LED light source

• US 7,246,931 B2
• Filed: 12/13/2005
• Issued: 07/24/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 12/15/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Epistar Corporation (Ennostar, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Epistar Corporation (Ennostar, Inc.)
• Inventors: Hsu, Chia-Liang, Hsieh, Min-Hsun, Wang, Chien-Yuan, Tsai, Chia-Fen, Wang, Jen-Shui, Yin, Chou-Chih
• Primary Examiner(s): Luebke; Renee
• Assistant Examiner(s): DZIERZYNSKI, EVAN P
• Application Number:
  US11/302,732
• Publication Number:
  US 20060126343A1
• Time in Patent Office: 588 Days
• Field of Search: 362/612, 362/327, 362/555, 313/512
• US Class Current: 362/612
• 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: F21K 9/61 using light guides
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2115/10 Light-emitting diodes [LED]

Abstract

A tube type light emitting diode light source including a light source generator, a light guide and a diffuser is provided. The light source generator includes LEDs arranging in a line. The light guide has a grooved light incident surface and a grooved light-guiding surface. The grooved light incident surface encompasses the LEDs, and the grooved light-guiding surface is adapted for changing the propagating direction of an incident light. The diffuser covers the light guide.

Claims

1. A tube type light emitting diode light source, comprising:

a light source generator comprising a plurality of LEDs in a strip;

a strip type light guide having a grooved light incident surface and a grooved light-guiding surface and substantially covering the light source generator; and

a strip type diffuser encapsulating the strip type light guide and the LEDs.

2. The tube type light emitting diode light source according to claim 1, wherein a cross-section of the grooved light incident surface is circular, elliptic or polygonal.

3. The tube type light emitting diode light source according to claim 1, wherein a groove of the grooved light-guiding surface is aligned with said plurality of LEDs.

4. The tube type light emitting diode light source according to claim 1, wherein the grooved light-guiding surface has a V-shaped, U-shaped, or wavy cross-section.

5. The tube type light emitting diode light source according to claim 1, wherein said plurality of LEDs are formed on a base.

6. The tube type light emitting diode light source according to claim 5, further comprising a reflection layer disposed between said plurality of LEDs and the base.

7. The tube type light emitting diode light source according to claim 6, wherein the reflection layer comprises a metal layer or a mirror.

8. The tube type light emitting diode light source according to claim 1, further comprising a radiator disposed outside the light source generator for heat dissipation.

9. The tube type light emitting diode light source according to claim 1, wherein the cross-section of the diffuser is circular, elliptic or polygonal.

10. The tube type light emitting diode light source according to claim 1, wherein the diffuser further comprises a distributed pattern on a light incident surface thereof, and an incident light generated from the light source generator is mixed by the reflection and/or refraction through the distributed pattern.

11. The tube type light emitting diode light source according to claim 1, wherein the diffuser further comprises a Moiré

lens disposed on a light incident surface thereof, and an incident light generated from the light source generator is mixed by the reflection and/or refraction through the Moiré

lens.

12. The tube type light emitting diode light source according to claim 1, wherein the light generated from the light source generator comprises white light, red light, blue light or green light.

13. The tube type light emitting diode light source according to claim 12, wherein the white light is generated from a white light LED, or is generated by mixing lights of different colors generated from a plurality of LEDs of different colors.

14. The tube type light emitting diode light source according to claim 1, wherein the light guide comprises at least one material selected from the group consisting of acrylic resin, COC, PMMA, PC, polyetherimide, fluorocarbon polymer, and silicone.

15. The tube type light emitting diode light source according to claim 1, wherein the diffuser comprises at least one material selected from the group consisting of acrylic resin, COC, PMMA, PC, polyetherimide, fluorocarbon polymer, and silicone.

16. The tube type light emitting diode light source according to claim 1, wherein the grooved light incident surface has a groove of strip type.

17. The tube type light emitting diode light source according to claim 1, wherein the grooved light incident surface has a plurality of concave openings.

18. A backlight module of a flat panel display, comprising:

a plurality of tube type LED light sources, wherein each tube type LED light source comprises;

a light source generator comprising a plurality of LEDs in a strip;

a strip type light guide having a grooved light incident surface and a grooved light-guiding surface and substantially covering the light source generator; and

a strip type diffuser encapsulating the strip type light guide and the LEDs; and

a prism sheet on said plurality of tube type LED light sources.