Vehicle light with light emitting diode (LED) light source

• US 20040246741A1
• Filed: 06/06/2003
• Published: 12/09/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 06/06/2003
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Dialight Corporation (Dialight PLC)
• Original Assignee: Dialight Corporation (Dialight PLC)
• Inventors: You, Chenhua, Abdelhafez, Mohamed
• Application Number:
  US10/455,393
• Publication Number:
  US 20040246741A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 362/541
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/22 for reverse drive
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/2696 Mounting of devices using LEDs
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 43/14 Light emitting diodes [LED]
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 45/47 Passive cooling, e.g. using fins, thermal conductive elements or openings
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 29/70 characterised by passive heat-dissipating elements, e.g. heat-sinks
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 29/85 characterised by the material liquid coolants F21V29/56
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 31/04 Provision of filling media

Abstract

An LED light, such as used as a vehicle backup light, includes an LED board having first and second sides. At least one LED is mounted on the first side. A lens is positioned at a distance from the LED board to face the first side of the LED board. A potting compound is provided on the second side of the LED board. The potting compound can completely fill the second side of the LED board. The lens can include a first surface facing an external side of the LED light that is substantially smooth, to prevent collecting dust therein, and a second surface facing the LED board. That second surface can be contoured to include an upper region to refract light in a first direction, a lower region to reflect light in a second direction opposite to the first direction, and a middle region including horizontal grooves. That middle region may diverge light in a horizontal direction and converge light in a vertical direction.

Claims

1. A vehicle light comprising:

(a) a light emitting diode (LED) board having first and second sides, and on which at least one LED is mounted on said first side;

(b) a lens positioned at a distance from said LED board and to face said first side of said LED board; and

(c) a potting compound provided on said second side of said LED board.

2. A vehicle light according to claim 1, wherein said vehicle light is a vehicle backup light.

3. A vehicle light according to claim 1, wherein said potting compound completely fills said second face of said LED board.

4. A vehicle light according to claim 1, wherein said lens includes a first surface facing an external side of said LED light that is substantially smooth and a second surface facing said LED board.

5. A vehicle light according to claim 4, wherein said second surface of said lens is contoured to include an upper region to refract light in first direction, a lower region to refract light in a second direction opposite to the first direction, and a middle region.

6. A vehicle light according to claim 5, wherein said middle region diverges light in a horizontal direction and converges light in a vertical direction.

7. A vehicle light according to claim 1, wherein said potting compound includes a silicone based resin and a hardener material.

8. A vehicle light according to claim 1, wherein said lens comprises a shelf configured to maintain said LED board a predetermined distance from said lens.

9. A LED vehicle light according to claim 1, wherein said LED board comprises a plurality of rows of LEDs, and said lens includes a plurality of rows of horizontal bands with one of the rows of horizontal bands aligning with one respective row of LEDs.

10. A vehicle light comprising:

(a) support means, having first and second sides, for supporting at least one LED mounted on first said side;

(b) optical means positioned at a distance from said support means for facing said first side of said support means; and

(c) heat sink and sealing means provided on said second side of said support means.

11. A vehicle light according to claim 10, wherein said vehicle light is a vehicle backup light.

12. A vehicle light according to claim 10, wherein said heat sink and sealing means completely fills said second face of said support means.

13. A vehicle light according to claim 10, wherein said optical means includes a first surface facing an external side of said LED light that is substantially smooth and a second surface facing said support means.

14. A vehicle light according to claim 13, wherein said second surface of said optical means is contoured to include an upper region to refract light in first direction, a lower region to refract light in a second direction opposite to the first direction, and a middle region.

15. A vehicle light according to claim 14, wherein said middle region diverges light in a horizontal direction and converges light in a vertical direction.

16. A vehicle light according to claim 10, wherein said heat sink and sealing means includes a silicone based resin and a hardener material.

17. A vehicle light according to claim 10, wherein said optical means comprises a shelf configured to maintain said support means a predetermined distance from said optical means.

18. A LED vehicle light according to claim 10, wherein said support means comprises a plurality of rows of LEDs, and said optical means includes a plurality of rows of horizontal bands with one of the rows of horizontal bands aligning with one respective row of LEDs.