JP7811136B2 - Illuminated board - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a plate material with an illumination function.

Various items using boards with lighting functions are known, such as tables with luminous tops and display racks with luminous shelves.

For example, Patent Document 1 discloses a luggage shelf equipped with a shelf made of a translucent material and a light source unit for illuminating the shelf. The light source unit includes a casing attached to the end of the shelf, a long, narrow board housed in the casing, and multiple LEDs mounted on the board and arranged along the end face of the shelf. The top surface of the shelf functions as a loading surface, and the bottom surface illuminates the area directly below the shelf.

Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2016-175429

In the various products using the above-mentioned lighting-equipped plate materials, it was difficult to make the light-emitting surface emit light uniformly, leaving room for improvement.

The present invention aims to provide a plate material with an illumination function that can emit light uniformly from its light-emitting surface.

The present invention provides a plate material with an illumination function, comprising: a plate portion constructed by laminating a first light guide layer, a light diffusion layer, a second light guide layer, and a light-shielding portion in this order; and a light source unit that irradiates light toward an end face of the plate portion , wherein the surface of the plate portion facing the first light guide layer is surface-emitting; the light source unit comprises a case attached to the end of the plate portion, a substrate housed in the case, and a light-emitting element mounted on the substrate and facing the end face of the second light guide layer; and the end face of the first light guide layer facing the light source unit is a light-shielding surface.
The present invention provides a plate material with an illumination function, comprising a plate portion constructed by laminating a first light guide layer, a light diffusion layer, a second light guide layer, and a light blocking portion in this order, and a light source unit that irradiates light toward the end face of the plate portion, wherein the surface of the plate portion facing the first light guide layer is surface-emitting, and a light blocking sheet that causes the plate portion to emit a gradational light or to produce a light-emitting pattern is interposed between the second light guide layer and the light diffusion layer.
The present invention provides a plate material with an illumination function, comprising: a plate portion constructed by stacking a first light guide layer, a light diffusion layer, a second light guide layer, and a light-shielding portion in this order; and a light source unit that irradiates light toward an end face of the plate portion, wherein the surface of the plate portion facing the first light guide layer is surface-emitting; a dot pattern that reflects light in the second light guide layer toward the light diffusion layer is formed on the surface of the second light guide layer facing the light-shielding portion; a through portion that penetrates the plate portion in the plate thickness direction; and the density of the dot pattern in the portion of the through portion opposite the light source unit is higher than the density of the dot pattern in the portion of the through portion facing the light source unit.

According to the present invention, a plate portion is provided that is constructed by stacking a first light guide layer, a light diffusion layer, a second light guide layer, and a light-shielding portion in this order, so that the surface of the plate portion facing the first light guide layer can emit light uniformly.

1 is a top view of an illumination-equipped plate according to a first embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 2 is an exploded view of the illuminated plate member of FIG. 1 . FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along line AA in FIG. FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along line BB in FIG. FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view of an illumination-equipped plate according to a second embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view of an illumination-function-equipped plate according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

The "illumination-equipped plate" according to the first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to Figures 1 to 4.

The lighting-equipped board 1 shown in Figures 1 and 2 comprises a long, rectangular board portion 2 on which an object can be placed, and a light source unit 3 for illuminating the board portion 2, and can be used as, for example, a shelf or tabletop.

As shown in Figures 3 and 4, the plate 2 is constructed by laminating a first light guide layer 11, a light diffusion sheet (corresponding to a light diffusion layer) 12, a second light guide layer 13, and a light-shielding portion 14 in this order, with the surface 21 on the first light guide layer 11 side emitting light. When the illuminated plate 1 is used as a shelf or tabletop, the plate 2 is positioned horizontally with the surface 21 on the first light guide layer 11 side, which is the light-emitting surface, facing upward and the surface 22 on the light-shielding portion 14 side facing downward.

The first light-guiding layer 11 is made of translucent resin or glass.

The second light guide layer 13 is made of acrylic resin. A dot pattern 15 is formed on the surface of the second light guide layer 13 facing the light-shielding portion 14, which reflects light within the second light guide layer 13 toward the light diffusion sheet 12. In this example, the dot pattern 15 is formed by printing, but a film on which the dot pattern 15 is formed may also be attached.

A through-hole 29 is formed on one longitudinal end 2c of the plate portion 2, penetrating the plate portion 2 in the thickness direction. This through-hole 29 may be used, for example, to pass an electrical cord through or to attach an item to. In this example, the through-hole 29 is a notch, but it may also be a hole.

In this example, a pair of light source units 3 are provided, attached to one longitudinal end 2c and the other longitudinal end 2d of the plate portion 2. Since the pair of light source units 3 have the same configuration, only the configuration of the light source unit 3 attached to one end 2c of the plate portion 2 will be described. This light source unit 3 comprises a case 33 attached to one end 2c of the plate portion 2, a board 4 housed within the case 33, and an LED (corresponding to a light-emitting element) 5 mounted on the board 4.

The case 33 is composed of a first member 31 and a second member 32 that sandwich one end 2c of the plate portion 2 between them and form a storage space for the circuit board 4 between them.

As shown in Figure 2, the substrate 4 is elongated and extends in the width direction of the plate portion 2. The substrate 4 is attached to the case 33 so that it faces the end face 11a of the first light guide layer 11 and the end face 13a of the second light guide layer 13. Multiple LEDs 5 are provided and are arranged at intervals in the longitudinal direction of the substrate 4. Each LED 5 is also positioned so as to face the end face 13a of the second light guide layer 13.

The end surface 11a of the first light guide layer 11 facing the light source unit 3 is a light-shielding surface. Therefore, light emitted from each LED 5 does not enter the end surface 11a of the first light guide layer 11, but only enters the end surface 13a of the second light guide layer 13.

As shown in Figure 3, in the illumination-equipped plate 1 configured as described above, light emitted from each LED 5 enters the second light-guiding layer 13 from the end surface 13a. The light that enters the second light-guiding layer 13 propagates while repeatedly undergoing internal reflection, and is reflected by the dot pattern 15 toward the light diffusion sheet 12. The reflected light is diffused as it passes through the light diffusion sheet 12, passes through the first light-guiding layer 11, and is emitted. In this way, the surface 21 of the plate 2 facing the first light-guiding layer 11 emits light uniformly.

In addition, the density (dot size, pitch) of the dot pattern 15 of the illumination-equipped plate material 1 in this example is adjusted depending on the distance from the light source unit 3 and the presence or absence of an obstruction, allowing the surface 21 to emit light more uniformly. In this example, the obstruction is a through-hole 29. In Figure 1, the density of the dot pattern 15 on the left side of the through-hole 29 is higher than the density of the dot pattern 15 on the right side of the through-hole 29.

In addition, the plate material 1 with illumination function in this example has light source units 3 attached to one longitudinal end 2c and the other longitudinal end 2d of the plate portion 2. Therefore, even though the plate portion 2 is long, the surface 21 on the first light-guiding layer 11 side can emit light uniformly.

Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 4, the end of the second light guide layer 13 that does not face the light source unit 3 (the end located at one end 2a in the width direction of the plate portion 2) has a tapered surface 13b that intersects with the end face of the second light guide layer 13 and the surface on the light-shielding portion 14 side. This tapered surface 13b reflects light within the second light guide layer 13 toward the light diffusion sheet 12. This allows the surface 21 on the first light guide layer 11 side to emit light more brightly.

The "illuminating plate" according to the second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to Figure 5. In Figure 5, the same components as those in the first embodiment described above are designated by the same reference numerals and will not be described again.

The plate member 101 with lighting function shown in Figure 5 comprises a plate portion 102 and a light source unit 103.

As in the first embodiment, the plate portion 102 is constructed by laminating a first light guide layer 11, a light diffusion sheet 12, a second light guide layer 13, and a light-shielding portion 14 in this order. A light entrance surface 23 through which light emitted from the light source unit 103 enters is provided at one widthwise end 2a of the plate portion 102. In this example, the light entrance surface 23 of the plate portion 102 is provided only at one widthwise end 2a of the plate portion 102, and is provided along the entire length of the plate portion 102.

At one widthwise end 2a of the plate portion 102, the end face of the second light guide layer 13 serves as the light entrance surface 23, and a protrusion 24 is provided that protrudes outward from the end face of the first light guide layer 11 beyond the light entrance surface 23 (on the opposite side to the other end 2b). The surface 25 of the protrusion 24 that intersects with the light entrance surface 23 is made into a light-blocking surface by being coated with light-blocking paint or by having a light-blocking material attached to it.

The light source unit 103 includes a substrate 4 attached to the surface 22 of the plate portion 102, an LED 5 mounted on the substrate 4 and emitting light in the direction opposite to the surface 21 of the plate portion 102 (downward in Figure 5), and a reflector 6 that guides the light from the LED 5 to the light entrance surface 23 of the plate portion 102.

The substrate 4 is elongated and extends in the longitudinal direction of the plate portion 102. The substrate 4 is attached to the surface 22 of the plate portion 102 so that its thickness direction is the same as the thickness direction of the plate portion 102 (so that the plate portion 102 and the substrate 4 are parallel). By attaching it in this orientation, the light source unit 103 can be made thinner. The substrate 4 is also attached to one end 2a of the plate portion 102 in the width direction. Multiple LEDs 5 are provided, and are arranged at intervals in the longitudinal direction of the substrate 4.

The reflector 6 is formed in the shape of a long, thin gutter extending in the longitudinal direction of the plate portion 102. The reflector 6 covers the entire substrate 4 and the portion of the plate portion 102 from the substrate 4 to the light entrance surface 23. In this example, the reflector 6 is composed of multiple reflective surfaces 61, 62, 63, and 64. The openings at both ends of the reflector 6 in the longitudinal direction are covered by a cover or the like (not shown).

In the illumination-equipped plate 101 configured as described above, light emitted from each LED 5 is repeatedly reflected by the multiple reflective surfaces 61, 62, 63, and 64 of the reflector 6 before entering the second light-guiding layer 13 from the light-entering surface 23. The light that enters the second light-guiding layer 13 propagates while repeatedly undergoing internal reflections and is reflected by the dot pattern 15 toward the light-diffusing sheet 12. The reflected light is diffused as it passes through the light-diffusing sheet 12, passes through the first light-guiding layer 11, and is then emitted. In this way, the surface 21 of the plate 102 facing the first light-guiding layer 11 emits light uniformly. Furthermore, because the light from the LEDs 5 is repeatedly reflected by the reflector 6 before entering the second light-guiding layer 13, the graininess of the LEDs 5 is not apparent on the surface 21 of the plate 102. When the reflector 6 in this example is used, light emitted from the LED 5 in a direction perpendicular to the substrate 4 is reflected three times by the reflector 6 before entering the light entrance surface 23.

In addition, in the lighting-equipped plate material 101, the light source unit 103 is attached to the surface 22 of the plate portion 102 on the light-shielding portion 14 side, so when viewed from the surface 21 side, most of the light source unit 103 is hidden behind the light-shielding portion 14 and is therefore not very noticeable. Also, although part of the reflector 6 is positioned outward from the light-entering surface 23, this part is hidden behind the protrusion 24 when viewed from the surface 21 side, and the surface 25 of the protrusion 24 that intersects with the light-entering surface 23 is a light-shielding surface, so it is not very noticeable.

The "illumination-equipped plate" according to the third embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to Figure 6. In Figure 6, the same components as those in the first embodiment described above are designated by the same reference numerals and will not be described again.

The plate member with lighting function 201 shown in Figure 6 comprises a plate portion 202 and a light source unit 203.

As in the first embodiment, the plate portion 202 is constructed by laminating a first light guide layer 11, a light diffusion sheet 12, a second light guide layer 13, and a light-shielding portion 14 in this order. A light entrance surface 27 is provided at one widthwise end 2a of the plate portion 202, through which light emitted from the light source unit 203 enters.

In this example, the light entrance surface 27 of the plate portion 202 is provided only at one widthwise end 2a of the plate portion 202, and extends along the entire length of the plate portion 202. The light entrance surface 27 is composed of two surfaces: a first light entrance surface 27a that intersects perpendicularly with surface 22, and a second light entrance surface 27b that intersects perpendicularly with the first light entrance surface 27a and extends outward (opposite the other end 2b) from the first light entrance surface 27a. The first light entrance surface 27a and second light entrance surface 27b are provided on the second light-guiding layer 13.

The light source unit 203 includes a case 8 attached to the surface 22 of the plate portion 202 and on one widthwise end 2a side of the plate portion 202, a board 4 housed within the case 8, an LED 5 mounted on the board 4, and a second light guide 7 housed within the case 8 and guiding light from the LED 5 to the light entrance surface 27 of the plate portion 202. The openings at both longitudinal ends of the case 8 are covered with covers or the like (not shown).

The substrate 4 is elongated and extends in the longitudinal direction of the plate portion 202. The substrate 4 is attached to the case 8 so that it is oriented perpendicular to the plate portion 202. Multiple LEDs 5 are provided and are arranged at intervals in the longitudinal direction of the substrate 4. Each LED 5 emits light in the direction from the other end 2b of the width direction of the plate portion 202 toward one end 2a.

The second light guide 7 is made of a translucent material such as acrylic resin and extends in the longitudinal direction of the plate portion 202 in the form of a long, narrow plate. One widthwise end face of the second light guide 7 serves as the light source-side light entrance surface 71, which faces the LED 5 inside the case 8. The other widthwise end face of the second light guide 7 is provided with a reflective surface 72 by being subjected to a reflective finish (white printing, painting, etc.). The surface of the second light guide 7 facing the light entrance surface 27 of the plate portion 202 and intersecting the reflective surface 72 at an acute angle serves as the light exit surface 73. The light exit surface 73 faces the corner 26 between the first light entrance surface 27a and the second light entrance surface 27b.

The second light guide 7 has a light source-side light entrance surface 71 located on the surface 22 side of the plate portion 202 (below surface 22 in Figure 6), and a reflecting portion 72 and light exit surface 73 located on the surface 21 side of surface 22 of the plate portion 202 (above surface 22 in Figure 6), and is curved from the light source-side light entrance surface 71 to the light exit surface 73. In other words, the second light guide 7 is formed in a shape that follows the surface 22 of the plate portion 202.

This type of light source unit 203 can be formed to a thickness approximately the same as or less than that of the plate portion 202, making it extremely thin.

In the illumination-equipped plate member 201 configured as described above, light emitted from each LED 5 enters the second light guide 7 from the light source-side light entrance surface 71, and propagates toward the reflecting section 72 while repeatedly undergoing total reflection within the second light guide 7. This light is then reflected by the reflecting section 72 and exits from the light exit surface 73, and enters the second light guide layer 13 from the light entrance surface 27. The light that enters the second light guide layer 13 propagates while repeatedly undergoing internal reflection, and is reflected toward the light diffusion sheet 12 by the dot pattern 15. The reflected light is diffused as it passes through the light diffusion sheet 12, passes through the first light guide layer 11, and is then emitted. In this way, the surface 21 of the plate member 202 facing the first light guide layer 11 emits light uniformly. Furthermore, since the light from the LEDs 5 enters the second light guide layer 13 via the second light guide body 7, the graininess of the LEDs 5 does not appear on the surface 21 of the plate portion 202.

When the illuminated plate 201 is viewed from the surface 21 side, the light source unit 203 is hidden behind the plate portion 202. Furthermore, since the surface 22 of the plate portion 202 is made into the light-shielding portion 14, most of the light source unit 203 is hidden behind the light-shielding portion 14 and is therefore less noticeable.

In the above-described embodiment, the plate portion 2, 102, 202 is composed of four layers: the first light guide layer 11, the light diffusion sheet 12, the second light guide layer 13, and the light blocking portion 14. However, in the present invention, a light blocking sheet that causes the plate portion 2, 102, 202 to emit gradation light or produce an illuminating pattern may be interposed between the second light guide layer 13 and the light diffusion sheet 12.

In the above-described embodiment, a light diffusion sheet 12 was used as the light diffusion layer, but the light diffusion layer of the present invention may be a paint or plate material with a light diffusion effect other than the light diffusion sheet 12.

Note that the above-described embodiment merely illustrates a typical form of the present invention, and the present invention is not limited to the embodiment. In other words, the present invention can be implemented in various modifications within the scope of the gist of the present invention.

1, 101, 201 Plate material with lighting function 2, 102, 202 Plate portion 3, 103, 203 Light source unit 4 Substrate 5 LED (light emitting element)
11 First light guide layer 12 Light diffusion sheet (light diffusion layer)
13 Second light guide layer 14 Light blocking portion

Claims (8)

a plate portion configured by laminating a first light guide layer, a light diffusion layer, a second light guide layer, and a light blocking portion in this order;
a light source unit that irradiates light toward the end surface of the plate portion,
a surface of the plate portion facing the first light guide layer that emits light ;
the light source unit includes a case attached to an end of the plate portion, a substrate accommodated in the case, and a light emitting element mounted on the substrate and facing an end face of the second light guide layer,
The end surface of the first light guide layer facing the light source unit is a light blocking surface.
A plate material with an illumination function. The plate material with illumination function according to claim 1, characterized in that a dot pattern that reflects light within the second light guide layer toward the light diffusion layer is formed on a surface of the second light guide layer facing the light blocking portion. a plate portion configured by laminating a first light guide layer, a light diffusion layer, a second light guide layer, and a light blocking portion in this order;
a light source unit that irradiates light toward the end surface of the plate portion,
a surface of the plate portion facing the first light guide layer that emits light;
A light-shielding sheet that causes the plate portion to emit gradation light or produces a light-emitting pattern is interposed between the second light-guiding layer and the light-diffusing layer.
A plate material with an illumination function. A dot pattern that reflects light in the second light guide layer toward the light diffusion layer is formed on a surface of the second light guide layer on the side of the light blocking portion.
4. The plate member with an illumination function according to claim 3. a plate portion configured by laminating a first light guide layer, a light diffusion layer, a second light guide layer, and a light blocking portion in this order;
a light source unit that irradiates light toward the end surface of the plate portion,
a surface of the plate portion facing the first light guide layer that emits light;
a dot pattern that reflects light in the second light guide layer toward the light diffusion layer is formed on a surface of the second light guide layer on the light shielding portion side,
A through-hole is formed in the plate portion in the plate thickness direction,
The density of the dot pattern in the portion of the through-hole opposite to the light source unit is higher than the density of the dot pattern in the portion of the through-hole on the light source unit side.
A plate material with an illumination function. The light source unit includes a case attached to an end of the plate portion, a substrate accommodated in the case, and a light emitting element mounted on the substrate and facing an end face of the second light guide layer.
6. The plate material with an illumination function according to claim 4 or 5. The end surface of the first light guide layer facing the light source unit is a light blocking surface.
7. The plate member with an illumination function according to claim 6. The plate material with lighting function according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that a tapered surface is formed at the end of the second light guide layer that does not face the light source unit, the tapered surface intersecting the end face of the second light guide layer and the surface on the light-shielding portion side.