Led assembly

• US 6,523,976 B1
• Filed: 06/26/2000
• Issued: 02/25/2003
• 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:
  US09/604,056
• Time in Patent Office: 974 Days
• Field of Search: 362/230, 362/231, 362/800, 362/249, 362/543, 362/544, 362/545, 362/494, 362/293, 362/490, 362/135, 362/497, 402/04
• US Class Current: 362/231
• 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. A multichip LED comprising at least two LED chips contained in a single enclosure, said at least two LED chips including a first LED chip and a second LED chip, where said second LED chip emits illumation having a different hue than that emitted by said first LED chip, wherein when both said first and second LED chips are proportionately energized, illumination projected from said first and second LED chips overlaps and forms effective white illumination.

2. The multichip LED of claim 1, wherein said enclosure is made of a polymer matrix.

3. The multichip LED of claim 1, wherein said enclosure is configured to function as a lens.

4. The multichip LED of claim 1, wherein neither of said first and second LED chips projects illumination having a green hue.

5. The multichip LED of claim 1, wherein neither of said first and second LED chips projects illumination having a red hue.

6. The multichip LED of claim 1, wherein the illumination projected from each of said first and second LED chips has a peak wavelength of less than 635 nm.

7. The multichip LED of claim 1, wherein the illumination projected from each of said first and second LED chips has a dominant wavelength below 635 nm.

8. The multichip LED of claim 1, wherein the illumination projected from said first LED chip has a blue-green hue and the illumination projected from said second LED chip has an amber hue.

9. The multichip LED of claim 1, wherein the illumination projected from neither of said first and second LED chips has a dominant wavelength between 505 and 530 nm.

10. The multichip LED of claim 1, wherein said overlapped and mixed effective illumination has an illuminance at some predetermined distance from said first and second LED chips greater than about 15 lux.

11. The multichip LED of claim 10, wherein said predetermined distance is greater than about 10 times the distance separating said first LED chip from said second LED chip.

12. The multichip LED of claim 1, wherein said multichip LED is incorporated in a vehicular illuminator assembly.

13. The multichip LED of claim 1, wherein said first LED chip and said second LED chip are independently energized.

14. The multichip LED of claim 13, wherein said first LED chip and said second LED chip are electrically connected in parallel.

15. The multichip LED of claim 1, wherein said first LED chip and said second LED chip are electrically connected in series.

62. The multichip LED of claim 1, wherein said LED chips project illumination in response to current from a DC source.

63. The multichip LED of claim 1, wherein said LED chips project illumination in response to voltages less than about 13 volts.

64. The multichip LED of claim 1, wherein one of said first and second LEDs emits illumination having a peak wavelength of at least about 584 nm.

65. The multichip LED of claim 1, wherein one of said first and second LEDs emits illumination having a peak wavelength of less than about 530 nm.

66. The multichip LED of claim 1, wherein one of said first and second LEDs is made in part of a material selected from the group consisting of AlInGaP and AlGaAs.

67. The multichip LED of claim 1, wherein one of said first and second LEDs is made in part of a material including GaN.

16. A multichip LED comprising:

a substrate;

a first LED chip mounted on said substrate;

a second LED chip mounted on said substrate for emitting light having a different hue than that emitted by said first LED chip; and

a polymer matrix enclosure for encapsulating said first and second LED chips on said substrate,

wherein when said first and second LED chips are energized, light projected from said first and second LED chips overlaps and is capable of forming effective white light.

17. The multichip LED of claim 16, wherein said enclosure is configured to function as a lens.

18. The multichip LED of claim 16, wherein neither of said first and second LED chips projects light having a blue hue.

19. The multichip LED of claim 16, wherein neither of said first and second LED chips projects light having a green hue.

20. The multichip LED of claim 16, wherein neither of said first and second LED chips projects light having a red hue.

21. The multichip LED of claim 16, wherein the light projected from each of said first and second LED chips has a peak wavelength of less than 635 nm.

22. The multichip LED of claim 16, wherein the light projected from each of said first and second LED chips has a dominant wavelength below 635 nm.

23. The multichip LED of claim 16, wherein the light projected from said first LED chip has a blue-green hue and the illumination projected from said second LED chip has an amber hue.

24. The multichip LED of claim 16, wherein the light projected from neither of said first and second LED chips has a dominant wavelength between 505 and 530 nm.

25. The multichip LED of claim 16, wherein said overlapped and mixed effective light has an illuminance at some predetermined distance from said polymer matrix enclosure greater than about 15 lux.

26. The multichip LED of claim 25, wherein said predetermined distance is greater than about 10 times the distance separating said first LED chip from said second LED chip.

27. The multichip LED of claim 16, wherein said multichip LED is incorporated in a vehicular illuminator assembly.

28. The multichip LED of claim 16, wherein said first LED chip and said second LED chip are independently energized.

68. The multichip LED of claim 16, wherein neither of said first and second LED chips projects light having a yellow hue.

29. A lighting device comprising a multichip LED having at least two LED chips contained in a single enclosure, said at least two LED chips including a first LED chip and a second LED chip, where the second LED chip emits light having a different hue than that emitted by said first LED chip, wherein when both said first and second LED chips are proportionately energized, light projected from said first and second LEDs overlaps and forms effective white light.

30. The lighting device of claim 29 and further including a control circuit for varying the intensity of the light generated by at least one of said LED chips, wherein said first and second LED chips are oriented such that the light projected from each of said first and second LED chip overlaps and is capable of forming effective white light.

31. The lighting device of claim 30, wherein said control circuit enables the intensity of the light generated by both said first and second LED chips to be adjusted so as to change the illuminance of the effective white light.

32. The lighting device of claim 30, wherein said control circuit enables the intensity of the light generated by either or both of said first and second LED chips to be independently adjusted to thereby change the perceived color of the light emitted from the lighting device.

33. The lighting device of claim 29, wherein said lighting device is a vehicle indicator light mounted to a vehicle.

34. The lighting device of claim 33, wherein the light projected from said first LED chip has an amber hue and is activated independently of said second LED chip.

35. The lighting device of claim 29, wherein said lighting device is an indicator light.

36. The lighting device of claim 29, wherein said lighting device is an illumination light.

37. The lighting device of claim 36, wherein said illumination light is a vehicle illumination light mounted to a vehicle.

38. The lighting device of claim 37 and further including a vehicular support member for mounting said multichip LED to a vehicle.

39. The lighting device of claim 38, wherein said illumination light illuminates a portion of the interior of a vehicle.

40. The lighting device of claim 38, wherein said illumination light illuminates a portion of the area on and/or surrounding the exterior of a vehicle.

41. The lighting device of claim 38, where said vehicular support member is a component of an interior rearview mirror.

42. The lighting device of claim 38, where said vehicular support member is a component of an exterior rearview mirror.

43. The lighting device of claim 38, where said vehicular support member is a component of a dome light.

44. The lighting device of claim 38, where said vehicular support member is a component of a vanity light.

45. The lighting device of claim 38 and further including a control circuit for varying the intensity of the light generated by either or both of at least one of said first and second LED chips, said first and second LED chips being independently adjustable to thereby change the perceived color of the illumination emitted from the lighting device, wherein said first and second LED chips are oriented such that the light projected from each LED chip overlaps and is capable of forming effective white light.

46. The lighting device of claim 29, wherein said multichip LED further includes a third LED that, when energized, projects light exhibiting color coordinates different from the light projected from either of said first or second LED chips.

47. The lighting device of claim 46 and further including a control circuit for varying the intensity of the light generated by either or all of said first, second and third LED chips being independently adjustable to thereby change the perceived color of the light emitted from the lighting device, wherein said first, second and third LED chips are oriented such that the light projected from each LED chip overlaps and is capable of forming effective white light.

48. The lighting device of claim 29, wherein said lighting device is an illuminator for a display panel.

49. The lighting device of claim 29, wherein said lighting device is an illuminator for a vehicle instrument panel.

50. The lighting device of claim 29, wherein said lighting device is a backlight illuminator for a display indicia.

53. The lighting device of claim 33, wherein the light projected from said first LED chip has a red or red-orange hue and is activated independently of said second LED chip.

51. A multichip white-light-emitting discrete LED device comprising:

a lead frame;

at least two LED chips mounted on said lead frame; and

a polymer encapsulant for encapsulating said LED chips on said lead frame,

wherein when energized, said at least two LED chips emit light having two different and complementary spectral bands that together form white light.

52. A multichip white-light-emitting discrete LED device comprising:

a lead frame;

at least three LED chips mounted on said lead frame; and

a polymer encapsulant for encapsulating said LED chips on said lead frame,

wherein when energized, said LED chips emit light having three different and complementary spectral bands that combine to form white light, wherein none of the spectral bands have a peak wavelength greater than 635 mn, and where said LED device is capable of projecting effective white illumination of greater than about 15 lux at a predetermined distance of 10 times the distance between any two of said LED chips when the LED chips are proportionately energized.

54. A multichip white-light-emitting LED device comprising:

a substrate;

at least two LED chips mounted on said substrate; and

a polymer encapsulant for covering said LED chips on said substrate,

wherein, when energized, said at least two LED chips emit light having two different and complementary spectral bands that together form white light.

55. The LED device of claim 54, wherein said substrate is a printed circuit board.

56. A multichip white-light-emitting LED device comprising:

a substrate;

at least three LED chips mounted to said substrate; and

a polymer encapsulant for covering said LED chips on said substrate,

wherein when energized, the LED chips emit light having three different and complementary spectral bands that combine to form white light, wherein said LED device is capable of projecting effective white illumination of greater than about 15 lux at a predetermined distance of 10 times the distance between two or more of said LED chips when the LED chips are proportionately energized, and wherein none of the spectral bands has a peak wavelength great man 635 nm.

57. A multichip white-light-emitting LED device comprising:

a support structure;

at least three LED chips mounted to said support structure; and

a polymer encapsulant for covering said LED chips on said support structure, wherein the light exiting said encapsulant has three different and complementary spectral bands that combine to form white light, and wherein none of the spectral bands correspond to red light.

60. The multichip white-light-emitting LED device of claim 57, wherein said support structure is a lead frame.

61. The multichip white-light-emitting LED device of claim 57, wherein said support structure is a substrate.

58. A multichip white-light-emitting LED device comprising:

a support structure;

at least three LED chips mounted to said support structure; and

a polymer encapsulant for covering said LED chips on said support structure, wherein the light exiting said encapsulant has three different and complementary spectral bands that combine to form white light, and wherein none of the spectral bands correspond to blue light.

59. A multichip white-light-emitting LED device comprising:

a support structure;

at least three LED chips mounted to said support structure; and

a polymer encapsulant for covering said LED chips on said support structure, wherein the light exiting said encapsulant has three different and complementary spectral bands that combine to form white light, and wherein none of the spectral bands correspond to green light.

69. A light emitting assembly comprising:

a support structure;

a first light source carried on said support structure, wherein said first light source is an LED; and

a second light source carried on said support structure, wherein said second light source is an LED,

said first and second light sources oriented such that when said first and second light sources emit light, light emitted from said first and second light sources overlaps and is capable of forming effective white light, the light emitted from each of said first and second light sources having a peak wavelength of less than 635 nm, wherein the light emitted from said first light source exhibits color coordinates different from the light emitted from said second source.

70. The light emitting assembly of claim 69, wherein one of said LEDs emits blue-green light.

71. The light emitting assembly of claim 69, wherein said support structure is a leadframe.

72. A light emitting assembly comprising first and second light sources oriented such that when said first and second light sources emit light, light emitted from said first and second light sources overlaps and is capable of forming effective white light, the light emitted from each of said first and second light sources having a peak wavelength below 635 nm, wherein the light emitted from said first light source exhibits color coordinates different from the light emitted from said second light source, wherein said first and second light sources are LEDs.

73. The light emitting assembly of claim 72, wherein one of said LED emits blue-green light.

74. A light emitting assembly comprising first and second light sources oriented such that when said first and second light sources emit light, light emitted from said first and second light sources overlaps and is capable of forming effective white light, wherein neither of said first and second light sources emits light having a red hue, and wherein the light emitted from said first light source exhibits color coordinates different from the light emitted from said second light source, wherein said first and second light sources are LEDs.

75. The light emitting assembly of claim 74, where said first light source emits blue-green light.

76. The light emitting assembly of claim 74, wherein said assembly is a license plate illuminator for a vehicle and said assembly further comprises a mechanism for mounting said light sources to the vehicle such that the white light emitted from said assembly is projected onto the license plate.

77. A license plate illuminator for a vehicle comprising:

first and second light sources oriented such that when said first and second light sources emit light, light emitted from said first and second light sources overlaps and is capable of forming effective white light, and wherein the light emitted from said first light source exhibits color coordinates different from the light emitted from said second light source, wherein said first and second light sources are LEDs; and

a mechanism for mounting said light sources to the vehicle such that the white light fitted from said light sources is projected onto the license plate.

78. The license plate illuminator of claim 77, wherein neither of said first and second light sources emits light having a red hue.

79. The license plate illuminator of claim 77, wherein neither of said first and second light sources emits light having a green hue.

80. The license plate illuminator of claim 77, wherein neither of said first and second light sources emits light having a blue hue.

81. The license plate illuminator of claim 77, wherein said first light source includes an LED that emits light having a blue-green hue.

82. The license plate illuminator of claim 77, wherein said first and second light sources are embodied in a single discrete LED component including a leadframe;

at least two LED chips disposed on said leadframe; and

an encapsulant encapsulating said at least two LED chips on said leadframe.

83. A license plate illuminator for a vehicle comprising:

at least one discrete LED component comprising;

a first light source including an LED chip,

a second light source including an LED chip,

a leadframe, wherein said LED chips are disposed on said leadframe, and

an encapsulant for protecting said LED chips and portions of said leadframe, wherein the light emitted from said first light source exhibits color coordinates different from the light emitted from said second light source, and wherein light emitted from said first and second light sources overlaps and is capable of forming effective white light; and

a mechanism for mounting said discrete LED component to the vehicle such that the white light emitted from said discrete LED component is projected onto the license plate.

84. The license plate illuminator of claim 83, wherein neither of said first and second light sources emits light having a red hue.