JP2011175735A - Light beam adder - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a light beam adder which is compact in a radial direction with respect to a principal optical axis and capable of producing high-intensity light beams without limitation on the wavelengths of light beams emitted from light sources used. <P>SOLUTION: In the light beam adder, while a reflecting mirror M1 having a through-hole M11 formed in the center of a reflecting surface M12 formed on a surface is arranged so that the center axis line of the through-hole M11 coincides with the principal optical axis L and that the reflecting surface M12 inclines with respect to the principal optical axis L, a first light source 1 is provided which emits a first light of which optical axis L1 coincides with the principal optical axis L from a rear side of the reflecting mirror M1 toward the front side, a second light source 2 is provided to a location shifted from the principal optical axis L, which emits a second light including a low-light-intensity region formed in the center and a high-light-intensity region formed on the periphery, the low-light-intensity region and the high-light-intensity region of the second light are irradiated onto the through hole M11 and the reflecting surface M12, respectively, and the second light reflected by the reflecting surface M12 advances with the first light with its optical axis L2 coincident with the principal optical axis L. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2011,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an optical adder that matches the optical axes of light emitted from a plurality of light sources and travels together.

  Conventionally, as shown in Patent Document 1, a plurality of LEDs are densely arranged on the same surface, and the light traveling directions of the respective LEDs are aligned in the same direction to form a high light source. Are known.

  However, if the LEDs are arranged in a dense manner, heat generated from the LEDs is accumulated, resulting in problems such as a reduction in light emission efficiency and a failure. Further, in order to obtain a light source with a higher light amount, it is necessary to arrange more LEDs side by side on the surface, so that the light source itself becomes larger in the radial direction with respect to the optical axis. Therefore, it is difficult to apply such a light source to an application that requires a high amount of light and has a limited radial space with respect to the optical axis.

  Further, as shown in Patent Document 2, a first LED that emits a first light having a certain wavelength and a second light having a wavelength different from that of the first LED are emitted, and the optical axis thereof is orthogonal to the optical axis of the first LED. There is a light adder including a second LED arranged in such a manner and a dichroic mirror arranged at an intersection of the optical axes so as to be inclined with respect to each optical axis. In this case, the first light from the first LED is transmitted by the dichroic mirror and the second light from the second LED is reflected so that the optical axes of the first light and the second light coincide with each other and travel together. Make high-intensity light.

  However, in order to efficiently transmit and reflect light with the dichroic mirror, it is necessary to allow light of an appropriate wavelength to be incident on the transmission surface and the reflection surface of the dichroic mirror, and multiple LEDs that emit light of different wavelengths respectively. You have to prepare the kind. That is, it is impossible to add light of the same wavelength.

Even if light of an appropriate wavelength is incident on the dichroic mirror, a significant portion of the light incident on the transmission surface is reflected and a substantial portion of the light incident on the reflection surface is transmitted. It is difficult to make high-intensity light efficiently.
JP 2005-108544 A JP 2006-139044 A

  In view of the problems as described above, the present invention can suitably perform heat dissipation of the light source, and the wavelength of light emitted from the light source to be used is not limited, but in the radial direction with respect to the main optical axis. An object of the present invention is to provide a light adder that is compact and can produce a high amount of light.

  That is, the optical adder according to the present invention is a reflection mirror having a through hole in the center of a reflection surface formed on the surface, the central axis of the through hole matches the main optical axis, and the reflection surface is the main optical axis. The first light source that emits the first light whose optical axis coincides with the main optical axis from the back surface side to the front surface side of the reflecting mirror is provided, and at the center is low. A second light source that emits second light having a light amount region formed and a high light amount region formed in a peripheral portion is provided in a portion displaced from the main optical axis, and the low light amount region of the second light is formed in the through hole. Each of the light quantity regions is irradiated on the reflecting surface, and the second light reflected by the reflecting surface is configured to travel with the first light with its optical axis coinciding with the main optical axis. To do.

  In this case, the first light whose optical axis matches the main optical axis travels from the back side to the front side of the reflecting mirror through the central through hole of the reflecting mirror, and the second light source Since the second light emitted from the light is reflected by the reflecting surface and travels with the first light with its optical axis coinciding with the main optical axis, the first light and the second light are collected and a high amount of light is collected. Can be light.

  Furthermore, since the first light source that emits the first light whose optical axis coincides with the main optical axis is provided, and the second light source that emits the second light is provided in a portion displaced from the main optical axis, Therefore, it becomes easy to dissipate heat generated by the light source. Therefore, it is possible to prevent problems such as a decrease in luminous efficiency or a failure due to heat generated by the light source.

  In addition, since it is not necessary to arrange a plurality of light sources on the same plane with the light emitting directions aligned in order to obtain a high amount of light, it is compactly configured in a radial direction with the main optical axis as a reference. be able to.

  Further, the first light travels along the main optical axis from the back surface side to the front surface side of the reflecting mirror through the central through hole of the reflecting mirror, and the second light is only reflected by the reflecting mirror. The wavelength of the light emitted from the first light source and the second light source is not limited, and the light having the same wavelength can be used for both the first light source and the second light source. Therefore, since the same type of light source can be used, the cost can be reduced.

  Further, the first light only passes through the through hole of the reflecting mirror, and the low light amount region of the second light is irradiated to the through hole of the reflecting mirror and the high light amount region is irradiated to the reflecting surface. Light can be collected efficiently without almost losing the light quantity of two lights.

  In order to allow the first light emitted from the first light source to pass through from the back surface side to the front surface side without being blocked by the reflecting mirror so that the light can be collected more efficiently, the first light source includes: What is necessary is just to provide the 1st light emitting element and the 1st optical element which converges the light beam of the said 1st light inject | emitted from the said 1st light emitting element to the magnitude | size of the said through-hole.

  In order to form the low light amount region and the high light amount region of the second light, the second light source includes a second light emitting element, the low light amount region of the second light emitted from the second light emitting element, and the What is necessary is just to provide the 2nd optical element which forms a high light quantity area | region.

  As a specific embodiment of the second optical element, a convex lens having a concave portion at the center can be cited. If this is the case, the light incident on the convex lens that is incident on the central part is refracted to the peripheral part, so a low light quantity region is formed in the central part and a high light quantity area is formed in the peripheral part. can do.

  In order to form a low light amount region and a high light amount region in the second light, it is only necessary that the orientation characteristics of the second light emitting element have a low light amount at the center and a high light amount at the periphery.

  In order to collect the first light and the second light without wasting the light quantity of the second light most, all the light quantities of the second light may be in the high light quantity region.

  In order to produce a higher amount of light, a plurality of the reflecting mirrors are provided along the main optical axis, and a light source for emitting light to the reflecting surface is provided corresponding to each reflecting mirror. Is formed with a low light amount region in the center and a high light amount region in the peripheral part, the low light amount region is irradiated to the through hole, the high light amount region is irradiated to the reflection surface, and the light reflected by the reflection surface is What is necessary is just to comprise so that the optical axis may correspond with the said main optical axis and to advance with the said 1st light.

  Specific embodiments of the first light source and the second light source include those in which the first light emitting element or the second light emitting element is an LED.

  If the light adder is a single unit and a plurality of lighting devices are arranged on the same plane, one unit is compactly configured in the radial direction with the main optical axis as a reference, so that a high amount of light is produced. The lighting device can also be configured compactly in the radial direction with respect to the main optical axis.

  When the light adder according to the present invention is used for a headlight, it is possible to obtain a headlight that is less likely to cause problems due to heat generation while having a high light quantity. Furthermore, the optical adder according to the present invention can be configured compactly in the radial direction with respect to the main optical axis, and is therefore suitable for headlights that have a limited space in the radial direction with respect to the optical axis. Can be used.

  According to the optical adder according to the present invention configured as described above, the optical axes of the light emitted from a plurality of light sources are matched and traveled together, so that a high amount of light can be produced. Also, the first light only passes through the through hole, and the second light also irradiates the low light amount region to the through hole and the high light amount region to the reflecting surface to reflect most of the light. Light can be collected with efficiency. Furthermore, since the first light source and the second light source are arranged at positions separated from each other, it is possible to prevent a problem caused by heat generation of the light source. In addition, since it is not necessary to arrange a plurality of light sources in the same plane so that the light emission directions are aligned, the radial direction based on the main optical axis can be compactly configured.

  Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

  The light adder 100 according to the present embodiment is used as a light source for a headlight of an automobile.

  Specifically, as shown in FIG. 1, the optical adder 100 according to the present embodiment is provided such that the reflection surface M12 formed on the surface thereof is inclined with respect to the main optical axis L, and the central axis is the main optical axis. A first reflecting mirror M1 having a through-hole M11 that matches L, and a first light source that emits first light that matches the main optical axis L and the optical axis L1 from the back side to the front side of the first reflecting mirror M1. 1 is provided at a position deviated from the main optical axis L, emits second light perpendicular to the main optical axis L, and irradiates the second light onto the reflecting surface M12 of the reflecting mirror M1. The light source 2 is provided. The second light reflected by the reflecting surface M12 is configured to travel with the first light with its optical axis L2 aligned with the main optical axis L.

  The reflecting mirror M1 has a thin disc shape, and an elliptical through hole M11 is formed at the center thereof. The reflecting mirror M1 is arranged so as to be inclined so that an acute angle formed by the reflecting surface M12 and the main optical axis L is 45 degrees.

  The first light source 1 includes a first LED 11 that is a first light emitting element, and a first optical element 12 that converges the light beam of the first light emitted from the first LED 11 to the size of the through hole M11. Is.

  The first optical element 12 condenses the light emitted from the first LED 11 and reduces the size of the light flux, and is provided apart from the light emitting end of the first LED lens 121. As shown in FIG. 2, the first plano-convex lens 122 that converts the first light collected by the first LED lens 121 into parallel light and passes through the through hole M11 is provided.

  The second light source 2 is a second LED 21 that is a second light emitting element, and a low light amount region Lo is formed in the central portion of the second light emitted from the second LED 21, and a high light amount region Hi is formed in the peripheral portion. 2 optical elements 22. The second LED 21 is the same type of LED as the first LED 11 and emits light having the same wavelength.

  The second optical element 22 includes a second LED lens 221 that converts the second light emitted from the second LED 21 into parallel light, a second biconvex lens 222 that is spaced from the light emitting end of the second LED lens 221, and It is equipped with. By shifting the focus of the second biconvex lens 222, as shown in FIG. 2, a low light amount region Lo is formed in the central portion of the second light, a high light amount region Hi is formed in the peripheral portion, and the low light amount region Lo is formed. Is adjusted so that the through hole M11 is irradiated and the high light quantity region Hi is irradiated on the reflecting surface M12. Therefore, the light in the high light quantity region Hi that occupies most of the light quantity of the second light is reflected by the reflecting surface M12 and then travels with the first light with the optical axis L2 aligned with the main optical axis L.

  Thus, according to the optical adder 100 according to the present embodiment configured as described above, the first light is emitted so that the optical axis L1 thereof coincides with the main optical axis L, and passes through the first reflecting mirror M1. Since the second light passes through the hole M11 and is reflected by the reflecting surface M12, its optical axis L2 coincides with the main optical axis L and travels with the first light. The first light and the second light can be collected into a high amount of light.

  Further, the first optical element 12 allows the first light to pass through the through-hole M11 with the size of the light beam being narrowed to the size of the through-hole M11, so that almost all the light can pass therethrough. In the second light, since the light in the high light quantity region Hi is reflected by the reflection surface M12, only a small part of the light contained in the low light quantity region Lo is lost from the through hole M11 and travels with the first light. Therefore, since almost all the light emitted from the first LED 11 and the second LED 21 can be collected, it is possible to produce light with high efficiency and high light quantity.

  In addition, since the first light only passes through the through hole M11 and the second light is only reflected by the reflecting surface M12, the wavelengths used for the first light and the second light are not limited. Therefore, since the same type of light source can be used, cost reduction can be achieved.

  The first light source 1 is arranged so that its optical axis coincides with the main optical axis L, and the second light source 2 is deviated from the main optical axis L and perpendicular to the main optical axis L. Therefore, the first LED 11 and the second LED 21 are arranged at positions separated from each other, and the generated heat is easily radiated. Therefore, it is possible to prevent problems such as a decrease in luminous efficiency or a failure due to heat generated in the first LED 11 and the second LED 21.

  Furthermore, since it is not necessary to align the light emitting directions of the first light source 1 and the second light source 2 and arrange them on the same plane in order to produce a high amount of light, the radial with respect to the main optical axis L is used. It can be configured compactly in the direction. Therefore, a high amount of light such as a headlight is required, and it can be suitably used for applications where the radial space with respect to the optical axis is small.

  Next, another embodiment of the present invention will be described. In the following description, the same reference numerals are given to members corresponding to the embodiment.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the light adder of the above embodiment may be used as one light source, and the light adder 100 may collect light from another light source. Specifically, the light adding device 100 condenses the collected first light and second light with the second reflecting mirror M2 having the through hole M21 in the central portion provided to be inclined on the main optical axis L. And a light condensing element C for passing the light through the through-hole M21, and a third light incident on the reflecting surface M22 of the second reflecting mirror M2 provided to be deviated from the main optical axis L. 3 light sources 3.

  The second reflecting mirror M2 is on a thin disk, is inclined so that the acute angle formed by the reflecting surface M22 and the main optical axis L is 45 degrees, and the second reflecting mirror M2 is centered on the central axis of the through-hole M21 in the center. The main optical axis L is matched. The second reflecting mirror M1 is configured to have a larger diameter than the first reflecting mirror M1.

  The condensing element C is composed of two plano-convex lenses C1 and C2, and the collected first light and second light are made into parallel light, and the size of the light flux is that of the through hole M11 of the second reflecting mirror M1. The light is condensed so as to be the same size. Therefore, all of the first light and the second light can pass through the through hole M11 of the second reflecting mirror M1.

  The third light source 3 is provided such that the optical axis L3 of the third light when emitted is perpendicular to the main optical axis L. The third light source 3 includes a third LED 31 and a third optical element 32 that forms a low light amount region Lo at the center of the third light emitted from the third LED 31 and forms a high light amount region Hi at the peripheral portion. It is a thing.

  The third optical element 32 includes a third LED lens 321 that converts the third light emitted from the third LED 31 into parallel light, a third biconvex lens 322 that is spaced from the light emitting end of the third LED lens 321, A concave lens 323 provided between the three biconvex lens 322 and the second reflecting mirror M1 is provided. By shifting the focus of the third biconvex lens 322 and the concave lens 323, a low light amount region Lo is formed in the central portion of the third light, a high light amount region Hi is formed in the peripheral portion, and the low light amount region Lo is formed in the through hole M21. The high light quantity region Hi is adjusted so as to be applied to the reflecting surface M22.

  In such a case, the optical axes L1 and L2 coincide with the main optical axis L and the first light and the second light traveling together, and the optical axis L3 of the third light is further changed to the main optical axis L. Since both of them can be made to coincide with each other, a higher amount of light can be produced.

  Furthermore, since a light source is added along the main optical axis L, it is possible to produce a higher amount of light while maintaining a compact configuration in the radial direction with respect to the main optical axis L. .

  In addition, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment.

  For example, the light adder may be a unit, and a plurality of the units may be arranged on the same plane to emit a large amount of light. Since one unit is compactly configured in the radial direction with respect to the main optical axis L, a radial with respect to the main optical axis L of the large light source S can be produced while producing a high amount of light even if arranged in this way. The direction can also be configured compactly.

  As shown in FIG. 4, a biconvex lens 222 having a concave portion 2221 at the center may be used for the second optical element 22. If this is the case, the light in the central part of the parallel light incident on the biconvex lens 222 is refracted to the peripheral part, so the low light quantity region Lo is formed in the central part, and the high light quantity area Hi is formed in the peripheral part. Can be formed. In addition, the LED that emits light may be a surface light source or a point light source.

  In order to form a low light quantity region in the central part and a high light quantity area in the peripheral part of the second light, the light distribution characteristics of the second LED 21 are those having a low light quantity in the central part and a high light quantity in the peripheral part. It doesn't matter.

  There may be no light amount in the low light amount region Lo at the center of the second light, and all light may be collected in the high light amount region Hi in the peripheral portion. If it does in this way, the 1st light and the 2nd light can be collected with the highest efficiency, and it can be set as the high light quantity light.

  In order to produce a higher amount of light, the fourth light source, the fifth light source,... The Nth light source are provided in the same manner as the third light source, and the optical axis of the light emitted from each light source is the main optical axis. It is also possible to make them proceed together in accordance with

  The second light source and the third light source may be provided such that the direction of the optical axis at the time when the light is emitted is inclined with respect to the main optical axis. With such a configuration, the optical adder can be made more compact in the radial direction with respect to the main optical axis.

The reflecting mirror is not limited to a thin disk shape, but may be any one having a reflecting surface and a through hole. For example, the reflecting mirror has a shape obtained by obliquely cutting the side surface of the cylinder, the cutting surface has a reflecting surface, and has a through-hole penetrating from the center of the bottom surface to the center of the cutting surface. It doesn't matter.
Further, the shape of the through hole of the reflecting mirror is not limited to an ellipse. For example, various shapes such as a rectangular shape may be used.

  The optical element is not limited to a lens. For example, a diffraction grating may be used to make the light beam of the first light the size of the through hole, thereby forming the low light amount region and the high light amount region of the second light.

  The light emitting element is not limited to the LED. An organic EL, a xenon lamp, a krypton lamp, a cold cathode tube, or the like may be used.

  The light adder may be used as a light source for a projector other than a headlight.

  In this specification, light is a concept including visible light, infrared light, ultraviolet light, electromagnetic waves, and the like.

  In addition, some or all of the above-described embodiments and modified embodiments may be combined as appropriate, and the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and various modifications can be made without departing from the spirit of the present invention. .

The schematic diagram of the optical addition apparatus which concerns on this embodiment. The schematic diagram which shows the light beam of the light inject | emitted from each light source in the embodiment The schematic diagram of the optical addition apparatus which concerns on another embodiment. The schematic diagram of the 2nd light source which concerns on another embodiment.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 100 ... Optical adder 1 ... 1st light source 2 ... 2nd light source M1 ... Reflective mirror M11 ... Through-hole M12 ... Reflective surface L1, L2 ... Optical axis L ... -Main optical axis 11 ... 1st light emitting element (1st LED)
12 ... 1st optical element 21 ... 2nd light emitting element (2nd LED)
22 ... Second optical element

Claims (10)

While disposing a reflecting mirror having a through hole in the center of the reflecting surface formed on the surface so that the central axis of the through hole matches the main optical axis and the reflecting surface is inclined with respect to the main optical axis,
A first light source that emits first light whose optical axis coincides with the main optical axis from the back surface side to the front surface side of the reflecting mirror is provided, and a low light amount region is formed in the central portion, and a high light amount region is formed in the peripheral portion. A second light source that emits the second light formed is provided at a position displaced from the main optical axis;
The low light amount region of the second light is irradiated to the through-hole, and the high light amount region is irradiated to the reflection surface, and the second light reflected by the reflection surface matches the optical axis with the main optical axis, and the first light. An optical adder configured to travel with light.   The first light source includes a first light emitting element and a first optical element for converging the light beam of the first light emitted from the first light emitting element to the size of the through hole. The optical adder according to 1.   The second light source includes a second light emitting element, and a second optical element that forms the low light quantity region and the high light quantity region in the second light emitted from the second light emitting element. The optical adder according to claim 1 or 2.   The optical adder according to claim 3, wherein the second optical element is a convex lens having a concave portion at a central portion.   The light adding device according to claim 3 or 4, wherein light distribution characteristics of the second light emitting element are such that a central portion has a low light amount and a peripheral portion has a high light amount.   6. The light adder according to claim 1, wherein all the light amounts of the second light are in the high light amount region.   A plurality of the reflecting mirrors are provided along the main optical axis, and a light source for emitting light is provided on the reflecting surface corresponding to each reflecting mirror. A high light quantity region is formed in the part, the low light quantity region is irradiated to the through hole, the high light quantity region is irradiated to the reflecting surface, and the light reflected by the reflecting surface is made to match the optical axis with the main optical axis. 7. The optical adder according to claim 1, wherein the optical adder is configured to travel together with the first light.   The light adding device according to claim 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 or 7, wherein the first light emitting element or the second light emitting element is an LED.   A lighting device in which a plurality of the light adding devices according to claim 1 are arranged as one unit on the same plane.   A headlight using the light adder according to claim 1.