LED Assembly for Rear Lamps in an Automobile

• US 20080049438A1
• Filed: 08/22/2006
• Published: 02/28/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 08/22/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Philips Lumileds Lighting Company LLC (Apollo Global Management, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Philips Lumileds Lighting Company LLC (Apollo Global Management, Inc.)
• Inventors: Bloemen, Pascal J.H., Folkerts, Wiep, Pfeffer, Nicola B., Smits, Willem H.
• Granted Patent: US 7,431,486 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 362/540
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/0052 concentric
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/0058 Stacked, i.e. one lamp located behind the other in the optical axis direction
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/2607 comprising at least two indicating lamps
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 43/14 Light emitting diodes [LED]
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2107/60 on stacked substrates
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2113/00 Combination of light sources
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2115/10 Light-emitting diodes [LED]

Abstract

Various techniques are described herein for combining two or more LEDs in a single reflective cavity for a rear lamp in an automobile. The LEDs may be two or more different colors for performing different functions, such as a stop light, a turn signal, and a tail light. In one embodiment, the LEDs have side emitting lenses and are coaxially aligned in a parabolic reflector. The LEDs may be mounted facing each other or mounted in the same direction, or a combination of both. The LEDs may share a common heat sink. A second reflector may be positioned inside a larger reflector, where a first LED is mounted near the focal point of the larger reflector, and a second LED is mounted near the focal point of the inner reflector. Additional LEDs may also be mounted in either reflector and separately controlled.

Claims

1. A rear lamp assembly for an automobile comprising:

a first light emitting diode (LED) with a first side-emitting lens;

a second LED with a second side-emitting lens; and

a first reflector at least partially surrounding the first LED and the second LED,

wherein the first LED and the second LED are substantially coaxially aligned in the reflector, and wherein the first LED and the second LED are separately controlled for operation in a rear lamp assembly for a motor vehicle.

2. The assembly of claim 1 wherein the first LED emits light of a first color, and the second LED emits light of a second color different from the first color.

3. The assembly of claim 1 wherein the first side emitting lens and the second side emitting lens have top surfaces that face each other when the first LED and the second LED are coaxially aligned in the reflector.

4. The assembly of claim 1 wherein the first LED is mounted on a heat sink connected to a base of the reflector.

5. The assembly of claim 1 wherein the reflector is substantially parabolic, and the first LED and the second LED are positioned substantially at a focal point of the reflector.

6. The assembly of claim 1 further comprising current controllers connected to the first LED and the second LED.

7. The assembly of claim 1 wherein the first LED is a tail light of a motor vehicle, and the second LED is other than a tail light.

8. The assembly of claim 7 wherein the second LED is a stop light.

9. The assembly of claim 7 wherein the second LED is a turn signal.

10. The assembly of claim 1 wherein the first LED and the LED are substantially coaxially mounted in a same direction such that the first side emitting lens and the second side emitting lens do not face each other.

11. The assembly of claim 1 further comprising a second reflector at least partially surrounded by the first reflector, the second LED being mounted in the second reflector, such that light emitted by the first reflector substantially surrounds light emitted by the second reflector.

12. The assembly of claim 11 wherein the first LED and the second LED are substantially coaxially mounted in a same direction such that the first side emitting lens and the second side emitting lens do not face each other, the assembly further comprising a heat sink between the first LED and the second LED.

13. The assembly of claim 1 further comprising a third LED having a third side emitting lens, the third LED being partially surrounded by the first reflector and substantially coaxially aligned with the first LED and the second LED, the third LED being controlled separately from the first LED and the second LED.

14. The assembly of claim 13 wherein the third LED and the first LED are mounted in a same direction, and the third LED and second LED are mounted in opposite directions, wherein a top of the first side emitting lens faces a top of the second side emitting lens.

15. The assembly of claim 13 further comprising a second reflector at least partially surrounded by the first reflector, the third LED being mounted in the second reflector, such that light emitted by the first reflector substantially surrounds light emitted by the second reflector.

16. The assembly of claim 13 wherein the third LED and the first LED are mounted in a same direction, and the third LED and second LED are mounted in opposite directions, wherein a top of the first side emitting lens faces a top of the second side emitting lens, the assembly further comprising a heat sink between the third LED and the second LED for sinking heat from both the third LED and the second LED.

17. The assembly of claim 13 wherein the third LED emits light of a color that is different from a color of light emitted by the first LED and the second LED.

18. The assembly of claim 1 wherein the first reflector is substantially circular.

19. The assembly of claim 1 wherein the first reflector is substantially rectangular.

20. The assembly of claim 1 further comprising a diffusing lens over an opening in the first reflector.

21. A rear lamp assembly for an automobile comprising:

a first light emitting diode (LED) with a first side-emitting lens;

a first reflector at least partially surrounding the first LED;

a second LED with a second side-emitting lens; and

a second reflector at least partially surrounded by the first reflector, the second LED being mounted in the second reflector, such that light generated by the first LED and emitted by the first reflector substantially surrounds light emitted by the second reflector,

wherein the first LED and the second LED are separately controllable for operation in a rear lamp assembly for a motor vehicle to convey different information.

22. The assembly of claim 21 wherein a center line of the second reflector is substantially aligned with a center line of the first reflector.

23. The assembly of claim 21 further comprising a third LED with a side-emitting lens, the third LED mounted such that the first reflector at least partially surrounds the third LED and such that light generated by the third LED and emitted by the first reflector substantially surrounds light emitted by the second reflector.

24. The assembly of claim 23 further comprising a fourth LED with a side-emitting lens, the fourth LED mounted such that the first reflector at least partially surrounds the fourth LED and such that light generated by the fourth LED and emitted by the first reflector substantially surrounds light emitted by the second reflector.

25. The assembly of claim 24 wherein the first LED emits red light for a tail light, the second LED emits red light for a stop light, and the third LED emits amber light for a turn signal.

26. The assembly of claim 25 wherein the fourth LED emits amber light for a turn signal.