# US 12,001,046 B2 · Light-emitting device > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 12,001,046 B2 - Document ID: US12001046B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 17/449,446 - Filed: 2021-09-29 - Published: 2022-03-31 - Granted: 2024-06-04 - Earliest claimed: 2020-09-30 - Assignees: Nichia Corporation - Applicants: Nichia Corporation - Inventors: Keiji Emura - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12001046B2 ## CPC - G02B 6/0021: {for housing at least a part of the light source, e.g. by forming holes or recesses} - G02B 6/0051: {Diffusing sheet or layer} - G02B 6/0003: {the light guides being doped with fluorescent agents} - G02B 6/0055: {Reflecting element, sheet or layer} - H10H 20/8513: {having two or more wavelength conversion materials} - H10H 20/855: Optical field-shaping means, e.g. lenses - H10H 20/882: {Scattering means (H10H20/82 takes precedence)} - G02B: OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS - H10H: INORGANIC LIGHT-EMITTING SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICES HAVING POTENTIAL BARRIERS ## Abstract A light-emitting device includes a light-emitting element, a light guide member surrounding the light-emitting element, a diffuser plate located on the light-emitting element and on the light guide member, and a metal pattern located at an upper surface of the diffuser plate. The diffuser plate contacts the light-emitting element and diffuses light emitted from the light-emitting element. A proportion of a region of the upper surface of the diffuser plate where the metal pattern is not located increases as a distance from the light-emitting element increases. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A light-emitting device, comprising: a light-emitting element; a light guide member surrounding the light-emitting element; a diffuser plate located on the light-emitting element and on the light guide member, the diffuser plate contacting the light-emitting element and diffusing light emitted from the light-emitting element; and a metal pattern located at an upper surface of the diffuser plate, wherein a proportion of a region with no metal pattern on the upper surface of the diffuser plate increases as a distance from the light emitting element increases wherein the metal pattern includes a plurality of elongated extension portions extending in a direction away from the light-emitting element in a top view, wherein base portions of the elongated extension portions are connected to each other in the top view, wherein tips of the elongated extension portions are separated from each other in the top view and reach an outer edge of the diffuser plate in the top view, wherein the elongated extension portions include a plurality of first elongated extension portions extending in a first direction from the light-emitting element in the top view, a plurality of second elongated extension portions extending in a direction opposite to the first direction from the light-emitting element in the top view, a plurality of third elongated extension portions extending in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction from the light-emitting element in the top view, and a plurality of fourth elongated extension portions extending in a direction opposite to the second direction from the light-emitting element in the top view, wherein each of the plurality of first elongated extension portions and the plurality of second elongated extension portions has a length in the second direction that becomes shorter as a distance from the light-emitting element becomes longer, wherein each of the plurality of third elongated extension portions and the plurality of fourth elongated extension portions has a length in the first direction that becomes shorter as a distance from the light-emitting element becomes longer, and wherein the metal pattern is located above the light-emitting element. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The light-emitting device according to claim 1, wherein the upper surface of the diffuser plate has: a first region located directly above the light-emitting element, and a second region surrounding the first region, and a proportion of a region with no metal pattern on the upper surface in the first region is less than a proportion of a region with no metal pattern on the upper surface in the second region. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The light-emitting device according to claim 2, wherein the proportion of the region with no metal pattern on the upper surface in the first region is 0%. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The light-emitting device according to claim 1, wherein the metal pattern includes a plurality of first metal portions that are separated from each other. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The light-emitting device according to claim 4, wherein one or more of the first metal portions have discal shapes. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The light-emitting device according to claim 1, wherein the metal pattern is formed as a continuous body, and has a plurality of openings. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The light-emitting device according to claim 1, wherein the metal pattern includes: a plurality of first metal portions that are separated from each other; and one second metal portion having a plurality of openings. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The light-emitting device according to claim 1, wherein the metal pattern includes at least one type of material selected from the group consisting of aluminum, copper, silver, and a silver alloy. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The light-emitting device according to claim 1, wherein the diffuser plate includes a phosphor. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The light-emitting device according to claim 1, wherein the diffuser plate includes: a first layer that contacts the light-emitting element and does not substantially include a phosphor; and a second layer that is located on the first layer and includes a phosphor. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The light-emitting device according to claim 10, wherein the diffuser plate further includes a third layer located on the second layer, and the third layer does not substantially include a phosphor, or has a phosphor concentration less than a phosphor concentration in the second layer. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The light-emitting device according to claim 1, wherein a portion of the light-emitting element is located inside the diffuser plate. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The light-emitting device according to claim 12, wherein the light-emitting element includes a light-shielding layer contacting the diffuser plate. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The light-emitting device according to claim 13, wherein the light guide member includes: a reflecting portion including an upper surface, the upper surface being inclined toward the diffuser plate as a distance from the light-emitting element increases; and a light-transmitting portion that is located on the reflecting portion and contacts a lateral surface of the light-emitting element. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The light-emitting device according to claim 14, wherein the light guide member includes a light-reflecting layer located below the light-emitting element. ### Claim 16 (depends on 12) The light-emitting device according to claim 12, wherein the light guide member includes: a reflecting portion including an upper surface, the upper surface being inclined toward the diffuser plate as a distance from the light-emitting element increases; and a light-transmitting portion that is located on the reflecting portion and contacts a lateral surface of the light-emitting element. ### Claim 17 (depends on 1) The light-emitting device according to claim 1, wherein the light-emitting element includes a light-shielding layer contacting the diffuser plate. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The light-emitting device according to claim 17, wherein the light guide member includes: a reflecting portion including an upper surface, the upper surface being inclined toward the diffuser plate as a distance from the light-emitting element increases; and a light-transmitting portion that is located on the reflecting portion and contacts a lateral surface of the light-emitting element. ### Claim 19 (depends on 1) The light-emitting device according to claim 1, wherein the light guide member includes: a reflecting portion including an upper surface, the upper surface being inclined toward the diffuser plate as a distance from the light-emitting element increases; and a light-transmitting portion that is located on the reflecting portion and contacts a lateral surface of the light-emitting element. ### Claim 20 (depends on 1) The light-emitting device according to claim 1, wherein the light guide member includes a light-reflecting layer located below the light-emitting element.