Indicators and illuminators using a semiconductor radiation emitter package

• US 7,342,707 B2
• Filed: 08/27/2002
• Issued: 03/11/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 04/02/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Gentex Corporation
• Original Assignee: Gentex Corporation
• Inventors: Turnbull, Robert R, Bonardi, Timothy A, Roberts, John K, Bauer, Frederick T, Stam, Joseph S, Tonar, William L
• Primary Examiner(s): Mack; Ricky L.
• Assistant Examiner(s): THOMAS, BRANDI N
• Application Number:
  US10/228,525
• Publication Number:
  US 20030002179A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,023 Days
• Field of Search: 359/267, 359/515, 359/533, 359/537, 359/548, 359/838, 359/841, 359/843, 359/846, 362/503, 362/494, 362/498, 362/488, 362/499
• US Class Current: 359/267
• 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: B60R 1/088 using a cell of electrically changeable optical characteristic, e.g. liquid-crystal or electrochromic mirrors
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/1207 with lamps; with turn indicators
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2001/1215 with information displays
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2001/1223 with sensors or transducers
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 43/14 Light emitting diodes [LED]
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 45/48 with means for conducting heat from the inside to the outside of the lighting devices, e.g. with fins on the outer surface of the lighting device
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 29/54 using thermoelectric means, e.g. Peltier elements
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 29/763 the planes containing the fins or blades having the direction of the light emitting axis
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 29/85 characterised by the material liquid coolants F21V29/56
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2115/10 Light-emitting diodes [LED]
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/133308 Support structures for LCD panels, e.g. frames or bezels
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/1506 caused by electrodeposition, e.g. electrolytic deposition of an inorganic material on or close to an electrode
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/1533 structural features not otherwise provided for
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/155 Electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/157 Structural association of cells with optical devices, e.g. reflectors or illuminating devices
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 2001/1502 complementary cell
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 2001/15145 the electrochromic layer comprises a mixture of anodic and cathodic compounds
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 2201/34 reflector
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 2203/02 reflective
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 23/49562 : for devices being provided for in H01L29/00
• 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: H01L 2924/12044 : OLED
• CPC Class Codes: H10K 50/84 : Passivation; Containers; Encapsulations
• CPC Class Codes: H10K 50/841 : Self-supporting sealing arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H10K 50/8423 : Metallic sealing arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H10K 50/8426 : Peripheral sealing arrangements, e.g. adhesives, sealants
• CPC Class Codes: H10K 50/8428 : Vertical spacers, e.g. arranged between the sealing arrangement and the OLED
• CPC Class Codes: H10K 50/85 : Arrangements for extracting light from the devices
• CPC Class Codes: H10K 50/87 : Arrangements for heating or cooling

Abstract

A vehicle lamp assembly includes a housing and an LED lamp carried in the housing. A signal mirror includes a mirror and an LED lamp. The LED lamp includes a heat extraction member.

Claims

1. A mirror assembly, comprising:

a mirror including a reflective surface; and

a lamp positioned adjacent the mirror, said lamp including an emitter and a lens, the lens having a peak intensity optical axis offset from the center of the emitter whereby light produced by the emitter is emitted from the lens at an angle that is a function of the offset.

2. A signal mirror, comprising:

a transparent housing defining an interior volume;

at least one lamp carried within the interior volume of the housing to project light through the transparent housing; and

a mirror positioned within the housing.

3. The signal mirror as defined in claim 2, further including a coating applied to at least a portion of the interior surface of the transparent housing, the at least one lamp positioned adjacent a region of the interior surface which is transparent after the coating is applied.

4. The signal mirror as defined in claim 2, wherein the coating is opaque, and wherein regions of the interior surface are not coated.

5. The signal mirror as defined in claim 2, wherein the transparent housing comprises an integral lens in a region adjacent to the lamp such that the lamp emits light through the lens.

6. The signal mirror as defined in claim 5, wherein the lens comprises an element selected from the group consisting of a TIR and a prism.

7. The signal mirror as defined in claim 2, wherein the at least one lamp is configured as either a turn signal, a puddle light or a keyhole illuminator.

8. The signal mirror as defined in claim 2, comprising a first and second lamp, wherein said first lamp is configured to be a turn signal and said second lamp is configured to be either a puddle light or a keyhole illuminator.

9. The signal mirror as defined in claim 2, comprising a first lamp configured to be a turn signal, a second lamp configured to be a puddle light and third lamp configured to be a keyhole illuminator.

10. A vehicle lamp assembly, comprising:

a housing; and

at least one LED lamp carried in the housing, the at least one LED lamp comprising at least one LED chip in thermal communication with a heat extraction member, wherein said heat extraction member comprises a lower thermal resistance than a thermal resistance of LED lamp electrical connections, wherein said at least one LED lamp is capable of operating continuously at greater than approximately 100 mW.

11. A vehicle lamp assembly as defined in claim 10, wherein the LED lamp is a high power lamp.

12. A vehicle lamp assembly as defined in claim 10, wherein the housing is configured as a housing for either a CHMSL, a dome light, a turn signal, a puddle light, a keyhole illuminator, a license plate illuminator, a brake light, a backup light, or a door handle illuminator.

13. A vehicle lamp assembly as defined in claim 10, wherein said at least one LED lamp is mounted in a circuit board.

14. A vehicle lamp assembly as defined in claim 10, wherein said housing is configured to be mounted to a vehicle.

15. A vehicle lamp assembly as defined in claim 14, wherein said housing is configured as either a housing for a puddle light, a keyhole illuminator or a turn signal.

16. A vehicle lamp assembly as defined in claim 15, wherein said at least one LED lamp is mounted in a circuit board.

17. A vehicle lamp assembly as defined in claim 15, further comprising a lens positioned proximate said at least one LED lamp.

18. A vehicle lamp assembly as defined in claim 14, wherein said housing is configured as a housing for a turn signal light and either a puddle light or a keyhole illuminator.

19. A vehicle lamp assembly as defined in claim 18, wherein said at least one LED lamp is mounted in a circuit board.

20. A vehicle lamp assembly as defined in claim 14, wherein said housing is configured as a housing for a turn signal light, a puddle light and a keyhole illuminator.

21. A vehicle lamp assembly as defined in claim 20, further comprising a vehicle mount, wherein said turn signal light, puddle light and keyhole illuminator are positioned on the bottom of said housing and said turn signal light is positioned farthest away from said mount, said keyhole illuminator is positioned closest to said mount and said puddle light is positioned between said turn signal light and said keyhole illuminator.

22. A vehicle lamp assembly as defined in claim 10, wherein the housing includes a first housing portion and a second housing portion, and wherein at least one first LED lamp having a heat extraction member is carried in the first housing portion and at least one second LED lamp having a heat extraction member is positioned in the second housing portion.

23. A vehicle lamp assembly as defined in claim 22, wherein the at least one first LED lamp produces red light and the at least one second LED produces white light.

24. A vehicle lamp assembly as defined in claim 23, wherein the at least one second LED lamp comprises a phosphor white LED chip.

25. A vehicle lamp assembly as defined in claim 10, wherein said at least one LED lamp comprises binary complementary emitters.

26. A vehicle lamp assembly as defined in claim 10, further comprising a reflector positioned in the housing, the LED lamp is positioned behind the reflector.

27. A vehicle lamp assembly as defined in claim 10, further comprising a thermally conductive coating on an inside surface of said housing, said heat extraction member is thermally coupled to said thermally conductive coating.

28. A vehicle lamp assembly as defined in claim 27, further comprising a lens associated with said at least one LED lamp.

29. A vehicle lamp assembly as defined in claim 28, wherein the lens is either a diffractive lens, a refractive lens, a fresnel lens, or a pillow lens.

30. A vehicle lamp assembly as defined in claim 10, further comprising a TIR surface positioned adjacent said at least one LED lamp.

31. A vehicle lamp assembly as defined in claim 10, further comprising a diffuser.

32. A vehicle lamp assembly as defined in claim 28, wherein said lens is a spectral filter.

33. A vehicle lamp assembly as defined in claim 28, wherein the lens is red.

34. A vehicle lamp assembly as defined in claim 10, further comprising a heat sink in the housing, said heat extraction member is positioned on said heat sink.

35. A vehicle lamp assembly as defined in claim 34, wherein said heat sink is either passive, discrete, active or integral with the housing.

36. A vehicle lamp assembly as defined in claim 35, wherein said heat sink is active and is either Peltier cooler or a phase change heat sink.

37. A vehicle lamp assembly as defined in claim 10, wherein said at least one LED lamp is mounted in a receptacle.

38. A vehicle lamp assembly as defined in claim 37, wherein said receptacle is attached to a cable.

39. A vehicle lamp assembly as defined in claim 37, wherein said receptacle is integral with the housing.

40. A vehicle lamp assembly as defined in claim 10, wherein said at least one LED lamp is mounted in a circuit board.

41. A vehicle lamp assembly as defined in claim 10, wherein said at least one LED lamp is soldered in a printed circuit board.

42. A vehicle lamp assembly as defined in claim 37, wherein said receptacle is mounted on a circuit board.

43. A vehicle lamp assembly as defined in claim 37, wherein said receptacle is soldered on a circuit board.

44. A vehicle lamp assembly as defined in claim 10, wherein said at least one LED lamp is capable of producing light having a luminous intensity of 12 candelas from a single LED lamp.

45. A signal mirror, comprising:

a mirror;

at least one first high power LED lamp, at least one second high power LED lamp and at least one third high power LED lamp;

each high power LED lamp including a heat extraction member, at least one emitter carried on the heat extraction member, and two or more electrical leads having a thermal resistance higher than the heat extraction member electrically coupled to the emitter, and wherein each LED lamp is positioned adjacent the mirror to produce visible light; and

said at least one first high power LED lamp being configured as a turn signal, said at least one second high power LED lamp being configured as a puddle light and said at least one third high power LED lamp being configured as a keyhole illuminator.

46. A signal mirror as defined in claim 45, further comprising a housing with a vehicle mount, wherein said turn signal light is positioned farthest away from said mount, said keyhole illuminator is positioned closest to said mount and said puddle light is positioned between said turn signal light and said keyhole illuminator.

47. A signal mirror as defined in claim 45, wherein each high power LED is capable of producing light having a luminous intensity of 12 candelas from a single LED lamp.

48. A signal mirror as defined in claim 45, wherein each high power LED lamp is positioned behind the mirror to project light through a reflective surface of said mirror.

49. A signal mirror as defined in claim 45, wherein each high power LED lamp is capable of operating continuously at greater than approximately 100 mW.

50. An apparatus, comprising:

at least one lamp comprising a heat extraction member, said heat extraction member comprising a lower thermal resistance than lamp electrical connections; and

a mounting plate in contact with said heat extraction member, wherein said

mounting plate is a passive heat sink.

51. An apparatus as in claim 50, wherein said heat extraction member is in thermal communication with said mounting plate.

52. An apparatus as in claim 50, further comprising a rearview mirror housing.

53. An apparatus as in claim 50, wherein said lamp is an LED.