Light assembly for a vehicle

• US 8,235,569 B2
• Filed: 08/31/2010
• Issued: 08/07/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 08/31/2009
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Rebo Lighting & Electronics, LLC
• Original Assignee: Federal-Mogul Corporation (Apollo Global Management, Inc.)
• Inventors: Zelikovskaya, Nadeshda Alexsandrovina, Mehado Moya, Felipe De Jesus Domingo, Chambers, Joe Allen
• Primary Examiner(s): Ton, Anabel
• Application Number:
  US12/872,951
• Publication Number:
  US 20110069505A1
• Time in Patent Office: 707 Days
• Field of Search: 362/487, 362/499, 362/497, 362/545, 362/800, 362/240, 362/650
• US Class Current: 362/516
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/2607 comprising at least two indicating lamps
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/56 for illuminating registrations or the like , e.g. for licence plates
• CPC Class Codes: B62J 6/04 Rear lights
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 43/14 Light emitting diodes [LED]
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 7/0008 providing for indirect lighting
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2107/90 on two opposite sides of supports or substrates
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2115/10 Light-emitting diodes [LED]

Abstract

The invention provides a light assembly to enable various light functions, such as braking lights, tail lights, license plate lights, flashers, etc., using LEDs that consume low power and have a long service life. The LEDs are located on a single, two-sided printed circuit board (PCB), which reduces the assembly costs and the size of tail light, as well as the complexity of assembly.

Claims

1. A light assembly for a vehicle, comprising:

a single printed circuit board having a first side and a second side;

at least one light disposed on the first side of the printed circuit board for performing a first lighting function and at least one light disposed on the second side of the printed circuit board for performing a second lighting function different than said first lighting function;

a housing to reflect light from said at least one light on said first side of said printed circuit board;

a lens covering said housing to diffuse and direct light outwardly;

a reflector receptor located beneath said lens; and

a reflector secured to said reflector receptor to reflect light.

2. The light assembly of claim 1, wherein said at least one light on said second side of said printed circuit board illuminates a license plate of the vehicle.

3. The light assembly of claim 1, wherein said single printed circuit board includes a first, a second and a third light on said first side, and includes a fourth light on said second side.

4. The light assembly of claim 3, wherein said first, second and third lights are configured to direct light onto said housing and said housing reflects the light outwardly, and said fourth light is configured to direct light directly onto a license plate of the vehicle.

5. The light assembly of claim 4, wherein said lights are LEDs.

6. The light assembly of claim 5, wherein said LEDs illuminate a red or white color.

7. The light assembly of claim 1, wherein said first side of said printed circuit board further includes a plurality of LEDs electrically connected in series with one another and electrically coupled to a power source on said first side of said printed circuit board, and wherein said second side of said printed circuit board includes a single LED.

8. The light assembly of claim 7, wherein said plurality of LEDs on said first side of said printed circuit board are stop and tail lights, and wherein said single LED on said second side of said printed circuit board is a license plate light.

9. A printed circuit board for use in a light assembly of a vehicle, comprising:

a first side having at least one light for performing a first lighting function;

a second side having at least one light for performing a second lighting function different than said first lighting function;

said first side of said printed circuit board including a plurality of LEDs electrically connected in series with one another and electrically coupled to a power source;

said second side of said printed circuit board including a single LED electrically coupled to said power source; and

wherein said plurality of LEDs on said first side of said printed circuit board are stop and tail lights and said single LED on said second side of said printed circuit board is a license plate light.

10. A printed circuit board for use in a light assembly of a vehicle, comprising:

a first side having at least one light for performing a first lighting function;

a second side having at least one light for performing a second lighting function different than said first lighting function; and

wherein said printed circuit board is mounted inside of said light assembly, and said light assembly includes a housing to reflect light from said at least one light on said first side of said printed circuit board, a lens covering said housing to diffuse and direct light outwardly, a reflector receptor located beneath said lens, and a reflector secured to said reflector receptor to reflect light.

11. The light assembly of claim 10, wherein said at least one light on said first side of said printed circuit board is a stop and tail light, and wherein said at least one light on said second side of said printed circuit board is a license plate light.