Lighting devices and vehicle lamps

Abstract

The lighting device disclosed in the embodiment of the invention includes a substrate, a resin layer disposed on the substrate, a plurality of light-emitting elements sealed within the resin layer and electrically connected to the substrate, an optical film disposed on the resin layer, an adhesive layer disposed between the optical film and the resin layer, and a plurality of light-shielding members disposed on the lower surface of the optical film, each of which is at least partially overlapping each of the plurality of light-emitting elements perpendicularly, wherein each of the plurality of light-emitting elements includes a light-emitting surface that emits light to one side, the upper surface area of ​​each of the plurality of light-shielding members is in the range of 6 to 10 times the upper surface area of ​​each of the plurality of light-emitting elements, and the light uniformity on the optical film can be 80% or more.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] Embodiments of the invention relate to a lighting device and a vehicle lamp.

Background Art

[0002] Applications of lighting include not only vehicle lighting but also backlights for displays and signs. Light-emitting elements, such as light-emitting diodes (LEDs), have advantages over existing light sources such as fluorescent lamps and incandescent lamps in terms of low power consumption, semi-permanent life, fast response speed, safety, and environmental friendliness. The light-emitting diodes are applied to various lighting devices such as various display devices, indoor lights, or outdoor lights.

[0003] Recently, lamps adopting light-emitting diodes as vehicle light sources have been proposed. Compared with incandescent lamps, light-emitting diodes are advantageous in terms of low power consumption. However, since the light-emitting angle of the light emitted from the light-emitting diode is small, when using the light-emitting diode as a vehicle lamp, there is a requirement for an increase in the light-emitting area of the lamp using the light-emitting diode. Since the light-emitting diode is small in size, the degree of freedom in the design of the lamp can be increased, and it also has economic efficiency due to its semi-permanent life.

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] Embodiments of the invention can provide a lighting device for providing a uniform surface light distribution.

[0005] Embodiments of the invention can optimize the area of the light-emitting element and the area of the light-shielding member to provide a lighting device having a uniform surface light distribution.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0006] An embodiment of the invention includes a substrate, a resin layer disposed on the substrate, a plurality of light-emitting elements sealed within the resin layer and electrically connected to the substrate, an optical film disposed on the resin layer, an adhesive layer disposed between the optical film and the resin layer, and a plurality of light-shielding members disposed on the lower surface of the optical film, each of which is at least partially overlapping each of the plurality of light-emitting elements perpendicularly, wherein each of the plurality of light-emitting elements includes a light-emitting surface that emits light on one side, the upper surface area of ​​each of the plurality of light-shielding members is in the range of 6 to 10 times the upper surface area of ​​each of the plurality of light-emitting elements, and the light uniformity on the optical film can be 80% or more.

[0007] According to an embodiment of the invention, an air gap portion is provided between each of the plurality of light-shielding members and the resin layer, and the lower surface area of ​​the air gap portion can be in the range of 6 to 10 times the upper surface area of ​​each of the plurality of light-emitting elements.

[0008] According to an embodiment of the invention, the distance between adjacent light-shielding members and the light-emitting elements can be in the range of 0.15 to 0.55 times the pitch between the light-emitting elements.

[0009] According to an embodiment of the invention, the pitch between the light-emitting elements can be in the range of 17 mm to 23 mm.

[0010] According to an embodiment of the invention, the light uniformity is highest when the upper surface area of ​​each of the light-shielding members is eight times the upper surface area of ​​each of the light-emitting elements.

[0011] According to an embodiment of the invention, the pitch between the light-emitting elements can be 18 mm ± 1 mm.

[0012] According to an embodiment of the invention, the upper surface area of ​​each of the plurality of light-shielding members can be in the range of 6 to 10 times the emission surface area of ​​each of the plurality of light-emitting elements.

[0013] According to an embodiment of the invention, each of the light-emitting elements emits light in a first direction, the length of each light-emitting element in a second direction is greater than the length in the first direction, the length of each light-emitting element in the second direction is D1, the length of each light-shielding member in the second direction is C3, and the following condition: 2 < C3 / D1 < 3 can be satisfied.

[0014] A vehicle lamp according to an embodiment of the invention includes a lamp having the lighting device disclosed above, and the lamp can include at least one of a side mirror lamp, a width lamp, a fog lamp, a tail lamp, a brake lamp, a daytime running lamp, vehicle interior lighting, a door scuff, a rear combination lamp, and a backup lamp.

Advantages of the Invention

[0015] According to an embodiment of the invention, the lighting device and the lamp can have improved light characteristics. Specifically, it is possible to prevent hot spots caused by light emitted from the light-emitting elements by the light-shielding members disposed on the resin layer and provide a uniform light distribution.

[0016] According to an embodiment of the invention, the pitch between the light-emitting elements and the area of the light-shielding members can be optimized to have a uniform surface light distribution, and the light uniformity and the light-shielding effect can be improved.

[0017] According to an embodiment of the invention, the reliability of a lighting device or a vehicle lamp having a resin layer covering a light-emitting element in which a light-emitting chip is molded and a light-shielding pattern on the resin layer can be improved.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0018] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is an example of a plan view of a lighting device according to an embodiment of the invention.

[0019] [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is an example showing a partially enlarged view of the lighting device of FIG. 1.

[0020] [Figure 3]FIG. 3 is an example of a cross-sectional view taken along the line A-A of the lighting device of FIG. 1.

[0021] [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is a partially enlarged view of the lighting device of FIG. 3.

[0022] [Figure 5] FIG. 5 is a graph comparing the area of the light-emitting element, the area of the contrast light-shielding member, and the light uniformity according to the pitch between the light-emitting elements in the lighting device according to an embodiment of the invention.

[0023] [Figure 6] FIG. 6 is a drawing showing a lamp having the lighting device according to an embodiment of the invention.

[0024] [Figure 7] FIG. 7 is a plan view of a vehicle to which the vehicle lamp of FIG. 6 is applied.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

[0025] Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0026] The technical concept of the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described, but can be embodied in a variety of different forms, and within the scope of the technical concept of the present invention, one or more components between embodiments can be selectively combined and substituted. Furthermore, unless otherwise clearly defined, terms used in the embodiments of the present invention (including technical and scientific terms) can be interpreted as meanings generally understood by a person with ordinary skill in the art to which the present invention belongs, and commonly used terms, such as those defined in dictionaries, can be interpreted considering their meaning in the context of the technology in question. In addition, the terms used in the embodiments of the present invention are for illustrative purposes only and are not intended to limit the present invention. In this specification, singular forms can also include plural forms unless otherwise specifically limited in the description, and when it is written as "at least one (or more) of A and B, C", it can include one or more of all possible combinations of A, B, and C. Furthermore, terms such as 1st, 2nd, A, B, (a), (b), etc. can be used in the description of the components of the embodiments of the present invention. Such terminology is used to distinguish one component from another, and does not determine the nature or order of the component. When it is stated that a component is "connected," "joined," or "connected" to another component, this can include not only cases where the component is directly connected, joined, or connected to the other component, but also cases where it is "connected," "joined," or "connected" by another component between it and the other component. Furthermore, when it is stated that a component is formed or positioned "above or below" each component, "above" or "below" can include not only cases where two components are in direct contact with each other, but also cases where one or more other components are formed or positioned between the two components. Also, when expressed as "above or below," it can include not only the upward direction relative to one component, but also the downward direction.

[0027] The lighting device according to this invention is applicable to a variety of lamp devices that require lighting, such as vehicle lamps, household lighting devices, or industrial lighting devices. For example, when applied to vehicle lamps, it can be used for headlamps, side mirror lights, side marker lights, fog lamps, taillights, brake lights, daytime running lights, vehicle interior lighting, door scuffs, rear combination lamps, backup lamps, etc. The lighting device of this invention is also applicable to indoor and outdoor advertising devices, display devices, and various electric vehicle fields, and can be said to be applicable to all fields related to lighting that are currently under development and commercialized, or that can be realized through future technological advancements, as well as fields related to advertising.

[0028] Figure 1 is an example of a plan view of a lighting device according to an embodiment of the invention, Figure 2 is an example of a partially enlarged view of the lighting device in Figure 1, Figure 3 is an example of a cross-sectional view of the lighting device in Figure 1 on side AA, Figure 4 is a partially enlarged view of the lighting device in Figure 3, and Figure 5 is a graph comparing the area of ​​the light-shielding member and the light uniformity in the lighting device according to an embodiment of the invention, according to the pitch between the light-emitting elements.

[0029] Referring to Figures 1 to 4, the lighting device 400 according to an embodiment of the invention may include a substrate 401, a plurality of light-emitting elements 100, a resin layer 420, a plurality of light-shielding members 450, and an optical film 430. The optical plate may include the optical film 430 and the plurality of light-shielding members 450, and the light-shielding members 450 may be formed on the upper or lower surface of the optical film 430. The lighting device 400 may be defined as a lighting module or a light-emitting module.

[0030] The lighting device 400 may include a reflective member 410 disposed between the substrate 401 and the resin layer 420. The lighting device 400 can emit light from the plurality of light-emitting elements 100 as surface light. The lighting device 400 may be defined as a light-emitting cell or a light source module. The lighting device 400 may include one or more light-emitting cells on the substrate 401. Here, the lighting device 400 may include first and second sides S1, S2 which are on both sides in the second direction Y, and third and fourth sides S3, S4 which are on both sides in the first direction X. The first and second sides S1, S2 may face each other and may be both sides of the substrate 401 and the resin layer 420. The third and fourth sides S3, S4 may face each other and may be the other two sides of the substrate 401 and the resin layer 420. The resin layer 420 covers the multiple light-emitting elements 100, guides the light emitted from each light-emitting element 100, and allows the guided light to be emitted in a surface light form through the upper surface. The resin layer 420 can be made by removing a light guide plate made of transparent acrylic (e.g., PMMA) and using a resin material such as silicone or epoxy with a thin thickness as the light guide member.

[0031] The substrate 401 may include a printed circuit board (PCB). The substrate 410 may include at least one of the following: a resin-based printed circuit board (PCB), a PCB with a metal core, a flexible material PCB, a ceramic material PCB, or an FR-4 substrate. If the substrate 401 is a metal core PCB with a metal layer on its bottom surface, the heat dissipation efficiency of the light-emitting element 100 can be improved. The substrate 401 is electrically connected to the plurality of light-emitting elements 100. The substrate 401 includes a wiring layer (not shown) on top, and the wiring layer is electrically connected to the plurality of light-emitting elements 100. The plurality of light-emitting elements 100 may be connected in series, parallel, or series-parallel by the wiring layer. The substrate 401 can function as a base member or support member located below the plurality of light-emitting elements 100 and the resin layer 420. The substrate 401 may be made of a transparent material or an opaque material. If the substrate 401 is made of a transparent material, the light emitted from the light-emitting element 100 is extracted to the lower part of the substrate 401. The substrate 401 may include an insulating layer (not shown) covering the wiring layer, and the insulating layer may be white, in which case a reflective function can be realized without a reflective member 410.

[0032] The upper surface of the substrate 401 may be a flat plane or a curved surface. The thickness of the substrate 401 may be the height in the vertical direction or the Z direction. Depending on the shape of the lamp or lighting device 400, the substrate 401 may be a bar shape that is long in one direction, a polygon shape, or a curved shape. The substrate 401 may have a longer length in the first direction X from which light is emitted, or a longer length in the second direction Y perpendicular to the direction from which light is emitted. In the drawing, the X direction may be the first direction, the Y direction may be the second direction, and the Z direction may be perpendicular to the first and second directions. The length of the substrate 401 in the first direction X may be greater than or less than the width in the second direction Y. Also, the sides of the substrate 401 in the direction of the long axis (e.g., S1, S2) may be a flat plane or a curved surface. The substrate 401 may include, for example, a reflective member 410. The reflective member 410 may be an insulating layer protecting a circuit pattern having pads arranged on the substrate 401, or a layer of reflective material.

[0033] The plurality of light-emitting elements 100 are arranged on the substrate 401 and emit light in a first direction X. The plurality of light-emitting elements 100 may be arranged in one or two rows. The light-emitting elements 100 are arranged on the substrate 401 in an M × N matrix, where M and N may be integers of 2 or more. The plurality of light-emitting elements 100 can emit light in any one direction or in directions opposite to each other. As another example, each of the plurality of light-emitting elements 100 can emit light in a second direction Y. Also, at least one of the plurality of light-emitting elements 100 can emit light in a direction between the first and second directions. As yet another example, the plurality of light-emitting elements 100 are arranged along both sides S3 and S4 of the substrate 401 and can emit light toward opposite sides S3 and S4. Here, the plurality of light-emitting elements 100 may be arranged along both sides S3 and S4 of the substrate 401 so as to be offset from each other without facing each other.

[0034] The light-emitting element 100 may have an emission surface 81 on one side (e.g., S4) that emits light with the highest light intensity, and the emission surface 81 extends, for example, in a third direction Z or perpendicularly with respect to the horizontal upper surface of the substrate 401. The emission surface 81 may be a vertical plane, or it may include a concave or convex surface.

[0035] Each of the light-emitting elements 100 may be a package having a plurality of light-emitting chips 71, 72, or a package containing at least one light-emitting chip. The light-emitting chips 71, 72 are molded by a molding member 80. The light-emitting chips 71, 72 may be arranged in a plurality in a direction Y perpendicular to a first direction X, and may include, for example, a first light-emitting chip 71 and a second light-emitting chip 72 spaced apart from each other. The emission surface 81 of each of the light-emitting elements 100 may be the outer surface of the molding member 80. The molding member 80 may be made of a transparent resin material such as silicone or epoxy. The light-emitting chips 71, 72 may emit at least one of blue, red, green, ultraviolet (UV), and infrared light, and each of the light-emitting elements 100 may emit at least one of white, blue, red, green, and infrared light. Each of the first and second light-emitting chips 71, 72 may emit the same color or different colors from each other. The material of the molding member 80 may be the same as or different from the material of the resin layer 420.

[0036] The light-emitting element 100 may be a side-view type in which its bottom portion is electrically connected to the substrate 401, and is not limited thereto. As another example, the light-emitting element 100 may be an LED chip or a top-view package. The emission surface 81 of the light-emitting element 100 is located on at least one side surface other than the top surface of the light-emitting element 100. The emission surface 81 may be the side surface of the light-emitting element 100 adjacent to the substrate 401, or a side surface perpendicular to the top surface of the substrate 401. The emission surface 81 is located on the side surface between the bottom surface and the top surface of the light-emitting element 100 and emits the light with the highest intensity in the first direction. The emission surface 81 of the light-emitting element 100 may be the surface adjacent to the reflective member 410, or a surface perpendicular to the top surface of the substrate 401 or the top surface of the reflective member 410. The area of ​​the emission surface 81 of each light-emitting element 100 may be 120% or less of the upper surface area of ​​the light-emitting element 100, for example, in the range of 80% to 120% or 80% to 100%. The area of ​​the emission surface 81 of each light-emitting element 100 may be in the range of 90% ± 10% of the upper surface area of ​​the light-emitting element 100.

[0037] A portion of the light emitted through the emission surface 81 of the light-emitting element 100 can travel in a direction parallel to the upper surface of the substrate 401, be reflected by the reflective member 410, or travel towards the upper surface of the resin layer 420. The thickness of the light-emitting element 100 can be, for example, 3 mm or less, and in the range of 0.4 mm to 3 mm. The length of the light-emitting element 100 in the second direction (D1 in Figure 2) can be 1.5 times or more the thickness of the light-emitting element 100. In such a light-emitting element 100, the light distribution emitted in the first direction X has a wider optical directional angle in the ±Y direction than the optical directional angle in the ±Z direction. The optical directional angle of the light-emitting element 100 in the second direction can be 110 degrees or more, for example, 120 to 160 degrees or 140 degrees or more. The optical directional angle of the light-emitting element 100 in the third direction can be 110 degrees or more, for example, in the range of 120 to 140 degrees.

[0038] The reflective member 410 may be a layer separately bonded to the upper part of the substrate 401, or a layer protecting the upper part of the substrate 401. The reflective member 410 is positioned, for example, between the substrate 401 and the resin layer 420. The reflective member 410 may be provided in film form. The reflective member 410 may be bonded to the upper surface of the substrate 401. The reflective member 410 may have an area smaller than the upper surface area of ​​the substrate 401. The reflective member 410 can be separated from the edge of the substrate 401, and the resin layer 420 is bonded to the substrate 401 in the separated area. At this time, it is possible to prevent the edge portion of the reflective member 410 from peeling off. The reflective member 410 may include a plurality of openings 417 in which the lower part of each light-emitting element 100 is positioned. The upper surface of the substrate 401 is exposed through the openings 417 of the reflective member 410, and the lower part of each light-emitting element 100 is electrically bonded. The size of each of the openings 417 is the same as or larger than the size of each of the light-emitting elements 100. The reflective member 410 may be in contact with the upper surface of the substrate 401 or bonded between the resin layer 420 and the substrate 401. Here, the reflective member 410 may be removed if the upper surface of the substrate 401 is coated with a highly reflective material.

[0039] The reflective member 410 may be formed with a thickness thinner than the thickness of the light-emitting element 100. The thickness of the reflective member 410 can be in the range of 0.2 mm ± 0.02 mm. The lower part of the light-emitting element 100 can pass through the opening 417 of such a reflective member 410, and the upper part of the light-emitting element 100 can protrude. The emission surface 81 of each light-emitting element 100 may be provided in a direction perpendicular to the upper surface of the reflective member 410.

[0040] The reflective member 410 may be made of a metallic or non-metallic material. The metallic material may be a metal such as aluminum, silver, or gold. The non-metallic material may be a plastic or resin material. The resin material may have a reflective material, such as a metal oxide such as TiO2, Al2O3, or SiO2, added to silicone or epoxy. The reflective member 410 may be embodied in a single layer or a multilayer structure, and such a layer structure can improve the light reflection efficiency. The reflective member 410 according to the embodiment of the invention can increase the amount of light by reflecting incident light so that the light is emitted with a uniform distribution.

[0041] The resin layer 420 is disposed on the substrate 401. The resin layer 420 may face or be bonded to the substrate 401. The resin layer 420 may be disposed on the entire upper surface or a portion of the substrate 401. The lower surface area of ​​the resin layer 420 may be the same as or smaller than the upper surface area of ​​the substrate 401. The resin layer 420 is made of a transparent material and can guide or diffuse light. The resin layer 420 contains a UV-curable resin material and can be used in place of a light guide plate, with the convenient effect of adjusting the refractive index and thickness. Since the resin layer 420 is provided as a layer that guides light with resin, it can be provided with a thinner thickness than in the case of glass and may be provided as a flexible plate. The resin layer 420 can emit point light sources emitted from each light-emitting element 100 in the form of ray light or surface light. The resin layer 420 may contain beads (not shown) which can diffuse and reflect incident light to increase the amount of light. The beads may be arranged in an amount of 0.01 to 0.3% by weight of the resin layer 420. The beads can consist of any one selected from silicone, silica, glass bubble, PMMA (polymethyl methacrylate), urethane, Zn, Zr, Al2O3, and acrylic, and the particle size of the beads can be in the range of about 1 μm to about 20 μm, but is not limited thereto.

[0042] The thickness of the resin layer 420 can be 1.8 mm or more, for example, in the range of 1.8 mm to 2.5 mm. If the thickness of the resin layer 420 is greater than the range, the luminous intensity decreases, and it becomes difficult to provide a flexible module due to the increased module thickness. If the thickness of the resin layer 420 is less than the range, it becomes difficult to provide a surface light source with uniform luminous intensity. The resin layer 420 seals around each of the plurality of light-emitting elements 100, so that each light-emitting element 100 can be protected and the loss of light emitted from each light-emitting element 100 can be reduced. The upper part of each light-emitting element 100 may be embedded in the lower part of the resin layer 420. The resin layer 420 can be in contact with the surface of each light-emitting element 100 (e.g., multiple side and top surfaces) and can be in contact with the emission surface 81 of each light-emitting element 100. A portion of the resin layer 420 may be placed in the opening 417 of the reflective member 410.

[0043] The adhesive layer 415 may be an adhesive material such as silicone or epoxy, or it may include a diffusion material. The diffusion material may include at least one of polyester (PET), PMMA (Poly Methyl Methacrylate), or PC (Poly Carbonate). The adhesive layer 415 may be a transparent resin material. The adhesive layer 415 may be bonded to the upper surface of the resin layer 420. The adhesive layer 415 can make the optical film 430 adhere tightly to the upper surface of the resin layer 420. The adhesive layer 415 may contain the plurality of light-shielding members 450 and the plurality of air gap portions 427. The adhesive layer 415 may be bonded around the outside of each light-shielding member 450, the lower surface of the optical film 430, and the upper surface of the resin layer 420. The upper surface area of ​​the adhesive layer 415 within the upper surface of the resin layer 420 may be larger than the upper surface area of ​​the light-shielding members 450.

[0044] The plurality of light-shielding members 450 can face the upper surface of the resin layer 420. The plurality of light-shielding members 450 can overlap the light-emitting element 100 in a vertical direction or in a third direction Z. A portion of each of the plurality of light-shielding members 450 can overlap each of the plurality of light-emitting elements 100 in a vertical direction. The plurality of light-shielding members 450 are positioned between the resin layer 420 and the optical film 430. The light-shielding members 450 may have a light-shielding pattern P1 and be formed on the lower surface of the optical film 430. The optical film 430 may include a plurality of light-shielding members 450 printed on its lower surface. As another example, the light-shielding members 450 may have a light-shielding pattern and be printed on the upper surface of the optical film 430. The light-shielding members 450 may have a light-shielding pattern and be formed on the upper surface of the resin layer 430. As another example, if multiple optical films 430 are arranged, the light-shielding member 450 may be placed between the multiple optical films and formed on the upper surface of the lower optical film or the lower surface of the upper optical film.

[0045] The light-shielding member 450 is positioned within the adhesive layer 415. The light-shielding member 450 can penetrate the adhesive layer 415 and contact at least one of the resin layer 420 and the optical film 430. The light-shielding member 450 can also not contact the adhesive layer 415. The area inside the adhesive layer 415 and / or separated from the upper surface of the resin layer 420 can be defined as an air gap 427. The air gap 427 can provide a refractive index different from that of the light-shielding member 450 and the adhesive layer 415, thereby improving light diffusion efficiency. The bottom surface of the light-shielding member 450 can be separated from or not in contact with the upper surface of a lower layer, for example, the upper surface of the resin layer 420. The air gap 427 may be a vacuum region.

[0046] The spacing B1 between adjacent light-shielding members 450 may be smaller than the spacing X1 between adjacent light-emitting elements 100. The spacing B1 between adjacent light-shielding members 450 may be larger than the spacing X2 between an adjacent light-shielding member 450 and a light-emitting element 100. The spacing X2 between an adjacent light-shielding member 450 and a light-emitting element 100 can be 1 mm or more, and may be smaller than the center length of the light-shielding member 450 in the first direction X. The ratio of the spacing X1 between adjacent light-emitting elements 100 to the spacing X2 between an adjacent light-shielding member 450 and a light-emitting element 100 can be in the range of 2.5:1 to 3.5:1. By setting each item (X1, X2, B1) in such a ratio, the uniformity of light due to the light-shielding area can be improved. Each light-shielding member 450 can be separated from the upper surface of the resin layer 420. Each light-shielding member 450 can be separated from the outer surface of the adhesive layer 415. Multiple light-shielding members 450 have the same shape as each other and are arranged on each light-emitting element 100. Each light-shielding member 450 may be arranged in a region perpendicular to each light-emitting element 100, in the emission-side region of each light-emitting element 100, and in both emission-side regions.

[0047] The light-shielding member 450 may be an area printed with a white material. The light-shielding member 450 may consist of a light-shielding material having at least one diffusing agent, such as TiO2, Al2O3, CaCO3, BaSO4, or Silicon, within the resin material. The light-shielding member 450 can reflect light emitted through the emission surface 81 of the light-emitting element 100, thereby reducing the occurrence of hot spots on the optical film 430 that overlaps the light-emitting element 100 perpendicularly. The light-shielding member 450 can have a light-shielding pattern P1 printed using the light-shielding material. The light-shielding member 450 may be formed in such a way that it is printed on the lower surface of the optical film 430. The light-shielding member 450 is made of a material that does not block 100% of incident light, has a transmittance lower than its reflectance, and can function to shield and diffuse light. The light-shielding member 450 may have a transmittance of less than 12%, for example, in the range of 6% to 11%. If the transmittance of the light-shielding member 450 is less than the range, dark areas may occur, and if it is greater than the range, the light uniformity may decrease.

[0048] The light-shielding member 450 may be formed in a single layer or multiple layers, and may have different pattern shapes depending on the region. The thickness of the light-shielding member 450 may have different thicknesses or heights depending on the region. The light-shielding member 450 may have the thickest thickness in the region overlapping with the emission surface 81 of each light-emitting element 100, and the thinnest thickness in the edge region. In the light-shielding member 450, the thickness of the region closer to the emission surface 81 of the light-emitting element 100 may be thicker, and the thickness of the region further from the emission surface 81 may be thinner. The smallest pattern P1 of the light-shielding member 450 may be a polygonal shape such as a square, a circle, or an ellipse. The largest pattern P1 of the light-shielding member 450 may have a shape with an area larger than the upper surface area of ​​the light-emitting element 100. Here, the largest pattern may be the pattern layer having the thickest thickness among the light-shielding members 450. The light-shielding member 450 may be positioned higher than the upper surface of the resin layer 420. The lowest surface of the light-shielding member 450 may be positioned higher than the upper surface of the resin layer 420. The light-shielding member 450 may include at least two layers in thickness or height relative to the optical film 430, and may include, for example, at least three layers.

[0049] The thickness of the light-shielding member 450 can be 35 μm or more, for example, in the range of 35 μm to 200 μm. If the thickness of the light-shielding member 450 is less than 35 μm, the light incident from the bottom of the light-shielding member 450 cannot be effectively blocked or the transmittance increases, resulting in an uneven light distribution on the light-shielding member 450. Also, if the thickness of the light-shielding member 450 exceeds 200 μm, although the formation of hot spots due to light emitted from each of the light-emitting elements 100 can be effectively controlled, the light emitted from each of the light-emitting elements 100 may be lost in the process of passing through the light-shielding member 450, resulting in a decrease in overall brightness. Therefore, it is preferable that the thickness of the light-shielding member 450 satisfies the above range. The minimum thickness of the light-shielding member 450 is 35 μm or more, for example, it can satisfy the range of 35 μm to 50 μm, and preferably it can satisfy the range of 35 μm to 45 μm. If the minimum thickness of the light-shielding member 450 is smaller than the range, it may fall outside the range of transmittance disclosed above, and the light uniformity may decrease. If it is larger than the range, it may fall below the range of transmittance disclosed above, and dark areas may occur.

[0050] The maximum thickness of the light-shielding member 450 is 100 μm or more, and can satisfy, for example, 100 μm to 200 μm, preferably in the range of 110 μm to 150 μm or 110 μm to 130 μm. If the maximum thickness of the light-shielding member 450 is less than the above range, it may fall outside the range of transmittance disclosed above, and the light uniformity may decrease. If it is greater than the above range, it may fall below the range of transmittance disclosed above, and dark areas may occur. The light-shielding member 450 may include a region having an intermediate thickness (i.e., an intermediate layer). The thickness of the intermediate region is 70 μm or more, and can satisfy, for example, 70 μm to 140 μm, preferably in the range of 70 μm to 110 μm or 75 μm to 100 μm. If the intermediate thickness of the light-shielding member 450 is less than the above range, it may fall outside the range of transmittance disclosed above, and the light uniformity may decrease. If it is greater than the above range, it may fall below the range of transmittance disclosed above, and dark areas may occur. The maximum thickness may be greater than the sum of the minimum thickness and the intermediate thickness.

[0051] As shown in Figure 4, the light-shielding member 450 may include a first light-shielding portion 451, a second light-shielding portion 452, and a third light-shielding portion 453. At least one or all of the first to third light-shielding portions 451, 452, and 453 may contain the light-shielding material. The first light-shielding portion 451 may have a minimum thickness, the second light-shielding portion 452 may have an intermediate thickness, and the third light-shielding portion 453 may have a maximum thickness. The upper surface area of ​​the first light-shielding portion 451 may be larger than the upper surface areas of the first and second light-shielding portions 451 and 452, respectively, and preferably larger than the sum of the upper surface areas of the first and second light-shielding portions 451 and 452. The uniformity of light due to shielding can be improved by the upper surface area of ​​such light-shielding portions 451, 452, and 453. The first to third light-shielding portions 451, 452, and 453 do not have to overlap each other in the vertical direction. The patterns of the first to third light-shielding portions 451, 452, and 453 may be formed without rounding at the upper corners or upper periphery. Such light-shielding members improve the uniformity of the patterns of each light-shielding portion, thereby improving brightness and luminous flux. The light-shielding member 450 may include light-shielding portions having different thicknesses in different regions. The light-shielding portions 451, 452, and 453 of the light-shielding member 450, having different thicknesses, may be made of the same material.

[0052] In the light-shielding member 450, the first light-shielding portion 451 may include a first region having a dense pattern on the light-emitting surface 81 of the light-emitting element 100, and a second region having a sparser pattern than the first region. The pattern of the first light-shielding portion 451 is arranged around the second and third light-shielding portions 452 and 453. The first region with the dense pattern covers the upper part of the light-emitting surface 81 of the light-emitting element 100, thereby improving the distribution of light traveling to the optical film 430 through the first light-shielding portion 451. The gap between the patterns of the first and second regions of the first light-shielding portion 451 can be gradually increased as the distance from the light-emitting surface 81 of the light-emitting element 100 increases, and the size of each pattern in the first region can be gradually decreased as the distance from the light-emitting surface 81 of the light-emitting element 100 increases. Both sides of the third light-shielding portion 453 may be in contact with or separated from the first light-shielding portion 451, and one side and the other side may be in contact with or separated from the second light-shielding portion 452. The outer surface of the second light-shielding portion 452 may be in contact with or separated from the first and third light-shielding portions 451 and 453. The light-emitting surface 81 of the light-emitting element 100 can overlap the second and third light-shielding portions 452 and 453 in a perpendicular direction. The light-emitting surface 81 of the light-emitting element 100 can overlap the light-shielding pattern P1 in a perpendicular direction. Since the luminous intensity of light traveling on both sides in the second direction Y with respect to the light-emitting element 100 is 50% or more less than the luminous intensity in the first direction X, a decrease in light-shielding efficiency can be prevented even if the lengths of the second light-shielding portion 452 and the third light-shielding portion 453 in the second direction Y are set to be the same.

[0053] As shown in Figures 1 and 2, when viewed from a top view of the light-shielding member 450, the upper surface area of ​​the region formed by the virtual line R1 connecting the outer edges of the upper pattern P1 can be five times or more the upper surface area of ​​the light-emitting element 100, for example, in the range of 5 to 12 times or 6 to 10 times. The maximum area of ​​the region formed by the virtual line R1 connecting the outer patterns of the light-shielding member 450 may be the upper surface area of ​​the light-shielding member 450. The upper surface area of ​​the light-shielding member 450 may also be the area of ​​the region connecting the outer edges of the uppermost pattern. In this case, the pitch between the light-emitting elements can be 15 mm or more, for example, in the range of 15 mm to 25 mm.

[0054] The lower surface area of ​​the light-shielding member 450 may be the area of ​​the region connecting the outer edges of the pattern of the third light-shielding portion 453, or it may be the minimum area. The lower surface area of ​​each light-shielding member 450 can be at least one times the upper surface area of ​​each light-emitting element 100, for example, in the range of 1 to 2.5 times or 1.5 to 2.5 times. This reduces the problem of the light-emitting elements 100 being visible from the outside, reduces hot spots on the area of ​​the light-emitting elements 100, and provides a uniform light distribution across the entire area.

[0055] Each of the plurality of light-shielding members 450 may include a first edge 461, a second edge 462, and a third edge 463 along the outer region of pattern P1. The first edge 461 is at least a portion of a region adjacent to or perpendicularly overlapping each of the light-emitting elements 100, the third edge 463 is the region opposite to the first edge 461, and the second edge 462 may have a biconvex shape as both side lines in the second direction Y of each light-shielding member 450. The first edge 461 has a virtual linear shape, and the third edge 463 has a virtual linear shape and may have a linear length longer than the linear length of the first edge 461. In front of the third edge 463 are projecting patterns 465, 466 that project forward, and the projecting patterns 465, 466 can face the light-emitting chips 71, 72 of the light-emitting elements 100 in a horizontal plan view, and can reduce the intensity of light emitted from each light-emitting chip 71, 72.

[0056] The convex shape of the second edge 462 of the light-shielding member 430 can protrude outward or toward the second side surface S3 in the region between one end of the first edge 461 and one end of the third edge 463, and can protrude outward or toward the first side surface S1 in the region between the other end of the first edge 461 and the other end of the third edge 463. The second-direction length of the first edge 461 of the light-shielding member 450 is set to be 0.8 mm or more greater than the length D1 of the light-emitting element 100, so that both sides of the emission surface of the light-emitting element 100 can be covered, and hot spots caused by light emitted from the light-emitting element 100 can be prevented. The ratio of the length D1 of the light-emitting element 100 to the length C3 of the light-shielding member 450 can satisfy the following conditions.

[0057] Condition: 2 <C3 / D1<3 When the above conditions are met, the light uniformity around the light-shielding member 450 can be improved. If the range is smaller than the above range, hot spots may occur or the light uniformity may decrease. If the range is larger than the above range, light loss or dark areas may occur.

[0058] The maximum length C3 of the light-shielding member 450 in the second direction Y varies depending on the length D1 of the light-emitting element 100 in the second direction Y. The maximum length C3 can be 9 mm or more, for example, in the range of 9 mm to 20 mm or 10 mm to 18 mm. The maximum length B3 of the light-shielding member 450 in the first direction X may be the same as or less than the maximum length C3 of the second direction Y. The maximum length B3 of the light-shielding member 450 in the first direction X can be 7 mm or more, for example, in the range of 7 mm to 13 mm. The length of the light-shielding member 450 can cover the top, front and both sides of the emission surface 81 of the light-emitting element 100, preventing hot spots caused by light emitted from the light-emitting element 100 and improving light uniformity.

[0059] The adhesive layer 415 can be in contact with the outer surface of the light-shielding member 450 or separated by a distance of less than 1 mm. The straight line K1 perpendicular to the rear surface of the light-emitting element 100 does not have to overlap with the light-shielding member 450. The straight line K2 perpendicular to the front surface (or emission surface) of the light-emitting element 100 can overlap with the light-shielding member 450 or with the region having the maximum thickness of the light-shielding member 450. The ratio between the length D2 of the light-emitting element 100 in the first direction X and the maximum length B3 of the light-shielding member 450 in the first direction X can satisfy the following conditions.

[0060] JPEG2026510072000002.jpg11100 When the above conditions are met, the light uniformity around the light-shielding member 450 can be improved. If the range is smaller than the above range, hot spots may occur or the light uniformity may decrease. If the range is larger than the above range, light loss or dark areas may occur.

[0061] In Figure 5 and Table 1, the X-axis shows a configuration where the upper surface area of ​​the light-shielding member is 6 to 10 times the upper surface area of ​​the light-emitting element, and the Y-axis shows the light uniformity. In such a structure, it can be seen that when the upper surface area of ​​the light-shielding member 450 is 6 to 10 times the upper surface area of ​​the light-emitting element 100, the light uniformity of the lighting device 400 can be obtained to be 80% or more. Furthermore, it can be seen that when the upper surface area of ​​the light-shielding member 450 is 8 times the upper surface area of ​​the light-emitting element 100, the light uniformity of the lighting device 400 is higher than when it is 6 or 10 times. The pitch between the light-emitting elements can be 15 mm or more, for example, in the range of 15 mm to 25 mm or 17 mm to 23 mm. For example, pitch A was measured at 18 mm ± 1 mm, pitch B at 20 mm ± 1 mm, and pitch C at 22 mm ± 1 mm. When the pitches between the light-emitting elements are A, B, and C, and the upper surface area of ​​the light-shielding member is 6 to 10 times larger than the upper surface area of ​​the light-emitting elements, the lighting device can be seen to have a light uniformity of 80% or more. In this case, for the same area of ​​light-shielding member, the light uniformity appears higher at pitch A than at pitch B, and higher at pitch B than at pitch C.

[0062] Therefore, if the light uniformity of the lighting device, which is recognized as a uniform surface light source, is 80% or more, the upper surface area of ​​each light-shielding member can be in the range of 6 to 10 times the area of ​​each light-emitting element. [Table 1]

[0063] Furthermore, in order to achieve a light uniformity of 80% or more, the ratio between the pitch X1 between light-emitting elements and the distance X2 between adjacent light-shielding members 450 and light-emitting elements 100 can be set as follows: The distance X2 between adjacent light-shielding members 450 and light-emitting elements 100 can be in the range of 0.15 to 0.55 times the pitch X1 between the light-emitting elements. For example, if the upper surface area of ​​the light-shielding member 450 is 6 times the upper surface area of ​​the light-emitting element 100, the distance X2 between adjacent light-shielding members 450 and light-emitting elements 100 can be 0.45 times or more the pitch X1 between the light-emitting elements, for example, in the range of 0.45 to 0.55 times.

[0064] If the upper surface area of ​​the light-shielding member is eight times the upper surface area of ​​the light-emitting element, the distance X2 between adjacent light-shielding members 450 and light-emitting elements 100 can be 0.3 times or more the pitch X1 between the light-emitting elements 100, for example, in the range of 0.3 to 0.45 times. If the upper surface area of ​​the light-shielding member is ten times the upper surface area of ​​the light-emitting elements, the distance X2 between adjacent light-shielding members 450 and light-emitting elements 100 can be 0.35 times or less the pitch X1 between the light-emitting elements 100, for example, in the range of 0.15 to 0.35 times.

[0065] Table 2 shows that the light uniformity, based on the upper surface area of ​​the light-shielding member compared to the upper surface area of ​​the light-emitting element, the pitch X1 of the light-emitting elements, and the distance X2 (horizontal distance) between adjacent light-emitting elements and the light-shielding member, can be determined as follows. [Table 2]

[0066] Furthermore, the lower surface area of ​​the air gap portion 427 is the same as or has a difference of 5% or less from the upper surface area of ​​the light-shielding member 450, and can be in the range of 6 to 10 times the upper surface area of ​​the light-emitting element, and can be determined in relation to the light uniformity due to the pitch of the light-emitting element as shown in Table 3. [Table 3]

[0067] Furthermore, the upper surface area of ​​the light-shielding member may be 6 to 10 times larger than the area of ​​the light-emitting surface of the light-emitting element, and can be determined in relation to the light uniformity due to the pitch of the light-emitting element as shown in Table 4. [Table 4]

[0068] Tables 1 to 4 allow for the optimization and setting of items such as the upper surface area of ​​the light-shielding member, the lower surface area of ​​the air gap, the pitch between the light-emitting elements, and the upper surface area or emission surface area of ​​the light-emitting elements, so that the light uniformity is 80% or higher.

[0069] Table 5 shows the measured values ​​of light uniformity in embodiments of the invention, where the pitch between light-emitting elements is 10 mm, 15 mm, 20 mm, or 25 mm, and the upper surface area of ​​the light-shielding member is 2 to 20 times the upper surface area of ​​the light-emitting elements. Based on the measured values ​​in Table 5, when the area of ​​the light-shielding member is in the range of 2 to 10 times the upper surface area of ​​the light-emitting elements, the light uniformity can be obtained to be 70% or more. [Table 5] TIFF2026510072000008.tif221112

[0070] Furthermore, it can be seen that even if the upper surface area of ​​the light-shielding member is more than twice the upper surface area of ​​the light-emitting element, if the pitch between the light-emitting elements is 25 mm, the light uniformity will decrease to 50% or less. Also, if the upper surface area of ​​the light-shielding member is more than 10 times the upper surface area of ​​the light-emitting element, and the pitch between the light-emitting elements is 10 mm, 15 mm, 20 mm, or 25 mm, the light uniformity will decrease to 50% or less in most cases.

[0071] The optical film 430 is placed on the resin layer 420. The lower surface of the optical film 430 has the adhesive layer 415 and the light-shielding member 450 placed on it. The optical film 430 has the light-shielding member 450 printed on its lower surface and is fixed onto the resin layer 420 via the adhesive layer 415. The optical film 430 may include at least one of polyester (PET) film, PMMA (Poly Methyl Methacrylate) material, or PC (Poly Carbonate). The optical film 430 may be provided as a film of a resin material such as silicone or epoxy. The optical film 430 may include a single layer or a multilayer. As another example, if a lower optical film (not shown) is placed between the adhesive layer 415 and the resin layer 420, the lower optical film may be bonded to the resin layer 420 by a first adhesive force having fine cilia on the upper surface of the resin layer 420. At this time, the optical film 430 and / or the lower optical film can be attached to the resin layer 420 by applying a predetermined pressure or pressure / heat.

[0072] The thickness of the optical film 430 is 25 μm or more, and can be in the range of 25 μm to 250 μm or 100 μm to 250 μm. Such an optical film 430 has the aforementioned thickness range and can provide incident light as a uniform surface light source. The optical film 430 and / or the lower optical film may contain at least one or more of the following: a diffusing agent such as beads, a phosphor, and ink particles. The phosphor may include at least one of the following: a red phosphor, an amber phosphor, a yellow phosphor, a green phosphor, or a white phosphor. The ink particles may include at least one of the following: a metallic ink, a UV ink, or a curing ink. The size of the ink particles may be smaller than the size of the phosphor. The surface color of the ink particles may be any one of green, red, yellow, or blue. The ink type can be selectively applied from PVC (Poly vinyl chloride) ink, PC (Polycarbonate) ink, ABS (acrylonitrile butadiene styrene copolymer) ink, UV resin ink, epoxy ink, silicone ink, PP (polypropylene) ink, water-based ink, plastic ink, PMMA (poly methyl methacrylate) ink, and PS (Polystyrene) ink. The ink particles may contain at least one of metal ink, UV ink, or curing ink.

[0073] In one embodiment of the invention, light diffused by the resin layer 420 is transmitted through the adhesive layer 415 and emitted as uniform surface light through the optical film 430. At this time, the light-shielding member 450 can prevent hot spots caused by incident light. In another embodiment of the invention, a layer of reflective material or an upper substrate may be placed on top of the resin layer 420. The layer of reflective material or upper substrate may face the upper surface of the resin layer 420, the light-emitting element 100 may be arranged in at least one row or column, and each emission surface 81 of the light-emitting element 100 may be spaced the same as one side surface of the resin layer 420, and light may be emitted through one side surface of the resin layer 420.

[0074] On the other hand, the light-shielding member 450 according to the embodiment of the invention may be printed on the surface of the optical film 430. When a light-shielding pattern is formed by a printing method, more precise patterns, both small and large in size, can be manufactured without the phenomenon of disappearance or aggregation. Furthermore, since the desired light-shielding pattern is formed by the design, a decrease in the uniformity of the image for each product can be prevented, the density of the pattern can be easily adjusted, and a decrease in the reliability of the lamp image can be prevented. The upper surface area of ​​the first light-shielding portion 451 can be five times or more the upper surface area of ​​the light-emitting element 100, for example, in the range of 5 to 12 times or 6 to 10 times. The upper surface area of ​​the first light-shielding portion 451 is the upper surface area of ​​the region formed by a virtual line connecting the outer edges of the pattern of the first light-shielding portion 451. The upper or lower surface area of ​​the second light-shielding portion 452 can be five times or less the upper surface area of ​​the light-emitting element 100, in the range of 2 to 5 times or 2 to 3 times. The upper or lower surface area of ​​the second light-shielding portion 452 is the upper or lower surface area of ​​the region within the imaginary line connecting the outer edges of the pattern of the second light-shielding portion 452. Here, the lower or upper surface area of ​​the second light-shielding portion 452 also includes the region that overlaps with the third light-shielding portion 453.

[0075] The lower surface area of ​​the third light-shielding portion 453 can be 3 times or less the upper surface area of ​​the light-emitting element 100, in the range of 1.2 to 3 times or in the range of 1.2 to 2.5 times. The upper or lower surface area of ​​the third light-shielding portion 453 is the area of ​​the upper or lower surface of the region within a virtual line connecting the outer edges of the pattern of the third light-shielding portion 453. The upper surface area of ​​the third light-shielding portion 453 also includes the region that overlaps perpendicularly with the second light-shielding portion 452. The lower surface area of ​​the second light-shielding portion 452 may be smaller than the upper surface area of ​​the first light-shielding portion 451 and larger than the lower surface area of ​​the third light-shielding portion 453. The first to third light-shielding portions 451, 452, and 453 can provide a uniform light transmittance, for example, a uniformity of 80% or more, depending on the pattern or light-shielding area.

[0076] Figure 6 is a plan view of a vehicle to which the lighting module according to the embodiment is applied, and Figure 7 is a drawing showing a vehicle lamp having the lighting module or lighting device disclosed in the embodiment.

[0077] Referring to Figures 6 and 7, in vehicle 900, the taillight 800 may include a first lamp unit 812, a second lamp unit 814, a third lamp unit 816, and a housing 810. Here, the first lamp unit 812 may be a light source for the role of an indicator light, the second lamp unit 814 may be a light source for the role of a side marker light, and the third lamp unit 816 may be a light source for the role of a brake light, but is not limited to these. At least one or all of the first to third lamp units 812, 814, and 816 may include the lighting module disclosed in the embodiment. The housing 810 houses the first to third lamp units 812, 814, and 816 and may be made of a translucent material. In this case, the housing 810 may have curves according to the design of the vehicle body, and the first to third lamp units 812, 814, and 816 may embody surface light sources that have curved surfaces according to the shape of the housing 810. Such vehicle lamps can be applied to vehicle turn signal lamps when the lamp unit is applied to the vehicle's taillights, brake lights, or turn signal lamps.

[0078] The features, structures, and effects described in the above embodiments are included in at least one embodiment of the present invention, and are not necessarily limited to one embodiment. Furthermore, the features, structures, and effects exemplified in each embodiment can be combined or modified for implementation in other embodiments by a person with ordinary skill in the art to which the embodiment belongs. Therefore, such combinations and modifications should be interpreted as being within the scope of the present invention. In addition, although the above has focused on embodiments, these are merely examples and do not limit the present invention. A person with ordinary skill in the art to which the present invention belongs can make various modifications and applications not exemplified above, as long as they do not deviate from the essential characteristics of these embodiments. For example, each component specifically presented in the embodiments can be modified and implemented. And the differences related to such modifications and applications should be interpreted as being within the scope of the present invention as defined in the appended claims.

Claims

1. A substrate, A resin layer disposed on the substrate, A plurality of light-emitting elements sealed within the resin layer and electrically connected to the substrate, An optical film disposed on the resin layer, An adhesive layer disposed between the optical film and the resin layer, A plurality of light-shielding members including a light-shielding pattern disposed on the lower surface of the optical film, at least a part of which overlaps perpendicularly with each of the plurality of light-emitting elements, Each of the plurality of light-emitting elements includes a light-emitting surface that emits light to one side, The upper surface area of each of the plurality of light-shielding members is in the range of 6 times to 10 times the upper surface area of each of the plurality of light-emitting elements, A lighting device in which the light uniformity on the optical film is 80% or more.

2. Including an air gap portion disposed between each of the plurality of light-shielding members and the resin layer, The lighting device according to Claim 1, wherein the lower surface area of the air gap portion is in the range of 6 times to 10 times the upper surface area of each of the plurality of light-emitting elements.

3. The lighting device according to Claim 1, wherein the distance between adjacent light-shielding members and the light-emitting element is in the range of 0.15 times to 0.55 times the pitch between the light-emitting elements.

4. The lighting device according to any one of Claims 1 to 3, wherein the pitch between the light-emitting elements is in the range of 17 mm to 23 mm.

5. The lighting device according to any one of Claims 1 to 3, wherein the light uniformity is the highest when the upper surface area of each of the light-shielding members is 8 times the upper surface area of each of the light-emitting elements.

6. The lighting device according to Claim 4, wherein the pitch between the light-emitting elements is 18 mm ± 1 mm.

7. The lighting device according to any one of Claims 1 to 3, wherein the upper surface area of each of the plurality of light-shielding members is in the range of 6 times to 10 times the emission surface area of each of the plurality of light-emitting elements.

8. Each of the light-emitting elements emits light in a first direction, The length of each of the light-emitting elements in a second direction is greater than the length in the first direction, The length of each of the light-emitting elements in the second direction is D1, The length of each of the light-shielding members in the second direction is C3, The lighting device according to any one of Claims 1 to 3, satisfying the condition: 2 < C3 / D1 < 3.

Images