Illuminator assembly incorporating light emitting diodes

• US 5,803,579 A
• Filed: 06/13/1996
• Issued: 09/08/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 06/13/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Gentex Corporation
• Original Assignee: Gentex Corporation
• Inventors: Roberts, John K., Turnbull, Robert R., Knapp, Robert C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Sember, Thomas M.
• Application Number:
  US08/664,055
• Time in Patent Office: 817 Days
• Field of Search: 362/293, 362/800, 362/231, 362/83.1, 362/61, 362/230
• US Class Current: 362/516
• 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

An illuminator assembly, having a plurality of LEDs on a vehicular support member in a manner such that, when all of the LEDs are energized, illumination exhibiting a first perceived hue, e.g., blue-green, and projected from at least one of the LEDs overlaps and mixes with illumination exhibiting a second perceived hue, e.g., amber, which is distinct from said first perceived hue and which is projected from at least one of the remaining LEDs in such a manner that this overlapped and mixed illumination forms a metameric white color and has sufficient intensity and color rendering qualities to be an effective illuminator.

Claims

1. An illuminator assembly, comprising a plurality of LEDs disposed on a support member such that, when at least two of said LEDs are energized, illumination exhibiting a first hue having and wavelength below 505 nm and projected from at least one of said plurality of LEDs overlaps and mixes with illumination exhibiting a second hue having a do said first hue and projected from at least one of the remaining LEDs of said plurality, where said overlapped and mixed illumination forms effective metameric white illumination.

2. The illuminator assembly according to claim 1 where said first hue has a dominant wavelength ranging from about 476 nm to about 492 nm and said second hue has a dominant wavelength ranging from about 572 nm to about 605 nm.

3. The illuminator assembly according to claim 1 or 2 where said metameric white light is defined by boundaries for white color translated from the revised Kelly chart and the CIE 1931 x, y, chromaticity diagram.

4. The illuminator assembly according to claim 1 or 2 where said metameric white light is defined by the translated SAE J578 boundaries for white light.

5. The illuminator assembly according to claim 2 where said first and said second hues have a locus of binary additive mixtures that are substantially coaxial with the Planckian Locus.

6. The illuminator assembly according to claim 2 where said overlapped and mixed effective illumination has an illuminance at some predetermined distance from said illuminator greater than about 15 lux.

7. The illuminator assembly according to claim 6 where said predetermined distance is greater than about 10 times the smallest dimensional distance between any two color complementary pairs of said plurality of LEDs.

8. The illuminator assembly according to claim 2 further comprising an electronic circuit electrically connected to and operable to energize said plurality of LEDs.

9. The illuminator assembly according to claim 8 where said circuit is temperature-sensitive, such that the current decreases as the temperature increases.

10. The illuminator assembly according to claim 1 where said first hue has a dominant wavelength ranging from about 530 nm to about 572 nm and said second hue has a dominant wavelength ranging from about 420 nm to about 476 nm.

11. A vehicle illuminator assembly, comprising a plurality of LEDs disposed on a vehicular support member where, when said plurality of said LEDs are energized, illumination exhibiting a first hue have a dominant wavelength below 505 nm and projected from at least one of said energized plurality of LEDs overlaps and mixes with illumination exhibiting a second hue a

distinct from said fit hue and projected from at least one of the remaining energized LEDs of said plurality, where said overlapped and mixed illumination joins effective metameric white illumination.

12. The illuminator assembly according to claim 11 where said first hue has a dominant wavelength ranging from about 476 nm to about 492 nm and said second hue has a dominant wavelength ranging from about 572 nm to about 605 nm.

13. The illuminator assembly in claim 12, further comprising a electronic circuit electrically connected to a power supply and said plurality of LEDs and operable to energize and control the illumination of the plurality of LEDs.

14. The illuminator assembly in claim 13, where said electronic circuit includes two independent circuits to control said at least one of plurality of LEDs exhibiting a first hue and said at least one remaining LEDs exhibiting a second hue.

15. The illuminator assembly according to claim 12 where said metameric white light is defined by boundaries for white color translated from the revised Kelly chart and the CIE 1931 x, y, chromaticity diagram.

16. The illuminator assembly according to claim 12 where said metameric white light is defined by the translated SAE J578 boundaries for white light.

17. The illuminator assembly according to claim 11 where said first hue has a dominant wavelength ranging from about 530 nm to about 572 nm and said second hue has a dominant wavelength ranging from about 420 nm to about 476 nm.

18. The illuminator assembly according to claim 11 where said first and said second hues have a locus of binary additive mixtures that are substantially coaxial with the Planckian Locus.

19. The illuminator assembly according to claim 11 where said overlapped and mixed effective illumination has an illuminance at some predetermined distance from said illuminator greater than about 15 lux.

20. The illuminator assembly according to claim 19 where said predetermined distance is greater than about 10 times the smallest dimensional distance between any two color complementary pairs of said plurality of LEDs.

21. The illuminator assembly according to any one of claims 11, 15, 16, and 19, wherein said illuminator illuminates a portion of the interior of a vehicle.

22. A vehicle maplight comprising:

(a) housing;

(b) a mirror element; and

(c) a plurality of LEDs disposed within said housing on a support member such that when energized by a power supply illumination exhibiting a first hue having a dominant wavelength below 505 nm and projected from at least one of said plurality of LEDs overlaps and mixes with illumination exhibiting a second hue having a dominant wavelength about 530 nm, said second hue being distinct from said first hue and projected from at least one of the remaining LEDs of said plurality, where said overlapped and mixed illumination forms effective metameric white illumination.

23. The illuminator assembly according to claim 22 where said first hue has a dominant wavelength ranging from about 476 nm to about 492 nm and said second hue has a dominant wavelength ranging from about 572 nm to about 605 nm.

24. The illuminator assembly according to claim 22 where said first hue has a dominant wavelength ranging from about 530 nm to about 572 nm and said second hue has a dominant wavelength ranging from about 420 nm to about 476 nm.

25. The vehicle maplight of claim 23 where said mirror element is prismatic.

26. The vehicle maplight of claim 23 where said mirror element comprises a self-erasing electrochromic device.

27. The vehicle maplight of claim 23 where said mirror element comprises a solution-phase electrochromic device.

28. The illuminator assembly according to claim 23 where said first and said second hues have a locus of binary additive mixtures that are substantially coaxial with the Planckian Locus.

29. The illuminator assembly according to claim 23 where said overlapped and mixed effective illumination has an illuminance at some predetermined distance from said illuminator greater than about 15 lux.

30. The illuminator assembly according to claim 29 where said predetermined distance is 10 times the length of the largest dimensional distance between any two color complementary pairs of said plurality of LEDs.

31. The illuminator assembly in claim 22, further comprising a electronic circuit electrically connected to a power supply and said plurality of LEDs and operable to energize and control the illumination of the plurality of LEDs.

32. The illuminator assembly in claim 22, where said electronic circuit includes two independent circuits to control said at least one of plurality of LEDs exhibiting a first hue and said at least one remaining LEDs exhibiting a second hue.

33. The illuminator assembly in claim 22 where each of said circuit decreases the current through said plurality of LEDs at a rate of approximately 139 μ

A per degree Celsius.

34. An illuminator assembly comprising a plurality of LEDs disposed on a support member such that, when at least two of said LEDs are energized, illumination exhibiting a first hue having a peak wavelength below 505 nm and projected from at least one of said plurality of LEDs overlaps and mixes with illumination exhibiting a second hue having a peak wavelength above 530 nm, said second hue being complimentary to said first hue and projected from at least one of the remaining LEDs of said plurality, where said overlapped and mixed illumination forms effective metameric white illumination.

35. The illuminator assembly, according to claim 34, where said first hue has a peak wavelength ranging from about 476 nm to about 492 nm, and said second hue has a peak wavelength ranging from about 572 nm to about 605 nm.

36. The illuminator assembly according to claim 34 where said metameric white light is defined by boundaries for white color translated from the revised Kelly chart and the CIE 1931 x, y, chromaticity diagram.

37. The illuminator assembly according to claim 34, where said first hue has a peak wavelength ranging from about 530 nm to about 572 nm and said second hue has a peak wavelength ranging from about 420 nm to about 476 nm.

39. The illuminator assembly according to claim 34, where said first hue has a peak wavelength ranging from about 530 nm to about 572 nm and said second hue has a peak wavelength ranging from about 420 nm to about 476 nm.

38. A vehicle illuminator, comprising a housing attached to the exterior of a vehicle, said housing having an opening adapted to receive a mirror element, said illuminator further comprising a plurality of LEDs disposed within said housing on a support member, such that when energized by a power supply, illumination exhibiting a first hue a peak wavelength below 505 nm and projected from at least one of said plurality of LEDs overlaps and mixes with illumination exhibiting a second hue having a peak wavelength above 530 nm, said second hue being distinct from said first hue and projected from at least one of the remaining LEDs of said plurality, where said overlapped and mixed illumination forms effective metameric white illumination.