Lighting apparatus

• US 8,876,353 B2
• Filed: 06/05/2012
• Issued: 11/04/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 06/13/2011
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Canon Ayutthaya Limited (Canon Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Canon Ayutthaya Limited (Canon Inc.)
• Inventors: Matsuura, Yasuhiro
• Primary Examiner(s): Hanley, Britt D
• Assistant Examiner(s): QUARTERMAN, KEVIN J
• Application Number:
  US13/489,060
• Publication Number:
  US 20120314451A1
• Time in Patent Office: 882 Days
• Field of Search: 362/612, 362/227, 362/602, 362/231, 362/97.1, 362/235, 362/230, 362/800, 362/236, 362/613
• US Class Current: 362/613
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/0068 Arrangements of plural sources, e.g. multi-colour light sources
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/0078 Side-by-side arrangements, e.g. for large area displays
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 362/80 Light emitting diode

Abstract

A lighting apparatus according to the present invention includes a light guiding unit and a plurality of light sources arranged along the incidence face of the light guiding unit. The plurality of light sources are constituted by a plurality of light source groups such that one light source group corresponds to one block. The one light source group includes a plurality of white light sources and a plurality of color light sources. Among the plurality of color light sources included in the one light source group, the color light sources with an emission color of the highest light intensity, when the light sources are driven under identical drive conditions, are disposed at both ends of the light source group. All of the white light sources included in the plurality of light sources arranged along the incidence face are disposed equidistantly.

Claims

1. A lighting apparatus constituted by a plurality of blocks capable of individually controlling brightness or color, comprising:

a light guiding unit in which light incidents from an incidence face and goes out from an outgoing face; and

a plurality of light sources arranged along the incidence face of the light guiding unit, wherein

the plurality of light sources are constituted by a plurality of light source groups such that one light source group corresponds to one block,

the one light source group includes a plurality of white light sources and a plurality of color light sources;

among the plurality of color light sources included in the one light source group, color light sources with an emission color of the highest light intensity, when the light sources are driven under identical drive conditions, are disposed at both ends of the light source group; and

all of the white light sources included in the plurality of light sources arranged along the incidence face are disposed equidistantly.

2. The lighting apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the color light source with an emission color of the highest light intensity is a green light source.

3. The lighting apparatus according to claim 1, wherein

the one light source group includes a plurality of red light sources;

and

the plurality of red light sources included in the one light source group is disposed adjacently to each other.

4. The lighting apparatus according to claim 1, wherein light sources with the same emission color that are included in the one light source group are disposed symmetrically with respect to a center of a block corresponding to the light source group.

5. The lighting apparatus according to claim 1, wherein

the one light source group includes a red light source, a green light source, and a yellow light source;

and

the yellow light source included in the one light source group is disposed adjacently to at least a light source having a smaller difference in a principal wavelength from among the red light source and the green light source included in the light source group.

6. The lighting apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the light guiding unit is constituted by a plurality of light guiding units provided for each block.

7. The lighting apparatus according to claim 1, wherein

a light intensity of the light sources is determined such that when the plurality of light sources are turned on, the difference in color between a central position of a first block and a central position of a second block adjacent to the first block is equal to or less than a predetermined threshold.

8. The lighting apparatus according to claim 7, wherein

when regions obtained by dividing a block in two in an arrangement direction of the plurality of light sources are defined as sub-blocks,

the light intensity of the light sources is further determined such that when the plurality of light sources are turned on, the difference in color between a central position of a first sub-block and a central position of a second sub-block of another block that is adjacent to the first sub-block is equal to or less than a predetermined threshold.

9. The lighting apparatus according to claim 1, wherein

the light intensity of the light sources are determined such that when the plurality of light sources is turned on, the difference in color between a central position of a first block, a central position of a second block adjacent to the first block and a middle point between those central positions is equal to or less than a predetermined threshold.