Vehicle lamp

• US 7,950,837 B2
• Filed: 02/02/2009
• Issued: 05/31/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 10/24/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Stanley Electric Company Limited
• Original Assignee: Stanley Electric Company Limited
• Inventors: Kushimoto, Takuya, Futami, Takashi, Owada, Ryotaro, Yatsuda, Yasushi, Koike, Teruo
• Primary Examiner(s): Ton; Anabel M
• Assistant Examiner(s): ALLEN, DANIELLE NICOLE
• Application Number:
  US12/364,513
• Publication Number:
  US 20090231875A1
• Time in Patent Office: 848 Days
• Field of Search: 362/538, 362/539, 362/543, 362/544, 362/545, 362/475, 362/476, 362/507, 362/509, 362/516, 362/321, 362/351
• US Class Current: 362/545
• 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 41/147 the main emission direction of the LED being angled to the optical axis of the illuminating device
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 41/148 the main emission direction of the LED being perpendicular to the optical axis
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 41/151 arranged in one or more lines
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 41/155 Surface emitters, e.g. organic light emitting diodes [OLED]
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 41/43 characterised by the shape thereof
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2115/10 Light-emitting diodes [LED]
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 33/483 Containers
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 362/80 Light emitting diode

Abstract

A vehicle lamp can include a plurality of light source modules each having an LED as a light source, and optical systems for distributing light from each of the light source modules frontward toward predetermined areas or predetermined patterns that are different from each other and which make up a light distribution pattern. Each of the optical systems can be optimized to emit light to a predetermined area, and each of the light source modules'"'"' LEDs can be optimally arranged for each of the corresponding optical systems.

Claims

1. A vehicle lamp comprising:

a primary light source module having an LED as a light source and a primary light source optical axis along which the LED emits light;

a primary optical system configured to distribute light from the primary light source module frontward and toward a primary predetermined area, the primary optical system having a primary optical system optical axis along which light is directed from the primary optical system, the primary optical system including,

a lens located adjacent the primary light source module, wherein the primary light source module includes a housing surrounding the LED light source and the housing includes a shading member built into the housing configured to provide a low beam vehicle light distribution pattern from the primary light source module.

2. The vehicle lamp according to claim 1, wherein the housing includes a separate lens built into the housing.

3. The vehicle lamp according to claim 1, wherein the shading member is a substantially planar member located within a plane that is substantially perpendicular to the primary optical system optical axis.

4. The vehicle lamp according to claim 1, wherein the light source module includes a copper core.

5. The vehicle lamp according to claim 1, wherein the housing surrounding the LED light source is spaced from the LED light source.

6. The vehicle lamp according to claim 5, wherein the housing surrounding the LED light source is a resin housing spaced from the LED light source by a fluorescent material.

7. The vehicle lamp according to claim 1, wherein the primary optical system includes a primary projector lens located adjacent the primary light source module.

8. The vehicle lamp according to claim 1, wherein the lens is a projector lens including a curved portion and an adjacent substantially linear cut off portion.

9. The vehicle lamp according to claim 8, further comprising:

a second optical system including a second projector lens, the second projector lens having a curved portion and an adjacent substantially linear cut off portion, the cut off portion of the second projector lens being located between the curved portion of the primary projector lens and the curved portion of the second projector lens.

10. A vehicle lamp comprising:

a primary light source module having an LED as a light source and a primary light source optical axis along which the LED emits light;

a primary optical system configured to distribute light from the primary light source module frontward and toward a primary predetermined area, the primary optical system having a primary optical system optical axis along which light is directed from the primary optical system, the primary optical system including,

a lens located adjacent the primary light source module, wherein the primary light source module includes a housing surrounding the LED light source and the housing includes a separate lens member built into the housing of the primary light source module.

11. The vehicle lamp according to claim 10, wherein the housing includes a separate shade member built into the housing.

12. The vehicle lamp according to claim 10, wherein the shade member is a substantially planar member located within a plane that is substantially perpendicular to the primary optical system optical axis.

13. The vehicle lamp according to claim 10, wherein the light source module includes a copper core.

14. The vehicle lamp according to claim 10, wherein the housing surrounding the LED light source is spaced from the LED light source.

15. The vehicle lamp according to claim 14, wherein the housing surrounding the LED light source is a resin housing spaced from the LED light source by a fluorescent material.

16. The vehicle lamp according to claim 10, wherein the lens of the primary optical system is a convex projector lens located adjacent the primary light source module.

17. The vehicle lamp according to claim 16, wherein the primary projector lens includes a curved portion and an adjacent substantially linear cut off portion.

18. The vehicle lamp according to claim 17, further comprising:

a second optical system including a second projector lens, the second projector lens having a curved portion and an adjacent substantially linear cut off portion, the cut off portion of the second projector lens being located between the curved portion of the primary projector lens and the curved portion of the second projector lens.

19. The vehicle lamp according to claim 10, wherein the housing is formed as a cylindrical tube, and the lens is located and closes an end of the tube in cooperation with a shade member.