# US 9,435,931 B2 · LED lighting apparatus > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 9,435,931 B2 - Document ID: US9435931B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 13/937,859 - Filed: 2013-07-09 - Published: 2014-01-23 - Granted: 2016-09-06 - Earliest claimed: 2012-07-19 - Assignees: Rohm Co., Ltd. - Applicants: Rohm Co., Ltd. - Inventors: Yuki Tanuma - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US9435931B2 ## CPC - G02B 6/0035: {provided on the surface of the light guide or in the bulk of it} - G02B 6/0051: {Diffusing sheet or layer} - G02B 6/0088: {of the light guide or other optical sheets in the package} - G02F 1/133615: {Edge-illuminating devices, i.e. illuminating from the side} - G02B 6/0055: {Reflecting element, sheet or layer} - G02B 6/0083: {Details of electrical connections of light sources to drivers, circuit boards, or the like} - G02B: OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS - G02F: OPTICAL DEVICES OR ARRANGEMENTS FOR THE CONTROL OF LIGHT BY MODIFICATION OF THE OPTICAL PROPERTIES OF THE MEDIA OF THE ELEMENTS INVOLVED THEREIN; NON-LINEAR OPTICS; FREQUENCY-CHANGING OF LIGHT; OPTICAL LOGIC ELEMENTS; OPTICAL ANALOGUE/DIGITAL CONVERTERS ## Abstract An LED lighting apparatus of the invention includes a substrate having a length in a first direction and a width in a second direction. LED chips are supported on the substrate along the first direction. A light guide, having a thickness in the second direction, includes an incident surface, a reflective surface and an emitting surface. The incident surface faces in a third direction perpendicular to the first and second directions for receiving light emitted from the LED chips. The reflective surface spreads in the first and third directions and reflects light from the incident surface in the second direction. The emitting surface spreads in the first and third directions and allows light from the reflective surface to exit. The substrate is supported by a case that includes side plates around the light guide and a bottom plate connecting the side plates. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An LED lighting apparatus comprising: at least one elongated substrate having a length in a first direction and a width in a second direction; a plurality of LED chips supported on the substrate and arranged along the first direction; a light guide plate including an incident surface, a reflective surface and an emitting surface and having a thickness in the second direction, the incident surface being oriented in a third direction perpendicular to both of the first and the second directions and configured such that light emitted from the LED chips is incident on the incident surface, the reflective surface spreading in the first and the third directions and causing light traveling from the incident surface to be reflected in the second direction, the emitting surface spreading in the first and the third directions and allowing light traveling from the reflective surface to exit; a case supporting the substrate and including a plurality of side plates and a bottom plate, the side plates surrounding the light guide plate, the bottom plate connecting the side plates to each other; a top plate opposite to the bottom plate with respect to the light guide plate; and a screw, wherein the case includes at least one projection projecting from one of the side plates toward the light guide plate, the projection is formed with a screw hole, the screw is threaded in the screw hole and includes an end held in direct contact with the light guide plate, the bottom plate has a single continuous flat surface area that directly faces the substrate and that extends from a position directly facing the substrate to a position directly facing the light guide plate, the single continuous flat surface area being parallel to the reflective surface of the light guide plate, the top plate has a single continuous flat surface area that directly faces the substrate, each of at least a pan of the light guide plate and the plurality of LED chips is disposed between the single continuous flat surface area of the bottom plate and the single continuous flat surface area of the top plate, and wherein the substrate is attached to one of the plurality of side plates, and said one of the plurality of side plates and the substrate have top surfaces, respectively, that are adjacent to the to plate and flush with each other. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The LED lighting apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the case comprises at least two projections spaced apart from each other in the first direction across the light guide plate. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The LED lighting apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the case comprises an additional projection that projects from one of the side plates in the first direction, and an end of the substrate is disposed between the additional projection and another one of the side plates. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The LED lighting apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a cable connected to the substrate, wherein one of the side plates includes a cut in which the cable is inserted. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The LED lighting apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said substrate comprises two substrates spaced apart from each other in the third direction across the light guide plate. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The LED lighting, apparatus according to claim 5, further comprising a cable connected to one of the two substrates, wherein the light guide plate includes a recess for inserting the cable between the light guide plate and the case. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The LED lighting apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the case is forme by bending a metal plate. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The LED lighting apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the light guide plate includes an inclined surface connected to an edge of the reflective surface. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The LED lighting apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a cover including an opening that exposes the emitting surface, wherein the top plate is formed by a part of the cover, and the opening is formed in the top plate. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The LED lighting apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the cover is formed by bending a metal plate. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The LED lighting apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the cover includes a plurality of side plates surrounding the case and an extension extending out from the side plate and formed with a mounting hole. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The LED lighting apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of LED chips are directly mounted on the substrate. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The LED lighting apparatus according to claim 12, further comprising a plurality of reflectors each surrounding a respective one of the LED chips. ### Claim 14 (depends on 12) The LED lighting apparatus according to claim 12, further comprising a reflector collectively surrounding the LED chips. ### Claim 15 (depends on 12) The LED lighting apparatus according to claim 12, further comprising fluorescent resin covering the LED chips. ### Claim 16 (depends on 1) The LED lighting apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a plurality of LED modules each of which includes the LED chip and a mounting terminal and which are mounted on the substrate. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The LED lighting apparatus according to claim 16, wherein each of the LED modules includes a reflector surrounding the LED chip. ### Claim 18 (depends on 16) The LED lighting apparatus according to claim 16, wherein each of the LED modules includes fluorescent resin covering the chip. ### Claim 19 (depends on 1) The LED lighting apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a diffusion sheet covering the emitting surface of the light guide plate. ### Claim 20 (depends on 1) The LED lighting apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a reflection sheet covering the reflective surface of the light guide plate. ### Claim 21 (depends on 1) The LED lighting apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the bottom plate of the case is formed with an opening that exposes the reflective surface of the light guide plate. ### Claim 22 (depends on 1) The LED lighting apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a dicta in the third direction between each of the plurality of LED chips and the incident surface of the light guide plate is greater than a size of each of the plurality of LED chips measured in the third direction. ### Claim 23 (depends on 1) The LED lighting apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the substrate and the light guide plate are substantially same in size measured in the second direction. ### Claim 24 (depends on 1) The LED lighting apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the substrate is attached to one of the plurality of side plates, and said one of the plurality of side plates and the substrate have top surfaces: respectively, that are adjacent to the top plate and flush with each other. ### Claim 25 (depends on 1) The LED lighting apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the light guide plate has a flat side surface elongated in the third direction, and the end of the screw abuts on the flat side surface. ### Claim 26 (depends on 25) The LED lighting apparatus according, to claim 25, wherein the flat side surface is movable in sliding contact with the end of the screw in the third direction. ### Claim 27 An LED lighting apparatus comprising: at least one elongated substrate having a length in a first direction and a width in a second direction; a plurality of LED chips supported on the substrate and arranged along the first direction; a light guide plate including an incident surface, a reflective surface and an emitting surface and having a thickness in the second direction, the incident surface being oriented in a third direction perpendicular to both of the first and the second directions and configured such that light emitted from the LED chips is incident on the incident surface, the reflective surface spreading in the first and the third directions and causing light traveling from the incident surface to be reflected in the second direction, the emitting surface spreading in the first and the third directions and allowing light traveling from the reflective surface to exit; a case supporting the substrate and including a plurality of side plates and a bottom plate, the side plates surrounding the light guide plate, the bottom plate connecting the side plates to each other; and a top plate opposite to the bottom plate with respect to the light guide plate; wherein the bottom plate has a single continuous flat surface area that directly faces the substrate and that extends from a position directly facing the substrate to a position directly facing the light guide plate, the single continuous flat surface area being, parallel to the reflective surface of the light guide plate, the top plate has a single continuous flat surface area that directly faces the substrate, each of at least a part of the light guide plate and the plurality of LED chips is disposed between the single continuous flat surface area of the bottom plate and the single continuous flat surface area of the top plate, and wherein the substrate is attached to one of the plurality of side plates, and said one of the plurality of side plates and the substrate have top surfaces, respectively, that are adjacent to the top plate and flush with each other. ### Claim 28 (depends on 27) The LED lighting apparatus according to claim 27, further comprising a cable connected to the substrate, wherein one of the side plates includes a cut in which the cable is inserted. ### Claim 29 (depends on 27) The LED lighting apparatus according to claim 27, further comprising a cover including an opening that exposes the emitting surface, wherein the top plate is formed by a part of the cover, and the opening, is formed in the top plate. ### Claim 30 (depends on 27) The LED lighting apparatus according to claim 27, further comprising a diffusion sheet covering the emitting surface of the light guide plate. ### Claim 31 (depends on 27) The LED lighting apparatus according to claim 27, further comprising a reflection sheet covering the reflective surface of the light guide plate. ### Claim 32 (depends on 27) The LED lighting apparatus according to claim 27, wherein the substrate and the light guide plate are substantially same in size measured in the second direction.