JP2005301157A - Planar illuminant - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a planar illuminant excellent in visibility. <P>SOLUTION: The planar illuminant 1 of this invention includes a light transmission plate part 3, a surface part 2, a light source part 4, and a base part 5, and the light transmission plate part 3 has a light emitting surface part 3c spreading in the direction crossing the surface. The planar illuminant of this invention is made excellent in visibility by letting the light emitting surface part of the light transmission plate emit light. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a planar light emitter, and more particularly to a planar light emitter capable of displaying a design shape such as a desired character or graphic.

  Various ornaments such as emblems and nameplates are given to vehicles. In recent years, in order to improve the appearance of the vehicle, the ornament itself emits light.

  An ornament that emits light is disclosed in Patent Document 1, for example. Patent Document 1 includes a light guide plate, a cover on the surface of the light guide plate, a cover having a light transmission hole of a desired shape, and a light reflecting layer formed on the back surface of the light guide plate, An automobile illumination plate is disclosed in which the light reflection layer includes a light reflection layer that covers a region where the light transmission hole is projected onto the back surface and is slightly wider than the region.

  In the illumination plate described in Patent Document 1, light is emitted to the side surface of the light guide plate to cause the light guide plate to emit light, and light having a desired design shape is emitted in the shape of the light transmission hole.

  However, in the illumination plate described in Patent Document 1, the light emitted to the side surface of the light guide plate is light from a directional light source such as an LED, and the amount of light emitted from the optical axis portion and the portion off the optical axis is reduced. There was a problem of unevenness. In addition, since the light transmitted through the light guide plate travels along the light guide plate, the ratio of the irradiated light passing through the light transmission hole provided on the surface of the light guide plate is limited, and a desired light emission amount can be obtained. In order to obtain it, it was necessary to increase the amount of light irradiated to the light guide plate, which caused an increase in cost.

Furthermore, when such an illumination plate is applied to an emblem of a vehicle, it is difficult to emit light on the entire surface of the emblem depending on the outer peripheral shape of the emblem. Specifically, when the outer periphery of the illumination plate is made coincident with the outer periphery of the emblem, the light emitting surface is smaller than the outer periphery of the illumination plate, and therefore a portion where light does not hit the emblem during light emission occurs. In order to solve this problem, if the light emitting surface of the illumination plate is made larger than the light emitting surface of the emblem, the illumination plate becomes excessively larger than the emblem and not only a great loss of light emitted from the illumination plate occurs. There has been a problem of deteriorating the appearance of the vehicle.
JP 2001-163117 A

  This invention is made | formed in view of the said actual condition, and makes it a subject to provide the planar light-emitting body excellent in visibility.

  In order to solve the above problems, the present inventor has studied the light emission form of the planar light emitter, and as a result, found that the above problems can be solved by forming a light emitting surface extending in a direction intersecting the surface on the light guide plate. .

  That is, the planar light-emitting body of the present invention includes a plate-shaped light guide plate that transmits light irradiated to the side surface, a transmission portion that is disposed on the surface of the light guide plate and transmits light, and a non-light-transmitting light. A surface portion having a transmissive portion, a light source portion that emits light irradiated on the light guide plate, and a light source plate, the surface portion, and the light source portion are held and fixed integrally. The light guide plate has a light emitting surface portion that spreads in a direction intersecting the surface of the light emitting plate.

  In the planar light emitter of the present invention, the light emitting surface portion of the light guide plate emits light. That is, light can be emitted with a sufficient amount of light. And the visibility of the design shape at the time of light emission improves significantly by arrange | positioning a light emission surface part along a desired design shape. As a result, the planar light emitter of the present invention is a planar light emitter excellent in visibility.

  The planar light-emitting body of the present invention includes a light guide plate, a surface portion, a light source portion, and a base portion.

  The light guide plate is a plate-like member that transmits the light applied to the side surface. The light irradiated on the side surface passes through the light guide plate, and the light exits from the surface to the outside of the planar light emitter. Thereby, the planar light-emitting body of this invention is irradiated with light outside. The light guide plate can be formed of a material used for the light guide plate in the conventional planar light emitter. For example, glass, acrylic resin, polycarbonate (PC), and the like can be given.

  The surface portion is a member that is disposed on the surface of the light guide plate and includes a transmissive portion that transmits light and a non-transmissive portion that does not transmit light. Since the surface portion includes the transmissive portion and the non-transmissive portion, light is transmitted only through the transmissive portion. A surface part is a member which forms the design of the planar light-emitting body of this invention, and a design surface is formed with the shape of a permeation | transmission part and a non-transmission part.

  The light source unit is a member that is provided at a position facing the side surface of the light guide plate and emits light irradiated on the light guide plate. By having a light source part, the planar light-emitting body of this invention can light-emit. Moreover, it is preferable that a light source part is provided in the position corresponding to the non-transmissive part of a surface part. By providing the light source part at a position corresponding to the non-transmissive part, light emitted from the light source part does not pass through the surface part without passing through the light guide plate. In addition, since direct light from the light source unit does not strike the surface part, unevenness does not occur in the light transmitted through the transmission part of the surface part. Furthermore, the light source part cannot be visually recognized from the outside, and the appearance of the planar light emitter of the present invention is improved.

  The base part integrally holds and fixes the light guide plate, the surface part, and the light source part. When the base portion integrally holds and fixes the light guide plate, the surface portion, and the light source portion, the respective members are not displaced, and light emission unevenness does not occur.

  The planar light emitter of the present invention has a light emitting surface portion that spreads in a direction in which the light guide plate intersects the surface thereof. The light emitting surface portion is composed of an interface provided in the light guide plate, and changes the traveling direction of light transmitted through the interface. Since the light guide plate has the light emitting surface portion in the thickness direction, the traveling direction of the light passing through the light guide plate changes in the surface direction at the light emitting surface portion. As a result, the planar light emitter of the present invention emits light at the light emitting surface portion.

  The light emission surface part should just spread in the direction which cross | intersects with respect to the surface of a light-guide plate, and it does not specifically limit about the angle of the surface to spread and the surface of a light-guide plate. Preferably, the surface where the light emitting surface portion spreads and the surface of the light guide plate are at an angle of 30 to 40 °.

  The light emitting surface portion is preferably composed of an interface where members having different refractive indexes are in contact with each other. When light passes through an interface between two materials having different refractive indexes, the traveling direction of the light changes due to the difference in refractive index between the two materials. In the planar light emitter of the present invention, the light emitting surface portion is made of an interface of members having different refractive indexes, so that the light traveling inside the light guide plate is the light emitting surface portion (interface) and the traveling direction thereof is the surface direction of the light guide plate. Can be changed. That is, the light emitting surface portion emits light. And the light from which the advancing direction was changed is visually recognized as light emission of a planar light-emitting body through a surface part.

  The light emitting surface portion is formed by an interface between two materials having different refractive indexes. One of the materials is preferably a material of a portion irradiated with light from the light source unit. That is, by using the material of the portion irradiated with the light from the light source unit, the light irradiated on the light emitting surface unit is sufficiently transmitted without causing scattering. One material is not particularly local as long as it can transmit light. For example, materials such as resin and glass can be used. A resin is preferable, and an acrylic resin is more preferable.

  The other of the two materials having different refractive indexes is not particularly limited as long as it is a material capable of causing a difference in refractive index through the light emitting surface portion. For example, a gas such as resin or glass that transmits light, or air can be used.

  The light emitting surface portion is preferably composed of a side wall surface of a recess provided on the front surface and / or the back surface of the light guide plate. The side wall surface of the recess extends in a direction intersecting the surface of the light guide plate. That is, the side wall surface of the recess provided in the light guide plate forms the light emitting surface portion. When the side wall surface of the concave portion forms the light emitting surface portion, the light emitting surface portion emits light due to the difference in refractive index between the material forming the light guide plate and air.

  The cross-sectional shape of the recess is not particularly limited. In other words, any cross-sectional shape that can form a side wall surface serving as a light emitting surface portion may be used. Here, the width (depth from the surface) of the side wall surface of the recess is preferably longer. That is, as the depth of the concave portion is increased, the light transmitted through the light guide plate is transmitted through the light emitting surface portion, and the amount of light traveling in the surface direction of the planar light emitter increases, and the light emission effect of the planar light emitter is increased. improves. In addition, as long as a recessed part is a cross-sectional shape which has a side wall surface used as a light emission surface part, even if it has a bottom face part, it does not need to have a bottom face part. Further, the side wall surface is not necessarily linear. That is, it may be curved. That is, the cross-sectional shape of the concave portion may be any of a concave shape, a U shape, and a V shape.

  It is preferable that the side surface of the light guide plate has a side surface reflection portion that reflects light to the light guide plate at a portion that is not irradiated with light emitted from the light source portion. By having the side reflecting portion, the light that is transmitted through the light guide plate and radiates outside from the side surface is reflected again inside the light guide plate by the side reflecting portion. Then, light again travels inside the light guide plate and emits light at the light emitting surface portion. As a result, the amount of light traveling inside the light guide plate increases, and the amount of light emitted from the light emitting surface increases. In addition, light is transmitted to the light emitting surface portion from various directions, and light emission unevenness does not occur. The reflecting portion is not particularly limited even if it is formed integrally with the light guide plate or separate.

  The back surface of the light guide plate preferably has a back surface reflection layer portion that reflects light to the light guide plate. By having the back surface reflection layer portion on the back surface of the light guide plate, the light traveling in the back surface direction of the light guide plate is again irradiated to the light guide plate. Moreover, when the planar light-emitting body of the present invention is not emitting light, the appearance when the light guide plate is viewed from the transmission part of the surface part is improved. The back reflective layer portion is not particularly limited, even if it is formed integrally with the light guide plate or separate.

  The surface portion is preferably held in a state spaced from the light guide plate. By separating the light guide plate and the surface portion from each other, the design shown by the planar light emitter of the present invention has a three-dimensional effect. In particular, when the planar light-emitting body of the present invention is not emitting light, the appearance when the light guide plate is viewed from the transmission part of the surface part is improved.

  It is preferable that the surface portion has a surface reflection layer portion that reflects light to the light guide material on a surface facing the light guide material of the non-transmissive portion. By having the surface reflection layer portion, the light impinging on the non-transmission portion of the surface portion is again irradiated to the light guide plate. Further, since the non-transmissive portion reflects light, the light does not pass through the non-transmissive portion more, and the difference in brightness between the transmissive portion and the non-transmissive portion increases when light is emitted. That is, the display effect of the design formed by the non-transmissive part and the transmissive part is increased. It is preferable that the surface reflection layer portion is integrally formed on the back surface of the surface portion.

  The light source unit preferably includes a plurality of light sources arranged with different optical axes. Since the light source unit includes a plurality of light sources having different optical axes, it is possible to allow light to pass through a wider range of the light guide plate. That is, it becomes possible to irradiate the light emitting surface portion without causing unevenness. The light source is not particularly limited as long as it can emit light. For example, a light bulb, a light emitting diode (LED), and the like can be given. It is more preferable to use an LED for the light source unit.

  The light emitting surface portion is preferably provided at a position corresponding to the boundary between the transmitting portion and the non-transmitting portion of the surface portion. Here, the position corresponding to the boundary between the transmitting part and the non-transmitting part provided on the light emitting surface part is a position where the light emitted from the light emitting surface part passes through this boundary. That is, when the light emitting surface portion is provided at a position corresponding to the boundary between the transmissive portion and the non-transmissive portion, the boundary portion between the transmissive portion and the non-transmissive portion is shined strongly at the time of light emission. Appearance improves.

  The light guide plate is preferably made of a material having different characteristics in the thickness direction. When the light guide plate is made of a material having different characteristics in the thickness direction, the light emission on the light emitting surface portion is partially different, and the appearance of the planar light emitter of the present invention during light emission is improved. The material having different characteristics in the thickness direction of the light guide plate may be either a characteristic with respect to transmitted light or a material. For example, a light guide plate colored in a different color in the thickness direction can be given. Such a light guide plate can be manufactured, for example, by two-color molding of acrylic resin.

  Hereinafter, the present invention will be described using examples.

  An ornament was produced as an example of the planar light emitter of the present invention.

(Example 1)
The ornament 1 of the present embodiment has an elliptical light emitting part. The ornament 1 of the present embodiment is shown in FIGS. FIG. 1 is a front view of the ornament 1 of the present embodiment, and FIG. 2 is a front view of the ornament 1 with the surface portion 2 removed. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line II of FIG.

  The ornament 1 of the present embodiment has a surface portion 2, a light guide plate 3, a light source portion 4, and a case 5.

  The surface portion 2 is a member that forms the surface of the light emitting portion of the ornament 1 and forms the design surface of the ornament 1. The surface portion 2 has a curved shape with a central portion protruding in the surface direction, and the outer peripheral shape is formed in a substantially dome shape having a substantially elliptical shape. The surface portion 2 is made of a transparent acrylic resin that can transmit light.

  The surface portion 2 is formed with a transmissive portion 2A that transmits light and a non-transmissive portion 2B that does not transmit light. The non-transmissive portion 2B was formed by applying a coating that does not transmit light to the surface 2a of the surface portion 2. In other words, the acrylic resin is exposed in the portion of the surface portion 2 where the paint is not applied to the surface 2a, and light can be transmitted.

  A surface reflecting layer 21 that reflects light is formed by vapor deposition at a position corresponding to the non-transmissive portion 2B of the back surface 2b of the front surface portion 2.

  In the ornament 1 of the present embodiment, a transmissive portion 2A and a non-transmissive portion 2B are formed by a paint applied to the surface 2a of the surface portion 2. In the present embodiment, a design surface having a shape in which two triangles are rotated by 180 ° in the major axis direction of the ellipse is formed by the transmissive portion 2A and the non-transmissive portion 2B.

  The light guide plate 3 is made of a transparent acrylic plate having a substantially elliptical shape with a part missing. The light guide plate 3 has a recess 30 in which the position corresponding to the transmission portion 2A of the surface portion 2 is recessed. The recess 30 is formed in a state in which the outer peripheral shape of the opening corresponds to the outer periphery of the transmission part 2A. The side wall surface 3 c that defines the recess 30 is formed in an inclined state with respect to the surface 3 a of the light guide plate 3. Further, the bottom surface 3d that defines the recess 30 is formed in parallel with the surface 3a.

  On the back surface 3b of the light guide plate 3, a back surface reflection layer 31 that reflects light is formed by vapor deposition. Further, a side reflection layer 32 that reflects light is also formed by vapor deposition on the side surface 3e that defines the outer peripheral surface of the light guide plate 3 where the oval defect is not generated.

  The light source unit 4 includes two light emitting diodes 40, 40 disposed to face a portion where the outer periphery of the ellipse of the light guide plate 3 is missing. The two light emitting diodes 40, 40 are arranged in a state where the optical axes do not coincide with each other. The two light emitting diodes 40, 40 are electrically connected to a power source (not shown) provided outside the ornament, and emit light by power from the power source. The light emitted from the light emitting diodes 40, 40 is irradiated to a portion where the outer periphery of the ellipse of the light guide plate 3 is missing.

  The case 5 holds and fixes the surface portion 2, the light guide plate 3, and the light source portion 4. The case 5 has a holding part 50 having a concave cross section, and holds the light guide plate 3 and the light emitting diodes 40, 40 inside the holding part 50. Further, the surface portion 2 is hermetically joined and fixed to the opening of the holding portion 50.

  Hereinafter, description will be given of light emission of the ornament 1 of the present embodiment.

  First, in the ornament 1 of this embodiment, when the light emitting diodes 40 and 40 are energized, the light emitting diodes 40 and 40 emit light. The light emitted from the light emitting diodes 40 and 40 is applied to the side surface of the portion where the outer periphery of the ellipse of the light guide plate 3 is missing. The light applied to the side surface of the portion where the outer periphery of the ellipse of the light guide plate 3 is lost travels inside the light guide plate 3.

  The light traveling inside the light guide plate 3 reaches the side wall surface 3 c of the recess 30 of the light guide plate 3. The light that has reached the side wall surface 3 c passes through the side wall surface 3 c and exits to the outside of the light guide plate 3 (inside the recess 30). At this time, the light transmitted through the side wall surface 3c proceeds in the direction of the surface of the ornament 1 due to the difference in refractive index between the acrylic resin forming the light guide plate 3 and the outside air and the inclination of the side wall surface 3c. Yes.

  And the light which permeate | transmitted the light-guide plate 3 is irradiated to the back surface 2b of the surface part 2, and permeate | transmits the permeation | transmission part 2A. At this time, among the light irradiated on the back surface 2b of the front surface portion 2, the light irradiated on the portion corresponding to the non-transmissive portion 2B is reflected by the surface reflection layer 21, and irradiates the surface of the light guide plate 3. Become.

  Of the light traveling inside the light guide plate 3, the light scattered inside the light guide plate 3 and traveling toward the back surface is reflected by the back surface reflection layer 31 on the back surface 3 b of the light guide plate 3, and is directed toward the surface of the light guide plate 3. It will come to go.

  Of the light traveling inside the light guide plate 3, the light scattered inside the light guide plate 3 and traveling in the surface direction is transmitted from the surface of the light guide plate 3, irradiated to the back surface 2 b of the front surface portion 2, and the transmission portion 2 </ b> A. Transparent. At this time, among the light irradiated on the back surface 2b of the front surface portion 2, the light irradiated on the portion corresponding to the non-transmissive portion 2B is reflected by the surface reflection layer 21, and irradiates the surface of the light guide plate 3. Become.

  Further, the light that travels inside the light guide plate 3 and reaches the side surface 3e of the light guide plate 3 is reflected by the side surface reflection layer 32 and travels inside the light guide plate 3 again.

  As described above, in the ornament 1 of the present embodiment, the light emitted from the light emitting diodes 40 and 40 and not transmitted through the transmissive portion 2A of the surface portion 2 is irradiated to the light guide plate 3 again. Then, the light travels inside the light guide plate 3, reaches the side wall surface 3 c of the concave portion 30, and emits light to the outside of the ornament 1 through the transmission portion 2 </ b> A.

  That is, in the ornament 1 of the present embodiment, the light transmitted through the side wall surface 3c of the recess 30 is emitted from the transmitting portion 2A to the outside of the ornament 1. That is, the side wall surface 3c is a light emitting surface. In the ornament 1 of the present embodiment, the amount of light transmitted through the transmissive portion 2A is increased because the light emitting surface is widened. In addition, since a large amount of light is transmitted near the boundary between the transmissive portion 2A and the non-transmissive portion 2B, the design shape formed by the transmissive portion 2A and the non-transmissive portion 2B is clearer. Furthermore, in the ornament 1 of the present embodiment, the design has a three-dimensional effect because a gap exists between the light guide plate 3 and the surface portion 2. That is, the appearance is improved.

  In the ornament 1 of the present embodiment, even when the light emitting diodes 40 and 40 are not emitting light, external light such as sunlight is transmitted through the transmissive part 2A and the light guide plate 3 and reflected by the back surface reflection layer 31. The light reflected by the back surface reflection layer 31 is again transmitted through the light guide plate 3 and the transmission part 2A. That is, the ornament 1 of the present embodiment is improved in appearance when the light guide plate 3 has the back surface reflection layer 31 and is not emitting light.

  In addition, the ornament 1 of the present embodiment has a configuration in which members required for light emission are accommodated in the case 5 and has a compact structure. That is, the overall appearance of the ornament 1 of this embodiment is improved.

(Example 2)
The ornament of the present embodiment is the same as that of the first embodiment except that the light guide plate is different.

  The light guide plate 6 of the ornament of the present embodiment has the cross section shown in FIG. The light guide plate 6 is made of acrylic resins 60 and 61 colored in two different colors in the thickness direction. The light guide plate 6 was manufactured by molding two types of resins using two-color molding. Also in the ornamental light guide plate 6 of the present embodiment, a back surface reflection layer and a side surface reflection layer (both not shown) are provided in the same manner as the light guide plate 3 of the first embodiment.

  In the ornament of this embodiment, the light emitted from the side wall surface 6 c of the recess 62 of the light guide plate 6 has a different color depending on the thickness direction of the light guide plate 6. Specifically, the light transmitted through the acrylic resin 60 on the front surface side of the light guide plate 6 is colored in the color of the acrylic resin 60 on the front surface side, and the light transmitted through the acrylic resin 61 on the back surface side of the light guide plate 6 is The side acrylic resin 61 is colored. And the light which permeate | transmitted each acrylic resin 60 and 61 and colored comes out outside from the permeation | transmission part of a surface part. That is, light colored in a different color can be visually recognized from the transmission part. As a result, the appearance of the design is improved.

(Example 3)
The ornament of the present embodiment is the same as that of the first embodiment except that the light guide plate is different.

  The ornamental light guide plate 7 of this embodiment has the cross section shown in FIG. The light guide plate 7 has a structure in which an acrylic resin having a characteristic different from that of the acrylic resin constituting the light guide plate 3 is disposed inside the recess 30 of the light guide plate 3 of the first embodiment and on the surface 3a. In the light guide plate 7 of the present embodiment, after forming the light guide plate base portion 70 in the same manner as the light guide plate 3 of the first embodiment, an acrylic resin is newly disposed on the surface to form the light guide plate surface portion 71. manufactured. Also in the light guide plate 7 of the ornament of the present embodiment, a back surface reflection layer and a side surface reflection layer (both not shown) are provided in the same manner as the light guide plate 3 of the first embodiment.

  Also in the ornament of the present embodiment, light is emitted in the same manner as the ornament of the first embodiment. That is, the ornament of the present embodiment can exhibit the same effects as the ornament of the first embodiment.

1 is a front view of an ornament of Example 1. FIG. 3 is an exploded view of the ornament of Example 1. FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of an ornament of Example 1. FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of a light guide plate used in an ornament of Example 2. FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of a light guide plate used in an ornament of Example 3. FIG.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Ornament 2 ... Surface part 21 ... Surface reflection layer 2A ... Transmission part 2B ... Non-transmission part 3, 6, 7 ... Light guide plate 30 ... Recessed part 31 ... Back surface reflection layer 32 ... Side surface reflection layer 4 ... Light source part 40 ... Light emitting diode 5 ... Case 60, 61 ... Acrylic resin 62 ... Recess 70 ... Light guide plate base 71 ... Light guide plate surface portion

Claims (3)

A plate-shaped light guide plate that transmits the light irradiated to the side surface;
A surface portion disposed on the surface of the light guide plate and having a transmissive portion that transmits light and a non-transmissive portion that does not transmit light;
A light source unit that is provided at a position facing the side surface of the light guide plate and emits light to be applied to the light guide plate;
A base for integrally holding and fixing the light guide plate, the surface portion and the light source portion;
A planar light emitter having
The planar light-emitting body, wherein the light guide plate has a light-emitting surface portion that extends in a direction intersecting the surface of the light-guide plate.   The planar light-emitting body according to claim 1, wherein the light-emitting surface portion includes an interface where members having different refractive indexes are in contact with each other. The planar light-emitting body according to claim 1, wherein the light-emitting surface portion includes a side wall surface of a concave portion provided on a front surface and / or a back surface of the light guide plate.

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