Light-emitting diode and vehicular lamp

• US 20070029563A1
• Filed: 08/01/2006
• Published: 02/08/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 08/05/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Koito Manufacturing Company Limited
• Original Assignee: Koito Manufacturing Company Limited
• Inventors: Koizumi, Hiroya, Amano, Yasuyuki, Machida, Tsutomu
• Granted Patent: US 7,339,200 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 257/98
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 41/14 characterised by the type of light source
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 43/14 Light emitting diodes [LED]
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 5/04 of lens shape
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2115/10 Light-emitting diodes [LED]
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 3/02 with non-spherical faces G02B3/10 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2924/00012 Relevant to the scope of the group, the symbol of which is combined with the symbol of this group
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2924/181 Encapsulation
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2924/1815 Shape
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 33/54 having a particular shape

Abstract

A light-emitting diode including a curved surface portion 14aA formed in the front face of a sealing member 14 with the cross-sectional shape of the curved surface portion being in the shape of an undulating curve that has a concave curve C1 near the optical axis and convex curves C2 on both sides of concave curve C1, thus allowing the light emitted from a light-emitting chip 12 at a small divergence angle centered on the optical axis Ax to reach the concave curve C1 and to be directed forward as diffused light deflected from the optical axis and further allowing the light emitted at a large divergence angle centered on the optical axis Ax to reach the convex curves C2 and to be directed forward as light deflected toward line L positioned at the divergence angle θ.

Claims

1. A light-emitting diode comprising:

a light-emitting chip disposed on a predetermined optical axis, and

a transparent sealing member for sealing said light-emitting chip on a side that faces a forward direction along the optical axis;

wherein

a front face of said sealing member has a curved surface portion; and

a cross-sectional shape of the curved surface portion taken along a first plane that includes the optical axis is formed in a shape of an undulating curve that has a concave curve positioned near the optical axis and convex curves positioned on both sides of the concave curve.

2. The light-emitting diode according to claim 1, wherein the curved surface portion is formed in a shape of a surface of revolution created by rotating the undulating curve about the optical axis.

3. The light-emitting diode according to claim 1, wherein the cross-sectional shape of the curved surface portion taken along a second plane, which is parallel to the optical axis and orthogonal to the first plane, is formed in a shape of a convex curve.

4. The light-emitting diode according to claim 3, wherein an outer shape of the curved surface portion is formed in a bilobal shape that has a narrowed part in the middle.

5. The light-emitting diode according to claim 1, wherein the curved surface portion of the front face of said sealing member is formed in an outer perimeter thereof with a deflection directing portion that directs light emitted from said light-emitting chip such that the light is deflected toward the optical axis.

6. The light-emitting diode according to claim 1, wherein said sealing member is comprised of:

a sealing member main body for sealing said light-emitting chip, and

a cover member attached to said sealing member main body so as to be on a side that faces the forward direction along the optical axis.

8. A vehicular lamp wherein the light-emitting diode according to claims 6 is provided as a light source thereof.

7. A vehicular lamp wherein the light-emitting diode according to claims I is provided as a light source thereof.