Light source unit, light source device, and display apparatus

Abstract

A light source unit is used in a multiply combined manner, and includes a light source element having a substrate and one or more light emitting elements disposed on the substrate. The light source unit is configured such that when a plurality of the light source units are arranged in cascade, the light source element in the light source unit comes to in electric connection with another light source element in an adjacent light source unit. Thereby, the plurality of light source units may emit light at the same time. Thus, the structure similar to rod-shaped light source such as CCFL is achieved.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A light source device comprising:
 a plurality of light source units, each having one or more light emitting elements and electrical connection portions, and   an arrangement restriction structure restricting arrangement of the plurality of light source units so that the plurality of light source units are arranged in cascade,   wherein the plurality of light source units are electrically connected to one another the respective electrical connection portions of the light source units,   wherein the arrangement restriction structure is a hollow tube, and the plurality of the light source units are arranged in cascade within the hollow tube.   
     
     
         2 . The light source device according to  claim 1 , wherein:
 the one or more light emitting elements comprise at least one light emitting diode.   
     
     
         3 . The light source device according to  claim 1 , wherein:
 the arrangement restriction structure is formed of a material that is transparent to visible light.   
     
     
         4 . The light source device according to  claim 1 , wherein:
 the one or more light emitting elements include zinc oxide as a main material, and   the one or more light emitting elements are configured to emit ultraviolet light.   
     
     
         5 . The light source device according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 one or more non-light-emitting elements inside the hollow tube, wherein the one or more non-light-emitting elements separate the plurality of light source units from one another.   
     
     
         6 . The light source device according to  claim 1 , wherein:
 the hollow tube comprises an inner fluorescent surface, wherein the inner fluorescent surface is configured to be excited by light from the one or more light emitting elements to emit fluorescent light, and   the fluorescent light s emitted to outside the light source device.   
     
     
         7 . The light source device according to  claim 6 , wherein:
 the hollow tube is opaque to ultraviolet light.   
     
     
         8 . An apparatus comprising:
 a plurality of light source units, each light source unit of the plurality of light source units having one or more light emitting elements and one or more electrical connection portions; and   an arrangement restriction structure restricting arrangement of the plurality of light source units so that the plurality of light source units are arranged in cascade,   wherein at least one first light source unit of the plurality of light source units is electrically connected to at least one second light source unit of the plurality of light source units via at least one electrical connection portion,   wherein the arrangement restriction structure comprises a hollow tube, and   wherein the plurality of the light source units are arranged in cascade within the hollow tube.   
     
     
         9 . The apparatus according to  claim 8 , wherein:
 the one or more light emitting elements comprise at least one light emitting diode.   
     
     
         10 . The apparatus according to  claim 8 , wherein:
 the plurality of light source units are configured to produce light,   the apparatus further comprises a display section having a first side and a second side, the display section being arranged with respect to the plurality of light source units so that the light produced by the plurality of light source units is incident on the first side, and   the display section is configured to alter its transmissivity in response to an image signal so as to selectively allow the incident light to pass to the second side and thereby generate an image corresponding to the image signal.   
     
     
         11 . The apparatus according to  claim 8 , wherein:
 the arrangement restriction structure is formed of a material that is transparent to visible light.   
     
     
         12 . The apparatus according to  claim 8 , wherein:
 the one or more light emitting elements include zinc oxide as a main material, and   the one or more light emitting elements are configured to emit ultraviolet light.   
     
     
         13 . The apparatus according to  claim 8 , further comprising:
 one or more non-light-emitting elements inside the hollow tube, wherein the one or more non-light-emitting elements separate the plurality of light source units from one another.   
     
     
         14 . The apparatus according to  claim 8 , wherein:
 the hollow tube comprises an inner fluorescent surface, wherein the inner fluorescent surface is configured to be excited by light from the one or more light emitting elements to emit fluorescent light, and   the fluorescent light is emitted to outside the apparatus.   
     
     
         15 . The apparatus according to  claim 14 , wherein:
 the hollow tube is opaque to ultraviolet light.