Vehicle lamp having an LED and a drip-preventive cover

• US 8,985,823 B2
• Filed: 06/01/2012
• Issued: 03/24/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 06/03/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Koito Manufacturing Company Limited
• Original Assignee: Koito Manufacturing Company Limited
• Inventors: Sugiyama, Takao
• Primary Examiner(s): Negron, Ismael
• Application Number:
  US13/486,747
• Publication Number:
  US 20120307510A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,026 Days
• Field of Search: 362/507, 362/540, 362/543, 362/544, 362/545
• US Class Current: 362/545
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 41/148 the main emission direction of the LED being perpendicular to the optical axis
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 41/151 arranged in one or more lines
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 41/19 Attachment of light sources or lamp holders achieving variable light distribution by movable light sources F21S41/657
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 43/14 Light emitting diodes [LED]
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 43/19 Attachment of light sources or lamp holders

Abstract

A vehicle lamp includes a lamp body having an opening, a front cover attached to the lamp body to close the opening, and a first optical unit disposed inside a lamp chamber defined by the lamp body and the cover. The first optical unit includes a printed wiring board having a first section formed with a first conductor pattern and a second section formed with a second conductor pattern electrically coupled to the first conductor pattern, an LED mounted on the first section of the printed wiring board, and a lighting control circuit provided on the second section of the printed wiring board to control a lighting of the LED. The first optical unit further has a bracket supporting the printed wiring board in a horizontal manner, and a drip-preventive cover covering the lighting control circuit. The drip-preventive cover is provided on the bracket.

Claims

1. A vehicle lamp comprising:

a lamp body having an opening;

a front cover attached to the lamp body to close the opening; and

a first optical unit disposed inside a lamp chamber defined by the lamp body and the cover,

wherein the first optical unit comprises;

a printed wiring board comprising a first section formed with a first conductor pattern and a second section formed with a second conductor pattern electrically coupled to the first conductor pattern;

an LED mounted on the first section of the printed wiring board; and

a lighting control circuit provided on the second section of the printed wiring board to control lighting of the LED,

wherein the first optical unit further comprises;

a bracket supporting the printed wiring board in a horizontal manner; and

a drip-preventive cover covering the lighting control circuit,

wherein the drip-preventive cover is provided on the bracket, and

wherein the drip-preventive cover has a front opening such that the second section of the printed wiring board is inserted into the front opening.

2. The vehicle lamp according to claim 1, wherein the second section of the printed wiring board extends rearward from a rear side of the first section of the printed wiring board.

3. The vehicle lamp according to claim 1, further comprising a second optical unit arranged inside the lamp chamber and above the first optical unit.

4. The vehicle lamp according to claim 1, wherein the drip-preventive cover and the bracket are formed as a one-piece structure.

5. The vehicle lamp according to claim 4, wherein the drip-preventive cover and the bracket are formed as a single molded piece made of synthetic resin.

6. The vehicle lamp according to claim 1, wherein the first optical unit further comprises a reflector mounted on the printed wiring board to distribute light emitted by the LED toward the front cover.

7. The vehicle lamp according to claim 6, wherein the lighting control circuit is arranged behind the reflector in a front view of the vehicle lamp.

8. The vehicle lamp according to claim 1, wherein a plurality of said LEDs are mounted on the first section of the printed wiring board, and the lighting control circuit is configured to control the plurality of LEDs.

9. The vehicle lamp according to claim 8, wherein the second optical unit is configured as a headlamp unit to form at least one of a low beam and a high beam.