Light-emitting module and illumination apparatus

• US 8,057,072 B2
• Filed: 12/10/2009
• Issued: 11/15/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 12/12/2008
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Toshiba Lighting & Technology Corporation (Toshiba Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Toshiba Lighting & Technology Corporation (Toshiba Corporation)
• Inventors: Watanabe, Hiroaki, Takahashi, Akimichi, Kumashiro, Shinichi, Ogawa, Kozo, Shimizu, Keiichi, Nogi, Shinji, Takenaka, Erika
• Primary Examiner(s): Alavi; Ali
• Application Number:
  US12/634,710
• Publication Number:
  US 20100149783A1
• Time in Patent Office: 705 Days
• Field of Search: 362/311.02, 362/311.03, 362/293, 362/84, 362/294, 362/249.02, 257/98, 257/99, 257/100
• US Class Current: 362/311.02
• 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 9/232 specially adapted for generating an essentially omnidirectional light distribution, e.g. with a glass bulb
• CPC Class Codes: F21K 9/64 using wavelength conversion means distinct or spaced from the light-generating element, e.g. a remote phosphor layer
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 13/14 the elements being filters or photoluminescent elements, reflectors and refractors
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 29/502 characterised by the adaptation for cooling of specific components
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 29/70 characterised by passive heat-dissipating elements, e.g. heat-sinks
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 3/00 Globes; Bowls; Cover glasses with refracting properties F21V5/00; with reflecting properties F21V7/00; characterised by cooling arrangements F21V29/506
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 3/08 the material comprising photoluminescent substances
• 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]
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 25/0753 the devices being arranged next to each other
• 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 2924/0002 Not covered by any one of groups H01L24/00, H01L24/00 and H01L2224/00
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 33/60 Reflective elements
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 33/644 in intimate contact or integrated with parts of the device other than the semiconductor body

Abstract

A light-emitting module includes at least one light-emitting element provided on a mount surface of a substratum. A translucent member is provided so as to face the mount surface of the substratum. The translucent member is separated from the light-emitting element and contains a phosphor material that converts a wavelength of light emitted by the light-emitting element. A frame having heat conducting properties is interposed between the substratum and the translucent member. The frame surrounds the light-emitting element. The frame includes an opening that leads light emitted by the light-emitting element to the translucent member, and a heat conductor thermally connected to the translucent member. The heat conductor includes a heat radiator exposed outside of the translucent member.

Claims

1. A light-emitting module, comprising:

a substratum including a mount surface;

at least one light-emitting element provided on the mount surface of the substratum;

a translucent member provided so as to face the mount surface of the substratum, the translucent member being separated from the light-emitting element and containing a phosphor material that converts a wavelength of light emitted by the light-emitting element; and

a frame having heat conducting properties and interposed between the substratum and the translucent member so as to surround the light-emitting element, the frame including an opening that leads light emitted by the light-emitting element to the translucent member and a heat conductor thermally connected to the translucent member, the heat conductor including a heat radiator exposed outside of the translucent member.

2. The light-emitting module of claim 1, wherein the frame is thermally connected to the substratum.

3. The light-emitting module of claim 1, wherein the heat conductor of the frame protrudes toward an opposite side of the substratum from an edge of the opening.

4. The light-emitting module of claim 3, wherein the heat conductor of the frame is continuous with a peripheral direction of the opening and surrounds the translucent member.

5. The light-emitting module of claim 1, wherein the frame forms a receptacle that contains the light-emitting element in cooperation with the substratum and the translucent member, and a translucent sealing member is charged into the receptacle.

6. The light-emitting module of claim 1, wherein the substratum and the translucent member have flexibility and the frame is elastically deformable.

7. A light-emitting module, comprising:

a substratum including a mount surface;

a plurality of light-emitting elements systematically arranged on the mount surface of the substratum;

a translucent member provided so as to face the mount surface of the substratum, the translucent member being separated from the light-emitting elements and containing a phosphor material that converts a wavelength of light emitted by the light-emitting elements; and

a frame having heat conducting properties and interposed between the substratum and the translucent member, the frame including a plurality of cell blocks that surround the light-emitting elements, each of the cell blocks including an opening that leads light emitted by the light-emitting elements to the translucent member, and a heat conductor thermally connected to the translucent member, the heat conductor including a heat radiator exposed outside of the translucent member.

8. The light-emitting module of claim 7, wherein said plurality of cell blocks are divided from one another and the heat conductors of adjacent cell blocks abut one another, the translucent member includes a plurality of divided pieces divided so as to correspond to said plurality of cell blocks, and each of the divided pieces is thermally connected to the heat conductor of each of the cell blocks.

9. The light-emitting module of claim 7, wherein the substratum and the translucent member have flexibility and the frame is elastically deformable.

10. The light-emitting module of claim 7, wherein the translucent member is an integral structure and includes a plurality of through holes through which the heat conductors of said plurality of cell blocks penetrate.

11. The light-emitting module of claim 9, wherein the frame includes a plurality of voids formed between the cell blocks.

12. An illumination apparatus comprising:

an apparatus body;

a light-emitting module supported by the apparatus body; and

a lighting device configured to light the light-emitting module,

wherein the light-emitting module includes;

a substratum including a mount surface;

at least one light-emitting element provided on the mount surface of the substratum;

a translucent member provided so as to face the mount surface of the substratum, the translucent member being separated from the light-emitting element and containing a phosphor material that converts a wavelength of light emitted by the light-emitting element; and

a frame having heat conducting properties and interposed between the substratum and the translucent member so as to surround the light-emitting element, the frame including an opening that leads light emitted by the light-emitting element to the translucent member, and a heat conductor thermally connected to the translucent member, the heat conductor including a heat radiator exposed outside of the translucent member.

13. The illumination apparatus of claim 12, further comprising a spacer provided between the apparatus body and the substratum of the light-emitting module, the spacer having heat conducting properties.

14. The illumination apparatus of claim 12, wherein the substratum and the translucent member of the light-emitting module have flexibility and the frame is elastically deformable.