Light emitting diode 360° warning lamp

• US 6,183,100 B1
• Filed: 10/17/1997
• Issued: 02/06/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 10/17/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Truck-Lite Company LLC (Truck-Lite Holdings 2 Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Truck-Lite Company Incorporated (Truck-Lite)
• Inventors: Roller, Philip C., Sniegocki, Paul G., Pond, Gregory, Suckow, Chris Allen
• Primary Examiner(s): O'Shea, Sandra
• Assistant Examiner(s): Negron, Ismael
• Application Number:
  US08/953,161
• Time in Patent Office: 1,208 Days
• Field of Search: 340/331, 340/84, 340/50, 340/473, 340/133, 340/815.45, 340/81, 340/468, 340/471, 340/472, 340/782, 340/907, 240/49, 362/35, 362/249, 362/252, 362/800, 362/61, 362/247, 362/241, 362/487, 362/493, 362/543, 362/544, 362/545, 362/227, 74/54, 313/499
• US Class Current: 362/35
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/2611 Indicating devices mounted on the roof of the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 10/06 flashing, e.g. with rotating reflector or light source signalling lighting devices mounted on vehicles B60Q1/26
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 10/066 by selectively switching fixed light sources
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 43/14 Light emitting diodes [LED]
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 43/31 Optical layout thereof
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 43/37 Attachment thereof
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 7/0008 providing for indirect lighting
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 7/0025 Combination of two or more reflectors for a single light source array of reflectors for a cluster of light sources F21V7/0083
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 7/0083 Array of reflectors for a cluster of light sources, e.g. arrangement of multiple light sources in one plane combination of two or more reflectors F21V7/0025
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 7/043 with cylindrical surface
• CPC Class Codes: F21W 2107/10 for land vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: F21W 2111/00 Use or application of lighting devices or systems for signalling, marking or indicating, not provided for in codes F21W2102/00 – F21W2107/00
• CPC Class Codes: F21W 2111/06 for aircraft runways or the like
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2107/30 on the outer surface of cylindrical surfaces, e.g. rod-shaped supports having a circular or a polygonal cross section
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2115/10 Light-emitting diodes [LED]
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 13/22 electroluminescent electroluminescent light sources per se H05B33/00
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 9/33 being semiconductor devices, e.g. diodes
• 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 2924/0002 Not covered by any one of groups H01L24/00, H01L24/00 and H01L2224/00
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 362/80 : Light emitting diode

Abstract

A light emitting diode warning lamp which meets selected Society of Automotive Engineers Standards; the invention comprises a housing, a printed circuit board secured within the housing, a plurality of light emitting diodes mounted to the printed circuit board and operatively arranged to produce light in substantially a 360° arc surrounding the housing in a horizontal plane, and a driving circuit operatively arranged to flash the plurality of light emitting diodes.

Claims

1. A light assembly, comprising:

a housing having a base;

a printed circuit board secured to said base;

a plurality of light emitting diodes mounted to said printed circuit board and arranged in concentric circular patterns and operatively arranged to produce light which is directed away from said base;

a driver circuit operatively arranged to flash said plurality of light emitting diodes; and

,

a plurality of tiered reflectors mounted to said printed circuit board and arranged in concentric circular patterns corresponding to said circular patterns of said light emitting diodes, each tiered reflector arranged to reflect light produced by said plurality of light emitting diodes and direct said light away from said assembly.

2. A light assembly as recited in claim 1 further comprising a cover secured to said base and enclosing said circuit board, plurality of light emitting diodes and plurality of tiered reflectors.

3. A light assembly as recited in claim 2 wherein said cover is translucent.

4. A light assembly as recited in claim 2 wherein said cover is transparent.

5. A light assembly as recited in claim 2 wherein said cover is clear in color.

6. A light assembly as recited in claim 2 wherein said cover is amber in color.

7. A light assembly as recited in claim 2 wherein said cover is red in color.

8. A light assembly as recited in claim 2 wherein said light assembly produces white light having a flash energy of at least 40 candela-seconds measured at a distance of at least 18 meters away from said light assembly.

9. A light assembly as recited in claim 2 wherein said light assembly produces yellow light having a flash energy of at least 20 candela-seconds measured at a distance of at least 18 meters away from said light assembly.

10. A light assembly as recited in claim 2 wherein said light assembly produces red light having a flash energy of at least 10 candela-seconds measured at a distance of at least 18 meters away from said light assembly.

11. A light assembly as recited in claim 2 wherein said light assembly produces signal blue light having a flash energy of at least 5 candela-seconds measured at a distance of at least 18 meters away from said light assembly.

12. A light assembly as recited in claim 2 wherein said driving circuit is arranged to flash all of said light emitting diodes at once at a rate in the range of 0.8 to 2.2 Hz.

13. A light assembly as recited in claim 2 wherein said driving circuit is arranged to sequentially flash said light emitting diodes about the perimeter of said base.

14. A light emitting diode warning lamp for a vehicle, comprising:

a housing;

a printed circuit board secured within said housing;

a plurality of light emitting diodes mounted to said printed circuit board and operatively arranged to produce light in substantially a 360°

arc surrounding said housing in a horizontal plane; and

a driving circuit operatively arranged to flash said plurality of light emitting diodes;

wherein said warning lamp meets the minimum photometric requirements of Society of Automotive Engineers'"'"' Standards J1318 and J845.

15. A light emitting diode warning lamp for a vehicle as recited in claim 14 wherein said warning lamp produces white light having a minimum flash energy in the range of 2 to 48 candela-seconds measured at a distance of at least 18 meters away from said lamp.

16. A light emitting diode warning lamp for a vehicle as recited in claim 14 wherein said warning lamp produces yellow light having a minimum flash energy in the range of 1 to 22.5 candela-seconds measured at a distance of at least 18 meters away from said lamp.

17. A light emitting diode warning lamp for a vehicle as recited in claim 14 wherein said warning lamp produces red light having a minimum flash energy of 0.5 to 11 candela-seconds measured at a distance of at least 18 meters away from said lamp.

18. A light emitting diode warning lamp for a vehicle as recited in claim 14 wherein said warning lamp produces signal blue light having a minimum flash energy of 0.25 to 11 candela-seconds measured at a distance of at least 18 meters away from said lamp.