LIGHT SOURCE AND LIGHTING DEVICE INCLUDING THE SAME

• US 20130106301A1
• Filed: 11/02/2012
• Published: 05/02/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 11/02/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Citizen Watch Co Limited (Citizen Electronics Company Limited)
• Original Assignee: Citizen Electronics Company Limited, Citizen Holdings Co., Ltd.
• Inventors: IMAI, Sadato
• Granted Patent: US 9,599,289 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 315/200.R
• CPC Class Codes: F21K 9/232 specially adapted for generating an essentially omnidirectional light distribution, e.g. with a glass bulb
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2107/30 on the outer surface of cylindrical surfaces, e.g. rod-shaped supports having a circular or a polygonal cross section
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2115/10 Light-emitting diodes [LED]

Abstract

In some embodiments, a light source including a first electrode that includes a projection and a depression, a second electrode including a projection and a depression, an insulating layer disposed between the first electrode and the second electrode, and a light-emitting element straddling the insulating layer and disposed on the projection of the first electrode and on the projection of the second electrode. In other embodiments, a lighting device including a base that includes a first terminal and a second terminal that are configured to be electrically connected to the light source to supply current to the light-emitting element. In some embodiments, the lighting device is a lighting bulb, and in other embodiments, the lighting device is tube-shaped.

Claims

1. A light source comprising:

a first electrode including a projection and a depression;

a second electrode including a projection and a depression;

an insulating layer disposed between the first electrode and the second electrode; and

a light-emitting element straddling the insulating layer and electrically disposed on the projection of the first electrode and on the projection of the second electrode,

the projection of the first electrode fitting in the depression of the second electrode on contact with the insulating layer and the projection of the second electrode fitting in the depression of the first electrode on contact with the insulating layer to configure an electrode-assembly.

2. The light source according to claim 1:

the light-emitting element including a p-electrode and an n-electrode, and

the p-electrode of the light-emitting element being electrically connected to the projection of the first electrode, and the n-electrode of the light-emitting element being electrically connected to the projection of the second electrode.

9. The light source according to claim 1:

wherein the light-emitting element is a light-emitting diode element.

10. The light source according to claim 1:

wherein the light-emitting element is a light-emitting package including a substrate with an anode electrode and a cathode electrode and including a light-emitting diode element that is mounted on the substrate and electrically connected to the anode electrode and the cathode electrode of the substrate.

13. A lighting device comprising:

a base including a first terminal and a second terminal;

the light source according to claim 1; and

the first electrode of the light source configured to be electrically connected to the first terminal of the base and the second electrode of the light source configured to be electrically connected to the second terminal of the base.

22. The lighting device according to claim 13 further comprising:

a substrate including a first wiring electrode and a second wiring electrode,

wherein the light source is disposed on an upper surface of the substrate, the first electrode of the electrode-assembly included in the light source is electrically connected to the first wiring electrode of the substrate by soldering, and the second electrode of the electrode-assembly included in the light source is electrically connected to the second wiring electrode of the substrate by soldering.

3. A light source comprising:

a first electrode including projections and depressions;

a second electrode including projections and depressions;

an insulating layer disposed between the first electrode and the second electrode; and

light-emitting elements each straddling the insulating layer and disposed on each of the projections of the first electrode and on each of the projections of the second electrode,

the projections of the first electrode fitting in the depressions of the second electrode on contact with the insulating layer, and the projections of the second electrode fitting in the depressions of the first electrode on contact with the insulating layer to configure an electrode-assembly.

4. The light source according to claim 3:

wherein the electrode-assembly includes the first electrode, the second electrode, and the insulating layer sandwiched by the first electrode and the second electrode, and the electrode-assembly includes an elongated shape with a first end and a second end that is positioned at an opposite side of the first end of the elongated shape of the electrode-assembly.

5. The light source according to claim 4:

wherein the electrode-assembly includes the first end, the second end at the opposite side of the first end, and a peripheral side surfaces between the first end and the second end.

6. The light source according to claim 5:

wherein the light-emitting elements that straddle the insulating layer and are mounted on the projections of the first electrode and on the projections of the second electrode are aligned in a straight line at a first side surface of the peripheral side surfaces of the electrode-assembly.

7. The light source according to claim 6:

wherein the light-emitting elements that straddle the insulating layer and are mounted on the projections of the first electrode and on the projections of the second electrode are aligned in a straight line at a second side surface that is positioned at an opposite side of the first side surface of the peripheral side surfaces of the electrode assembly.

8. The light source according to claim 7 further comprising:

one or more of the light-emitting elements straddling the insulating layer and being mounted on the first electrode and the second electrode at the second end of the elongated shape of the electrode-assembly.

11. The light source according to claim 3:

wherein the light-emitting elements are light-emitting diode elements.

12. The light source according to claim 3:

wherein the light-emitting elements are light-emitting packages each including a substrate with an anode electrode and a cathode electrode and including a light-emitting diode element that is mounted on the substrate and electrically connected to the anode electrode and the cathode electrode of the substrate.

14. A lighting device comprising:

the light source according to claim 4;

an upper cover covering from above the second end of the elongated shape of the electrode-assembly included in the light source;

a lower cover being positioned at the first end of the elongated shape of the electrode-assembly included in the light source; and

the lower cover including an opening passing through the lower cover from an upper side to a lower side of the lower cover, and the first end of the elongated shape of the electrode-assembly included in the light source being inserted in the opening of the lower cover from the upper side of the lower cover.

15. The lighting device according to claim 14,

wherein the lower cover is made from a metal.

16. The lighting device according to claim 15,

wherein the upper cover is made from a material selected from glass and resin.

17. The lighting device according to claim 15 further comprising:

a connector including a first terminal and a second terminal and being positioned in the opening of the lower cover to receive the first end of the elongated shape of the electrode-assembly included in the light source; and

a circuit being positioned under the connector in the opening of the lower cover and electrically connected to the first terminal and the second terminal of the connector.

18. The lighting device according to claim 17,

wherein the circuit includes a converter circuit that converts alternating current to direct current that is configured to be supplied to the connector.

19. The lighting device according to claim 15 further comprising:

a circuit being positioned in the opening of the lower cover, and electrically connected to the first electrode and the second electrode of the electrode-assembly included in the light source.

20. The lighting device according to claim 19,

wherein the circuit includes a converter circuit that converts alternating current to direct current that is configured to drive the light-emitting elements mounted on the first-electrode and the second electrode of the electrode-assembly included in the light source.

21. The lighting device according to claim 18 further comprising:

a base being positioned under the circuit at the lower side of the lower cover and positioned outside the opening of the lower cover, and the base further including a first terminal and a second terminal configured to supply the alternating current to the circuit.

23. The lighting device according to claim 14 further comprising:

a base being positioned adjacent to the lower side of the lower cover and positioned outside the opening of the lower cover,

the base further including a first terminal and a second terminal that are configured to be two pins.

24. The lighting device according to claim 17:

wherein the connector is thermally connected to the lower cover and configured to release heat generated from the light source.

25. A lighting device comprising:

a light source including a first electrode including projections and depressions, a second electrode including projections and depressions, an insulating layer disposed between the first electrode and the second electrode, and light-emitting elements each straddling the insulating layer and disposed on each of the projections of the first electrode and on each of the projections of the second electrode, and wherein the projections of the first electrode fit in the depressions of the second electrode on contact with the insulating layer, and the projections of the second electrode fit in the depressions of the first electrode on contact with the insulating layer to configure an electrode-assembly;

an upper cover covering from above the second end of the elongated shape of the electrode-assembly included in the light source;

a lower cover being positioned at the first end of the elongated shape of the electrode-assembly included in the light source; and

wherein the lower cover includes an opening that passes through the lower cover from an upper side to a lower side of the lower cover, and the first end of the elongated shape of the electrode-assembly included in the light source being inserted in the opening of the lower cover from the upper side of the lower cover.