LED LIGHTING APPARATUS

• US 20130003360A1
• Filed: 06/26/2012
• Published: 01/03/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 06/29/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: ROHM Co., Ltd.
• Original Assignee: ROHM Co., Ltd.
• Inventors: IGAKI, Masaru, MIZUTA, Kohei
• Granted Patent: US 8,593,043 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 362/184
• 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: F21S 2/005 of modular construction
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 8/04 intended only for mounting on a ceiling or the like overhead structures F21S8/02 takes precedence; details of ceiling bases F21V21/03
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 15/01 Housings, e.g. material or assembling of housing parts F21V15/02 takes precedence housings forming signs or letters G09F13/04
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 17/14 Bayonet-type fastening
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 17/164 the parts being subjected to bending, e.g. snap joints
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 23/02 the elements being transformers, impedances or power supply units, e.g. a transformer with a rectifier
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 23/0435 activated by remote control means
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 3/02 characterised by the shape
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 3/0625 the material diffusing light, e.g. translucent plastics
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 31/03 with provision for venting for vehicle head lights F21S45/33; for vehicle rear lights F21S41/192
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 7/0016 on lighting devices that also provide for direct lighting, e.g. by means of independent light sources, by splitting of the light beam, by switching between both lighting modes
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2105/10 comprising a two-dimensional array of point-like light-generating elements
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2115/10 Light-emitting diodes [LED]
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/0055 Reflecting element, sheet or layer
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2224/48091 Arched
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2224/48247 connecting the wire to a bond pad of the item
• 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 2924/00014 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 2924/181 Encapsulation

Abstract

An LED lighting apparatus includes a support unit including a support surface facing an illumination side, a plurality of LED chips supported on the support surface, and a cover that covers the support surface and transmits light from the LED chips. The cover includes a periphery which, as viewed in plan, includes four first sides that are spaced apart from each other and four second sides each connecting ends of adjacent ones of the first sides. The first sides consisting of two pairs of parallel sides, and each of the first sides constituting one of the two pairs and each of the first sides constituting the other one of the two pairs form a right angle. Each of the first sides and each of the adjacent second sides form an obtuse angle.

Claims

1. An LED lighting apparatus comprising:

a support unit including a support surface facing an illumination side in a first direction;

a plurality of LED chips supported on the support surface; and

a cover that covers the support surface and transmits light from the LED chips;

wherein the cover has a periphery including four first sides spaced apart from each other and four second sides,

the first sides are grouped into a first pair and a second pair, each of the pairs including two parallel sides of the first sides, the two parallel sides of the first pair extending in a direction perpendicular to another direction in which the two parallel sides of the second pair extend,

each of the second sides connects two adjacent sides of the first sides, and said each of the second sides and each of said two adjacent sides form an obtuse angle.

2. The LED lighting apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the cover is formed with at least one concave lens corresponding in position to one of the second sides.

3. The LED lighting apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the second sides are shorter than the first sides.

4. The LED lighting apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the support unit comprises:

a central member including an annular portion; and

a plurality of support members removably attached to an outer circumference of the annular portion, each of the support members providing the support surface of the support unit.

5. The LED lighting apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the central member includes a plurality of first fitting portions arranged at regular intervals along the outer circumference of the annular portion, and each of the support members includes a second fitting portion configured to be fitted to a respective one of the first fitting portions to be attached to the central member.

6. The LED lighting apparatus according to claim 5, wherein each of the first fitting portions is a male part projecting outward in a radial direction of the annular portion, and each of the second fitting portions is a female part configured to receive a respective one of the first fitting portions.

7. The LED lighting apparatus according to claim 6, wherein each of the first fitting portions is H-shaped as viewed in the radial direction of the annular portion.

8. The LED lighting apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the annular portion is H-shaped in a cross section perpendicular to a circumferential direction of the annular portion.

9. The LED lighting apparatus according to claim 6, wherein each of the support members includes:

a hollow support bar extending in a radial direction of the annular portion; and

a support plate fixed to the support bar and including a surface serving as the support surface, wherein the second fitting portion is provided at an end of the support bar.

10. The LED lighting apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the support plate is positioned on the illumination side in the first direction with respect to the support bar.

11. The LED lighting apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the plurality of support members as a whole defines a generally rectangular contour.

12. The LED lighting apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the support members are made up of four members having a same shape.

13. The LED lighting apparatus according to claim 12, wherein each of the support members has a periphery including a first edge, a pair of second edges and a pair of third edges, the second edges being connected to ends of the first edge respectively, the third edges being connected to the second edges respectively, the first edge facing one of the first sides of the cover, each of the second edges facing one of the second sides of the cover, each of the third edges facing one of the third edges of adjacent support member.

14. The LED lighting apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a moisture absorber including a moisture absorbent.

15. The LED lighting apparatus according to claim 4, further comprising a moisture absorber including a moisture absorbent, wherein the moisture absorber overlaps the central member as viewed in the first direction.

16. The LED lighting apparatus according to claim 14, wherein the moisture absorber includes an indicator for indicating whether moisture content of the moisture absorbent has exceeded a predetermined level.

17. The LED lighting apparatus according to claim 16, wherein the indicator comprises a material that changes color by absorbing moisture.

18. The LED lighting apparatus according to claim 17, wherein the moisture absorber includes a window for allowing the indicator to be seen from outside.

19. The LED lighting apparatus according to claim 14, wherein the moisture absorber is provided on an inner side of the cover.

20. The LED lighting apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a power source unit for supplying power for the LED chips, wherein the power source unit is provided on a side of the support surface opposite to the illumination side.