Multi color and omni directional warning lamp

• US 20030020627A1
• Filed: 09/24/2002
• Published: 01/30/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 10/14/1999
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Stephen T. Vukosic
• Original Assignee: Stephen T. Vukosic
• Inventors: Vukosic, Stephen T.
• Granted Patent: US 6,844,824 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/815.45
• CPC Class Codes: F21K 9/00 Light sources using semiconductor devices as light-generating elements, e.g. using light-emitting diodes [LED] or lasers
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 10/06 flashing, e.g. with rotating reflector or light source signalling lighting devices mounted on vehicles B60Q1/26
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 23/006 the substrate being distinct from the light source holder
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 31/005 Sealing arrangements therefor
• CPC Class Codes: F21W 2111/00 Use or application of lighting devices or systems for signalling, marking or indicating, not provided for in codes F21W2102/00 – F21W2107/00
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2107/90 on two opposite sides of supports or substrates
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2113/13 comprising an assembly of point-like light sources
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2115/10 Light-emitting diodes [LED]
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 5/36 using visible light sources
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 1/14 Structural association of two or more printed circuits providing electric connection to or between printed circuits H05K1/11, H01R12/00
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 1/18 Printed circuits structurally associated with non-printed electric components H05K1/0201, H05K1/023, H05K1/0243, and H05K1/16 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 362/80 Light emitting diode

Abstract

A warning lamp, provides multi status indication by being illuminated in selected ones of a plurality of colors or by flashing a selected color or colors sequentially. The lamp has a pair of printed circuit boards disposed, one in a base and another upstanding from the base along a central axis, extending midway through the upstanding board. Around the upstanding board and coaxial therewith is a lens which is mounted in assembled relationship with the boards and the base. The upstanding board has arrays of light emitting diodes (LEDs), disposed along spaced lines which are parallel to the axis. The LEDs along different lines provide light of different color, for example, red, green and amber. The printed circuit boards provide a subassembly in which the bottom portion of the upstanding board and the other board are contained in a plastic casting disposed in a recess in the base. The boards carry circuits and circuit components which connect the arrays to leads which extend through the base and which carry current for each of the groups of lamps in the arrays so that they may be selectively illuminated or illuminated in sequence.

Claims

1. A warning lamp providing illumination omni directionally 360°

about an axis, said lamp comprising a first board disposed perpendicular to said axis, a second board mounted on said first board and disposed along said axis, said second board having opposite sides, light source elements mounted in arrays on both sides of said second board, a transparent cover in assembled relationship with said boards and disposed around said second board.

2. The lamp according to claim 1 wherein said elements are light emitting diodes (LEDs).

3. The lamp according to claim 2 wherein said diodes have light emitters having geometrical light emitting patterns which are generally conical with apexes at said emitters and encompassing solid angles of at least about 120°

wherein the intensity of illumination is within about 50% of the maximum intensity in said pattern.

4. The lamp according to claim 2 wherein said diodes are mounted on said surfaces of said second board along generally parallel lines.

5. The lamp according to claim 1 wherein said second board is rectangular and said cover is generally cylindrical and coaxial with said axis, said second board having a width generally bisecting said axis which is about 30% of the diameter of said cover along the inside thereof, said array on each side of said second board encompassing more than half of the areas of each of said surfaces thereof.

6. The lamp according to claim 5 wherein said elements are LEDs mounted on the surfaces of said boards.

7. The lamp according to claim 5 wherein said lamp has a cylindrical base, said first board being generally circular and being disposed on an inside surface of said base, said second board being rectangular and projecting from said base in a direction along the length of said second board, said cover being connection to said base at one end of said cover to provide said assembled relationship, said cover being closed at an end thereof opposite to said one end, said opposite end extending over said second board, and means for mounting said lamp on the outside of said base.

8. The lamp according to claim 1 wherein said arrays have a plurality of groups of elements, each group emitting light of a different color.

9. The lamp according to claim 8 wherein said arrays are formed of parallel lines of said elements, alternate ones of said lines being of elements which emit light of a color different from the light emitted by the elements in others of said lines.

10. The lamp according to claim 9 wherein said colors are three colors, namely red, amber and green or blue.

11. The lamp according to claim 9 wherein said lines extend parallel to said axis a distance about at least 80% of the length of said second board so that said elements are exposed via said cover.

12. The lamp according to claim 8 wherein said elements are LEDs mounted on the surfaces of said second board and exposed via said cover.

13. The lamp according to claim 9 wherein said cover is a Fresnel lens having striations generally paralleling said lines of elements.

14. The lamp according to claim 1 wherein said boards are printed circuit boards carrying currents for energizing said elements, a portion of said second board having an edge disposed adjacent to said first board in a body in which said first board and said portion of said second board are encapsulated to provide an assembly of said boards.

15. The lamp according to claim 14 wherein said second board is rectangular, said edge being at one end of said second board along the width thereof, said lamp having a base, a recess in said base containing said body, said cover being attached to said base to provide said assembled relationship.

16. The lamp according to claim 8 further comprising a plurality of conductors to said groups, and means responsive to the presence of current on more of one of said conductors for illuminating said groups to which current is carried sequentially.

17. The lamp according to claim 8 further comprising means for connecting each of said lines electrically, selectively in (a) a plurality of parallel circuits containing different complements of said elements connected in series and (b) in a plurality of series circuits containing all of said elements in each of said lines, whereby to enable said lamp to be energized by voltage of different magnitude or by current of like and alternating polarity.

18. A warming lamp comprising a plurality of groups of light sources connected together, a power conductor, a plurality of control conductors respectively corresponding to said groups, a control circuit for connecting selectively each of said conductors to said power conductor, a processor in said control circuit responsive to the state of said control conductors for providing a programmed sequence of powering of said groups.

19. The lamp according to claim 18 wherein said groups each comprise a series of LEDs.

20. The lamp according to claim 19 wherein the LEDs in said series are respectively sources of different colors.