Abstract: A light-emitting device includes a surface-light-emitting unit, a substrate, a holding sheet, and a sealing sheet. The surface-light-emitting unit has a light-emitting surface and a non-light-emitting surface, and emits light from the light-emitting surface. The substrate has a mounting surface and a non-mounting surface provided to be flush with the light-emitting surface, and has a power source mounted on the mounting surface. The holding sheet is provided to face the non-mounting surface and the light-emitting surface provided to be flush with the non-mounting surface. The sealing sheet is disposed on the side opposite to the holding sheet with respect to the surface-light-emitting unit and the substrate, and provided to cover the surface-light-emitting unit and the power source. The light-emitting device is disposed so that the holding sheet comes to the installation surface side. With such a structure, the light-emitting device that can be stably disposed on the installation surface is provided.

Abstract: In a surface light-emitting unit, a wiring board (60) includes, on its side on which a holding substrate (11) is located, an external-wire connecting portion (40). An opening (11h) is provided in the holding substrate (11). The wiring board (60) is disposed to cover the opening (11h) and allow the external-wire connecting portion (40) to be exposed, through the opening (11h), toward a surface of the holding substrate (11) opposite to the surface thereof on which the wiring board (60) is held. With an external wire connected to the external-wire connecting portion (40), a surface of the wiring board (60) located in the opening (11h) is sealed by a second sealing member.

Abstract: A light-emitting device includes a surface-light-emitting unit, a substrate, a holding sheet, and a sealing sheet. The surface-light-emitting unit has a light-emitting surface and a non-light-emitting surface, and emits light from the light-emitting surface. The substrate has a mounting surface and a non-mounting surface provided to be flush with the light-emitting surface, and has a power source mounted on the mounting surface. The holding sheet is provided to face the non-mounting surface and the light-emitting surface provided to be flush with the non-mounting surface. The sealing sheet is disposed on the side opposite to the holding sheet with respect to the surface-light-emitting unit and the substrate, and provided to cover the surface-light-emitting unit and the power source. The light-emitting device is disposed so that the holding sheet comes to the installation surface side. With such a structure, the light-emitting device that can be stably disposed on the installation surface is provided.

Abstract: An illumination apparatus includes: a plurality of light emitting modules connected in series; a constant current source; and a fault detection circuit for detecting that the plurality of light emitting modules have at least one thereof with a short circuit fault. The light emitting module includes: an organic EL panel; a threshold value detection circuit configured to output a constant voltage when the organic EL panel between its anode and cathode has a potential difference equal to or larger than a threshold value; and a VI conversion circuit receiving the constant voltage from the threshold value detection circuit, converting the constant voltage into a constant current, and outputting the constant current. The fault detection circuit detects whether the plurality of light emitting modules have a short circuit fault based on a total value of the constant current output from each light emitting module.

Abstract: A luminescent device that has at least an anode layer (32), a cathode layer (36), and an organic EL layer (34) formed on a transparent substrate (30), and has the organic EL layer (34) placed between the anode layer (32) and the cathode layer (36) is disclosed. In this luminescent device, notches (22) are formed at the rim portion of the transparent substrate, and patterning is performed on the transparent substrate (30) so that the organic EL layer (34) avoids the notches (22), and the anode layer (32) and the cathode layer (34) overlap the organic EL layer (34). Part of the anode layer (32) and part of the cathode layer (36) are exposed through the respective notches (22) of the transparent substrate (30).

Abstract: In an illumination device, a surface light emission module includes a panel power input unit connected to a base power input unit and a panel power output unit connected to a base power output unit for supplying power to a surface light emission panel. A connection panel, by being installed in an unselected scheduled light emission region, directly connects the base power input unit to the base power output unit.

Abstract: In an illumination device, a surface light emission module includes a panel power input unit connected to a base power input unit and a panel power output unit connected to a base power output unit for supplying power to a surface light emission panel. A connection panel, by being installed in an unselected scheduled light emission region, directly connects the base power input unit to the base power output unit.

Abstract: A lighting apparatus may include a holding member, a lighting panel, and an attachment bracket for removably attaching the lighting panel to the holding member. The lighting panel may form a first position in which a light-emitting surface of the lighting panel and a light-emitting surface of a lighting panel are located substantially on the same plane with each other and a second position in which the lighting panel is pressed from its light-emitting surface side so that the attachment bracket pivots around a portion where the attachment bracket is attached to the holding member and the lighting panel is inclined with respect to the lighting panel. As the lighting panel forming the second position is moved in a direction away from the holding member the attachment bracket is released from the holding member, and the lighting panel forming the second position is readily removed from the holding member.

Abstract: In a surface light-emitting unit, a wiring board (60) includes, on its side on which a holding substrate (11) is located, an external-wire connecting portion (40). An opening (11h) is provided in the holding substrate (11). The wiring board (60) is disposed to cover the opening (11h) and allow the external-wire connecting portion (40) to be exposed, through the opening (11h), toward a surface of the holding substrate (11) opposite to the surface thereof on which the wiring board (60) is held. With an external wire connected to the external-wire connecting portion (40), a surface of the wiring board (60) located in the opening (11h) is sealed by a second sealing member.

Abstract: A surface light-emitting unit includes light-emitting panels, a reflective member for reflecting part of light emitted from the light-emitting panels toward the front side, a first diffusion plate arranged so as to be opposed to the light-emitting panels and the reflective member at a distance therefrom, and a second diffusion plate positioned on the opposite side to the light-emitting panels as viewed from the first diffusion plate for diffusing light from the first diffusion plate.

Abstract: A luminescent device that has at least an anode layer (32), a cathode layer (36), and an organic EL layer (34) formed on a transparent substrate (30), and has the organic EL layer (34) placed between the anode layer (32) and the cathode layer (36) is disclosed. In this luminescent device, notches (22) are formed at the rim portion of the transparent substrate, and patterning is performed on the transparent substrate (30) so that the organic EL layer (34) avoids the notches (22), and the anode layer (32) and the cathode layer (34) overlap the organic EL layer (34). Part of the anode layer (32) and part of the cathode layer (36) are exposed through the respective notches (22) of the transparent substrate (30).

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a portable information appliance having a thin organic electroluminescent illumination panel capable of color adjustment and uniform light emission. The portable information appliance according to the present invention is a portable information appliance having a thin organic electroluminescent illumination panel wherein the organic electroluminescent illumination panel is integrated with a front transmissive member and fitted into an exterior member of the portable information appliance.

Abstract: A lighting apparatus may include a holding member, a lighting panel, and an attachment bracket for removably attaching the lighting panel to the holding member. The lighting panel may form a first position in which a light-emitting surface of the lighting panel and a light-emitting surface of a lighting panel are located substantially on the same plane with each other and a second position in which the lighting panel is pressed from its light-emitting surface side so that the attachment bracket pivots around a portion where the attachment bracket is attached to the holding member and the lighting panel is inclined with respect to the lighting panel. As the lighting panel forming the second position is moved in a direction away from the holding member, the attachment bracket is released from the holding member, and the lighting panel forming the second position is readily removed from the holding member.

Abstract: An illumination apparatus includes: a plurality of light emitting modules connected in series; a constant current source; and a fault detection circuit for detecting that the plurality of light emitting modules have at least one thereof with a short circuit fault. The light emitting module includes: an organic EL panel; a threshold value detection circuit configured to output a constant voltage when the organic EL panel between its anode and cathode has a potential difference equal to or larger than a threshold value; and a VI conversion circuit receiving the constant voltage from the threshold value detection circuit, converting the constant voltage into a constant current, and outputting the constant current. The fault detection circuit detects whether the plurality of light emitting modules have a short circuit fault based on a total value of the constant current output from each light emitting module.

Abstract: Provided is a driving device having a rod-like terminal capable of stably fixing an SMA and connecting a conductive member without preventing the size of the driving device from being reduced and affecting the performance of the SMA. Also provided is an imaging device. The driving device is equipped with a string-shaped shape-memory alloy as a driving source and includes: a base member serving as the base of the driving device; and the rod-like terminal made of a metal penetrating the base member and secured to the base member. One end side of the rod-like terminal is caulked to interpose and hold the shape-memory alloy, and the other end side of the rod-like terminal has a crimp portion where the conductive member for supplying current to the shape-memory alloy is crimped and fixed.

Abstract: An illumination device includes: a sheet-shaped, flexible illumination panel including on its surface a light emitting face being configured to emit light when supplied with electrical power; a main body including a mounting face whereon the illumination panel is to be mounted; and an installation cover to be installed on the main body and including a pressing region pressing the light emitting face of the illumination panel against the mounting face of the main body. With the illumination device, it is possible to achieve desired light distribution characteristics of the sheet-shaped illumination panel.

Abstract: A driving circuit (21) of a shape memory alloy actuator of the present invention measures by a measurement part a parameter value corresponding to a target position of a moving part that is displaced by being driven on account of the expansion and contraction of an SMA (15), which expands and contracts with temperature changes and which exhibits hysteresis in a parameter-distortion characteristic relating to the expansion and contraction, while the temperature of the SMA (15) is being raised or lowered. The driving circuit (21) sets the measured parameter value as a target parameter. The temperature of the SMA (15) is raised or lowered such that the parameter value measured by the measurement part passes the target parameter, before the crystal phase of the SMA (15) becomes a martensitic phase. Thereafter, the temperature of the SMA (15) is raised or lowered again such that the parameter value measured by the measurement part reaches the target parameter.

Abstract: Provided is a driving device having a rod-like terminal capable of stably fixing an SMA and connecting a conductive member without preventing the size of the driving device from being reduced and affecting the performance of the SMA. Also provided is an imaging device. The driving device is equipped with a string-shaped shape-memory alloy as a driving source and includes: a base member serving as the base of the driving device; and the rod-like terminal made of a metal penetrating the base member and secured to the base member. One end side of the rod-like terminal is caulked to interpose and hold the shape-memory alloy, and the other end side of the rod-like terminal has a crimp portion where the conductive member for supplying current to the shape-memory alloy is crimped and fixed.

Abstract: In a position controller, a driving mechanism and an image pickup system according to the present invention, an operation of controlling a position of a movable member is performed by using, as a reference value, a first resistance value giving a first change point at which a resistance change rate per unit temperature change in a shape-memory-alloy member changes from a first rate to a second rate different from said first rate. Thus, the present invention makes it possible to control the position of the movable member based on a resistance of a shape-memory-alloy member, without a position sensor.

Abstract: A drive apparatus having: a shape memory alloy having a property such that a temperature transformation sensitivity in a temperature range from a starting point of austenite transformation (As) at a predetermined stress to an end point of austenite (Af) is higher than a temperature transformation sensitivity in other temperature range, and a temperature transformation sensitivity in a temperature range from a starting point of martensite transformation (Ms) at a predetermined stress to an end point of martensite transformation (Mf) is higher than a temperature transformation sensitivity in other temperature range; and a driven member which is moved by a transformation of the shape memory alloy; wherein the driven member is moved in a temperature range of higher temperature transformation sensitivity.