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 - 15 . (canceled) 
     
     
         16 . An apparatus comprising:
 a plurality of light source units each having at least one light emitting element and an electrical connection portion; and   an arrangement restriction structure comprising a hollow tube and restricting an arrangement of the plurality of light source units in series inside the hollow tube,   wherein the plurality of light source units are electrically connected to each other through the electrical connection portion in each light source unit.   
     
     
         17 . The apparatus of  claim 16 , wherein each light source unit of the plurality of light source units includes a light source element disposed on a support substrate. 
     
     
         18 . The apparatus of  claim 17 , wherein the light source element has end portions that are connection electrodes, and each connection electrode of the connection electrodes includes a holding member. 
     
     
         19 . The apparatus of  claim 18 , wherein a plurality of light source elements are interconnected via the connection electrodes at both ends of the holding member. 
     
     
         20 . The apparatus of  claim 19 , wherein the support substrate of the light source element is composed of an optically transparent member and the holding member has an inner diameter. 
     
     
         21 . The apparatus of  claim 20 , wherein the hollow tube is a structure that holds the support substrate at its inner peripheral surface. 
     
     
         22 . The apparatus of  claim 21 , wherein an inner surface of the hollow tube includes a fluorescent coating and is excited by light from the light source unit of the plurality of light source units. 
     
     
         23 . The apparatus of  claim 22 , wherein the light source unit of the plurality of light source units emits ultraviolet light using zinc oxide as a main material. 
     
     
         24 . The apparatus of  claim 23 , wherein the hollow tube is impermeable to ultraviolet rays, and the inner surface emits fluorescence when excited by ultraviolet light from the light source unit of the plurality of light source units, and emits a fluorescent light-emitting component to the outside. 
     
     
         25 . A display device comprising:
 an illumination device; and   a display unit that displays an image using illumination light from the apparatus of  claim 16  as a display light.   
     
     
         26 . The display device of  claim 25 , wherein the apparatus is a rod-shaped light source.