LED lamp with light pipe for automotive vehicles

• US 7,086,765 B2
• Filed: 03/25/2004
• Issued: 08/08/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 03/25/2004
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC (General Motors Company)
• Original Assignee: Guide Corporation (Vehicle Lighting Incorporated)
• Inventors: Wehner, Kathryn M.
• Primary Examiner(s): LEE, Y MY QUACH
• Application Number:
  US10/808,829
• Publication Number:
  US 20050213341A1
• Time in Patent Office: 866 Days
• Field of Search: 362/240, 362/241, 362/294, 362/348, 362/511, 362/517, 362/518, 362/545, 362/547, 362/551, 362/555, 362/800, 362/27
• US Class Current: 362/511
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/0041 of several lamps in relation to each other
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/0094 Arrangement of electronic circuits separated from the light source, e.g. mounting of housings for starter circuits for discharge lamps arrangements being part of the light source holder F21V17/06, F21S43/195
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 41/24 Light guides
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 41/336 with discontinuity at the junction between adjacent areas
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 43/14 Light emitting diodes [LED]
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 43/237 rod-shaped
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 43/245 emitting light from one or more of its major surfaces
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 43/249 with two or more light sources being coupled into the light guide
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 43/30 characterised by reflectors
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 45/47 Passive cooling, e.g. using fins, thermal conductive elements or openings
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 29/70 characterised by passive heat-dissipating elements, e.g. heat-sinks

Abstract

An LED lamp assembly comprises a housing having a multi-faceted reflector positioned therein for reflecting light into a light beam. A LED carrier is positioned in front of the reflector and extends vertically from the top to the bottom of the reflector. A plurality of LEDs are positioned on the LED carrier and arranged and disposed to emit light directly on to the reflector, thereby creating the light beam. A light pipe is also positioned within the housing in front of the reflector and in front of the LED carrier. The light pipe extends vertically along the LED carrier from the top to the bottom of the reflector. Accordingly, the LED carrier and light pipe are positioned in the path of the light beam propagated from the reflector.

Claims

1. An automotive lamp assembly comprising:

a. a reflector for reflecting light into a light beam, the direction of propagation of the light beam defining locations in front of the reflector, the reflector comprising a plurality of facets vertically arranged upon the reflector;

b. a light pipe positioned in front of the reflector so that the light pipe extends vertically from a top to a bottom of the reflector;

c. a light source carrier positioned behind the light pipe; and

d. at least one light source positioned on the light source carrier and arranged and disposed to emit light on to the reflector.

2. The automotive lamp assembly of claim 1 wherein the at least one light source comprises a plurality of LEDs.

3. The automotive lamp assembly of claim 2 wherein the light source carrier comprises a plurality of LED seats and each of the plurality of LEDs is arranged on one of the plurality of LED seats such that each of the plurality of LEDs is directly opposed to one of the plurality of facets of the reflector.

4. The automotive lamp assembly of claim 1 wherein the light source carrier is a heat sink.

5. The automotive lamp assembly of claim 1 wherein the light pipe is positioned in the path of the light beam.

6. The automotive tamp assembly of claim 1 wherein the at least one light source is a first at least one light source and the lamp assembly further comprises a second at least one light source positioned to emit light into the light pipe.

7. An automotive lamp assembly designed to create a light beam that propagates in a forward direction with respect to the automotive lamp assembly, the automotive lamp assembly comprising:

a. a plurality of LEDs arranged and disposed to direct light in a direction substantially opposite the forward direction;

b. a reflector arranged and disposed to receive light from the plurality of LEDs and reflect the light in the forward direction, thereby forming the light beam;

c. an LED carrier positioned in front of the reflector such that each of the plurality of LEDs is positioned upon the LED carrier;

d. a light pipe positioned in front of the LED carrier with at least one light source positioned to emit light into the light pipe.

8. The automotive lamp assembly of claim 7 wherein the reflector comprises a plurality of facets positioned vertically upon the reflector.

9. The automotive lamp assembly of claim 7 wherein the light pipe and LED carrier both extend vertically from a top to a bottom of the reflector.

10. An automotive lamp assembly comprising:

a. a reflector having a plurality of facets vertically arranged upon the reflector for reflecting light into a light beam, the direction of propagation of the light beam defining locations in front of the reflector;

b. a light pipe positioned in front of the reflector;

c. a light source carrier having a front side and a back side, the light source carrier positioned behind the light pipe;

d. a first at least one light source positioned on the light source carrier and arranged and disposed to emit light on to the reflector; and

e. a second at least one light source positioned to emit light into the light pipe.

11. The automotive lamp assembly of claim 10, wherein each of the plurality of facets has a distinct focal point.

12. The automotive lamp assembly of claim 11, wherein the first at least one light source comprises a plurality of LEDs, each of the plurality of LEDs (i) corresponding to one of the plurality of facets, (ii) located on the light source carrier so that each of the LEDs is positioned substantially close to the focal point of one of the plurality of facets, and (iii) arranged to emit light on to one of the plurality of facets.

13. The automotive lamp assembly of claim 12 wherein each of the plurality of LEDs is directly opposed to one of the plurality of facets of the reflector.

14. The automotive lamp assembly of claim 12 wherein the light source carrier serves as a heat sink for the plurality of LEDs.

15. The automotive lamp assembly of claim 12 wherein the light pipe is adjacent to the front side of the light source carrier such that the light pipe at least partially covers the front side of the light source carrier.