LIGHT ASSEMBLY FOR A VEHICLE

• US 20110069505A1
• Filed: 08/31/2010
• Published: 03/24/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 08/31/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Rebo Lighting & Electronics, LLC
• Original Assignee: Federal-Mogul Corporation (Apollo Global Management, Inc.)
• Inventors: CHAMBERS, Joe Allen, Mehado Moya, Felipe De Jesus Domingo, Zelikovskaya, Nadeshda Alexsandrovina
• Granted Patent: US 8,235,569 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 362/516
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/2607 comprising at least two indicating lamps
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/56 for illuminating registrations or the like , e.g. for licence plates
• CPC Class Codes: B62J 6/04 Rear lights
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 43/14 Light emitting diodes [LED]
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 7/0008 providing for indirect lighting
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2107/90 on two opposite sides of supports or substrates
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2115/10 Light-emitting diodes [LED]

Abstract

The invention provides a light assembly to enable various light functions, such as braking lights, tail lights, license plate lights, flashers, etc., using LEDs that consume low power and have a long service life. The LEDs are located on a single, two-sided printed circuit board (PCB), which reduces the assembly costs and the size of tail light, as well as the complexity of assembly.

Claims

1. A light assembly for a vehicle, comprising a printed circuit board configured to illuminate at least one light on a first and second side of the printed circuit board, which at least one light enables the light assembly to provide multiple lighting functions.

2. The light assembly of claim 1, further comprising:

a housing to reflect light from the at least one light on the first side of the printed circuit board;

a lens covering the housing to diffuse and direct light outwardly;

a reflector receptor located beneath the lens; and

a reflector secured to the reflector receptor to reflect light.

3. The light assembly of claim 2, wherein the at least one light on the second side of the printed circuit board illuminates a license plate of the vehicle.

4. The light assembly of claim 2, wherein the single printed circuit board includes a first, a second and a third light on a first side, and a fourth light on a second side.

5. The light assembly of claim 4, wherein the first, second and third lights are configured to direct light onto the housing and reflect outwardly, and the fourth light is configured to direct light directly onto the license plate of the vehicle.

6. The light assembly of claim 5, wherein the lights are LEDs.

7. The light assembly of claim 6, wherein the LEDs illuminate a red or white color.

8. The light assembly of claim 1, wherein the printed circuit board further includes a plurality of LEDs as the at least one light which are electrically connected in series and driven by a power source on a first side of the printed circuit board, and a single LED as the at least one light electrically connected to a second side of the printed circuit board.

9. The light assembly of claim 8, wherein the plurality of LEDs operate to function as a stop and tail light, and the single LED operates to functions as a license plate light.

10. The light assembly of claim 1, wherein the multiple functions enable the light assembly to operate as at least one of:

a tail light, a stop light, a signal light, a flasher, a license plate light, an aviation light, a boat light and a navigation light.

11. A printed circuit board for use in a light assembly of a vehicle, comprising:

a first side having at least one light to operate as a first function; and

a second side having at least one light to operate as a second function.

12. The light assembly of claim 11, wherein the printed circuit board further includes a plurality of LEDs as the at least one light on the first side which are electrically connected in series and driven by a power source, and a single LED as the at least one light on the second side electrically connected to the power source.

13. The light assembly of claim 12, wherein the plurality of LEDs operate to function as a stop and tail light, and the single LED operates to function as a license plate light.

14. The light assembly of claim 11, wherein the printed circuit board is mounted inside of the light assembly, and the light assembly includes a housing to reflect light from the at least one light on the first side of the printed circuit board, a lens covering the housing to diffuse and direct light outwardly, a reflector receptor located beneath the lens, and a reflector secured to the reflector receptor to reflect light.

15. The light assembly of claim 11, wherein the at least one light on the first side of the printed circuit board operates to function as a stop and tail light, and the at least one light on the second side of the printed circuit board operates to functions as a license plate light.