Lamp for vehicle

• US 7,654,712 B2
• Filed: 06/27/2007
• Issued: 02/02/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 06/28/2006
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Koito Manufacturing Company Limited
• Original Assignee: Koito Manufacturing Company Limited
• Inventors: Tokida, Tsukasa, Takeda, Hitoshi
• Primary Examiner(s): O'Shea; Sandra L
• Assistant Examiner(s): APENTENG, JESSICA MCMILLAN
• Application Number:
  US11/768,954
• Publication Number:
  US 20080013329A1
• Time in Patent Office: 951 Days
• Field of Search: 362/459, 362/546, 362/543, 362/545, 313500-502, 313/494
• US Class Current: 362/459
• CPC Class Codes: F21K 9/00 Light sources using semiconductor devices as light-generating elements, e.g. using light-emitting diodes [LED] or lasers
• 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 41/153 arranged in a matrix
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 41/155 Surface emitters, e.g. organic light emitting diodes [OLED]
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 41/16 Laser light sources
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 41/176 Light sources where the light is generated by photoluminescent material spaced from a primary light generating element
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 41/663 by switching light sources by switching incandescent light sources F21S41/162
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 43/14 Light emitting diodes [LED]
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 17/164 the parts being subjected to bending, e.g. snap joints
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 5/007 Array of lenses or refractors for a cluster of light sources, e.g. for arrangement of multiple light sources in one plane combination of two or more refractors F21V5/008
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2101/00 Point-like light sources
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2115/10 Light-emitting diodes [LED]
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2115/30 Semiconductor lasers
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 25/0753 the devices being arranged next to each other
• 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 33/60 Reflective elements
• CPC Class Codes: H01S 5/0087 for illuminating phosphorescent or fluorescent materials, e.g. using optical arrangements specifically adapted for guiding or shaping laser beams illuminating these materials
• CPC Class Codes: H01S 5/02234 Resin-filled housings; the housings being made of resin
• CPC Class Codes: H01S 5/02257 using windows, e.g. specially adapted for back-reflecting light to a detector inside the housing
• CPC Class Codes: H01S 5/18394 : Apertures, e.g. defined by the shape of the upper electrode
• CPC Class Codes: H01S 5/423 : having a vertical cavity
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 362/80 : Light emitting diode

Abstract

A lamp module is constructed of a light source part made of a semiconductor light emitting element, and an optical member for distributing light emitted from the light source part. The light source part includes a surface-emitting laser element in which plural light emission parts are parallel arranged on a surface, a mask which is disposed on a surface of the surface-emitting laser element and includes plural mask openings for exposing the light emission parts, and fluorescent substances with which the mask openings are filled. By forming the light source part in a monolithic configuration, an array pitch of the plural light emission parts can be decreased, a light source can be miniaturized and also a lamp can be further miniaturized.

Claims

1. A lamp for a vehicle, comprising:

a light source part comprising a planar integrated light source; and

an optical member which distributes light emitted from the light source part, wherein the planar integrated light source comprises

a plurality of light emission parts arranged in a plane on a surface of the planar integrated light source;

a mask which is disposed on the surface of the planar integrated light source and comprises a plurality of openings which expose the light emission parts; and

a fluorescent substance with which the openings of the mask are filled.

2. A lamp as claimed in claim 1, wherein inner walls of the openings of the mask are inclined so that an opening diameter increases toward a front side of the mask.

3. A lamp as claimed in claim 2, wherein front edges of the inner walls forming the boundaries between adjacent openings have a sharp sectional shape in the mask.

4. A lamp as claimed in claim 3, wherein surfaces of the inner walls are treated to become reflective.

5. A lamp as claimed in claim 2, wherein surfaces of the inner walls are treated to become reflective.

6. A lamp as claimed in claim 1, wherein the optical member comprises a control circuit which is constructed integrally with the light source part and can selectively emit light of the plurality of light emission parts.

7. A lamp as claimed in claim 6, wherein the control circuit can selectively emit light of any one of the plurality of light emission parts or any combination of ones of the plurality of light emission parts.

8. A lamp as claimed in claim 1, wherein the planar integrated light source comprises a semiconductor substrate in which the plural light emission parts are monolithically formed.

10. A lamp as claimed in claim 1, wherein the planar integrated light source comprises a surface emitting laser element.

11. A lamp as claimed in claim 10, wherein the surface emitting laser element source comprises:

a lower mirror layer;

an upper mirror layer; and

an active layer between the lower and upper mirror layers.

12. A lamp as claimed in claim 11, wherein the surface emitting laser element source further comprises:

an upper contact electrode; and

a lower contact electrode.

13. A lamp as claimed in claim 12, wherein the surface emitting laser element source further comprises:

a plurality of contact electrodes corresponding to the plurality of openings.

9. A lamp for a vehicle, comprising:

a light source part comprising a planar integrated light source, wherein the integrated light source comprises light emission parts disposed on the surface of the planar integrated light source;

an optical member that distributes light emitted from the light source part;

a mask comprising a plurality of openings which expose the light emission parts; and

a fluorescent substance disposed in the openings of the mask.