Optical filter and lighting apparatus

• US 8,164,844 B2
• Filed: 09/13/2005
• Issued: 04/24/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 03/16/2005
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Panasonic Corporation (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Panasonic Corporation (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Inventors: Toda, Naohiro, Tanaka, Wataru, Noguti, Hiroki
• Primary Examiner(s): Chwasz, Jade R
• Application Number:
  US11/886,335
• Publication Number:
  US 20080266690A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,415 Days
• Field of Search: 359/885, 359/589
• US Class Current: 359/885
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2021/0044 by the sight sense
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 21/02 for inducing sleep or relaxation, e.g. by direct nerve stimulation, hypnosis, analgesia for massage A61H; electrotherapy A61N, e.g. applying alternating or intermittent electric currents for producing anaesthesia A61N1/36021
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 5/0618 Psychological treatment

Abstract

An optical filter and a lighting device using the same wherein the suppression of the melatonin secretion by the reception of light in the nighttime is prevented and the color of light is maintained. The optical filter has a mean transmissivity of a light beam in a wavelength range of about 480˜550 nm is about 30% or less. The optical filter is formed by at least molding a transparent resin and a resin composition material containing an orange color series florescent dye material, and, for 100 weight part of the transparent resin, the resin composition material containing about 0.005˜0.2 weight part of the orange color series florescent dye material is molded. This can prevent the suppression of the melatonin secretion in the nighttime. The color of light is maintained desirable. The optical filter may be applied to a lighting apparatus.

Claims

1. An optical filter, the optical filter comprising:

an optical filter means for preventing melatonin suppression,

wherein a mean transmissivity of the optical filter for light having a wavelength of about 480-505 nm passing through the optical filter is about 30% or less,

wherein a mean transmissivity of the optical filter for light having a wavelength of about 380-440 nm passing through the optical filter is about 50% or more,

wherein a mean transmissivity of the optical filter for light having a wavelength of about 430-445 nm passing through the optical filter is about 50% or less,

wherein a mean transmissivity of the optical filter for light having a wavelength of about 530-565 nm passing through the optical filter is between about 45% and about 75%, and

wherein a mean transmissivity in a wavelength range of about 400-440 nm is greater than about 30%.

2. The optical filter in accordance with claim 1, wherein the optical filter means is formed by molding a transparent resin and a resin composition material containing an orange color series fluorescent dye material.

3. The optical filter in accordance with claim 2, wherein, for 100 weight part of the transparent resin, the resin composition material containing about 0.005-0.2 weight part of the orange color series fluorescent dye material is molded.

4. The optical filter in accordance with claim 2, wherein, for 100 weight part of the transparent resin, the resin composition material containing a compound of about 0.005-0.2 weight part of the orange color series fluorescent dye material and about 0.25-4 weight part of an ultraviolet ray absorbent material having an absorption peak at a wavelength ranging from 330 to 400 nm is molded.

5. The optical filter in accordance with claim 2, wherein, for 100 weight part of the transparent resin, the resin composition material containing a compound of about 0.005-0.2 weight part of the orange color series fluorescent dye material and about 0.005-0.01 weight part of a yellow color series florescent dye material is molded.

6. A lighting apparatus having an optical filter in accordance with claim 1.