JP2010198824A - Light guide device and air conditioning related equipment - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a light guide device and air conditioning related equipment capable of uniformly irradiating ultraviolet rays to the whole object and restraining enlargement and a calorific value of the object. <P>SOLUTION: The light guide device includes a plurality of inexpensive LEDs 10 with long life built in a case of an air conditioner, and a light guide plate 20 built in the case of the air conditioner and emitting ultraviolet rays incident to a peripheral surface from the plurality of LEDs 10 to a filter of the air conditioner through the surface by guiding the ultraviolet rays in the X and Y directions. A plurality of light diffusion sections 21 for diffusing the ultraviolet rays are formed on a back face of the light guide plate 20. Surface light-emission on the surface of the light guide plate 20 is performed by the plurality of light diffusion sections 21, and it is not necessary to have numerous light sources built in the case of the air conditioner, and numerous LEDs 10 built in the filter at suitable intervals since the ultraviolet rays are irradiated in the whole filter. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a light guide device and air conditioning-related equipment used for sterilization, pet breeding, observation of an observation target, and the like.

  Ultraviolet rays have various actions, one of which is a bactericidal action. Focusing on this sterilization effect, when UV light is used in air-conditioning equipment such as an air conditioner to sterilize its filter, etc., although not shown, a light source is built in the casing of the air conditioner and UV light is emitted from this light source to the filter. A direct irradiation method has been studied (see Patent Documents 1 and 2).

JP 2008-52940 A Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2003-180808

  However, in the case of a method in which a light source is simply built in the casing of an air conditioner, unless a large number of light sources are built in at an appropriate distance from the filter, the entire filter cannot be irradiated with ultraviolet rays. In order to secure the distance, there is a problem that the casing of the air conditioner becomes large. Also, depending on the type of light source, the amount of heat generated is large, so it is expected that it is not suitable for use.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above, and provides a light guide device and an air-conditioning related apparatus that can uniformly irradiate ultraviolet rays to the entire object and that can suppress the increase in size and heat generation of the object. The purpose is to do.

  In order to solve the above-mentioned problems in the present invention, an LED and a light transmissive light guide plate that guides ultraviolet rays incident on the peripheral surface from the LED in the XY directions and emits the light from at least one of the front and back surfaces. And a plurality of light diffusion portions for diffusing ultraviolet rays are formed on the light guide plate.

In addition, the reflecting plate which coat | covers LED and a light guide plate can be included.
Further, a transmission port for ultraviolet rays can be formed in the reflection plate.
The light guide plate can also be formed of a silicone resin.
It is also possible to have a plurality of light guide plates and to stack these light guide plates.
Furthermore, it is also possible to arrange a plurality of light diffusion portions sparsely when the distance from the LED is short and densely when the distance from the LED is long.

  In order to solve the above-described problems, the present invention is characterized in that the light guide device according to any one of claims 1 to 6 is incorporated in an air conditioning-related device.

  Here, the number of the LEDs in the claims is not particularly limited as long as it is less than the conventional one. Ultraviolet rays can be used not only for sterilization but also for pet breeding, washing, modification, observation of fluorescent substances, and the like. There are various types of ultraviolet rays such as far ultraviolet rays and extreme ultraviolet rays, but there is no particular question.

  The light guide plate can be appropriately attached to the casing, breeding cage, aseptic case, roof or wall of a building, water tank, piping, and the like of an air conditioning related device. The light diffusing portion can be formed by printing a concave portion, a convex portion, a diffusing ink, or the like. The reflector can be appropriately formed to have a substantially I-shaped, L-shaped, U-shaped cross section. Furthermore, the air conditioning related equipment includes at least an air conditioner, an air purifier, a humidifier, and the like.

  According to the present invention, when the LED is caused to emit light and irradiated with ultraviolet rays, the ultraviolet rays enter the light guide plate and are reflected while being reflected in the XY directions, collide with a plurality of light diffusion portions, and are diffused. The object is directly and indirectly irradiated from the light guide plate.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to uniformly irradiate the entire object with ultraviolet rays, and to reduce the size of the object and the amount of heat generated.

In addition, if a reflection plate that covers the LED and the light guide plate is included, the reflection plate functions as a reflector, so that the emission efficiency of the light emitting surface of the light guide plate can be improved.
Further, if a transmission hole for ultraviolet rays is formed in the reflection plate, only a necessary region can be surface-emitted.
If the light guide plate is formed of a silicone resin, excellent permeability, heat resistance, weather resistance, chemical resistance, water resistance, and the like can be obtained.

In addition, if there are multiple light guide plates and these light guide plates are stacked, when the multiple light guide plates are grasped as a single light guide plate, not only the front and back surfaces of the light guide plate, but also the inside In addition, since a plurality of light diffusion portions are located, it is possible to further improve the emission efficiency.
Furthermore, if a plurality of light diffusing parts are arranged sparsely when the distance from the LED is short and densely arranged when the distance from the LED is long, uniform irradiation of ultraviolet rays with a simple configuration is greatly expected. it can.

It is a perspective explanatory view showing typically an embodiment of an air-conditioning apparatus concerning the present invention. It is explanatory drawing which shows typically embodiment of the light guide apparatus which concerns on this invention. It is explanatory drawing which shows typically the use condition in embodiment of the light guide apparatus which concerns on this invention. It is explanatory drawing which shows typically 2nd Embodiment of the light guide apparatus which concerns on this invention. It is explanatory drawing which shows typically 3rd Embodiment of the light guide apparatus which concerns on this invention. It is explanatory drawing which shows typically 4th Embodiment of the light guide apparatus which concerns on this invention. It is explanatory drawing which shows typically 5th Embodiment of the light guide apparatus which concerns on this invention. It is explanatory drawing which shows typically 6th Embodiment of the light guide apparatus which concerns on this invention.

  Hereinafter, a preferred embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. A light guide device and an air-conditioning apparatus in this embodiment are built in a casing 2 of an air conditioner 1 as shown in FIGS. A plurality of LEDs 10 that are long-lived and inexpensive, and a light guide plate 20 that is built in the casing 2 of the air conditioner 1 and that guides ultraviolet light incident on the peripheral surface from the plurality of LEDs 10 in the X and Y directions and emits the light from the surface. The light guide plate 20 sterilizes and disinfects the filter 3 of the air conditioner 1 by irradiating ultraviolet rays.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, the plurality of LEDs 10 are arranged inside the housing 2, for example, on the inner wall of the side wall of the housing 2 at intervals, and each small LED 10 has a wavelength that contributes to sterilization and sterilization. Irradiate UV rays. The wavelength band of the ultraviolet light is preferably 300 nm or less, preferably 270 nm or less, more preferably 265 nm or 185 nm from the viewpoint of ensuring the sterilization and sterilization and improving the efficiency. For the LED 10, it is preferable to select an element with a small calorific value.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, the light guide plate 20 is formed into a thin flat plate using a material having excellent light transmittance, and is attached to the inside of the housing 2, for example, the inner surface of the side wall of the housing 2. Adjacent to the LED 10 with a space. The material of the light guide plate 20 is not particularly limited, and examples thereof include a silicone resin and a cycloolefin polymer. However, the selection of a silicone resin is optimal when transparency to ultraviolet light having a wavelength of 300 nm or less, high heat resistance, weather resistance, flexibility, and the like are required.

  On the back surface of the light guide plate 20, as shown in the figure, a plurality of light diffusion portions 21 for diffusing the guided ultraviolet rays toward the filter 3 are arranged side by side, and each light diffusion portion 21 is directed inward. A convex frustoconical shape or the like. The plurality of light diffusing sections 21 are arranged at a sparse pitch when the distance from the LED 10 is short, and arranged at a dense pitch when the distance from the LED 10 is long, from the viewpoint of uniform diffusion irradiation of ultraviolet rays. The

  In the above configuration, when the filter 3 of the air conditioner 1 is sterilized and sterilized, the plurality of LEDs 10 may be linked to the air conditioner 1 or may emit light alone and be irradiated with ultraviolet rays. Then, the ultraviolet light indicated by the arrow in FIG. 3 enters the adjacent light guide plate 20 and is guided while being reflected in the X and Y directions, collides with the plurality of light diffusion portions 21 and diffuses, and the light guide plate 20 When the filter 3 of the air conditioner 1 is diffused and irradiated from the entire surface, the filter 3 is totally sterilized and sterilized (see FIG. 3).

  According to the above configuration, the entire surface of the light guide plate 20 emits light and irradiates the entire filter 3 with ultraviolet rays. Therefore, a large number of light sources are built in the casing 2 of the air conditioner 1 or are suitable for the filter 3. There is no need to incorporate many LEDs 10 at a distance. Further, since the small LED 10 and the thin light guide plate 20 are adjacent to each other, the enlargement of the housing 2 can be effectively suppressed and prevented with a simple configuration.

  Moreover, if LED10 with small power consumption and calorific value is selected, LED10 can be reliably used for the air conditioner 1. FIG. Moreover, since the ultraviolet rays are diffused in the front-rear and left-right directions by the arrangement of the plurality of light diffusion portions 21, the number of LEDs 10 can be reduced. Furthermore, since the light diffusing portion 21 is not formed by diffusing ink printing but is formed by pressing into a convex shape, the transmittance of the light guide plate 20 is not reduced.

  Next, FIG. 4 shows a second embodiment of the present invention. In this case, the plurality of LEDs 10 and the back surface of the light guide plate 20 are covered and shielded by an L-shaped reflection plate 30. The opposing surface facing the back surface of the 30 light guide plates 20 is mirror-finished or gloss is formed. The other parts are the same as those in the above embodiment, and the description thereof is omitted.

  Also in this embodiment, the same effect as the above embodiment can be expected, and since the reflecting plate 30 functions as a reflector, the emission efficiency of the surface that is the light emitting surface of the light guide plate 20 can be improved. it is obvious. Further, since the irradiation direction and range of ultraviolet rays can be limited by covering and shielding the reflecting plate 30, it is possible to effectively prevent the casing 2 and the like of the air conditioner 1 from being irradiated with ultraviolet rays and the casing 2 and the like being deteriorated. be able to.

  Next, FIG. 5 shows a third embodiment of the present invention. In this case, a plurality of light guide plates 20 adjacent to the LED 10 are provided, and the plurality of light guide plates 20 are stacked in the thickness direction. I am doing so. The other parts are the same as those in the above embodiment, and the description thereof is omitted.

  Also in this embodiment, the same effect as the above embodiment can be expected, and when a plurality of light guide plates 20 are grasped as a single light guide plate 20, not only the back surface of the light guide plate 20 but also the inside. It is clear that the emission efficiency can be further improved because the plurality of light diffusion portions 21 are located.

  Next, FIG. 6 shows a fourth embodiment of the present invention. In this case, a plurality of light diffusion portions 21 for diffusing the guided ultraviolet light are arranged and pressed on the front and back surfaces of the light guide plate 20, respectively. Each light diffusion portion 21 is formed in a truncated cone shape or the like directed inward. The other parts are the same as those in the above embodiment, and the description thereof is omitted.

  Also in this embodiment, the same effect as the above embodiment can be expected, and the front and back surfaces of the light guide plate 20 are entirely surface-emitted, so that the ultraviolet irradiation region can be greatly expanded. It is obvious.

  Next, FIG. 7 shows a fifth embodiment of the present invention. In this case, a plurality of LEDs 10 and a light guide plate 20 are covered with a reflecting plate 30, and the reflecting plate 30 transmits ultraviolet rays. A plurality of ports 31 are formed at intervals, and the opposite surface of the reflector plate 30 facing the back surface of the light guide plate 20 is mirror-finished. The other parts are the same as those in the above embodiment, and the description thereof is omitted.

  In this embodiment, the same effect as that of the above embodiment can be expected, and moreover, since a plurality of transmission ports 31 for ultraviolet rays are formed in the reflection plate 30, only a necessary portion of the light guide plate 20 is caused to emit light. Is possible.

  Next, FIG. 8 shows a sixth embodiment of the present invention. In this case, an ultraviolet ray is not used for sterilization, but an opening of a breeding cage 41 for breeding a reptile 40 represented by a turtle. The plurality of LEDs 10 and the light guide plate 20 are arranged side by side on the upper surface so that the reptiles 40 are irradiated with ultraviolet rays similar to sunlight rays from the entire surface of the light guide plate 20.

  The wavelength band of ultraviolet rays is preferably 320 to 400 nm from the viewpoint of achieving healthy growth of the reptile 40 while preventing adverse effects on the reptile 40. The other parts are the same as those in the above embodiment, and the description thereof is omitted.

  In this embodiment, the same effect as the above embodiment can be expected, and since ultraviolet rays similar to sunlight are diffused and irradiated instead of ultraviolet rays for sterilization and sterilization, prevention of skin diseases of reptiles 40 and vitamins D3 can be synthesized. In addition, if the light guide plate 20 is made of a flexible silicone resin that can be bent, the light guide plate 20 is bent or curved so that ultraviolet rays are emitted from the surface of the light guide plate 20 to a specific region of the breeding cage 41. Can be irradiated, and handling becomes really easy.

  In the above-described embodiment, the LED 10 and the light guide plate 20 are attached to the inner side of the casing 2 of the air conditioner 1. However, the LED 10 and the light guide are provided on the upper, lower, front, and rear surfaces in the casing 2 as necessary. A plate 20 may be attached. In the above embodiment, the light guide plate 20 directly irradiates the filter 3 of the air conditioner 1 with ultraviolet rays for sterilization and sterilization. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the ultraviolet light is converted into a photocatalyst (titanium oxide or tin oxide). Etc.) may be sterilized and sterilized by excitation by irradiation.

  Further, the light guide plate 20 may be sterilized and sterilized by irradiating the hot spring, pool, bath water, or pure water for cleaning electronic components with ultraviolet rays. In the fields of biotechnology and medicine, the human body and mouse contain a fluorescent substance such as green fluorescent protein (GFP) that serves as a marker, and in order to excite this fluorescent substance, UV light is diffused and used as excitation light. You may use when observing fluorescent substances in a non-destructive state such as a human body or a mouse. Further, the plurality of LEDs 10 and the light guide plate 20 can be covered with a pair of reflecting plates 30.

1 Air conditioner 2 Housing 3 Filter 10 LED
20 Light guide plate 21 Light diffusion part 30 Reflector 31 Transmission port 40 Reptile

Claims (7)

  An LED and a light transmissive light guide plate that guides ultraviolet light incident on the peripheral surface from the LED in the X and Y directions and emits the light from at least one of the front and back surfaces. A light guide device characterized in that a plurality of light diffusion portions for diffusing light are formed.   The light guide device according to claim 1, further comprising a reflector that covers the LED and the light guide plate.   The light guide device according to claim 2, wherein an ultraviolet ray transmission port is formed in the reflection plate.   4. The light guide device according to claim 1, wherein the light guide plate is formed of a silicone resin.   The light guide device according to claim 1, wherein a plurality of light guide plates are provided, and the plurality of light guide plates are stacked.   6. The light guide device according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of light diffusion portions are arranged sparsely when the distance from the LED is short and densely arranged when the distance from the LED is long.   An air conditioner-related device comprising the light guide device according to any one of claims 1 to 6.

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