Led array vehicle lamp

• US 5,528,474 A
• Filed: 07/18/1994
• Issued: 06/18/1996
• Est. Priority Date: 07/18/1994
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Grote Industries Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Grote Industries Incorporated
• Inventors: Rigsby, Bruce S., Roney, Troy L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Gromada, Denise L.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Sember, Thomas M.
• Application Number:
  US08/276,199
• Time in Patent Office: 701 Days
• Field of Search: 362/249, 362/800, 362/240, 362/235, 362/252, 362/61, 362/294, 362/373, 362/80.1, 362/80, 362/83.3, 264/1.7, 264/272.16, 264/272.13, 264/272.11
• US Class Current: 362/545
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/2696 Mounting of devices using LEDs
• CPC Class Codes: B61L 15/02 Head or tail indicators, e.g. light
• CPC Class Codes: B61L 2207/02 using light-emitting diodes [LEDs]
• CPC Class Codes: F21K 9/00 Light sources using semiconductor devices as light-generating elements, e.g. using light-emitting diodes [LED] or lasers
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 43/14 Light emitting diodes [LED]
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 43/195 Details of lamp holders, terminals or connectors
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 43/26 Refractors, transparent cover plates, light guides or filters not provided in groups F21S43/235 - F21S43/255
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 45/48 with means for conducting heat from the inside to the outside of the lighting devices, e.g. with fins on the outer surface of the lighting device
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 45/50 Waterproofing
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 23/06 the elements being coupling devices , e.g. connectors
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 29/74 with fins or blades
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 29/87 Organic material, e.g. filled polymer composites; Thermo-conductive additives or coatings therefor
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2115/10 Light-emitting diodes [LED]
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 9/33 being semiconductor devices, e.g. diodes
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 25/13 the devices being of a type provided for in group H01L33/00
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2924/00 Indexing scheme for arrangements or methods for connecting or disconnecting semiconductor or solid-state bodies as covered by H01L24/00
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2924/0002 Not covered by any one of groups H01L24/00, H01L24/00 and H01L2224/00
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 362/80 Light emitting diode

Abstract

A lamp, such as for truck trailers and/or tractors, is provided with LEDs mounted to a circuit board placed in a housing. The LEDs and circuit boards are fully embedded in a resin material cured with thermally conductive particles suspended therein for conducting excess heat to the outer aluminum housing and the outer environment. The lens cover has a series of parallel, elongated lens ribs providing constant optics while allowing additional LEDs to be positioned in a row behind a lens rib. The LED circuit board has large traces to enhance heat dissipation.

Claims

1. A lamp assembly, comprising:

a housing defining an inner surface;

a light transmissive window member on said housing, wherein said housing inner surface and said window member form a space therebetween;

at least one light emitting unit mounted to a front face of a circuit board member located within said space, wherein said light emitting unit also emits heat; and

,

a formable thermally conductive medium located within said space, said medium including a formable matrix material having a first coefficient of thermal conductivity and a suspended material comprising heat conductive particles suspended in said matrix material, said particles having a second coefficient of thermal conductivity which is higher than said first coefficient of thermal conductivity, wherein said thermally conductive medium conducts heat emitted from the light emitting unit out of the lamp assembly; and

,

wherein said circuit board member is substantially fully embedded in said formable thermally conductive medium having said formable matrix material formed in contact with said light emitting unit and formed in contact with said circuit board member along said front face thereof and formed in contact with said circuit board member along said back face thereof and formed in contact with said inner surface of said housing.

2. The lamp assembly of claim 1 and further comprising:

a plurality of light emitting units located within said space which also emit heat, wherein said plurality of light emitting units comprise light emitting diodes.

3. The lamp assembly of claim 2 wherein said light emitting diodes are positioned in at least one row, said row being generally parallel with said light transmissive window member, and further comprising:

an elongated lens rib along said window member and running along and in front of said row of light emitting diodes, said lens rib having a generally circular curvature when viewed in cross-section and further having said curvature remain generally constant along at least portions of said lens rib in an elongated direction to allow selective positioning of said light emitting diodes at various locations along said elongated lens rib with substantially constant optics by said elongated lens rib.

4. The lamp assembly of claim 3 wherein said housing is made from a heat conductive metal formed as a cup to receive said formable matrix material.

5. The lamp assembly of claim 4 and further comprising a plurality of rows of light emitting diodes forming an array, and a plurality of generally parallel lens ribs positioned along said window member and respectively running along and in front of said rows of light emitting diodes.

6. The lamp assembly of claim 5 wherein said heat conductive particles comprise alumina particles.

7. The lamp assembly of claim 6 and further comprising an electrical coupling having three triangularly disposed male contacts projecting from a back side or said housing to provide electrical energy to power the lamp assembly.

8. The lamp assembly of claim 7 wherein a water-tight seal is formed between said housing and said window member, wherein said space therebetween is water-tight.

9. The lamp assembly of claim 1 and further comprising a plurality of rows of Light emitting diodes forming an array, and a plurality of generally parallel lens ribs positioned along said window member and respectively running along and in front of said rows of light emitting diodes.

10. The lamp assembly of claim 1 wherein said heat conductive particles comprise alumina particles.

11. The lamp assembly of claim 1 and further comprising an electrical coupling having three triangularly disposed male contacts projecting from a back side of said housing to provide electrical energy to power the lamp assembly.

12. The lamp assembly of claim 1 wherein said housing is made from a heat conductive metal.

13. The lamp assembly of claim 1 wherein a water-tight seal is formed between said housing and said window member, wherein said space therebetween is water-tight.

14. A lamp assembly, comprising:

a housing defining an inner surface having a bottom and side walls extending therefrom;

a light transmissive window member on said housing, wherein said housing inner surface and said window member form a space therebetween;

a row of light emitting units mounted to a carrier located within said space, said row being generally parallel with said light transmissive window member;

an elongated lens rib along said window member and running along and in front of said row of light emitting units, said lens rib having a generally circular curvature when viewed in cross-section and further having said curvature remain generally constant along at least portions of said lens rib to allow selective positioning of said light emitting units at various locations along said elongated lens rib with substantially constant optics by said elongated lens rib;

a formable thermal conductive medium including heat conductive particles encapsulated therein located within said space, wherein said carrier is at least partially embedded in said formable medium and said medium is bonded to said inner bottom surface of said housing.

15. The lamp assembly of claim 14 wherein said housing is made from a heat conductive metal.

16. The lamp assembly of claim 15 and further comprising a plurality of rows of light emitting diodes forming an array, and a plurality of generally parallel lens ribs positioned along said window member and respectively running along and in front of said rows of light emitting diodes.

17. The lamp assembly of claim 16 and further comprising an electrical coupling having three triangularly disposed male contacts projecting from a back side of said housing to provide electrical energy to power the lamp assembly.

18. The lamp assembly of claim 17 wherein a water-tight seal is formed between said housing and said window member, wherein said space therebetween is water-tight.

19. The lamp assembly of claim 14 and further comprising a plurality of rows of light emitting diodes forming an array, and a plurality of generally parallel lens ribs positioned along said window member and respectively running along and in front of said rows of light emitting diodes.

20. The lamp assembly of claim 14 and further comprising an electrical coupling having three triangularly disposed male contacts projecting from a back side of said housing to provide electrical energy to power the lamp assembly.

21. The lamp assembly of claim 14 wherein a water-tight seal is formed between said housing and said window member, wherein said space therebetween is water-tight.

25. The lamp assembly of claim 14 wherein said formable medium is further bonded to at least a portion of said inner side wall surface of said housing.

22. A method for making a lamp assembly, comprising the steps of:

providing a housing;

positioning a circuit board having a plurality of light emitting diodes mounted thereto in said housing;

filling at least a portion of said housing with an initially fluid material in contact with said circuit board;

solidifying said initially fluid material into a solid material bonded to said housing and having said circuit board embedded therein, said solid material including heat conductive particles for conducting heat generated from said light emitting diodes away from said circuit board; and

,

placing a light transmissive window member onto said housing and over said light emitting diodes.

23. The method of claim 22 wherein said light emitting diodes are positioned in at least one row, said row being generally parallel with said light transmissive window member;

and wherein said light transmissive window further includes an elongated lens rib along said window member and running along and in front of said row of light emitting diodes, said lens rib having a generally circular curvature when viewed in cross-section and further having said curvature remain generally constant along at least portions of said lens rib in an elongated direction to allow selective positioning of said light emitting diodes at various locations along said elongated lens rib with substantially constant optics by said elongated lens rib.

24. The method of claim 22 wherein said housing is made from a heat conductive metal formed as a cup to receive said initially fluid material;

whereby heat generated from said light emitting diodes is conducted away from said circuit board by said solid material toward said heat conductive metal cup bonded thereto.