LED headlamp

• US 20080025037A1
• Filed: 07/28/2006
• Published: 01/31/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 07/28/2006
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Visteon Global Technologies Incorporated (Visteon Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Visteon Global Technologies Incorporated (Visteon Corporation)
• Inventors: Jones, Thomas L., Chinniah, Jeyachandrabose, Fallahi, Amir P.
• Application Number:
  US11/495,364
• Publication Number:
  US 20080025037A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 362/545
• 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 41/155 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]

Abstract

A lamp assembly is disclosed and includes a light source and a lens. The lens is configured to receive light from the light source and to project a predetermined beam pattern. The light source includes at least one LED chip and has a light-emitting surface that is defined by the at least one chip. The light-emitting surface is shaped to correspond with the predetermined beam pattern. Additional aspects of the invention include a LED light source for a lamp.

Claims

1. A lamp assembly comprising:

a light source including at least one LED chip and having a light-emitting surface defined by the at least one LED chip, wherein the light-emitting surface is configured to project a predefined light image therefrom; and

a lens configured to receive the light image and to project a predetermined beam pattern, wherein the light-emitting surface is shaped to correspond with the beam pattern.

2. The lamp assembly according to claim 1, wherein the beam pattern is an automotive low-beam pattern.

3. The lamp assembly according to claim 1, wherein the beam pattern is an automotive high-beam pattern.

4. The lamp assembly according to claim 1, wherein the light source includes at least two LED chips, the light-emitting surface being defined by the at least two LED chips.

5. The lamp according to claim 4, wherein the at least two LED chips are spaced in near-contiguous relationship to one another.

6. The lamp according to claim 4, wherein the at least two LED chips have a chip spacing that is less than 0.2 mm.

7. The lamp according to claim 4, wherein the at least two LED chips have a chip spacing that is less than 0.1 mm.

8. The lamp according to claim 4, wherein one of the at least two LED chips is configured to emit light at a first intensity, and another of the at least two LED chips is configured to emit light at a second intensity that is greater than the first intensity.

9. The lamp according to claim 1, further comprising a second light source including at least one LED chip and having a second light-emitting surface defined by the at least one LED chip, wherein the second light emitting surface is configured to project a second light image therefrom, and wherein the second light-emitting surface is shaped to correspond with a second predetermined beam pattern.

10. The lamp according to claim 9, wherein the first light source is independently operable with respect to the second light source.

11. The lamp according to claim 9, wherein the second light-emitting surface comprises at least a portion of the first light-emitting surface.

12. The lamp according to claim 9, wherein the first light source corresponds with an automotive low-beam pattern and the second light source corresponds with an automotive high-beam pattern.

13. The lamp according to claim 1, wherein the at least one LED chip has a shape selected from generally triangular, trapezoidal, and hexagonal.

14. The lamp according to claim 1, wherein the lens is a condenser lens.

15. The lamp according to claim 1, wherein the light source is disposed generally at a focal point of the lens.

16. The lamp according to claim 1, further comprising:

a second light source including at least one LED chip and having a second light-emitting surface defined by the at least one LED chip, the second light-emitting surface being configured to project a second light image therefrom, and the second light-emitting surface being shaped to correspond with a second predetermined beam pattern, wherein the first light source is independently operable with respect to the second light source, wherein, the second light-emitting surface comprises at least a portion of the first light-emitting surface, and wherein the first light source corresponds with an automotive low-beam pattern and the second light source corresponds with an automotive high-beam pattern;

wherein at least one of the first and second light sources includes at least two LED chips, the corresponding light-emitting surface being defined by the at least two LED chips, the LED chips having a chip spacing that is one of less than 0.2 mm and less than 0.1 mm, wherein one of the at least two LED chips is configured to emit light at a first intensity, and another of the at least two LED chips is configured to emit light at a second intensity that is greater than the first intensity, and wherein at least one of the LED chips has a shape selected from triangular, trapezoidal, and hexagonal;

wherein the lens is a condenser lens; and

wherein the first and second light images are emitted generally at a focal point of the lens.

17. A LED light source for a lamp having a predetermined beam pattern, the light source comprising at least two LED chips disposed in a near-contiguous relationship with respect to one another, the light source having a light-emitting surface defined by the at least two LED chips, wherein the light-emitting surface is shaped to correspond with the predetermined beam pattern.

18. The light source according to claim 17, wherein the at least two chips have a chip spacing of less than 0.2 mm.

19. The light source according to claim 17, wherein the at least two chips have a chip spacing of less than 0.1 mm.

20. The light source according to claim 17, wherein one of the at least two LED chips is configured to emit light at a first light intensity and another of the at least two LED chips is configured to emit light at a second light intensity that is greater than the first intensity.