Vehicular lamp

• US 6,932,498 B2
• Filed: 07/01/2003
• Issued: 08/23/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 07/04/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Koito Manufacturing Company Limited
• Original Assignee: Koito Manufacturing Company Limited
• Inventors: Miyazaki, Takaaki
• Primary Examiner(s): CARIASO, ALAN B
• Application Number:
  US10/611,700
• Publication Number:
  US 20040052087A1
• Time in Patent Office: 784 Days
• Field of Search: 362/227, 362/249, 362/252, 362/543, 362/544, 362/545, 362/800
• US Class Current: 362/545
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/2696 Mounting of devices using LEDs
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 11/00 Arrangement of monitoring devices for devices provided for in groups B60Q1/00 - B60Q9/00
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 43/14 Light emitting diodes [LED]
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/10 Controlling the intensity of the light
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/375 using buck topology
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/40 Details of LED load circuits
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 362/80 Light emitting diode

Abstract

In a vehicular lamp, a plurality of LED lines to which a plurality of LEDs are connected in series, are connected in parallel. The LEDs are arranged in a flat plane on a circuit board, the plurality of LEDs are arranged symmetrically with respect to a first centerline of the flat plane. Therefore, even when any one of the LEDs in the plurality of the LED lines becomes incapable of emitting light leading to all of the LEDs connected in series in the LED line to turn off, because the LEDs in the LED line are arranged symmetrically, the symmetrical balance of the LEDs shut down is maintained as an entire lamp, and the overall appearance of the lamp can be preserved.

Claims

1. A vehicular lamp comprising:

a plurality of light emitting elements; and

a plurality of light emitting element lines, each light emitting element line separately connecting a different respective plurality of the light emitting elements in series,

wherein the light emitting elements connected in series by any one of the light emitting lines are symmetrically disposed about a first centerline bisecting the vehicular lamp from a frontal view of the vehicular lamp, and

wherein a plurality of light emitting elements, which are arranged along an imaginary, substantially straight line that intersects and is perpendicular to the first centerline, correspond, respectively, to at least two different light emitting element lines.

2. A vehicular lamp according to claim 1 including at least one light-emitting element disposed on the first centerline.

3. A vehicular lamp according to claim 1, wherein the light-emitting elements connected in series by any one of the light-emitting element lines are disposed symmetrically with respect to a second centerline of the plane, said second centerline being perpendicular to the first centerline.

4. A vehicular lamp according to claim 1, wherein a frontal area of the lamp along the first centerline is covered by a part of a vehicle body, and the lamp appears as two separate lamps on both sides of the part of the vehicle body.

5. A vehicular lamp according to claim 1, wherein the light emitting elements are disposed on a circuit board.

6. A vehicular lamp according to claim 1, wherein the light emitting element lines are electrically connected in parallel with each other on a circuit board.

7. A vehicular lamp comprising:

a plurality of light emitting elements; and

a plurality of light emitting element lines, each light emitting element line separately connecting a different respective plurality of the light emitting elements in series,

wherein the light emitting elements connected in series by any one of the light emitting lines are symmetrically disposed about a first centerline bisecting the vehicular lamp from a frontal view of the vehicular lamp, and

wherein the light-emitting elements connected in series by any one of the light-emitting element lines are disposed symmetrically with respect to a second centerline of the plane, said second centerline being perpendicular to the first centerline.

8. A vehicular lamp according to claim 7 including at least one light-emitting element disposed on the first centerline.

9. A vehicular lamp according to claim 7, wherein a frontal area of the lamp along the first centerline is covered by a part of a vehicle body, and the lamp appears as two separate lamps on both sides of the part of the vehicle body.

10. A vehicular lamp according to claim 7, wherein the light emitting elements are disposed on a circuit board.

11. A vehicular lamp according to claim 7, wherein the light emitting element lines are electrically connected in parallel with each other on a circuit board.