JP2000057488A - Traffic signal lamp - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To drastically reduce power consumption while maintaining luminance by providing a traffic signal lamp with a light source including ultraviolet rays of specific wavelength and a glass or resin containing inorganic fluorescent substance in front of the light source. SOLUTION: The ultraviolet light source 1 for radiating ultraviolet rays is stored in a box 3 and the glass or resin element 2 containing inorganic phosphors is arranged in front of the light source 1. A fluorescent tube for radiating ultraviolet rays including 360 to 370 nm wavelength or a light emitting diode(LED) having 370 nm peak wavelength is used as the light source 1. The fluorescent substance incorporated in the glass or resin 2 is inorganic fluorescent substance, and when the substance is irradiated with ultraviolet rays including 360 to 370 nm wavelength, red, blue and green light rays are emitted. Thereby power consumption can be reduced to about 1/3 to 1/5. In addition the luminance of red, blue-green or yellow can be improved more than that of a conventional signal lamp without increasing power consumption.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a traffic signal light (including road traffic, track traffic, marine traffic and air traffic) using a phosphor on a display surface.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, an incandescent light bulb is used as a light source of a traffic signal light, and a color filter is arranged in front of the light bulb to display a color when the light is turned on.

[0003]

However, such conventional traffic signal lights have the following problems. (1) To increase the brightness of traffic lights, it was necessary to increase the wattage of incandescent lights and thus the amount of power used. It is required to reduce power consumption.

(2) In order to increase the difference in visibility between when the light is on and when the light is off, it is required to increase the luminance to a level higher than that of a conventional signal light without increasing energy consumption. .

[0005]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In order to solve these problems, the present invention provides a light source containing ultraviolet light having a wavelength of 360 to 370 nm and a glass or resin containing an inorganic phosphor on its front surface, or an inorganic fluorescent material. It is composed of glass or resin coated with a body, or glass or resin bonded with a sheet containing an inorganic phosphor.

[0006]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below. FIG. 1 shows an example of a cross-sectional view of a traffic light according to the present invention. Ultraviolet light source 1 that emits ultraviolet light in box 3
, And glass or resin 2 containing an inorganic phosphor is disposed on the front surface thereof. As the ultraviolet light source 1, 3
A fluorescent tube that emits ultraviolet light having a wavelength of 60 to 370 nm or a light emitting diode (LE having a peak wavelength of 370 nm)
D) is used. The phosphor contained in glass or resin is an inorganic phosphor, and emits red, blue, and green light when irradiated with ultraviolet light having a wavelength of 360 to 370 nm.

FIG. 2 shows an example of a sectional view of another embodiment of the present invention. The difference from FIG. 1 is that instead of the glass or resin 2 containing an inorganic phosphor, a glass or resin 5 having a coating layer containing an inorganic phosphor on the inside, or a glass or resin having a sheet containing an inorganic phosphor adhered thereto is used. 5 is used. In this case, the same result as that of FIG. 1 is obtained. FIG.
7 are diagrams each showing an arrangement example of the ultraviolet light source.
Each shows the arrangement of the ultraviolet light sources as viewed from above.
3 shows an example in which the ultraviolet light source is a circular black light fluorescent lamp 6, FIG. 4 shows an example in which the ultraviolet light source is a meandering black light fluorescent lamp 7, and FIG. 5 shows a number of linear black light fluorescent lamps 8 as the ultraviolet light source. This is an example of arrangement. The number of the black light fluorescent lamps 8 shown in FIG. 5 may be selected according to the size and shape of the display surface, but in some cases, one lamp is sufficient. By disposing the display surface in front of the lamps shown in FIGS. 3 to 5, uniform light emission on the display surface becomes possible. FIG. 6 shows an example in which a ball-shaped black light 9 is used as an ultraviolet light source. The ball-shaped black light includes a black-light fluorescent lamp meandering and pushed into a ball-shaped case, and a black-light mercury lamp. Since the ultraviolet rays diffuse around the ball-shaped black light 9, the display surface disposed on the front side can obtain uniform light emission. FIG. 7 shows an ultraviolet light emitting diode 10 (for example, InGaN / AlGa) as an ultraviolet light source.
N) is an example. Since the ultraviolet light emitting diode 10 can emit light at a point, the light emitting area or the light emitting location can be easily controlled depending on the arrangement. FIG. 8 is an external view using a bulb-type black light fluorescent lamp 23 as an ultraviolet light source. This lamp is obtained by bending a black light fluorescent lamp and developing it in a vertical direction, not in a planar direction as in the case of FIGS. Accordingly, since the ultraviolet rays are radiated radially toward the display surface arranged on the entire surface around the bulb-shaped black light fluorescent lamp 23, uniform light emission can be obtained.

FIG. 9 shows an example in which an inorganic phosphor is used for a traffic light for a vehicle. Green display surface 1 on traffic light 11 for vehicles
2, a yellow display surface 13 and a red display surface 14 are arranged.
The green display surface 12 contains an inorganic phosphor that emits green light when irradiated with ultraviolet light. The yellow display surface 13 contains an inorganic phosphor that emits green light and an inorganic phosphor that emits red light when irradiated with ultraviolet light. Red display surface 1
No. 4 independently contains an inorganic phosphor that emits red light when irradiated with ultraviolet light. When it is desired to slightly change the emission color visually on each display surface, it becomes possible by combining two or more kinds of inorganic phosphors for red emission, green emission, and blue emission. As a light source, an ultraviolet light source is disposed on the back side of each display surface, and when the ultraviolet light source is turned on, each display surface emits bright red, green, and noble colors. In this case, brightness equal to or higher than that of the case where the conventional incandescent lamp was used was obtained with about 1/3 to 1/5 of the electric energy, and an effect was also obtained in terms of energy saving.

FIG. 10 shows an example in which an inorganic phosphor is used for a pedestrian signal light. Green display surface 1 on pedestrian traffic light 15
6 and a red display surface 17, and an ultraviolet light source is provided on the back side of the green display surface 16 and the red display surface 17, respectively. The green display surface 16 includes the doll pattern 18 containing an inorganic phosphor that emits red light, an inorganic phosphor that emits green light, and an inorganic phosphor that emits blue light when irradiated with ultraviolet light, and appears to emit white light visually. And the background part 19
And an inorganic phosphor that emits green light when irradiated with ultraviolet light. Red display surface 17
Is composed of a doll pattern 20 having a configuration similar to that of the doll pattern 18 and a portion in which the background portion 21 contains an inorganic phosphor that emits red light when irradiated with ultraviolet light. When it is desired to slightly change the light emission color visually on each display surface, two inorganic phosphors that emit red light, green light, and blue light are used.
It becomes possible by mixing more than kinds.

FIG. 11 shows an example in which an inorganic phosphor is used for a traffic signal light for a railway (track). A green display surface 12, a yellow display surface 13, and a red display surface 14 are arranged on a railway traffic light 22. Each of the display surfaces has an inorganic phosphor that emits green when irradiated with ultraviolet light, an inorganic phosphor that emits red, and an inorganic phosphor that emits blue according to the display color, similarly to the traffic light for vehicles shown in FIG. Are constituted singly or in combination. In this case, the same effect as that of the traffic light for vehicles can be obtained.

In the vehicle traffic light, pedestrian traffic light and railway traffic light described above, a glass, resin or sheet on the display surface may be mixed with a coloring pigment or dye together with an inorganic phosphor, or may be mixed with an inorganic phosphor. By inserting a color filter in front of the display surface containing, it is possible to obtain a more subtle hue of light emission on the display surface. In addition, by using a white-based inorganic phosphor, the display surface is white when the signal light is not lit, and is colored in red, green, blue, yellow, white, etc. when lit. It is also possible to make it easy to identify whether the signal is on or off.

The same applies to lighthouses and other marine traffic signal lights and aviation traffic signal lights (guide lights).

[0013]

The present invention is embodied in the form described above, and has the following effects. (1) By using an ultraviolet light source instead of an incandescent light bulb, it is possible to reduce the power consumption from about 1/3 to about 1/5.

(2) By using an inorganic phosphor for the display surface, the luminance of red, blue-green, yellow and the like can be raised more than conventional signal lamps without increasing the amount of power used. Also, since the phosphor is an inorganic type, it has excellent weather resistance and light resistance. (3) When a white inorganic phosphor is used for the display surface, the display surface is white when the signal light is not turned on, and red, green, blue, and
It can be colored in each color such as yellow and white, and it is easy to identify whether the signal is on or off.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a sectional view of a traffic signal light according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view of another traffic signal light according to the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of the arrangement of ultraviolet light sources;

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an arrangement example of an ultraviolet light source.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an example of the arrangement of ultraviolet light sources.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an example of the arrangement of ultraviolet light sources.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing an arrangement example of an ultraviolet light source.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing an arrangement example of an ultraviolet light source.

FIG. 9 is a top view of a traffic light for a vehicle.

FIG. 10 is a top view of a pedestrian traffic light;

FIG. 11 is a top view of a railway traffic light.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Ultraviolet light source 2 ... Glass or resin containing inorganic phosphor 3 ... Box 4 ... Coating layer or sheet containing inorganic phosphor 5 ... Glass or resin 6 ... Circle-shaped black light Fluorescent lamp 7: meandering black light fluorescent lamp 8: linear black light fluorescent lamp 9: black light 10: ultraviolet light emitting diode 11: traffic light for vehicle 12: green display surface 13: yellow display surface 14: red display surface 15: pedestrian traffic light 16: green display surface 17: red display surface 18: doll pattern 19: background portion 20 ... Doll pattern 21 ... Background 22 ... Traffic traffic light 23 ... Bulb-shaped black light fluorescent lamp

────────────────────────────────────────────────── ───

[Procedure amendment]

[Submission date] August 24, 1998 (1998.8.2
4)

[Procedure amendment 3]

[Document name to be amended] Statement

[Correction target item name] 0008

[Correction method] Change

[Correction contents]

FIG. 9 shows an example in which an inorganic phosphor is used for a traffic light for a vehicle. Green display surface 1 on traffic light 11 for vehicles
2, a yellow display surface 13 and a red display surface 14 are arranged.
The green display surface 12 contains an inorganic phosphor that emits green light when irradiated with ultraviolet light. The yellow display surface 13 contains an inorganic phosphor that emits green light and an inorganic phosphor that emits red light when irradiated with ultraviolet light. Red display surface 1
No. 4 independently contains an inorganic phosphor that emits red light when irradiated with ultraviolet light. When it is desired to slightly change the emission color visually on each display surface, it becomes possible by combining two or more kinds of inorganic phosphors for red emission, green emission, and blue emission. The light source is arranged a UV light source, respectively on the back side of the display surface, when the ultraviolet light source is turned on, each of the display surface emit light brightly red, green, and yellow. In this case, brightness equal to or higher than that of the case where the conventional incandescent lamp was used was obtained with about 1/3 to 1/5 of the electric energy, and an effect was also obtained in terms of energy saving.

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continuing on the front page (72) Inventor Yutaka Wakabayashi 1-15 Kamigai 1-chome, Suginami-ku, Tokyo Inside Luminova Seiko Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Tomoki Akimoto 2-13-13 Hamamatsucho, Minato-ku, Tokyo No. Within Abe Denki Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Seiya Miyazaki 3F, K-Bldg., 7-28 Kioicho, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo F-term (in reference) 3K080 AA07 AA08 AA09 AA12 AA14 AB15 AB18 BA05 BA07 BE02 5H180 AA21 HH11 HH18

Claims (9)

[Claims] 1. A traffic signal light comprising an ultraviolet light source having a wavelength of 360 nm to 370 nm, and glass or resin containing an inorganic phosphor on the front surface thereof. 2. An ultraviolet light source having a wavelength of 360 to 370 nm, and a glass or resin having an inorganic phosphor coated on the front surface thereof, or a glass or resin having a sheet containing the inorganic phosphor bonded thereto. Traffic lights. 3. The inorganic phosphor of 360 nm to 370.
3. The traffic according to claim 1, wherein at least one of an inorganic phosphor that emits red light, an inorganic phosphor that emits green light, and an inorganic phosphor that emits blue light when irradiated with ultraviolet light having a wavelength of nm is used. Signal light. 4. A light source containing ultraviolet light having a wavelength of 360 nm to 370 nm, an ultraviolet light-emitting diode, an ultraviolet light-emitting fluorescent tube formed by a discharge developed in a plane, an ultraviolet light-emitting fluorescent tube formed by a discharge developed in a direction perpendicular to a display surface, or ultraviolet light mercury. The traffic light according to claim 1 or 2, wherein a lamp is used. 5. An inorganic phosphor which emits green light or blue light by irradiation of ultraviolet light having a wavelength of 360 nm to 370 nm alone, or an inorganic phosphor which emits red light, green light or blue light when the display section is irradiated with ultraviolet light having a wavelength of 360 nm to 370 nm. At least two types of inorganic phosphors that emit red, green, and blue light upon irradiation with ultraviolet light having a wavelength of 360 nm to 370 nm are mixed, and two or more types are mixed and visually observed to emit blue or green light. A portion that seems to emit yellow light, and an inorganic phosphor that emits red light by irradiation with ultraviolet light including a wavelength of 360 nm to 370 nm alone, or a mixture of two or more inorganic phosphors that emit red light, green light, and blue light, are visually observed. Vehicle traffic light, railway traffic light, ship composed of two or three parts of the part that looks red 3. The traffic light according to claim 1, wherein the traffic light is applied to a marine traffic light or an air traffic light. 6. A doll pattern that mixes inorganic phosphors that emit red, green, and blue light when irradiated with ultraviolet light having a wavelength of 360 nm to 370 nm, and that looks white visually.
Inorganic phosphors that emit green light by irradiation with ultraviolet light having a wavelength of 0 nm to 370 nm alone, inorganic phosphors that emit blue light alone, or a mixture of two or more of inorganic phosphors that emit red, green, and blue light, are visually mixed with blue or blue. A display having a background that appears to emit green light;
A doll pattern that is visually white when irradiated with ultraviolet light having a wavelength of 60 nm to 370 nm;
Display having an inorganic phosphor that emits red light by irradiation of ultraviolet light having a wavelength of nm alone or a mixture of two or more of inorganic phosphors that emit red, green, and blue light, and a background that appears to emit red light visually. The traffic signal light according to claim 1, wherein the traffic signal light is applied to a pedestrian signal light including a part. 7. The traffic light according to claim 1, wherein an inorganic phosphor having a white appearance is used. 8. A glass, resin or sheet containing a coloring pigment or coloring dye.
Or the traffic light according to 2. 9. The traffic light according to claim 1, wherein a color filter is inserted in front of the glass, resin or sheet containing the inorganic phosphor.