JPH11102004A - Illuminator - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an illuminator without any loss in a light beam even if the exposed area of the opening part of a camera main body housing a reflecting shade and the area of the opening part of the reflecting shade do not coincide in the size, for convenience of planning or designing. SOLUTION: In an illuminator provided with a light emitting tube 10 and a reflecting shade 20 for reflecting a light beam projected from the light emitting tube 10, the shape of a section perpendicular to the axial direction of the light emitting tube 10 of the reflecting shade 20 is made so as to be different at least one place in the axial direction of the light emitting tube 10. Further, in the illuminator, the shape of the section perpendicular to the axial direction of the tube 10 of the reflecting shade 20 is made so as to have at least one of a section which is perpendicular to the axial direction of the tube 10 and continuously changed in the axial direction of the tube 10 or a discontinuous section.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a lighting device,
More specifically, it relates to the shape of a reflector used in a flash light emitting device such as a camera.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art FIGS. 24 to 27 are views for explaining a conventional flash light emitting device for a camera. FIG. 24 is an external perspective view of the flash light emitting device for a camera, and FIG. 26 is a top view of the reflector 2, and FIG. 27 is a front view of the opening of the reflector 2. As shown in FIG.

As shown in FIG. 24, generally, a flash light emitting device of a camera includes a flash discharge tube 1 in which xenon (Xe) gas or the like is sealed and a reflector 2 for reflecting light from the flash discharge tube 1 to the front. And the flash discharge tube 1
As shown in FIG. 25, the cross-sectional shape perpendicular to the axial direction is substantially elliptical or substantially quadratic.

Further, as shown in FIG. 24, the side surface of the reflector 2 is formed of a flat plate, and as apparent from the top view of FIG. 26, the side surface has a predetermined angle toward the opening. In a “C” shape.

[0005]

FIGS. 28 to 32 are diagrams for explaining the problems of the conventional flash light emitting device for a camera. FIG. 28 shows a state where the shape of the frontage of the flash light emitting device is changed with respect to the opening of the main body. FIG. 29
30 shows a cross-sectional shape of the central portion in FIG. 28, FIG. 29 shows a state in which the opening of the reflector 2 is partially cut, and FIG. 30 shows a state in which the opening of the reflector 2 is partially masked. Each is shown.

As shown in FIG. 28, when the light exit opening of the reflector 2 is installed on the front of the camera body with the light exit opening facing the subject, the area of the body opening provided on the front of the camera body and the opening of the reflector 2 If the area is substantially the same, there is no problem in that the subject irradiation light is not lost and the light amount is lost.

However, if the area of the opening of the camera main body is smaller than the area of the opening of the reflector 2 as shown in FIG. 28, as shown in FIG. A part of the outer peripheral portion of the reflector 2 is cut to fit the size of the opening of the main body, or a predetermined portion of the reflector 2 is covered with a mask 3 according to the size of the opening of the body as shown in FIG. Had to be matched. for that reason,
The loss of the amount of light applied to the subject has increased.

That is, if the reflector 2 is cut as shown by the dotted line in FIG. 29, light rays that should be reflected on the reflecting surface of the umbrella are not reflected but escape to the outside, resulting in loss of light rays. There was a problem. Further, when the reflector 2 is covered as shown in FIG. 30, there is a problem that reflection and absorption by the mask 3 occur, and a light loss also occurs.

Furthermore, even if the shape of the front opening of the reflector is made to be a predetermined shape with emphasis on design, there is a problem that light loss occurs depending on the shape. That is, as in the camera shown in FIG. 31, the camera is rotatable between a storage position where the flash unit is stored in the camera main body and a protruding position where the flash unit protrudes from the outer shape of the camera main body and emits light. As shown in FIG. 32, when the flash unit comes to the protruding position, the light irradiation unit (2
Part of the dotted line) overlaps part of the camera body,
Irradiation light was turned off, resulting in loss of light.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made to solve the above problems, and for the sake of design or design, the size of the exposed area of the opening of the camera body for storing the reflector and the size of the opening of the reflector are reduced. It is an object of the present invention to provide a lighting device with high light-gathering efficiency with no light beam loss even if they do not match.

[0011]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a lighting device having an arc tube and a reflector for reflecting a light beam emitted from the arc tube. A cross-sectional shape of the reflector umbrella perpendicular to the axial direction of the arc tube is different from at least one portion in the axial direction of the arc tube.

[0012] In order to achieve the above object, a second lighting device according to the present invention is characterized in that the reflector in the first lighting device is continuous with the arc tube perpendicular to the axis direction of the arc tube. It is characterized by having a changing cross section.

In order to achieve the above object, a third lighting device according to the present invention is arranged such that the reflector in the first lighting device is perpendicular to the axial direction of the arc tube and is discontinuous in the axial direction of the arc tube. It has a cross section.

In order to achieve the above object, a fourth illumination device according to the present invention is arranged such that the reflector in the first illumination device is continuous with the light emitting tube in the axial direction perpendicular to the axial direction of the light emitting tube. It has at least one of a changing cross section and a discontinuous cross section.

[0015]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings.

FIGS. 1 to 5 are views for explaining a first embodiment of the present invention, and show an example of a flash light emitting device provided in a camera as an illumination device.

FIG. 1 is an external perspective view of a flash light emitting device used in a camera, FIG. 2 is a top view of the flash light emitting device, and FIG. 3 is a front view of an opening of the flash light emitting device. . 4 and 5 are cross-sectional views showing two cross sections in FIG.

As shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, the flash light emitting device of the present embodiment includes a cylindrical flash discharge tube 10 and a reflector 20 having an inner surface formed of a thin aluminum plate having a reflective surface. It is configured. 4 and 5
As shown in (1), the sectional shape of the reflector 20 is formed as an elliptical shape, which is one of conic curves.

As shown in FIG. 2, side reflectors 20a and 20b are formed on the reflector 20. The shape of the side reflectors 20a and 20b when viewed from the top is the effective light emitting area of the flash discharge tube 10. It is provided so as to spread in a “C” shape from the end of E, and is formed so that the depth distance D, which is the distance from the flash discharge tube 10, is constant.

As shown in FIG. 3, the shape of the front opening is such that an opening width W perpendicular to the axial direction of the flash discharge tube 10 is set in the left-right direction from a substantially central portion of the flash discharge tube 10 (see FIG. 4). Each has a shape that gradually changes in the range of Wi to W1.

FIGS. 4 and 5 show the flash discharge tube 10 in the effective light emitting region E of the flash discharge tube 10 shown in FIG.
2 shows the shapes of two cross sections perpendicular to the axial direction.

As described with reference to FIG. 3, the cross-sectional shape shown in FIG. 5 has an elliptical shape with an opening width Wn, and similarly, the cross-sectional shape at a substantially central portion shown in FIG. 4 has an elliptical shape with an opening width Wi. ing. The first focal positions of the ellipses coincide with each other, and the axial center of the flash discharge tube 10 is located at the first focal position.

Therefore, in the above two cross sections, almost all the light beams emitted from the flash discharge tube 10 are reflected by the reflector 2.
0, the light is reflected at an angle of θi or θn, and the aperture width is W
The light is reflected in a range passing through the second focal point of the elliptical shape of i or Wn.

As described above, the shape of the cross section perpendicular to the axial direction of the flash discharge tube 10 is formed to be different from the cross section of the substantially central portion of the flash discharge tube 10, and the reflected light in each cross sectional shape is formed. Is passed through the focal position of the ellipse, so that the reflection efficiency does not decrease.

Therefore, when the size of the exposed area of the camera body opening for storing the reflector and the size of the opening of the reflector do not match, or when it is desired to change the shape of the opening of the reflector in design, the front surface of the reflector is used. If the opening width W of the opening is changed, a reflector having no light loss can be formed.

In the present embodiment, the sectional shape of the reflecting umbrella 20 is formed as an elliptical shape, which is one of conical curves, but it may be formed as a conical curve such as a parabola or a hyperbola. Needless to say, the shape does not have to be a perfect conic curve, and may be an elliptical shape or an approximate curve such as a hyperbola or a parabola.

Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.

The second embodiment shows an example of a flash light emitting device used for a camera as a lighting device, as in the first embodiment. 6 is an external perspective view of the flash light emitting device according to the second embodiment, FIG. 7 is a top view of the flash light emitting device, and FIG. 8 is a front view of an opening of the flash light emitting device.

FIGS. 9 and 10 are sectional views showing the sectional shape of the reflector in FIG. As shown in these figures, the cross-sectional shape of the present embodiment is formed as an elliptical shape which is one of conic curves, and an arbitrary cross-section of the elliptical shape is not constant.

As shown in FIGS. 6 to 10, the shape of the second embodiment is such that the reflector 20 described with reference to FIG. 3 of the first embodiment is divided at the center and one of them is used. ing. That is, as shown in FIG. 6, the shape of the side reflectors 40a and 40b formed on the reflector 40 is a flat plate, and this flat plate is an effective light emitting area E 'of the flash discharge tube 30 as shown in FIG. Is the same as the first embodiment in that it is provided so as to spread out in an “C” shape from the end of
The point that the depth distance D is formed so as to gradually increase from D1 to Dn along the axial direction of the flash discharge tube 30, and the opening width W of the front opening changes linearly as shown in FIG. (W1 to Wi)
This is different from the first embodiment.

FIGS. 9 and 10 show two different sectional shapes perpendicular to the axial direction of the flash discharge tube 30 in the effective light emitting area E 'of the flash discharge tube 30. FIG.

As in the first embodiment, the cross-sectional shapes shown in FIGS. 9 and 10 have the opening width Wn ′ and the depth distance D, respectively.
An ellipse of n ′ and an ellipse of an opening width Wn ″ and a depth distance Dn ″ are arranged such that the axial center of the flash discharge tube 30 is located at the first focal position of these ellipses.

Therefore, in the two cross sections, almost all the light rays emitted from the flash discharge tube 30 are reflected by the reflector 40.
Is reflected at an angle of θn ′ or θn ″, and is reflected in a range passing through the second focal point of each ellipse.

As described above, since the shape of the cross section perpendicular to the axial direction of the flash discharge tube 30 is formed differently, the reflection efficiency does not decrease. Therefore, when the size of the exposed area of the camera body opening for storing the reflective umbrella and the size of the opening of the reflective umbrella do not match, or when it is desired to change the shape of the opening of the reflective umbrella in design, the front opening of the reflective umbrella is If the shape is such that the opening width W changes, a reflector with no light loss can be produced.

Although the sectional shape of the reflector is elliptical in the second embodiment, a conical curve such as a parabola or a hyperbola may be formed by these approximate curves.

Next, a third embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.

In the first and second embodiments, different cross sections perpendicular to the axial direction of the arc tube are configured to be continuous. However, in the third embodiment, the reflector 50 has one discontinuous cross section. They differ in that they have one. That is, as shown in FIG. 11, the first reflector 50a formed with a continuous cross section having the height H and the continuous reflector having a height h smaller than the height of the first reflector 50a are formed. Second reflecting umbrella 50b
Are connected to each other, and a connecting portion K between the first reflector 50a and the second reflector 50b has a discontinuous cross section. FIG. 12 is a right side view of FIG.

As described above, according to the third embodiment, there is a case where the height of the opening of the camera main body for storing the reflector is changed at the coupling portion K due to design or design reasons. Also, a reflector having no light loss can be formed by forming the reflector into a shape suitable for each opening height.

Next, a fourth embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.

The first and second embodiments are configured so that different cross sections perpendicular to the axial direction of the arc tube are continuous, but the fourth embodiment has different cross sections in which the reflector 60 is continuous. It differs in that it is configured by a first reflector 60a and a second reflector 60b having the same continuous cross section. That is, as shown in FIG.
0a and the second reflecting umbrella 60b have a shape in which they are connected as a discontinuous cross section at the connecting portion K. Note that FIG.
3 is a right side view of FIG.

As described above, according to the fourth embodiment, the reflector is formed by combining a continuous different cross-section and the same continuous cross-section. It is possible to cope with the case where the shape of the opening of the camera main body for storing the umbrella is changed, and it is possible to produce a reflector having no light loss.

Next, a fifth embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.

In the fourth embodiment, the reflector 60 has a portion having a continuous different cross section and a portion having a continuous same cross section. However, the fifth embodiment is a combination thereof. . 15 and 15
16, the first and third reflectors 70a having different continuous cross sections are provided on both sides of the second reflector 70b having the same continuous cross section, The joints K1 and K2 of the reflector 70a and the reflector 70b are joined as a discontinuous cross section. Therefore, according to the fifth embodiment, effects similar to those of the fourth embodiment can be obtained.

Next, a sixth embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.

The sixth embodiment is, like the fifth embodiment, a reflector provided with a portion having a continuous different cross section and a portion having a continuous same cross section.
As shown in FIG. 17 and a side view 18 of FIG. 17 viewed from the right side, a portion having a continuous different cross section is formed on the upper side with respect to the central axis of the arc tube, and a portion having the same continuous cross section is a light emitting device. It is formed below the center axis of the tube. Therefore, according to the sixth embodiment, in addition to the effect of the fourth embodiment, an effect is particularly obtained when there is a restriction on the upper side with respect to the central axis of the arc tube.

Next, a seventh embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.

The sixth embodiment is an improvement of the fifth embodiment in which different continuous sections formed on the upper side with respect to the central axis of the arc tube are improved. As shown in a side view 20 as viewed from the right side of FIG. 19, a portion 90b having a continuous different cross-sectional portion 90a and a continuous same cross-section is formed on the upper side with respect to the central axis of the arc tube. Therefore, the same effect as in the sixth embodiment can be obtained.

Next, an eighth embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.

FIG. 21 is a front view of the eighth embodiment, and FIG.
As shown in FIG. 1, the outline portion sandwiching the central axis of the arc tube is formed by a conical curve such as an ellipse or a parabola, and has a shape symmetrical to a center line T passing through the arc tube center. The cross-sectional shape perpendicular to the center line of the arc tube is also formed to be a conical curve such as an ellipse or a parabola. FIG. 22 is a right side view of FIG.

As described above, in the third to eighth embodiments, the embodiment having the discontinuous cross section K has been described. An example in which these are incorporated in an actual camera is shown in FIG.
This will be described with reference to FIG.

FIG. 23 shows an example in which a seventh embodiment (see FIGS. 19 and 20) of the present invention is incorporated in a flash unit (see FIGS. 31 and 32) provided in a conventional camera. This is to prevent the amount of irradiation light from being reduced due to a “kernel” (see FIG. 32 which describes the related art) for the sake of design. That is, by cutting a portion corresponding to the “bent portion” to form a light irradiation plate having the shape shown in FIG. Light distribution is realized.

Although the embodiment of the present invention has been described above, the present invention is not limited to a lighting device for a camera.
Any lighting device may be used. In addition, it goes without saying that an optical member such as a Fresnel lens may be provided on the front surface of the reflector.

The embodiment of the present invention has been described above. According to the above embodiment, the following configuration can be obtained.

(1) In an illuminating device having an arc tube and a reflector whose cross section perpendicular to the axial direction of the arc tube is represented by a conical curve, the arc tube is common to a continuous conical section of the reflector. A lighting device, wherein the reflector is formed in a continuous section including a conical section having a different shape.

(2) The illuminating device according to (1), wherein the reflector has two symmetrical conical sections with a boundary substantially at the center of the arc tube.

(3) The illumination device according to (1), wherein the sectional shapes of the reflectors are all different conic sections.

(4) In a lighting device having a reflector for reflecting a light beam emitted from an arc tube, the shape of the reflecting surface of the reflector that is perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the arc tube varies depending on the longitudinal direction of the arc tube. A lighting device, comprising:

(5) The illumination device according to (4), wherein the cross-sectional shape of the reflection surface can be represented by a conic curve.

(6) In a flash light emitting device for a camera having a flash arc tube and a reflector having a cross section perpendicular to the axial direction of the flash arc tube represented by a conical curve, the flash arc tube is a series of the reflector. A flash light emitting device for a camera, wherein the reflector is formed of a continuous conic section including a conical section having a different shape.

(7) The continuous sectional shape of the reflector is characterized in that the reflector has an objective conic section in the axial direction of the flash tube with a boundary substantially at the center of the reflector. 6) The flash light emitting device of the camera according to the above.

(8) The flash light emitting device for a camera according to (6), wherein all the continuous sections of the reflector are formed in different conic sections.

(9) In a flash light emitting device of a camera having a flash arc tube and a reflector having a cross section perpendicular to the axial direction of the flash arc tube represented by a conical curve, the flash arc tube is a series of the reflector. A cough reflex umbrella, which is disposed at a common focal point for the conical section of the camera, wherein the cough reflector has different conical sections in the effective emission region of the cough flash tube.

(10) In a flashlight emitting device of a camera having a flash tube and a reflector for reflecting light from the flash tube, the reflector is continuous with a J-th portion having a continuous different cross section. And a second portion having a cross-section.

(11) The flash light emitting device for a camera according to (10), wherein a connecting portion between the first portion and the second portion is discontinuous.

(12) The flash light emitting device for a camera according to (10), wherein the first portion and the second portion are arranged on one side of a center axis of the flash tube.

(13) The flashlight emitting device for a camera according to (10), wherein the first portion and the second portion are arranged on one side of a center axis of the flash tube.

(14) The first portion is disposed on one side of the center axis of the flash tube, and the second portion is disposed on the other side of the center axis of the flash tube. (10) The flash light emitting device of the camera according to (10).

(15) In a flash light emitting device of a camera having a flash tube and a reflector for reflecting light from the flash tube, the reflector has a first portion having the same continuous section and the first portion. A second portion having a continuous same cross section having a height smaller than that of the first portion, wherein a connecting portion between the first portion and the second portion has a discontinuous portion; A flash light emitting device for a camera.

[0069]

According to the present invention, when the size of the exposed area of the opening of the camera main body for storing the reflector and the size of the opening of the reflector do not match, the light beam which has been conventionally lost can be effectively used. It is possible to provide a lighting device that can be utilized and has no light loss.

Further, by giving importance to the design, it is possible to provide an illuminating device with high light-collecting efficiency even when the shape of the front opening of the reflector and the shape of the opening of the camera body are different.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an external perspective view of a camera flash light emitting device according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a top view of the camera flash light emitting device of the first embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a front view of the camera flash light emitting device according to the first embodiment as viewed from an opening side.

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view showing a center cross section of the camera flash light emitting device of the first embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view showing a cross section of the flashlight emitting device for a camera according to the first embodiment, which is closer to one side than the center.

FIG. 6 is an external perspective view of a flash light emitting device for a camera according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a top view of a flash light emitting device for a camera according to a second embodiment.

FIG. 8 is a front view of a camera flash light emitting device according to a second embodiment as viewed from an opening side.

FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view showing a central cross-section of a camera flash light emitting device according to a second embodiment.

FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view showing a cross section of the flashlight emitting device for a camera according to the second embodiment, which is closer to one side than the center.

FIG. 11 is a front view of a flash light emitting device for a camera according to a third embodiment of the present invention as viewed from an opening side.

FIG. 12 is a side view of a camera flash light emitting device according to a third embodiment.

FIG. 13 is a front view of a flash light emitting device for a camera according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention as viewed from an opening side.

FIG. 14 is a side view of a flash light emitting device for a camera according to a fourth embodiment.

FIG. 15 is a front view of a camera flash light emitting device according to a fifth embodiment of the present invention as viewed from the opening side.

FIG. 16 is a side view of a flash light emitting device for a camera according to a fifth embodiment.

FIG. 17 is a front view of a camera flash light emitting device according to a sixth embodiment of the present invention as viewed from the opening side.

FIG. 18 is a side view of a camera flash light emitting device according to a sixth embodiment.

FIG. 19 is a front view of a flash light emitting device for a camera according to a seventh embodiment of the present invention as viewed from the opening side.

FIG. 20 is a side view of a flash light emitting device for a camera according to a seventh embodiment.

FIG. 21 is a front view of a flash light emitting device for a camera according to an eighth embodiment of the present invention as viewed from the opening side.

FIG. 22 is a side view of a flash light emitting device for a camera according to an eighth embodiment.

FIG. 23 is a diagram showing a state in which a reflector used for the camera flash light emitting device of the seventh embodiment is incorporated in a flash unit.

FIG. 24 is an external perspective view illustrating a conventional flash light emitting device for one camera.

FIG. 25 is a cross-sectional view of a conventional flash light emitting device for one camera at an arbitrary position.

FIG. 26 is a top view of a conventional flash light emitting device for one camera.

FIG. 27 is a front view of a conventional flash light emitting device for a camera as viewed from the opening side.

FIG. 28 is a view for explaining a state where the shape of the opening of the conventional flash light emitting device for one camera is changed with respect to the opening of the main body.

FIG. 29 is a view for explaining a problem when a part of an opening of a conventional flash light emitting device for one camera is cut.

FIG. 30 is a view for explaining a problem when a part of an opening of a conventional flash light emitting device for one camera is masked.

FIG. 31 is an external view of a conventional camera having a flash unit.

And FIG. 32 is an explanatory diagram showing a burred portion of the conventional camera in use of the flash unit.

[Explanation of symbols]

1, 10, 30 ... Flash arc tube 2, 20, 40, 50, 60, 70, 80, 90, 10
0: Reflective umbrella W: Opening width D: Depth distance

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A lighting device having an arc tube and a reflector that reflects light emitted from the arc tube, wherein the reflector has a cross-sectional shape perpendicular to an axial direction of the arc tube.
An illumination device, wherein at least one portion is different in an axial direction of the arc tube. 2. The lighting device according to claim 1, wherein the reflector has a cross section which is perpendicular to the axial direction of the arc tube and continuously changes in the axial direction of the arc tube. . 3. The lighting device according to claim 1, wherein the reflector has a cross section perpendicular to the axial direction of the arc tube and discontinuous in the axial direction of the arc tube. 4. The reflector according to claim 1, wherein the reflector has at least one of a cross section which is perpendicular to the axial direction of the arc tube and changes continuously in the axial direction of the arc tube and a discontinuous cross section. The lighting device according to claim 1.