Vehicular headlamp and semiconductor light emitting element

• US 20040196663A1
• Filed: 04/01/2004
• Published: 10/07/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 04/03/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Koito Manufacturing Company Limited
• Original Assignee: Koito Manufacturing Company Limited
• Inventors: Ishida, Hiroyuki, Tatsukawa, Masashi, Sazuka, Kiyoshi
• Granted Patent: US 7,168,837 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 362/539
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 41/143 the main emission direction of the LED being parallel to the optical axis of the illuminating device
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 41/148 the main emission direction of the LED being perpendicular to the optical axis
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 41/151 arranged in one or more lines
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 41/155 Surface emitters, e.g. organic light emitting diodes [OLED]
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 41/663 by switching light sources by switching incandescent light sources F21S41/162
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2115/10 Light-emitting diodes [LED]
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 25/0753 the devices being arranged next to each other
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2924/00 Indexing scheme for arrangements or methods for connecting or disconnecting semiconductor or solid-state bodies as covered by H01L24/00
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2924/0002 Not covered by any one of groups H01L24/00, H01L24/00 and H01L2224/00
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 33/20 with a particular shape, e.g. curved or truncated substrate

Abstract

A vehicular headlamp for emitting light with a predetermined light distribution pattern, includes a semiconductor light emitting element including a substantially linear light emitting area for generating the light therefrom, and an optical device for forming at least a part of a cut line to determine a boundary between bright and. dark with regard to the light distribution pattern by reflecting or deflecting the light generated by the semiconductor light emitting element and projecting a shape of the light emitting area. The vehicular headlamp may further include a plurality of the semiconductor light emitting elements being arranged in a row in a direction corresponding to at least a part of the cut line, wherein the optical device forms at least a part of the cut line by projecting the shape of the light emitting area with regard to each of the plurality of semiconductor light emitting elements towards positions arranged in a row over at least a part of the cut line.

Claims

1. A vehicular headlamp for emitting light with a predetermined light distribution pattern, comprising:

a semiconductor light emitting element comprising a substantially linear light emitting area for generating said light therefrom; and

an optical device for forming at least a part of a cut line to determine a boundary between bright and dark with regard to said light distribution pattern by reflecting or deflecting said light generated by said semiconductor light emitting element and projecting a shape of said light emitting area.

2. A vehicular headlamp as claimed in claim 1, further comprising:

a plurality of said semiconductor light emitting elements being arranged in a row in a direction corresponding to at least a part of said cut line,

wherein said optical device forms at least a part of said cut line by projecting said shape of said light emitting area with regard to each of said plurality of semiconductor light emitting elements towards positions arranged in a row over at least a part of said cut line.

3. A vehicular headlamp as claimed in claim 1, wherein said semiconductor light emitting element further comprises an active layer, and

said light emitting area has a groove for emitting said light from at lease a part of an opening of said groove, said groove substantially linearly extending on a surface of said semiconductor light emitting element, the depth of said groove reaching at least a part of said active layer.

4. A semiconductor light emitting element used for a vehicular headlamp for emitting light with a predetermined light distribution pattern, comprising:

an active layer, and

a light emitting area having a groove for emitting said light from at lease a part of an opening of said groove, said. groove extending on a surface of said semiconductor light emitting element in a direction corresponding to at least a part of a cut line to determine a boundary between bright and dark with regard to said light distribution pattern, the depth of said groove reaching at least a part of said active layer.