LED-illuminated stop/tail lamp assembly

• US 5,765,940 A
• Filed: 10/21/1996
• Issued: 06/16/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 10/31/1995
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Dialight Corporation (Dialight PLC)
• Original Assignee: Dialight Corporation (Dialight PLC)
• Inventors: You, Chenhua, Levy, Robert, Yang, Yubo, Grossman, Hyman
• Primary Examiner(s): Lazarus, Ira S.
• Assistant Examiner(s): SPARK, MATTHEW J
• Application Number:
  US08/734,138
• Time in Patent Office: 603 Days
• Field of Search: 362/240, 362/237, 362/236, 362/227, 362/800, 362/61, 362/80.1, 362/244, 362/249, 362/336, 362/337, 362/267, 362/311, 362/333, 362/83.3, 362/80, 340/815.4, 340/815.45
• US Class Current: 362/240
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/2696 Mounting of devices using LEDs
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 43/14 Light emitting diodes [LED]
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 9/33 being semiconductor devices, e.g. diodes
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/37 Converter circuits
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/56 involving measures to prevent abnormal temperature of the LEDs
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 20/30 Semiconductor lamps, e.g. solid state lamps [SSL] light emitting diodes [LED] or organic LED [OLED]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 362/80 Light emitting diode

Abstract

The present invention relates to an LED-illuminated lamp assembly which includes a lens that is capable of directing light from the LEDs both horizontally and vertically. The taillight mode is also directed slightly upward so as to comply with applicable lighting regulations. The lamp assembly also includes a current regulating assembly which is mounted within the housing and attached to a power source for providing current to LEDs positioned within the housing. The LEDs are mounted on an LED board assembly. The current regulating assembly is capable of maintaining steady current through the LEDs independent of the power source voltage so as to prevent an overheating of the LEDs at higher than normal voltages and to provide constant, non-flickering light output with varying input voltages.

Claims

1. A lamp assembly comprising:

a housing;

an LED board assembly having a plurality of LEDs mounted thereon, said LED board assembly being mounted within said housing;

a current regulating assembly having a single circuit which provides one of a high current level and a low current level mounted within said housing and on a wall of said housing so as to be positioned between said LED board assembly and said wall, said current regulating assembly being attached to a power source for providing current to the LEDs mounted on the LED board assembly, wherein said current regulating assembly provides constant current to the LEDs independent of voltage variation of the power source so as to prevent overheating of the LEDs at high supply voltages and insufficient illumination at low supply voltages, said plurality of LEDs including a first group of LEDs providing a nearly constant illumination level at both the high and low current levels and a second group of LEDs providing a substantially increased illumination level in response to the high current level, and wherein said current regulating assembly comprises a first output which provides current to said plurality of LEDs in either the low current level for a tail light mode or the high current level for a brake light mode, and a second output which provides a return path for the current to the current regulating assembly; and

a lens mounted on an opening of said housing to enclose said housing and distribute light emitted from the LEDs.

2. A lamp assembly according to claim 1, wherein said housing comprises a recessed opening through which a power line from the power source enters said housing, said recessed opening being filled with a potting material for sealing said recessed opening.

3. A lamp assembly according to claim 1, wherein said lens comprises bands of hyperbolic surfaces which extend in a first direction and centrally located grooves which extend in a second direction substantially perpendicular to the first direction, said grooves directing some light from said LEDs in a horizontal and slightly upward direction.

4. A lamp assembly according to claim 1, further comprising a theft deterrent bracket attached to a portion of said housing opposite said opening for preventing a removal of the lamp assembly from a vehicle body panel on which the lamp assembly is mounted.

5. A lamp assembly according to claim 1, further comprising a theft deterrent bracket for preventing a removal of the lamp assembly from a vehicle body panel on which the lamp assembly is mounted, said bracket comprising a first portion which can be fixed to a portion of the housing opposite said opening, and a second portion which can be fixed to the vehicle body panel.