SURFACE EMITTING DEVICE

Abstract

A surface emitting device is provided. The surface emitting device includes a light guide and a light source. The light guide includes a circular portion that curves light, and a light entrance portion that protrudes from the outer peripheral surface of the circular portion. The light source emits light toward the light entrance portion. The light source is disposed in a hollow formed in the center of the light entrance portion. The outer wall surface of the light entrance portion has a reflecting portion. The reflecting portion includes first and second reflecting surfaces that adjoin at an obtuse angle. Light of the light source heading from the inner wall surface to the outer wall surface of the light entrance portion is reflected by the reflecting portion so as to head into the circular portion.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of one embodiment of a light guide provided in a surface emitting device;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing one embodiment of the underside of the light guide;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view showing one embodiment of the surface emitting device in use;

FIG. 4 is a horizontal sectional view of one embodiment of a light entrance portion of the light guide;

FIG. 5 is a vertical sectional view of one embodiment of the light entrance portion of the light guide;

FIG. 6 two-dimensionally illustrates one embodiment of the paths of light rays emitted from a light source;

FIG. 7 is a sectional view of one embodiment of a rotary operating electric component to which a known surface emitting device is applied;

FIG. 8 is a plan view of the rotary operating electric component according to the related art; and

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of a light guide provided in the surface emitting device according to the related art.

Claims

1. A surface emitting device comprising: a light guide comprising a circular portion and a light entrance portion that protrudes from an outer peripheral surface of the circular portion; anda light source that is operative to emit light toward the light entrance portion, the light source being disposed in a hollow formed substantially in the center of the light entrance portion,wherein the outer wall surface of the light entrance portion has a reflecting portion that bulges outward, and the reflecting portion is operative to reflect the light that heads from the light source to the outer wall surface of the light entrance portion into the circular portion.

2. The surface emitting device according to claim 1, wherein the reflecting portion comprises a first reflecting surface and a second reflecting surface, the first reflecting surface and the second reflecting surface adjoin at an obtuse angle.

3. The surface emitting device according to claim 2, wherein the inner wall surface of the light entrance portion that defines the hollow has an outer collective lens that is convex and formed between the light source and the first reflecting surface, and the outer collective lens is operative to refract light from the light source to the first reflecting surface.

4. The surface emitting device according to claim 3, wherein the inner wall surface of the light entrance portion has an inner collective lens that is convex and adjoins the outer collective lens, and inner collective lens is operative to refract light from the light source into the circular portion.

5. A surface emitting device comprising: a light guide comprising a circular portion and a light entrance portion protruding from an outer peripheral surface of the circular portion; anda light source emitting light toward the light entrance portion,the circular portion comprising an emitting surface and a reflecting surface that face each other,wherein the inner peripheral surface of the circular portion has a groove with edges that face each other in the circumferential direction.

6. The surface emitting device according to claim 5, wherein the light source is disposed on an extension of a line connecting the apex of the groove and the center of the circular portion.

7. The surface emitting device according to claim 5, wherein the end of the groove on the emitting surface side is closed, and the closed end has a slant surface that slants toward the emitting surface.

8. The surface emitting device according to claim 5, wherein the light entrance portion has a hollow formed substantially in the center thereof, and the light source is disposed in the hollow.

8. The surface emitting device according to claim 5, wherein the cross section of the groove converges outward so as to have a V shape.

9. A method of emitting light from a surface emitting device, the method comprising: providing a light guide comprising a circular portion and a light entrance portion that protrudes from an outer peripheral surface of the circular portion;emitting light toward the light entrance portion;reflecting the emitted light into the circular portion.