Lamp apparatus for vehicle

• US 20040223335A1
• Filed: 02/20/2004
• Published: 11/11/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 03/06/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd. (Honda Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd. (Honda Motor Company)
• Inventors: Yamamoto, Takao
• Granted Patent: US 7,287,889 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 362/487
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/2696 Mounting of devices using LEDs
• CPC Class Codes: B62J 11/19 specially adapted for electric wires
• CPC Class Codes: B62J 6/01 Electric circuits
• CPC Class Codes: B62J 6/027 Supporting means therefor, e.g. mounting brackets
• CPC Class Codes: B62J 6/056 characterised by control means
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 43/14 Light emitting diodes [LED]
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 45/48 with means for conducting heat from the inside to the outside of the lighting devices, e.g. with fins on the outer surface of the lighting device
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 29/70 characterised by passive heat-dissipating elements, e.g. heat-sinks
• CPC Class Codes: F21W 2103/20 Direction indicator lights
• CPC Class Codes: F21W 2103/25 for rear-view mirrors
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2115/10 Light-emitting diodes [LED]

Abstract

A lamp or winker apparatus for a vehicle for saving power and providing a long life and for achieving miniaturization of a lamp body by using a light emitting diode as a light source. The lamp or winker apparatus for a vehicle includes a front winker having a light emitting diode as a light source in a lamp body, and a resistance circuit for adjusting the voltage to be applied to the light emitting diode. The resistance circuit is provided separately outside the lamp body. The lamp body case may be formed from a heat transfer member with the light emitting diode attached to the lamp body case.

Claims

1. A lamp apparatus for a vehicle comprising:

a lamp unit having a light emitting diode as a light source in a lamp body; and

voltage adjustment means for adjusting a voltage to be applied to said light emitting diode;

wherein said voltage adjustment means is provided separately outside said lamp body.

2. The lamp apparatus for a vehicle according to claim 1, wherein said voltage adjustment means is attached to a supporting member on which said lamp unit is supported.

3. The lamp apparatus for a vehicle according to claim 1, and further including a lamp relay apparatus, said voltage adjustment means being positioned within said lamp relay apparatus and being provided separately relative to the lamp body.

4. The lamp apparatus for a vehicle according to claim 1, and further including a relay operatively connected to said voltage adjustment means for selectively turning said lamp unit on and off.

5. The lamp apparatus for a vehicle according to claim 4, wherein said relay includes an oscillation circuit, a relay coil excited by an output from the oscillation circuit and an armature for operating in response to a magnetic force from the relay coil.

6. The lamp apparatus for a vehicle according to claim 1, and further including a relay operatively connected to said voltage adjustment means for selectively turning said lamp unit on and off, said relay and said voltage adjustment means being disposed in a separate housings relative to each other.

7. A winker apparatus for a vehicle comprising:

a winker having a light emitting diode as a light source in a lamp body; and

voltage adjustment means for adjusting a voltage to be applied to said light emitting diode;

wherein said voltage adjustment means is provided in a winker relay apparatus separately from said lamp body.

8. A winker apparatus for a vehicle according to claim 7, wherein said voltage adjustment means is a resistor.

9. The lamp apparatus for a vehicle according to claim 7, and further including a lamp relay apparatus, said voltage adjustment means being positioned within said lamp relay apparatus and being provided separately relative to the lamp body.

10. The lamp apparatus for a vehicle according to claim 7, and further including a relay operatively connected to said voltage adjustment means for selectively turning said lamp unit on and off.

11. The lamp apparatus for a vehicle according to claim 10, wherein said relay includes an oscillation circuit, a relay coil excited by an output from the oscillation circuit and an armature for operating in response to a magnetic force from the relay coil.

12. The lamp apparatus for a vehicle according to claim 7, and further including a relay operatively connected to said voltage adjustment means for selectively turning said lamp unit on and off, said relay and said voltage adjustment means being disposed in a separate housings relative to each other.

13. A lamp apparatus for a vehicle wherein a light emitting diode is used as a light source comprising:

a lamp body case formed from a member having a high heat transfer property;

wherein said light emitting diode is attached to part of said lamp body case.

14. A lamp apparatus for a vehicle wherein a light emitting diode is used as a light source comprising:

voltage adjustment means for adjusting a voltage to be applied to said light emitting diode;

a heat radiating member, said voltage adjustment means being attached to said heat radiating member and said light emitting diode is attached to said heat radiating member in a spaced relationship from said voltage adjustment means.

15. The lamp apparatus for a vehicle according to claim 14, wherein the voltage adjustment means is positioned on a bottom wall disposed directly adjacent to the light emitting diode.

16. The lamp apparatus for a vehicle according to claim 15, wherein the bottom wall has a greater thickness relative to a circumferential wall of the lamp apparatus.

17. The lamp apparatus for a vehicle according to claim 14, and further including a resistance circuit wherein the resistance circuit is positioned on a circumferential wall of the lamp apparatus.

18. The lamp apparatus for a vehicle according to claim 17, and further including an electric circuit, said electric circuit being spaced apart from the resistance circuit with a partition wall being disposed therebetween.

19. The lamp apparatus for a vehicle according to claim 14, and further including a resistance circuit attached to a inner side of a cover mounted in a rear opening of the lamp apparatus.