# US 2016/0258592 A1 · Lighting apparatus > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2016/0258592 A1 - Document ID: US20160258592A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 14/819,022 - Filed: 2015-08-05 - Published: 2016-09-08 - Earliest claimed: 2015-03-04 - Assignees: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba - Applicants: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba - Inventors: Reiji ONO - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20160258592A1 ## CPC - F21V 3/049: {Patterns or structured surfaces for diffusing light, e.g. frosted surfaces} - F21S 2/00: Systems of lighting devices, not provided for in main groups F21S4/00 - F21S10/00 or F21S19/00, e.g. of modular construction - G09B 27/04: Star maps - G09B 27/06: Celestial globes - F21V 3/02: characterised by the shape - F21V 11/14: with many small apertures - F21W 2121/00: Use or application of lighting devices or systems for decorative purposes, not provided for in codes F21W2102/00 – F21W2107/00 - F21Y 2115/10: Light-emitting diodes [LED] - G03B 21/10: Projectors with built-in or built-on screen - H10H 20/855: Optical field-shaping means, e.g. lenses - F21V: FUNCTIONAL FEATURES OR DETAILS OF LIGHTING DEVICES OR SYSTEMS THEREOF; STRUCTURAL COMBINATIONS OF LIGHTING DEVICES WITH OTHER ARTICLES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR - F21S: NON-PORTABLE LIGHTING DEVICES; SYSTEMS THEREOF; VEHICLE LIGHTING DEVICES SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR VEHICLE EXTERIORS - G09B: EDUCATIONAL OR DEMONSTRATION APPLIANCES; APPLIANCES FOR TEACHING, OR COMMUNICATING WITH, THE BLIND, DEAF OR MUTE; MODELS; PLANETARIA; GLOBES; MAPS; DIAGRAMS (devices for psychotechnics or for testing reaction times A61B5/16; games, sports, amusements A63; projectors, projector screens G03B) - F21W: INDEXING SCHEME ASSOCIATED WITH SUBCLASSES F21K, F21L, F21S and F21V, RELATING TO USES OR APPLICATIONS OF LIGHTING DEVICES OR SYSTEMS - F21Y: INDEXING SCHEME ASSOCIATED WITH SUBCLASSES F21K, F21L, F21S and F21V, RELATING TO THE FORM OR THE KIND OF THE LIGHT SOURCES OR OF THE COLOUR OF THE LIGHT EMITTED - G03B: APPARATUS OR ARRANGEMENTS FOR TAKING PHOTOGRAPHS OR FOR PROJECTING OR VIEWING THEM; APPARATUS OR ARRANGEMENTS EMPLOYING ANALOGOUS TECHNIQUES USING WAVES OTHER THAN OPTICAL WAVES; ACCESSORIES THEREFOR (optical parts of such apparatus G02B; photosensitive materials or processes for photographic purposes G03C; apparatus for processing exposed photographic materials G03D) - H10H: INORGANIC LIGHT-EMITTING SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICES HAVING POTENTIAL BARRIERS ## Abstract A lighting apparatus includes an LED, a diffusion member, and a light shielding member. The diffusion member is disposed so as to at least partially cover the LED and diffuses light emitted from the LED. The light shielding member is disposed so as to at least partially cover the diffusion member and is provided with a plurality of pinholes through which light diffused by the diffusion member is transmitted. In some example embodiments, the light apparatus can be a planetarium apparatus for projecting star images such as constellations or the like. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A lighting apparatus, comprising: a light emitting diode; a diffusion member at least partially covering the light emitting diode and configured to diffuse light emitted from the light emitting diode; and a light shielding member that at least partially covers the diffusion member and is provided with a plurality of pinholes through which light diffused by the diffusion member is transmitted. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The lighting apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the diffusion member has an outer surface that is a portion of a sphere. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The lighting apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the outer surface of the diffusion member is a hemisphere. ### Claim 4 (depends on 2) The lighting apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the outer surface of the diffusion member is more than one half of the sphere. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The lighting apparatus according to claim 4, further comprising: a base plate that supports the light emitting diode and the diffusion member, wherein a region of the base plate contacting the diffusion member has a hydrophobic surface. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The lighting apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the diffusion member includes a plurality of protrusion portions and has a star-shape profile when viewed along at least one direction. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The lighting apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the pinholes in the plurality of pinholes are provided at positions corresponding to positions of stars. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The lighting apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the diffusion member includes a plurality of phosphors that absorb light emitted at a wavelength of light emitted by the light emitting diode and emit light at a different wavelength. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The lighting apparatus according claim 1, further comprising: a base table having a support surface that supports the light emitting diode, the diffusion member, and the light shielding member, wherein light from the light emitting diode is transmitted through the light shielding member in a direction parallel to the support surface. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The lighting apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the lighting apparatus is in a planetarium. ### Claim 11 A planetarium apparatus, comprising: a light emitting diode element mounted on a substrate including wiring and electrodes for providing electrical power to the light emitting diode; a diffusion member that is translucent at a wavelength of light emitted by the light emitting diode, the diffusion member disposed on the substrate and covering the light emitting diode; and a constellation plate covering the diffusion member and including a blocking portion, which is opaque to light at a wavelength of light output from the diffusion member, and a plurality of transparent portions in the blocking portion, the transparent portions being at least partially transparent to the wavelength of light output from the diffusion member. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The planetarium apparatus of claim 11, wherein the transparent portions in the blocking portion are at positions corresponding to star positions. ### Claim 13 (depends on 11) The planetarium apparatus of claim 11, wherein the diffusion member is a dome shape. ### Claim 14 (depends on 11) The planetarium apparatus of claim 11, wherein the diffusion member is a hemispherical shape. ### Claim 15 (depends on 11) The planetarium apparatus of claim 11, wherein the diffusion member is a shape that is less than a full sphere, but greater than a hemisphere. ### Claim 16 (depends on 11) The planetarium apparatus of claim 11, wherein the diffusion member includes a plurality of protrusion portions and has a star shape when viewed from at least one direction. ### Claim 17 (depends on 11) The planetarium apparatus of claim 11, wherein the diffusion member includes a phosphor which absorbs light at the wavelength emitted by the light emitting diode and outputs light at a different wavelength. ### Claim 18 (depends on 11) The planetarium apparatus of claim 11, wherein the constellation plate is cylindrical. ### Claim 19 A method of making a lighting apparatus, comprising: mounting a light emitting diode on a substrate; causing the substrate to have a hydrophobic surface; and forming a diffusion member having a partial spherical outer surface to cover the light emitting diode mounted on the substrate by putting a resin having a contact angle, with respect to hydrophobic surface of the substrate, that is greater than 90 degrees on the light emitting diode mounted on the substrate, and then curing the resin. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The method of claim 19, further comprising: placing a light shielding member over the diffusion member, the light shielding member having an opaque portion, which blocks light from the diffusion member, and a plurality of transparent portions, which transmit light output from the diffusion member, wherein positions of the transparent portions in the light shielding member correspond to star positions.