IP Library Granted Patent US 9,582,959
Granted Patent B2
US 9,582,959 · App. 14/587,737 · Granted Feb 28, 2017

Reflection structure, light guide body, light emitting device, and game machine

Inventors: Masayuki Shinohara (Kyoto, JP); Yoshimasa Osumi (Kyoto, JP); Yoshihiko Takagi (Kyoto, JP); Norikazu Kitamura (Osaka, JP); Takaaki Suzumura (Shiga, JP); Junya Fujita (Aichi, JP)
Assignee: OMRON Corporation
G07F17/3211G02B6/006G02B6/0036G02B6/0068G07F17/3202
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 9,582,959
App. No.
14/587,737
Granted
Feb 28, 2017
Kind
B2
Abstract

A reflection structure configured to be disposed on a light guide body that guides a light beam incident from a light source and causes the light beam to exit from a light emitting area set in a light exit surface, having a reflection surface that reflects the light beam emitted from the light source toward the light emitting area. When the reflection structure is viewed from a direction perpendicular to the light exit surface, a pointed end is arranged in a direction orthogonal to a traveling direction of the reflected light beam, and an angle formed between the traveling direction of the reflected light beam and a normal direction of an end edge of the reflection surface connected to the pointed end is less than or equal to −38.327x2+152.3x−94.014, wherein x is a refractive index of the light guide body.

Claims (49)

1. A reflection structure configured to be disposed on a light guide body that guides a light beam incident from a light source and causes the light beam to exit from a light emitting area set in a light exit surface, comprising

a reflection surface that reflects the light beam emitted from the light source toward the light emitting area,

wherein, when the reflection structure is viewed from a direction perpendicular to the light exit surface, a pointed end is arranged in a direction orthogonal to a traveling direction of the reflected light beam, and an angle formed between the traveling direction of the reflected light beam and a normal direction of an end edge of the reflection surface connected to the pointed end is less than or equal to:

−38.327 x 2 +152.3 x− 94.014,

wherein x is a refractive index of the light guide body.

2. The reflection structure according to claim 1 , wherein the reflection structure is a spindle shape when viewed from a direction perpendicular to the light exit surface.

3. The reflection structure according to claim 1 , wherein the reflection structure totally reflects the light beam incident from the light source.

4. A light guide body that guides a light beam incident from a light source, comprising:

a light exit surface comprising a light emitting area from which the light beam from the light source is guided by the light guide body to exit; and

a reflection structure comprising:

a reflection surface that reflects the light beam emitted from the light source toward the light emitting area,

wherein, when the reflection structure is viewed from a direction perpendicular to the light exit surface, a pointed end is arranged in a direction orthogonal to a traveling direction of the reflected light beam, and an angle formed between the traveling direction of the reflected light beam and a normal direction of an end edge of the reflection surface connected to the pointed end is less than or equal to:

−38.327 x 2 +152.3 x− 94.014,

wherein x is a refractive index of the light guide body.

5. The light guide body according to claim 4 ,

wherein the light emitting area comprises:

a first light emitting area from which a first light beam exits, and

a second light emitting area from which a second light beam exits,

wherein the second light beam is incident from a direction substantially orthogonal to the first light beam, and

wherein, when the light guide body is viewed from a direction perpendicular to the light exit surface:

the reflection structure reflecting the first light beam toward the first light emitting area is arranged such that the pointed end is located in a direction substantially orthogonal to the traveling direction of the first light beam, and

the reflection structure reflecting the second light beam toward the second light emitting area is arranged such that the pointed end is located in a direction substantially orthogonal to the traveling direction of the second light beam.

6. The light guide body according to claim 5 , wherein the first light emitting area and the second light emitting area partially overlap with each other.

7. A light emitting device comprising:

a light source that emit a light beam;

a light guide body that guides the light beam incident from the light source, comprising:

a light exit surface comprising a light emitting area from which the light beam from the light source is guided by the light guide body to exit; and

a reflection structure comprising:

a reflection surface that reflects the light beam emitted from the light source toward the light emitting area,

wherein, when the reflection structure is viewed from a direction perpendicular to the light exit surface, a pointed end is arranged in a direction orthogonal to a traveling direction of the reflected light beam, and an angle formed between the traveling direction of the reflected light beam and a normal direction of an end edge of the reflection surface connected to the pointed end is less than or equal to:

−38.327 x 2 +152.3 x− 94.014,

wherein x is a refractive index of the light guide body.

8. The light emitting device according to claim 7 , wherein the light source is a light emitting diode.

9. The light emitting device according to claim 7 , further comprising a light flux controller that controls a light flux of the light beam emitted from the light source.

10. A game machine comprising the light emitting device according to claim 7 .

11. The reflection structure according to claim 2 , wherein the reflection structure totally reflects the light beam incident from the light source.

12. The light emitting device according to claim 8 , further comprising a light flux controller that controls a light flux of the light beam emitted from the light source.

13. A game machine comprising the light emitting device according to claim 8 .

14. A game machine comprising the light emitting device according to claim 9 .

15. The light guide body according to claim 4 , wherein the reflection structure is a spindle shape when viewed from a direction perpendicular to the light exit surface.

16. The light guide body according to claim 4 , wherein the reflection structure totally reflects the light beam incident from the light source.

17. The light emitting device according to claim 7 , wherein the light emitting area comprises:

a first light emitting area from which a first light beam exits, and

a second light emitting area from which a second light beam exits,

wherein the second light beam is incident from a direction substantially orthogonal to the first light beam, and

wherein, when the light guide body is viewed from a direction perpendicular to the light exit surface:

the reflection structure reflecting the first light beam toward the first light emitting area is arranged such that the pointed end is located in a direction substantially orthogonal to the traveling direction of the first light beam, and

the reflection structure reflecting the second light beam toward the second light emitting area is arranged such that the pointed end is located in a direction substantially orthogonal to the traveling direction of the second light beam.

18. The light emitting device according to claim 17 , wherein the first light emitting area and the second light emitting area partially overlap with each other.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Apr 24, 2015
From: SHINOHARA, MASAYUKI; OSUMI, YOSHIMASA; TAKAGI, YOSHIHIKO; KITAMURA, NORIKAZU; SUZUMURA, TAKAAKI; FUJITA, JUNYA
To: OMRON CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 035492/0046 →
Priority Claims (1)
JP 2014-031028 · Feb 20, 2014 · national
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20150235508A1 · Aug 20, 2015