JPH0790818A - Optical fiber type indicating lamp - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To improve brightness by effectively using all light of optical fibers by way of arranging head end parts of a large number of the optical fibers so that they are projected in front of a reflecting surface as well as providing the reflecting surface on the overall surface of a base. CONSTITUTION:From head end parts of a plural number of optical fibers, light is emitted. A rectilinear component (a) of light is transmitted through an indicating member 3a and an indicating plate 3 and is used for luminous indication. Forwarding directions of a component reflecting backward by way of hitting on the indicating member 3a or the indicating plate 3 and a component diffused in the circumference from the head end parts of the optical fibers 5 are changed by a reflecting surface 13. These components are reflected back to the front by the reflecting surface 13. Thereby, these components are also used for luminous indication. Consequently, as all the optical components are transmitted through the indicating member 3a and the indicating plate 3 and used for luminous indication, it is possible to provide a bright indicating lamp.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an optical fiber type indicator lamp used for displaying road signs, advertisements and the like.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art As an optical fiber type indicator lamp used for conventional road signs, one having a structure of a light emitting display section as shown in FIG. 6 is known. That is, on the front surface of the display housing (not shown), a display member a having a display shape such as predetermined characters and figures made of a transparent color film on the back surface is formed of an acrylic plate or the like attached to the back surface. A transparent, colorless or semi-transparent display plate A is provided, and a substrate B for mounting an optical fiber is arranged behind the display plate A in parallel with and facing the display plate A. , A light source D which is inserted through a large number of through holes formed in the substrate at a position facing the back of the display member a, and the rear ends of the large number of optical fibers C are connected to a power source (not shown). The light from the light source D passes through the optical fibers C and is emitted from the tip of the optical fiber C, and is transmitted through the display member a and the display plate A in front of the optical fiber C. By the table It is intended to operate to perform light-emitting display members.

[0003]

However, in the above-mentioned conventional optical fiber type indicator lamp, as shown in the same figure, the light emitted from the tip of the optical fiber C is the indicator member a and the indicator plate in front of it. The straight traveling component (a) that passes through A is only used for light emission display of the display member a, and as shown in the figure, the component (b) that reflects the display plate A and is reflected backward and from the tip of the optical fiber C. Since the leakage component (c) radiating to the circumferential side is not used, the light from the light source is not sufficiently effectively used for the light emission display, resulting in waste and at the same time the light emission display of the display member a. It has the drawback of becoming insufficient. Therefore, there is a demand for an optical fiber type indicator lamp that can increase the utilization rate of light emitted from the light source with the same electric power as in the conventional art and can perform brighter light emission display.

[0004]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention solves the above-mentioned problems of the prior art and relates to an optical fiber type indicator lamp which satisfies the above-mentioned needs, and is provided with a light-transmitting and colored display member. Of the optical fiber, and the substrate is arranged so as to face the display plate, and the tips of a large number of optical fibers are formed in a large number of through holes formed in the substrate at positions corresponding to the back of the display member. In an optical fiber type indicator lamp, which is arranged by inserting it, and the rear end portion of the plurality of optical fibers is connected to a light source connected to a power source, a reflecting surface is provided on the entire surface of the substrate and The optical fiber is characterized in that the front end portion of the optical fiber is inserted into a through hole formed in the substrate so as to be projected in front of the reflecting surface.

[0005]

In the light emitted from the tip of each optical fiber projecting forward from the reflecting surface, the rectilinear component thereof is transmitted through the translucent display member and the translucent display plate and utilized for light emission display. The component which strikes the display plate and is reflected back and the component which is diffused laterally from the tip end hits the reflecting surface provided on the front surface of the substrate and is reflected back forward, and the reflected light is as shown in FIG. Since it hits the front display member and passes through the display member and the translucent display plate, these components are also effectively used for the light emitting display of the display member, and the brighter light emitting display can be performed. In this case, the reflecting surface is formed to have the same shape and size as the display member, and when the reflecting surface is provided so as to face the display member, the reflected light of the above-mentioned component is applied to the display member surface to transmit the light. While the display can be intensively performed, since the reflected light does not substantially hit the display plate surface on the outer periphery of the display member, it is possible to clearly stand up the light emitting display wheel of the display member, The reflected light can be used without waste. Further, the power source is composed of a solar cell and a storage battery, and by connecting a light source, a control box, and a light source connected to the solar cell to a rear end portion of the plurality of optical fibers, during the daytime,
If the storage battery is charged by the solar cell and the surroundings become dark,
Electric power from the storage battery is emitted from the light source through the control system through the optical fiber to cause a predetermined light emission display of the display member, and can be repeatedly used as a road sign at night for a long period of time.

[0006]

EXAMPLES Examples of the optical fiber type indicator lamp of the present invention will be described below. 1-5 show an embodiment of a fiber optic indicator light suitable for use as a road sign. In the drawings, 1 indicates an optical fiber indicator lamp of the present invention. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the indicator lamp 1 comprises a thin rectangular housing 2 made of an aluminum alloy plate having a front opening, and various components described later. That is, a transparent display plate 3 made of colorless transparent or translucent synthetic resin, glass, etc. is fixed to the front opening of the housing 2, and the display plate 3 is provided with a colored transparent transparent plate. A display member 3a having a desired display form such as letters and figures is provided by a light-sensitive sheet member or printing, and the display for the illustrated road sign is, for example, made of a transparent red color film as a material, and the traveling direction of the vehicle. 1 shows a dogleg-shaped display member 3a which is attached to the back surface of the display plate 3 with a certain interval as shown in FIG. The housing 2
2 and 4, there is a required space between the display plate 3 and the display plate 3 in the back of the display plate 3 and in parallel therewith, a substrate made of synthetic resin, wood, inorganic material or the like. 4 are arranged, and the left and right edges thereof are L-shaped support frames 4 on the inner surface of the housing 2.
Fix via a. A large number of optical fibers 5, 5, ...
, The front end portions 5a, 5a, ... of the display member 3 on the substrate 4.
.. are inserted through a large number of through holes 6, 6, 6, ... Arranged at opposite positions behind a and fixed to the substrate 3 via an adhesive 7. In this way, a large number of optical fibers 5, 5, ... Arranged opposite each other behind each display member 3a.
The respective optical fiber groups are bundled at their rear ends and mounted in the respective adapters 8 from one end thereof, and are connected in a state of being opposed to a light source 9 such as an LED mounted at the other end. As shown in FIG. 5, the light source 9 is connected to a control system 10 fixed inside the housing 2, and is connected to a power source via the control system 10. In the case of the embodiment, the power source is composed of a solar cell 11 arranged to be exposed on the top wall of the housing 2 and a storage battery 11 fixed in the housing 2. As shown in FIG. 5, the control system 10 comprises a well-known light / dark detection circuit, a blinking signal generating circuit, and a forward feeding circuit, whereby the three optical fiber groups 5, 5, ... Corresponding to the front display member 3a, 3a,
3a sequentially flashes and emits light so as to guide the traveling direction of the vehicle.

Further, according to the present invention, the reflecting surface is formed on the front surface of the substrate 4, and the tip portions of the plurality of optical fibers are inserted into the through holes formed in the substrate 4 to form the reflecting surface. It is arranged so as to project to the front of. In the illustrated example, the reflecting surface 13 is a separately prepared aluminum foil, aluminum metal plate,
A metal-deposited film of aluminum or the like, and a sheet-shaped reflecting member such as a face material in which countless glass beads were fitted into the deposited film to form an uneven surface were attached to the front surface of the substrate 4 and provided. Indicate the case. In this case, as the reflecting member 13, the tip portions 5a, 5 of the above-mentioned multiple optical fibers 5, 5, ...
A large number of through holes 13a, 13a, ... Through which a, ... Are inserted, are produced, and these are formed in the substrate 4 by forming the through holes 13a, 13a ,. Attached in the aligned state, and inserting the tip portions 5a, 5a, ... Of the corresponding optical fibers 5, 5, ... Into these, the tip portions 5a, 5a ,. A certain light emitting display section is configured. The reflecting surface 13 may be provided by attaching the separately prepared reflecting member as described above,
The substrate 4 itself may be a metal plate having a bright surface with good reflectivity, or the substrate 4 made of a desired material may be provided by performing a bright surface treatment chemically by plating or other means. Further, since the reflecting surface 13 reflects light incident at various angles, it is preferable to form the reflecting surface 13 having a fine uneven surface shape as shown in the drawing.
In addition, it is preferable that the tip of the tip portion 5a of each optical fiber 5 has a rounded shape by heat treatment as shown in the drawing so that light passing through the optical fiber goes straight as much as possible.

Further, according to the present invention, the reflecting surface 13 is
It is preferable that the display member is formed to have the same size and shape as the display member, and the display member is provided to face the back of the display member. In the illustrated example, the reflecting member made of an aluminum sheet is formed in a dogleg shape as shown in FIG. 3 according to the size and shape of each display member 3a shown in FIG. It will be installed exactly facing the back. Thus, the respective reflecting surfaces 13, 13, facing the back of the display members 3a, 3a, 3a made of three light-transmitting color films, which are respectively adhered to the back surface of the light-transmitting display plate 3, are provided. A light-emitting display unit of the indicator lamp 1 of the present invention is constructed in which a plurality of optical fibers 5, 5, ... Thus, in this case, the meaning that the reflecting surface 13 is formed in the same size and shape as the display member 3a means that the size and shape of the reflecting surface are slightly different from those of the display member 3a as long as the above-mentioned effects can be obtained. Even if different, it means substantially the same size and shape. The reflective surface 13
The surface of each display member 3a can be intensively irradiated with the reflected light from the display member 3a, while the outer peripheral surface area of the display member 3a is prevented from being irradiated with the reflected light as much as possible, and thus the display member 3a It is possible to clearly stand up the circle of the light-emitting display, and to eliminate unnecessary reflected light as much as possible, so that the light-emitting display of the display member 3a can be performed with high utilization efficiency.

Next, the operation of the above-described indicator lamp 1 of the present invention will be described. During the daytime, the solar cell 11 generates a starting force by the light of the sun, and the light / dark detection circuit of the control system 10 charges the storage battery 12. When the area becomes dark, electric power is sequentially supplied from the storage battery 12 to the light source 9 corresponding to each optical fiber group through the blinking signal generating circuit and the sequential feeding circuit by switching, and these power sources 9 are sequentially blinked. Thus, the respective optical fiber groups 5 connected to them are sequentially blinked, so that the respective display members 3a, 3a, 3a located in front of which are illuminated thereby are sequentially blinked, and thus the road marking of the vehicle. It works as an indicator light. In this case, each optical fiber 5 has a tip 5a.
As for the light emitted from, the straight component (a) thereof passes through the display member 3a and the display plate 3 in front of it, and this is useful for the light emission display as in the conventional indicator lamp. According to the invention, the reflecting surface 13 provided on the front surface of the substrate 4 is provided, and the tip portions 5a of the plurality of optical fibers 5 penetrate the reflecting surface 13 and project to the front thereof. Of the light emitted from the tip portion 5a of the optical fiber 5, the light component which strikes the display plate 3 and is reflected and the light component which diffuses from the peripheral side surface of the tip portion 5a to the surroundings are respectively reflected as shown in FIG. The light component (b) '(c)' which is reflected by the surface 13 and moves forward and is transmitted through the display member 3a is effectively used for the light emission display of the display member 3a. Further, as a result, the display member 3a is displayed brighter to provide a brighter indicator lamp 1, and at the same time, the utilization rate of light from the light source can be increased with the same power. The indicator lamp according to the present invention is not only used as a road sign lamp, but also mounted and used on each of the pillars standing at a constant interval along a curve of a road, etc.

The indicator light 1 of the present invention is used not only for road signs but also for advertisement display such as advertisement towers, and the display member thereof is a predetermined character or figure according to its use, or a combination thereof. Can be displayed with.

[0011]

As described above, according to the present invention, a substrate is arranged behind a display member provided with a display member so as to face the display member, and a large number of through holes are formed in the substrate. In an optical fiber indicator having a light emitting display unit formed by inserting the tip of the optical fiber, a reflecting surface is provided on the front surface of the substrate, and the tip of the optical fiber is arranged to be inserted and projected in front of the reflecting surface. Further, the utilization factor of the light emission display of the display member by the light emitted from these optical fibers with the same electric power is improved, and the light emission display of the display member can be further brightened. In this case, when the reflecting surface is formed to have substantially the same shape and size as the display member in front of it, the light reflected by the reflecting surface is intensively applied to the display member in front of it to allow the light to pass therethrough. On the other hand, since the reflected light to the outer peripheral surface area other than the display member can be almost eliminated, there is an effect that the light emitting display area of the display member can be clearly raised. Further, when the power source is composed of a solar cell and a storage battery, it is unnecessary to supply electric power from the outside, and as an indicator light for road signs or the like, it can be used as a good indicator light for a long period of time. Have.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an example of an optical fiber type indicator lamp of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a side view in which a part of the indicator lamp is cut off.

FIG. 3 is a plan view of a substrate having a plurality of optical fibers and a reflecting surface of the indicator lamp.

FIG. 4 is a side view showing a basic structure of a light emitting display section of the indicator lamp.

FIG. 5 is an electric system diagram including a control system of the indicator lamp.

FIG. 6 shows a basic structure of a light emitting display section of a conventional indicator lamp.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 indicator light 2 housing 3
Display board 3a Display member 4 Substrate 5
Optical fiber 5a Optical fiber tip 6 Through hole 9
Light source 10 Control system 11 Solar cell 1
2 Storage battery 13 Reflective surface 13a Through hole

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A translucent display plate provided with a translucent and colored display member, and a substrate is disposed behind the translucent display plate so as to face the display plate, and the tips of a large number of optical fibers are provided.
An optical fiber type in which the substrate is inserted through a large number of through holes formed at positions facing the back of the display member, and the rear ends of the large number of optical fibers are connected to a light source connected to a power source. In the indicator lamp, a reflecting surface is provided on the front surface of the substrate, and the tip end portions of the plurality of optical fibers are inserted into through holes formed in the substrate so as to project in front of the reflecting surface. A characteristic optical fiber type indicator light. 2. The optical fiber type indicator lamp according to claim 1, wherein the reflection surface is formed in the same shape and size as the display member, and the reflection surface is provided so as to face the display member. 3. The optical fiber type display according to claim 1, wherein the power source comprises a solar battery and a storage battery, and a control system connected to the solar battery and a light source are connected to the rear ends of the plurality of optical fibers. light.