IP Library Granted Patent US 10,197,233
Granted Patent B2
US 10,197,233 · App. 15/539,205 · Granted Feb 5, 2019

Illumination device

View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 10,197,233
App. No.
15/539,205
Granted
Feb 5, 2019
Kind
B2
Abstract

An illumination device emits illumination light and has a light source arranged inside a housing generating illumination light; a diffusing panel attached to the housing; and a projector inside a space formed by the housing and a part of the diffusing panel and projecting an image onto a projection surface. An optical unit is arranged so that an incident direction of a light flux incident from a display element provided in the projector onto a projection optical system of the projector is substantially parallel to a horizontal plane or in a direction closer to a direction parallel to the horizontal plane than a vertical direction, or in so that an optical axis of the projection optical system on which the light flux from the display element is substantially parallel to the horizontal plane or in a direction closer to a direction parallel to the horizontal plane than the vertical direction.

Claims (37)

1. An illumination device comprising:

a first light source arranged inside a housing and generating illumination light;

a diffusing panel diffusing the illumination light from the first light source; and

a projector having a second light source, display element and projection optical system arranged inside a space formed by the housing and a part of the diffusing panel and projecting an image onto a projection surface,

wherein an incident direction of a light flux incident from the display element and projected with the projection optical system of the projector is a direction substantially parallel to a horizontal plane or a direction closer to a direction parallel to the horizontal plane than a vertical direction, or

wherein an optical axis of the projection optical system on which the light flux from the display element is incident is substantially parallel to the horizontal plane or closer to a direction parallel to the horizontal plane than the vertical direction.

2. The illumination device according to claim 1 ,

wherein the projector projects the image onto the horizontal plane as an image projection surface, and

an image projection region of the projector on the horizontal plane and an illumination range on the horizontal plane of the illumination light obtained by diffusing the light generated by the first light source are at least partially overlapped.

3. The illumination device according to claim 1 , further comprising:

an aperture or a transmissive window through which projection image light from the projector is emitted from the inside of the space formed by the housing and a part of the diffusing panel,

wherein, an emission position of image projection light from the projector is arranged between the light source and the aperture or the transmissive window.

4. The illumination device according to claim 1 ,

wherein the projector includes a reflection optical element for changing the optical axis of the projection optical system.

5. The illumination device according to claim 1 ,

wherein the illumination device is a pendant-type illumination device.

6. The illumination device according to claim 1 ,

wherein the illumination device is a ceiling-type illumination device.

7. The illumination device according to claim 1 ,

wherein the projector is arranged so as to be located at a center portion of illumination light flux from the first light source of the illumination device.

8. The illumination device according to claim 1 ,

wherein the projector is arranged so as to be located at an end portion of illumination light flux from the first light source of the illumination device.

9. The illumination device according to claim 1 ,

wherein the projector is arranged so as to be located between a center portion and an end portion of illumination light flux from the first light source of the illumination device.

10. The illumination device according to claim 1 ,

wherein the first light source includes a light-emitting element arranged and attached on a lower surface of a board attached to a part of the housing.

11. The illumination device according to claim 10 ,

wherein the board includes a side surface extending further from an end portion of the board in a perpendicular direction, and

wherein another light-emitting element is provided on an outer side of the side surface.

12. The illumination device according to claim 1 ,

wherein the first light source includes light-emitting elements each arranged and attached on a lower surface and an upper surface of a board attached to a part of the housing.

13. The illumination device according to claim 1 ,

wherein the diffusing panel is used as the first light source that generates the illumination light.

14. The illumination device according to claim 13 ,

wherein the first light source that generates the illumination light is configured of electroluminescence (EL).

15. The illumination device according to claim 1 ,

wherein the light source that generates the illumination light is configured of light-emitting elements (LEDs).

Assignments (5)
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Dec 3, 2021
From: MAXELL HOLDINGS, LTD.
To: MAXELL, LTD.
Reel/Frame 058666/0407 →
MERGER Recorded Nov 29, 2021
From: MAXELL, LTD.
To: MAXELL HOLDINGS, LTD.
Reel/Frame 058255/0579 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jan 25, 2018
From: HITACHI MAXELL, LTD.
To: MAXELL, LTD.
Reel/Frame 045142/0208 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Nov 17, 2017
From: KANEKO, KAZUOMI
To: HITACHI MAXELL, LTD.
Reel/Frame 044159/0647 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Nov 17, 2017
From: ONO, CHOHEI; KAKU, NOBUYUKI
To: HITACHI MAXELL, LTD.
Reel/Frame 044159/0731 →
Cited By (1)
US 12,488,715