Light emitting diode module for automotive headlamp

• US 7,618,171 B2
• Filed: 05/03/2005
• Issued: 11/17/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 10/21/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: OSRAM Sylvania Inc. (Ams-Osram AG)
• Original Assignee: OSRAM Sylvania Inc. (Ams-Osram AG)
• Inventors: Sidwell, Steven, Tucker, Michael, Tessnow, Thomas, Johnson, Ralph
• Primary Examiner(s): O'Shea; Sandra L
• Assistant Examiner(s): CARTER, WILLIAM JOSEPH
• Application Number:
  US11/121,230
• Publication Number:
  US 20060087861A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,659 Days
• Field of Search: 362/511, 362/545
• US Class Current: 362/511
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 41/143 the main emission direction of the LED being parallel to the optical axis of the illuminating device
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 41/153 arranged in a matrix
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 41/155 Surface emitters, e.g. organic light emitting diodes [OLED]
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 41/24 Light guides
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2115/10 Light-emitting diodes [LED]
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/0073 Light emitting diode [LED]
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/4298 coupling with non-coherent light sources and/or radiation detectors, e.g. lamps, incandescent bulbs, scintillation chambers

Abstract

A light gathering module (10) has a body (12) with a first end (14) comprising a single light transmitting surface (16) and a second end (18) having a plurality of arms (20), each arm (20) having an independent light gathering terminus (22) that is rectangular. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the first end (14) of the body also is rectangular. The light gathering module (10) can be fabricated from acrylic, plastic, glass or other suitable material and preferably has no cladding so that light output I maximized. When combined in a housing (32) with a projector lens (34) the light gathering module (10) provides a vehicle headlamp (30).

Claims

1. An automotive headlamp for forward road illumination comprising:

a housing;

a piano-convex projector lens in a front portion of said housing;

a light gathering module positioned in said housing, comprising;

a rigid body with a first end comprising a single light transmitting surface opposite a second end comprising a plurality of arms, each arm having an independent light gathering terminus that is rectangular and encompasses a plurality of light emitting diodes, said first end being operatively associated with said plane side of said plano-convex projector lens.

2. The automotive headlamp of claim 1 wherein said first end of said body is rectangular.

3. The automotive headlamp of claim 1 wherein said light emitting diodes are mounted in housings and said housings are mounted upon a heat sink.