IP Library Granted Patent US 10,260,691
Granted Patent B2
US 10,260,691 · App. 15/539,243 · Granted Apr 16, 2019

Illumination apparatus

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 10,260,691
App. No.
15/539,243
Granted
Apr 16, 2019
Kind
B2
Abstract

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

Claims (31)

1. An illumination apparatus configured to emit illumination light, the illumination apparatus comprising:

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

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

a projector which includes a projection lens and is 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 optical unit constituting the projector is arranged in a state where 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 a substantially vertical direction or a direction closer to a vertical direction than a direction parallel to a horizontal plane, or in a state where an optical axis of the projection optical system on which the light flux from the display element provided in the projector is incident is a substantially vertical direction or a direction closer to the vertical direction than the direction parallel to the horizontal plane, and

wherein the projector is located horizontally offset from a center of the diffusing panel, and the projector is configured to shift projection of the image in a direction toward a center of the illumination light on the projection surface.

2. The illumination apparatus according to claim 1 ,

wherein the projector is configured to project the image onto the horizontal plane as the 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 light source are at least partially overlapped.

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

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

wherein, in an arrangement in the vertical direction, an emission position of image projection light from the optical unit is arranged between the light source and the aperture or the transmissive window.

4. The illumination apparatus according to claim 1 ,

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

5. The illumination apparatus according to claim 1 ,

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

6. The illumination apparatus according to claim 1 ,

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

7. The illumination apparatus according to claim 6 ,

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

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

8. The illumination apparatus according to claim 1 ,

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

9. The illumination apparatus according to claim 1 ,

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

10. The illumination apparatus according to claim 9 ,

wherein the light source that generates the illumination light is configured by an electroluminescent body.

11. The illumination apparatus according to claim 1 ,

wherein the light source that generates the illumination light is configured by a light emitting diode.

12. The illumination apparatus according to claim 1 ,

wherein the optical axis of the projection optical system of the projector is located horizontally offset from a center of the display element in the projector.

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 044159/0677 →