Automotive lighting device
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A lighting device comprising:
- a light guide having a first surface and a second surface;
a light source comprising a single Light Emitting Semiconductor Device (LESD), the single LESD coupled to the light guide to radiate light through the first surface;
a control circuit arranged within the light guide, the control circuit electrically coupled to the single LESD to control operation of the single LESD;
a back plate coupled to the light guide forming an air channel between the light guide and the back plate, the air channel dissipating heat generated by the single LESD and the control circuit; and
a heat collector coupled to the light guide, the heat collector operable to dissipate heat generated by the single LESD and the control circuit.
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Abstract
An exterior automotive lighting device is provided. The device includes a light guide housing and a single Light Emitting Semiconductor Device (LESD). The light guide housing includes reflective material and optical elements to reflect emitted photons from the single LESD in multiple directions. The light guide has a thermally conductive material and thermally conductive connectors to dissipate heat generated by the single LESD. The lighting device may be used in accordance with lighting systems, such as a high mount stop lamp and a tail lamp on an automobile.
54 Citations
19 Claims
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1. A lighting device comprising:
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a light guide having a first surface and a second surface;
a light source comprising a single Light Emitting Semiconductor Device (LESD), the single LESD coupled to the light guide to radiate light through the first surface;
a control circuit arranged within the light guide, the control circuit electrically coupled to the single LESD to control operation of the single LESD;
a back plate coupled to the light guide forming an air channel between the light guide and the back plate, the air channel dissipating heat generated by the single LESD and the control circuit; and
a heat collector coupled to the light guide, the heat collector operable to dissipate heat generated by the single LESD and the control circuit. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A method of managing heat generated within a lighting device, the method comprising:
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providing a lighting device comprising a first surface and a second surface composed of a thermally conductive substrate material, the lighting device comprising;
a single Light Emitting Semiconductor Device (LESD) operable to radiate light; and
a control circuit mounted between the first surface and the second surface of the lighting device, the control circuit electrically coupled to the single LESD to control operation of the single LESD;
providing an air channel between the first surface and the second surface of the lighting device; and
transferring heat generated by the single LESD and the control circuit through the air channel of the lighting device thereby uniformly distributing heat throughout the lighting device. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. An exterior vehicle lamp comprising:
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a lens and a reflector coupled together comprising a light guide;
a single Light Emitting Semiconductor Device (LESD) operable to radiate light mounted within the light guide; and
a back plate coupled to the light guide forming an air channel between the light guide and the back plate, wherein the single LESD is mounted within the light guide using a thermally conductive connector, the thermally conductive connector and the air channel operable to dissipate heat generated by the single LESD. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 19)
a control circuit conductively coupled to the single LESD, the control circuit mounted between the back plate and the light guide, wherein heat generated by the single LESD and the control circuit is transferred through the air channel thereby uniformly distributing heat throughout the tail lamp.
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18. The lamp of clain 14, wherein the single LESD is a Light Emitting Diode.
Specification