Light emitting apparatus

• US 20040170018A1
• Filed: 02/09/2004
• Published: 09/02/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 02/28/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Toyoda Gosei Company Limited (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Toyoda Gosei Company Limited (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Inventors: Nawashiro, Mitsuhiro
• Granted Patent: US 7,029,147 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 362/244
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 5/04 of lens shape
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2115/10 Light-emitting diodes [LED]
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 33/58 Optical field-shaping elements

Abstract

A light emitting apparatus has: a plurality of surface mount device (SMD) type light emitting diode elements; a circuit board on which the plurality of SMD type light emitting diode elements are mounted; and a plurality of convex lenses each of which covers the light extraction side of corresponding one of the plurality of SMD type light emitting diode elements. The lens optical axis of at least one of the plurality of convex lenses does not coincide with an axis that passes through the center of corresponding one of the plurality of SMD type light emitting diode elements and is perpendicular to the circuit board.

Claims

1. A light emitting apparatus, comprising:

a plurality of surface mount device type light emitting diode elements;

a circuit board on which the plurality of surface mount device type light emitting diode elements are mounted; and

a plurality of convex lenses each of which covers the light extraction side of corresponding one of the plurality of surface mount device type light emitting diode elements;

wherein the lens optical axis of at least one of the plurality of convex lenses does not coincide with an axis that passes through the center of corresponding one of the plurality of surface mount device type light emitting diode elements and is perpendicular to the circuit board.

7. The light emitting apparatus according to claim 1, wherein:

the plurality of convex lenses are integrated in construction.

8. The light emitting apparatus according to claim 1, wherein:

each of the plurality of convex lenses has a convex surface on the side of corresponding surface mount type light emitting diode element.

9. The light emitting apparatus according to claim 7, wherein:

the plurality of convex lenses includes a common boundary region that has a flat surface on the light extraction side.

10. The light emitting apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:

a reflector that is disposed to surround the plurality of convex lenses.

2. A light emitting apparatus, comprising:

a plurality of surface mount device type light emitting diode elements;

a circuit board on which the plurality of surface mount device type light emitting diode elements are mounted; and

a plurality of convex lenses each of which covers the light extraction side of corresponding one of the plurality of surface mount device type light emitting diode elements;

wherein;

lines to connect between centers of the plurality of surface mount device type light emitting diode elements define a virtual convex polygon;

the lens apex of at least one of the plurality of convex lenses is located further than the position just over the corresponding light emitting diode element when viewing from the gravity point of the virtual convex polygon; and

the lens optical axis is located on a plane that is defined by the optical axis of corresponding light emitting diode element and a straight line perpendicular to the circuit board and passing through the gravity point of the virtual convex polygon, and intersects with the straight line.

4. The light emitting apparatus according to claim 2, wherein:

the optical axes of the plurality of convex lenses intersect with each other at one point on the straight line perpendicular to the circuit board and passing through the gravity point of the virtual convex polygon.

5. The light emitting apparatus according to claim 2, wherein:

the virtual convex polygon is a regular polygon.

6. The light emitting apparatus according to claim 2, wherein:

the virtual convex polygon is a regular triangle.

3. A light emitting apparatus, comprising:

a plurality of surface mount device type light emitting diode elements;

a circuit board on which the plurality of surface mount device type light emitting diode elements are mounted; and

a plurality of convex lenses each of which covers the light extraction side of corresponding one of the plurality of surface mount device type light emitting diode elements;

wherein;

lines to connect between centers of the plurality of surface mount device type light emitting diode elements define a virtual convex polygon;

the lens apex of the plurality of convex lenses is located further than the position just over the corresponding light emitting diode element when viewing from the gravity point of the virtual convex polygon; and

the lens optical axis is not parallel to and does not intersect with a straight line perpendicular to the circuit board and passing through the gravity point of the virtual convex polygon.