Vehicular signal lamp having a plurality of light-emitting diodes

• US 6,234,646 B1
• Filed: 07/21/1999
• Issued: 05/22/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 07/24/1998
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Stanley Electric Company Limited
• Original Assignee: Stanley Electric Company Limited
• Inventors: Ito, Hiroyuki
• Primary Examiner(s): Cariaso, Alan
• Assistant Examiner(s): DELGIZZI, RONALD ERNEST
• Application Number:
  US09/358,452
• Time in Patent Office: 671 Days
• Field of Search: 362/235, 362/545, 362/241, 362/247, 362/518, 362/516, 362/540, 362/541, 362/542
• US Class Current: 362/235
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/2696 Mounting of devices using LEDs
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 43/14 Light emitting diodes [LED]
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 43/30 characterised by reflectors
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 7/0008 providing for indirect lighting
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2115/10 Light-emitting diodes [LED]

Abstract

A signal lamp for a vehicle is composed of a plurality of LED lamps as a light source, a reflecting surface corresponding to the light-emitting surface of the signal lamp, a housing for accommodating the LED lamps and the reflecting surface, and an outer lens disposed in opposing relation to the reflecting surface. The LED lamps are arranged along the periphery of the light-emitting surface such that the illuminating direction thereof is toward the center of the reflecting surface. The reflecting surface is partitioned into segments corresponding in number to the LED lamps. Preferably, the reflecting surface has a circular configuration. The segments into which the reflecting surface is partitioned are arranged radially around the center of the reflecting surface. In this case, the LED lamps are arranged in an annular configuration along the periphery of the reflecting surface. As the LED lamps, there are used plural pairs of LED lamps, each pair of LED lamps being disposed in opposing relation to each other with the center axis of the reflecting surface interposed therebetween. In this case, the reflecting surface is composed of two types of reflecting portions being alternately arranged, one for reflecting a light beam from one of each pair of opposing LED lamps and the other for reflecting a light beam from the other of each pair of opposing LED lamps. A shade for blocking direct light beams from the LED lamps is provided adjacent the LED lamps.

Claims

1. A signal lamp for a vehicle, comprising:

a plurality of light-emitting diode (LED) lamps as a light source;

a reflecting surface corresponding to a light-emitting surface of said signal lamp;

a housing for accommodating said LED lamps and the reflecting surface; and

an outer lens disposed in opposing relation to the reflecting surface,

said LED lamps being arranged along a line at a periphery of the light-emitting surface such that an illuminating direction thereof is toward a center of said reflecting surface and said LED lamps being directed at an angle towards a back portion of said signal lamp,

said reflecting surface being of a convex shape and located at said back portion of said signal lamp, and

said reflecting surface being partitioned into segments corresponding in number to said LED lamps,

said reflecting surface being stair shaped, said reflecting surface being configured as a plurality of reflecting portions that are alternately arranged to compose said reflecting surface, wherein a first one of said reflecting portions is for reflecting a light beam from a first one of said LED lamps which is one of a pair of said LED lamps disposed in opposing relation to each other with a center axis of said reflecting surface interposed therebetween, and wherein a second one of said reflecting portions is for reflecting a light beam from a second one of said LED lamps which is the other of said pair of LED lamps disposed in opposing relation to each other.

2. The signal lamp for a vehicle according to claim 1, wherein said reflecting surface has a circular configuration, the segments into which the reflecting surface is partitioned are arranged radially around the center of the reflecting surface, and said LED lamps are arranged in an annular configuration along the periphery of said reflecting surface.

3. The signal lamp for a vehicle according to claim 1, wherein said LED lamps are plural pairs of LED lamps, each pair of LED lamps being disposed in opposing relation to each other with a center axis of the reflecting surface interposed therebetween.

4. The signal lamp for a vehicle according to claim 3, wherein said reflecting surface is composed of two types of reflecting portions being alternately arranged, one for reflecting a light beam from one of each pair of opposing LED lamps and the other for reflecting a light beam from the other of each pair of opposing LED lamps.

5. The signal lamp for a vehicle according to claim 2, wherein said LED lamps are plural pairs of LED lamps, each pair of LED lamps being disposed in opposing relation to each other with a center axis of the reflecting surface interposed therebetween.

6. The signal lamp for a vehicle according to claim 5, wherein said reflecting surface is composed of two types of reflecting portions being alternately arranged, one for reflecting a light beam from one of each pair of opposing LED lamps and the other for reflecting a light beam from the other of each pair of opposing LED lamps.

7. The signal lamp for a vehicle according to claim 1, wherein a shade for blocking direct light beams from said LED lamps is provided adjacent said LED lamps.

8. The signal lamp for a vehicle according to claim 2, wherein a shade for blocking direct light beams from said LED lamps is provided adjacent said LED lamps.