JP2004171803A - Surface light emitting device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To minimize the size of a surface light emitting device with respect to the size of an effective light emitting surface. <P>SOLUTION: This surface light emitting device is so structured that each rod-like lamp 5 is installed at an end edge of a transparent plate 4 along the end edge, and light of the lamp is emitted from the front surface of the transparent plate. Each lamp housing space 44 is formed by recessing an end face 43 of the transparent plate 4, and each rod-like lamp 5 is housed in the housing space 44. Since the rod-like lamps 5 are housed in the housing spaces 44 of the transparent plate 4, that is, the rod-like lamps 5 are stored in the range of a light emitting surface of the transparent plate, the entire surface light emitting device can be miniaturized with respect to the effective light emitting surface. The size of the surface light emitting device can be increased by installing a plurality of the transparent plates 4, 4 so as to bring the lamp-side end faces 43, 43 of the transparent plates 4, 4 adjacent to each other into contact with each other. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO

Description

[0001]
[Field of the Invention]
The present invention relates to an edge light type surface light emitting device used for a backlight of an illuminated signboard, a liquid crystal display panel, and the like.
[0002]
Problems to be solved by the prior art and the invention
As shown in FIG. 6, the edge light type surface light emitting device is provided with a rod-shaped lamp (5) on the end face side of a transparent plate (4) having a reflective layer (46) formed on the back surface along the end face, The light of the lamp is made incident from the end face of the transparent plate (4) and emitted from the front surface (41) of the transparent plate.
In the above-mentioned conventional surface light emitting device, a rod-shaped light (5) and a reflector (6) for concentrating light of the light (5) on an end face of the transparent plate (4) are attached outside the end face of the transparent plate (4). Therefore, the size of the apparatus is increased by the amount of the projection of the reflector (6) from the transparent plate (4).
[0003]
Also, a large-sized surface light-emitting device in which the surface light-emitting device is configured as one unit (3), a plurality of units (3), (3), (3) are arranged, and the unit rows are covered with a translucent plate (2). (Description of a conventional example of JP-A-2001-307530).
Although the reflector (6) of the unit (3) is a translucent body and can transmit a part of the light of the rod-shaped lamp (5), the light passing through the reflector (6) is transparent ( 4) It is darker than the light emitted from the light emitting surface. For this reason, from the outside of the translucent plate (2), the space between the adjacent units (3) and (3) becomes dark like a band, and unevenness occurs in the brightness of the translucent plate (2).
[0004]
Accordingly, the applicant of the present application has provided a rod-shaped prism (7) between the units (3) and (3), and has a brightness comparable to the light emitting surface of the transparent plate (4) between the units (3) and (3). (Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2001-307530).
In this case, there is a problem that the thickness of the surface light emitting device is increased by the prism (7) and the cost of the prism is increased.
The present invention is to clarify a surface light emitting device that can solve the above problem.
[0005]
[Patent Document 1]
JP 2001-307530 A
[Means to solve the problem]
In the surface light emitting device of the present invention, the end surface (43) of the transparent plate (4) is recessed to form a lamp accommodating space (44), and the rod-shaped lamp (5) is accommodated in the lamp accommodating space (44). .
A plurality of transparent plates (4) and (4) are arranged side by side so that the lamp-side end surfaces (43) and (43) of the adjacent transparent plates (4) and (4) abut each other to constitute a large surface emitting device. it can.
[0007]
[Action and effect]
Since the rod-shaped lamp (5) is accommodated in the lamp accommodating space (44) at the end of the transparent plate (4), that is, since the rod-shaped lamp (5) is accommodated within the range of the light emitting surface of the transparent plate, The surface emitting device can be downsized.
When the plurality of transparent plates (4) and (4) are arranged side by side so that the lamp-side end surfaces (43) and (43) of the adjacent transparent plates (4) and (4) abut, and the surface emitting device is enlarged. However, the light of the rod-shaped lamp (5) always passes through the thickness of the transparent plate, and bends when entering and exiting the thickness, causing the plate surfaces of the transparent plates (4) and (4) to have very uneven spots. It can be brightened to no condition.
Even when a plurality of transparent plates are arranged, no prism is required as in the related art, so that the cost of the prism is unnecessary, and the prism does not increase the thickness of the surface light emitting device.
[0008]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
FIG. 1 shows a state in which the present invention is applied to a backlight of an illuminated signboard. A plurality of surface light-emitting units (3), (3), and (3) are provided in a rectangular frame (1) in substantially the same plane. Are arranged side by side and the end faces are aligned.
[0009]
As shown in FIG. 2, one surface of the frame body (1) is closed by a bottom plate (11), the other surface is open, and a translucent plate (2) is fitted into the opening.
The translucent plate (2) hides the surface light-emitting unit (3) from the outside, and diffusely reflects light from the surface light-emitting unit (3) and emits the light to the outside. The translucent plate (2) can be, for example, a milky white synthetic resin plate having fine irregularities (matte finish) on the back surface.
[0010]
Each surface light-emitting unit (3) forms a lamp housing space (44) over the entire length on both end surfaces (43) (43) along the longitudinal direction of the rectangular transparent plate (4), and the lamp housing space (44). 44), a rod-shaped lamp (5) with a reflector (6) is provided.
The transparent plate (4) is made of acrylic resin in terms of weight reduction and transparency.
In the following description, the front surface (41) of the transparent plate (4) is the surface on the light emission side, that is, the surface on the translucent plate (2) side, and the rear surface (42) is the bottom plate (11) side. In terms of
[0011]
The lamp accommodating space (44) of the transparent plate (4) is formed across the end surface (43) and the back surface (42) over the entire length of the plate, and its cross section orthogonal to the longitudinal direction is curved in an arc shape and depressed. In.
The end surface (43) of the transparent plate (4) and the surface of the lamp housing space (44) are mirror-finished.
On the back surface (42) of the transparent plate (4), as is well-known, gradation printing by a dot pattern or, as shown in FIG. 4, a fine groove row (45) whose groove depth and groove width gradually vary by laser or the like. The light reflecting layer (46) is formed so as to extend in parallel with the longitudinal direction of the transparent plate, and further by sticking a light reflecting sheet, applying a reflective paint, and the like.
As is well known, the dot distribution of the gradation printing is changed according to the distance from the rod-shaped lamp (5), or the groove pitch of the groove row (45) is changed, and the height of the groove is gradually changed as necessary. As a result, the light incident from the end face of the transparent plate (4) from the rod-shaped lamp (5) is irregularly reflected on the back surface (42), and the entire front surface (41) of the transparent plate (4) has substantially uniform brightness. It can be emitted as follows.
[0012]
The rod-shaped lamp (5) has a length approximately equal to the length of the end face of the transparent plate (4), and is surrounded by the reflector (6).
The reflector (6) is arranged such that the back plate (61) along the back surface (42) of the transparent plate (4) and the side plate (62) along the end surface (43) of the transparent plate (4) are curved and intersect. Both ends of the lamp peripheral surface surrounding body (60) which are formed continuously are closed by end plates (64), (64).
The lamp peripheral surface enclosure (60) is formed of a translucent resin, and has a reflective layer (65) formed on its inner surface by sticking a reflective film, applying a reflective paint, or the like.
Even when the end plate (64) is formed of a translucent resin, a reflective layer is formed on the inner surface of the end plate (64).
[0013]
A semi-light-shielding plate (66) is integrally protruded from a front edge of the side plate (62) of the lamp peripheral surface surrounding body (60), and the semi-light-shielding plate (66) extends over the entire length of the side plate (62). The transparent plate (4) extends inward along the curve of the lamp housing space (44).
[0014]
The rod-shaped lamp (5) is attached to the end plates (64) (64) of the reflector (6) with both ends supported.
The semi-light-shielding plate (66) of the reflector (6) transmits light of the rod-shaped lamp (5) to a portion of the end surface (43) of the transparent plate (4) whose thickness is reduced by the lamp housing space (44). It plays a role in suppressing the amount of transmission and adjusting so as not to become too bright.
If necessary, fine irregularities are formed on the surface of the lamp housing space (44) hidden by the semi-light-shielding plate (66) so that light is dispersed by diffuse reflection to transmit the thickness of the transparent plate (4). You can.
[0015]
The reflector (6) is provided on the transparent plate 4 so that the lamp peripheral surface surrounding body (60) is located on or inside a plane including the end face (43) of the transparent plate (4) and does not protrude outside the plane. It is attached.
[0016]
In the surface light emitting unit (3), the end faces (43) and (43) of the transparent plates (4) and (4) of the adjacent units (3) and (3) abut each other, and the front faces (41) and (41) have faces. Inverters required for the configuration of the surface light emitting device are arranged in the frame (1) so as to be arranged in a space (13) between the bottom plate (11) of the frame (1) and the surface light emitting unit (3). (Not shown) and the like.
[0017]
By bonding the butted portions of the end surfaces (43) and (43) of the transparent plates (4) and (4) with a transparent adhesive, a gap is prevented from being formed between the adjacent surface light emitting units (3) and (3). No special measures need to be taken.
[0018]
However, since the rod-shaped lamp (5) is accommodated in the lamp accommodating space (44) at the end of the transparent plate (4), that is, the rod-shaped lamp (5) is accommodated within the range of the light emitting surface of the transparent plate. Therefore, the surface emitting device can be downsized as a whole with respect to the effective light emitting surface of the transparent plate.
[0019]
The light of the rod-shaped lamp (5) is directly or reflected by the reflector (6), and then enters the transparent plate (4) from the arc-shaped surface of the lamp housing space (44) to the thickness of the transparent plate (4). After diffuse reflection inside, the light is emitted from the front surface (41) of the transparent plate (4) and illuminates the translucent plate (2) from the back surface.
Part of the light traveling toward the semi-light-shielding plate (66) of the reflector (6) is reflected, partly passes through, passes through the thickness of the transparent plate (4), and exits from the front (41).
[0020]
The lamp accommodating space (44) of the transparent plate (4) in which the rod-shaped lamp (5) is accommodated is curved in an arc shape, so that the lamp accommodating space (44) is cut off at multiple angles in cross section. Can be prevented from shining linearly brighter than other portions.
In addition, the arc-shaped lamp housing space (44) can be easily formed by cutting with a rotary cutter, and mirror finishing can be easily performed by buffing.
[0021]
In the embodiment, since there is no protrusion like a conventional prism on the front side of the surface light emitting units (3) and (3), the translucent plate (3) can be put close to the surface light emitting unit (3). As a result, the surface emitting device can be made thinner.
[0022]
Of course, one light emitting unit (3) can be housed in a frame having a size corresponding to the light emitting unit (3) and used as a small surface light emitting device.
[0023]
The description of the above embodiments is intended to explain the present invention, and should not be construed as limiting the invention described in the claims or reducing the scope thereof. Further, the configuration of each part of the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and it is needless to say that various modifications can be made within the technical scope described in the claims.
[0024]
For example, a lamp accommodating space (44) is formed only on one end face of one set of opposing end faces of the transparent plate (4) to accommodate the rod-shaped lamp (5), that is, one rod-shaped lamp. Surface light emission can also be performed by the lamp (5).
[0025]
As shown in FIG. 5, a plurality of transparent plates (4) and (4) are arranged side by side so that their end faces abut each other, and the end faces (43) of each transparent plate (4) are recessed to form an adjacent transparent plate. It is also possible to form a lamp accommodating space (44) straddling the plates (4) and (4), and to dispose a rod-shaped lamp (5) in the lamp accommodating space (44). In FIG. 5, reference numeral (6a) denotes a plate-shaped opaque reflector, and (66a) denotes a semi-shielding plate along the curved surface of the lamp housing space (44). The function of the semi-light shield (66) is the same as that of the semi-light shield (66) in FIG.
Even in this case, since the rod-shaped lamp (5) is accommodated in the light emitting surface of the abutted transparent plates (4) and (4), the surface light emitting device can be downsized for the size of the emitting surface. .
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a front view showing an arrangement state of a plurality of surface light emitting units.
FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken along the line AA of FIG. 1;
FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a reflector.
FIG. 4 is an enlarged sectional view of a lamp mounting portion.
FIG. 5 is a sectional view of another embodiment.
FIG. 6 is a sectional view of a conventional example.
[Explanation of symbols]
(2) Translucent plate (3) Surface emitting unit (4) Transparent plate (44) Lamp accommodating space (5) Rod lamp (6) Reflector

Claims (6)

A bar-shaped lamp (5) is provided along the edge of the transparent plate (4) and emits light of the lamp from the front of the transparent plate. 43) A surface light emitting device in which a lamp housing space (44) is formed by recessing 43), and a rod-shaped lamp (5) is housed in the lamp housing space (44). 2. The device according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of transparent plates are arranged side by side so that the lamp-side end surfaces of the adjacent transparent plates abut each other. 3. Surface emitting device. 3. The surface light emitting device according to claim 1, wherein the rod-shaped lamp (5) is covered with a reflector (6) so as not to protrude outside a surface including the lamp-side end surface (43) of the transparent plate (4). apparatus. The surface emitting device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the lamp accommodating space (44) straddles a lamp-side end surface (43) and a back surface (42) of the transparent plate (4). The surface light emitting device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the lamp housing space (44) has a concave shape with a curved cross section orthogonal to the longitudinal direction. A bar-shaped lamp (5) is provided along the edge of the transparent plate (4) and emits light from the lamp from the front (41) of the transparent plate (4). The transparent plates (4) and (4) are arranged side by side so that their end faces abut each other, and the end faces (43) of each transparent plate (4) are depressed so as to straddle the adjacent transparent plates (4) and (4). A surface-emitting device in which a housing space (44) is formed and a rod-shaped lamp (5) is provided in the lamp housing space (44).

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