Circuit with light emitting diodes for a motor vehicle indicator light, and a motor vehicle indicator light having such a circuit

• US 6,293,687 B1
• Filed: 09/23/1998
• Issued: 09/25/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 09/24/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Valeo Electronique
• Original Assignee: Valeo Electronique
• Inventors: Poirot, Pascal, Hamzaoui, Azedine
• Primary Examiner(s): Sember, Thomas M.
• Application Number:
  US09/159,804
• Time in Patent Office: 1,098 Days
• Field of Search: 362/249, 362/251, 362/391, 362/545, 362/800, 362/227
• US Class Current: 362/545
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/2696 Mounting of devices using LEDs
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 43/14 Light emitting diodes [LED]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 362/80 Light emitting diode

Abstract

An indicator light for a motor vehicle includes a circuit comprising a printed circuit, a network of light emitting diodes carried by the printed circuit, and two power supply wires connected to the network. At least one of the power supply wires is a resistive wire having a linear resistance greater than 1 ohm per metre, the length of this wire being such that it provides regulation for the supply current to the diodes.

Claims

1. A motor vehicle indicator light comprising

a support, and

a circuit carried by the support, said circuit comprising

a plurality of light emitting diodes connected in a network, and

two permanent power supply wires connecting the network to a power supply source,

wherein at least one said permanent power supply wire is a resistive wire having a linear resistance greater than 1 ohm per meter, the length and the diameter of said resistive wire being such that said resistive wire ensures regulation of the power supply current to the light emitting diodes.

2. A motor vehicle indicator light according to claim 1, wherein said resistive wire has a core of a nickel/chrome composition.

3. A motor vehicle indicator light according to claim 1, wherein said resistive wire is sheathed in an insulating material.

4. A motor vehicle indicator light according to claim 1, wherein no additional resistive component is present in the circuit.

5. A motor vehicle having the indicating light according to claim 1.

6. A circuit comprising:

a plurality of light emitting diodes connected in a network and mounted on a support; and

two permanent wires connecting the network to a power supply source, wherein one of the permanent wires is a resistive wire having a linear resistance greater than 1 ohm per meter, and has a length and a diameter such that the wire regulates the current for the light emitting diodes.

7. A circuit according to claim 6, wherein the resistive wire is sheathed in an insulating material capable of withstanding a temperature of 205°

C.

8. A circuit according to claim 6, wherein each of the wires is a resistive wire.

9. A circuit according to claim 6, wherein one of the wires is a standard conductor.

10. An indicating light for a vehicle comprising the circuit of claim 6.

11. A circuit comprising:

a plurality of light emitting diode connected in a network and mounted on a support; and

means for connecting the network to a power supply source.

12. A circuit comprising:

a plurality of light emitting diode connected in a network and mounted on a support; and

two permanent wires connecting the network to a power supply source, wherein at least one of the permanent wires is a resistive wire having a linear resistance greater than 1 ohm per meter and a length and a diameter such that the wire regulates the current for the light emitting diodes, said resistive wire comprising nickel/chrome alloy and a sheath of insulating material capable of withstanding a temperature of 205°

C.