Signal lights
The signal lamp addresses blind spots and human errors in conventional signal towers by projecting device state signals onto surfaces using LEDs and a convex lens, with a diffusion sheet to prevent reflections, resulting in improved reliability and cost-effectiveness.
Patent Information
- Application Number
- JP2024004341U
- Authority / Receiving Office
- JP · JP
- Patent Type
- Utility models
- Current Assignee / Owner
- Filing Date
- 2024-12-06
- Publication Date
- 2025-04-28
- Estimated Expiration
- 2034-12-06
AI Technical Summary
Current signal towers attached to devices create blind spots, making it difficult to determine the device's state without close inspection, and conventional signal towers with multiple colors can lead to human errors due to light reflections.
A signal lamp that receives signals from a device and projects colored light onto a ceiling or floor surface, using LEDs and a convex lens, and is designed with a diffusion sheet on its sides to prevent reflection errors.
The solution reduces blind spots, allows for more reliable determination of device states, and decreases costs compared to central management systems, while minimizing human error through uniform light projection.
Smart Images
Figure 0003251100000001_ABST
Abstract
Description
[Technical field]
[0001] The present invention is directed to a signal lamp that receives a signal from a device to inform the device of its status and to detect errors at an early stage. [Background technology]
[0002] A signal tower is a signal light that indicates the status of a device. It is often installed on the top of the device and is fixed to the device. The device has a PLC or other function that transmits the device's signal, and the signal is received and the device's status is indicated by a color-coded light on the side. Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]
[0003] Currently, signal towers are attached to equipment and have blind spots, so the operating status can only be confirmed by going close to the equipment. This can sometimes delay early detection of errors. A system that has been developed to address this issue is a centralized management system, but the introduction of such a system entails huge costs. Errors have also been dealt with audibly by sounding an alarm in addition to visual detection, but when there are many devices mixed together, it is often not possible to determine early on which device the error is coming from with just the sound of the alarm. There are also many locations where the sound of the alarm does not work due to noise from the equipment, etc.
[0004] Conventional signal towers with the function of indicating with multiple colors are often arranged vertically with multiple colors, each of which emits light, as shown in Figure 1. Since all of the colors are arranged, colors other than the one intended to indicate the device status may appear to be emitted due to light reflection, which can lead to human error. The main purpose of this invention is to provide a signal light that can more reliably determine the device status. [Means for solving the problem]
[0005] The present invention is a signal light that receives a signal indicating the status of the device main body and emits signal light in one or more colors depending on the signal, and projects the signal light onto the ceiling or floor surface to indicate the status of the device main body.
[0006] This device emits light from the sides as well, and the sides are covered with a diffusion sheet or the like, and the housing is a rectangular prism. Effect of the Invention
[0007] By projecting the status of the main unit onto the ceiling or floor, it is expected that blind spots can be reduced. This makes it possible to determine the status of the device more reliably. It also makes it possible to reduce costs by far compared to introducing a centralized management system that manages the device from a central location. This has the effect of making it possible to visualize the status of the device while keeping the introduction costs and cost performance low.
[0008] Light is also emitted from the sides, and by covering the sides with a diffusion sheet or similar, the effects of reflections can be prevented, making it possible to block out all colors other than the one being emitted. This is expected to have the effect of reducing human error that occurred with conventional signal towers. In addition, the wiring is the same as that of conventional signal towers, so it can be easily replaced with existing equipment, and the simple structure of the square prism housing makes maintenance easy. [Brief description of the drawings]
[0009] [Figure 1] 1 is an example of a conventional signal lamp. [Diagram 2] This is an internal diagram showing a schematic representation of the positional relationship between the LED and the convex lens. [Diagram 3] FIG. 13 is a diagram showing the outline of the covered diffusion sheet. [Figure 4] This is a connection diagram between the device body and the present invention. [Diagram 5] This is an image of the present invention projected onto a ceiling surface. [Figure 6] This is an image of the present invention projected onto the floor. [Figure 7] This is a diagram showing the application of the lens law to the present invention. [Figure 8] This is a three-dimensional image diagram of LED height adjustment. [Figure 9] This is a front view image of the LED height adjustment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0010] A signal light 10 that receives a signal indicating the status of the device main body 30 and emits signal light in one or more colors in response to the signal, and projects the signal light onto a ceiling surface 42 or a floor surface 43 to display the status of the device main body 30.
[0011] FIG. 2 shows the inside of the present invention, and FIG. 3 shows an example of the outside shape. As shown in FIG. 3, a square prism housing 20 is assembled from acrylic plates, and a convex lens 21 is placed on the top surface. Inside the housing 20 shown in FIG. 2, one or more colors such as LEDs 11, 12, and 13 are placed depending on the number of signals. As shown in FIG. 4, the LEDs have wiring to receive signals from the PLC of the device main body 30. Since the mechanism is the same as the wiring of a conventional signal tower, it is easy to retrofit existing devices. The PLC of the device main body 30 manages the status of the main body and continues to transmit the status of the device to the signal light 10 at any time. For example, green indicates normal operation, red indicates an abnormality, and yellow indicates work replacement, and the color coding is determined according to the characteristics of the device. The LEDs 11, 12, and 13 in FIG. 2 each receive a signal from the PLC and emit light. The signal light is projected through the convex lens 21 onto the ceiling surface 42 as indicated by the symbol 41 in FIG. 5, or onto the floor surface 43 as indicated in FIG. 6. Instead of using this combination of LEDs and convex lenses, it is also possible to use laser light. The beam of laser light is brighter and clearer than LED light, but it is more expensive than the combination of LED and convex lens. The type of beam can be selected depending on the usage situation and the priority. When using the combination of LED and convex lens, it is necessary to adjust the distance between the convex lens 21 and the LED to maximize the effect of the brightness of the projected light depending on the height of the ceiling surface. Before manufacturing, measure the distance between the ceiling and the surface of the device to be installed, and use the lens law shown in Figure 7 to calculate the distance between the LEDs 11, 12, and 13 and the convex lens 21 and assemble it to reduce unnecessary costs. If it is installed on a device that needs to be moved, it is also possible to add an optional function to move the LED installation plate 50 shown in Figures 8 and 9 up and down with the adjustment screw 51.
[0012] The signal lamp 10 has a function of emitting light from the side of the housing 20, and is covered with a diffusion sheet 31 as shown in the outline drawing in FIG. 3. In conventional signal towers, color identification errors sometimes occurred due to the influence of light reflection, but by covering the side of the housing 20 with the diffusion sheet 31, it is possible to project only the emitted color uniformly and without unevenness, making it easy to see from any angle and reducing human error. In addition, the square prism housing 20 can be easily manufactured, and the structure is expected to shorten the delivery time when adjusting the height. Maintenance is also easy by cutting one side surface, and it is also suitable for running costs. [Explanation of symbols]
[0013] 1 red LED 2 LED yellow 3 Green LED 10 Signal Light 11 Red LED 12 Green LED 13 LED yellow 20. Cabinet 21 Convex Lens 30 Device body 31 Diffusion Sheet 41 Projection light from LED 42 Ceiling surface 43 Floor 50 LED installation board 51 Adjustment screw
Claims
1. A signal light that receives a signal indicating the status of the device body and emits signal light in one or more colors in response to the signal, and projects the signal light onto a ceiling or floor surface to indicate the status of the device body.
2. 2. The signal lamp according to claim 1, wherein the signal light is also emitted in a lateral direction.
3. 3. A signal light according to claim 2, comprising: a housing that houses a light source of the signal light; and a diffusion sheet that covers a side surface of the housing.
4. 2. The signal light according to claim 1, wherein the housing is a rectangular prism.