Light emitting diode disc optic with heat sink housing

• US 8,297,801 B2
• Filed: 09/10/2004
• Issued: 10/30/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 07/16/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: OSRAM Sylvania Inc. (Ams-Osram AG)
• Original Assignee: OSRAM Sylvania Inc. (Ams-Osram AG)
• Inventors: Coushaine, Charles M., Tucker, Michael, Tessnow, Thomas
• Primary Examiner(s): Shallenberger, Julie
• Application Number:
  US10/939,013
• Publication Number:
  US 20060013002A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,972 Days
• Field of Search: 362/612, 362/555, 362/545, 362/328
• US Class Current: 362/329
• CPC Class Codes: F21K 9/20 Light sources comprising attachment means
• CPC Class Codes: F21K 9/69 Details of refractors forming part of the light source
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 41/28 Cover glass
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 43/14 Light emitting diodes [LED]
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 43/26 Refractors, transparent cover plates, light guides or filters not provided in groups F21S43/235 - F21S43/255
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 43/30 characterised by reflectors
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 45/48 with means for conducting heat from the inside to the outside of the lighting devices, e.g. with fins on the outer surface of the lighting device
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 29/70 characterised by passive heat-dissipating elements, e.g. heat-sinks
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 5/045 the lens having discontinuous faces, e.g. Fresnel lenses

Abstract

A lamp (10) has a cup-shaped body (12) with a planar bottom (14) with an up-standing, peripheral sidewall (16) defining a top (18). The body (12) is thermally conductive and preferably is a metal such as aluminum. A reflective coating (20) is provided on the inside surface of the planar bottom (14) and side wall (16) for reflecting light generated by a single, side emitting LED (22) that is mounted on a thermally conductive, electrically insulating coupling (24) and is positioned substantially in the center of the planar bottom (14). A lens (26) for directing a beam of light emitted from the LED (22) in a desired direction is provided and preferably is a Fresnel optic. The lens (26) can close the opening (18) as shown in FIG. 1 or it can be formed as an integral part of bottom (14) or it can be added to the bottom (14), as shown in FIG. 2. Alternatively, the lens (26) can be solid with the lens elements either external (FIG. 4) or internal (FIG. 5). Electrical connections (28, 30) to the LED extend through the cup-shaped body (14).

Claims

1. A lamp (10) comprising a vehicle taillight and having a cup-shaped body (12) having a planar bottom (14) with an up-standing, peripheral side wall (16) defining a top (18), said cup-shaped body (12) having a width greater than its height whereby said cup-shaped body (12) is substantially flat and said up-standing peripheral side wall (16) is perpendicular to said planar bottom;

a reflective coating (20) on an inside surface of said planar bottom (14) and said up-standing peripheral side wall (16);

a single side emitting LED (22) mounted on a thermally conductive coupling (24) positioned substantially in the center of said planar bottom (14);

a lens (26) for directing a beam of light emitted from said LED (22) in a desired direction, said lens (26) comprising a plurality of light deflective elements extending along a plane transverse to a lamp axis to defect light emitted by the LED (22), said deflected light having a substantial directional component parallel to said lamp axis; and

electrical connections (32) to said LED (22) extending through said cup-shaped body (12) wherein said lens (26) is substantially solid and defines a cavity encompassing said single, side-emitting LED (22) with the lens elements disposed on an exposed outer face of said lens.

2. The lamp (10) of claim 1 wherein said cup-shaped body (12) is thermally conductive to remove heat generated by the operation of said LED (22) from said taillight (10).

3. The lamp (10) of claim 1 wherein said lens (26) contains a Fresnel optic for spreading said beam of light generated when said LED (22) is operating.

4. The lamp (10) of claim 3 wherein said lens (26) closes said top (18).

5. The lens (26) of claim 3 wherein said Fresnel optic is formed on said planar bottom (14).

6. The lamp (10) of claim 1 wherein said lamp (10) includes circuitry (32) providing controlled power to said LED (22).

7. The lamp (10) of claim 6 wherein said circuitry (32) is positioned on the exterior of said cup-shaped body (12).

8. A lamp (10) comprising a vehicle taillight and having a cup-shaped body (12) having a planar bottom 1U˜

with an up-standing, peripheral side wall (16) defining a to (18), said cup-shaped body (12) having a width greater than its height whereby said cup-shaped body (12) is substantially flat and said up-standing peripheral side wall (16) is perpendicular to said planar bottom;

a reflective coating (20) on an inside surface of said planar bottom (14) and said up-standing peripheral side wall (16);

a single side emitting LED (22) mounted on a thermally conductive coupling (24) positioned substantially in the center of said planar bottom (14);

a lens (26) for directing a beam of light emitted from said LED (22) in a desired direction, said lens (26) comprising a plurality of light deflective elements extending along a plane transverse to a lamp axis to defect light emitted by the LED (22), said deflected light having a substantial directional component parallel to said lamp axis; and

electrical connections (32) to said LED (22) extending through said cup-shaped body (12), wherein said lens (26) is substantially solid and defines a cavity encompassing said single, side-emitting LED (26) with the lens elements disposed internal of said lens (26) and in substantial contact with said planar bottom (14).