Marker light utilizing light emitting diodes disposed on a flexible circuit board

• US 5,585,783 A
• Filed: 06/28/1994
• Issued: 12/17/1996
• Est. Priority Date: 06/28/1994
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Hall, Roger E.
• Original Assignee: Hall, Roger E.
• Inventors: Hall, Roger E.
• Primary Examiner(s): SWARTHOUT, BRENT
• Application Number:
  US08/267,128
• Time in Patent Office: 903 Days
• Field of Search: 340/472, 340/473, 340/981, 340/982, 340/983, 340/321, 340/331, 340/332, 340/815.45, 340/908, 340/908.1, 340/984, 340/985, 362/103, 362/84, 362/83.3, 362/800
• US Class Current: 340/473
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 7/00 Arrangement or adaptation of portable emergency signal devices on vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 10/06 flashing, e.g. with rotating reflector or light source signalling lighting devices mounted on vehicles B60Q1/26
• CPC Class Codes: F21W 2111/02 for roads, paths or the like
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2107/00 Light sources with three-dimensionally disposed light-generating elements
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2107/30 on the outer surface of cylindrical surfaces, e.g. rod-shaped supports having a circular or a polygonal cross section
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2115/10 Light-emitting diodes [LED]
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 1/0393 Flexible materials H05K1/038 takes precedence; specific organic compositions are classified in H05K1/0313 and subgroups
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 1/18 Printed circuits structurally associated with non-printed electric components H05K1/0201, H05K1/023, H05K1/0243, and H05K1/16 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 362/80 Light emitting diode

Abstract

A marker light device includes a bendable printed circuit board, a group of light emitting diodes disposed on the bendable printed circuit board and electrically connected thereto, and a power source electrically connected to the bendable printed circuit board, thereby causing the illumination of the group of light emitting diodes. The bendable printed circuit board includes an electronic circuit for intermittently turning the group of light emitting diodes on and off at a predetermined time interval to provide a flashing light. The bendable printed circuit board, when folded such that the opposite ends thereof substantially meet, includes two panels such that the group of light emitting diodes disposed on the first panel faces in a direction generally opposite to the group of light emitting diodes disposed on the second panel, whereby the light emitting diodes project light in substantially parallel beams.

Claims

1. A marker light device comprising:

a) at least one flexible circuit board;

b) at least one light emitting diode disposed on said at least one flexible circuit board and electrically connected thereto, wherein said an least one light emitting diode is comprised of an array of flight emitting diodes wherein said array includes at least two parallel linear arrays of light emitting diodes;

c) a power source electrically connected to said at least one flexible circuit board, thereby causing the illumination of said at least one light emitting diode;

d) a power source housing of a fluid tight material for housing said power source;

e) a light source housing of a fluid tight material for housing said at least one light emitting diode;

f) a gasket positioned between said power source housing and said light source housing for providing a fluid seal therebetween; and

g) fastening means for securing said power source housing to said light source housing,

wherein said at least one flexible circuit board is cylindrically shaped and includes an electronic circuit for intermittently turning said light emitting diodes comprising said array on and off in sequence at predetermined time intervals to provide the appearance of a rotating deacon.

2. A marker light device comprising:

a) at least one flexible circuit board.;

b) at least one light emitting diode disposed on said at least one flexible circuit board and electrically connected thereto, wherein said at least one light emitting diode is comprised of an array of light emitting diodes wherein said array includes at least two parallel linear arrays of light emitting diodes;

c) a power source electrically connected to said at least one flexible circuit board, thereby causing the illumination of said at least one light emitting diode;

d) a power source housing of a fluid tight material for housing said power source;

e) a light source housing of a fluid tight material for housing said at least one light emitting diode;

f) a gasket positioned between said power source housing and said light source housing for providing a fluid seal therebetween; and

g) fastening means for securing said power source housing to said light source housing,

wherein said at least one flexible circuit board, when folded such that the opposite ends of said at least one flexible circuit board substantially meet, includes two panels such that said array of light emitting diodes disposed on said first panel faces in a direction generally opposite to said array of light emitting diodes disposed on said second panel, whereby said light emitting diodes project light in substantially parallel beams.

3. A marker light device comprising:

a) at least one flexible circuit board;

b) at least one light emitting diode disposed on said at least one flexible circuit board and electrically connected thereto, wherein said at least one light emitting diode is comprised of an array of light emitting diodes wherein said array includes at least two parallel linear arrays of light emitting diodes;

c) a power source electrically connected to said at least one flexible circuit board, thereby causing the illumination of said at least one light emitting diode;

d) a power source housing of a fluid tight material for housing said power source;

e) a light source housing of a fluid tight material for housing said at least one light emitting diode;

f) a gasket positioned between said power source housing and said light source housing for providing a fluid seal therebetween; and

g) fastening means for securing said power source housing to said light sources housing,

wherein said at least one flexible circuit board is folded into the shape of a cylinder such that said array of light emitting diodes disposed on said at least one flexible circuit board project light in substantially parallel beams in substantially all directions.

4. A marker light device comprising:

a) at least one flexible circuit board;

b) at least one light emitting diode disposed on said at least one flexible circuit board and electrically connected thereto, wherein said at least one light emitting diode is comprised of an array of light emitting diodes wherein said array includes at least two parallel linear arrays of light emitting diodes;

c) a power source electrically connected to said at least one flexible circuit board, thereby causing the illumination said at least one light emitting diode;

d) a power source housing of a fluid tight material for housing said power source;

e) a light source housing of a fluid tight material for housing said at least one light emitting diode;

f) a gasket positioned between said power source housing and said light source housing for providing a fluid seal therebetween; and

g) fastening means for securing said power source housing to said light sources housing,

wherein said at least one flexible circuit board is comprised of a convex surface and a concave surface, whereby said array of light emitting diodes are disposed on said convex surface, thereby causing said light emitting diodes to project light in diverging beams so as to provide a source of diffuse light.

5. A marker light device comprising:

a) at least one flexible circuit board;

b) a plurality of light emitting diodes disposed on said at least one flexible circuit board and electrically connected thereto, said plurality of light emitting diodes being comprised of at least two parallel linear arrays of light emitting diodes and said flexible circuit board being comprised of a concave surface and a convex surface, whereby said plurality of light emitting diodes are disposed on said concave surface, thereby causing said light emitting diodes to project light in converging beams so as to provide a concentrated point illuminator; and

c) a power source electrically connected to said at least one flexible circuit board, thereby causing the illumination of said light emitting diodes.