JP2005310422A - LIGHTING DEVICE AND MANUFACTURING METHOD THEREOF - Google Patents

Abstract

An object of the present invention is to provide a composite illumination device using a light guide plate using LEDs as a light source.
A light guide plate 10 having an incident end face 11 and an exit face 12, a plurality of light emitting diodes 15a and 15b arranged to face the incident end face 11, and a lighting circuit for lighting the light emitting diode. 16 is a lighting device 100. The light guide plate 10 has a first light guide region 13a, a second light guide region 13b, and a separation region 14 that separates them from each other, and the plurality of light emitting diodes is a first light emitting diode 15a. The second light emitting diode 15b. The first light emitting diode 15a is disposed to face the incident end face 11 of the first light guide region 13a, and the second light emitting diode 15b is disposed on the incident end face 11 of the second light guide region 13b. It is arranged to face each other. The first light emitting diode 15a and the second light emitting diode 15b are lit independently of each other by the lighting circuit 16.
[Selection] Figure 1

Description

  The present invention relates to a lighting device and a method for manufacturing the same, and more particularly to a lighting device using a light guide plate.

  When the lighting mode such as how to shine light changes in one living space, the impression received from the lighting mode of the person in the living space may change in an instant. Therefore, if there is one lighting device that can switch between multiple lighting modes in an instant (hereinafter referred to as “composite lighting device”), it is possible to perform work, party without changing the design of a large living space. It is very convenient because an appropriate lighting effect or lighting environment can be obtained in accordance with the purpose and environment required by the user, such as relaxation and relaxation.

  As the illumination mode to be switched, various illumination modes such as brightness, color, spot irradiation, etc. can be realized, but as those light sources, incandescent bulbs, fluorescent lamps, halogen lamps, etc. A wide variety of light sources with different amounts of power, light color, and light distribution are used.

  The composite illumination device is configured by appropriately combining these light sources, and the illumination mode can be easily switched instantaneously by a changeover switch provided in the lighting circuit.

  The light source to be used has various specifications such as a method, a shape, and a size in order to realize various characteristics. Therefore, in order to construct one composite lighting device using different light sources, it is necessary to prepare different attachments, power supplies, etc. according to the specifications of the respective light sources. Therefore, various restrictions are imposed on the design of the lighting device, such as the layout of each light source and the form of the entire lighting fixture.

  Also, incandescent bulbs have different lifespans depending on the light source, such as a shorter lifespan than fluorescent lamps, so even if it is a single lighting device, there is not much difference between performing maintenance on multiple lighting devices. Absent.

  Furthermore, by mixing light sources with different specifications in a single lighting device, the degree of freedom of design is limited, so the designer cannot design as intended, and as a result, it looks very cool. It may be a bad lighting fixture. In particular, in lighting fixtures, whether it is superior in terms of performance or craft is also an important factor in product value, and conventional composite lighting devices cannot satisfy both performance and craftability at the same time. was difficult.

  In recent years, the brightness of LEDs (light emitting diodes) has been increased, and lighting fixtures using LEDs have been commercialized. Since LEDs are made of semiconductor devices, they have a significantly longer life than conventional light sources. However, since LEDs themselves are very small, many LEDs must be used when used in lighting fixtures. It is common to use them in an array.

Since the LED is not a discharge lamp such as a fluorescent lamp, light control and lighting control can be easily performed, so that light color change can be easily realized. Therefore, a composite illumination device composed of LEDs having different light colors can be manufactured much more easily than a conventional device composed of different light sources. In addition to the light color, other illumination modes can be realized relatively easily by combining an LED and a lens. Furthermore, since the lifetime of the LED itself is long, even if it is combined, the conventional drawbacks related to maintenance do not occur. In addition, as an example of the composite illumination device using LED, it is disclosed by patent documents 1-3.
Special table 2003-517705 gazette JP 2000-40412 A JP-A-6-511129

  However, since the LEDs are small in size, a large number of LEDs must be arranged to realize a surface light source in a pseudo manner. As a result, there is a problem that the light emission variation of individual LEDs affects the color unevenness of the entire illumination and the like, and a constant quality cannot be obtained. In addition, in order to obtain the necessary brightness, it is necessary to arrange a large number of LEDs. As a result, a problem of heat generation occurs, and there is a problem that countermeasures must be taken separately.

  On the other hand, as another application of the LED, an illumination device of a surface light source using a light guide plate is known. This is a light source that emits light from the LED and enters the end face of the light guide plate, and is emitted from the front surface of the light guide plate while being repeatedly reflected and dispersed within the light guide plate. It can be realized.

  A surface light source using a light guide plate is widely used as a backlight of a liquid crystal display device. The technical problem here is focused on how to make the luminance of the illumination uniform, and there has not yet been proposed a composite illumination device using a light guide plate.

  This invention is made | formed in view of this point, The main objective is to provide the composite type illuminating device using a light-guide plate.

  An illumination device according to the present invention includes an incident end face on which light is incident, a light guide plate having an exit surface from which light is emitted, a plurality of light emitting diodes arranged to face the incident end face, and a plurality of light emitting diodes. The light guide plate separates the first light guide region, the second light guide region, and the first light guide region and the second light guide region from each other. A plurality of light-emitting diodes each including a first light-emitting diode and a second light-emitting diode, wherein the first light-emitting diode is the first light-guiding region; The second light emitting diode is disposed to face the incident end surface of the light guide plate in the second light guide region, and the first light emission is performed. The diode and the second light emitting diode are mutually independent by the lighting circuit. Wherein the lights is performed.

  With the above configuration, light of the light emitting diode is independently controlled and incident on the light guide regions separated from each other in the separation region, and each incident light is independently controlled from the exit surface of each light guide region. Since it is emitted, it becomes possible to control different emission lights independently in one illumination device.

  Note that the refractive index of the separation region is preferably smaller than the refractive indexes of the first light guide region and the second light guide region.

  Further, the refractive indexes of the first light guide region and the second light guide region may be substantially the same.

  Preferably, the first light guide region and the second light guide region are made of acrylic resin or epoxy resin, and the separation region is made of silicone resin.

  In a preferred embodiment, the separation region is constituted by a gap between the first light guide region and the second light guide region.

  In a preferred embodiment, the surface facing the light exit surface of the light guide plate is a reflective surface that reflects light.

  In a preferred embodiment, the light distribution characteristic of the emitted light emitted from the emission surface of the light guide plate in the first light guide region, and the light emitted from the emission surface of the light guide plate in the second light guide region. The light distribution characteristics of the emitted light differ from each other.

  In addition, the condensing property of the emitted light emitted from the emission surface on at least one of the emission surface of the light guide plate in the first light guide region and the emission surface of the light guide plate in the second light guide region It is preferable that an optical member for converting the above is formed. The optical member may be a condenser lens or a diffusion lens.

  In a preferred embodiment, the light color of the emitted light emitted from the exit surface of the light guide plate in the first light guide region and the exit surface of the light guide plate in the second light guide region are emitted. The light colors of the emitted light are different from each other.

  The first light-emitting diode and the second light-emitting diode are light-emitting diodes that emit light having the same wavelength, and the exit surface of the light guide plate in the first light guide region or It is preferable that a phosphor film is formed on the reflecting surface and the surface of the light emitting plate or the reflecting surface inside at least one of the light emitting surface and the reflecting surface of the light guide plate in the second light guide region.

  The wavelength of the light emitted from the first light emitting diode may be different from the wavelength of the light emitted from the second light emitting diode.

  The first light-emitting diode and the second light-emitting diode are light-emitting diodes that emit light of the same wavelength, and the first light-emitting diode and the second light-emitting diode. -At least one of the terminals may be coated with a phosphor.

  In a preferred embodiment, the light distribution characteristic of the emitted light emitted from the emission surface of the light guide plate in the first light guide region, and the light emitted from the emission surface of the light guide plate in the second light guide region. The light distribution characteristics of the emitted light differ from each other.

  In addition, the condensing property of the emitted light emitted from the emission surface on at least one of the emission surface of the light guide plate in the first light guide region and the emission surface of the light guide plate in the second light guide region It is preferable that an optical member for converting the above is formed. The optical member may be a condenser lens or a diffusion lens.

  In the manufacturing method of the lighting device according to the present invention, a rectangular groove from one end surface of the transparent plate to the other end surface is formed on the surface of the transparent plate made of the first resin, and a liquid second liquid is formed in the groove. After the resin is embedded, the second resin is heat-processed and solidified to form a separation region made of the second resin and a plurality of light guide regions separated by the separation region. A step of forming a light guide plate, and a step of disposing light emitting diodes so as to face the end surfaces of the plurality of light guide regions.

  The first resin may be an acrylic resin or an epoxy resin, and the second resin may be a silicone resin.

  In the manufacturing method of the lighting device of the present invention, a rectangular groove extending from one end surface of the transparent plate to the other end surface is formed on the surface of the transparent plate made of the first resin, thereby separating the groove portion. A step of forming a light guide plate composed of a region and a plurality of light guide regions separated by the groove, and a step of disposing light emitting diodes to face the end surfaces of the plurality of light guide regions, respectively including.

  According to the present invention, different light guide regions separated by separation regions are provided on one light guide plate, and the lighting of LEDs provided corresponding to each light guide region is controlled independently, thereby different guides. It is possible to realize a composite lighting device in which light distribution characteristics or light colors of light emitted from the emission surface of the light region can be easily switched.

  In addition, since the composite lighting device according to the present invention is composed of an integral light guide plate, it is excellent in mass productivity and uses an LED as a light source, so that it generates less heat and has a long life. There is an effect.

  The inventor of the present application pays attention to the recent increase in brightness of the LED, and considers that the surface light source using the light guide plate will become the mainstream of future illumination, and separately from the problem of improving uniformity in conventional brightness, the light guide plate We investigated the feasibility of a combined lighting system using a light source.

  First, the inventor of the present application originally made the light guide plate from a uniform material, but if the light guide plate can be provided with a region having a different refractive index by performing a certain treatment, the region having a different refractive index can be provided. As a separation region, it was considered that a plurality of light guide regions separated from each other (regions in which the function as a light guide plate was maintained) could be formed. If light emitted from different LEDs is incident on a plurality of light guide areas formed in this way, the light emission of the LEDs is controlled independently for each different light guide area within one light guide plate. It came to the idea that it might be possible.

  In order to further examine the possibility, the inventor of the present application focused on the fact that the light emission of the LED has a very high directivity. If a region having a certain degree of refractive index difference can be provided in the light guide plate, since the LED light has high directivity, the region having a different refractive index is sufficiently independent of the incident LED light. The knowledge that can be secured.

  However, the inventor of the present application associates different light guide regions formed in the light guide plate with different illumination modes, and controls lighting of the LEDs corresponding to the respective light guide regions, thereby enabling a plurality of light guide regions to be formed. The inventors have arrived at a composite lighting device according to the present invention capable of switching the lighting mode.

  The different illumination modes can be changed, for example, by providing a lens or the like on the exit surface of the light guide plate for the light distribution, and the light emission wavelength of the LED may be changed for the light color.

  Since the composite lighting device according to the present invention is composed of an integral light guide plate, it is excellent in mass productivity, and since an LED using the light guide plate is used as a light source, it generates less heat and has a long life. The utility value for future lighting devices is extremely high.

  Further, the LED is smaller and thinner than incandescent bulbs and fluorescent lamps, and the lighting circuit can be made very small because it is not necessary to apply a high voltage instantaneously during lighting unlike a discharge lamp. As a result, since the thickness of the lighting device can be reduced to an unprecedented thickness, the ceiling can be made clear, and a lighting device that is compatible as both a craft and a performance product can be realized.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. In the following drawings, components having substantially the same function are denoted by the same reference numerals for the sake of simplicity. In addition, this invention is not limited to the following embodiment.

  FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a configuration of an illumination device 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention. The illuminating device 100 shown in FIG. 1 includes an incident end face 11 on which light is incident, a light guide plate 10 having an exit face 12 from which light is emitted, and a plurality of light emitting diodes arranged to face the incident end face 11. And a lighting circuit 16 for lighting a plurality of light emitting diodes. The light guide plate 10 includes a first light guide region 13a, a second light guide region 13b, and a separation region 14 that separates the first light guide region 13a and the second light guide region 13b from each other. Yes.

  The plurality of light emitting diodes include a first light emitting diode 15a and a second light emitting diode 15b. The first light emitting diode 15a is the light guide plate 10 in the first light guide region 13a. The second light emitting diode 15b is arranged to face the incident end face 11 of the light guide plate 10 in the second light guide region 13b. The first light emitting diode 15a and the second light emitting diode 15b are lit independently of each other by the lighting circuit 16.

  According to the above configuration, the lighting circuit 16 switches the lighting of the light emitting diodes 15a and 15b disposed to face the light guide regions 13a and 13b separated from each other by the separation region 14, whereby the light guide region 13a. , 13b, a combined illumination device capable of switching the emitted light from the exit surface can be realized.

  A specific configuration of the illumination device 100 of the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. The light guide plate 10 is made of a transparent material, and for example, acrylic resin or epoxy resin is used. Light from the light emitting diode is incident from the incident end face 11 of the light guide plate 10, and the incident light is emitted from the exit surface 12 while being repeatedly reflected and dispersed in the light guide plate 10.

  A plurality of separation regions 14 are formed in the light guide plate 10, and light guide regions 13 a and 13 b separated from each other by the separation regions 14 are alternately arranged with the separation regions 14 interposed therebetween. The separation region 14 is composed of a rectangular groove extending from one end face (incident end face 11) of the light guide plate 10 to the other end face, and the groove is filled with a material different from that of the light guide plate 10. As this material, a material whose refractive index is smaller than the refractive index of the material used for the light guide plate 10 (the refractive index of acrylic resin is 1.49 and the refractive index of epoxy resin is 1.50) is selected. For example, a silicone resin (refractive index 1.40) or the like is used as a material filled in the separation region 14.

  As shown in FIG. 1, two types of light emitting diodes 15a and 15b are alternately arranged to face the incident end face 11 of the light guide regions 13a and 13b. The electrodes (not shown) of the respective light emitting diodes 15 a and 15 b are connected in series by wires 19 and connected to the lighting circuit 16. The lighting circuit 16 is provided with a power source 17 and switches 18a and 18b. The switches 18a and 18b independently control lighting of the light emitting diodes 15a and 15b connected in series. ing.

  On the output surface 12 of the light guide region 13a, a plurality of optical members 20 are arranged at substantially equal intervals. This optical member 20 functions to convert the light distribution characteristics of the light emitted from the emission surface 12, and is composed of, for example, a condensing lens, a diffusion lens, or the like, and is formed on the emission surface 12 of the light guide region 13a. It is fixed with a transparent adhesive.

  In the lighting device 100 configured as described above, when the lighting circuit 16 is turned on, for example, when the switch 18a is turned on and the switch 18b is turned off, only the light emitting diode 15a emits light. The emitted light 30a is emitted only from the emission surface 12 of the light guide region 13a. At that time, since the optical member 20 is disposed on the emission surface 12 of the light guide region 13a, the light distribution characteristic of the emitted light 30a is converted. For example, if a condensing lens is used as the optical member 20, the condensed light, so-called spot light, is emitted.

  On the contrary, if the switch 18a is turned off and the switch 18b is turned on, only the light emitting diode 15b emits light, so that the emitted light 30b is emitted only from the emission surface 12 of the light guide region 13b. Is done. In this case, since the optical member 20 is not disposed on the emission surface 12 of the light guide region 13b, light having a different light distribution characteristic from the emitted light 30a is emitted.

  In the configuration of the present embodiment, the light guide regions 13a and 13b are separated from each other by the separation region 14, but the refractive index of the separation region 14 is smaller than the refractive index of the light guide regions 13a and 13b. The light incident on the light guide region 13a or the light guide region 13b does not enter the other light guide region beyond the separation region 14. That is, when only the light emitting diode 15a is caused to emit light and only the spot light is emitted from the exit surface of the light guide region 13a, light different from the spot light is also mixed from the exit surface of the light guide region 13b. Are not emitted.

  However, by switching the lighting of the light emitting diodes 15a and 15b disposed facing the light guide regions 13a and 13b by the lighting circuit 16, the light distribution of the emitted light from the exit surfaces of the light guide regions 13a and 13b is performed. A composite lighting device capable of switching the characteristics can be realized.

  In the illuminating device 100, the light guide plate 10 provided with the light guide regions 13a and 13b separated from each other by the separation region 14 plays an important role in exerting the effects of the present invention. Therefore, a method for manufacturing the light guide plate 10 will now be described with reference to FIGS. 2 (a) to 2 (c).

  First, as shown in FIG. 2A, a light guide plate 10 made of a transparent resin such as an acrylic resin or an epoxy resin is prepared. In this example, the light guide plate 10 having a thickness of 20 mm, a width of 200 mm, and a length of 300 mm is used.

  Next, as shown in FIG. 2B, a rectangular groove 21 extending from one end surface of the light guide plate 10 to the other end surface is formed on the surface of the light guide plate 10. The depth of the groove 21 is preferably as close to the bottom of the light guide plate 10 as possible in order to improve separation characteristics. The groove 21 can be formed by a method such as cutting, laser machining, electric discharge machining, or die cutting.

  Next, as shown in FIG. 2C, the groove portion 21 is filled with a liquid silicone resin. The liquid silicone resin can be embedded in the groove portion 21 by potting using a dispenser or the like or by a printing method. Thereafter, the liquid silicone resin is heat-treated at a temperature of about 120 to 200 degrees to be solidified. Finally, the surface of the light guide plate 10 is polished to complete the light guide plate 10 in which the exit surfaces of the light guide regions 13a and 13b and the surface of the separation region 14 are aligned.

  In order to improve the reflection characteristics of the light guide plate 10, a metal film such as aluminum, silver, or chromium may be formed on the back surface (the surface opposite to the emission surface) of the light guide plate 10 to form a reflection surface. Good.

  Since the light guide plate 10 formed by the above method is the same as the base material (in the example of the present embodiment, a transparent plate made of acrylic resin or epoxy resin), the light guide regions 13a and 13b and the separation region 14 are used. Is formed integrally, so that it can be mass-produced with a certain quality, and since it is an integrated light guide plate, it is very easy to handle in transportation and the like.

  Therefore, when manufacturing the lighting device of the present invention using this light guide plate 10, it is possible to provide a lighting device that is extremely excellent in mass productivity and low in cost.

  Next, in the lighting device 100 shown in FIG. 1, a method of arranging a plurality of light emitting diodes 15a and 15b on the incident end face 11 of the light guide plate 10 will be described with reference to FIGS. This will be described with reference to a) to (b).

  First, as shown in FIG. 3A, the light emitting diodes 15a and 15b are alternately arranged on the wiring board 22 having high heat dissipation such as glass epoxy or ceramic. The light emitting diodes 15a and 15b are packaged semiconductor chips, and the connection terminals of the light emitting diodes 15a and 15b are connected to electrode pads (not shown) provided on the wiring board 22, respectively. They are electrically connected using a method such as flip chip or wire-bonding.

  Each light emitting diode 15a is connected in series by a wiring 19a. Since there is a light emitting diode 15b in between, the intersection of the light emitting diode 15b with the wiring 19b must be avoided. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 3B, the wiring board 22 is multilayered, and the wiring 19a is formed on the first wiring layer 22a, and the wiring 19b is formed on the second wiring layer 22b. The electrode pads of the respective light emitting diodes provided on the surface of the wiring board 22 are connected via vias (not shown) provided in the wiring board 22.

  As shown in FIG. 3C, the wirings 19a and 19b formed on the wiring board are connected to the lighting circuit 16, and the wiring path composed of the wirings 19a and 19b is a switch provided in the lighting circuit 16. The connection with the power source 17 is switched by 18a and 18b.

  Next, as shown in FIG. 4A, the wiring board 22 is placed at a position where the light emitting diodes 15 a and 15 b mounted on the wiring board 22 face the light guide regions 13 a and 13 b formed on the light guide plate 10. Deploy. The light emitting diodes 15a and 15b may be mounted on the wiring board 22 in advance in accordance with the positions where the light guide regions 13a and 13b are formed.

  After the alignment of the wiring board 22, the wiring board 22 is connected to the incident end face 11 of the light guide plate 10 as shown in FIG. In the description of FIG. 3A, the wiring board 22 has a flat plate shape. However, as shown in FIG. 4B, if the wiring board 22 is formed in a U shape, Connection to the incident end face 11 is facilitated.

  As described above, the specific configuration of the illumination device 100 according to the present embodiment, the method for forming the light guide plate 10 that is one of the components, and the method for arranging the wiring board 22 on which the light emitting diode is mounted on the light guide plate 10. The description has been made with a focus on the point of the present invention.

  As described above, the present invention provides different light guide regions separated from each other on the light guide plate, and independently controls lighting of the light emitting diodes provided corresponding to the light guide regions. Thus, it is possible to switch light distribution characteristics or light colors of light emitted from the exit surfaces of different light guide regions. Accordingly, it is possible to realize a composite illumination device that can instantaneously switch between different illumination modes (light distribution characteristics, light colors, or combinations thereof) with a single illumination device.

  In addition, since the surface light source is realized using the light guide plate, color unevenness and heat generation can be suppressed as compared with the case where the surface light source is realized by arranging light emitting diodes in an array. In addition, the lifetime of the light emitting diode itself is long, and even if light emitting diodes having different wavelengths are used, there is no difference in the lifetime, so even if they are combined, maintenance does not become troublesome.

  The illumination mode is basically determined by a combination of a specific light guide region and a light emitting diode, but actually, an optical member formed in the light guide region or a light emitting diode is used. Various additional factors such as the selection of the emission wavelength of the light source allow a variety of illumination mode variations.

  Hereinafter, other embodiments of the present invention relating to these additional elements will be described with reference to FIGS. The light guide plate 10 (including the light guide regions 13a and 13b separated from each other by the separation region 14) and the wiring substrate 22 (including the light emitting diodes 15a and 15b and the wires 19a and 19b) are shown in FIG. Since it is the same as that of embodiment, description is abbreviate | omitted.

  The illumination device 110 shown in FIG. 5 uses a “kamaboko” condensing lens 30 as an optical member formed in the light guide region. In this example, the illumination device 110 is disposed on the light exit surface of the light guide region 13a. ing. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, the condensing lens 20 is used as the optical member. However, when the light guide plate 10 is elongated, a large number of condensing lenses 20 must be arranged at equal intervals. Therefore, if the “kamaboko” condenser lens 20 as shown in FIG. 5 is used, the arrangement on the light guide plate 10 is facilitated, and the emitted light 30a is also linear spot irradiation. An illumination mode different from the spot irradiation by the condenser lens 20 shown in FIG. 1 can be obtained.

  Next, in the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, the illuminating device 120 shown in FIG. 6 collects on the exit surface of the light guide region 13b separately from the condenser lens 20 arranged on the exit surface of the light guide region 13a. A condensing lens 40 different from the optical lens 20 is arranged. The two types of condensing lenses have different condensing degrees. In this example, the condensing lens 20 uses a 30-degree condensing lens and the condensing lens 40 uses a 40-degree condensing lens. With such a configuration, it is possible to obtain an illuminating device capable of switching spot irradiation with different light collection degrees.

  In addition, the optical member used for the illuminating device shown in FIG.5 and FIG.6 is not limited to this, For example, you may use a diffuser lens other than a condensing lens. Moreover, you may combine various optical members which convert these light distribution characteristics. Furthermore, it is also possible to configure an illuminating device in which three or more light guide regions are selected and three or more kinds of emitted light having different light distribution characteristics can be switched.

  As described above, in the illuminating device shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, the embodiment in which the light distribution characteristic of the emitted light emitted from the light guide plate is different from the illuminating device shown in FIG. 1 has been described. An embodiment for switching the light color of the emitted light emitted from the optical plate will be described with reference to FIGS.

  The illuminating device 130 shown in FIG. 7 has a configuration in which the phosphor 50 is coated on the emission surface of the light guide region 13b. When blue light-emitting diodes are used as the light-emitting diodes 15a and 15b mounted on the wiring board 22, if a material that changes blue light into yellow light (for example, YAG phosphor) is used as the phosphor 50, the light is guided. The blue outgoing light 50a is emitted from the region 13a, and the yellow outgoing light 50b is emitted from the light guide region 13b. With such a configuration, an illuminating device capable of switching emitted light having different light colors can be obtained. Although not an essential feature of the present invention, in the example of the present embodiment, if the light emitting diodes incident on the light guide region 13a and the light guide region 13b are turned on at the same time, the emitted light of blue and yellow Illumination light close to white mixed with can also be obtained.

  Next, the illuminating device 140 shown to Fig.8 (a), (b) makes the structure which coat | covered the fluorescent substance 60,70 on the back surface of the light-guide plate 10. FIG. The light guide plate emits light incident from the incident end face from the light exit surface of the light guide plate while repeatedly reflecting and dispersing inside the light guide plate. Usually, the back surface of the light guide plate (the surface facing the light exit surface) ) To improve the reflection efficiency. Therefore, if the phosphors 60 and 70 are coated between the reflective layer and the back surface of the light guide plate, light color conversion of the incident light by the phosphor can be sufficiently achieved. In the present embodiment, when a blue light emitting diode is used as the light emitting diodes 15a and 15b, a material that changes blue light into white light is used as the phosphor 60, and blue light is converted into green light as the phosphor 70. If each material to be changed is used, white light 60a is emitted from the light guide region 13a, and color light 70b is emitted from the light guide region 13b.

  Finally, in the illuminating device 140 shown in FIG. 9, the light emitting diodes 15a and 15b mounted on the wiring board 22 are formed of light emitting diodes having different emission wavelengths. As the light-emitting diodes having different emission wavelengths, GaN-based blue light-emitting diodes, AlGaAs-based red light-emitting diodes, and the like can be used. The light emitting diodes 15a and 15b use light emitting diodes having the same light emission wavelength (for example, blue light emitting diodes), and a phosphor (for example, YAG phosphor) is applied to one of the light emitting diodes. Thus, it may be configured to obtain outgoing light having substantially different emission wavelengths.

  As mentioned above, although the example of embodiment from which the light distribution characteristic of the emitted light radiate | emitted from a light guide plate differs, and the example of embodiment from which the light color of the radiate | emitted light radiate | emitted from a light guide plate differs were demonstrated, furthermore, different light distribution It is possible to obtain a composite illumination mode by combining various characteristics and light colors.

  Since the composite lighting device of the present invention is composed of a small and thin light source called a light emitting diode (LED) and a thin flat light guide plate, the lighting device itself can be very thin. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 10, even if the lighting device 100 is installed on the ceiling 200 of the room, a very neat arrangement can be made without impairing the atmosphere of the room. For example, when 256 LEDs are used, a thin lighting device having a thickness of 10 mm (width 10 cm, length 10 cm) can be realized. In addition, since various illumination modes can be instantaneously switched with one illumination device, an appropriate illumination effect or illumination environment can be obtained according to the purpose and environment required by the user.

  In addition, although the formation method of the light-guide plate based on this invention was demonstrated referring FIG. 2, as a light-guide plate applicable to the illuminating device which concerns on this invention, a refractive index smaller than the refractive index of a light-guide plate inside a light-guide plate. It is only necessary that the structure in which the separation region is formed is satisfied. Therefore, as long as such a configuration is satisfied, there is no limitation on the method of forming the light guide plate. For example, in the method of forming the light guide plate shown in FIG. 2, the example has been described in which the groove portion 21 is filled with a material having a refractive index smaller than that of the light guide plate 10. It may be left as it is. This is because air has a refractive index of 1.0 and satisfies the above condition.

  Further, as shown in FIGS. 11A to 11C, a molding resin 90 is prepared in which a portion to be the separation region 14 is formed in advance, and the molding resin 90 is connected to the light guide plate 10 in which the groove portion 21 is formed. The light guide plate 10 including the light guide regions 13 a and 13 b separated by the separation region 14 may be formed by combining them.

  Incidentally, techniques for processing the shape and the like of the light guide plate are disclosed in, for example, Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication Nos. 2003-100132, 2000-832981, and 2001-229725. The purpose is to make the brightness of the light uniform. In order to “realize a composite lighting device using a light guide plate”, a plurality of light guide plates are formed by forming separation regions having different refractive indexes. The present invention, which is characterized by providing an optical region, is completely different in its purpose and configuration.

  Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2003-100132 discloses a technique for providing a region having a different refractive index in the light guide plate. This region has a diffusion effect due to refraction of incident light from a point light source (LED or the like). It is used to expand the light distribution by using it, and this makes it possible to convert a point light source into a linear secondary light source, which is equivalent to the case where a linear light source (such as a cold cathode tube) is used. Uniformity of brightness can be obtained. Therefore, the “regions having different refractive indexes” disclosed in the patent document are completely different from the present invention in terms of purpose, configuration and effect, and the present invention cannot be easily conceived from such prior art. In addition, the “regions having different refractive indexes” disclosed in the patent document are formed using a material having a higher refractive index than that of the light guide plate. The “region” is made of a material having a refractive index smaller than that of the light guide plate.

  As mentioned above, although this invention was demonstrated by suitable embodiment, such description is not a limitation matter and of course various modifications are possible. For example, instead of providing a separation region having a refractive index smaller than the refractive index of the light guide plate, a reflective region (for example, surface processing such as vapor deposition, plating, sputtering, or kneading with a colored material, machine, chemical polishing, etc. Even if a light-shielding region (for example, a metal, resin, or cloth layer with a black surface) is provided between the light guide regions by surface processing, each light guide region Can be optically separated, and the same effect as the present invention can be obtained.

  ADVANTAGE OF THE INVENTION According to this invention, the composite type illuminating device using a light-guide plate can be provided.

The figure which shows the structure of the illuminating device 100 which concerns on embodiment of this invention. (A)-(c) is process drawing which shows the formation method of the light-guide plate of this invention. (A)-(c) is a figure which shows the formation method of the wiring board of this invention. (A) And (b) is a figure which shows the manufacturing method of the illuminating device 100 of this invention. The figure which shows the structure of the illuminating device 110 which concerns on embodiment of this invention. The figure which shows the structure of the illuminating device 120 which concerns on embodiment of this invention. (A) And (b) is a figure which shows the structure of the illuminating device 130 which concerns on embodiment of this invention. (A) And (b) is a figure which shows the structure of the illuminating device 140 which concerns on embodiment of this invention. The figure which shows the structure of the illuminating device 150 which concerns on embodiment of this invention. The figure which shows the state which installed the illuminating device 100 of this invention in the ceiling. (A)-(c) is process drawing which shows the formation method of the light-guide plate of this invention.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Light guide plate 11 Incident end surface 12 Output surface 13a, 13b Light guide area 14 Separation area 15a, 15b Light emitting diode 16 Lighting circuit 17 Power supply 18a, 18b Switch 19a, 18b Wiring 20 Optical member 21 Groove part 22 Wiring board 22a, 22b Wiring Layer 30, 40 Condensing lens 50, 60, 70 Phosphor 100 Illumination device

Claims (16)

A light guide plate having an incident end surface on which light is incident, and an exit surface from which light is emitted;
A lighting device comprising: a plurality of light emitting diodes arranged to face the incident end face; and a lighting circuit for lighting the plurality of light emitting diodes,
The light guide plate has a first light guide region, a second light guide region, and a separation region that separates the first light guide region and the second light guide region from each other;
The plurality of light emitting diodes include a first light emitting diode and a second light emitting diode,
The first light emitting diode is disposed to face the incident end surface of the light guide plate in the first light guide region,
The second light emitting diode is disposed to face the incident end face of the light guide plate in the second light guide region,
The first light emitting diode and the second light emitting diode are lit independently of each other by the lighting circuit. The lighting device according to claim 1, wherein a refractive index of the separation region is smaller than a refractive index of the first light guide region and the second light guide region. The lighting device according to claim 2, wherein the refractive indexes of the first light guide region and the second light guide region are substantially the same. 4. The illumination according to claim 2, wherein the first light guide region and the second light guide region are made of an acrylic resin or an epoxy resin, and the separation region is made of a silicone resin. apparatus. The lighting device according to claim 2, wherein the separation region is configured by a gap between the first light guide region and the second light guide region. The lighting device according to claim 1, wherein a surface of the light guide plate facing the light exit surface is a reflective surface that reflects light. The light distribution characteristic of the emitted light emitted from the emission surface of the light guide plate in the first light guide region and the light distribution characteristic of the emitted light emitted from the emission surface of the light guide plate in the second light guide region Are different from each other, The lighting device according to any one of claims 1 to 6. The light distribution characteristic of the emitted light emitted from the emission surface is converted to at least one of the emission surface of the light guide plate in the first light guide region and the emission surface of the light guide plate in the second light guide region. The illumination device according to claim 7, wherein an optical member is formed. The illumination device according to claim 8, wherein the optical member is a condenser lens or a diffusion lens. The light color of the emitted light emitted from the emission surface of the light guide plate in the first light guide region and the light color of the emitted light emitted from the emission surface of the light guide plate in the second light guide region are: The illumination device according to claim 1, wherein the illumination devices are different from each other. The first light emitting diode and the second light emitting diode are light emitting diodes that emit light having the same wavelength.
Fluorescence is generated on the light exit surface or reflection surface of the light guide plate in the first light guide region and on the surface of the light exit plate or reflection surface of the light guide plate in the second light guide region or on the inside of the reflection surface. The lighting apparatus according to claim 10, wherein a body film is formed. The illumination device according to claim 10, wherein the wavelength of the light emitted from the first light emitting diode and the wavelength of the light emitted from the second light emitting diode are different from each other. The first light emitting diode and the second light emitting diode are light emitting diodes that emit light having the same wavelength.
11. The illumination device according to claim 10, wherein at least one of the first light emitting diode and the second light emitting diode is coated with a phosphor. A rectangular groove extending from one end surface of the transparent plate to the other end surface is formed on the surface of the transparent plate made of the first resin, and after filling the liquid second resin in the groove, the second Forming a light guide plate composed of a separation region made of the second resin and a plurality of light guide regions separated by the separation region by heat-treating the resin of
And a step of arranging a light emitting diode so as to face the end surfaces of the plurality of light guide regions, respectively. 15. The method of manufacturing a lighting device according to claim 14, wherein the first resin is an acrylic resin or an epoxy resin, and the second resin is a silicone resin. By forming a rectangular groove portion from one end surface of the transparent plate to the other end surface on the surface of the transparent plate made of the first resin, a separation region composed of the groove portion and a plurality of portions separated by the groove portion Forming a light guide plate composed of the light guide region;
And a step of arranging a light emitting diode so as to face the end surfaces of the plurality of light guide regions, respectively.

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