Marker lamp with LED array and prismatic diffuser

• US 5,325,271 A
• Filed: 06/10/1992
• Issued: 06/28/1994
• Est. Priority Date: 06/10/1992
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Dominion Automotive Group, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Dominion Automotive Industries Corp.
• Inventors: Hutchisson, James T.
• Primary Examiner(s): O'Shea, Sandra L.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Patel, Vip
• Application Number:
  US07/896,178
• Time in Patent Office: 748 Days
• Field of Search: 313/500, 313/116, 313/512, 362/32, 362/61, 362/80, 362/83.3, 362/240, 362/800, 220/2.1 R, D26/35
• US Class Current: 362/555
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/2696 Mounting of devices using LEDs
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/32 for indicating vehicle sides , e.g. clearance lights
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 43/14 Light emitting diodes [LED]
• CPC Class Codes: F21W 2107/00 Use or application of lighting devices on or in particular types of vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2107/10 on concave supports or substrates, e.g. on the inner side of bowl-shaped supports
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2115/10 Light-emitting diodes [LED]
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/395 Linear regulators
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 20/30 Semiconductor lamps, e.g. solid state lamps [SSL] light emitting diodes [LED] or organic LED [OLED]

Abstract

A lamp assembly (10) for use as a vehicle marker lamp or a vehicle clearance lamp is disclosed. A lamp assembly includes a multifaceted prismatic diffuser (12) to which a number of LEDs (14) are fitted. The diffuser has an outwardly directed portion (20), a center portion (22), and an inwardly directed portion (24). The outwardly directed portion and inwardly directed portion are both formed with angularly offset facets (26-38). The LEDs are fitted into openings (40) that are formed in the facets (32, 34) of the inwardly directed portion of the diffuser. When the LEDs are energized, the light emitted thereby is initially diffused throughout all of the diffuser. It is then emitted from the facets forming the outer portion of the diffuser such that it can be seen over a wide viewing angle.

Claims

1. A lamp assembly comprising:

a prismatic diffuser formed out of a solid section of transparent material, wherein said diffuser is formed with a multiplicity of facets that are angularly offset from each other including at least two said facets that define an outwardly directed section relative to a structure to which said assembly is attached and at least one of said multiplicity of facets other than said outwardly directed facets is formed with an opening; and

a light-emitting source disposed in said facet opening.

2. The lamp assembly of claim 1, wherein said diffuser is formed with at least two said facets other than said outwardly directed facets, that are angularly offset from each other and said at least two angularly offset facets are each formed with an opening and a light-emitting source is disposed in each said facet opening.

3. The lamp assembly of claim 2, wherein said facets formed with openings are located adjacent each other.

4. The lamp assembly of claim 1, wherein:

said prismatic diffuser is formed with said outwardly directed section, a center section coincident with said outwardly directed section, and an inwardly directed section coincident with said center section located distal from said outwardly directed section, and said inwardly directed section is formed with a face facet and two side facets such that said face facets and said side facets are angularly offset from each other and said side facets and face facets of said inwardly directed portion are each formed with an opening; and

a light-emitting source is disposed in each of said openings.

5. The lamp assembly of claim 2, wherein said light-emitting source comprises a set of LEDs.

6. The lamp assembly of claim 4, wherein said light-emitting source comprises a set of LEDs.

7. The lamp assembly of claim 4, wherein said facets have a flat profile.

8. The lamp assembly of claim 4, wherein said outwardly directed portion is further formed with an upper facet and a lower facet such that said upper and lower facets are angularly offset from said side and face facets.

9. The lamp assembly of claim 6, wherein said outwardly directed portion is further formed with an upper facet and a lower facet such that said upper and lower facets are offset from said side and face facets.

10. The lamp assembly of claim 2, wherein said diffuser is formed with at least four said facet openings, one of said light-emitting sources being disposed in each said facet opening, and two of said light-emitting sources emitting light of a first color and two of said light-emitting sources emitting light of a second color different from said first color.

11. The lamp assembly of claim 3, wherein said diffuser is formed with at least four said facet openings, one of said light-emitting sources being disposed in each said facet opening, and two of said light-emitting sources emitting light of a first color and two of said light-emitting sources emitting light of a second color different from said first color.

12. The lamp assembly of claim 2, further including a light-generating unit, and at least one optical transmission cable extending between said light-generating unit and said prismatic diffuser, wherein said at least one optical transmission cable extends into said facet openings to transmit light through said openings into said diffuser.

13. The lamp assembly of claim 12, wherein said at least one cable is provided with a plurality of branches wherein each said branch extends into one of said facet openings.

14. A lamp assembly comprising:

a prismatic diffuser having an outwardly directed section formed with at least two facets that are angularly offset from each other and an inwardly directed section distal from said outwardly directed section formed with at least two facets that are angularly offset from each other, wherein said inwardly directed facets are each formed with an opening; and

separate LEDs are located in each said facet opening.

15. The lamp assembly of claim 14, wherein said prismatic diffuser is formed with three angularly offset, inwardly directed facets that are contiguous with each other, each said facet is formed with a facet opening, and a separate LED is disposed in each said facet opening.