Light emitting assembly

• US 20030156425A1
• Filed: 02/24/2003
• Published: 08/21/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 06/13/1996
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: John K. Roberts, Robert C. Knapp, Robert R. Turnbull
• Original Assignee: John K. Roberts, Robert C. Knapp, Robert R. Turnbull
• Inventors: Roberts, John K., Turnbull, Robert R., Knapp, Robert C.
• Granted Patent: US 7,524,097 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 362/545
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 1/14 to electric lighting circuits
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2200/12 Bikes
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 3/0023 Detecting, eliminating, remedying or compensating for drive train abnormalities, e.g. failures within the drive train
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 50/20 using propulsion power generated by humans or animals
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/0023 the element being a sensor, e.g. distance sensor, camera
• 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: B60R 1/1207 with lamps; with turn indicators
• CPC Class Codes: B63B 45/00 Arrangements or adaptations of signalling or lighting devices arrangement of signalling or lighting devices, the mounting or supporting thereof or circuits therefor, for vehicles in general B60Q; life-buoys, -belts, -jackets, -suits or the like, characterised by signalling means B63C9/20; lighting devices or systems therefor F21L, F21S
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 41/00 Illuminating devices specially adapted for vehicle exteriors, e.g. headlamps reversing lights F21S43/00
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 41/141 Light emitting diodes [LED]
• 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 41/151 arranged in one or more lines
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 41/25 Projection lenses
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 41/28 Cover glass
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 41/285 Refractors, transparent cover plates, light guides or filters not provided in groups F21S41/24-F21S41/28
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 41/321 the reflector being a surface of revolution or a planar surface, e.g. truncated
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 41/322 the reflector using total internal reflection
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 43/14 Light emitting diodes [LED]
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 43/235 Light guides
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 5/008 : Combination of two or more successive refractors along an optical axis
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 5/02 : of prismatic shape F21V5/04 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 9/20 : Dichroic filters, i.e. devices operating on the principle of wave interference to pass specific ranges of wavelengths while cancelling others
• CPC Class Codes: F21W 2102/40 : the light being emitted to facilitate access to the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: F21W 2103/50 : Registration plate lights
• CPC Class Codes: F21W 2107/13 : for cycles
• CPC Class Codes: F21W 2107/20 : for water vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: F21W 2107/30 : for aircraft
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2113/13 : comprising an assembly of point-like light sources
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2115/10 : Light-emitting diodes [LED]
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2224/48091 : Arched
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2224/48247 : connecting the wire to a bond pad of the item
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 25/0753 : the devices being arranged next to each other
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 25/13 : the devices being of a type provided for in group H01L33/00
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2924/00 : Indexing scheme for arrangements or methods for connecting or disconnecting semiconductor or solid-state bodies as covered by H01L24/00
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2924/00012 : Relevant to the scope of the group, the symbol of which is combined with the symbol of this group
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2924/00014 : the subject-matter covered by the group, the symbol of which is combined with the symbol of this group, being disclosed without further technical details
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2924/1305 : Bipolar Junction Transistor [BJT]
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2924/13091 : Metal-Oxide-Semiconductor Field-Effect Transistor [MOSFET]
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2924/181 : Encapsulation
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2924/30107 : Inductance
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/20 : Controlling the colour of the light
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/24 : using electrical feedback from LEDs or from LED modules
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/46 : having LEDs disposed in parallel lines
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 362/80 : Light emitting diode

Abstract

A light emitting assembly having a first light source and a second light source. The first and second light sources are oriented such that when the first and second light sources emit light, light emitted from the first and second light sources overlaps and is capable of forming white light. The light emitted from the first light source exhibits color coordinates different from the light emitted from the second light source. Also disclosed is a license plate illuminator having an LED device capable of emitting white light.

Claims

1. A vehicle lamp assembly comprising:

a solid state first light source emitting light having a dominant wavelength less than about 530 nm when a DC potential is applied thereto; and

a second light source,

wherein said second light source projects light having a dominant wavelength less than about 635 nm, and wherein the vehicle lamp subassembly emits two different and complementary spectral bands that together form white light.

2. The vehicle lamp assembly according to claim 1, wherein said first light source emits blue light.

3. The vehicle lamp assembly according to claim 1, wherein said first light source emits visible light.

4. The vehicle lamp assembly according to claim 1 and further including a leadframe and an encapsulant, where said first light source is a semiconductor optical radiation emitter and is mounted on said leadframe and encapsulated by said encapsulant.

5. The vehicle lamp assembly according to claim 4, where said second light source is a semiconductor optical radiation emitter and is mounted on said leadframe and encapsulated by said encapsulant.

6. The vehicle lamp assembly according to claim 1, wherein said first light source projects illumination in response to voltages less than about 13 volts.

7. The vehicle lamp assembly according to claim 1, wherein one of said first and second light sources is made in part of a material selected from the group consisting of AlInGaP and AlGaAs.

8. The vehicle lamp assembly according to claim 1, wherein one of said first and second light sources is made in part of a material comprising GaN.

9. The vehicle lamp assembly according to claim 1, wherein neither of said first and second light sources projects light having a yellow hue.

10. The vehicle lamp assembly according to claim 1, wherein the light emitting assembly is a discrete light emitting diode component comprising:

a leadframe; and

a polymer enclosure,

wherein said first light source is an LED chip disposed on said leadframe and enclosed within said enclosure, and

wherein said second light source is a narrow band light emitter, said LED chip and said narrow band emitter are disposed such that, when said LED chip and said narrow band emitter emit light, emissions from said LED chip overlap and mix with emissions from said narrow band emitter to form white light.

11. The vehicle lamp assembly according to claim 1, wherein said white light provides an illuminance at some predetermined distance from said vehicle lamp assembly of at least about 11.5 lux.

12. The vehicle lamp assembly according to claim 1, wherein said white light provides an illuminance at some predetermined distance from said vehicle lamp assembly of at least about 15 lux.

13. A light emitting assembly comprising a first solid state light source and a second light source, said light sources oriented such that when said first and second light sources emit light, light projected from said first and second light sources overlaps and is capable of forming white light, wherein said first light source projects light having a blue hue, and wherein said second light source projects light having a hue other than blue, wherein said first light source includes an LED junction.

14. The light emitting assembly according to claim 13, wherein said first light source emits blue light when a DC potential is applied thereto.

15. The light emitting assembly according to claim 13, wherein said overlapped white light has an illuminance at some predetermined distance from said light emitting assembly of at least about 11.5 lux.

16. The light emitting assembly according to claim 13 and further including a leadframe and an encapsulant, where said first light source is a semiconductor optical radiation emitter and is mounted on said leadframe and encapsulated by said encapsulant.

17. The light emitting assembly according to claim 16, where said second light source is a semiconductor optical radiation emitter and is mounted on said leadframe and encapsulated by said encapsulant.

18. The light emitting assembly according to claim 13, wherein said second light source is made in part of a material selected from the group consisting of AlInGaP and AlGaAs.

19. The light emitting assembly according to claim 13, wherein said first light source is made in part of a material comprising GaN.

20. The light emitting assembly according to claim 13 wherein neither of said first and second light sources projects light having a yellow hue.

21. The light emitting assembly according to claim 13, wherein the light emitting assembly is a discrete light emitting diode component comprising:

a leadframe; and

a polymer enclosure,

wherein said first light source is an LED chip disposed on said leadframe and enclosed within said enclosure, and

wherein said second light source is a narrow band light emitter, said LED chip and said narrow band emitter are disposed such that, when said LED chip and said narrow band emitter emit light, emissions from said LED chip overlap and mix with emissions from said narrow band emitter to form white light.

22. A vehicle lamp assembly for mounting to a vehicle comprising:

at least one white-light emitting discrete LED device, said LED device including;

a lead frame,

at least one LED chip mounted on said lead frame, and

a polymer encapsulant for encapsulating said LED chip on said lead frame, wherein the vehicle lamp assembly emits two different and complementary spectral bands that together form white light.

23. A vehicle lamp assembly comprising:

at least one LED chip,

wherein the vehicle lamp assembly emits two different and complementary spectral bands other than red and that together forms white light.

24. The vehicle lamp assembly of claim 23 and further including a second light source.

25. The vehicle lamp assembly of claim 24, wherein said second light source includes a second LED chip.

26. The vehicle lamp assembly of claim 23, wherein said at least one LED chip includes two LED chips.

27. The vehicle lamp assembly of claim 26, wherein said LED chips are mounted on a common support structure.

28. The vehicle lamp assembly of claim 27, wherein said common support structure is a leadframe of a discrete LED device having an encapsulant that encapsulates the LED chips on said leadframe.

29. The vehicle lamp assembly of claim 27, wherein said common support structure is a substrate and the lamp assembly further includes an encapsulant that encapsulates the LED chips on said substrate.

30. The vehicle lamp assembly of claim 26, wherein said two LED chips each emit light of a different one of the spectral bands emitted from the vehicle lamp assembly.

31. The vehicle lamp assembly of claim 23, wherein said at least one LED chip includes a plurality of LED chips.

32. The vehicle lamp assembly of claim 31, wherein said plurality of LED chips is packaged in discrete LED device packages.

33. The vehicle lamp assembly of claim 32, wherein each LED device package emits white light.

34. The vehicle lamp assembly of claim 33 and further including additional LED device packages that emit light of colors other than white.

35. The vehicle lamp assembly of claim 33, wherein the vehicle lamp assembly is configured for mounting to the exterior of the vehicle and functions as an illuminator assembly.

36. The vehicle lamp assembly of claim 33, wherein the vehicle lamp assembly is configured for mounting to the interior of the vehicle and functions as an illuminator assembly.

37. The vehicle lamp assembly of claim 33 and further including a lens, wherein each of said plurality of LED device packages is mounted behind said lens.

38. The vehicle lamp assembly of claim 33 and further including a support member, wherein each of said plurality of LED device packages is mounted to said support member.

39. The vehicle lamp assembly of claim 38 and further including a lens mounted to said support member, wherein each of said plurality of LED device packages is mounted behind said lens.

40. A vehicle lamp assembly comprising:

at least two LED chips,

wherein the vehicle lamp assembly emits two different and complementary spectral bands that together form white light.

41. The vehicle lamp assembly of claim 40, wherein said LED chips are mounted on a common support structure.

42. The vehicle lamp assembly of claim 41, wherein said common support structure is a leadframe of a discrete LED device having an encapsulant that encapsulates the LED chips on said leadframe.

43. The vehicle lamp assembly of claim 41, wherein said common support structure is a substrate and the lamp assembly further includes an encapsulant that encapsulates the LED chips on said substrate.

44. The vehicle lamp assembly of claim 40, wherein said two LED chips each emit light of a different one of the spectral bands emitted from the vehicle lamp assembly.

45. The vehicle lamp assembly of claim 40, wherein none of said at least two LED chips emit red light.

46. A light emitting assembly comprising:

a support structure;

a first light source carried on said support structure, wherein said first light source is an LED; and

a second light source associated with said first light source,

said first and second light sources oriented such that when said first and second light sources emit light, light emitted from said first and second light sources overlaps and is capable of forming white light, the light emitted from each of said first and second light sources having a peak wavelength of less than 635 nm, wherein the light emitted from said first light source exhibits color coordinates different from the light emitted from said second source.

47. The light emitting assembly of claim 46, wherein said LED emits blue light.

48. The light emitting assembly of claim 46, wherein said first light source emits blue light.

49. The light emitting assembly of claim 46, wherein said first light source emits visible light.

50. The light emitting assembly of claim 46, wherein said support structure is a leadframe.

51. A light emitting assembly comprising first and second light sources oriented such that when said first and second light sources emit light, light emitted from said first and second light sources overlaps and is capable of forming white light, the light emitted from each of said first and second light sources having a dominant wavelength below 635 nm, wherein the light emitted from said first light source exhibits color coordinates different from the light emitted from said second light source, wherein said first light source is an LED.

52. The light emitting assembly of claim 51, wherein said LED emits blue light.

53. The light emitting assembly of claim 51, wherein said first light source emits blue light.

54. The light emitting assembly of claim 51, wherein said first light source emits visible light.