Light source module and lamp equipped with the same

• US 20050083686A1
• Filed: 10/13/2004
• Published: 04/21/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 10/17/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Stanley Electric Company Limited
• Original Assignee: Stanley Electric Company Limited
• Inventors: Yatsuda, Yasushi, Kushimoto, Takuya, Ebisutani, Takashi
• Granted Patent: US 7,563,005 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 362/230
• CPC Class Codes: F21K 9/68 Details of reflectors forming part of the light source
• 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 41/148 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: F21V 29/89 Metals
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2115/10 Light-emitting diodes [LED]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 362/80 Light emitting diode

Abstract

A modular LED can include an LED chip, a base, and a lens. The lens preferably has a focus at a position spaced a certain distance behind the base to form a virtual light source image of the LED chip. Plural modular LEDs can be integrated into a lamp such that virtual light source images are superimposed. Thus, a light source module can serve as a single light source.

Claims

1. A light source module for a lamp, comprising:

at least two LEDs, each LED including an LED chip capable of producing light in a light emitting direction, a base arranged to secure said LED chip thereon, and a lens,

wherein said lens has a focus configured to form a virtual light source image of said light from said LED chip at a certain position behind said base in a direction generally opposite the light emitting direction from said chip, and

wherein said at least two LEDs are configured such that at least a portion of light emitted from each of the LEDs combines to superimpose at least parts of two virtual light source images each formed by light emitted from two LED chips such that light from the LED chips appears as a light emitted from a single light source.

2. The light source module according to claim 1, wherein said at least two LEDs have mutually different emission colors including ultraviolet and infrared regions.

3. The light source module according to claim 1, wherein a distance from said virtual light source image to said lens is substantially the same for each of the LEDs, and the diameter of one lens of said LEDs is different from the diameter of at least one other lens of said LEDs.

4. The light source module according to claim 1, wherein a distance from said virtual light source image to said lens of a first LED of said LEDs is different from a distance from said virtual light source image to said lens of a second LED of said LEDs.

5. The light source module according to claim 1, further comprising:

a block configured for attachment to said LEDs, the block including a thermally conductive material and shaped in a substantial prism having a substantially polygonal cross-section, said block capable of radiating heat from said LEDs.

6. The light source module according to claim 2, wherein a distance from said virtual light source image to said lens is substantially the same for each of the LEDs, and the diameter of one lens of said LEDs is different from the diameter of at least one other lens of said LEDs.

7. The light source module according to claim 2, wherein a distance from said virtual light source image to said lens of a first LED of said LEDs is different from a distance from said virtual light source image to said lens of a second LED of said LEDs.

8. The light source module according to claim 2, further comprising:

a block configured for attachment to said LEDs, the block including a thermally conductive material and shaped in a substantial prism having a substantially polygonal cross-section, said block capable of radiating heat from said LEDs.

9. The light source module according to claim 3, further comprising:

a block configured for attachment to said LEDs, the block including a thermally conductive material and shaped in a substantial prism having a substantially polygonal cross-section, said block capable of radiating heat from said LEDs.

10. The light source module according to claim 4, further comprising:

a block configured for attachment to said LEDs, the block including a thermally conductive material and shaped in a substantial prism having a substantially polygonal cross-section, said block capable of radiating heat from said LEDs.

12. The lamp according to claim 11, wherein said at least two LEDs have mutually different emission colors including ultraviolet and infrared regions.

13. The lamp according to claim 11, wherein a distance from said virtual light source image to said lens is substantially the same for each of the LEDs, and the diameter of one lens of said LEDs is different from the diameter of at least one other lens of said LEDs.

19. The light source module according to claim 1, wherein the LEDs are modular LEDs.

20. The light source module according to claim 1, further comprising:

a block configured for attachment to said LEDs, the block including a central longitudinal axis that intersects the position of the virtual light source image.

11. A lamp, comprising:

at least two LEDs, each LED including an LED chip capable of producing light in a light emitting direction, a base arranged to secure said LED chip thereon, and a lens,

wherein said lens has a focus configured to form a virtual light source image of said light from said LED chip at a certain position behind said base in a direction generally opposite the light emitting direction from said chip, and

wherein said at least two LEDs are configured such that at least a portion of light emitted from each of the LEDs combines to superimpose at least parts of two virtual light source images each formed by light emitted from two LED chips such that light from the LED chips appears as a light emitted from a single light source.

14. The lamp according to claim 11, wherein a distance from said virtual light source image to said lens of a first LED of said LEDs is different from a distance from said virtual light source image to said lens of a second LED of said LEDs.

15. The lamp according to claim 11, further comprising:

a block configured for attachment to said LEDs, the block including a thermally conductive material and shaped in a substantial prism having a substantially polygonal cross-section, said block capable of radiating heat from said LEDs.

16. The lamp according to claim 11, further comprising a reflecting mirror configured to superimpose light emitted from the LEDs in an emission direction as a single light source.

17. The lamp according to claim 11, further comprising a reflecting mirror that includes a focus located substantially at the position of the virtual light source image.

18. The lamp according to claim 11, wherein the lamp is a vehicle lamp and the LEDs are modular LEDs.