IP Library Granted Patent US 8,083,372
Granted Patent B2
US 8,083,372 · App. 12/425,467 · Granted Dec 27, 2011

Illumination system, electro-optic device, and electronic apparatus

Assignee: Epson Imaging Devices Corporation
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,083,372
App. No.
12/425,467
Granted
Dec 27, 2011
Kind
B2
Abstract

An illumination system includes a light source unit including a light source and a circuit substrate electrically connected to the light source. The light source is placed in the circuit substrate such that at least part of the light source overlaps the circuit substrate in the thicknesswise direction of the circuit substrate.

Claims (83)

1. An illumination system, comprising:

a light source unit including a light source and a circuit substrate electrically connected to the light source,

wherein

the light source includes a base portion of insulating material, a light emission portion supported by the base portion, and terminals electrically connected to the light emission portion and formed on the base portion; and

the light source is placed in the circuit substrate such that an entirety of the light source, including the base portion, the light emission portion and the terminals, is covered by the circuit substrate in a thickness direction of the circuit substrate, or is located inside the circuit substrate.

2. The system according to claim 1 , wherein

the light emission portion is exposed to one of opposite surfaces of the circuit substrate for emitting light from said one surface, and

the light source is entirely located inside the circuit substrate.

3. The system according to claim 2 , wherein

the circuit substrate has a through-hole extending from said one surface to the other surface of the circuit substrate, and

the entirety of the light source is received in the through-hole.

4. The system according to claim 3 , wherein

a bottom of the base portion of the light source opposite to the light emission portion is exposed, via the through-hole, to the other surface of the circuit substrate.

5. The system according to claim 2 , further comprising:

a reflective member placed on said one surface of the circuit substrate, from which the light source emits light, wherein the reflective member does not overlap the light emission portion of the light source.

6. The system according to claim 1 , wherein

the circuit substrate has a recess, and

the entirety of the light source is received in the recess.

7. The system according to claim 1 , further comprising:

a heat dissipating member having a heat dissipation property and in contact with the base portion of the light source.

8. The system according to claim 1 , further comprising:

a chassis holding the light source unit, wherein

the chassis has a through hole corresponding to the position of the light source.

9. An electro-optic device, comprising:

an electro-optic panel including two substrates and an electro-optic layer interposed between the substrates; and

the illumination system according to claim 1 placed on one surface of the electro-optic panel.

10. An electronic apparatus, comprising a display unit including the electro-optic device according to claim 9 .

11. An illumination system, comprising:

a plurality of light sources, and

a circuit substrate electrically connected to the light sources,

wherein

the circuit substrate includes opposite surfaces, and a plurality of recesses formed in one of said surfaces;

each of the light sources includes a base portion of insulating material, a light emission portion supported by the base portion, and terminals electrically connected to the light emission portion and formed on the base portion;

an entirety of each said light source, including the base portion, the light emission portion, and the terminals, is located inside a respective one of said recesses to be completely covered by the circuit substrate in a thickness direction of the circuit substrate, and

each said recess has an opening on said surface, said opening being uncovered to permit light emitted by the respective light source to radiate outside.

12. The system according to claim 11 , wherein

each said light source has the respective light emission portion exposed through the opening of the respective recess for emitting light from said one surface of the circuit substrate.

13. The system according to claim 12 , wherein

the light emission portion is completely recessed below said surface of the circuit substrate.

14. The system according to claim 12 , wherein

the circuit substrate further has a plurality of through-holes each extending from said one surface to the other surface of the circuit substrate,

each said recess is a first part of one of the through holes,

each said through hole further has a second part connecting the respective recess to the other surface of the circuit substrate.

15. The system according to claim 14 , wherein

the second part of each said through hole is smaller in cross-section than the respective recess.

16. The system according to claim 14 , wherein

each said light source has the respective base portion opposite the light emission portion, said base portion being exposed to the second part of the respective through hole at a bottom of the respective recess, and

said system further comprises a heat dissipating member having a heat dissipation property and positioned in the second part of each said through hole to be in contact with the respective light source via the base portion thereof.

17. The system according to claim 12 , further comprising:

a reflective member placed on said one surface of the circuit substrate, from which the light sources emit light, wherein the reflective member does not overlap the light sources.

18. An electro-optic device, comprising:

a liquid crystal display (LCD) panel including two substrates and a liquid crystal layer interposed between the substrates; and

the illumination system according to claim 11 placed on one surface of the LCD panel to provide backlight for the liquid crystal layer.

19. An illumination system, comprising:

a plurality of light sources, and

a circuit substrate electrically connected to the light sources,

wherein

the circuit substrate includes opposite surfaces, and a plurality of recesses formed in one of said surfaces;

an entirety of each said light source is located inside a respective one of said recesses to be completely covered by the circuit substrate in a thickness direction of the circuit substrate;

each said recess has an opening on said surface, said opening being uncovered to permit light emitted by the respective light source to radiate outside;

each said light source has a light emission portion exposed through the opening of the respective recess for emitting light from said one surface of the circuit substrate;

the circuit substrate further has a plurality of through-holes each extending from said one surface to the other surface of the circuit substrate;

each said recess is a first part of one of the through holes;

each said through hole further has a second part connecting the respective recess to the other surface of the circuit substrate;

each said light source has a base portion opposite the light emission portion, said base portion being exposed to the second part of the respective through hole at a bottom of the respective recess;

said system further comprises a heat dissipating member having a heat dissipation property and positioned in the second part of each said through hole to be in contact with the respective light source via the base portion thereof; and

the heat dissipating member further includes a portion outside the through holes and covering the other surface of the circuit substrate.

20. An illumination system, comprising:

a plurality of light sources, and

a circuit substrate electrically connected to the light sources,

wherein

the circuit substrate includes opposite surfaces, and a plurality of recesses formed in one of said surfaces;

an entirety of each said light source is located inside a respective one of said recesses to be completely covered by the circuit substrate in a thickness direction of the circuit substrate;

each said recess has an opening on said surface, said opening being uncovered to permit light emitted by the respective light source to radiate outside;

each said light source has a light emission portion exposed through the opening of the respective recess for emitting light from said one surface of the circuit substrate;

the circuit substrate further has a plurality of through-holes each extending from said one surface to the other surface of the circuit substrate;

each said recess is a first part of one of the through holes;

each said through hole further has a second part connecting the respective recess to the other surface of the circuit substrate;

each said light source has a base portion opposite the light emission portion, said base portion being exposed to the second part of the respective through hole at a bottom of the respective recess;

said system further comprises a heat dissipating member having a heat dissipation property and positioned in the second part of each said through hole to be in contact with the respective light source via the base portion thereof;

the circuit substrate includes, at the bottom of each recess, terminals for electrical connection to the respective light source;

each said light source has on the base portion thereof further terminals which electrically connect the respective light emission portion to the terminals on the bottom of the respective recess; and

the heat dissipating member in the second part of each said through hole extends between the terminals of the respective recess and light source to come into contact with the base portion of the respective light source.

Assignments (5)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Nov 1, 2017
From: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
To: MICROSOFT TECHNOLOGY LICENSING, LLC
Reel/Frame 044003/0557 →
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE MERGER AND CHANGE OF NAME PREVIOUSLY RECORDED ON REEL 043587 FRAME 0023. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE MERGER AND CHANGE OF NAME. Recorded Sep 21, 2017
From: EPSON IMAGING DEVICES CORPORATION
To: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 043931/0372 →
MERGER Recorded Sep 11, 2017
From: EPSON IMAGING DEVICES CORPORATION
To: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 043811/0553 →
MERGER AND CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Aug 17, 2017
From: EPSON IMAGING DEVICES CORPORATION; SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
To: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 043587/0023 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Apr 17, 2009
From: MITA, JUNYA; HAMA, SHINTARO; MOMOSE, YOSHINORI; MARUYAMA, AKEMI
To: EPSON IMAGING DEVICES CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 022558/0766 →
Priority Claims (2)
JP 2008-114908 · Apr 25, 2008 · national
JP 2008-148922 · Jun 6, 2008 · national
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20090268434A1 · Oct 29, 2009