LED symbol signal

• US 6,869,203 B2
• Filed: 04/15/2002
• Issued: 03/22/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 04/13/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Current Lighting Solutions, LLC (f/k/a GE Lighting Solutions, LLC) (American Industrial Partners)
• Original Assignee: Gelcore (General Electric Company)
• Inventors: Martineau, Patrick
• Primary Examiner(s): O'Shea, Sandra
• Assistant Examiner(s): Truong, Bao Q
• Application Number:
  US10/122,576
• Publication Number:
  US 20020149494A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,072 Days
• Field of Search: 362/246, 362/240, 362/244, 362/248, 362/331, 362/333, 362/800, 362/812, 340/815.45, 340/815.55, 340/907, 340/908, 405/41, 405/57
• US Class Current: 362/246
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 5/04 of lens shape
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 7/09 with a combination of different curvatures
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2115/10 Light-emitting diodes [LED]
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 9/3023 Segmented electronic displays
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 9/33 being semiconductor devices, e.g. diodes
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 1/18 Printed circuits structurally associated with non-printed electric components H05K1/0201, H05K1/023, H05K1/0243, and H05K1/16 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 3/0052 Depaneling, i.e. dividing a panel into circuit boards; Working of the edges of circuit boards

Abstract

A LED symbol signal with LEDs arrayed to correspond to a desired symbol. Light from the LEDs is directed onto corresponding optical segments of a multiple collimating zone element and directed into a forward direction/distribution. A mask defines the desired symbol. The optical segments and or a diffusion surface on the cover or multiple collimating zone element(s) diffuses the display aspect, obscuring the individual LEDs. A diameter of the optical features of the diffusion surface is smaller than a diameter of the optical segments. The LED symbol signal may be configured for retrofitting into an incandescent lamp signal housing.

Claims

1. A LED symbol signal, comprising:

at least one LED mounted on

a printed circuit board arranged in

a housing with an open end;

the open end covered by

a collimating element with at least one optical segment,

a mask with at least one hole defining the symbol, and

a cover.

2. The signal of claim 1, wherein:

a power supply circuit is located on the printed circuit board.

3. The signal of claim 1, wherein:

the mask has a thickness which substantially fills a space between the collimating element and the cover.

4. The signal of claim 1, wherein:

an inner face of the cover has a diffusion surface having optical features.

5. The signal of claim 1, wherein:

an outer face of the cover has a diffusion surface having optical features.

6. The signal of claim 1, wherein:

an outer face of the collimating element has a diffusion surface having optical features.

7. The signal of claim 1, wherein:

an inner face of the collimating element has a diffusion surface having optical features.

8. The signal of claim 1, wherein:

the collimating element is one or more of the optical segment(s) that are attachable to at least one hole in the mask.

9. The signal of claim 1, wherein:

the collimating element, the mask, and the cover are integrated into a single component.

10. The signal of claim 1, wherein:

a front surface of the cover is angled with respect to a back plane of the housing.

11. The signal of claim 1, wherein:

the printed circuit board is shaped to support electrical circuitry and an LED configuration generally corresponding to the symbol but is otherwise cut-away.

12. The signal of claim 1, wherein:

the at least one LED, the collimating element and the cover are arranged and configured to direct a light output from the at least one LED in a substantially equal angle about a central axis of the housing.

13. The signal of claim 1, wherein:

the symbol is an arrow.

14. The signal of claim 1, wherein:

the optical segments are hexagonal in shape.

15. The signal of claim 1, wherein:

the signal is arranged for placement into an incandescent signal housing upon removal of an incandescent lamp and a lens.

16. The signal of claim 15, wherein:

the signal connects to an incandescent lamp socket with an incandescent socket power connector.

17. The signal of claim 1, further including:

at least one reflector mounted on the printed circuit board.

18. The signal of claim 17, wherein:

the at least one reflector is arranged to redirect light emitted through a side wall of the at east one LED into a forward direction.

19. The signal of claim 4, wherein:

the diffusion surface is only in an area corresponding with the at least one hole in the mask.

20. The signal of claim 4, wherein:

a diameter of the optical features is less than a diameter of the at least one optical segment.

21. The signal of claim 1, wherein:

the at least one LED and the optical segment(s) are aligned so that a majority of light emitted by the at least one LED is directed onto the at least one optical segment.

22. The signal of claim 21, wherein:

the at least one LED is a plurality of LEDs, and the at least one optical segment is a plurality of optical segments, each of the LEDs having only one of the plurality of optical segments associated with it the LED.

23. The signal of claim 22, wherein:

more than one of the LEDs are clustered together and are associated with only one of the plurality of optical segments.

24. The signal of claim 5, wherein:

a diameter of the optical features is less than a diameter of the at least one optical segment.

25. The signal of claim 6, wherein:

a diameter of the optical features is less than a diameter of the at least one optical segment.

26. The signal of claim 7, wherein:

a diameter of the optical features is less than a diameter of the at least one optical segment.

27. A LED symbol signal, comprising:

at least one LED mounted in at least one reflector, on

a printed circuit board having power supply components thereon, arranged in

a housing with an open end, the open end covered by

a collimating element with a plurality of optical segments,

a mask having at least one hole defining the symbol, and

a cover having a diffusion surface in areas corresponding to the at least one hole, which closes the housing.

28. A LED symbol signal, comprising:

at least one LED mounted on

a printed circuit board arranged in

a housing with an open end, the open end covered by

a collimating element with at least one optical segment arranged to direct a light output from the at least one LED,

a mask with at least one hole defining the symbol, and

a cover having an inner face with a diffusion surface, the cover sealing the open end of the housing; and

the mask has a thickness which substantially fills a space between the collimating element and the cover.

29. A LED symbol signal, comprising:

at least one LED mounted on

a printed circuit board arranged in

a housing with an open end, the open end covered by

a cover comprising a plurality of optical segments on an LED side and a mask on the opposite side;

said, mask corresponding to the symbol.

30. The LED symbol signal of claim 29, wherein:

the optical segments are generally hexagonal.

31. The LED symbol signal of claim 30, wherein:

the cover has a diffusion surface with optical features having a diameter that is less than a diameter of the optical segments.

32. The LED symbol signal of claim 29, wherein:

a power supply circuit is located on the printed circuit board.