Lighting equipment

• US 6,883,938 B1
• Filed: 02/22/1999
• Issued: 04/26/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 02/20/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Nippon Zeon Co., Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Nippon Zeon Co., Ltd.
• Inventors: Kohara, Teiji, Maruyama, Junko, Konishi, Yuichiro
• Primary Examiner(s): Husar, Stephen
• Assistant Examiner(s): Ton, Anabel
• Application Number:
  US09/622,694
• Time in Patent Office: 2,255 Days
• Field of Search: 362/296, 362/327, 428/912.2, 428/461, 428/462, 428/467
• US Class Current: 362/296.04
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/34 for indicating change of drive direction B60Q1/22 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 41/28 Cover glass
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 41/37 characterised by their material, surface treatment or coatings
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 43/237 rod-shaped
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 43/243 emitting light from one or more of its extremities
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 43/247 with a single light source being coupled into the light guide
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 43/33 characterised by their material, surface treatment or coatings
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 43/50 characterised by aesthetic components not otherwise provided for, e.g. decorative trim, partition walls or covers
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 3/04 characterised by materials, surface treatments or coatings
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 7/24 characterised by the material
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 7/28 characterised by coatings
• CPC Class Codes: F21W 2102/00 Exterior vehicle lighting devices for illuminating purposes
• CPC Class Codes: F21W 2102/19 for curves
• CPC Class Codes: F21W 2102/30 Fog lights
• CPC Class Codes: F21W 2103/00 Exterior vehicle lighting devices for signalling purposes
• CPC Class Codes: F21W 2103/10 Position lights
• CPC Class Codes: F21W 2103/15 Side marker lights
• CPC Class Codes: F21W 2103/20 Direction indicator lights
• CPC Class Codes: F21W 2103/30 Hazard lights
• CPC Class Codes: F21W 2103/35 Brake lights
• CPC Class Codes: F21W 2103/45 : Reversing lights
• CPC Class Codes: F21W 2103/50 : Registration plate lights
• CPC Class Codes: F21W 2107/10 : for land vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 5/0808 : having a single reflecting layer G02B5/0883, G02B5/0891 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/0001 : specially adapted for lighting devices or systems lighting or signalling on vehicles using light guides B60Q1/00; lighting devices for vehicle dashboards B60Q3/10; lighting devices for vehicle interior using light guides B60Q3/62; lighting devices mounted on the vehicle rear part using light guides F21S43/235; measuring arrangements having light conducting pointers G01D13/265; illumination of liquid crystal displays G02F1/1336; illuminated signs G09F13/00
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/4298 : coupling with non-coherent light sources and/or radiation detectors, e.g. lamps, incandescent bulbs, scintillation chambers
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/31692 : Next to addition polymer from unsaturated monomers

Abstract

A lighting equipment comprising a reflector having a substrate comprised of a thermoplastic resin containing an alicyclic structure on which is formed a reflecting layer having a reflectance of at least 70%. The reflecting layer of the reflector is preferably comprised of a metal. The reflecting layer preferably has a thickness of 5 to 10,000 nm. The amount of the repeating units containing polar groups in the thermoplastic resin containing an alicyclic structure is preferably not more than 50 wt %. The thermoplastic resin containing an alicyclic structure preferably has a melt flow rate of 4 to 100 g/10 min.

Claims

1. A lighting equipment comprising

a reflector further comprising a substrate comprised of a thermoplastic resin containing an alicyclic structure selected from the group consisting of:

a ring-opening polymer of a norbornene-based monomer, a ring-opening polymer hydrogenate of a norbornene-based monomer, an addition polymer of a norbornene-based monomer, an addition polymer of a norbornene-based monomer and vinyl compound, and a vinyl alicyclic hydrocarbon polymer; and

a metal film provided on the substrate.

2. The lightning equipment as set forth in claim 1, further comprising a lens for condensing light of a light source reflected by said reflector.

3. The lightning equipment as set forth in claim 1, further comprising a lamp cover allowing passage of light of a light source reflected by said reflector.

4. The lightning equipment as set forth in claim 2, further comprising a lamp cap covering part or all of a light source.

28. The lighting equipment as set forth in claim 1, characterized in that said metal film is comprised of a reflecting layer with a reflectance of at least 70%.

5. A lighting equipment, comprising:

a reflector further comprising a substrate comprised of a thermoplastic resin containing an alicyclic structure selected from the group consisting of;

a ring-opening polymer of a norbornene-based monomer, a ring-opening polymer hydrogenate of a norbornene-based monomer, an addition polymer of a norbornene-based monomer, an addition polymer of a norbornene-based monomer and vinyl compound, and a vinyl alicyclic hydrocarbon polymer;

a metal film provided on the substrate;

a light guide, having a light incident face to which is introduced at least one type of light selected from the group of light from a light source and light source reflected by the reflector; and

an emission face emitting the incident light introduced from the incident face to the outside.

6. A light equipment comprising:

a reflector having a substrate comprised of a thermoplastic resin containing an alicyclic structure on which is formed a reflecting layer with a reflectance of at least 70%,

a lens for condensing light of a light source reflected by the reflector,

a lamp cover allowing a passage of light of the light source reflected by the reflector,

a lamp cap covering part or all of the light source, and

a light guide having an incident face to which is introduced at least one type of light selected from light from the light source and light from the light source reflected by the reflector and an emission face emitting the incident light introduced from the incident face to the outside.

7. A reflector for a lightning equipment comprising:

a substrate comprised of a thermoplastic resin containing an alicyclic structure selected from the group consisting of;

a ring-opening polymer of a polymer of a norbornene-based monomer, a ring-opening polymer hydrogenate of a norbornene-based monomer, an addition polymer of a norbornene-based monomer, an addition polymer of a norbornene-based monomer and vinyl compound, and a vinyl alicyclic hydrocarbon polymer; and

a metal layer provided on the substrate.

29. The reflector for a lighting equipment as set forth in claim 7, characterized in that said metal film is comprised of a reflecting layer with a reflectance of at least 70%.

8. A reflector for a lightning equipment, comprising:

a substrate comprised of a thermoplastic resin containing an alicyclic structure selected from the group consisting of;

a ring-opening polymer of a polymer of a norbornene-based monomer, a ring-opening polymer hydrogenate of a norbornene-based monomer, an addition polymer of a norbornene-based monomer, an addition polymer of a norbornene-based monomer and vinyl compound, and a vinyl alicyclic hydrocarbon polymer; and

a metal layer provided on the substrate, comprised of a reflecting layer with a reflectance of at least 70%;

wherein said reflecting layer has a thickness of 5 to 10,000 nm.

9. A reflector for a lightning equipment, comprising:

a substrate comprised of a thermoplastic resin containing an alicyclic structure selected from the group consisting of;

a ring-opening polymer of a polymer of a norbornene-based monomer, a ring-opening polymer hydrogenate of a norbornene-based monomer, an addition polymer of a norbornene-based monomer, an addition polymer of a norbornene-based monomer and vinyl compound, and a vinyl alicyclic hydrocarbon polymer; and

a metal layer provided on the substrate, comprised of a reflecting layer with a reflectance of at least 70%; and

wherein said reflecting layer is provided by vapor deposition.

10. A reflector for a lightning equipment, comprising:

a substrate comprising;

of a thermoplastic resin containing an alicyclic structure selected from the group consisting of;

a ring-opening polymer of a polymer of a norbornene-based monomer, a ring-opening polymer hydrogenate of a norbornene-based monomer, an addition polymer of a norbornene-based monomer, an addition polymer of a norbornene-based monomer and vinyl compound, and a vinyl alicyclic hydrocarbon polymer; and

at least one compounding agent selected from the group consisting of a partial ether compound of a polyhydric alcohol, a soft polymer, a filler, and a compound incompatible with the thermoplastic resin having an alicyclic structure; and

a metal layer provided on the substrate.

11. A reflector for a lightning equipment, comprising:

a substrate comprising;

of a thermoplastic resin containing an alicyclic structure selected from the group consisting of;

a ring-opening polymer of a polymer of a norbornene-based monomer, a ring-opening polymer hydrogenate of a norbornene-based monomer, an addition polymer of a norbornene-based monomer, an addition polymer of a norbornene-based monomer and vinyl compound, and a vinyl alicyclic hydrocarbon polymer, and a blended soft polymer having a glass transition temperature of not more than 30°

C.; and

a metal layer provided on the substrate.

12. A reflector for a lightning equipment, comprising:

a substrate comprising;

of a thermoplastic resin containing an alicyclic structure selected from the group consisting of;

a ring-opening polymer of a polymer of a norbornene-based monomer, a ring-opening polymer hydrogenate of a norbornene-based monomer, an addition polymer of a norbornene-based monomer, an addition polymer of a norbornene-based monomer and vinyl compound, and a vinyl alicyclic hydrocarbon polymer, and a blended crystalline polymer; and

a metal layer provided on the substrate.

13. A reflector for a lightning equipment, comprising:

a substrate comprised of a thermoplastic resin containing an alicyclic structure selected from the group consisting of;

a ring-opening polymer of a polymer of a norbornene-based monomer, a ring-opening polymer hydrogenate of a norbornene-based monomer, an addition polymer of a norbornene-based monomer, an addition polymer of a norbornene-based monomer and vinyl compound, and a vinyl alicyclic hydrocarbon polymer; and

a metal layer provided on the substrate;

wherein the amount of repeating units containing polar groups in the thermoplastic resin containing the alicyclic structure is not more than 50 wt %.

14. A reflector for a lightning equipment, comprising:

a substrate comprised of a thermoplastic resin containing the alicyclic structure selected from the group consisting of;

a ring opening polymer of a polymer of a norbornene-based monomer, a ring-opening polymer hydrogenate of a norbornene-based monomer, an addition polymer of a norbornene-based monomer, an addition polymer of a norbornene-based monomer and vinyl compound, and a vinyl alicyclic hydrocarbon polymer; and

a metal layer provided on the substrate;

wherein the thermoplastic resin containing an alicyclic structure has a melt flow rate, measured by JIS-K6719 at a temperature os 280°

C. and a load of 2.16 kgf, of 4 to 100 g/10 min.

15. A reflector for a lightning equipment, comprising:

a substrate comprised of a thermoplastic resin containing an alicyclic structure selected from the group consisting of;

a ring-opening polymer of a polymer of a norbornene-based monomer, a ring-opening polymer hydrogenate of a norbornene-based monomer, an addition polymer of a norbornene-based monomer, an addition polymer of a norbornene-based monomer and vinyl compound, and a vinyl alicyclic hydrocarbon polymer; and

a metal layer provided on the substrate;

wherein the thermoplastic resin containing the alicyclic structure has repeating units comprised of ring structures other than norbornene rings.

16. A lens for a lighting equipment with a resin composition comprising:

a thermoplastic resin containing an alicyclic structure selected from the group consisting of a ring-opening polymer of a norbornene-based monomer, a ring-opening polymer hydrogenate of a norbornene-based monomer, an addition polymer of a norbornene-based monomer, an addition polymer of a norbornene-based monomer and vinyl alicyclic hydrocarbon polymer, and

at least one compounding agent selected from the group consisting of a partial ether compound of a polyhydric alcohol, a partial ester compound of a polyhydric alcohol, a soft polymer, a filler, and a compound incompatible with the thermoplastic resin having an alicyclic structure.

20. The lens for a lighting equipment as set forth in claim 16, in which the thermoplastic resin containing the alicyclic structure is selected from the group consisting of a ring-opening polymer of a norbornene-based monomer, a ring-opening polymer hydrogenate of a norbornene-based monomer, an addition polymer of a norbornene-based monomer, and an addition polymer of a norbornene-based monomer and vinyl compound.

17. A lamp cover for a lighting equipment provided in front of a light source and allowing passage of light of the light source, said lamp cover for a lighting equipment comprised of a thermoplastic resin containing an alicyclic structure selected from the group consisting of a ring-opening polymer of a norbornene-based monomer, a ring-opening polymer hydrogenate of a norbornene-based, an addition polymer of a norbornene-based monomer, an addition polymer of a norbornene-based monomer and vinyl compound, and a vinyl alicyclic hydrocarbon polymer.

21. The lamp cover for a lighting equipment as set forth in claim 17, in which the thermoplastic resin containing the alicyclic structure is selected from the group consisting of a ring-opening polymer of a norbornene-based monomer, a ring-opening polymer hydrogenate of a norbornene-based monomer, an addition polymer of a norbornene-based monomer, and an addition polymer of a norbornene-based monomer and vinyl compound.

18. A lamp cap for a lighting equipment covering part of all of the light source, said lamp cap comprised of a thermoplastic resin containing an alicyclic structure selected from the group consisting of a ring-opening polymer of a norbornene-based monomer, a ring-opening polymer hydrogenate of a norbornene-based monomer, an addition polymer of a norbornene-based monomer, an addition polymer of a norbornene-based monomer and vinyl compound, and a vinyl alicyclic hydrocarbon polymer.

22. The lamp cap for a lighting equipment as set forth in claim 18, in which the thermoplastic resin containing the alicyclic structure is selected from the group consisting of a ring-opening polymer of a norbornene-based monomer, a ring-opening polymer hydrogenate of a norbornene-based monomer, an addition hydrogenate of a norbornene-based monomer, an addition polymer of a norbornene-based monomer, and an addition polymer of a norbornene-based monomer and vinyl compound.

19. A light guide for a lighting equipment provided in a light chamber of the lighting equipment and having a light incident face to which is introduced at least one type of light selected from the group of light from a light source and light from a light source reflected by a reflector and an emission face emitting the incident light introduced from the incident surface to the outside, said light guide for a lighting equipment comprised of a thermoplastic resin containing an alicyclic structure having a glass resin containing an alicyclic structure having a glass transition temperature of at least 90°

C. selected from the group consisting of a ring-opening polymer of a norbornene-based monomer, a ring-opening polymer hydrogenate of a norbornene-based monomer, an addition polymer of a norbornene-based monomer, an addition polymer of a norbornene-based monomer and vinyl compound, and a vinyl alicyclic hydrocarbon polymer.

23. The light guide for a lighting equipment as set forth in claim 19, in which the thermoplastic resin containing the alicyclic structure is selected from the group consisting of a ring-opening polymer of a norbornene-based monomer, a ring-opening polymer of a norbornene-based monomer, a ring-opening polymer hydrogenate of a norbornene-based monomer, an addition polymer of a norbornene-based monomer, and an addition polymer of a norbornene-based monomer and vinyl compound.

24. A lighting equipment comprising:

a reflector having a substrate on which is formed a reflecting layer with a reflectance of at least 70%,

a lens comprised of a thermoplastic resin containing an alicyclic structure for condensing light of a light source reflected by the reflector,

a lamp cover allowing a passage of light of the light source reflected by the reflector,

a lamp cap covering part or all of the light source, and

a light guide having an incident face to which is introduced at least one type of light selected from light from the light source and light from the light source reflected by the reflector and an emission face emitting the incident light introduced from the incident face to the outside.

25. A lighting equipment comprising:

a reflector having a substrate on which is formed a reflecting layer with a reflectance of at least 70%,

a lens for condensing light of a light source reflected by the reflector,

a lamp cover comprised of a thermoplastic resin containing an alicyclic structure allowing a passage of light of the light source reflected by the reflector,

a lamp cap covering part or all of the light source, and

a light guide having an incident face to which is introduced at least one type of light selected from light form the light source and light from the light source reflected by the reflector and an emission face emitting the incident light introduced from the incident face to the outside.

26. A lighting equipment comprising:

a reflector having a substrate on which is formed a reflecting layer with a reflectance of at least 70%,

a lens for condensing light of a light source reflected by the reflector,

a lamp cover allowing a passage of light of the light source reflected by the reflector,

a lamp cap comprised of a thermoplastic resin containing an alicyclic structure covering part or all of the light source, and

a light guide having an incident face to which is introduced at least one type of light selected from light from the light source and light from the light source reflected by the reflector and an emission face emitting the incident light introduced from the incident face to the outside.

27. A lighting equipment comprising:

a reflector having a substrate on which is formed a reflecting layer with a reflectance of at least 70%,

a lens for condensing light of a light source reflected by the reflector,

a lamp cover allowing a passage of light of the light source reflected by the reflector,

a lamp cap covering part or all of the light source, and

a light guide comprised of a thermoplastic resin containing an alicyclic structure having an incident face to which is introduced at lest one type of light selected from the light source and light from the light source reflected by the reflector and an emission face emitting the incident light introduced from the incident face to the outside.