JP2010182516A - Illumination device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an illumination device in which interior design performance is brilliantly developed and atmosphere of a space installed with the illumination can be enhanced by arranging a large number of planar emitters as represented by an organic EL element in a specific morphology. <P>SOLUTION: The illumination device 1 has a plurality of cables 2 respectively hung from a unit box and is equipped with light-emitting panels 3 which can respectively emit light independently at the lower end of each cable 2. An adjusting mechanism 6 which can individually adjust the extension length of each cable 2 from the unit box is arranged in the unit box, and when the hung position of each light-emitting panel 3 is adjusted so as to be identical respectively by the adjusting mechanism 6, each of the light-emitting panels 3 are collected in a plane shape. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an illumination device using a surface-emitting light source represented by, for example, an organic EL (electroluminescence) element.

  The organic EL element is driven by a low direct current voltage, has high luminous efficiency, can be reduced in weight and thickness, and has the property of hardly generating heat. Therefore, it is used for a flat panel display (FPD) in some portable devices and the like, and there is also provided a configuration in which the element is used as a surface light source, for example, as a backlight of a liquid crystal display element.

  The organic EL element can obtain R (red), G (green), B (blue) and other luminescent colors by selecting the material used for the EL luminescent layer. Or, by combining two or more kinds of emission colors, it becomes possible to obtain white or an emission color close to this. Therefore, by configuring the organic EL element as a surface light source (light emitting panel), for example, it can be used as a light source for decoration or a highly efficient light source for illuminating a room or the like.

  Patent Documents 1 and 2 and the like shown below utilize the above-described organic EL element and use it as a surface-emitting illumination device.

JP 2003-7450 A JP 2004-234868 A

  In the illuminating devices disclosed in Patent Documents 1 and 2, when an organic EL element is used as a surface light source, the main object is to prevent the occurrence of luminance unevenness. It is only the point which tries to utilize an element as a light source of a monotonous flat surface. For this reason, the lighting device is a monotonous device that lacks a particularly three-dimensional effect without accents, and does not bring out a gorgeous rendering effect or the like.

  The present invention has been made paying attention to the above-mentioned points, and by arranging a large number of surface light emitters typified by organic EL elements in a specific form, the interior property is brought out gorgeously and lighting is installed. It is an object of the present invention to provide an illumination device that can enhance the atmosphere of the space.

  In order to solve the above-described problems, the lighting device according to the present invention includes a light emitting panel in which a plurality of cables are suspended from a unit box, and each cable can independently emit light at a lower end portion of each cable. In the unit box, an adjustment mechanism capable of individually adjusting the length of each cable extended from the unit box is provided in the unit box, and each light emitting panel is provided by the adjustment mechanism. When the suspension positions of the light emitting panels are adjusted to be the same, the light emitting panels are configured to be assembled in a planar shape.

At this time, each of the light emitting panels is preferably disposed with its light emitting surface facing downward, and each of the light emitting panels suspended from the unit box has a light emitting surface in a horizontal state or inclined. It is desirable that the cable is provided at the lower end of the cable.
The adjustment mechanism preferably includes a drum that feeds or winds the cable, and a rotation driving unit that rotates the drum forward or backward about an axis.
The lower surface of the unit box is slidably inserted in the up and down direction, and when the cable is wound up by the adjusting mechanism, the upper portion of the light emitting panel comes into contact with the light emitting surface of the light emitting panel. It is desirable to provide a straightening member that straightens the inclination of the horizontal line.
In addition, it is preferable that power is supplied to each light emitting panel through a conductive wire provided in the cable.
Moreover, it is desirable that each of the light emitting panels is composed of an organic EL element.

According to the present invention, a plurality of cables are suspended from the unit box, and a light emitting panel capable of independently emitting light is provided at the lower end of the cable. Here, the lengths of the cables can be different from each other, or can be aligned to the same length.
That is, when the lengths of the cables are different from each other, the height positions of the light emitting panels suspended from the unit box are dispersed, so that a gorgeous lighting device having a three-dimensional effect and high interior properties can be obtained. In this case, for each light-emitting panel, glare like a chandelier can be further drawn by hanging from the unit box in a state where the light-emitting surface is inclined.
On the other hand, when all the cables are wound up on the unit box side, the light emitting panels are assembled on the same plane, so that it can function as a lighting device with high luminous efficiency.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a lighting device according to an embodiment of the present invention as viewed from below the lighting device. FIG. 2: is a top view which shows the back side of the surface light-emitting body of the said illuminating device about embodiment of the illuminating device which concerns on this invention. FIG. 3 is a side view of the lighting device according to the embodiment of the lighting device according to the present invention. FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration in a unit box included in the lighting device according to an embodiment of the lighting device according to the present invention. FIG. 5: is a side view of the said illuminating device which shows the state which wound up all the cables which suspend an organic EL panel about embodiment of the illuminating device which concerns on this invention. FIG. 6: is the top view (bottom view) which looked at the said illuminating device from the downward direction, when equalizing the length of all the cables which suspend an organic EL panel about embodiment of the illuminating device which concerns on this invention. FIG. 7: is a side view of the said illuminating device when the length of all the cables which suspend an organic electroluminescent panel is equalized about embodiment of the illuminating device which concerns on this invention. FIG. 8: is sectional drawing which shows the structure of each organic EL panel about embodiment of the illuminating device based on this invention.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described based on the embodiments shown in the drawings. 1 to 3 show the configuration of an embodiment of a lighting device according to the present invention. FIG. 1 is a perspective view, FIG. 2 is a plan view showing the back side of a surface light emitter, and FIG. It is a side view.
In the following, the configuration of each part in which the same part is indicated by the same reference numeral will be described with reference to the reference numeral. Further, in each of the drawings described below, in order to avoid complication, only each representative part is indicated by a reference symbol, and a part of the reference symbol is appropriately omitted depending on the drawing.

A lighting device 1 according to the present invention includes a plurality of cables 2 that hang down as shown in the figure, and includes a plurality of organic EL panels (light-emitting panels) 3 at the lower ends of the cables 2. The light emitting surface of each organic EL panel 3 is arranged facing downward. The planar shape of these organic EL panels 3 shows only a square pattern in the present embodiment, but the lighting device of the present invention is not limited to this and is formed in another shape (triangle etc.). May be.
Further, the length of the cable 2 corresponding to each organic EL panel 3 is adjustable, and each organic EL panel 3 can emit light independently.

  As shown in FIG. 2, an X-type support frame 4 (X-type frame) in a plan view is provided on the back surface of each organic EL panel 3 along a diagonal line of the square. The tip of the cable 2 is connected to the crossing position). In the example shown by a solid line in FIG. 3, the mounting position of the support frame 4 on the back surface of the organic EL panel 3 is the center of gravity of the organic EL panel 3, and the organic EL panel 3 suspended by the cable 2 is usually The light emitting surface (lower surface) is horizontal. Here, the support frame 4 may be attached while being shifted from the position of the center of gravity of the organic EL panel 3. In this case, the organic EL panel 3 suspended by the cable 2 is inclined as shown by a broken line in FIG. State.

The lighting device 1 includes a unit box 5 attached to the ceiling surface 50 of the room, and the plurality of cables 2 are suspended from the unit box 5. In the unit box 5, as shown in the block diagram of FIG. 4, an adjusting mechanism 6 capable of individually adjusting the feeding length of each cable 2 is provided. Each adjustment mechanism 6 includes a drum 7 around which the cable 2 is wound, and a stepping motor 8 as a rotation drive unit that rotates the drum 7 forward or backward about an axis.
In addition, the lower surface of the unit box 5 has, for example, a hollow structure, and the cable 2 is slidably inserted in the upper and lower sides to correct the inclination of the organic EL panel 3 when the cable 2 is completely wound. And the correction member 9 for making it into a horizontal state is provided. By providing the correction member 9, when the cable 2 is wound, the support frame 4 of the organic EL panel 3 comes into contact with the lower surface of the correction member 9 before the winding is completed. In addition, the cable 2 is wound for a predetermined length while the support frame 4 is in contact with the correction member 9, so that the organic EL panel 3 is corrected to a horizontal state by the traction force.

Control of a drive unit (not shown) for supplying a pulse current to the stepping motor 8 is performed by a control unit 10 including a CPU, and an operator performs a predetermined operation (such as feeding / winding up the cable 2). A command (signal) is input from the operation unit 11 for performing the above.
When the cables 2 are fed out from the unit box 5 for all the organic EL panels 3, a plurality of modes for determining the lengths of the cables 2 fed out from the respective adjustment mechanisms 6 are prepared.
More specifically, first, in all the organic EL panels 3, when the cable 2 is completely wound up, the correction member 9 is provided. Therefore, the side view of FIG. 5 and the plan view of FIG. As shown in the bottom view as seen from FIG. 1, all the organic EL panels 3 are assembled in a planar shape in the vicinity of the lower part of the unit box 5.

  From this state, for example, as the first mode, a mode in which the feeding length of the cable 2 in each organic EL panel 3 is randomly determined is prepared. In this case, the control unit 10 uses, for example, a random number generated by a random function, and determines a length (the number of rotations of the stepping motor 8) for feeding out the cable 2 in each organic EL panel 3. And the control part 10 controls rotation of the stepping motor 8 in each adjustment mechanism 6 individually, and each stepping motor 8 rotates the drum 7 based on the respectively determined rotation speed, and the cable 2 is let out. Thereby, as shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 3, illumination by a plurality of organic EL panels 3 having different height positions is configured.

  In the first mode, the length (the number of rotations of the stepping motor 8) for feeding out the cable 2 of each organic EL panel 3 determined by the control unit 10 is stored in the storage unit 12 by the operation from the operation unit 11. Made possible. Therefore, if the pattern in which each organic EL panel 3 is suspended at different height positions is a pattern that suits the user's preference, the state can be reproduced.

  In addition, as a second mode for feeding out the cables 2 of each organic EL panel 3, a mode in which all the cables 2 to be fed out are equal in length is prepared. In this case, regardless of the length of the cable 2 that is fed out, whether the organic EL panel 3 is in a horizontal state or an inclined state is determined by the mounting position of the support frame 4 as described above. When all the organic EL panels 3 are in a horizontal state, the light emitting surfaces of all the organic EL panels 3 are flat even when the cable 2 is extended for a long time as shown in the side view of FIG. Assembled. In addition, it is desirable that the length of the cable 2 to be drawn can be adjusted by an operation at the operation unit 11.

  The cable 2 having one end connected to the drum 7 included in each adjustment mechanism 6 is a conductive wire electrically connected to the organic EL panel 3 as shown in the cross-sectional view of the organic EL panel 3 in FIG. 15 (anode line, cathode line). The unit box 5 is provided with a power supply unit 13 for supplying a direct current rectified from a commercial power supply. The conductive wire 15 in the cable 2 is supplied with power from the drum 7 side by the power supply unit 13. The The power supply unit 13 is provided with a drive circuit (driver) for driving the organic EL panel 3, a dimming circuit for controlling luminance, and the like.

  The power feeding operation by the power feeding unit 13 is controlled by the control unit 10 based on an operation at the operation unit 11. Here, power supply control is preferably performed individually for the conductive wires 15 in the cables 2 electrically connected to the organic EL panels 3 respectively. That is, by individually controlling the power supply to the conductive lines 15, in the lighting device 1, the lit organic EL panel 3 and the unlit organic EL panel 3 are mixed at the same time, or the luminance of each organic EL panel 3 is different. It is also possible to obtain a production effect such as dimming control so that the light is damped.

The structure of each organic EL panel 3 will be described in more detail. As shown in FIG. 8, a transparent electrode 21 made of ITO or the like is formed on a transparent substrate 20 (for example, a glass substrate or a flexible substrate), and a positive electrode is formed thereon. A hole transport layer 22, a light emitting functional layer 23 made of an organic material, an electron transport layer 24, and a metal back electrode 25 mainly made of a material such as aluminum are sequentially formed. Furthermore, the side surface and the back surface are covered with a casing 26 (for example, a glass material, an organic film, or an inorganic film) made of an insulating member.
From the organic EL panel 3, for example, an anode terminal line (not shown) electrically connected to the transparent electrode 21 and a cathode terminal line (not shown) electrically connected to the back electrode 25 are provided. It is pulled out and connected to the conductive wires 15 inserted from the cable 2 into the support frame 4.
That is, each organic EL panel 3 is configured to emit light by being fed through the cable 2 and the conductive wire 15 in the support frame 4.

According to the lighting device 1 configured as described above, a plurality of cables 2 are suspended from the unit box 5, and the organic EL panel 3 that can independently emit light is provided at the lower end of the cable 2. . Here, the lengths of the cables 2 can be made different from each other, or can be made to be the same length.
That is, when the lengths of the cables 2 are different from each other, the height positions of the organic EL panels 3 suspended from the unit box 5 are dispersed, and a gorgeous lighting device having a three-dimensional effect and high interior properties can be obtained. . In this case, for each organic EL panel 3, it is possible to draw more gorgeousness like a chandelier by hanging from the unit box 5 with its light emitting surface inclined.
On the other hand, when all the organic EL panels 3 are assembled on the same plane, such as when all the cables 2 are wound up, the lighting device can be made to function with high luminous efficiency.
Furthermore, since lighting control can be performed for each organic EL panel 3 in any of the cases described above, various lighting effects can be obtained by controlling the lighting pattern of each organic EL panel 3. be able to.

In the above-described embodiment, the organic EL module using the organic EL element as the light-emitting panel has been described as an example. However, an element other than the organic EL element may be used as long as the element can emit light.
In the embodiment, the stepping motor 8 corresponding to each organic EL panel 6 is provided as a drive source for feeding / unwinding the cord 2 with respect to the adjusting mechanism 6 provided in the unit box 5. Although an example has been shown, the lighting device according to the present invention is not limited to the form. For example, the height position of the plurality of organic EL panels 3 may be adjusted by a single motor as a drive source for feeding / winding up the cord 2.

1 Lighting device 2 Cable 3 Organic EL panel (light emitting panel)
4 Support Frame 5 Unit Box 6 Adjustment Mechanism 7 Drum 8 Stepping Motor (Rotation Drive Unit)
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 9 Correction | amendment member 10 Control part 11 Operation part 12 Memory | storage part 13 Electric power feeding part 20 Transparent substrate 21 Transparent electrode 22 Hole transport layer 23 Light emission functional layer 24 Electron transport layer 25 Back electrode 26 Casing

Claims (7)

A plurality of cables are suspended from the unit box, respectively, and the lighting device includes a light emitting panel that can independently emit light at the lower end of each cable,
The unit box is provided with an adjustment mechanism that can individually adjust the length of each cable extended from the unit box, and the hanging position of each light-emitting panel is the same by the adjustment mechanism. When adjusted to be
An illumination device characterized in that the light emitting panels are assembled in a planar shape.   The lighting device according to claim 1, wherein each of the light emitting panels is arranged with a light emitting surface facing downward.   3. The each light emitting panel suspended from the unit box is provided at the lower end of the cable with its light emitting surface horizontal or inclined. 4. Lighting device.   4. The adjustment mechanism according to claim 1, further comprising: a drum that feeds or winds the cable; and a rotation driving unit that rotates the drum forward or backward about an axis. The lighting device described in 1.   When the cable is slidably inserted up and down on the lower surface of the unit box and the cable is wound up by the adjustment mechanism, the upper part of the light-emitting panel abuts, and the light-emitting surface of the light-emitting panel is inclined. The illuminating device according to claim 4, further comprising a correction member that corrects the surface to a horizontal state.   The lighting device according to claim 1, wherein power is supplied to each of the light-emitting panels via a conductive wire provided in the cable.   The lighting device according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein each of the light-emitting panels includes an organic EL element.

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