JP2009036953A - Signage lighting device - Google Patents

Abstract

An object of the present invention is to provide an illumination device for a signboard in which a logo that is originally intended to be expressed even in the daytime is always properly displayed while taking advantage of the light source exposure type.
A large number of light sources 2 each having an LED 8 and an optical lens 9 arranged on the light emitting surface side of the LED 8 are arranged in a matrix on a mounting panel 3, and each light source 2 includes a part of the lens 9. The lens 9 is configured to be exposed to the outside through an opening 3 a formed in the mounting panel 3, and the lens 9 has a portion other than an incident portion where light from the LED 8 is incident on the surface facing the LED 8. 3 is colored with the paint 16 in substantially the same color as the surface color.
[Selection] Figure 2

Description

  In order to illuminate and display logos such as letters and figures for advertisement, the present invention is arranged in a matrix on a mounting panel with a large number of light emitting elements such as light emitting diodes (LEDs) exposed to the outside. It is related with the lighting apparatus for signboards comprised.

  Conventionally, as a lighting system for signboards that illuminate and display logos such as letters and figures for advertisements, a front panel with a logo printed on the front side of the housing, for example, is attached, and the front panel is illuminated inside the housing. There is a so-called internal illumination type in which a light source for the backlight is arranged.

  Neon tubes are widely used as the light source for the backlight of this internally-illuminated signboard lighting device, but neon tubes have a relatively short life and need to be replaced in a short period. There are problems such as taking time and high running costs.

  For this reason, in the prior art, a proposal has been made to use an LED as a light emitting element for a backlight to extend the life and improve the conventional problems (for example, see Patent Document 1).

  In this case, since the LED serving as the light emitting element for the backlight is a point light source, when a plurality of LEDs are simply arranged on the back side of the front panel, uneven brightness occurs on the front panel, and the front panel is uniform. Difficult to illuminate Therefore, in Patent Document 1, a lens having a morning glory-shaped reflecting surface is arranged on the light emitting surface side of the LED, and the light emitted from the LED is diffusely reflected by the reflecting surface of the lens, thereby suppressing occurrence of luminance unevenness. The front panel can be illuminated as uniformly as possible.

  However, even if the thing of said patent document 1 can suppress generation | occurrence | production of a brightness nonuniformity, LED is an internal illumination type used as a light source for backlights to the last. For this reason, it is inevitable that the light emitted from the LED is blocked by the front panel and the overall luminance is lowered, and the visibility from a distance required for the signboard is likely to be insufficient. In addition, there is a problem that it is difficult to increase the size of the front panel because there is a risk that the front panel may drop unexpectedly due to an earthquake or the like.

  Therefore, instead of the internal illumination type having a front panel, a number of LEDs are arranged in a matrix and each LED is directly attached to a mounting panel to form a logo (for example, , See Patent Document 2).

  In this case, since the LEDs serving as the light emitting elements are point light sources as described above, a large number of LEDs are arranged in a matrix over the entire area where the logo is displayed in order to display a required logo without uneven brightness. When densely laid, not only does it require a large number of LEDs, which increases costs, but also increases power consumption.

  Therefore, conventionally, as shown in FIGS. 9 to 11, a light diffusing lens 9 having a mortar-like reflecting surface is arranged on the light emitting surface side of the LED 8 to constitute the light source 2. Are arranged in a matrix on the mounting panel 3, and the sign unit 4 is configured by attaching the lens 9 of each light source 2 so that a part of the lens 9 is exposed to the outside through the opening 3 a formed in the mounting panel 3. It is considered that the signboard lighting device is configured by attaching the unit 4 to the housing. Hereinafter, this type of structure is referred to as a light source exposure type.

In this light source-exposed signboard illumination device, the light emitted from the LED 8 is diffusely reflected by the lens 9 and the light emitted from the lens 9 is also diffusely reflected by the mounting panel 3. Even if it is less, it is possible to suppress the occurrence of luminance unevenness and to illuminate brightly and uniformly, and there is an advantage that an extra cost increase can be reduced. In addition, 10 is a board | substrate for LED mounting, 11 is mold resin, 13 is an electric wire.
JP 2007-048883 A JP 2004-150982 A

  In the case of the configuration shown in FIGS. 9 to 11, since there is no sunlight at night, light from the lit LED 8 passes through the lens 9 and is emitted to the outside, and part of it is also diffusely reflected by the mounting panel 3. Therefore, for example, when the character “L” is imitated, the character “L” appears to be simply raised as shown in FIG.

  However, since the signboard unit 4 is brightly illuminated by sunlight in the daytime, as shown in FIG. 11, even when the LED 8 is turned on, the substrate 10 on which the LED 8 is mounted can be seen through the lens 9 as it is from the outside. . For this reason, at first glance, it may appear as a logo different from the logo that is originally intended to be expressed, which may cause a sense of incongruity, or may be aesthetically unsightly.

  The present invention has been made to solve the above-described problems, and provides a signboard lighting device that can always properly display a logo that is originally intended to be expressed even in the daytime while taking advantage of the light source exposure type. The purpose is to do.

  In order to achieve the above object, the signboard illumination device according to the invention described in claim 1 includes a large number of light sources each having a dot-like light emitting element and an optical lens arranged on the light emitting surface side of the light emitting element. The light sources are arranged in a matrix on the mounting panel, and each of the light sources is configured such that a part of the lens is exposed to the outside through an opening formed in the mounting panel. Of the surface facing the surface, the portion other than the incident portion where the light from the light emitting element is incident is colored in substantially the same color as the surface color of the mounting panel.

  According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided the signboard illumination device according to the first aspect of the present invention, wherein the coloring of a portion of the lens other than the incident portion where the light from the light emitting element is incident is on the surface of the lens. It is characterized by being formed by applying paint.

  According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided the signboard illumination device according to the first aspect, wherein the coloration of the lens other than the incident portion where the light from the light emitting element is incident is the shape of the surface. It is characterized in that it is formed by separately providing a colored member along.

  According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided the sign lighting device according to the first aspect, wherein the lens is colored in a portion other than the incident portion where the light from the light emitting element is incident, Of the surface facing the externally exposed side exposed to the outside through the opening, a portion other than the exit portion where the light from the light emitting element is emitted is colored in substantially the same color as the surface color of the mounting panel. It is said.

  In the signboard illumination device according to the first aspect of the invention, a portion of the surface of the lens facing the light emitting element other than the incident portion where the light from the light emitting element is incident is colored in substantially the same color as the color of the mounting panel. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the problem that the substrate on which the LED is mounted through the lens is visible through the lens due to daylight, and the logo that is originally intended to be displayed in the daytime is always displayed properly without causing a sense of incongruity. It becomes possible to do.

  Since the signboard illumination device according to the invention of claim 2 is colored by applying paint to the surface of the lens, the coloring of the portion other than the incident part where the light from the light emitting element of the lens is incident is formed. It can be carried out simply and at low cost.

  In the sign lighting device according to the third aspect of the present invention, the coloring of the portion other than the incident portion where the light from the light emitting element of the lens is incident is formed by separately providing a coloring member along the shape of the surface. Therefore, it is possible to accurately set the location that defines the coloring range without impairing the light emission efficiency.

  In the signboard illumination device according to the fourth aspect of the present invention, the part other than the exit part where the light from the light emitting element is emitted out of the surface facing the externally exposed side exposed to the outside through the opening of the lens is the mounting panel. Since it is colored in substantially the same color as the color, a portion close to the surface of the lens mounting panel is colored, so that the color of the lens and the mounting panel is the same even in the daytime, and the appearance is improved. In addition, if the lens itself is colored in advance, a coloring process in a subsequent process becomes unnecessary, and the cost can be reduced.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

(Embodiment 1)
1 is a plan view showing an example of a signboard illumination device according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention, FIG. 2 is an enlarged cross-sectional view showing the main part of the device, and FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of the signboard unit of the device FIG. 4 is an assembly explanatory diagram when the light source is attached to the attachment panel. 5 is a perspective view of a lens constituting the light source, and FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram of an irradiation state of light emitted from the light source. Components corresponding to or corresponding to those of the prior art shown in FIGS. 9 to 11 are denoted by the same reference numerals.

  In the signboard illumination device 1 according to the first embodiment, a large number of light sources 2 are arranged and fixed in a matrix on the mounting panel 3, thereby illuminating and displaying a logo imitating advertising characters and figures. A signboard unit 4 is configured. The sign unit 4 is attached to the frame 5. In addition, although the signboard unit 4 shown in FIG. 1 has shown the case where the character "L" was imitated as an example, it is not limited to this, It imitates other characters and figures. There may be.

  Each light source 2 is formed by integrating a LED 8 as a point-like light emitting element, an optical lens 9 arranged on the light emitting surface side of the LED 8, and a substrate 10 on which the LED 8 is mounted with a mold resin 11.

  A part of the lens 9 is exposed to the outside through an opening 3 a formed in the mounting panel 3 and is formed in a substantially U shape in a pair of mounting holes 3 b formed in the vicinity of the opening 3 a of the mounting panel 3. The upper end portion 12a of the mounting bracket 12 is attached to the mounting panel 3 integrally. A power supply electric wire 13 is connected to the substrate 10 through the mold resin 11. Here, the light source 2 is fixed to the mounting panel 3 using the mounting bracket 12, but other fixing means for bonding and screwing output terminals can be used without the mounting bracket 12.

  The lens 9 is made of, for example, a material such as glass or acrylic resin, and has a rectangular cap-shaped base portion 9a embedded in the mold resin 11 and a substantially cylindrical main body portion 9b protruding from the base portion 9a. Consists of. The main body 9b is exposed to the outside through the opening 3a, and the surface facing the exposed side is formed in a mortar shape having a substantially arc-shaped cross section, while the side facing the LED 8 of the base 9a of the lens 9 is formed. The surface is colored in a similar color having the same color as the color of the mounting panel 3 or colors close to each other except for the incident part where the light from the LED 8 is incident. For example, when the surface color of the mounting panel 3 is white, the colored portion of the base portion 9a of the lens 9 is white.

  In this example, the coloring in this case is formed by applying the paint 16 to the surface of the portion other than the incident portion where the light from the LED 8 of the base portion 9a is incident. Thus, if the coating material 16 is used, it can color easily and can be implemented at low cost.

  In the light source exposure signboard illumination device 1 of the first embodiment, when the LED 8 is turned on, as shown in FIG. 6, the light is emitted directly to the outside of the lens 9 in the vicinity of the optical axis of the lens 9, and the optical axis The light reaching the peripheral part that has been removed from the light source is reflected by the mortar-shaped inner surface of the main body part 9 b and emitted from the side surface, and then irradiated to the surface of the mounting panel 3 and further diffusely reflected by the mounting panel 3. As a result, even if a large number of light sources 2 are not densely arranged in a matrix, even if a relatively small number of light sources 2 are used, it is possible to illuminate the entire signboard unit 4 brightly and uniformly while suppressing the occurrence of luminance unevenness. .

  Moreover, in the first embodiment, on the surface facing the LED 8 of the base portion 9a of the lens 9, the portion other than the incident portion where the light from the LED 8 is incident is colored substantially the same color as the color of the mounting panel 3 by the paint 16. Therefore, it is possible to prevent a problem that the LED mounting substrate 10 is seen from the outside through the lens 9 due to daytime external light. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 1, for example, when the letter “L” is imitated as the signboard unit 4, the letter “L” appears to appear even in the daytime. However, it becomes possible to always display appropriately without causing a sense of incongruity. Further, since the substrate 10 is not directly visible even in the daytime, it is not aesthetically unsightly.

  At night, the light from the lit LED 8 passes through the lens 9 and is emitted to the outside, and a part of the light is also diffusely reflected by the mounting panel 3, so that the letter “L” is displayed as shown in FIG. It simply appears to emerge.

(Embodiment 2)
In the first embodiment, the base 9a of the lens 9 is colored by applying the paint 16 on the surface of the portion other than the light incident portion from the LED 8, but in the second embodiment, FIG. As shown, the coloring is performed by integrally covering the coloring member 17 formed along the shape of the surface of the base 9a.

  If the coloring member 17 is covered in this way, there is an advantage that the portion that defines the coloring range can be set with high accuracy without impairing the light emission efficiency from the LED 8.

(Embodiment 3)
In the first embodiment, the base 9a of the lens 9 is colored by applying the paint 16 to the surface of the portion other than the light incident portion from the LED 8, but in the third embodiment, FIG. As shown, a portion of the mortar-shaped outer surface of the main body portion 9b other than the emission portion in the vicinity of the optical axis from which the light from the LED 8 is emitted is colored to approximately the same color as the color of the mounting panel 3 by the paint 16.

  In the case of this configuration, the main body 9b close to the surface of the mounting panel 3 of the lens 9 is colored, so that the lens 9 and the mounting panel 3 are likely to have the same color even in the daytime, and the appearance is improved.

  In each of the first to third embodiments, if the lens 9 itself is partially colored in advance instead of using the paint 16 or the coloring member 17, a coloring process in a subsequent process becomes unnecessary, and the cost is reduced. Reduction can be achieved.

It is a top view which shows an example of the illuminating device for signboards in Embodiment 1 of this invention. It is sectional drawing which expands and shows the principal part of the apparatus. It is a disassembled perspective view of the signboard unit of the same apparatus. It is assembly explanatory drawing in the case of attaching a light source to an attachment panel. It is a perspective view of the lens which comprises a light source. It is explanatory drawing of the irradiation state of the light radiate | emitted from a light source. It is a perspective view which shows the coloring means with respect to the lens of the illuminating device for signboards in Embodiment 2 of this invention. It is sectional drawing which expands and shows the principal part of the illuminating device for signboards in Embodiment 3 of this invention. It is sectional drawing which expands and shows the principal part of the conventional illuminating device for signboards. It is a top view which shows an example of the illumination state in the night of the conventional illuminating device for signboards. It is a top view which shows an example of the illumination state in the daytime of the conventional illuminating device for signboards.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Illuminating device for signboards 2 Light source 3 Mounting panel 3a Opening 4 Signboard unit 8 LED (light emitting element)
9 Lens 9a Base 9b Body 10 Substrate 16 Paint 17 Colored member

Claims (4)

  A large number of light sources having dot-like light emitting elements and optical lenses arranged on the light emitting surface side of the light emitting elements are arranged in a matrix on the mounting panel, and each of the light sources has a part of the lens attached thereto. The lens is configured to be exposed to the outside through an opening formed in the panel, and the lens has a portion other than an incident portion where light from the light emitting element is incident among surfaces facing the light emitting element. An illumination device for a signboard, characterized by being colored substantially the same color as the surface color of the mounting panel.   2. The sign lighting device according to claim 1, wherein coloring of a portion of the lens other than an incident portion where light from the light emitting element is incident is formed by applying a paint to the surface of the lens. .   2. The coloring of a portion of the lens other than the incident portion where light from the light emitting element is incident is formed by separately providing a coloring member along the shape of the surface. Lighting equipment for signboards.   Instead of coloring the portion other than the incident part where the light from the light emitting element is incident, the lens has a surface facing the externally exposed side exposed to the outside through the opening. The sign lighting device according to claim 1, wherein a portion other than the exit portion to be emitted is colored in substantially the same color as the surface color of the mounting panel.

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