FLEXIBLE LED LIGHTING STRIP WITH SLANTED LEDS

• US 20190331311A1
• Filed: 04/24/2019
• Published: 10/31/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 04/26/2018
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Lumileds LLC (Apollo Global Management, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Lumileds Holding B.V. (Apollo Global Management, Inc.)
• Inventors: CROMPVOETS, Floris Maria Hermansz, KLEIJNEN, Christian
• Granted Patent: US 11,168,862 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 4/24 of ribbon or tape form, e.g. LED tapes
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 43/14 Light emitting diodes [LED]
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 43/15 Strips of light sources
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 43/195 Details of lamp holders, terminals or connectors
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 43/235 Light guides
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2103/10 comprising a linear array of point-like light-generating elements
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2103/30 curved
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2107/50 on planar substrates or supports, but arranged in different planes or with differing orientation, e.g. on plate-shaped supports with steps on which light-generating elements are mounted
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2115/10 Light-emitting diodes [LED]

Abstract

The invention describes a flexible lighting strip for use in a vehicle signaling light. The flexible lighting strip comprises a multitude of light-emitting diodes. The flexible lighting strip is arranged to be bended around at least two, more preferably three linear independent axes. Light-emitting diodes of at least a first group of the light-emitting diodes are inclined with respect to a longitudinal extension of the flexible lighting strip such that surface normals of light exit surfaces of the first group of the light-emitting diodes enclose a first angle of more than 0° with corresponding surface normals of a light emission surface of the flexible lighting strip. The invention further relates to a light assembly comprising such a flexible lighting strip. The invention finally relates to a vehicle signaling light comprising such a vehicle light assembly.

Claims

1. A flexible lighting strip for use in a vehicle signaling light comprising:

a multitude of light-emitting diodes,

wherein the flexible lighting strip is arranged to be bended around at least two, more preferably three linear independent axes,

wherein light-emitting diodes of at least a first group of the light-emitting diodes are inclined with respect to a longitudinal extension of the flexible lighting strip such that surface normals of light exit surfaces of the first group of the light-emitting diodes enclose a first angle of more than 0°

with corresponding surface normals of a light emission surface of the flexible lighting strip,

wherein the light-emitting diodes are mounted on a carrier structure,

wherein the carrier structure is arranged to incline the light-emitting diodes with respect to the light emission surface of the flexible lighting strip, and

wherein the carrier structure is arranged such that the angles between the surface normal of a light exit surface of a first light-emitting diode and the corresponding surface normal of a first part of the light emission surface associated with the first light-emitting diode increases with increasing curvature of the first part of the light emission surface.

2. The flexible lighting strip according to claim 1,

wherein the flexible lighting strip comprises at least a second group of the light-emitting diodes,

wherein the light-emitting diodes of the second group of the light-emitting diodes are inclined with respect to the longitudinal extension of the flexible lighting strip such that the surface normals of light exit surfaces of the second group of the light-emitting diodes enclose a second angle of more than 0°

with the corresponding surface normals of the light emission surface of the flexible lighting strip, and

wherein the second angle is different than the first angle.

3. The flexible lighting strip according claim 1,

wherein the flexible lighting strip comprises at least three groups of the light-emitting diodes,

wherein the light-emitting diodes of the at least three groups are inclined with respect to the longitudinal extension of the flexible lighting strip such that the surface normals of light exit surfaces of the at least three groups of the light-emitting diodes enclose different angles of more than 0°

with the corresponding surface normals of the light emission surface of the flexible lighting strip, and

wherein the angles change along a longitudinal extension of the flexible lighting strip.

4. The flexible lighting strip according to claim 1,

wherein the carrier structure comprises carrier elements and connection elements in an alternating arrangement, and

wherein the carrier elements are inclined with respect to the connection elements.

5. The flexible lighting strip according to claim 4, wherein the carrier elements and the connection elements are arranged in a saw tooth arrangement.

6. The flexible lighting strip according to claim 1, wherein the carrier structure comprises an anode track and a cathode track for supplying electrical power to the light-emitting diodes.

7. The flexible lighting strip according to claim 1, wherein the light-emitting diodes are embedded in a flexible translucent material.

8. The flexible lighting strip according to claim 7, wherein the translucent material is comprised by a light guiding structure, and wherein the light guiding structure is framed by a frame structure such that light emitted by the light-emitting diodes during operation of the flexible lighting strip leaves the light guiding structure via an opening of the frame structure.

9. The flexible lighting strip according to claim 1, wherein the flexible lighting strip further comprises a diffusor, wherein the diffusor is arranged to change a light distribution of light emitted by the light-emitting diodes during operation of the flexible lighting strip.

10. The flexible lighting strip according to claim 9, wherein the diffusor is arranged such that light outcoupling of light emitted by the light-emitting diodes is weighted in a direction perpendicular to the surface normals of the light emission surface of the flexible lighting strip.

11. A vehicle light assembly comprising:

an electrical interface, wherein the electrical interface is arranged to couple the vehicle light assembly to an external power supply; and

a flexible lighting strip including a multitude of light-emitting diodes,

wherein the flexible lighting strip is arranged to be bended around at least two, more preferably three linear independent axes,

wherein light-emitting diodes of at least a first group of the light-emitting diodes are inclined with respect to a longitudinal extension of the flexible lighting strip such that surface normals of light exit surfaces of the first group of the light-emitting diodes enclose a first angle of more than 0°

with corresponding surface normals of a light emission surface of the flexible lighting strip,

wherein the light-emitting diodes are mounted on a carrier structure,

wherein the carrier structure is arranged to incline the light-emitting diodes with respect to the light emission surface of the flexible lighting strip, and

wherein the carrier structure is arranged such that the angles between the surface normal of a light exit surface of a first light-emitting diode and the corresponding surface normal of a first part of the light emission surface associated with the first light-emitting diode increases with increasing curvature of the first part of the light emission surface.

12. A vehicle signaling light comprising:

a vehicle light assembly including an electrical interface, wherein the electrical interface is arranged to couple the vehicle light assembly to an external power supply, a flexible lighting strip having a multitude of light-emitting diodes, and an electrical driver arranged to provide an electrical drive current to the light-emitting diodes,

wherein the flexible lighting strip is arranged to be bended around at least two, more preferably three linear independent axes,

wherein light-emitting diodes of at least a first group of the light-emitting diodes are inclined with respect to a longitudinal extension of the flexible lighting strip such that surface normals of light exit surfaces of the first group of the light-emitting diodes enclose a first angle of more than 0°

with corresponding surface normals of a light emission surface of the flexible lighting strip,

wherein the light-emitting diodes are mounted on a carrier structure,

wherein the carrier structure is arranged to incline the light-emitting diodes with respect to the light emission surface of the flexible lighting strip,

wherein the carrier structure is arranged such that the angles between the surface normal of a light exit surface of a first light-emitting diode and the corresponding surface normal of a first part of the light emission surface associated with the first light-emitting diode increases with increasing curvature of the first part of the light emission surface.