LED strip lights and air conditioner units with them

Abstract

This invention provides a light strip and an air conditioner unit incorporating it, relating to the field of air conditioner technology, and is designed to solve the problem of concentrated brightness in the nighttime indicator lights of existing air conditioner units. The light strip includes a light source and a light guide. The light guide is configured to receive light emitted from the light source and conduct it to the outside of the air conditioner unit. The light guide has an inner surface, an outer surface, and a light-emitting surface connecting the inner and outer surfaces. Along a direction perpendicular to the light-emitting direction of the light guide, an edge light guide, a central light guide, and an edge light guide are sequentially arranged on the inner and / or outer surfaces. The central light guide is planar, and the edge light guides have several concave dots. The light source is configured to emit light towards the central light guide. The air conditioner unit includes the aforementioned light strip. This invention enables the point light source to diffuse evenly, effectively solving the problem of concentrated brightness in the nighttime indicator lights of air conditioner units.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of air conditioner technology, and more specifically, to a light strip and an air conditioner unit having the same. Background Technology

[0002] With social development and improved manufacturing processes, air conditioner cabinet units have become more comprehensive in function and more aesthetically pleasing in appearance.

[0003] Currently, since most air conditioner units are inconvenient to use at night, they are equipped with night indicator lights. However, in actual use, because the light source of these night indicator lights is a point light source, the brightness is relatively concentrated, and it may even cause light pollution at night. This not only causes discomfort to the user's eyes, but also affects the aesthetics of the air conditioner unit, which is unacceptable to users. Summary of the Invention

[0004] The first objective of this invention is to provide a light strip to solve the technical problem that the brightness of the indicator lights in existing air conditioner cabinets is relatively concentrated at night.

[0005] The present invention provides a light strip for use in air conditioner cabinet units. The light strip includes a light source and a light guide. The light guide is configured to receive light emitted by the light source and conduct it to the outside of the air conditioner cabinet unit. The light guide has an inner surface, an outer surface, and a light-emitting surface connecting the inner surface and the outer surface. Along a direction perpendicular to the light-emitting direction of the light guide, the inner surface and / or the outer surface are sequentially provided with an edge light guide, a center light guide, and an edge light guide. The center light guide is planar, and the edge light guide has a plurality of recesses. The light source is configured to emit light toward the center light guide.

[0006] The above-mentioned light strip is used as a nighttime indicator light for an air conditioner unit as an example. By setting up a light strip mainly composed of a light source and a light guide, when in use, the light emitted by the light source shines on the central light guide. At the same time, under the irradiation of the light, the edge light guides located on both sides of the central light guide are also illuminated by the light.

[0007] In the above process, by setting the central light guide to a plane, the light emitted through the central light guide can be directly emitted, reducing the attenuation of light intensity and thus ensuring the brightness of the emitted light. By setting edge light guides with several concave points on both sides of the central light guide, the light shining on the edge light guides can be reflected by the concave points and emitted from the light-emitting surface as much as possible, reducing the ratio of light emitted from the inner and outer surfaces of the light guide. This increases the light intensity at both ends of the light-emitting surface (the ends corresponding to the edge light guides), illuminating the far end of the light-emitting surface and allowing the light emitted by the light source to be evenly dispersed. This effectively improves the drawback of the relatively concentrated brightness of the light emitted by the night indicator light of the existing air conditioner cabinet, avoids light pollution, reduces discomfort to the user's eyes, and improves the aesthetics of the air conditioner cabinet, making it more acceptable to users.

[0008] In summary, by incorporating the aforementioned light guide components into the air conditioner unit, the light is guided outward in a strip-shaped structure. This ensures the brightness of the light emanating from the center of the light-emitting surface while also allowing the light to propagate to the far ends of the surface, illuminating both ends. Consequently, the light emitted from the light source is evenly dispersed, effectively improving the problem of concentrated brightness in the nighttime indicator lights of existing air conditioner units.

[0009] Furthermore, along the light emission direction, the edge light guide portion sequentially includes a first light transmission area and a second light transmission area. Both the first and second light transmission areas are provided with the concave dots, and the concave dot density of the first light transmission area is greater than that of the second light transmission area. By making the concave dots in the first light transmission area near the light source sparse, the reflection of light in this area can be reduced, allowing the light to propagate as far as possible towards the light emission surface, thereby reducing photon loss along the propagation path. By making the concave dots in the second light transmission area near the light emission surface dense, the reflection of light in this area can be increased, thereby improving the ability of photons to propagate to the far end of the light emission surface, thus ensuring the brightness of the emitted light.

[0010] Furthermore, the concave point of the first light-transmitting region is larger than that of the second light-transmitting region. This configuration can further reduce the reflection of light in the first light-transmitting region, thereby effectively preventing photon loss along the propagation path; at the same time, it can also further increase the reflection of light in the second light-transmitting region, thereby effectively improving the ability of photons to propagate to the far end of the light-emitting surface.

[0011] Furthermore, the concave point is hemispherical, and its diameter is D, where 1mm < D < 3mm. This design effectively utilizes the golf ball concave point effect to reflect light incident on the light guide, thereby improving the light's propagation ability towards the far end of the light-emitting surface.

[0012] Furthermore, the light-emitting surface is a frosted surface. This design enhances the diffuse reflection of light on the light-emitting surface, further dispersing the light and adjusting the emitted light from direct light to soft light.

[0013] Furthermore, the light guide is an arc-shaped plate, the generatrix of which is parallel to the light emission direction. The convex surface of the arc-shaped plate forms the outer surface, and the concave surface forms the inner surface. This configuration allows light emitted from the light source to be concentrated at the light emission surface through the arc-shaped structure after entering the light guide, reducing light loss and facilitating light diffusion.

[0014] Furthermore, the light source is located on the side of the inner surface away from the outer surface, and the light source is spaced a certain distance from the inner surface; the edge of the outer surface is provided with a chamfer, and the chamfer is configured to reflect the light emitted by the light source to the light-emitting surface.

[0015] Furthermore, along the light emission direction, the two sides of the light guide extend and slope away from its center. By setting a chamfer at the edge of the outer surface of the light guide, the direction of the light emitted by the light source can be guided and changed, causing the horizontal light to diverge vertically upwards. This arrangement allows the light source to be accommodated in the lateral space of the light guide, reducing the vertical space occupied by the air conditioner unit and thus lowering the overall height of the air conditioner unit.

[0016] Furthermore, the angle between the side and the set direction is θ, where the set direction is perpendicular to the light emission direction, and 30° < θ < 75°. This setting can further improve the utilization of the illumination range of the light guide, allowing horizontal light rays to fill the entire light guide.

[0017] The second objective of this invention is to provide an air conditioner cabinet unit to solve the technical problem that the brightness of the indicator lights in existing air conditioner cabinet units is relatively concentrated at night.

[0018] The air conditioner cabinet unit provided by the present invention includes a body and the aforementioned light strip, wherein the light strip is installed on the body, and the decorative panel of the body covers the outer surface of the light guide of the light strip.

[0019] By installing the aforementioned light strip in the air conditioner unit, the air conditioner unit gains all the advantages of the aforementioned light strip, which will not be elaborated here.

[0020] In addition, by using decorative panels to cover the outer surface of the light guide, the light transmitted through the outer surface of the light guide can be effectively blocked, so that the light is emitted only from the light-emitting surface of the light guide, thus improving the user experience. Attached Figure Description

[0021] To more clearly illustrate the technical solutions in the embodiments of the present invention or the prior art, the drawings used in the description of the embodiments or the prior art will be briefly introduced below. Obviously, the drawings described below are only embodiments of the present invention. For those skilled in the art, other drawings can be obtained based on the provided drawings without creative effort.

[0022] Figure 1 This is a structural cross-sectional view of an air conditioner cabinet unit provided in an embodiment of the present invention;

[0023] Figure 2 for Figure 1 Enlarged view of the local structure at point A;

[0024] Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the light guide component for the LED strip provided in an embodiment of the present invention.

[0025] Explanation of reference numerals in the attached figures:

[0026] 010 - LED strip; 020 - Main body; 030 - Decorative panel;

[0027] 100 - Light source; 200 - Light guide;

[0028] 210 - Inner surface; 220 - Outer surface; 230 - Light-emitting surface; 240 - Center light guide; 250 - Edge light guide; 260 - Chamfer; 270 - Side;

[0029] 251 - First light transmission zone; 252 - Second light transmission zone. Detailed Implementation

[0030] To make the above-mentioned objects, features, and advantages of the present invention more apparent and understandable, specific embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. It should be understood that the specific embodiments described herein are merely illustrative of the invention and are not intended to limit the invention.

[0031] Figure 1 This is a structural cross-sectional view of the air conditioner unit provided in this embodiment. Figure 2 for Figure 1 Enlarged view of the local structure at point A in the middle. Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of the light guide component for the LED strip provided in this embodiment. Figures 1 to 3As shown, this embodiment provides a light strip 010 for use in an air conditioner unit. The light strip 010 includes a light source 100 and a light guide 200. The light guide 200 is configured to receive light emitted from the light source 100 and conduct it to the outside of the air conditioner unit. Specifically, the light guide 200 has an inner surface 210, an outer surface 220, and a light-emitting surface 230 connecting the inner surface 210 and the outer surface 220. Along a direction perpendicular to the light-emitting direction of the light guide 200, the inner surface 210 and the outer surface 220 are sequentially provided with an edge light guide 250, a center light guide 240, and an edge light guide 250. The center light guide 240 is a plane, and the edge light guide 250 is provided with a plurality of recesses. The light source 100 is configured to emit light toward the center light guide 240.

[0032] By setting up a light strip 010 mainly composed of a light source 100 and a light guide 200, when in use, the light emitted by the light source 100 shines on the central light guide 240. At the same time, under the irradiation of the light, the edge light guides 250 located on both sides of the central light guide 240 are also irradiated by the light.

[0033] In the above process, by setting the central light guide 240 as a plane, the light emitted through the central light guide 240 can be directly emitted, reducing the attenuation of light intensity and thus ensuring the brightness of the emitted light. By setting edge light guides 250 with several concave points on both sides of the central light guide 240, the light shining on the edge light guides 250 can be reflected by the concave points and emitted from the light-emitting surface 230 as much as possible, reducing the proportion of light emitted from the inner surface 210 and the outer surface 220 of the light guide 200. This increases the light intensity at both ends of the light-emitting surface 230 (the ends corresponding to the edge light guides 250), illuminating the far end of the light-emitting surface 230, and allowing the light emitted by the light source 100 to be evenly diffused. This effectively improves the drawback of the relatively concentrated brightness of the light emitted by the night indicator light of the existing air conditioner cabinet, avoids the occurrence of light pollution, reduces the discomfort caused to the user's eyes, and improves the aesthetics of the air conditioner cabinet, making it acceptable to the user.

[0034] In summary, by incorporating the aforementioned light guide 200 into the air conditioner unit, the light guide 200 directs the light outward in a strip-shaped structure. This ensures the brightness of the light emitting surface 230 at its center and allows the light to propagate to the far ends of the light emitting surface 230, illuminating both ends. Consequently, the light emitted by the light source 100 is evenly diffused, effectively improving the problem of concentrated brightness in the nighttime indicator lights of existing air conditioner units.

[0035] It should be noted that, in this embodiment, Figure 2 The direction indicated by the middle arrow 's' is the light emission direction of the light guide 200; Figure 3The position indicated by the middle arrow a is the two ends of the light-emitting surface 230, which is also the far end of the light-emitting surface 230 mentioned later.

[0036] It should also be noted that in this embodiment, both the inner surface 210 and the outer surface 220 of the light guide 200 are provided with a central light guide portion 240 and edge light guide portions 250 disposed on both sides of the central light guide portion 240. In other embodiments, the central light guide portion 240 and the edge light guide portions 250 disposed on both sides of the central light guide portion 240 may only be provided on the inner surface 210 of the light guide 200, or the central light guide portion 240 and the edge light guide portions 250 disposed on both sides of the central light guide portion 240 may only be provided on the outer surface 220 of the light guide 200. Both of these arrangements can also enhance the light output brightness at both ends of the light output surface 230 to a certain extent and ensure the uniformity of light output from the light output surface 230.

[0037] In this embodiment, the light source 100 can be an LED (Light Emitting Diode) lamp.

[0038] Please continue to refer to Figure 3 In this embodiment, along the light emission direction, the edge light guide portion 250 sequentially includes a first light transmission area 251 and a second light transmission area 252, wherein both the first light transmission area 251 and the second light transmission area 252 are provided with concave dots, and the concave dot density of the first light transmission area 251 is greater than the concave dot density of the second light transmission area 252.

[0039] Combination Figure 1 and Figure 2 The diagram showing the installation of the light strip 010 on the body 020 illustrates that the first light transmission area 251 of the edge light guide 250 is close to the light source 100, and the second light transmission area 252 of the edge light guide 250 is close to the light emitting surface 230. By making the concave dots of the first light transmission area 251 close to the light source 100 sparse, the reflection of light in this area can be reduced, allowing the light to propagate as far as possible towards the light emitting surface 230, thereby reducing photon loss along the propagation path. By making the concave dots of the second light transmission area 252 close to the light emitting surface 230 dense, the reflection of light in this area can be increased, thereby improving the ability of photons to propagate to the far end of the light emitting surface 230, thus ensuring the brightness of the emitted light.

[0040] In this embodiment, the function of the edge light guide 250 is explained only by taking the edge light guide 250 provided on the outer surface 220 as an example. The function of the edge light guide 250 provided on the inner surface 210 is the same, and will not be described in detail in the accompanying drawings.

[0041] Please continue to refer to Figure 3In this embodiment, the concave points of the first light transmission area 251 are larger than the concave points of the second light transmission area 252. That is, the concave points of the first light transmission area 251 are arranged in a large and sparse manner, while the concave points of the second light transmission area 252 are arranged in a small and dense manner.

[0042] This configuration can further reduce the reflection of light in the first light transmission area 251, thereby effectively preventing the loss of photons in the propagation path; at the same time, it can also further increase the reflection of light in the second light transmission area 252, thereby effectively improving the ability of photons to propagate to the far end of the light-emitting surface 230, so as to further enhance the brightness of the far end of the light-emitting surface 230 and ensure the uniformity of light emission from the light-emitting surface 230.

[0043] In this embodiment, the concave point is hemispherical, and its diameter is D, where 1mm < D < 3mm. The above-mentioned shape and size of the concave point can effectively utilize the golf ball concave effect to reflect the light entering the light guide 200, thereby improving the propagation ability of the light to the far end of the light emitting surface 230.

[0044] Specifically, the diameter of the concave dot in the first light transmission area 251 can be 2.4 mm, and the diameter of the concave dot in the second light transmission area 252 can be 1.2 mm.

[0045] Please continue to refer to Figure 3 In this embodiment, the dimples in the first light transmission area 251 are evenly spaced, and similarly, the dimples in the second light transmission area 252 are also evenly spaced.

[0046] In this embodiment, the light-emitting surface 230 is a frosted surface. By setting the light-emitting surface 230 to a frosted surface, the diffuse reflection of light on the light-emitting surface 230 can be enhanced, and the light can be dispersed again. This not only prevents the appearance of stripes, but also adjusts the emitted light from direct light to soft light.

[0047] Please continue to refer to Figure 3 In this embodiment, the light guide 200 is an arc-shaped plate. Specifically, the generatrix of the arc-shaped plate is parallel to the light emission direction, the convex surface of the arc-shaped plate forms the outer surface 220, and the concave surface of the arc-shaped plate forms the inner surface 210.

[0048] By setting the light guide 200 to an arc-shaped structure, on the one hand, the light emitted by the light source 100 can be gathered to the light-emitting surface 230 through the arc-shaped structure after entering the light guide 200, reducing light loss and providing convenient conditions for light diffusion. On the other hand, it can also reliably fit with the decorative panel 030 of the near-cylindrical air conditioner cabinet, reducing the shaking of the decorative panel 030 during the operation of the air conditioner cabinet and the noise caused therefrom.

[0049] Please continue to refer to Figure 1 and Figure 2In this embodiment, the light source 100 is located on the side of the inner surface 210 away from the outer surface 220, and the light source 100 and the inner surface 210 are spaced apart by a set distance; the edge of the outer surface 220 is provided with a chamfer 260, which is configured to reflect the light emitted by the light source 100 to the light-emitting surface 230.

[0050] By setting a chamfer 260 at the edge of the outer surface 220 of the light guide 200, the direction of the light emitted by the light source 100 can be guided and changed, causing the horizontal light to diverge vertically upwards. This arrangement allows the light source 100 to be accommodated in the lateral space of the light guide 200, reducing the vertical space occupied by the air conditioner unit and thus lowering the overall height of the air conditioner unit.

[0051] It should be noted that, in this embodiment, the outline of the outer surface 220 of the light guide 200 is formed by the light emitting surface 230, the bottom edge of the light guide 200 (the edge opposite to the light emitting surface 230) and the two side edges 270 of the light guide 200. The bottom edge of the light guide 200 and the two side edges 270 are partially provided with the aforementioned chamfer 260.

[0052] Please continue to refer to Figure 3 In this embodiment, along the light emission direction, the two sides 270 of the light guide 200 extend and tilt away from its center. That is to say, the light guide 200 is basically fan-shaped.

[0053] By setting the light guide 200 to a fan-shaped structure, the illumination range of the light source 100 can be utilized to the maximum extent, so that as much light emitted from the light source 100 as possible can enter the light guide 200, thereby ensuring the brightness of the emitted light.

[0054] Please continue to refer to Figure 3 In this embodiment, the angle between the side 270 of the light guide 200 and the set direction is θ, wherein the set direction is the direction perpendicular to the light output direction, and 30° < θ < 75°.

[0055] This configuration can further improve the utilization of the light guide 200 by the light range, so that horizontal light can fill the entire light guide 200.

[0056] Preferably, θ = 60°.

[0057] In addition, this embodiment also provides an air conditioner cabinet unit, including a body 020 and the above-mentioned light strip 010, wherein the light strip 010 is installed on the body 020, and the decorative panel 030 of the body 020 covers the outer surface 220 of the light guide 200 of the light strip 010.

[0058] By installing the aforementioned light strip 010 in the air conditioner unit, the air conditioner unit will have all the advantages of the aforementioned light strip 010, which will not be elaborated here.

[0059] In addition, by using the decorative panel 030 to cover the outer surface 220 of the light guide 200, the light transmitted through the outer surface 220 of the light guide 200 can be effectively blocked, so that the light is emitted only from the light-emitting surface 230 of the light guide 200, thereby improving the user experience.

[0060] In this embodiment, the light guide 200 can be fixed to the decorative panel 030 by snapping on its lower end. The bottom end of the light guide 200 is thicker, which can ensure a larger contact area with the snap-on, so that the light guide 200 is stably installed on the decorative panel 030. On the other hand, the increased thickness of the bottom end of the light guide 200 can also allow more light to enter the light guide 200, thereby reducing light loss.

[0061] While the present invention has been disclosed above, it is not limited thereto. Any person skilled in the art can make various modifications and alterations without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention; therefore, the scope of protection of the present invention should be determined by the scope defined in the claims.

[0062] Finally, it should be noted that in this document, relational terms such as "first" and "second" are used only to distinguish one entity or operation from another, and do not necessarily require or imply any such actual relationship or order between these entities or operations. Furthermore, the term "comprising" or any other variations thereof is intended to cover non-exclusive inclusion, such that a process, method, article, or apparatus that comprises a list of elements includes not only those elements but also other elements not expressly listed, or elements inherent to such a process, method, article, or apparatus. Without further limitations, an element defined by the phrase "comprising one..." does not exclude the presence of other identical elements in the process, method, article, or apparatus that includes said element.

[0063] In the above embodiments, descriptions of orientations such as "bottom", "side", "inner", and "outer" are based on the accompanying drawings.

[0064] The above description of the disclosed embodiments enables those skilled in the art to make or use the invention. Various modifications to these embodiments will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art, and the general principles defined herein may be implemented in other embodiments without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention. Therefore, the invention is not to be limited to the embodiments shown herein, but is to be accorded the widest scope consistent with the principles and novel features disclosed herein.

Claims

1. A light strip, characterized in that, For use in air conditioner cabinet units, the light strip includes a light source (100) and a light guide (200). The light guide (200) is configured to receive light emitted by the light source (100) and conduct it to the outside of the air conditioner cabinet unit. The light guide (200) has an inner surface (210), an outer surface (220), and a light-emitting surface (230) connecting the inner surface (210) and the outer surface (220). Along a direction perpendicular to the light-emitting direction of the light guide (200), the inner surface (210) and / or the outer surface (220) are sequentially provided with an edge light guide (250), a center light guide (240), and an edge light guide (250). The center light guide (240) is planar, and the edge light guide (250) is provided with a plurality of recesses. The light source (100) is configured to emit light toward the center light guide (240). The light source (100) is located on the side of the inner surface (210) away from the outer surface (220), and the light source (100) is spaced apart from the inner surface (210) by a set distance; the edge of the outer surface (220) is provided with a chamfer (260), and the chamfer (260) is configured to reflect the light emitted by the light source (100) to the light-emitting surface (230).

2. The light strip according to claim 1, characterized in that, Along the light emission direction, the edge light guide (250) sequentially includes a first light transmission area (251) and a second light transmission area (252). Both the first light transmission area (251) and the second light transmission area (252) are provided with the concave dots, and the concave dot density of the first light transmission area (251) is greater than that of the second light transmission area (252).

3. The light strip according to claim 2, characterized in that, The concave point of the first light transmission area (251) is larger than the concave point of the second light transmission area (252).

4. The light strip according to claim 1, characterized in that, The concave point is hemispherical, and the diameter of the concave point is D, where 1mm < D < 3mm.

5. The light strip according to claim 1, characterized in that, The light-emitting surface (230) is a frosted surface.

6. The light strip according to any one of claims 1-5, characterized in that, The light guide (200) is an arc-shaped plate, the generatrix of the arc-shaped plate is parallel to the light emission direction, the convex surface of the arc-shaped plate forms the outer surface (220), and the concave surface of the arc-shaped plate forms the inner surface (210).

7. The light strip according to any one of claims 1-5, characterized in that, Along the light emission direction, the two sides (270) of the light guide (200) extend and tilt away from its center.

8. The light strip according to claim 7, characterized in that, The angle between the side (270) and the set direction is θ, where the set direction is the direction perpendicular to the light output direction, and 30° < θ < 75°.

9. A cabinet air conditioner, characterized in that, Includes a body (020) and a light strip according to any one of claims 1-8, the light strip being mounted on the body (020), and a decorative panel (030) of the body (020) covering the outer surface (220) of the light guide (200) of the light strip.

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