IP Library Granted Patent US 7,356,054
Granted Patent B2
US 7,356,054 · App. 11/306,106 · Granted Apr 8, 2008

Light emitting device

Assignee: Nichia Corporation
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 7,356,054
App. No.
11/306,106
Granted
Apr 8, 2008
Kind
B2
Abstract

The present invention provides a light emitting device comprising: an excitation light source which radiates excitation light; a wavelength converting member which absorbs and converts the wavelength of at least part of the excitation light radiated from the excitation light source, and releases light with a predetermined wavelength band; a light guide for guiding the excitation light radiated from the excitation light source to the wavelength converting member, with one end at the excitation light source and the other end at the wavelength converting member, wherein the refractive index of the cross-sectional center region (core) is higher than that of the circumferential region (clad); and a thermally conductive transparent film which contacts with the wavelength converting member.

Claims (51)

1. A light emitting device comprising:

an excitation light source which radiates excitation light;

a wavelength converting member which absorbs and converts the wavelength of at least part of the excitation light radiated from the excitation light source, and releases light with a predetermined wavelength band;

a light guide for guiding the excitation light radiated from the excitation light source to the wavelength converting member, with one end at the excitation light source and the other end at the wavelength converting member, wherein the refractive index of the cross-sectional center region (core) of the light guide is higher than that of the circumferential region (clad) of the light guide; and

a thermally conductive transparent film which contacts with the wavelength converting member.

2. The light emitting device according to claim 1 , wherein

the thermally conductive transparent film is located between the light guide and the wavelength converting member.

3. The light emitting device according to claim 1 , wherein

the wavelength converting member is essentially comprised of only fluorescent material.

4. The light emitting device according to claim 1 , wherein

the fluorescent material has a luminance retention ratio at 200° C. which is 50% or higher than the luminance retention ratio at room temperature.

5. The light emitting device according to claim 1 , wherein

a lens is provided between the excitation light source and the light guide, and excitation light radiated from the excitation light source is guided through the lens to the light guide.

6. The light emitting device according to claim 1 , wherein

the light guided to the outside has an average color rendering evaluation value (Ra) which is 80 or higher.

7. A light emitting device comprising:

an excitation light source which radiates excitation light,

a light guide which transfers excitation light radiated from the excitation light source, and which flexibly extends in the longitudinal direction, and

a wavelength converting member which absorbs and converts the wavelength of the excitation light radiated from the excitation light source through the light guide, and releases light with a predetermined wavelength band,

wherein:

the light guide has an end surface with a larger surface area than the lateral cross-sectional area orthogonal to the longitudinal direction on the excitation light radiating side, and is supported by a light guide end member; and

at least a part of the light guide and light guide end member are covered by the wavelength converting member.

8. The light emitting device according to claim 7 , wherein

the light guide end member has an end surface with a surface area larger than the lateral cross-section surface area orthogonal to the longitudinal direction at the excitation light radiating side.

9. The light emitting device according to claim 8 , wherein

the light guide end member has an end surface where the edge which protrudes in the longitudinal direction has been beveled off at the excitation light radiating side.

10. The light emitting device according to claim 7 , wherein

the center region (core) of the light guide has a refractive index higher than the refractive index of the circumferential region (clad) in the lateral cross-section orthogonal to the longitudinal direction.

11. The light emitting device according to claim 7 , wherein

the light guide end member has convex and concave regions formed in the side surface.

12. The light emitting device according to claim 7 , wherein

the light guide and/or the light guide end member has an end surface with concave and convex regions at the excitation light radiating side.

13. The light emitting device according to claim 7 , further comprising

a thermally conductive transparent film which contacts with the wavelength converting member.

14. The light emitting device according to claim 7 , wherein

the excitation light radiated from the excitation light source is laser light.

15. A light emitting device comprising:

a light emitting element,

a flexibly extendable light guide having a light receiving end which receives light from the light emitting element and a radiating end which radiates light, and

a translucent member which transmits light radiated from the light guide,

wherein:

the light emitting device has a light guide end member which covers the side surface of the radiating end of the light guide and forms the sidewall of a concave part which has at least a part of the light guide radiating end as the bottom part; and

the translucent member extends into the concave part.

16. The light emitting device according to claim 15 , wherein

the light guide end member has a thermal conductivity which is higher than that of the translucent member.

17. The light emitting device according to claim 15 , wherein

the translucent member has a wavelength converting member which converts light from the light emitting element to a different wavelength band.

18. The light emitting device according to claim 15 , further comprising

a thermally conductive transparent film which is in contact with the translucent member.

19. The light emitting device according to claim 15 , wherein

the light emitting element is a laser diode.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Dec 16, 2005
From: HAMA, ATSUTOMO; TAKEICHI, JUNJI; SUGIYAMA, TAKAFUMI; HAYASHI, YUKIHIRO
To: NICHIA CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 016903/0777 →
Priority Claims (6)
JP 2004-366645 · Dec 17, 2004 · national
JP 2005-032189 · Feb 8, 2005 · national
JP 2005-066459 · Mar 10, 2005 · national
JP 2005-085594 · Mar 24, 2005 · national
JP 2005-098064 · Mar 30, 2005 · national
JP 2005-126193 · Apr 25, 2005 · national
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20060198418A1 · Sep 7, 2006