Motor vehicle light arrangement

• US 6,250,788 B1
• Filed: 05/30/2000
• Issued: 06/26/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 11/29/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Volkswagen AG
• Original Assignee: Volkswagen AG
• Inventors: Müller, Michael
• Primary Examiner(s): Tso, Laura K.
• Application Number:
  US09/580,978
• Time in Patent Office: 392 Days
• Field of Search: 362/800, 362/543, 362/544, 362/545, 362/540, 362/541, 362/505, 362/499
• US Class Current: 362/541
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/2696 Mounting of devices using LEDs
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 2400/20 Multi-color single source or LED matrix, e.g. yellow blinker and red brake lamp generated by single lamp
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 43/14 Light emitting diodes [LED]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 362/80 Light emitting diode

Abstract

A motor vehicle light arrangement includes a light having a first plurality of red light-emitting diodes distributed over the entire area of the light and other pluralities of light-emitting diodes of the same color, which may be red or another color, located in different functional regions of the light to indicate different motor vehicle conditions.

Claims

1. A motor vehicle light arrangement comprising a light having a light display area containing a first plurality of light-emitting diodes of a same color distributed over the entire light display area to indicate a first operating condition of the vehicle, and at least one functional region within the light display area containing a second plurality of light-emitting diodes of a same color additional to and interspersed between the diodes of the first plurality in that region to indicate a second operating condition of the vehicle and provide closer spacing between diodes in that region to produce enhanced luminous intensity in that region when the diodes of the second plurality are illuminated in combination with the diodes of the first plurality.

2. A motor vehicle light arrangement according to claim 1 wherein the color of the second plurality of light-emitting diodes is the same as that of the first plurality of light-emitting diodes.

3. A motor vehicle light arrangement according to claim 1 wherein the color of the second plurality of light-emitting diodes is different from that of the first plurality of light-emitting diodes.

4. A motor vehicle light arrangement according to claim 1 including a further functional region within the display area containing a third plurality of light-emitting diodes of a different color from that of either the first plurality of light-emitting diodes or the second plurality of light-emitting diodes.

5. A motor vehicle light arrangement according to claim 1 including an optical diffuser covering an exit opening for the motor vehicle light arrangement.

6. A motor vehicle light arrangement according to claim 1 wherein the first plurality of light-emitting diodes comprises red light-emitting diodes which are associated with a common function, and including a plurality of further functional regions in which additional pluralities light-emitting diodes of different colors are provided, the actuation of each additional plurality of light-emitting diodes being capable of producing an additional signal color by additive color mixture of the additional light-emitting diodes and the red light-emitting diodes.