Flat light source apparatus with separable unit boards

• US 20060221608A1
• Filed: 02/03/2006
• Published: 10/05/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 02/10/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd. (Samsung Group)
• Original Assignee: NEC Corporation
• Inventors: Ishizuka, Masahiro, Ueji, Yoshinori, Okimura, Katsuyuki, Fukuda, Tomoyuki, Morinaka, Ryuichiro, Tatsumi, Naoki
• Granted Patent: US 8,523,391 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 362/227
• CPC Class Codes: F21K 9/00 Light sources using semiconductor devices as light-generating elements, e.g. using light-emitting diodes [LED] or lasers
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 1/0286 Programmable, customizable or modifiable circuits by programmable non-printed jumper connections H05K3/222
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 2201/09127 PCB or component having an integral separable or breakable part
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 2201/09972 Partitioned, e.g. portions of a PCB dedicated to different functions; Boundary lines therefore; Portions of a PCB being processed separately or differently
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 2201/10106 Light emitting diode [LED]
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 2203/175 Configurations of connections suitable for easy deletion, e.g. modifiable circuits or temporary conductors for electroplating; Processes for deleting connections
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 3/0052 Depaneling, i.e. dividing a panel into circuit boards; Working of the edges of circuit boards

Abstract

A flat light source apparatus has a light source board which comprises unit boards, each unit board having a printed circuit board and a light source formed on the printed circuit board, wherein the unit boards are arranged adjacent to each other at least in one direction, and any pair of the unit boards adjacent to each other is integrated by a connecting portion provided therebetween. The apparatus also has a main wire which extends along a plane of the light source board, wherein the main wire extends between adjacent unit boards via the connecting portion such that all of the unit boards are electrically connected to each other by the main wire. The apparatus further has a branch wire for supplying electric power to the light source, the branch wire being provided in each unit board and branching from the main wire in each unit board.

Claims

1. A flat light source apparatus comprising:

a light source board which comprises a plurality of unit boards, each unit board having a printed circuit board and a light source formed on the printed circuit board, wherein said plurality of unit boards are arranged adjacent to each other at least in one direction, and any pair of the unit boards adjacent to each other is integrated by a connecting portion provided therebetween;

at least one main wire which extends along a plane of the light source board, wherein said at least one main wire extends between adjacent unit boards via the connecting portion such that all of the unit boards are electrically connected to each other by said at least one main wire; and

at least one branch wire for supplying electric power to the light source, said at least one branch wire being provided in each unit board and branching from the main wire in each unit board.

2. The flat light source apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said plurality of unit boards are arranged adjacent to each other in a form of a lattice.

3. The flat light source apparatus according to claim 1, wherein at least one unit board is provided with a connector that is connected to the main wire to receive electric power.

4. The flat light source apparatus according to claim 3, wherein each unit board is provided with the connector at a location that is common to each unit board.

5. The flat light source apparatus according to claim 3, wherein each unit board is provided with the connectors at two locations which are common to each unit board.

6. The flat light source apparatus according to claim 3, further comprising a power supply unit for generating electric power, the power supply unit being connected to the connector.

7. The flat light source apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the connecting portion is less resistant to cutting than the unit board.

8. The flat light source apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the connecting portion has a smaller thickness than the unit board.

9. The flat light source apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the light source has a set of light sources of different colors, and the main wire and the branch wire are provided for each color.

10. The flat light source apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the light source is a light emitting diode.

11. A method for manufacturing a flat light source apparatus comprising the steps of:

preparing an assembly of flat light sources, wherein the assembly comprises;

a light source board which comprises a plurality of unit boards, each unit board having a printed circuit board and a light source formed on the printed circuit board, wherein said plurality of unit boards are arranged adjacent to each other at least in one direction, and any pair of the unit boards adjacent to each other is integrated by a connecting portion provided therebetween;

at least one main wire which extends along a plane of the light source board, wherein said at least one main wire extends between adjacent unit boards via the connecting portion such that all of the unit boards are electrically connected to each other by said at least one main wire; and

at least one branch wire for supplying electric power to the light source, said at least one branch wire being provided in each unit board and branching from the main wire in each unit board;

cutting the assembly along at least one connecting portion; and

connecting a power supply to one of the main wires

12. An assembly of flat light sources comprising:

a light source board which comprises a plurality of unit boards, each unit board having a printed circuit board and a light source formed on the printed circuit board, wherein said plurality of unit boards are arranged adjacent to each other at least in one direction, and any pair of the unit boards adjacent to each other is integrated by a connecting portion provided therebetween;

at least one main wire which extends along a plane of the light source board, wherein said at least one main wire extends between adjacent unit boards via the connecting portion such that all of the unit boards are electrically connected to each other by said at least one main wire; and

at least one branch wire for supplying electric power to the light source, said at least one branch wire being provided in each unit board and branching from the main wire in each unit board.