JPH11148114A - Traffic sign with linear luminous body - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To use a small number of luminous sources to allow letters, figures and marks to emit light without gap uniformly, at the same time, have no fear of occurrence of scattering in a luminous state and at low power consumption. SOLUTION: A traffic sign with a linear luminous body includes light transmission tubes 1 having a transparent core and a clad with refractive index lower than the core and used for a luminous device, light sources 2 arranged to at least one end in the direction of the length of the light transmission tubs 1 in a waterproof state, and a power source for lighting the light sources 2. Incident light from the light sources 2 is emitted from the light transmission tubes 1 to emit light in a line-like state or to turn lights on and off to indicate operation and guidance, etc., for a vehicle.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a road sign for displaying the operation and guidance of vehicles such as automobiles, and more particularly to a linear light emitting device which is excellent in water resistance and environmental resistance and can be driven with low power consumption. It is related to road signs using the body.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Road signs used for guidance of automobiles and the like are designed to display, for example, a pause, parking prohibition, a destination of a road, and the like with characters and symbols. , Besides simple things painted in various colors,
For example, there is known a device that uses a retroreflective sheet to reflect incident light in the original direction to improve visibility at night or the like.

[0003] Further, among such road signs, there are also used those in which light-emitting diodes are arranged or arranged in, for example, letters, numbers or borders.

[0004]

However, in many cases using such light emitting diodes, the distance between the diodes is usually too large and visibility is poor.

[0005] In addition, the point light emitting type such as the light emitting diode requires a large number of light emitting diodes to display outlines such as characters and borders. Power is required. In addition, when the number of light emitting diodes used increases, the luminance of the diodes tends to vary, and when viewed as a whole, there is a concern that the variation portions are conspicuous in the point light emission state and the visibility may be reduced.

In view of the above circumstances, the present invention makes it possible to emit characters, numerals, symbols, and the like uniformly using a small number of light sources without gaps, and there is no possibility that the light emission state will vary. Another object of the present invention is to provide a road sign made of a linear illuminant capable of emitting light with low power consumption.

[0007]

That is, according to the present invention, a light emitting means formed in the shape of characters, numerals, symbols, patterns, or the like, or in the shape of these contours, is used for a vehicle such as an automobile. It is a road sign that displays operation and guidance,
An optical transmission tube having a transparent core material and a cladding material having a smaller refractive index than the core material and serving as the light emitting means, and disposed at least at one end in the length direction of the optical transmission tube in a waterproof state. A light source and a power supply for turning on the light source, and light or blinking of the operation and guidance of the vehicle is displayed in a single or plural lines by emitting the light incident from the light source from the light transmission tube. Things.

[0008] That is, the invention according to claim 2 is the invention according to claim 1, wherein a band-shaped light reflecting layer is provided between the clad and the core of the optical transmission tube along the length direction of the clad. .

[0009] The invention according to claim 3 uses a solar cell as a power source in claim 1.

[0010]

Preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. FIG. 1 shows a road sign using a linear illuminant according to the present invention.
This road sign is paused (ie, "Stop" sign)
Has been applied to the sign indicating.

This road sign includes a light transmission tube 1 (light reflecting layer formed) as a light emitting means provided on an inverted triangular display plate A, a light source 2 provided on the back surface of the display plate A, and a drive. Device 3 (see FIG. 2), and emits light in the shape of an inverted triangular line surrounding the outline of the three characters "stop".

The display panel A has an edge portion of the surface painted white and an inverted triangular area at the center thereof painted red, and three characters "stop" at the center portion (of course, this character). (Not limited to letters). In particular, the light transmission tube 1 is provided in an inverted triangular shape along the boundary with the white painted portion so as to border the outline of the red painted portion of the display panel A. In addition, the light transmission tube 1 may be arranged without a gap in the entire area corresponding to the red painted portion, and the light transmission tube 1 may emit red light.
Further, the white portion of the outer edge may be similarly illuminated by attaching a light transmission tube. Note that, in addition to forming the painted portion of these colors with the light transmission tube, the character portion may be formed with the light transmission tube.

As shown in FIG. 3, the optical transmission tube 1 of this embodiment has a transparent tubular clad 11, a transparent core 12 having a higher refractive index than the clad 11,
Light reflecting layer 1 provided between the inner surface on the other side and the core 12
And 3. Further, a reflective protective layer 14 is formed on the outer surface of the other side of the clad 11 so as to cover the light reflective layer 13 to further enhance the reflection efficiency. The core diameter of the light transmission tube 1 is not particularly limited. For example, when one LED is used as the light source 2, the diameter is about 2 to 30 mm, especially about 4 to 15 mm, and the length is about 0.1 to 5 m. And particularly preferably 0.2 to 2 m.
In addition, as the light reflecting layer, the light reflecting layer may be formed in a strip shape in the length direction of the clad in a state where the light reflecting layer slightly enters the inside from the core surface.

Here, as a material (cladding material) for forming the tubular cladding 11, a material having flexibility, such as plastic or elastomer, which can be formed into a tube and has a low refractive index is used. Is preferred. Specific examples thereof include polyethylene, polypropylene, polyamide, polystyrene, ABS resin, polymethyl methacrylate, polycarbonate, polyvinyl chloride, polyvinylidene chloride, polyvinyl acetate, polyethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer, polyvinyl alcohol, and polyethylene-polyvinyl alcohol. Polymer, fluororesin, silicone resin, natural rubber, polyisoprene rubber, polybutadiene rubber, styrene-butadiene copolymer, butyl rubber, halogenated butyl rubber, chloroprene rubber, acrylic rubber,
EPDM, acrylonitrile-butadiene copolymer, fluororubber, silicone rubber and the like can be mentioned.

Of these, silicone polymers and fluorine polymers having a low refractive index are particularly preferred. Specifically, silicone polymers such as polydimethylsiloxane polymer, polymethylphenylsiloxane polymer and fluorosilicone polymer, and polytetrafluoroethylene (P
TFE), ethylene tetrafluoride-propylene hexafluoride copolymer (FEP), ethylene tetrafluoride-perfluoroalkoxyethylene copolymer (PFE), polychlorotrifluoroethylene (PCTFE), ethylene tetrafluoride-ethylene Copolymer (ETFE), polyvinylidene fluoride, polyvinyl fluoride, vinylidene fluoride-ethylene trifluorochloride copolymer, vinylidene fluoride-propylene hexafluoride copolymer, vinylidene fluoride-propylene hexafluoride- Examples thereof include a tetrafluoroethylene terpolymer, a tetrafluoroethylene propylene rubber, and a fluorine-based thermoplastic elastomer, and a fluorine-based polymer is particularly preferable. These materials can be used alone or in combination of two or more.

On the other hand, as a material (core material) for forming the transparent core 12, a solid material is preferable, and a (meth) acrylic polymer, polycarbonate, polystyrene, silicone rubber, ethylidene norbornene polymer, SB
Examples thereof include S, SIS, and SEBS (styrene-ethylene-butadiene-styrene block polymer). Among them, (meth) acrylic polymers are preferable.

As the (meth) acrylic polymer, a homopolymer obtained by polymerizing one kind of monomer selected from acrylic acid and methacrylic acid and an ester thereof with a monohydric alcohol, or a copolymer of two or more kinds of monomers is used. And a copolymer made of In this case, examples of the monohydric alcohol include those having 1 to 22 carbon atoms. Among them, acrylic acid and methacrylic acid, and these and lower alcohols (1 to 5 carbon atoms, preferably 1 to 5 carbon atoms)
3, and most preferably, a copolymer of a monomer selected from an ester with 1) and a monomer represented by the following general formula (1) is used. Is also preferable because it is excellent.

[0018]

Embedded image

In the formula, R ¹ is a hydrogen atom or a methyl group, R ²
Is an alkyl group having 8 to 20, preferably 10 to 16 and more preferably 12 to 14 carbon atoms, and these higher alkyl groups may be a single alkyl group or a mixed alkyl group, but are most preferably Is a mixed alkyl group having 12 and 13 carbon atoms. In this case, the ratio of the C12 alkyl group to the C13 alkyl group is
The weight ratio is usually 20:80 to 80:20, especially 40:80.
The ratio is preferably from 60 to 60:40. The copolymerization ratio of the monomer selected from the above-mentioned acrylic acid, methacrylic acid and lower alcohol esters thereof with the monomer of the above formula (1) is appropriately selected, and the weight ratio is 5:95.
~ 79: 21, especially 30: 70 ~ 65: 35.

The diameter of the core 12 is not particularly limited, but is usually 2 to 30 mm, particularly 5 to 15 mm.

The light reflecting layer 13 is preferably formed of scattering particles that scatter light. In this case, as the scattering particles, for example, organic polymer particles such as silicone resin particles and polystyrene resin particles, Al ₂ O ₃ , Ti
O _2, SiO ₂ or the like of the metal oxide particles, sulfates particles such as BaSO _4, and carbonates particles such as CaCO ₃ and the like,
One of these can be used alone or in combination of two or more.

The average particle size of the above particles is 0.1 to 30 μm.
m, particularly preferably 1 to 15 μm, and if it is larger than 30 μm, when the method for producing an optical transmission tube is followed, the core liquid tends to precipitate during the injection into the cladding tube, which may be disadvantageous.

The thickness of the light reflecting layer 13 is not particularly limited, but is preferably 10 to 200 μm, particularly preferably 50 to 100 μm. If it is too thin, less light will be reflected, resulting in lower brightness.If it is too thick, more light will be reflected, resulting in higher brightness. May have a disadvantage of lowering the brightness.

The reflective protective layer 14 may be any material that does not transmit the light to the outside when the light leaks from the light reflecting layer 13. In this case, the reflective protective layer 14 does not absorb the leaked light. Is preferred. Specifically, silver,
A metal foil such as aluminum, a metal sheet, a reflective tape, a vapor deposition tape, or a coating film in which the above-described scattering particles that scatter light are dispersed can be used.

In this case, the reflective protective layer 14 is formed as shown in FIG.
5, the outer surface of the clad 11 may be covered with the light-reflecting layer 13, or may extend beyond the light-reflecting layer 13 to one side to leave the light-emitting portion 15 as shown in FIG. 5. May be formed.

The light-transmitting tube 1 is prepared by dispersing the scattering particles in a core-forming solution containing the monomer, placing the dispersed particles in a cladding tube in which a cladding 11 is to be formed, and closing the cladding tube with both ends sealed. Almost 30
The particles dispersed in the above-mentioned solution for forming the core 12 are settled by being horizontally placed for minutes to 48 hours. In some cases, centrifugation or the like may be performed. Thereafter, the above monomer is polymerized and cured while the particles are settled, so that the light reflecting layer 13 composed of the particles is located between the clad 11 and the core 12.
In some cases, an optical transmission tube 1 formed to be slightly penetrated from the core surface into the core can be obtained.

In this case, the polymerization method of the monomer is not particularly limited, but generally, t-butyl hydroperoxide, di-t-butyl peroxide, lauroyl peroxide, benzoyl peroxide, dimyristyl peroxydicarbonate, Organic peroxides such as t-butylperoxyacetate, t-butylperoxy (2-ethylhexanoate) and cumylperoxyoctoate; azo compounds such as azobisisobutyronitrile and azobiscyclohexanenitrile; A method in which a polymerization initiator is added and polymerization is performed at 50 to 120 ° C. for 1 to 20 hours can be employed. At this time, it is recommended to polymerize the core-forming solution from one end or both ends of the clad tube while pressurizing the core-forming solution because bubbles and the like are not generated in the core.

The light source 2 is disposed at least at one end in the length direction of the light transmission tube 1 (only the left end in this embodiment), and uses an LED (light emitting diode). The light emission color of this light emitting diode is red, blue, green, yellow,
Orange, white, etc., can be appropriately selected and used according to the purpose. The number of LEDs may be one, or a plurality of LEDs may be provided to increase the amount of light. In this case, the light may be incident from one end or from both ends. If the light is incident from both ends, light can be more uniformly emitted with high luminance. The same applies to the emission color of this LED, and it may be a single color or a plurality of colors. For example, it usually emits yellow light,
The light emission color may be changed to emit red light to draw attention to the driver in dense fog or the like in bad weather.
The light emitting method of the LED may be always on or blinking.

As shown in FIG. 2, one end of the optical transmission tube 1 is fixed to an appropriate joint member 20 by bonding or caulking. In addition, LED
Is also fixed integrally with the light transmission tube 1 via the joint member 20. Note that the wiring between the light source 2 and the driving device 3 is wired by a wiring cord 30 covered with rubber, vinyl, polyethylene, or the like. The joint member 20 is provided with a potting material 2 for insulation at a connection point between the wiring cord 30 and the light source 2 and for preventing intrusion of water, steam, flammable gas or liquid.
1. Filled with a material such as epoxy resin, silicone rubber or the like. The wiring cord may be passed through a flexible pipe made of metal or resin, or a rubber or plastic pipe for protection and waterproofing.

The structure of such an optical transmission tube may be, for example, as shown in FIG. 6, inserted into a transparent resin pipe 10A or the like for the purpose of protecting the tube.
As shown in FIG. 7, a transparent heat-shrinkable tube 10B can be put on for protection of the light transmission tube and sealing of the entire linear illuminant. Further, as shown in FIG.
For example, a metal material such as stainless steel, gold, or silver is vapor-deposited on a part of the outer peripheral surface of the light transmission tube 1, a reflective tape is attached by sputtering or plating, a reflective paint is applied, a metal foil is provided, The light reflecting layer 16 may be provided by coating reflective particles such as titanium oxide or using a vinyl tape containing a pigment. FIG.
Alternatively, as shown in FIG. 10, the fixing channel 17 or 18 may be attached to the optical transmission tube, and the channel 17 or 18 may be provided with a reflection function (functioning as a reflective protective layer). The channel may be formed of a metal material such as aluminum or stainless steel, or may be a plastic or elastomer filled and kneaded with highly reflective fine particles (powder).

The driving device 3 is for supplying power to the light source. In this embodiment, the driving device 3 exclusively uses a solar cell. However, in order to use the driving device at night or in rainy weather, the driving device 3 is used. A battery is installed on the ground or the like, and is connected to a solar cell. Further, if necessary, it may be connected to a commercial power supply in the case where power supply from these power supplies cannot be expected. That is, as a power supply to the light source, a storage battery charged by a solar cell, or a commercial power supply or a power supply via a generator can be used. Among them, the solar cell is primarily used because of its installation location, energy saving measures, cleanliness and no risk of causing environmental pollution. The driving device 3 is provided with an electric circuit (consisting of a resistor, a transistor, a constant current diode, etc.) for generating a DC power supply for lighting the LED of the light source 2 from these power supplies. The solar cell used as a power source occupying a main part in the driving device 3 is a display panel A
Although it is installed on almost the entire back surface, it does not apply to north-facing ones as long as the back surface faces east, south, west, etc. with the sun. The solar cell of the driving device 3 may be separately mounted on a dedicated installation member or the like.
Further, an appropriate sealing material (not shown) is provided at a portion where the wiring cord 30 is drawn out of the driving device 3 and the like, so that sufficient waterproofness is provided.

Therefore, according to this embodiment, if the light transmission tube 1 of the linear luminous body is surrounded so as to border the outer peripheral surface of the sign, for example, as shown in FIG. Can be contributed to. Moreover, according to this embodiment, only three light transmission tubes 1 and three light emitting diodes 2 are used to emit light around the character "stop" of the inverted triangular stop sign in red. Power consumption can be greatly reduced. In addition, this level of power can normally be sufficiently supplied by the power supply from the solar cell and the battery that charges the power from the solar cell, so that it can be used even in a place where power supply from the commercial power supply cannot be expected, and is clean and causes environmental pollution. There is no fear.

Next, another embodiment according to the present invention will be described. In the linear road sign according to this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 11, a recess B (preferably an inner surface is a reflecting mirror) is provided on the surface of the display panel A, and a base is provided in the recess B. 1
An optical transmission tube 1 is disposed through a hole 0, and a transparent plate C is placed over the recess B in a waterproof state. Further, in addition to that of this embodiment, for example, as shown in FIG.
The optical transmission tube 1 may be provided via a base 10 ′ provided on the surface of the optical transmission tube 1. The base 10 is covered with a transparent cover D to ensure a waterproof state. In addition, for example, as shown in FIG. 13, in order to improve the luminous efficiency of the scattered light, fine unevenness 11A is provided on the inner peripheral surface of the clad 11, or as shown in FIG. May be mixed with a spherical reflective scatterer 12A coated with a highly reflective film, thereby realizing high-luminance and high-efficiency light emission.

Next, another application example of the road sign using the linear illuminant according to the present invention will be described. This road sign indicates that the vehicle is closed. For example, as shown in FIG. 15, the light transmission tube 1 made of a linear illuminant is formed into a circular shape along the edge of the surface of the display plate A having a disk shape. The circular light transmission tube 1 is disposed diagonally from the upper left to the lower right. In addition,
Also in this embodiment, the light source and the driving device (the number of light sources may be two)
Are installed in the same state as in the previous embodiment, and the display panel A is coated with white on the inside of the circular portion and red on the outside of the circular portion.

Further, in the road sign shown in FIG. 16, a white arrow is displayed on the surface of a disc-shaped display plate A applied to a blue ground color, which indicates that prohibition of traveling outside the designated direction is prohibited. However, the light transmission tube 1 is disposed in a state of a left-pointing arrow. Further, three light sources connected to the ends of the light transmission tube 1 are arranged on the back surface of the display panel A.
In the examples shown in FIGS. 15 and 16, a solar cell is provided on the back surface of the display panel A. However, if the solar cell is colored in a predetermined color, the solar cell is fixed to a coating area on the surface. There may be.

In addition, a plurality of light transmission tubes of each digit are attached so as to be able to partially turn off the light as the number of the maximum speed limit in the segment type display (variable speed display).
You may do so. Note that, by increasing the number of segments, the display of the character display (and further the change display) can be switched.

[0037]

As described above, according to the present invention, the operation and guidance of a vehicle such as an automobile by the light emitting means formed in the shape of characters, numbers, symbols, patterns, etc. or in the shape of these contours, etc. A road sign that displays a light transmission tube which has a transparent core material and a clad material having a smaller refractive index than the core material and serves as the light emitting means, and at least a length direction of the light transmission tube. A light source disposed in a waterproof state at one end, and a power supply for turning on the light source, and singly or navigating a vehicle by guiding light incident from the light source through an optical transmission tube. Since the light emission or blinking display is performed in a plurality of lines, the following excellent effects can be obtained. Unlike conventional light emitting diodes, display intervals are not interrupted, so visibility is enhanced and characters and symbols can be easily and reliably checked even during driving.Unlike the light emitting diode's point light emission method, outlines of characters and borders are different. Does not require a large number of light sources, thereby minimizing the power consumption of solar cells, commercial power supplies, etc., there is no variation in brightness, and the visibility can be further improved. Therefore, it is also advantageous in terms of safety.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a front view showing a road sign using a linear light-emitting body according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a schematic configuration diagram showing a linear light-emitting body and the like according to the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a side sectional view showing an optical transmission tube.

FIG. 4 is a longitudinal sectional view of the same.

FIG. 5 is a longitudinal sectional view showing a modified example of the light transmission tube.

FIG. 6 is an explanatory view showing another modified example of the light transmission tube.

FIG. 7 is an explanatory view showing another modified example of the light transmission tube.

FIG. 8 is a longitudinal sectional view of an optical transmission tube provided with a reflective protective layer.

FIG. 9 is a longitudinal sectional view of an optical transmission tube attached to a channel.

FIG. 10 is a longitudinal sectional view of an optical transmission tube attached to another channel.

FIG. 11 is a sectional view showing an installed state of an optical transmission tube according to the present invention.

FIG. 12 is a sectional view showing an installation state of another optical transmission tube according to the present invention.

FIG. 13 is an enlarged sectional view showing a modified example of the optical transmission tube according to the present invention.

FIG. 14 is an enlarged sectional view showing another modified example of the optical transmission tube according to the present invention.

FIG. 15 is an explanatory view showing another road sign to which the linear illuminant according to the present invention is applied.

FIG. 16 is an explanatory view showing another road sign to which the linear illuminant according to the present invention is applied.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Optical transmission tube 11 (tubular) clad 12 (transparent) core 13 Light reflective layer 14 Reflective protective layer 2 Light source 3 Driver A Display panel

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A road sign for displaying the operation and guidance of vehicles such as automobiles by means of light emitting means formed in the shape of letters, numbers, symbols, patterns, etc. or in the shape of these contours, etc. A light transmission tube that has a material and a clad material having a smaller refractive index than the core material and serves as the light emitting unit; a light source disposed in a waterproof state at at least one end in the length direction of the light transmission tube; A power source for turning on the light source, and emitting or blinking the operation and guidance of the vehicle in one or more lines by emitting the light incident from the light source from the light transmission tube. Road sign with a linear light emitter. 2. The road sign according to claim 1, further comprising a strip-shaped light reflection layer between the clad and the core of the light transmission tube along a length direction of the clad. . 3. The road sign according to claim 1, wherein a solar cell is used as a power source.