Light source device

• US 6,729,746 B2
• Filed: 03/14/2001
• Issued: 05/04/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 03/14/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Toyoda Gosei Company Limited (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Toyoda Gosei Company Limited (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Inventors: Nakano, Hideyuki, Kato, Hideaki, Suehiro, Yoshinobu, Takahashi, Yuji, Yamaguchi, Hisao, Yasukawa, Takemasa, Omoya, Hideki
• Primary Examiner(s): Husar, Stephen
• Assistant Examiner(s): PAYNE, SHARON E
• Application Number:
  US09/805,141
• Publication Number:
  US 20020024808A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,147 Days
• Field of Search: 362/241, 362/235, 362/240, 362/247, 362/248, 362/341, 362/347, 362/800, 362/301, 362/303, 362/343, 313/500
• US Class Current: 362/241
• CPC Class Codes: F21W 2111/02 for roads, paths or the like
• CPC Class Codes: F21W 2121/008 for simulation of a starry sky or firmament
• 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: G09F 13/22 electroluminescent electroluminescent light sources per se H05B33/00
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 9/33 being semiconductor devices, e.g. diodes
• 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 2224/49107 on the semiconductor or solid-state body
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2924/00 Indexing scheme for arrangements or methods for connecting or disconnecting semiconductor or solid-state bodies as covered by H01L24/00
• 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 2924/3025 Electromagnetic shielding
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 33/60 Reflective elements
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 362/80 Light emitting diode

Abstract

A light source device has a light shielding member having an aperture, a light source arranged on one side of the light shielding member, and a converging member arranged relatively with respect to the light source and the light source to thereby converge light emitted from the light source in the aperture or in a vicinity of the aperture. Another type of light source device has a single light source, and a converging member for converging light from the light source to thereby distribute the light to at least two points. Still another type of light source device has a light source, and a reflecting mirror arranged to enclose a side of a light emission direction of the light source, the reflecting mirror reflecting light emitted from the light source in a direction except the light source so that the light is radiated outside.

Claims

1. A light source device, comprising:

a light shielding member having a plurality of apertures;

a single light source arranged on one side of said light shielding member; and

a reflecting member having a plurality of reflecting surfaces, and being arranged relatively with respect to said light shielding member and said light source to thereby converge light emitted from said light source in said apertures or in vicinities of said apertures,

wherein a reflecting surface in said plurality of reflecting surfaces comprises a focal point which is associated with an aperture in said plurality of apertures.

2. A light source device according to claim 1, wherein said reflecting member is arranged to enclose a side of a light emission direction of said light source, and after the light from said light source is converged by being reflected on said reflecting surfaces, it is radiated from said apertures of said light shielding member.

3. A light source device according to claim 2, wherein substantially all of the light from said light source is reflected on said reflecting member.

4. A light source device according to claim 2, wherein said reflecting member comprises a part of an ellipsoid of revolution having a focal point on said light source and a corresponding one of said apertures.

5. A light source device according to claim 1, wherein said light source is mounted on said light shielding member.

6. A light source device according to claim 2, wherein said light shielding member has substantially annular apertures and said reflecting surfaces correspond to said substantially annular apertures, and after the light from said light source is annularly converged by being reflected on said reflecting surfaces, it is radiated from said substantially annular apertures of said light shielding member.

7. A light source device according to claim 2, wherein said reflecting member has a form such that the light from said light source is distributed and converged in at least two areas to thereby converge the light in one annular area,

wherein each said aperture of said light shielding member has a shape corresponding to the annular area, and

wherein said reflecting member is formed substantially along a curved surface acquired by revolving elliptic arc with said light source and one point in the annular area as a focal point on one axis on a plane including one axis on which said light source is arranged.

8. A light source device according to claim 1, wherein said light source comprises a light emitting diode (LED), and said reflecting member is arranged opposite to a side of a light emission direction of said light emitting diode, and after the light from said light emitting diode is converged by being reflected on said reflecting surfaces, it is radiated from said apertures of said light shielding member.

9. A light source device according to claim 8, wherein each said aperture of said light shielding member has a smaller area than an area of said reflecting member.

10. A light source device according to claim 8, wherein said reflecting member is substantially shaped in a paraboloid of revolution with said light emitting diode as a focal point.

11. A light source device according to claim 8, wherein said reflecting member comprises a part of an ellipsoid of revolution having a focal point on said light emitting diode and a corresponding one of said apertures.

12. A light source device according to claim 6, wherein said light emittingdiode comprises a blue light LED.

13. A light source device, comprising:

a light shielding member having a plurality of apertures;

a single light source; and

a reflecting member having a plurality of reflecting surfaces, and converging light from said single light source at at least two points,

wherein a reflecting surface in said plurality of reflecting surfaces comprises a focal point which is associated with an aperture in said plurality of apertures.

14. A light source device according to claim 13, wherein said light source comprises a light emitting diode (LED).

15. A light source device according to claim 13, wherein said reflecting member comprises a reflecting mirror, and said plurality of apertures comprises at least two apertures via which the light converged by said reflecting mirror passes.