US-12619022-B2 - Light-emitting module and planar light source

US12619022B2US 12619022 B2US12619022 B2US 12619022B2US-12619022-B2

Abstract

A light-emitting module includes light source units arranged in a first direction and in a second direction orthogonal to the first direction. Each of the light source units includes at least one light-emitting element and a light-transmissive member covering the light-emitting element and having a lateral surface from which light from the light-emitting element is emitted. In a top view, on a normal line passing through a center of the lateral surface being Mth in the first direction and Nth in the second direction, the lateral surface being (M+1)th in the first direction and {N+L (where L is a natural number greater than or equal to 2)}th in the second direction is positioned, while no light source unit is present between the light source unit being the Nth in the second direction and the light source unit being the (N+L)th in the second direction on the normal line.

Inventors

Yuichi Yamada
Keiji Emura
Seitaro Akagawa

Assignees

NICHIA CORPORATION

Dates

Publication Date: 20260505
Application Date: 20241223
Priority Date: 20231225

Claims (16)

1 . A light-emitting module comprising: a plurality of light source units arranged in a first direction and in a second direction orthogonal to the first direction, wherein each light source unit of the light source units comprises at least one light-emitting element and a light-transmissive member covering the light-emitting element and having a lateral surface of the light source unit from which light from the light-emitting element is emitted, and in a top view, on a normal line passing through a center of the lateral surface of the light source unit being Mth in the first direction and Nth in the second direction, the lateral surface of the light source unit being (M+1)th in the first direction and {N+L (where L is a natural number greater than or equal to 2)}th in the second direction is positioned, while no light source unit is present between the light source unit being the Nth in the second direction and the light source unit being the (N+L)th in the second direction on the normal line, wherein each light source unit of the light source units comprises a plurality of the light-emitting elements, wherein the plurality of light-emitting elements comprise a first light-emitting element that emits blue light and a second light-emitting element that emits green light, and wherein each light source unit of the light source units comprises two first light-emitting elements each being the first light-emitting element and one second light-emitting element being the second light-emitting element, and the one second light-emitting element is located between the two first light-emitting elements.
2 . The light-emitting module according to claim 1 , wherein the normal line comprises a first normal line intersecting only the second light-emitting element and not intersecting the first light-emitting element, and a second normal line intersecting the first light-emitting element and the second light-emitting element, and in a top view, on the first normal line passing through the center of the lateral surface of the light source unit being the Mth in the first direction and the Nth in the second direction, the lateral surface of the light source unit being the (M+1)th in the first direction and the (N+L)th in the second direction is located.
3 . The light-emitting module according to claim 1 , wherein the normal line comprises a first normal line intersecting only the second light-emitting element and not intersecting the first light-emitting element, and a second normal line intersecting the first light-emitting element and the second light-emitting element, and in a top view, on the second normal line passing through the center of the lateral surface of the light source unit being the Mth in the first direction and the Nth in the second direction, the lateral surface of the light source unit being the (M+1)th in the first direction and the (N+L)th in the second direction is located.
4 . The light-emitting module according to claim 1 , wherein the first light-emitting element and the second light-emitting element are connected in series in each of the light source units.
5 . The light-emitting module according to claim 1 , wherein the light-transmissive member comprises a wavelength conversion substance.
6 . The light-emitting module according to claim 1 , wherein in a top view, an angle between the normal line and the second direction is in a range from 22° to 32°.
7 . The light-emitting module according to claim 1 , wherein in a top view, a minimum angle of an angle formed between the normal line and the first direction and an angle formed between the normal line and the second direction is 22.5°.
8 . A planar light source comprising: the light-emitting module according to claim 1 ; and a support member provided with the light-emitting module.
9 . A light-emitting module comprising: a light guide member having a first surface, a second surface opposite to the first surface, and a plurality of through holes penetrating from the first surface to the second surface; a plurality of light source units, each located in a corresponding one of the through holes, the plurality of light source units being arranged in a first direction and in a second direction orthogonal to the first direction; and a plurality of light adjustment members each located above a corresponding one of the light source units and covering a corresponding one of the through holes, wherein each light source unit of the light source units comprises at least one light-emitting element and a light-transmissive member covering the light-emitting element and having a lateral surface of the light source unit from which light from the light-emitting element is emitted, and in a top view, on a normal line passing through a center of the lateral surface of a given light source unit of the plurality of light source units, no other light source unit is located, wherein each light source unit of the light source units comprises a plurality of the light-emitting elements, wherein the plurality of light-emitting elements comprise a first light-emitting element that emits blue light and a second light-emitting element that emits green light, and wherein each light source unit of the light source units comprises two first light-emitting elements each being the first light-emitting element and one second light-emitting element being the second light-emitting element, and the one second light-emitting element is located between the two first light-emitting elements.
10 . The light-emitting module according to claim 9 , wherein the normal line comprises a first normal line intersecting only the second light-emitting element and not intersecting the first light-emitting element, and a second normal line intersecting the first light-emitting element and the second light-emitting element, and in a top view, on the first normal line passing through the center of the lateral surface of the light source unit being the Mth in the first direction and the Nth in the second direction, the lateral surface of the light source unit being the (M+1)th in the first direction and the (N+L)th in the second direction is located.
11 . The light-emitting module according to claim 9 , wherein the normal line comprises a first normal line intersecting only the second light-emitting element and not intersecting the first light-emitting element, and a second normal line intersecting the first light-emitting element and the second light-emitting element, and in a top view, on the second normal line passing through the center of the lateral surface of the light source unit being the Mth in the first direction and the Nth in the second direction, the lateral surface of the light source unit being the (M+1)th in the first direction and the (N+L)th in the second direction is located.
12 . The light-emitting module according to claim 9 , wherein the first light-emitting element and the second light-emitting element are connected in series in each of the light source units.
13 . The light-emitting module according to claim 9 , wherein the light-transmissive member comprises a wavelength conversion substance.
14 . The light-emitting module according to claim 9 , wherein in a top view, an angle between the normal line and the second direction is in a range from 22° to 32°.
15 . The light-emitting module according to claim 9 , wherein in a top view, a minimum angle of an angle formed between the normal line and the first direction and an angle formed between the normal line and the second direction is 22.5°.
16 . A planar light source comprising: the light-emitting module according to claim 9 ; and a support member provided with the light-emitting module.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS The present application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. § 119 to Japanese Patent Application No. 2023-218439, filed Dec. 25, 2023, the contents of which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety. BACKGROUND 1. Technical Field Embodiments according to the present invention relate to a light-emitting module and a planar light source. 2. Description of Related Art A light-emitting module obtained by combining a light-emitting element such as a light-emitting diode with a light guide member is widely used in, for example, a planar light source such as a backlight for a liquid crystal display. For example, Japanese Patent Publication No. 2019-61929 describes a backlight device including an LED substrate provided with a reflective sheet and a plurality of light-emitting diodes, and a diffusion plate facing the LED substrate. SUMMARY An embodiment according to the present invention can advantageously provide a light-emitting module and a planar light source that can reduce luminance unevenness. According to an aspect of the present invention, a light-emitting module includes a plurality of light source units arranged in a first direction and in a second direction orthogonal to the first direction, in which each of the light source units includes at least one light-emitting element and a light-transmissive member covering the light-emitting element and having a lateral surface of the light source unit from which light from the light-emitting element is emitted, and in a top view, on a normal line passing through a center of the lateral surface of the light source unit being Mth in the first direction and Nth in the second direction, the lateral surface of the light source unit being (M+1)th in the first direction and {N+L (where L is a natural number greater than or equal to 2)}th in the second direction is positioned, while no light source unit is present between the light source unit being the Nth in the second direction and the light source unit being the (N+L)th in the second direction on the normal line. According to another aspect of the present invention, a light-emitting module includes a light guide member having a first surface, a second surface opposite to the first surface, and a plurality of through holes penetrating from the first surface to the second surface; a plurality of light source units each located in a corresponding one of the through holes, the plurality of light source units being arranged in a first direction and in a second direction orthogonal to the first direction; and a plurality of light adjustment members each located above a corresponding one of the light source units and covering a corresponding one of the through holes, in which each of the light source units includes at least one light-emitting element and a light-transmissive member covering the light-emitting element and having a lateral surface of the light source unit from which light from the light-emitting element is emitted, and in a top view, on a normal line passing through a center of the lateral surface of a given light source unit of the plurality of light source units, no other light source unit is located. A light-emitting module and a planar light source according to an embodiment of the present invention can reduce luminance unevenness. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS A more complete appreciation of embodiments of the invention and many of the attendant advantages thereof will be readily obtained by reference to the following detailed description when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings. FIG. 1 is a schematic plan view of a planar light source according to the present embodiment. FIG. 2 is a schematic cross-sectional view taken along line II-II in FIG. 1. FIG. 3A is a schematic cross-sectional view of a light source unit according to the present embodiment. FIG. 3B is a schematic cross-sectional view of a light source unit according to another embodiment. FIG. 4 is a diagram for explaining a planar light source according to the present embodiment. FIG. 5 is a schematic plan view of a portion Vin FIG. 1. FIG. 6 is a diagram for explaining the planar light source according to the present embodiment. FIG. 7 is a schematic plan view of a light adjustment member according to the present embodiment. FIG. 8 is a schematic plan view of a planar light source according to another embodiment in which a light adjustment member is omitted. FIG. 9 is a schematic plan view of the planar light source according to another embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENT Description of Embodiments Embodiments are described below with reference to the drawings. The drawings schematically illustrate the embodiments, and thus scales, intervals, positional relationships, or the like of members may be exaggerated, or illustration of some of the members may be omitted. In the present specification, a direction of an arrow on a Z axis is defined as an upward direction