the protrusion 192a on the x-axis + side protrudes more toward the y-axis minus side than the protrusion 192b on the x-axis minus side. Therefore, the substrate 161 attached to the protrusion 192 is inclined with respect to the zx plane. That is, the light receiving section 162 of the second detection section 16 has an inclination with respect to the direction (y-axis direction) orthogonal to the optical axis Ax. Therefore, as will be described later, among the light that travels from the x-axis + side via the diffraction section 14, is reflected at the branching section 13, and reaches the light receiving section 162 of the second detection section 16, the light is received by the light receiving section 162. The light reflected by the surface is suppressed from traveling in the opposite direction along the same optical path as when it is incident on the light receiving section 162. That is, the light reflected by the light receiving surface of the light receiving section 162 is prevented from entering the branching section 13 again, being reflected, and traveling toward the diffraction section 14 on the + side of the x-axis.

Note that in the protrusion 192, the protrusion 192b on the negative side of the x-axis may protrude more toward the - side on the y-axis than the protrusion 192a on the positive side of the x-axis. That is, it is sufficient that the height of the protrusion 192 (the amount of protrusion toward the negative side of the y-axis) is different in the front-rear direction. Alternatively, the height (the amount of protrusion toward the −y-axis side) of the protrusion 192 may be different in the left-right direction (z-axis direction).

On the y-axis + side (upper side) surface of the surface member 191, a protrusion 194 protruding toward the y-axis + side is formed near the end on the x-axis − side. The protrusion 194 is formed on the surface member 191 along the z-axis. That is, the end portion 194 is a part of the end portion of the surface member 191 of the second holding portion 19 on the −x-axis side (the other side in the second direction). When the first holding part 18 and the second holding part 19 are attached to the lens barrel 30, as shown in FIG. It is located on the light source 11 side behind the end (x-axis − side). The top of the protrusion 194 (the tip on the y-axis + side) is located above (on the y-axis + side) the lower end (the tip on the y-axis − side) of the second attachment portion 182 of the first holding portion 18 . That is, the protrusion 194 that is a part of the end on the x-axis − side (the other side in the second direction) of the second holding part 19 and the other side in the second direction of the second attachment part 182 of the first holding part 18 A part of the side end portion overlaps in the direction along the optical axis Ax. This prevents part of the illumination light emitted from the light source 11 from passing between the first holding part 18 and the second holding part 19 and becoming stray light.

Note that the top of the protrusion 194 is preferably located below (on the y-axis side) the lower end of the opening 188 on the x-axis side formed in the second attachment part 182. Thereby, the illumination light emitted from the light source 11 can pass through the opening 188 and enter the branch portion 13 without being obstructed by the protrusion 194 .

<Diffraction section 14>
The diffraction section 14 is disposed at the x-axis + side end of the above-mentioned outer cylinder 60, that is, on the x-axis + side with respect to the branching section 13, and is illuminated by the light that has passed through the branching section 13 among the illumination light. The diffraction section 14 is, for example, a diffraction grating such as a hologram element. As the hologram element, various known holograms such as Fourier transform type, Fresnel type, computer synthesis type, analog recording type, and relief type can be used. Information regarding the progress of the moving object described above is recorded on this hologram element. A portion of the light that has passed through the branching section 13 passes through the diffraction section 14 and is emitted to the outside of the illumination device 10 . As a result, the information recorded in the diffraction section 14 is projected outside the illumination device 10 (that is, in front of the moving body in the traveling direction).

<Operation>
The operation of the lighting device 10 having the above configuration will be described below. FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing the configuration of main parts of the lighting device 10. As described above, the branching section 13 transmits a part of the illumination light L emitted from the light source 11 and reflects the other part (remaining part) toward the + side of the y-axis. Of the illumination light L, the light reflected at the branching part 13 is called a first illumination light L1, and the light transmitted through the branching part 13 is called a second illumination light L2. In the following description, it is assumed that the branching section 13 transmits 50% of the illumination light L and reflects the remaining 50%.

The first illumination light L1 reflected by the branching part 13 enters the first detection part 15 arranged on the +y-axis side with respect to the branching part 13. In the first detection section 15, the first illumination light L1 that has entered the light receiving section 152 is converted into an electrical signal and output as a first detection signal. This electric signal (that is, the first detection signal) has a value (signal intensity) corresponding to the amount of light incident on the first detection section 15. Therefore, the first detection unit 15 detects the light amount of the first illumination light L1.

The second illumination light L2 transmitted through the branching section 13 illuminates the diffraction section 14. A portion of the second illumination light L2 passes through the diffraction section 14 and exits to the outside of the illumination device 10, and the remaining portion is reflected by the diffraction section 14. As described above, by illuminating the diffraction unit 14 with a part of the second illumination light L2, the information recorded in the diffraction unit 14 is transferred to the outside of the illumination device 10 (that is, in front of the moving object). be projected. Of the second illumination light L2, the light reflected by the diffraction section 14 (reflected light) travels toward the negative side of the x-axis and enters the branching section 13. This reflected light is reflected toward the negative side of the y-axis at the branching section 13 and enters the second detection section 16 .

In addition, the second detection unit 16 includes the light that was reflected at the diffraction unit 14 and then reflected at the branching unit 13 out of the second illumination light L2 (that is, the reflected light reflected at the diffraction unit 14), and the illumination light L2. Light (that is, external light) L3 that has passed through the diffraction section 14 and been reflected at the branching section 13 from outside the device 10 is incident. That is, the second detection section 16 detects the amount of light that has entered via the diffraction section 14 . In the second detection section 16, the light receiving section 162 converts the incident light into an electrical signal, and outputs it as a second detection signal. This electric signal (that is, the second detection signal) has a value (signal intensity) that corresponds to the amount of reflected light and external light L3 that entered the second detection section 16. However, when the external light L3 does not pass through the diffraction section 14, the second detection section 16 detects the amount of reflected light, that is, the amount of second illumination light L2. In this case, the second detection signal has a signal strength depending on the amount of reflected light.

The control unit 170 is composed of a CPU, a memory, etc., and is mounted on the control board 17 described above. The control unit 170 is a processor that controls each part of the lighting device 10 by reading and executing a control program recorded in advance on a storage medium such as a flash memory. The control unit 170 performs a light amount control process to control the amount of illumination light L emitted by the light source 11 based on the first amount of the first illumination light L1 detected by the first detection unit 15. The control unit 170 performs light source control processing to stop the light source 11 from emitting the illumination light L based on the second amount of light detected by the second detection unit 16. However, when the external light L3 is incident, the control unit 170 causes the light source 11 to continue emitting the illumination light L.

<Light amount control processing>
The control unit 170 causes the power supply unit 20 to supply a specified power (current) to the light source 11, and causes the light source 11 to emit illumination light L. The control section 170 detects a first light amount that is the light amount of the first illumination light L1, that is, the light amount of the illumination light L emitted from the light source 11, based on the first detection signal output by the first detection section 15. As described above, the first illumination light L1 is the light of the illumination light L that is reflected toward the +y-axis side at the branching portion 13. Further, as described above, since the reflectance of the branching part 13 is a known value of 50%, the first light amount of the first illumination light L1 reflected by the branching part 13 and the illumination light L emitted from the light source 11 are There is a proportional relationship with the amount of light. From this, the control section 170 can treat (detect) the first light amount of the first illumination light L1 detected by the first detection section 15 as the light amount of the illumination light L.

The control unit 170 compares the detected first light amount of the illumination light L with a preset lower limit value Th1 and an upper limit value Th2. Note that the lower limit specified value Th1 is a value obtained by multiplying the lower limit value of the amount of illumination light L by 50%, which is the reflectance of the branching portion 13. The lower limit value of the amount of light of the illumination light L is the value of the amount of light necessary for the projection pattern formed outside by the light emitted from the illumination device 10 to become visible. The value of the lower limit specified value Th1 is determined based on the results of simulations, etc., and a threshold voltage (current) corresponding to the lower limit specified value Th1 is set in the control unit 170 in advance. The comparator of the control unit 170 compares this threshold voltage (current) with the voltage (current) of the first detection signal, which is the first light amount of the first illumination light L1, and outputs a signal according to the comparison result. Based on this signal, the control unit 170 performs processing according to the comparison result.

Further, the upper limit specified value Th2 is a value obtained by multiplying the upper limit value of the light amount of the illumination light L by 50%, which is the reflectance of the branching part 13. The upper limit value of the light amount of the illumination light L is a value of the light amount that does not have an adverse effect even if the light emitted from the illumination device 10 enters the eyes of an outside person. The value of the upper limit specified value Th2 is determined based on the results of simulations, etc., and a threshold voltage (current) corresponding to the upper limit specified value Th2 is set in the control unit 170 in advance. The comparator of the control unit 170 compares this threshold voltage (current) with the voltage (current) of the first detection signal, which is the first light amount of the first illumination light L1, and outputs a signal according to the comparison result. Based on this signal, the control unit 170 performs processing according to the comparison result.

The control unit 170 compares the calculated light amount value of the illumination light L with a lower limit specified value Th1, and if the value of the light amount of the illumination light L is smaller than the lower limit specified value Th1, the control unit 170 controls the illumination emitted from the light source 11. Increase the amount of light L. Specifically, the control unit 170 increases the power (current) supplied from the power supply unit 20 to the light source 11. In this case, the control unit 170 increases the amount of power supplied by a predetermined value. Alternatively, the control unit 170 increases the amount of power supplied based on the difference between the calculated value of the light amount of the illumination light L and the lower limit specified value Th1. As a result, the amount of illumination light L emitted from the light source 11 increases, and the projection pattern formed externally by the light emitted from the illumination device 10 becomes visible.

The control unit 170 compares the calculated light amount value of the illumination light L with the upper limit specified value Th2, and if the value of the light amount of the illumination light L is larger than the upper limit specified value Th2, the control unit 170 controls the illumination emitted from the light source 11. Decrease the amount of light L. Specifically, the control unit 170 reduces the power (current) supplied from the power supply unit 20 to the light source 11. In this case, the control unit 170 reduces the amount of power supplied by a predetermined value. Alternatively, the control unit 170 reduces the amount of power supplied based on the difference between the calculated amount of illumination light L and the upper limit value Th2. Thereby, even if the light emitted from the illumination device 10 enters the eyes of outsiders, it is possible to suppress any adverse effects.

Note that instead of the control unit 170 handling the first light intensity of the first illumination light L1 detected by the first detection unit 15 as the light intensity of the illumination light L, the first light intensity of the first illumination light L1 is doubled. By doing so, the amount of illumination light L emitted from the light source 11 may be detected (calculated). In this case, the lower limit specified value Th1 is the lower limit value of the light amount of the illumination light L mentioned above, and the upper limit specified value Th2 is the upper limit value of the light amount of the illumination light L mentioned above.

Note that the light amount control process described above is executed by the control unit 170 at predetermined time intervals.

The process performed by the control unit 170 will be described with reference to the flowchart of the light amount control process shown in FIG. Each process shown in the flowchart is performed by the control unit 170 reading a program stored in a storage medium and executing the program.

In step S10, the control unit 170 detects the value of the first light amount of the first illumination light L1 using the first detection signal output from the first detection unit 15. After that, the process advances to step S11. In step S11, the control unit 170 determines whether the value of the first light amount of the first illumination light L1 is smaller than the lower limit specified value Th1. If the value of the first light amount of the first illumination light L1 is smaller than the lower limit specified value Th1, an affirmative determination is made by the control unit 170, and the process proceeds to step S12. In step S12, the control unit 170 increases the power supplied from the power supply unit 20 to the light source 11 to increase the amount of illumination light L emitted by the light source 11. After that, the process returns to step S10.

If the value of the first light amount of the first illumination light L1 is equal to or greater than the lower limit specified value Th1 in step S11, a negative determination is made by the control unit 170, and the process proceeds to step S13. In step S13, the control unit 170 determines whether the value of the light amount of the first illumination light L1 is larger than the upper limit specified value Th2. If the value of the first light amount of the first illumination light L1 is larger than the upper limit specified value Th2, an affirmative determination is made by the control unit 170, and the process proceeds to step S14. In step S14, the control unit 170 reduces the power supplied from the power supply unit 20 to the light source 11 to reduce the amount of illumination light L emitted by the light source 11. After that, the process returns to step S10. Further, in step S13, if the value of the first light amount of the first illumination light L1 is equal to or less than the upper limit specified value Th2, a negative determination is made by the control unit 170, and the process returns to step S10.

By performing the above-described light amount control process, it is suppressed that the illumination light L emitted from the light source 11 becomes insufficient or excessive in amount.

<Light source control processing>
The control unit 170 determines the amount of light L4 that has reached the second detection unit 16 via the diffraction unit 14 (hereinafter referred to as arriving light) based on the second detection signal output by the second detection unit 16. 2 Detects the amount of light. However, as described above, the external light L3 may also pass through the diffraction section 14 and enter the second detection section 16. Therefore, the control unit 170 determines whether or not the external light L3 is included in the arriving light L4 based on the second detection signal, and determines whether the arriving light L4 includes the external light L3 or not. The emission of the illumination light L by the light source 11 is controlled differently depending on whether the external light L3 is not included in the external light L3 or not.

When the arriving light L4 does not include the external light L3, as described above, the diffraction unit 14 reflects a part of the second illumination light L2 that has arrived, and this reflected light is transmitted to the second detection unit 16. incident. Since the reflectance of the diffraction section 14 is a known value determined by the material of the diffraction section 14, if the external light L3 is not included in the arriving light L4, the amount of reflected light reflected by the diffraction section 14 (i.e. There is a proportional relationship between the amount of light (based on the second detection signal) and the amount of second illumination light L2 that has reached the diffraction section 14. From this, when the external light L3 is not included in the arriving light L4, the control section 170 sets the second light amount of the arriving light L4 detected by the second detection section 16 as the light amount of the second illumination light L2. It can be handled (detected). The processing by the control unit 170 will be specifically explained below.

The control unit 170 compares the second light amount of the detected arriving light L4 with a preset upper limit value Th3 and lower limit value Th4. The upper limit specified value Th3 is, for example, a value obtained by multiplying the upper limit value of the light amount of the second illumination light L2 by the reflectance of the diffraction section 14. The upper limit value of the amount of light of the second illumination light L2 is a value of the amount of light that does not have an adverse effect even if the light emitted from the lighting device 10 enters the eyes of an outsider.

The value of the upper limit specified value Th3 is determined based on the results of simulations, etc., and a threshold voltage (current) corresponding to this upper limit specified value Th3 is set in the control unit 170 in advance. The comparator of the control unit 170 compares this threshold voltage (current) with the voltage (current) of the second detection signal output by the second detection unit 16, which is the second light amount of the arriving light L4, and adjusts the voltage according to the comparison result. Outputs the signal. Based on this signal, the control unit 170 performs processing according to the comparison result.

Further, the lower limit specified value Th4 is, for example, a value obtained by multiplying the lower limit value of the light amount of the second illumination light L2 by the reflectance of the diffraction section 14. The lower limit value of the light intensity of the second illumination light L2 is the light intensity necessary for the projection pattern formed externally to be visible by the light emitted from the illumination device 10 when the diffraction part 14 is not damaged. It is a value.

The value of the lower limit specified value Th4 is determined based on the results of simulations, etc., and a threshold voltage (current) corresponding to this lower limit specified value Th4 is set in the control unit 170 in advance. The control unit 170 includes, for example, a comparator, and the comparator compares the threshold voltage (current) with the voltage (current) of the second detection signal output by the second detection unit 16, which is the second light amount of the arriving light L4. and outputs a signal according to the comparison result. Based on this signal, the control unit 170 performs processing according to the comparison result.

If the second light amount of the arriving light L4 is less than the lower limit specified value Th4, it is possible that damage (abnormality) such as a hole is formed in the diffraction part 14 and the reflectance of the diffraction part 14 is reduced. That is, it is conceivable that the amount of second illumination light L2 that is transmitted without being reflected by the diffraction section 14 is increasing. In this case, since the amount of light emitted to the outside of the illumination device 10 is too large, there is a possibility that this light may have an adverse effect if it enters the eyes of an outsider. Therefore, when the second light amount of the detected arriving light L4 is equal to or less than the lower limit specified value Th4, the control unit 170 stops the current supply from the power supply unit 20 to the light source 11, and controls the illumination light L from the light source 11. stop the emission of.

When the second light amount of the arriving light L4 becomes larger than the upper limit specified value Th3, the following two factors can be considered. The first factor is that, although no abnormality has occurred in the diffraction section 14, for example, when the first detection section 15 fails, the amount of second illumination light L2 that passes through the diffraction section 14 increases. The second factor is that although there is no abnormality in either the first detection unit 15 or the diffraction unit 14, the external light L3 is incident from outside the illumination device 10 via the diffraction unit 14, so the second detection The second light amount of the arriving light L4 incident on the portion 16 is increasing.

In the case of the first factor, the amount of light emitted to the outside of the lighting device 10 is too large, so if this light enters the eyes of people outside, there is a risk that it will have an adverse effect. Therefore, when the second light amount of the detected arriving light L4 is larger than the upper limit specified value Th3, the control unit 170 stops the current supply from the power supply unit 20 to the light source 11, and controls the illumination light L from the light source 11. stop the emission of. In the case of the second factor, the amount of light emitted to the outside of the lighting device 10 is appropriate, so the control unit 170 continues to emit the illumination light L from the light source 11.

Specifically, when the second light amount of the arriving light L4 is equal to or higher than the upper limit specified value Th3, the control unit 170 causes the second light amount to continue to be equal to or higher than the upper limit specified value Th3 for a predetermined time (specified time) or more. Determine whether or not. In this case, the control unit 170 starts timing at the timing when the second light amount of the arriving light L4 becomes equal to or higher than the upper limit value Th3. If the state in which the second light amount of the arriving light L4 is equal to or higher than the upper limit specified value Th3 continues for a longer time than the specified time, a failure has occurred in the first detection unit 15 and the light amount of the illumination light L has increased. As a result, it is considered that the amount of light emitted to the outside of the lighting device 10 continues to be too large. That is, since the second light amount of the arriving light L4 has increased due to the above-mentioned first factor, the control unit 170 determines that the external light L3 is not included in the arriving light L4, and reduces the illumination from the light source 11. Emission of light L is stopped.

If the state in which the second light amount of the arriving light L4 is equal to or greater than the upper limit value Th3 is shorter than the specified time, it is considered that the external light L3 enters through the diffraction unit 14 for a short period of time. That is, since the second light amount of the arriving light L4 has increased due to the above-mentioned second factor, the control unit 170 determines that the external light L3 is included in the arriving light L4, and reduces the illumination from the light source 11. The light L continues to be emitted.

In addition, the above-mentioned specified time is based on the results of simulations, etc., and is a period of time that allows the external light L3 to be considered to have entered the lighting device 10 for a short period of time due to the movement of the moving object on which the lighting device 10 is mounted. Set.

Furthermore, the light source control process described above is executed by the control unit 170 at predetermined time intervals.

In step S20, the control unit 170 supplies specified power (current) from the power supply unit 20 to the light source 11, and causes the light source 11 to emit illumination light L. After that, the process advances to step S21. In step S21, the control unit 170 uses the second detection signal output from the second detection unit 16 to detect the value of the second light amount of the arriving light L4. After that, the process advances to step S22.

In step S22, the control unit 170 compares the value of the second light amount of the detected arriving light L4 and the lower limit specified value Th4. If the value of the second light amount of the arriving light L4 is larger than the lower limit specified value Th4, an affirmative determination is made by the control unit 170, and the process proceeds to step S23. If the value of the second light amount of the arriving light L4 is equal to or less than the lower limit specified value Th4, the control unit 170 makes a negative determination, and the process proceeds to step S25, which will be described later.

In step S23, it is determined whether the value of the second light amount of the arriving light L4 is smaller than the upper limit specified value Th3. If the value of the second light amount of the arriving light L4 is smaller than the upper limit specified value Th3, an affirmative determination is made by the control unit 170, and the process returns to step S21. If the value of the second light amount of the arriving light L4 is equal to or greater than the upper limit specified value Th3, a negative determination is made by the control unit 170, and the process proceeds to step S24.

In step S24, the control unit 170 determines whether the state in which the second light amount of the arriving light L4 is greater than or equal to the upper limit specified value Th3 is shorter than the specified time. If it is shorter than the specified time, the control unit 170 makes an affirmative determination, and the process returns to step S21. If the time is longer than the specified time, the control unit 170 makes a negative determination, and the process proceeds to step S25. In step S25, the control unit 170 stops supplying power to the light source 11, stops emitting the illumination light L from the light source 11, and ends the process.

According to the embodiment described above, the following effects can be obtained.

(1) The lens barrel 30 of the illumination device 10 is a plane that intersects with the first direction that intersects the optical axis Ax of the optical system 12, and the holding section 180 (the first It has an attachment plane 330 (a first attachment plane 311 and a second attachment plane 312) to which the first attachment section 18 and the second attachment section 19 are attached. The optical system 12 and the light source 11 are attached to the lens barrel 30 along the second direction along the optical axis Ax. As a result, even if the lighting device 10 includes a plurality of detection units (the first detection unit 15 and the second detection unit 16), increasing the outer diameter of the lens barrel 30 is suppressed, and the lighting device 10 can contribute to downsizing.

Further, the first holding part 18 and the second holding part 19 that hold the first detecting part 15 and the second detecting part 16 are connected to the first mounting plane 311 and the second mounting plane from the y-axis + side and the y-axis - side, respectively. 312. This makes it easy to attach the first detection section 15 and the second detection section 18 to the lens barrel 30 during manufacturing of the illumination device 10, and improves the efficiency of assembly work.

Furthermore, since the mounting position of the optical system 12 that converts the illumination light L outputted from the light source 11 into parallel light can be determined based on the inner diameter of the lens barrel 30, which is a single member, the mounting position of the optical system 12 can be determined based on the inner diameter of the lens barrel 30, which is a single member. Accuracy can be improved.

(2) The optical system 12 is attached to the lens barrel 30 on one side in the second direction (x-axis + side) with respect to the first detection section 15 and the second detection section 16, and on the other side in the second direction ( A light source 11 is attached to the x-axis side). As a result, the diameter of the illumination light L passing through the negative side of the x-axis of the lens barrel 30 is smaller than the diameter of the first illumination light L1 passing through the positive side of the x-axis of the lens barrel 30, so that the branching portion 13 can be made smaller. It becomes possible.

(3) The first detection section 15 and the second detection section 16 are housed in the housing section 180 facing each other with the optical axis Ax in between. This makes it possible to separate the attachment directions of the first detection section 15 and the second detection section 16 to the lens barrel 30, thereby suppressing an increase in the outer diameter of the lens barrel 30.

(4) A part of the end of the first holding part 18 on the other side in the second direction (x-axis − side) attached to the first mounting plane 311 and the second holding part attached to the second mounting plane 312 A part of the end portion of the optical system 19 on the other side (x-axis − side) in the second direction overlaps in the direction along the optical axis Ax of the optical system 12. This prevents part of the illumination light L emitted from the light source 11 from passing between the first holding part 18 and the second holding part 19 and reaching the optical system 12 as stray light.

(5) The light receiving surface of the light receiving section 152 of the first detecting section 15 and the light receiving surface of the light receiving section 162 of the second detecting section 16 are arranged in a direction perpendicular to the optical axis Ax of the optical system 12 (y-axis direction). It is housed in the lens barrel 30 with an inclination relative to the lens barrel 30 . This prevents the light reflected by the light-receiving surfaces of the light-receiving

sections

152 and 162 from traveling in the opposite direction along the same optical path as that at the time of incidence and becoming stray light.

(6) The control board 17 is provided on the other side (x-axis − side) of the light source 11 in the second direction. The third mounting surface 313, which is the end surface on the −x-axis side of the lens barrel 30, has a through hole 314 through which the

wirings

153, 163 connecting the control board 17 and the first detection section 15 and second detection section 16 pass. provided. This prevents the

wiring

153, 163 from being caught between the lens barrel 30 and the outer tube 50 when the lens barrel 30 and the outer tube 50 are attached.

<First modification example>
The light receiving unit 162 of the second detection unit 16 included in the illumination device 10 of the first modification is an image sensor (imaging device) in which a plurality of imaging pixels (photoelectric conversion elements) are two-dimensionally arranged in the row direction and the column direction. ). The second detection unit 16 detects a second light amount of the arriving light L4 that has entered through the diffraction unit 14 and a distribution area in which the arriving light L4 is distributed on the light receiving surface of the light receiving unit 162 of the second detection unit 16. . The control unit 170 of the first modification performs light source control processing based on the detected second light amount and the distribution area of the arriving light L4.

In this case, the control unit 170 controls the control unit 170 when there is no abnormality in the diffraction unit 14, no failure or the like in the first detection unit 15, and when the external light L3 is not included in the arriving light L4. , the distribution area of the arriving light L4 is used as a reference area. In other words, the reference area is a region where the arriving light L4 is on the light receiving surface of the light receiving section 162 of the second detecting section 16 when the arriving light L4 is the reflected light of the second illumination light L2 reflected by the diffraction section 14. This is the area where the distribution is. For example, the reference area can be a distribution area where the second illumination light L2 is distributed on the light receiving surface of the light receiving unit 162 of the second detection unit 16 when the light amount of the second illumination light L2 is at the above-mentioned upper limit value. . The reference area is data expressed by the position (coordinates) of the imaging pixel forming the second detection unit 16, and is set in the control unit 170 in advance.

The control unit 170 compares the distribution area of the arriving light L4 detected by the second detection unit 16 with the reference area, and determines whether the external light L3 is included in the arriving light L4. Specifically, the control unit 170 determines the position (coordinates of the imaging pixel) where the arriving light L4 is distributed on the light receiving surface of the light receiving unit 162 based on the second detection signal and the position (coordinates) of the imaging pixel in the reference area. Calculate the value of the difference. Then, the control unit 170 determines whether the calculated difference value exceeds a preset reference value. This reference value is a value that defines a shape in which the shape of the distribution region of the arriving light L4 can be considered to be similar to the shape of the reference region. If the reference area is set as the distribution area when the light intensity of the second illumination light L2 is at the upper limit value as described above, the reference value is, for example, the distribution area when the light intensity of the second illumination light L2 is at the lower limit value. It may be set as the value of the difference between the shape of the distribution region and the shape of the reference region.

When the value of the difference between the shape of the distribution region of the arriving light L4 and the shape of the reference region exceeds the above reference value, that is, when the shape of the distribution region of the arriving light L4 is not similar to the shape of the reference region. , the control unit 170 determines that the external light L3 is included in the arriving light L4. In other words, if the shape of the distribution area of the arriving light L4 exceeds the reference value and is different from the shape of the reference area, the control unit 170 determines that the external light L3 is included in the arriving light L4.

When the value of the difference exceeds the reference value, that is, when the arriving light L4 includes the external light L3, the control unit 170 determines whether the external light L3 is distributed from the distribution area of the arriving light L4 based on the second detection signal. Exclude areas that you want to use. In this case, the control unit 170 generates the correction signal by excluding signals from the imaging pixels corresponding to coordinates outside the reference area from among the signals from each imaging pixel included in the second detection signal. Therefore, the correction signal represents the amount of light in the region overlapping the reference region among the distribution regions of the arriving light L4. In other words, the control unit 170 extracts the amount of light in a region overlapping with the reference region out of the distribution region of the arriving light L4.

Similarly to the embodiment, the control unit 170 compares the value of the second light amount of the arriving light L4 based on the correction signal with the lower limit specified value Th4 and the upper limit specified value Th3. Thereafter, as in the embodiment, the control unit 170 causes the light source 11 to stop or continue emitting the illumination light L based on the comparison result.

If the value of the difference between the shape of the distribution region of the arriving light L4 and the shape of the reference region is less than the reference value, that is, the shape of the distribution region of the arriving light L4 and the shape of the reference region do not differ by more than the reference value. In this case, the shape of the distribution region of the arriving light L4 is similar to the shape of the reference region. Therefore, if the value of the difference is less than or equal to the reference value, the control unit 170 determines that the external light L3 is not included in the arriving light L4. Then, as in the case of the embodiment, the control unit 17 compares the value of the second light amount of the arriving light L4 based on the second detection signal with the lower limit specified value Th4 and the upper limit specified value Th3, and based on the comparison result. to cause the light source 11 to stop or continue supplying the illumination light L.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing light source control processing in the first modification. Each process shown in the flowchart is performed by the control unit 170 reading a program stored in a storage medium and executing the program.

In step S30, the control unit 170 causes the light source 11 to emit the illumination light L. After that, the process advances to step S31. In step S31, the control unit 170 uses the second detection signal output from the second detection unit 16 to detect the distribution area and second light amount of the arriving light L4. After that, the process advances to step S32.

In step S32, the control unit 170 determines whether the shape of the detected distribution region of the arriving light L4 and the shape of the reference region differ by more than a reference value. If the value of the difference between the shape (coordinates of the imaging pixel) of the distribution area of the arriving light L4 and the shape (coordinates) of the reference area is less than or equal to the reference value, a negative determination is made by the control unit 170, and the process will be described later. The process advances to step S34. If the value of the difference between the shape of the distribution area of the arriving light L4 (coordinates of the imaging pixel) and the shape (coordinates) of the reference area exceeds the reference value, an affirmative determination is made by the control unit 170, and the process proceeds to step S33. Proceed to.

In step S33, the control unit 170 generates a correction signal by excluding the region where the external light L3 is distributed from the distribution region of the arriving light L4 based on the second detection signal. After that, the process advances to step S34. In step S34, the control unit 170 compares the value of the second light amount of the arriving light L4 with the lower limit specified value Th4 and the upper limit specified value Th3. Note that when the process proceeds from step S32 to step S34, the control unit 170 uses the second detection signal to compare the value of the second light amount with the lower limit specified value Th4 and the upper limit specified value Th3. When the process proceeds from step S33 to step S34, the control unit 170 uses the correction signal generated in step S33 to compare the value of the second light amount with the lower limit specified value Th4 and the upper limit specified value Th3. If the value of the second light amount of the arriving light L4 is larger than the lower limit specified value Th4 and smaller than the upper limit specified value Th3, an affirmative determination is made by the control unit 170, and the process returns to step S31. If the value of the second light amount of the arriving light L4 is less than or equal to the lower limit specified value Th4 or greater than or equal to the upper limit specified value Th3, a negative determination is made by the control unit 170, and the process proceeds to step S35. In step S35, the control unit 170 stops supplying power to the light source 11, stops emitting the illumination light L from the light source 11, and ends the process.

<Second modification example>
The light source control process is not limited to stopping the emission of the illumination light L from the light source 11 when the second light amount detected by the second detection unit 16 is less than or equal to the lower limit specified value Th4 or greater than or equal to the upper limit specified value Th3. For example, the control unit 170 may reduce the amount of illumination light L emitted from the light source 11. In this case, the control unit 170 can reduce the amount of illumination light L by reducing the power supplied to the light source 11. The light intensity of the illumination light L at this time may be reduced according to the difference between the second light intensity detected by the second detection section 16 and the upper limit specified value Th3 or the lower limit specified value Th4, or may be determined in advance. may be decreased by a predetermined percentage.

Although various embodiments and modifications have been described above, the present invention is not limited to these. Other embodiments that are considered within the technical spirit of the present invention are also included within the scope of the present invention. For example, the control unit 170 may perform only the light source control process. In this case, the control unit 170 uses the second detection signal output from the second detection unit 16 to determine whether or not the external light L3 is included in the arriving light L4, and uses this determination result and the second detection signal The illumination light L emitted from the light source 11 may be controlled using the second light amount of the arriving light L4 that has reached the light source 16. In other words, the control unit 170 determines at least the determination result of whether or not the external light L3 is included in the arriving light L4, the second light amount of the arriving light L4, and the first light amount of the first illumination light L1. The illumination light L emitted by the light source 11 may be controlled based on the result and the second light amount of the arriving light L4.

Note that the present technology can have the following configuration.

(1) An illumination device includes a light source that emits illumination light, an optical system, a branching section that branches the illumination light emitted from the light source, and a plurality of light sources that detect the amount of light that has arrived via the branching section. It includes a detection section, a holding section that holds each of the plurality of detection sections, the branch section, a housing section that accommodates the plurality of detection sections and the holding section. The housing section is a plane that intersects with a first direction that intersects the optical axis of the optical system, and has a mounting plane on which the holding section that holds the plurality of detection sections is attached from the first direction. The optical system and the light source are attached to the housing part along a second direction along the optical axis.

(2) The optical system is attached to the housing section on one side in the second direction with respect to the detection section, and the light source is attached on the other side in the second direction with respect to the detection section. lighting equipment.

(3) The plurality of detecting sections include a first detecting section and a second detecting section, and the first detecting section and the second detecting section are opposed to each other with the optical axis in between and are arranged in the housing section. The lighting device according to (1) or (2), which is housed in a.

(4) The holding section includes a first holding section that holds the first detection section and a second holding section that holds the second detection section, and the mounting plane is such that the first holding section is attached to the mounting plane. and a second mounting plane to which the second holding part is attached, and one end of the first holding part on the other side in the second direction is attached to the first mounting plane. The illumination according to (3), wherein the part and a part of the other end in the second direction of the second holding part attached to the second mounting plane overlap in the direction along the optical axis. Device.

(5) The light-receiving surface of the first detection section and the light-reception surface of the second detection section are accommodated in the accommodation section with an inclination with respect to a direction perpendicular to the optical axis of the optical system. 3) or the lighting device according to (4).

(6) A control board provided on the other side in the second direction with respect to the light source, and wiring connecting the control board and the detection section, the other side of the accommodating section in the second direction. The lighting device according to any one of (1) to (5), wherein an end face of the lighting device is provided with a through hole through which the wiring passes.

10 illumination device, 11 light source, 12 optical system, 13 branching section, 14 diffraction section, 15 first detection section, 16 second detection section, 17 control board, 18 first holding section, 19 second holding section, 30 lens barrel , 31 First barrel, 32 Second barrel, 40 Inner cylinder, 50 Outer cylinder, 60 Outer cylinder, 121 First lens, 122 Second lens, 123 Third lens, 152 Light receiving part, 153 Wiring, 162 Light receiving part, 163 Wiring, 170 control section, 180 holding section, 181 first mounting section, 182 second mounting section, 194 protrusion, 310 recess, 311 first mounting plane, 312 second mounting plane, 312 mounting plane, 313 third mounting surface , 314 through hole, 315 seal member, 320 fitting portion, 321 recess, 322 seal member, 323 hole, 324 hole, 330 mounting plane, 401 first diameter fitting portion, 402 second diameter fitting portion

Claims

a light source that emits illumination light;
optical system and
a branching part that branches the illumination light emitted from the light source;
a plurality of detection units that detect the amount of light that has arrived via the branching unit;
a holding section that holds each of the plurality of detection sections;
an accommodating section that accommodates the branch section, the plurality of detection sections, and the holding section;
The housing part is a plane that intersects with a first direction that intersects the optical axis of the optical system, and has a mounting plane on which the holding part that holds the plurality of detection parts is attached from the first direction,
The lighting device, wherein the optical system and the light source are attached to the housing part along a second direction along the optical axis.
The lighting device according to claim 1,
An illumination device, wherein the optical system is attached to the housing section on one side in the second direction with respect to the detection section, and the light source is attached on the other side in the second direction with respect to the detection section.
The lighting device according to claim 1,
The plurality of detection units include a first detection unit and a second detection unit,
The first detection section and the second detection section are accommodated in the accommodation section so as to face each other with the optical axis in between.
The lighting device according to claim 3,
The holding section includes a first holding section that holds the first detection section and a second holding section that holds the second detection section,
The mounting plane includes a first mounting plane to which the first holding part is attached, and a second mounting plane to which the second holding part is attached,
A part of the other end in the second direction of the first holding part attached to the first mounting plane and the other end in the second direction of the second holding part attached to the second mounting plane. A part of the side end portion of the illumination device overlaps in the direction along the optical axis.
The lighting device according to claim 3,
The light receiving surface of the first detecting section and the light receiving surface of the second detecting section are housed in the housing section so as to be inclined with respect to a direction perpendicular to the optical axis of the optical system.
The lighting device according to any one of claims 1 to 5,
a control board provided on the other side of the second direction with respect to the light source;
Wiring connecting the control board and the detection section,
A lighting device, wherein a through hole through which the wiring passes is provided on the other end surface of the accommodating portion in the second direction.