Light emitting diode array

• US 4,630,180 A
• Filed: 06/07/1985
• Issued: 12/16/1986
• Est. Priority Date: 06/11/1984
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Harison Electric Co., Ltd., Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba (Toshiba Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Harison Electric Co., Ltd., Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba (Toshiba Corporation)
• Inventors: Watanabe, Takaki, Honda, Kiyokazu, Muraki, Katsuo
• Primary Examiner(s): Scott, Samuel
• Assistant Examiner(s): Flanigan, Allen J.
• Application Number:
  US06/742,511
• Time in Patent Office: 557 Days
• Field of Search: 362/27, 362/31, 362/32, 362/223, 362/224, 362/235, 362/240, 362/241, 362/244, 362/245, 362/340, 362/800, 350/433
• US Class Current: 362/223
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 4/20 with light sources held by or within elongate supports
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 5/04 of lens shape
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 5/043 the lens having cylindrical faces, e.g. rod lenses, toric lenses
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2103/10 comprising a linear array of point-like light-generating elements
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2115/10 Light-emitting diodes [LED]
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 9/33 being semiconductor devices, e.g. diodes
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2224/48091 Arched
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 25/0753 the devices being arranged next to each other
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2924/00014 the subject-matter covered by the group, the symbol of which is combined with the symbol of this group, being disclosed without further technical details
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 33/58 Optical field-shaping elements
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 362/80 Light emitting diode

Abstract

A plurality of light emitting diode pellets arranged on a base are surrounded by a partition member and an outer frame member fixed on the base to mount an elongated lens on the opening portion thereof. A certain number of partition members are arranged between the base and the lens having recessed portions so as to partition each pellet or groups of several pellets. The upper ends of the partition members are inserted into recessed portions of the lens. Thus, when an arbitrary light emitting diode pellet is energized, light from the energized pellet does not spread to the non-light emitting pellet portions, thus clearly discriminating between the light emitting portions and non-light emitting portions.

Claims

1. A light emitting diode array comprising:

(a) a base,

(b) a plurality of light emitting diode pellets arranged on said base,

(c) an outer frame member having one opening portion fastened to said base so as to surround said light emitting diode pellets,

(d) a lens having at least one recessed portion provided so as to cover the other opening portion of said outer frame member, and

(e) at least one partition member provided between said base and said recessed portion of said lens so as to partition said plurality of light emitting diode pellets in an arrangement direction, one end portion of said partition member positioned at the side of said lens being inserted into said recessed portion,

(f) said partition member being non-light transmitting, whereby off-axis radiation emitted by one of said pellets which would otherwise be transmitted through said lens in said arrangement direction towards an adjacent section of said lens overlying an adjacent pellet will be prevented from being so transmitted, resulting in more clearly defined image boundaries when selected pellets are energized while others are not.

2. A light emitting diode array as set forth in claim 1, wherein said partition member is provided every each adjacent diode pellet.

3. A light emitting diode array as set forth in claim 1, wherein said partition member is provided every plural adjacent diode pellets.

4. A light emitting diode array as set forth in claim 1, wherein said plurality of diode pellets are arranged in a zigzag form.

5. A light emitting diode array as set forth in claim 1, wherein said lens is formed at its lower portion V-shaped in lateral cross section.

6. A light emitting diode array as set forth in claim 1, wherein said lens is formed at its lower portion semicircular in lateral cross section.

7. A light emitting diode array as set forth in claim 1, wherein said lens is formed circular in lateral cross section.