Lighting device for motor vehicles

• US 20020041498A1
• Filed: 12/06/2001
• Published: 04/11/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 02/13/1998
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Magna Mirrors of America Incorporated (Magna International Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Donnelly Hohe GmbH & Co. KG
• Inventors: Furst, Peter, Buchalla, Harald
• Granted Patent: US 6,616,313 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 362/494
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/247 for illuminating the close surroundings of the vehicle, e.g. to facilitate entry or exit for reverse drive B60Q1/22; by opening a side door B60Q1/323
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/2665 on rear-view mirrors lighting devices for vehicle interior on or for rear-view mirrors B60Q3/258
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/2696 Mounting of devices using LEDs
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/32 for indicating vehicle sides , e.g. clearance lights
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/323 on or for doors illuminated exterior door handles B60Q1/2669; illuminated door locks E05B17/10
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 2400/40 Welcome lights, i.e. specific or existing exterior lamps to assist leaving or approaching the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 3/217 Doors, e.g. door sills; Steps
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 3/267 Door handles; Hand grips
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 3/51 for mounting lighting devices onto vehicle interior, e.g. onto ceiling or floor
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 3/64 for a single lighting device
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 3/76 for spotlighting, e.g. reading lamps spotlighting on or for specific fittings B60Q3/20; spotlighting in mass transit vehicles B60Q3/44
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 3/80 Circuits; Control arrangements for dashboards B60Q3/16; for mass transit vehicles B60Q3/47
• 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: F21V 19/001 the light sources being semiconductors devices, e.g. LEDs
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2115/10 Light-emitting diodes [LED]

Abstract

A lighting device for attachment to a motor vehicle inside a housing 4. One or more light emitting diodes 9 which emit substantially white light are employed as lighting emitters. On account of the small amount of waste heat of the light-emitting diodes 9 the lighting device can be particularly easily integrated into existing subassemblies of the motor vehicle, in particular into the outside mirrors, inside mirror, trim strips and door handles, and can serve to illuminate the region around the vehicle or the interior of the vehicle.

Claims

1. A lighting device for attachment to a motor vehicle, the device comprising:

a housing attachable to the vehicle;

a light emitting diode positioned in said housing and emitting substantially white light.

2. A device in accordance with claim 1, further comprising:

a light emitting diode positioned in said housing and emitting substantially monochromatic light.

3. A device in accordance with claim 1, further comprising;

two said light emitting diodes positioned in said housing and have beam axes which extend nonparallel to each other.

4. A device in accordance with claim 1, further comprising:

a lens system arranged in a beam path emitted by said light emitting diode.

5. A device in accordance with claim 1, wherein:

one of a printed circuit board and a conductor foil is combined with said light emitting diode to form an LED module.

6. A device in accordance with claim 5, further comprising:

an electrical circuit for driving said light emitting diode is provided on said one printed circuit board and said conductor foil, and said electrical circuit is combined with said light emitting diode to form said LED module.

7. A device in accordance with claim 5 wherein:

said LED module is zonally cast into a corrosion resistant material to be protected against corrosion.

8. A device in accordance with claim 5 wherein:

said light emitting diode is permanently connected to said housing.

9. A device in accordance with claim 1, further comprising:

a transparent cover plate arranged in said housing in a beam path emitted by said light emitting diode.

10. A device in accordance with claim 9, wherein:

said transparent cover has a diode side facing said light emitting diode, said diode side forms a lens.

11. A device in accordance with claim 9, wherein:

said transparent cover is formed of plastic.

12. A device in accordance with claim 9, wherein:

said transparent cover and said housing are manufactured jointly in a multi-component injection molding process.

13. A device in accordance with claim 9, further comprising:

a clip connection connecting said transparent cover and said housing.

14. A device in accordance with claim 1, further comprising:

one of a non-linear resistance network, a pulse width modulation device and protective diode is connected in series with said light emitting diode for effecting a current supply to said light emitting diode.

15. A device in accordance with claim 1, further comprising:

a temperature sensor and means for controlling a current supply of said light emitting diode as function of temperature measured by said temperature sensor.

16. A device in accordance with claim 1, further comprising:

a pipe like tube surrounding said light emitting diode.

17. A device in accordance with claim 1, further comprising:

a light guiding element arranged on one side of said light emitting diode.

18. A device in accordance with claim 1, wherein:

said housing is integrated into a housing of an existing subassembly of the vehicle.

19. A device in accordance with claim 1, wherein:

said housing is formed as part of an inside rear-view mirror of the vehicle.

20. A device in accordance with claim 1, wherein:

said housing is formed as part of a trim strip of the vehicle.

21. A device in accordance with claim 1, wherein:

said housing is formed as part of a door handle of the vehicle.

22. A device in accordance with claim 1, wherein:

said housing is formed as part of an outside rear-view mirror of the vehicle.

23. A device in accordance with claim 22, wherein:

said outside rear-view mirror is movable between a plurality of positions;

first and second groups of said light emitting diodes are provided in said housing;

control means is arranged in a current supply of said groups of said light emitting diodes for switching said groups of said light emitting diodes dependent on a position of said outside rear-view mirror.

24. A device in accordance with claim 1, wherein:

said housing is a removable part of a subassembly of the vehicle;

said subassembly is one of a cover ring and covering cap of an outside rear-view mirror.