Light source module

This application claims the priority benefit of Taiwan application serial no. 103143497, filed on Dec. 12, 2014. The entirety of the above-mentioned patent application is hereby incorporated by reference herein and made a part of this specification.

1. Technical Field

The disclosure relates to a light source module, and relates particularly to a light source module having a plurality of reflective structures.

2. Description of Related Art

In conventional techniques, often times fluorescent lamps, cold cathode fluorescent lamps (CCFL) and light emitting diodes (LED) are used as a light source for lighting fixtures and advertisement light boxes. When using fluorescent lamps or CCFLs as an illumination light source, there are disadvantages such as it making the applicable product heavy, the usable life span short and the space utility factor low due to the usable life span and the size dimensions of the light source itself. Therefore, public areas are gradually changing to use LEDs as the light source for advertisement light boxes, display lights or notice lights.

Generally speaking, a light emitting method of a light box may be divided into a single side light emitting type and a double side light emitting type, wherein the light box of the double side light emitting type includes a plurality of LEDs and reflective lamp covers disposed on two sides. Light beams generated by the LEDs are transmitted toward the reflective lamp covers from a side thereof and reflected upward and downward respectively, such that the light beams emitted out from the surface of the light box.

However, a majority of the reflective lamp covers of current light boxes in operation have a tablet design and is disadvantageous for performing optical designs to enhance the homogeneity of the emitted light. And if performing surface design, it may also cause an increase in the difficulty of assembly, and be unfavorable for production. Therefore, how to account for the homogeneity of the emitted light and the difficulty of production is an important issue for those skilled in the art in the technical field.

The disclosure provides a light source module having advantages of good homogeneity and simplified production.

The light source module of the disclosure is adapted for signboards having a light emitting surface. The light source module includes a base, at least one light source, at least one first reflective structure and at least three second reflective structures. The base has a bottom and at least one side surface. The bottom faces the light emitting surface, and the side surface is adjacent to the bottom and located between the light emitting surface and the bottom. At least one light source is disposed at the side surface. At least one first reflective structure is adjacent to the side surface and further away from the bottom and located between the side surface and the light emitting surface. At least three second reflective structures are disposed at the bottom. In a light beam provided by the light source, a part of the light beam ejects from the signboard via the light emitting surface after being reflected by one of the at least three second reflective structures. Another part of the light beam ejects from the signboard via the light emitting surface after being reflected by the first reflective structure and then reflected by one of the at least three second reflective structures sequentially.

Based on the above, the light source module of the embodiments of the disclosure may further control the proportion of the light beam reflected to the light emitting surface by the structural design of the first reflective structure and the second reflective structures, to adjust the homogeneity of the light. In addition, due to the different inclined surfaces of the plurality of second reflective structures, the light source module may achieve good homogeneity, and during optical design prevents difficulty of production caused if the design of the bottom of the base is curved. Also, the size of the mold may be decreased by the symmetrical structure design of the light source module, and a light source module of large dimension may be obtained by fabricating the light source modules in assembly, further decreasing the cost and difficulty of production.

The accompanying drawings are included to provide a further understanding of the disclosure, and are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification. The drawings illustrate embodiments of the disclosure and, together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the disclosure.

FIG. 1 is an architectural schematic diagram illustrating a light source module according to an embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 2 is a structural schematic diagram illustrating a structure of a first reflective structure and a second reflective structure of FIG. 1 .

FIG. 3A is a schematic diagram illustrating light beams reflected by the second reflective structure of FIG. 1 .

FIG. 3B is a schematic diagram illustrating light beams sequentially reflected by the first reflective structure and the second reflective structure of FIG. 1 .

FIG. 4 is an architectural schematic diagram illustrating a light source module according to another embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 5 is an architectural schematic diagram illustrating a light source module according to yet another embodiment of the disclosure.

Reference will now be made in detail to the present preferred embodiments of the disclosure, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Wherever possible, the same reference numbers are used in the drawings and the description to refer to the same or like parts.

FIG. 1 is an architectural schematic diagram illustrating a light source module according to an embodiment of the disclosure. FIG. 2 is a structural schematic diagram illustrating a structure of a first reflective structure and a second reflective structure of FIG. 1 . Referring to FIG. 1 and FIG. 2 , a light source module 100 of the present embodiment is adapted for a signboard SB, where the signboard SB has a light emitting surface LE. The light source module 100 includes a base 110 , at least one light source 120 , at least one first reflective structure 130 L and at least three second reflective structures 141 L, 142 L, 143 L. For example, in the present embodiment, the light source 120 is an LED, but the disclosure is not limited thereto.

More specifically, as shown in FIG. 1 , in the present embodiment, the base 110 has a pair of side surfaces 112 L, 112 R adjacent to a bottom 111 and symmetrical with respect to a central plane C of the base 110 (in the present embodiment, the central plane C refers to a virtual plane parallel with the Y-Z plane). Furthermore, the light source module 100 may also include a plurality of light sources 120 , a pair of first reflective structures 130 L, 130 R and a plurality of second reflective structures 141 L, 142 L, 143 L, 141 R, 142 R, 143 R. Furthermore, the light emitting surface LE is symmetrical with respect to the central plane C, and may be divided into a third part LZ and a fourth part RZ.

More specifically, as shown in FIG. 1 , the plurality of light sources 120 are respectively disposed on the pair of side surfaces 112 L, 112 R. And, the pair of first reflective structures 130 L, 130 R are adjacent to the pair of side surfaces 112 L, 112 R respectively and further away from the bottom 111 , such that each of the first reflective structures 130 L, 130 R are located between each of the side surfaces 112 L, 112 R and the light emitting surface LE. Furthermore, the pair of first reflective structures 130 L, 130 R are symmetrical with respect to the central plane C. In addition, the plurality of second reflective structures 141 L, 142 L, 143 L, 141 R, 142 R, 143 R are disposed at the bottom 111 mirror symmetrically with respect to the central plane C, that is the second reflective structures 141 L, 142 L, 143 L, 141 R, 142 R, 143 R may be divided into a first part 140 L and a second part 140 R with respect to the central plane C. In other words, as shown in FIG. 1 , the first part 140 L includes the second reflective structures 141 L, 142 L, 143 L, and the second part 140 R includes the second reflective structure 141 R, 142 R, 143 R. Because the structural relationship of the base 110 is symmetrical with respect to the central plane C, primarily one side of the structure and the light transmitting effect produced thereof will be described later, and the structure of the other side and the light transmitting effect produced thereof will not be repeated.

In the present embodiment, the second reflective structures 141 L, 142 L, 143 L, 141 R, 142 R, 143 R are embossed at the part abutting the central plane C, forming a platform 113 with the base 110 , and the embossment is symmetrical with respect to the central plane C. In other words, in the present embodiment, the third inclined surface S 143 R of the second part 140 R, the platform 113 and the third inclined surface S 143 L of the first part 140 L connect with each other to make up the embossment. In addition, the third part LZ and the fourth part RZ of the light emitting surface LE respectively correspond to the second reflective structures 141 L, 142 L, 143 L of the first part 140 L and the second reflective structures 141 R, 142 R, 143 R of the second part 140 R.

More specifically, as shown in FIG. 2 , the bottom 111 of the base 110 faces the light emitting surface LE, and the side surface 112 L is adjacent to the bottom 111 , and is located between the light emitting surface LE and the bottom 111 . In more detail, in the present embodiment, the bottom 111 is located at the X-Y plane, and the first reflective structure 130 L is adjacent to the side surface 112 L, and further away from the bottom 111 and located between the side surface 112 L and the light emitting surface LE. In the present embodiment, a surface of the first reflective structure 130 L is a free form surface, however the disclosure is not limited thereto.

On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 2 , the second reflective structures 141 L, 142 L, 143 L are disposed at the bottom 111 . More specifically, the second reflective structures 141 L, 142 L, 143 L include a first inclined surface S 141 L, a second inclined surface S 142 L and a third inclined surface S 143 L. The first inclined surface S 141 L is adjacent to the side surface 112 L. The second inclined surface S 142 L is adjacent between the first inclined surface S 141 L and the third inclined surface S 143 L, and the third inclined surface S 143 L is further away from the side surface 112 L. More specifically, in the present embodiment, the first inclined surface S 141 L, the second inclined surface S 142 L and the third inclined surface S 143 L respectively correspond to the surface of each of the second reflective structures 141 L, 142 L, 143 L, and the abutting parts between the first inclined surface S 141 L, the second inclined surface S 142 L and the third inclined surface S 143 L respectively face the light emitting surface LE and formed in a dented shape. That is to say, in the present embodiment, the first inclined surface S 141 L, the second inclined surface S 142 L and the third inclined surface S 143 L form a valley like structure.

More specifically, as shown in FIG. 2 , in the present embodiment, there is a first angle θ 1 included between the side surface 112 L and the first inclined surface S 141 L, and the range of the first angle θ 1 is between 95 degrees and 100 degrees. And there is a second angle θ 2 included between the first inclined surface S 141 L and the second inclined surface 142 L, and the range of the second angle θ 2 is between 170 degrees and 180 degrees, and there is a third angle θ 3 included between the structure of the second inclined surface S 142 L and the structure of the third inclined surface S 143 L, and the range of the third angle θ 3 is between 150 degrees and 160 degrees.

In addition, in the present embodiment, the side surface 112 L further has a bearing surface 112 a L and a fourth inclined surface 112 b L (symmetrically, the side surface 112 R has a bearing surface 112 a R and an inclined surface 112 b R), and the bearing surface 112 a L is adjacent between the first reflective structure 130 L and the fourth inclined surface 112 b L, and the fourth inclined surface 112 b L is adjacent between the bearing surface 112 a L and the bottom 111 . More specifically, in the present embodiment, there is a fourth angle θ 4 between the bearing surface 112 a L and the fourth inclined surface 112 b L, and the range of the fourth angle θ 4 is between 170 degrees and 180 degrees.

On the other hand, referring again to FIG. 1 , in the present embodiment, the light sources 120 are disposed at the side surface 112 L. More specifically, in the present embodiment, the light sources 120 are disposed on the bearing surface 112 a L of the side surface 112 L, and are arranged in a plurality of columns along a first direction D 1 on the side surface 112 L, and each light source 120 located in the same column are aligned with each other on the first direction D 1 , and each of the light sources 120 located in different columns are misaligned on a second direction D 2 perpendicular to the first direction D 1 . In the present embodiment, the first direction D 1 for example is parallel with the Y-axis, and the second direction D 2 for example is parallel with the Z-axis, however it should not be construed as a limitation to the disclosure. In this way, a light beam 60 emitted by the light source 120 may be ejected from the signboard SB via the light emitting surface LE after being reflected by one of the second reflective structures 141 L, 142 L, 143 L, and therefore good homogeneity may be achieved. In addition, the surfaces described above and shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 are adjoined with each other without gaps therebetween.

Below, the light trail diagram of how the light beam 60 emitted by the light source 120 is transmitted to the light emitting surface LE is described accompanied by FIG. 3A and FIG. 3B .

FIG. 3A is a schematic diagram illustrating light beams reflected by the second reflective structure of FIG. 1 . FIG. 3B is a schematic diagram illustrating light beams sequentially reflected by the first reflective structure and the second reflective structure of FIG. 1 . Referring to FIG. 3A , more specifically, in the light beam 60 provided by the light source 120 , a part of the light beam 60 ejects from the signboard SB via the light emitting surface LE after being reflected by one of the second reflective structures 141 L, 142 L, 143 L. For example, as shown in FIG. 3A , a light beam 61 having a larger angle with the horizontal direction (parallel to the X-axis) will be reflected to the light emitting surface LE by the first inclined surface S 141 L corresponding to the second reflective structure 141 L, and ejected from the signboard SB. Furthermore, a light beam 62 and light beam 63 having a smaller angle with the horizontal direction then are respectively reflected to the light emitting surface LE by the second inclined surface S 142 L and the third inclined surface S 143 L, and ejected from the signboard SB.

On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 3B , another part of the light beam 60 ejects from the signboard SB via the light emitting surface LE, after being reflected by the first reflective structure 130 L and reflected by one of the second reflective structures 141 L, 142 L, 143 L sequentially. For example, as shown in FIG. 3B , after reflected by the first reflective structure 130 L, a light beam 64 having a larger angle with the horizontal direction will be reflected to the light emitting surface LE by the first inclined surface S 141 L corresponding to the second reflective structure 141 L, and ejected from the signboard SB. After reflected by the first reflective structure 130 L, a light beam 65 having a slightly large angle with the horizontal direction will be reflected to the light emitting surface LE by the second inclined surface S 142 L corresponding to the second reflective structure 142 L. After reflected by the first reflective structure 130 L, a light beam 66 having a slightly small angle with the horizontal direction then will be reflected sequentially to the light emitting surface LE by the second inclined surface S 142 L and the third inclined surface S 143 L corresponding to the second reflective structures 142 L, 143 L. After reflected by the first reflective structure 130 L, a light beam 67 having a smallest angle with the horizontal direction will then be reflected by the third inclined surface S 143 L corresponding to the second reflective structure 143 L to the light emitting surface LE.

As a result, the light source module 100 may further control the proportion of the light beam 60 reflected to the light emitting surface LE by the structural design of the first reflective structure 130 L and the second reflective structures 141 L, 142 L, 143 L. For example, as shown in FIG. 3A and FIG. 3B , the light beam 61 and the light beam 64 reflected to the light emitting surface LE by the first inclined surface S 141 L will be concentrated at a first region Z 1 of the light emitting surface LE. And the light beam 62 and the light beam 65 reflected to the light emitting surface LE by the second inclined surface S 142 L will be concentrated at a second region Z 2 of the light emitting surface LE. And the light beam 63 , the light beam 66 and the light beam 67 reflected to the light emitting surface LE by the third inclined surface S 143 L then may be used to reinforce the light beam 60 at the second region Z 2 of the light emitting surface LE. Therefore, the light source module 100 may achieve an effect of adjusting the homogeneity of the light ejected out of the light emitting surface LE.

In addition, referring again to FIG. 1 , in this way, the light beam reflected by the second reflective structures 141 L, 142 L, 143 L of the first part 140 L emits light through the third part LZ of the light emitting surface LE, and the light beam reflected by the second reflective structures 141 R, 142 R, 143 R of the second part 140 R emits light through the fourth part RZ of the light emitting surface LE. More specifically, the light beam emitted by the light sources 120 located at different sides may be symmetrically emitted independently through different regions of the light emitting surface LE by the structural design of the second reflective structures 143 L, 143 R at the embossment part abutting the central plane C.

In this way, by the structural design of the different inclinations of the plurality of reflective structures, the light source module 100 may achieve good light emitting homogeneity, and further during optical design the difficulty of production caused if the design of the bottom 111 of the base 110 is curved may be prevented. Also, the size of the mold may be decreased by the symmetrical structure design of the light source module 100 , and a light source module 100 of large dimension may be obtained by fabricating the light source modules in assembly, further decreasing the cost and difficulty of production. In another embodiment which is not shown of the disclosure, the signboard is a round-shaped structure, such that the reflective structures described above are symmetrically surrounding around an axis orthogonal to the light emitting surface LE.

In addition, as shown in FIG. 3A and FIG. 3B , in the present embodiment, the light source module 100 may further include an optical film 150 , located between the base 110 and the light emitting surface LE. When the light beam is reflected to the light emitting surface LE, the light source module 100 may readjust the direction of the emitted light by the optical film 150 , to enhance the brightness of the light source module 100 in the frontal direction. For example, in the present embodiment, the optical film 150 may include a prism sheet, a diffusion sheet, or at least one of another optical diaphragm, however the disclosure is not limited thereto.

FIG. 4 is an architectural schematic diagram illustrating a light source module according to another embodiment of the disclosure. Referring to FIG. 4 , a light source module 400 of the present embodiment and the light source module 100 of FIG. 1 are similar, the differences between the two embodiments are described below. The fourth angle θ 4 included between the bearing surface 412 a L and the fourth inclined surface 412 b L of the side surface 412 L of the light source module 400 of the present embodiment is approximately between 170 degrees and 180 degrees, and the curvature of the first reflective structure 430 L is larger than the curvature of the aforementioned first reflective structure 130 L. In this way, the other part of the light beam 60 provided by the light source 120 then may be reflected by the first reflective structure 430 L and the fourth inclined surface 412 b L sequentially, and ejected from the signboard SB via the light emitting surface LE after reflected by the second reflective structures (for example, 141 L or 142 L shown in the figure).

FIG. 5 is an architectural schematic diagram illustrating a light source module according to yet another embodiment of the disclosure. Referring to the embodiment of FIG. 4 and FIG. 5 , because the curvature of the first reflective structure 430 L is larger than the curvature of the first reflective structure 130 L, an approximate focal point F 1 formed by the first reflective structure 430 L and the position thereof is different from an approximate focal point F 2 formed by the first reflective structure 130 L. More specifically, using the X-Y plane of the embodiment as reference, referring to FIG. 4 , an orthogonal projection of the approximate focal point F 1 on the X-Y plane is located within the range of an orthogonal projection of the first reflective structure 430 L on the X-Y plane. Oppositely, referring to FIG. 5 , an orthogonal projection of the approximate focal point F 2 on the X-Y plane is located outside the range of an orthogonal projection of the first reflective structure 130 L on the X-Y plane. Accordingly, a designer may determine the path of the light beam by different curvatures of the first reflective structure.

Furthermore, the light source module 400 also may further control the proportion of the light beam 60 reflected to the light emitting surface LE by the structural design of the first reflective structure 130 L and the second reflective structures 141 L, 142 L, 143 L to achieve an effect of adjusting the homogeneity of the light. In addition, due to the different inclined surfaces of the plurality of second reflective structure 141 L, 142 L, 143 L, the light source module 400 may achieve good homogeneity, and during optical design prevents difficulty of production caused if the design of the bottom 111 of the base 110 is curved. Also, the size of the mold may be decreased by the symmetrical structure design of the light source module 400 , and a light source module 400 of large dimension may be obtained by fabricating the light source modules in assembly, further decreasing the cost and difficulty of production. Therefore the light source module 400 also may achieve similar effects and advantages as the light source module 100 , and will not be repeated here.

Referring to FIG. 5 , a light source module 500 of the present embodiment is similar to the light source module 100 of FIG. 1 , and the differences between the two embodiments are described below. The bearing surface 512 a L and the fourth inclined surface 512 b L of the side surface 512 L of the light source module 500 of the present embodiment are located on the same plane. In other words, in the present embodiment, the fourth angle θ 4 included between the bearing surface 512 a L and the fourth inclined surface 512 b L is 180 degrees.

Furthermore, the light source module 500 also may further control the proportion of the light beam 60 reflected to the light emitting surface LE by the structural design of the first reflective structure 130 L and the second reflective structures 141 L, 142 L, 143 L to achieve an effect of adjusting the homogeneity of the light. In addition, due to the different inclined surfaces of the plurality of second reflective structure 141 L, 142 L, 143 L, the light source module 500 may achieve good homogeneity, and during optical design prevents difficulty of production caused if the design of the bottom 111 of the base 110 is curved. Also, the size of the mold may be decreased by the symmetrical structure design of the light source module 500 , and a light source module 500 of large dimension may be obtained by fabricating the light source modules in assembly, further decreasing the cost and difficulty of production. Therefore the light source module also may achieve similar effects and advantages as the light source module 100 , and will not be repeated here.

In summary, the light source module of the embodiments control the proportion of the light beam reflected to the light emitting surface by the structural design of the first reflective structure and the second reflective structure, and may achieve an effect of adjusting the homogeneity of the light. In addition, due to the different inclined surfaces of the plurality of second reflective structure, the light source module may achieve good homogeneity, and during optical design prevents difficulty of production caused if the design of the bottom of the base is curved. Also, the size of the mold may be decreased by the symmetrical structure design of the light source module, and a light source module of large dimensional may be obtained by fabricating the light source modules in assembly, further decreasing the cost and difficulty of production.

It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and variations can be made to the structure of the present disclosure without departing from the scope or spirit of the disclosure. In view of the foregoing, it is intended that the present disclosure cover modifications and variations of this disclosure provided they fall within the scope of the following claims and their equivalents.