Illumination apparatus having a light-transmitting frame

• US 7,530,709 B2
• Filed: 04/11/2006
• Issued: 05/12/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 04/14/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Citizen Electronics Company Limited
• Original Assignee: Citizen Electronics Company Limited
• Inventors: Kikuchi, Satoru, Nishida, Atsushi
• Primary Examiner(s): Lee; Jong-Suk (James)
• Assistant Examiner(s): MACCHIAROLO, LEAH SIMONE
• Application Number:
  US11/401,478
• Publication Number:
  US 20060245194A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,127 Days
• Field of Search: 362/231, 362/235, 362/555, 362/240, 362/311, 362/351, 362/360, 362/361, 362/363, 362/27, 362/24, 362/29, 362/30, 362/612, 362/551, 362/511, 362/522, 362/244, 362/309, 362/332, 362/336, 385 92- 94
• US Class Current: 362/231
• 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: F21Y 2113/13 comprising an assembly of point-like light sources
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2115/10 Light-emitting diodes [LED]
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 15/05 Combinations of cameras with electronic flash apparatus; Electronic flash units
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 2215/0567 Solid-state light source, e.g. LED, laser
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 2215/0571 With second light source
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 2215/0592 installed in front of light emitter
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/22 Illumination; Arrangements for improving the visibility of characters on dials
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 362/80 Light emitting diode

Abstract

A light emitting apparatus including a first light source, a second light source to emit light of a color different from that of the light emitted from the first light source, a frame configured to cover above the first light source and the second light source, and exit areas formed on the frame to correspond to the first light source and the second light source, respectively, the light emitted from each of the first light source and the second light source being emitted through the corresponding exit areas to the exterior of the frame.

Claims

1. An illumination apparatus having a light-transmitting frame, comprising:

a substrate;

a first light emitting diode and a second light emitting diode mounted on the substrate and configured to emit different colored lights, respectively; and

a single light-transmitting frame comprising a side wall and an upper wall which form a concave portion, mounted on the substrate and configured to cover the first and the second light emitting diodes from above within the concave portion;

wherein the upper wall of the light-transmitting frame includes an inside surface comprising a first light incident area and a second light incident area, each of the first and second light incident areas faces each one of the first and the second light emitting diodes, and an outside surface comprising a first light exit area configured to face the first light incident area and a second light exit area configured to surround the first light exit area, respectively, and further;

wherein the inside surface of the upper wall of the light-transmitting frame has a stepped portion separating the first and the second light incident areas, the first light incident area is separated by the stepped portion to receive light emitted from the first light emitting diode and to pass the light through the upper wall of the light-transmitting frame at the first light exit area;

wherein the second light incident area is separated by the stepped portion to receive light emitted from the second light emitting diode and to pass the light through the upper wall of the light-transmitting frame at the second light exit area, which is configured to surround the first light exit area.

2. The illumination apparatus having a light-transmitting frame according to claim 1,

wherein at least one of the light exit areas has a lens portion.

3. The illumination apparatus having a light-transmitting frame according to claim 2,

wherein one of the first and second light emitting diodes is configured to emit light flashes through the at least one of the light exit areas that has the lens portion.

4. The illumination apparatus having a light-transmitting frame according to claim 2,

wherein the lens portion comprises one of a convex lens and a flat lens.

5. The illumination apparatus having a light-transmitting frame according to claim 1,

wherein each of the first and second light emitting diodes is sealed by a separate resinous sealing body.

6. The illumination apparatus having a light-transmitting frame according to claim 1,

wherein the first and second light emitting diodes are sealed together by a common resinous sealing body.

7. The illumination apparatus having a light-transmitting frame according to claim 1,

wherein the first and second light emitting diodes include a light emitting diode to emit white light, and a light emitting diode to emit either blue light, red light or green light.

8. The illumination apparatus having a light-transmitting frame according to claim 1,

wherein one of the first and second light emitting diodes is configured to emit light flashes and the other of the first and the second light emitting diodes is configured to emit indication light.

9. The illumination apparatus having a light-transmitting frame according to claim 1,

wherein the substrate has a square shape and the frame has the same square shape in plan view.

10. The illumination apparatus having a light-transmitting frame according to claim 9,

wherein the first light emitting diode is disposed adjacent to a central portion on the substrate.

11. The illumination apparatus having a light-transmitting frame according to claim 10,

wherein the second light-transmitting diode is disposed on the substrate at a position other than the central portion.