LED light pipe structure

• US 7,228,052 B1
• Filed: 05/12/2006
• Issued: 06/05/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 05/12/2006
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Luminar Technologies, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Luminar Technologies, Inc.
• Inventors: Lin, Wei-Cheng
• Primary Examiner(s): Pak; Sung
• Assistant Examiner(s): Petkovsek; Daniel
• Application Number:
  US11/432,613
• Time in Patent Office: 389 Days
• Field of Search: 385/146, 385/901, 362/326, 362/555
• US Class Current: 385/146
• CPC Class Codes: F21K 9/27 Retrofit light sources for lighting devices with two fittings for each light source, e.g. for substitution of fluorescent tubes
• CPC Class Codes: F21K 9/61 using light guides
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2103/10 comprising a linear array of point-like light-generating elements
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2103/37 U-shaped
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2115/10 Light-emitting diodes [LED]
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/001 the light being emitted along at least a portion of the lateral surface of the fibre
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 385/901 Illuminating or display apparatus

Abstract

An LED light pipe structure includes a light pipe, a light refraction plate, and a light emitting diode which are integrally formed into one body, so as to enable the light emitting diode inside the light pipe to generate a visible light for illumination, through a voltage of direct-current power source provided by a lamp holder.

The visible light for illumination generated by the light emitting diode can be refracted and transmitted in an effective range by the light refraction plate, such that the light pipe can generate an illumination of good brightness and quality. In addition, when the light pipe is emplaced in environment of different illumination, the light emitting diode can be replaced with a light emitter of different light source, through that the light pipe can be fixed separately, such that the light pipe can be provided with functions of illuminating and identifying colors.

Claims

1. An LED light pipe structure, comprising:

an elongated light pipe having a cylindrical body;

a light refraction plate affixed to the cylindrical body and extending parallel to the length of the elongated light pipe; and

a replaceable light emitting diode mounted at an end of the elongated light pipe; and

a lamp holder configured to both support the elongated light pipe and power the light emitting diode,

wherein the elongated light pipe, light refraction plate, and light emitting diode are integrally formed into one body,

wherein the light refraction plate is located in a position to refract and transmit light generated by the light emitting diode.

2. The LED light pipe structure according to claim 1, wherein the light emitting diode is selected from the group consisting of a white-light emitter, a cold-light emitter, a red-light emitter, and a yellow-light emitter.

3. The LED light pipe structure according to claim 1, wherein the light pipe is selected from the group consisting of a loop-shape pipe, a circular pipe, a straight-column-shape pipe, a curve-shape pipe, and an arc-shape pipe.