Light source unit, lighting device, display device, television receiver, and method of manufacturing board for light source unit

• US 8,941,796 B2
• Filed: 04/06/2010
• Issued: 01/27/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 06/15/2009
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha (Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha (Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.)
• Inventors: Yokota, Masashi
• Primary Examiner(s): TAVLYKAEV, ROBERT FUATOVICH
• Application Number:
  US13/376,214
• Publication Number:
  US 20120081630A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,757 Days
• Field of Search: 349/61, 362/97.3, 362/249.02, 362/249.04, 362/249.06, 362/612, 362/613, 362/630, 362/631, 362/800
• US Class Current: 349/61
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/133603 with LEDs
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/133607 the light controlling member including light directing or refracting elements, e.g. prisms or lenses
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/133608 including particular frames or supporting means
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/133612 Electrical details
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 2201/465 Snap -fit
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49826 Assembling or joining

Abstract

It is an object of the present invention to provide a light source unit enabling cost reduction. A light source unit of the present invention includes a plurality of LEDs 16, and an elongated LED board 17 having a plurality of arranging portions 18 on which each LED 16 is arranged, and a plurality of connecting portions 19 connecting the adjacent arranging portions 18. Each connecting portion 19 has a width smaller than a width of each arranging portion 18 in a short direction of the LED board 17.

Claims

1. A light source unit comprising:

a plurality of light sources; and

an elongated board including a plurality of first portions and a second portion, each of the plurality of first portions including at least one of the plurality of light sources thereon and the second portion is provided between two adjacent ones of the plurality of first portions, wherein

the elongated board has an outer shape including first widths in a latitudinal direction of the board crossing the plurality of first portions as seen in a plan view and a second width in the latitudinal direction of the board crossing the second portion as seen in a plan view, the second width being smaller than each of the first widths; and

the second portion has a length greater than a length of each of the plurality of first portions in a longitudinal direction of the board.

2. The light source unit according to claim 1, wherein:

the plurality of light sources are arranged along the longitudinal direction of the board as seen in the plan view;

the second portion is arranged on a straight line between the plurality of light sources; and

the second portion includes a wiring supplying electric power to each of the plurality of light sources provided along the longitudinal direction of the board.

3. The light source unit according to claim 1, wherein the second portion is provided on a straight line connecting centers of the two adjacent ones of the plurality of first portions.

4. The light source unit according to claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of first portions includes a reflection surface on a surface on which the plurality of light sources are arranged.

5. The light source unit according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of light sources are light-emitting diodes.

6. The light source unit according to claim 1, further comprising a diffusion lens provided on each of the plurality of first portions so as to cover each of the plurality of light sources and configured to diffuse light from each of the plurality of light sources, wherein:

each of the plurality of first portions has a circular shape greater than an outer shape of the diffusion lens in a plan view; and

each of the plurality of light sources is arranged at a center of each of the plurality of first portions in a plan view.

7. A lighting device comprising:

the light source unit according to claim 1; and

a chassis to which the light source unit is attached.

8. A display device comprising:

the lighting device according to claim 7; and

a display panel configured to provide display using light from the lighting device.

9. The display device according to claim 8, wherein the display panel is a liquid crystal panel using liquid crystals.

10. A television receiver comprising the display device according to claim 8.

11. A light source unit comprising:

a plurality of light sources; and

an elongated board including a plurality of first portions and a second portion, each of the plurality of first portions including at least one of the plurality of light sources thereon and the second portion is provided between two adjacent ones of the plurality of first portions, wherein

the elongated board has an outer shape including first widths in a latitudinal direction of the board crossing the plurality of first portions as seen in a plan view and a second width in the latitudinal direction of the board crossing the second portion as seen in a plan view, the second width being smaller than each of the first widths; and

the board includes an outer shape such that, when one board is rotated by 180 degrees, each of the plurality of first portions of another board that is not rotated is fitted between the plurality of first portions of the rotated one board.

12. The light source unit according to claim 11, wherein the second portion has a length greater than a length of each of the plurality of first portions in a longitudinal direction of the board.

13. A method of manufacturing an elongated board used for a light source unit, comprising:

dividing one rectangular board base material to form a plurality of elongated boards used for a light source unit, each of the plurality of elongated boards including a plurality of first portions and a second portion, each of the plurality of first portions includes a light source thereon and the second portion is provided between two adjacent ones of the plurality of first portions;

wherein

the second portion has a width smaller than a width of each of the plurality of first portions in a latitudinal direction of the board as seen in a plan view, and

the dividing step including dividing the board base material into at least a first board and a second board such that each of the plurality of first portions of the second board adjacent to the first board is located between two adjacent ones of the plurality of first portions of the first board.