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.