Patent ID: 8684575
Filing Date: 2014-04-01
Classification: F21S,G02B

Abstract:
1. A lighting unit, comprising: an LED light source having an optical axis; and a lens body disposed in front of the LED light source so that light emitted from the LED light source is incident thereon during operation, the lens body including a lens portion configured to receive the light from the LED light source to collect the light, a first surface including the lens portion, a second surface opposite to the first surface, a first end surface configured to function as a light exiting surface and having a substantially rectangular shape greater in width than in thickness, and a second end surface opposite to the first end surface, wherein: the lens body includes the first total reflection surface is a total reflection surface configured to totally reflect part of the light, which has entered the lens body from the lens portion and impinges on the first total reflection surface, to a central region of the first end surface so that the light exits as rays of light substantially parallel to the optical axis of the lighting unit through the central region; the second total reflection surface is a total reflection surface configured to totally reflect part of the light, which has entered the lens body from the lens portion and impinges on the second total reflection surface, to the second end surface; the second end surface includes a first inner end surface disposed on the first side with respect to an optical axis of the lighting unit and a first outer end surface disposed on the outer side of the first inner end surface, and a second inner end surface disposed on the second side with respect to the optical axis of the lighting unit and a second outer end surface disposed on the outer side of the second inner end surface; the first inner end surface is a total reflection surface configured to totally reflect the light from the first reflection region to the first outer end surface; the first outer end surface is a total reflection surface configured to directly totally reflect the light from the first inner end surface to a first adjacent region adjacent to the central region of the first end surface on the first side so that the light exits as rays of light substantially parallel to the optical axis of the lighting unit through the first adjacent region; the second inner end surface is a total reflection surface configured to totally reflect the light from the second reflection region to the second outer end surface; the second outer end surface is a total reflection surface configured to directly totally reflect the light from the second inner end surface to a second adjacent region adjacent to the central region of the first end surface on the second side so that the light exits as rays of light substantially parallel to the optical axis of the lighting unit through the second adjacent region; the first total reflection surface includes a first end edge and a second end edge opposite to the first end edge in a width direction of the lens body, which is perpendicular to the optical axis of the lighting unit, the first end edge extending substantially to a line parallel to the optical axis of the lighting unit and extending from a boundary between the first inner end surface and the first outer end surface, the second end edge extending substantially to a line parallel to the optical axis of the lighting unit and extending from a boundary between the second inner end surface and the second outer end surface.