Vehicle lighting device with a plurality of light-emitting diodes employed as light source

• US 6,305,825 B1
• Filed: 05/24/2000
• Issued: 10/23/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 05/26/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Ichikoh Industries Limited (Valeo SE)
• Original Assignee: Ichikoh Industries Limited (Valeo SE)
• Inventors: Okubo, Katsuhiko
• Primary Examiner(s): Cariaso, Alan
• Assistant Examiner(s): Sawhney, Hargobind S.
• Application Number:
  US09/577,044
• Time in Patent Office: 517 Days
• Field of Search: 362/545, 362/543, 362/800, 362/547, 362/373, 362/294, 257/99, 257/88, 313/500
• US Class Current: 362/294
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/2696 Mounting of devices using LEDs
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 2201/09072 Hole or recess under component or special relationship between hole and component
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 2201/09909 Special local insulating pattern, e.g. as dam around component
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 2201/10106 Light emitting diode [LED]
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 2203/1178 Means for venting or for letting gases escape
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 3/306 Lead-in-hole components, e.g. affixing or retention before soldering, spacing means H05K3/32 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 3/3447 Lead-in-hole components H05K3/3415 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 3/3452 Solder masks

Abstract

There is provided a vehicle lighting device employing a plurality of light-emitting diodes as light sources. Mount pads are provided on a light-emitting diode mount surface of a circuit board. On the circuit board, the mount pads are provided on both sides of a plurality of pairs of through-holes. When two leads of the light-emitting diode are inserted into the pair of two through-holes, respectively, and the light-emitting diode is mounted to the mount pads on the both sides, an air vent space is formed which is defined by the light-emitting diode, the circuit board, and the mount pads on the both sides. Accordingly, air comes out smoothly of the through-holes via the space when solder is entered the through-holes in an automated soldering process. This allows the light-emitting diodes to be disposed in place relative to the circuit board. Furthermore, it is ensured that the leads of the light-emitting diodes and conductive traces of the circuit board are connected to each other via solder.

Claims

1. A vehicle lighting device employing a plurality of light emitting diodes as light sources, comprising one or a plurality of light source units, composed of a plurality of light emitting diodes soldered to a circuit board,

said light emitting diode comprising a main body as a light emitting portion and two leads extending from a bottom surface of said main body,

said circuit board being provided with a plurality of pairs of through-holes, two in a pair,

a light emitting diode mount surface of said circuit board being provided with mount pads,

said mount pads being provided on laterally opposite sides of said plurality of pairs of through-holes on the light emitting diode mount surface, wherein

when said two leads are inserted into said two through-holes and the bottom surface of said main body is mounted to said mount pads on the laterally opposite sides, an air vent space is formed which is defined by said main body, said circuit board, and said mounted pads on the laterally opposite sides, and

said space is to allow air to come out smoothly of said through-holes when said solder is entered said through-holes.

2. The vehicle lighting device according to claim 1, wherein said plurality of light emitting diodes is arranged in a matrix on said one circuit board.

3. The vehicle lighting device according to claim 1, wherein said mount pads are formed by screen-printing.

4. The vehicle lighting device according to claim 1, wherein said mount pads have the shape of a stripe, and said space has the shape of a groove defined by said stripe-shaped mount pads.

5. The vehicle lighting device according to claim 1, wherein said vehicle lighting device is a tail stop lamp for rear combination lamps or a high mount stop lamp, said light emitting diodes emit red light, and said mount pads formed by screen-printing show white.

6. The vehicle lighting device according to claim 1, wherein said circuit board is provided with one or a plurality of air vent through-holes near at least said pair of through-holes.

7. The vehicle lighting device according to claim 1, wherein said plurality of light emitting diodes is arranged in an array on said one circuit board.