Light emitting apparatus

• US 20070159854A1
• Filed: 01/04/2007
• Published: 07/12/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 01/11/2006
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Toyoda Gosei Company Limited (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Toyoda Gosei Company Limited (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Inventors: Kokubu, Hideki, Kamiya, Takayuki
• Application Number:
  US11/649,313
• Publication Number:
  US 20070159854A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 362/634
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 3/267 Door handles; Hand grips
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 3/64 for a single lighting device
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 17/10 Illuminating devices on or for locks or keys; Transparent or translucent lock parts; Indicator lights
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 85/12 Inner door handles
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 7/04 Optical design
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2115/10 Light-emitting diodes [LED]

Abstract

It is a light emitting apparatus having a light source, and also having a light guide element into which light from the light source is guided. The light source is accommodated in an accommodating portion formed a top-surface side of the light emitting element. In the bottom surface of the light guide element, a light emitting portion is formed at a portion which is located away from places directly below the light source and directly below an optical axis of the light source and which extends from a region placed obliquely frontwardly from the light source to a region placed laterally from the light source.

Claims

1. A light emitting apparatus, comprising:

a light source; and

a light guide element, into which light from said light source is guided;

wherein said light source is accommodated in an accommodating portion which is formed at a top-surface side of said light guide element; and

in a bottom surface of said light guide element, a light emitting portion is formed at a portion which is located away from places directly below said light source and directly below an optical axis of said light source and which extends from a region placed obliquely frontwardly from said light source to a region placed laterally from said light source.

2. The light emitting apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a circuit portion for said light source is also accommodated in said accommodating portion.

3. The light emitting apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said accommodating portion includes a concave portion opened at a side of an end of said light guide element.

4. The light emitting apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said light emitting portion extends in parallel to the optical axis of said light source.

5. The light emitting apparatus according to claim 1, wherein in the bottom surface of said light guide element, said light emitting portion is formed at the portion which is located away from places directly below said light source and directly below under the optical axis of said light source, to continuously extend a region placed obliquely rearwardly from said light source.

6. The light emitting apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said light guide element includes a light diffusion material.

7. The light emitting apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:

a cover, which is configured to cover a top surface side and a lateral surface side of said light guide element and which is made of a material adapted to reflect light outputted from said light source.

8. The light emitting apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:

a cover configured to cover a top surface side and a lateral surface side of said light guide element, and to having a fitting means at a side of an end thereof.

9. The light emitting apparatus according to claim 8, wherein said fitting means includes a first projection portion which comprises a first surface configured to be substantially flush with the light emitting surface, a second surface configured to extend in parallel with said first surface and to be opposed to said first surface, and a catching claw formed on said second surface.

10. The light emitting apparatus according to claim 9, wherein said projection portion is shaped like a cylinder, which is opened at a side of a front end thereof and is also opened at a side of a body of said cover.

11. The light emitting apparatus according to claim 8, wherein said cover further comprises a second projection portion configured to have a bottom surface which is substantially flush with the light emitting surface.