JPH1166930A - Lighting equipment - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To reduce the manufacturing cost by reducing the number of optical fibers to be used and to reduce the manufacturing cost by simplifying the configuration so as not to require complicated operations in manufacturing, and to provide a uniform ring. To obtain a diffused illumination in the shape of a circle. SOLUTION: Light guided into a casing (7) is reflected by reflecting elements (10a, 10b), and light incident end faces formed at both ends.
The light (6a, 6b) is incident on the luminous body (6) formed in an annular shape with the opposing faces. The light traveling in the luminous body (6) is transmitted from the light reflecting surface (6ref) formed on the bottom (8a) of the annular groove (8) to the light formed on the opening (8b) side of the annular groove (8). The light is diffusely reflected toward the emission surface (6out) and emitted to the outside. At this time, both light incident end faces (6
a, 6b), light enters from one of the light incident end faces (6a, 6b).
The decrease in the amount of light incident from 6b) is detected by the other light incident end face.
(6b, 6a), and can be supplemented by light incident from
out) uniform light is emitted. Also, since there is no need to wire optical fibers in the annular groove (8),
(1) can be reduced in size and simplified.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an illuminating device having an annular light-emitting portion for diverging light guided from a light source.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art For example, a CCD camera for inspecting a product is provided with an illuminating device for illuminating the product with illumination light on the outer periphery of a lens thereof. It is made to irradiate the light. FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing such a conventional illuminating device. The illuminating device 40 irradiates one end of a bundle fiber 41 formed by bundling a large number of optical fibers from a light source (not shown). A light incident end 42 for taking in the reflected light is formed, and a light emitting section 43 is formed at the other end of the bundle fiber 41. Then, the light emitting unit 43
The light emitting end of the optical fiber is annularly arranged toward the light transmitting slit 44 in an annular casing 45 having an annular light transmitting slit 44 formed therein. According to this, the light emitted from the light source is
1, the light is emitted from the light emitting portion 43 in a ring shape. For example, if the lens of the CCD camera 46 is located in the hollow portion of the casing 45, the uniform light is applied to the product to be the subject from around the lens of the CCD camera 46. Light is irradiated.

[0003]

However, since this type of lighting device 40 is formed by bundling a large number of optical fibers, not only many manufacturing steps are required, but also the light emitting end of the optical fiber is made uniform. There is a relatively difficult and time-consuming process such as arranging in an annular shape, and it takes a lot of time to manufacture. Further, the optical fiber which constitutes the bundle fiber 41 so that the light emitting end of the optical fiber is pivotally arranged in the light transmitting slit 44 Since it is necessary to use a large number of the components, there is a problem that the component price and the manufacturing cost are increased. Also, the casing 4
Since the bundle fiber 41 is arranged along the inside of the tube 5, there is a problem that the size is increased accordingly.

Therefore, the present invention has a relatively simple configuration,
It does not require complicated operations during production,
It is a technical object to reduce the manufacturing cost by reducing the number of optical fibers used and to obtain a uniform ring-shaped diffused illumination.

[0005]

In order to solve this problem, the present invention is directed to a lighting device having an annular light emitting portion for diverging light guided from a light source, wherein the light emitting portion is provided at both ends. A light-emitting body for diverging light incident from the formed light incident end face to the outside from its peripheral surface is formed in an annular shape with the light incident end faces facing each other at a predetermined interval, and an annular groove formed in the casing. And a reflecting element for reflecting light guided into the casing toward the respective light incident end faces is disposed between the respective light incident end faces of the luminous body. The body has a peripheral surface on the bottom side of the annular groove formed on a light reflecting surface that irregularly reflects light traveling in the light-emitting body toward the opening side of the annular groove, and a peripheral surface on the opening side of the annular groove, The light reflected on the light reflecting surface is formed on a light emitting surface for emitting the light to the outside. The features.

According to the present invention, the light guided into the casing is reflected by the reflective element and is incident on the light-emitting end face of the ring-shaped light-emitting body from the light-incident end face. The luminous body is
A light reflecting surface is formed on the peripheral surface on the bottom side of the annular groove, and a light emitting surface is formed on the peripheral surface on the opening side of the annular groove. The light is irregularly reflected on the light reflecting surface toward the opening of the annular groove, and is emitted from the light emitting surface to the outside. At this time, even if the light loss is caused by traveling in the luminous body and the light amount decreases as the distance from the light incident end face decreases, the light is incident from both the light incident end faces. Can be compensated for by the light incident from the other light incident end face, and the annular light is uniformly irradiated from the light exit face regardless of the distance from each light incident end face. In addition, it is not necessary to arrange an optical fiber cable in which a large number of optical fibers are bundled along the casing, or to arrange the light emitting end of each optical fiber in a ring shape. Since it is sufficient, the size and simplification of the lighting device can be achieved.

[0007]

Embodiments of the present invention will be specifically described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an example of a lighting device according to the present invention, FIG. 2 is a bottom view thereof, FIG. 3 is a side view thereof, and FIG.

The illumination device 1 of the present embodiment includes a linear light guide 3 that guides light emitted from a light source 2 and an annular light emitting unit 4 that is attached to the tip and emits light. Linear light guide 3
Is formed by covering a bundle fiber 5 in which a number of optical fibers are bundled, and a light incident end 3 formed on one end thereof.
In is connected to the light source 2, and the light emitting end 3 out formed on the other end is connected to the light emitting section 4.

The light emitting section 4 has a light emitting body 6 that diverges light incident from light incident end faces 6a, 6b formed at both ends to the outside from its peripheral surface, and opposes the light incident end faces 6a, 6b at a predetermined interval. The casing 7 is formed in an annular shape in this state, and is housed and disposed in the casing 7 along an annular groove 8 formed in the annular casing 7. Further, a connector 9 for connecting the light emitting end 3out of the linear light guide 3 is formed in the casing 7, and the respective light incident end faces 6a, 6b of the light emitting body 6 are formed.
In between, mirrors (reflection elements) 10a and 10b for distributing and guiding the light guided into the casing 7 by the linear light guide 3 to the respective light incident end faces 6a and 6b of the luminous body 6,
It is arranged on the optical axis X of the light emitted from the light emitting end 3out.

The luminous body 6 is formed of, for example, a transparent acrylic material. As shown in FIG. 4, a reflective paint is applied to the peripheral surface of the annular groove 8 on the bottom 8a side, and the inside of the luminous body 6 is formed. A light reflecting surface 6ref is formed on the light reflecting surface 6ref for irregularly reflecting the traveling light toward the opening 8b of the annular groove 8, and the opening 8 of the annular groove 8 is formed.
The b-side peripheral surface is exposed, and is formed on a light emitting surface 6out for emitting the light reflected by the light reflecting surface 6ref to the outside. The light emitted from the light emitting surface 6out is formed into a ring-shaped light from the opening 8b of the annular groove 8 formed in the casing 7 and is radiated to the outside.

The above is an example of the configuration of the present invention, and its operation will be described below. First, the light emitting unit 4 of the lighting device 1
Mirrors 10a and 10b are attached at positions facing the connector 9 formed on the casing 7, and the mirrors 10a and 10b are attached.
The light-emitting body 6 is attached so that the light-emitting end 10b is located between the light-incident end faces 6a and 6b, and the casing 7 is closed.
Then, if the linear light guide 3 is connected to the connector 9 of the light emitting section 4, the lighting device 1 is completed. In this way, the product is completed just by attaching each part to the predetermined place,
Since there is no troublesome work of arranging the light emitting end of the optical fiber in an annular shape, the manufacturing process is extremely simplified,
Manufacturing costs are also reduced.

The lighting device 1 manufactured as described above
Is used, for example, for illumination of a CCD camera for product inspection, the light incident end 3in of the linear light guide 3 is connected to the light source 2, and the casing 7 of the light emitting unit 4 is provided on the lens of the CCD camera 11. Here, when light is emitted from the light source 2, the light is guided from the light incident end 3in of the linear light guide 3 to the inside thereof, and is emitted into the casing 7 from the light emitting end 3out. Then, the light applied to the inside of the casing 7 is reflected by the mirrors 10a and 10b arranged on the optical axis X toward the light incident end faces 6a and 6b of the luminous body 6.

Next, the light reflected by the mirrors 10 a and 10 b is incident on the light incident end faces 6 a and 6 b of the luminous body 6, and travels through the luminous body 6 from each direction.
The light is irregularly reflected by the light reflecting surface 6ref toward the light emitting surface 6out, and the light is emitted from the light emitting surface 6out and is radiated to the outside through the opening 8b of the annular groove 8 formed in the casing 7. At this time, the amount of light incident on one light incident end face 6a and traveling through the light emitting body 6 is equal to the other light incident end face 6a.
b, and the other light incident end face 6
The amount of light incident from the light source b and traveling through the light-emitting body 6 increases as it approaches the other light incident end face 6b. Therefore, the light quantity of the light incident from one light incident end face 6a (6b) is reduced, and the other light incident end face 6b (6
Light of a uniform light amount as a whole is irradiated from the opening 8b of the annular groove 8 while being supplemented by the light incident from FIG.

In the above description, a case has been described in which light is guided from the light source 2 to the light emitting unit 4 via the linear light guide 3, but light is directly introduced from the light source 2 to the light emitting unit 4. You may. Further, the linear light guide 3 is not limited to the one that is detachably mounted via the connector 9, and may be one that is fixed to the light emitting unit 4.

[0015]

As described above, according to the present invention, the manufacturing cost can be reduced because of a relatively simple structure, no complicated work is required for manufacturing, and no expensive parts are used. And the light is incident from both light incident end faces, so that the excellent reduction in the amount of light caused by advancing the illuminant can be compensated for each other to obtain a uniform diffused illumination. To play.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an example of a lighting device according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a bottom view thereof.

FIG. 3 is a side view thereof.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged view of a luminous body.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a conventional lighting device.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Lighting device 2 ... Light source 3 ... Linear light guide 3in ... Light entrance end 3out ... Light exit end 4 ... Light emitting unit 5 Bundle fiber 6 Light emitting body 6a, 6b Light incident end face 6ref Light reflecting face 6out Light emitting face 7 ... Casing 8 ... Ring groove 9 ... Connectors 10a, 10b ... Mirror (reflection element)

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A lighting device comprising an annular light-emitting portion (4) for diverging light guided from a light source (2), wherein the light-emitting portion (4) has a light incident end face formed at both ends. 6
A light-emitting body (6) for diverging light incident from a, 6b) to the outside from its peripheral surface is formed in an annular shape with its light-incident end faces (6a, 6b) facing each other at a predetermined interval, and a casing is formed. It is disposed in the annular groove (8) formed in (7), and is guided into the casing (7) between the respective light incident end faces (6a, 6b) of the luminous body (6). Reflecting elements (10a, 10b) for reflecting light toward the respective light incident end faces (6a, 6b)
The light-emitting body (6) has a circumferential surface on the bottom (8a) side of the annular groove (8) for transmitting light traveling in the light-emitting body (6) to the annular groove (8).
A light reflecting surface (6re) that diffusely reflects toward the opening (8b) side of the
f), the peripheral surface on the opening (8b) side of the annular groove (8) is formed on a light emitting surface (6out) for emitting the light reflected by the light reflecting surface (6ref) to the outside. A lighting device, comprising: 2. A lighting device comprising: a linear light guide (3) for guiding light emitted from a light source (2); and an annular light-emitting portion (4) mounted on the tip of the light guide and diverging light. The light emitting section (4) has light incident end faces (6
A light-emitting body (6) for diverging light incident from a, 6b) to the outside from its peripheral surface is formed in an annular shape with its light-incident end faces (6a, 6b) facing each other at a predetermined interval, and a casing is formed. A connector (9) that is disposed in an annular groove (8) formed in (7) and that connects the light emitting end (3out) of the linear light guide (3) to the casing (7). Is formed,
Between each light incident end face (6a, 6b) of the luminous body (6),
A reflecting element (10a, 10b) for reflecting light guided into the casing (7) by the linear light guide (3) toward each light incident end face (6a, 6b) of the luminous body (6) is provided. The light-emitting body (6) has a peripheral surface on the bottom (8a) side of the annular groove (8) for transmitting light traveling in the light-emitting body (6) to the annular groove (8).
A light reflecting surface (6re) that diffusely reflects toward the opening (8b) side of the
f), the peripheral surface on the opening (8b) side of the annular groove (8) is formed on a light emitting surface (6out) for emitting the light reflected by the light reflecting surface (6ref) to the outside. A lighting device, comprising: