Edge light for a lighting panel

• US 20030067761A1
• Filed: 10/07/2002
• Published: 04/10/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 10/09/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Citizen Electronics Company Limited
• Original Assignee: Citizen Electronics Company Limited
• Inventors: Watanabe, Masaaki, Horiuchi, Megumi
• Granted Patent: US 6,953,255 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 362/31
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2224/48091 Arched
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2224/48227 connecting the wire to a bond pad of the item
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2924/00014 the subject-matter covered by the group, the symbol of which is combined with the symbol of this group, being disclosed without further technical details
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 33/54 having a particular shape

Abstract

A light emitting element is mounted on a substrate, a convex seal made of a transparent material is provided for sealing the light emitting element. The seal has a rectangular shape in plan view and has a convex shape. The convex shape of the seal has a first top in a direction of a long side of the rectangle, and has a second top in a direction of a short side of the rectangle, the first top has a first curved sectional shape, the second top has a second curved sectional shape, an average curvature of the first curved sectional shape is set to a value so that lightbeams discharged from the first top are expanded in the direction of the long side.

Claims

1. An edge light for illuminating a panel comprising:

a substrate;

a light emitting element mounted on the substrate;

electrodes provided on the substrate and connected to the light emitting element for applying a current to the light emitting element;

a convex seal made of a transparent material and sealing the light emitting element;

wherein,

the seal has a rectangular shape in plan view;

the convex shape of the seal has a first top in a direction of a long side of the rectangle, and has a second top in a direction of a short side of the rectangle;

the first top has a first curved sectional shape;

the second top has a second sectional shape; and

a curvature of the first curved sectional shape is set to a value so that light beams discharged from the first top are expanded in the direction of the long side.

2. The edge light according to claim 1 wherein the first curved sectional shape has a parabola.

3. The edge light according to claim 1 wherein the first curved sectional shape has a circularly curved line.

4. The edge light according to claim 1 wherein the first curved sectional shape comprises a pair of parabolas.

5. The edge light according to claim 1 wherein the second top has a second curved sectional shape.

6. The edge light according to claim 1 wherein the second top has a straight line.

7. The edge light according to claim 5 wherein an average curvature of the first curved sectional shape is smaller than that of the second curved sectional shape so that light beams discharged from the first top are expanded in the direction of the long side.