US 20030189829A1
(19) United States
(12) Patent Application Publication (io) Pub. No.: US 2003/0189829 Al
Shimizu et al. (43) Pub. Date: Oct. 9,2003
(75) Inventors: Masanori Shimizu, Kyotanabe-shi (JP);
Tadashi Yano, Soraku-gun (JP);
Tatsumi Setomoto, Osaka (JP);
Nobuyuki Matsui, Osaka (JP);
Tetsushi Tamura, Osaka (JP)
Correspondence Address:
AKIN GUMP STRAUSS HAUER & FELD
L.L.P.
ONE COMMERCE SQUARE
2005 MARKET STREET, SUITE 2200
PHILADELPHIA, PA 19103-7013 (US)
(73) Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
(21) Appl. No.: 10/374,614
(22) Filed: Feb. 26, 2003
Related U.S. Application Data
(63) Continuation of application No. PCT/JP02/08151, filed on Aug. 8, 2002.
(30) Foreign Application Priority Data
Aug. 9, 2001 (JP) 2001-242857
An LED illumination apparatus according to the present invention includes at least one connector and a lighting drive circuit. The connector is connected to an insertable and removable card-type LED illumination source, which includes multiple LEDs that have been mounted on one surface of a substrate. The lighting drive circuit is electrically connected to the card-type LED illumination source by way of the connector. The card-type LED illumination source preferably includes a metal base substrate and the multiple LEDs that have been mounted on one surface of the metal base substrate. The back surface of the metal base substrate, including no LEDs thereon, thermally contacts with a portion of the illumination apparatus. A feeder terminal to be electrically connected to the connector is provided on the surface of the metal base substrate on which the LEDs are provided.
