JP2006032347A - Mounting light emitting diode on stem - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an LED light source which eliminates faults of the conventional art, and to improve the value and the fascination of the LED light source. <P>SOLUTION: A hole 14 is formed at the base of a reflection body, and a stem 16 having heat conduction is fitted into the hole 14. The stem 16 has a first surface 18 inside the reflection body and a second surface 20 outside the reflection body. A single-side emission LED light source 22 is fixed to the first surface 18 preferably via a member 23 for electric insulation but having heat conduction. A heatsink 24 is fixed to the second surface 20.A circuit 26 capable of being mounted on a printed circuit board is connected to the LED light source to supply an electric power to the LED light source. A preferable electric connection to the LED light source 22 not shown in Figure is prepared through insulated wires which pass the side of the stem 16 or penetrate a lengthwise direction hole formed in the stem 16. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

This application claims priority to US Provisional Application No. 60 / 588,470, filed July 16, 2004.
The present invention relates to a light source, in particular, a light source using a light emitting diode (hereinafter also referred to as an LED light source), and more specifically, a headlight, a taillight, a stoplight, a foglight, and a direction indicator lamp used in the automobile field. It relates to such a light source. More particularly, the present invention relates to light sources as they are packaged industrially.

Conventionally, the use of incandescent lamps is involved in most automobile light sources. Incandescent lamps work well and are inexpensive, but have a relatively short lifespan, and of course, the filaments used are so thin that they break when subjected to vibration.
Recently, it has been replaced by LED light sources, especially in stoplights. These solid-state light sources have a surprisingly long life span of 100,000 hours and are not damaged by vibration. However, these LED light sources are hardwired in place, which increases the integration cost. Therefore, an LED light source with the ease of incorporation of an incandescent lamp can be beneficial.
An LED light source that uses a single LED light source that provides sufficient illumination and good heat removal and ease of use may still be beneficial.

  Accordingly, the problem to be solved is to provide an LED light source that eliminates the above-mentioned drawbacks of the prior art. Another problem to be solved is to increase the value and attractiveness of LED light sources.

According to the present invention, a lamp assembly having a reflector for directing light in a predetermined direction is provided. A hole is formed in the reflector, and a thermally conductive support column is fitted into the hole. The strut has a first surface inside the reflector and a second surface outside the reflector. A single side-emitting LED light source is fixed to the first surface, and a radiator is fixed to the second surface, and a circuit for supplying power to the side-emitting LED is associated with the side-emitting LED.
In one embodiment of the present invention, the LED light source includes a cap provided with a second reflector, and in another embodiment, the LED light source is a dome-shaped transparent having a sidewall and a closed top having at least one metal surface. The transparent element may contain optical components tailored to a specific radiation pattern.

  Referring to the drawings in detail, FIG. 1 shows a lamp assembly 10 that includes a reflector 12 for directing light in a predetermined direction. A hole 14 is formed substantially in the base portion of the reflector, and a heat-conductive column 16 is fitted into the hole 14. The strut 16 has a first surface 18 inside the reflector and a second surface 20 outside the reflector. The column 16 is preferably made of metal, for example, copper. A single side-emitting LED light source 22 is secured to the first surface 18, preferably via an electrically insulating but heat conductive member 23. A heat radiator 24 is fixed to the second surface 20. The second surface 20 is preferably a part that guarantees good heat transfer between the support column 16 and the radiator 24. A circuit 26 that can be mounted on the printed circuit board is associated with the LED light source to provide power to the LED light source. The circuit 26 is preferably attached to the outside of the reflector, suitable electrical power (not shown) to the LED light source 22 through an insulating wire through the side of the column 16 or through a longitudinal hole formed in the column 16. An articulated connection is provided. Alternatively, the struts 16 can be covered with an electrically insulating material provided with conductive traces.

The LED light source 22 may be attached alone to the top of the column 16 or may have a cap 28 with a second reflector 30 attached. With the cap 28 in place, when the LED light source is activated, the light beam is emitted directly to the reflector 12 as shown by arrow 60 or to the second reflector 30 as shown schematically by arrow 62. After that, it can be emitted to the reflector 12.
Alternatively, the LED light source can be covered with a dome-shaped transparent element 32. The transparent element 32 has a side wall 34 and a closed top 36 having at least one metal surface, and the side wall 34 may take the form of a molded lens tuned to provide a particular radiation pattern. One optical body 40 may be included.
The strut 16 has a predetermined length that positions the LED light source 22 at the focal position of the reflector 12 when measured along the longitudinal axis 42.
The reflector 12 can be of any desired shape, but is preferably concave for use in an automotive taillight assembly. More specifically, the reflector 12 preferably has a parabolic cross section.
Thus, a single LED light source suitable for an automotive taillight assembly is provided that has easy integration and good heat dissipation. Additional optical bodies can be provided to customize the light emission status.
Although the present invention has been described with reference to the embodiments, it should be understood that various modifications can be made within the present invention.

It is a schematic sectional drawing of one Example of this invention. It is a partial schematic sectional drawing of the other Example of this invention.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Lamp assembly 12 Reflector 14 Hole 16 Support | pillar 18 1st surface 20 2nd surface 22 Side emission LED light source 24 Radiator 26 Circuit 30 2nd reflector

Claims (7)

A lamp assembly,
A reflector for directing light in a predetermined direction;
A hole in the reflector;
A strut having a first surface in the reflector and a second surface outside the reflector, the thermally conductive strut fitted in the hole;
A single side-emitting LED light source fixed to the first surface;
A radiator fixed to the second surface;
A circuit associated with the side-emitting LED light source to supply power to the side-emitting LED light source;
Including lamp assembly.   The lamp assembly of claim 1, wherein the side-emitting LED light source includes a cap having a second reflector.   The lamp assembly of claim 1, wherein the side-emitting LED light source is covered by a dome-shaped transparent element having a sidewall and a closed top having at least one metal surface.   The lamp assembly of claim 3, wherein the sidewall includes at least one lens.   The lamp assembly of claim 1, wherein the post has a predetermined length when measured along the longitudinal axis.   6. The lamp assembly of claim 5, wherein the predetermined length of the post positions the side-emitting LED light source at a focal position of the reflector.   The lamp assembly of claim 6, wherein the reflector is concave.

Images