Automotive signal lamps

• US 5,746,497 A
• Filed: 05/31/1996
• Issued: 05/05/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 06/09/1995
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Koito Manufacturing Company Limited
• Original Assignee: Koito Manufacturing Company Limited
• Inventors: Machida, Tsutomu
• Primary Examiner(s): Yeung, James C.
• Application Number:
  US08/655,832
• Time in Patent Office: 704 Days
• Field of Search: 362/80, 362/80.1, 362/311, 362/340, 362/479, 362/294, 362/249, 362/800, 362/396, 340/479
• US Class Current: 362/496
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/2696 Mounting of devices using LEDs
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/302 mounted in the vicinity, e.g. in the middle, of a rear window
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 43/14 Light emitting diodes [LED]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 362/80 Light emitting diode

Abstract

An automotive signal lamp including a plurality of light emitting diodes arranged along an edge of a base plate disposed within a lamp chamber, a plus line connector formed of a web-like conductive material and extending in an alignment direction of the light emitting diodes, and a minus line connector formed of a web-like conductive material and extending substantially in parallel with the plus line connector, wherein a predetermined number of the light emitting diodes constitute one light emitting diode group, one lead connector of each of the light emitting diodes is integrally formed with one lead connector of the adjacent light emitting diode through a joint piece, an outer lead connector of one utmost light emitting diode of the light emitting diode groups connects to the plus line connector through the short-circuit piece, and an outer lead connector of the other utmost light emitting diode of the light emitting diode group connects to a minus line connector through a resistor which is provided to bridge over the plus line connector.

Claims

1. An automotive signal lamp, comprising:

a lamp body having a base plate;

a plurality of light source group arranging in series each consisting of a plurality of light source elements, said light source elements being arranged on a front end part of said base plate of said lamp body along a front edge thereof;

a plus line connector formed of a conductive material, said plus line connector being secured to and arranged in substantially parallel with said base plate of said lamp body;

a minus line connector formed of a conductive material, said minus line connector being secured to said base plate of said lamp body and arranged in substantially parallel with said plus line;

a plurality of a first and second lead connectors projecting from each of said light source elements, said first lead connector of each of said light source elements within each light source group connecting to said second lead connector of the adjacent light source element within the same light source group, said first lead connector of the first end light source element of each of said light source group connecting to said plus line connector, and said second lead connector of the second end light source element of each of said light source group connecting to said minus line connector; and

a lamp connector comprising a plus side power supply terminal electrically engaging with said plus line connector, a minus side power supply terminal electrically engaging with said minus line connector, and an enclosure wall surrounding said plus and minus side power supply terminal.

2. The automotive signal lamp according to claim 1, wherein said light source element comprises a light emitting diode.

3. The automotive signal lamp according to claim 1, wherein said power supply terminal comprises a couple of engagement pieces projecting therefrom, which sandwich said line connector in a first direction, and said line connector comprises two pairs of short tongue pieces, each pair sandwich said power supply terminal in a second direction perpendicular to said first direction.

4. The automotive signal lamp according to claim 3, wherein said line connector further comprises a positioning hole and said power supply terminal further comprises a projection fitting in said positioning hole of said line connector.

5. The automotive signal lamp according to claim 1, wherein said plus and minus side power supply terminals are integrally formed with said plus and minus line connectors, respectively.

6. The automotive signal lamp according to claim 1, wherein said line connectors are secured to said base plate by fitting and caulking bosses formed on said base plate in holes formed in said line connectors.

7. The automotive signal lamp according to claim 1, wherein said line connectors are secured to said base plate by screws.

8. The automotive signal lamp according to claim 1, wherein said power supply terminal comprises a connecting code having one end connecting to a terminal and the other end being soldered to said line connector.

9. The automotive signal lamp according to claim 1, further comprising a lens body coupled to said lamp body.

10. The automotive lamp according to claim 1, wherein the automotive signal lamp is a high-mount stop lamp.

11. A process for producing an automotive signal lamp comprising steps of:

preparing a lamp body having a base plate;

preparing a lead frame formed of a conductive material in one unit, said lead frame comprising a plurality of light source elements, a plus line connector, a minus line connector, a plurality of a first and second lead connectors projecting from each of said light source elements, connecting pieces connecting said plus line connector, said minus line connector, said first lead connector and said second lead connector to one another;

connecting resistors and diodes to predetermined positions of said lead frame;

cutting out said connecting pieces; and

mounting said lead frame on said base plate of said lamp body and securing thereto.

12. The process according to claim 11, wherein said light source element comprises a light emitting diode.

13. The process according to claim 11, wherein said lead frame is formed integrally with a plus power supply terminal connecting to said plus line connector and a minus power supply terminal connecting to said minus line connector.

14. The process according to claim 11, further comprising a step of connecting a plus power supply terminal separately prepared from said lead frame to said plus line connector and connecting a minus power supply terminal separately prepared from said lead frame to said minus line connector.

15. A process for producing an automotive signal lamp comprising steps of:

preparing a lamp body having a base plate;

preparing a lead frame formed of a conductive material in one unit, said lead frame comprising a plurality of light source elements, a plus line connector, a minus line connector, a plurality of a first and second lead connectors projecting from each of said light source elements, connecting pieces connecting said plus line connector, said minus line connector, said first lead connector and said second lead connector to one another;

cutting out said connecting pieces;

connecting resistors and diodes to predetermined positions of said lead frame; and

mounting said lead frame on said base plate of said lamp body and securing thereto.

16. The process according to claim 15, wherein said light source element comprises a light emitting diode.

17. The process according to claim 15, wherein said lead frame is formed integrally with a plus power supply terminal connecting to said plus line connector and a minus power supply terminal connecting to said minus line connector.

18. The process according to claim 15, further comprising a step of connecting a plus power supply terminal separately prepared from said lead frame to said plus line connector and connecting a minus power supply terminal separately prepared from said lead frame to said minus line connector.

19. A process for producing an automotive signal lamp comprising steps of:

preparing a lamp body having a base plate;

preparing a lead frame formed of a conductive material in one unit, said lead frame comprising a plurality of light source elements, a plus line connector, a minus line connector, a plurality of a first and second lead connectors projecting from each of said light source elements, connecting pieces connecting said plus line connector, said minus line connector, said first lead connector and said second lead connector to one another;

mounting said lead frame on said base plate of said lamp body and securing thereto;

cutting out said connecting pieces; and

connecting resistors and diodes to predetermined positions of said lead frame.

20. The process according to claim 19, wherein said light source element comprises a light emitting diode.

21. The process according to claim 19, wherein said lead frame is formed integrally with a plus power supply terminal connecting to said plus line connector and a minus power supply terminal connecting to said minus line connector.

22. The process according to claim 19, further comprising a step of connecting a plus power supply terminal separately prepared from said lead frame to said plus line connector and connecting a minus power supply terminal separately prepared from said lead frame to said minus line connector.