Vehicle lighting assembly and method for achieving yellow colored turn signals

• US 9,791,124 B2
• Filed: 02/22/2017
• Issued: 10/17/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 02/23/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: MLS Automotive Inc.
• Original Assignee: MLS Automotive Inc.
• Inventors: Vincens, Adam J., Lima, Favian de
• Primary Examiner(s): Breval, Elmito
• Assistant Examiner(s): FEATHERLY, HANA SANEI
• Application Number:
  US15/439,342
• Publication Number:
  US 20170241614A1
• Time in Patent Office: 237 Days
• Field of Search: 362510
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/2607 comprising at least two indicating lamps
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/34 for indicating change of drive direction B60Q1/22 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/381 with several light sources activated in sequence, e.g. to create a sweep effect
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/44 for indicating braking action or preparation for braking, e.g. by detection of the foot approaching the brake pedal
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/46 for giving flashing caution signals during drive, other than signalling change of direction, e.g. flashing the headlights or hazard lights
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 43/14 Light emitting diodes [LED]
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 43/15 Strips of light sources
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 43/19 Attachment of light sources or lamp holders
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 43/255 Filters
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 43/31 Optical layout thereof
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 9/08 for producing coloured light, e.g. monochromatic; for reducing intensity of light with provision for controlling the colour F21V9/40
• CPC Class Codes: F21W 2103/20 Direction indicator lights
• CPC Class Codes: F21W 2103/30 Hazard lights
• CPC Class Codes: F21W 2103/35 Brake lights
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2113/13 comprising an assembly of point-like light sources
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2115/10 Light-emitting diodes [LED]

Abstract

A vehicle lighting assembly includes a housing, a circuit board, and a lens. The circuit board is disposed within the housing and includes a turn signal light source configured to emit yellow-green colored light at a peak intensity in a range of about 500 nm to about 570 nm. The lens is coupled to the housing. The lens is a single-color optical filter configured to shift the yellow-green colored light emitted from the turn signal light source to a range of about 588 nm to about 592 nm.

Claims

1. A vehicle lighting assembly, comprising:

a housing;

a circuit board disposed within the housing and including a turn signal light source configured to emit yellow-green colored light at a peak intensity in a range of about 500 nm to about 570 nm; and

a lens coupled to the housing, wherein the lens is a single-color optical filter configured to shift the yellow-green colored light emitted from the turn signal light source to a range of about 588 nm to about 592 nm, further comprising a brake light source coupled to the circuit board and configured to emit red colored light at a peak intensity in a range of about 612 nm to about 630 nm;

wherein the lens is configured to allow the red colored light emitted from the brake light source to pass through the lens without a substantial shift in color.

2. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the lens is made from a polymeric material.

3. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the lens has a thickness in a range of about 0.09 mm to about 3.5 mm.

4. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the lens has a thickness in a range of about 1.5 mm to about 2.5 mm.

5. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the turn signal light source is an InGaN LED.

6. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the lens is an inner lens and the assembly further comprises an outer lens disposed over the inner lens, wherein the outer lens is substantially transparent.

7. The assembly of claim 1, further comprising a controller operatively coupled to the circuit board and the turn signal light source, wherein the controller is configured to be operatively coupled to a vehicle controller to control the turn signal light source.

8. A method of illuminating a vehicle lighting assembly, comprising:

emitting yellow-green colored light at a peak intensity in a range of about 500 nm to about 570 nm from a turn signal light source coupled to a circuit board of the vehicle lighting assembly; and

filtering the yellow-green colored light through a single-color optical filter to shift the yellow-green colored light emitted from the turn signal light source to a range of about 588 nm to about 592 nm, further comprising emitting red colored light at a peak intensity in a range of about 612 nm to about 630 nm from a brake light source coupled to the circuit board;

wherein the single-color optical filter is configured to allow the red colored light emitted from the brake light source to pass through the lens without a substantial shift in color.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the single-color optical filter is made from a polymeric material.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein the single-color optical filter has a thickness in a range of about 0.09 mm to about 3.5 mm.

11. The method of claim 8, wherein the single-color optical filter has a thickness in a range of about 1.5 mm to about 2.5 mm.

12. The method of claim 8, wherein the turn signal light source is an InGaN LED.

13. A vehicle taillight assembly, comprising:

a housing;

a circuit board disposed within the housing, the circuit board including a turn signal light source configured to emit yellow-green colored light at a peak intensity in a range of about 500 nm to about 570 nm and a brake light source configured to emit red colored light at a peak intensity in a range of about 612 nm to about 630 nm; and

a single-color optical filter coupled to the housing and configured to shift the yellow-green colored light emitted from the turn signal light source to a range of about 588 nm to about 592 nm through the filter and allow the red colored light emitted from the brake light source to pass through the filter without a substantial shift in color.

14. The assembly of claim 13, wherein the single-color optical filter is made from a polymeric material.

15. The assembly of claim 13, wherein the single-color optical filter has a thickness in a range of about 0.09 mm to about 3.5 mm.

16. The assembly of claim 13, wherein the single-color optical filter has a thickness in a range of about 1.5 mm to about 2.5 mm.

17. The assembly of claim 13, wherein the turn signal light source is an InGaN LED.

18. The assembly of claim 13, wherein the single-color optical filter is an inner lens and the assembly further comprises an outer lens disposed over the inner lens, wherein the outer lens is substantially transparent.