# US 9,041,023 B2 · Light emitting device

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- Number: US 9,041,023 B2
- Document ID: US9041023B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 14/044,575
- Filed: 2013-10-02
- Published: 2014-04-03
- Granted: 2015-05-26
- Earliest claimed: 2012-10-03
- Assignees: Nichia Corporation
- Applicants: Nichia Corporation
- Inventors: Yuji Satake; Tomoyuki Sato
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US9041023B2

## CPC

- H10H 20/85: Packages
- F21S 4/22: flexible or deformable, e.g. into a curved shape
- F21S 4/24: of ribbon or tape form, e.g. LED tapes
- F21V 17/10: characterised by specific fastening means or way of fastening (F21V17/02 - F21V17/08 take precedence)
- F21V 19/003: {Fastening of light source holders, e.g. of circuit boards or substrates holding light sources}
- F21Y 2103/10: comprising a linear array of point-like light-generating elements
- F21Y 2105/12: characterised by the geometrical disposition of the light-generating elements, e.g. arranging light-generating elements in differing patterns or densities
- F21Y 2115/10: Light-emitting diodes [LED]
- H10H: INORGANIC LIGHT-EMITTING SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICES HAVING POTENTIAL BARRIERS
- F21S: NON-PORTABLE LIGHTING DEVICES; SYSTEMS THEREOF; VEHICLE LIGHTING DEVICES SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR VEHICLE EXTERIORS
- F21V: FUNCTIONAL FEATURES OR DETAILS OF LIGHTING DEVICES OR SYSTEMS THEREOF; STRUCTURAL COMBINATIONS OF LIGHTING DEVICES WITH OTHER ARTICLES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- 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

## Abstract

To provide a light emitting device that can maintain a desired light emission even when the tube is bent. The light emitting device of the present invention includes: a bendable tube extending in a first direction; a flexible board extending in the first direction and housed in the tube; and a plurality of light emitting elements mounted on the flexible board, wherein the flexible board comprises a plurality of protrusions aligned in the first direction on both sides in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction, on which the light emitting elements are mounted, and the plurality of protrusions are in contact with an inner wall of the tube such that the inner wall clamps the flexible board in a bent position.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A light emitting device, comprising:
a bendable tube extending in a first direction;
a flexible board extending in the first direction and housed in the tube; and
a plurality of light emitting elements mounted on the flexible board,
the flexible board comprising a plurality of protrusions aligned in the first direction on both sides in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction,
the light emitting elements are mounted on the plurality of protrusions,
the plurality of protrusions being in contact with an inner wall of the tube such that the inner wall clamps the flexible board in a bent position.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The light emitting device according to claim 1,
wherein the plurality of protrusions aligned in the first direction are separated by cutouts, and
the light emitting elements mounted on one side in the second direction of the flexible board are not on extension lines of the cutouts on the other side.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The light emitting device according to claim 1, wherein the light emitting elements are mounted at positions off the centers of the protrusions in the first direction.

### Claim 4 (depends on 2)

The light emitting device according to claim 2, wherein the cutouts are staggered between one and the other sides in the second direction of the flexible board.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The light emitting device according to claim 1, wherein the light emitting elements are staggered between one and the other sides in the second direction of the flexible board.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The light emitting device according to claim 1, wherein the light emitting elements are in contact with the inner wall of the tube.

### Claim 7 (depends on 2)

The light emitting device according to claim 2, wherein the bottoms of the cutouts have a curved surface.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The light emitting device according to claim 1, wherein corners of the protrusions are chamfered.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The light emitting device according to claim 1, wherein the tube is colored with a same color as emission light of the light emitting elements.

### Claim 10 (depends on 1)

The light emitting device according to claim 1, wherein the light emitting device is configured to be functional even when the flexible board is cut at a middle part.