Illumination – Plural light sources – With modifier
Reexamination Certificate
1999-07-21
2001-05-22
Cariaso, Alan (Department: 2875)
Illumination
Plural light sources
With modifier
C362S545000, C362S518000, C362S241000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06234646
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a signal lamp for a vehicle such as a tail lamp, a stop lamp, a turn signal lamp, or the like. More particularly, the present invention relates to a signal lamp for a vehicle using a plurality of light-emitting diode (hereinafter referred to as LED) lamps as a light source.
2. Background Art
FIGS. 1 and 2
illustrate a conventional signal lamp
90
for a vehicle using a plurality of LED lamps
91
as a light source. By way of example, the plurality of LED lamps
91
are arranged in rows and columns to correspond to a light-emitting surface
90
a
of the signal lamp
90
for a vehicle. The plurality of LED lamps
91
are mounted on, e.g., a printed circuit board
92
and disposed in a housing
93
. There is also provided an outer lens
94
for covering the LED lamps
91
in opposing relation to the light-emitting surface
90
a.
The LED lamps
91
has a beam-like light distribution property with a comparatively narrow illuminating angle. To confer a desired light distribution property to the signal lamp
90
for a vehicle, lens cuts
94
a
corresponding to the individual LED lamps
91
are imparted to the outer lens
94
. The lens cuts
94
a
allow light beams from the LED lamps
91
to be diffused properly.
Since the LED lamps
91
have narrow illuminating angles in the conventional signal lamp
90
for a vehicle thus constructed, light beams from the adjacent LED lamps
91
are not diffused sufficiently. Thus, when the light beams from the adjacent LED lamps
91
reach the outer lens
94
, overlapping portions therebetween may be very little (see FIG.
2
). In other words, the outer lens
94
has portions on which the light beams are not incident. This satisfies the specifications of the signal lamp
90
in terms of the light distribution property but bright portions with the incident light and dark portions without the incident light are observed when the light-emitting surface
90
a
of the outer lens
94
are viewed directly by a viewer, resulting in a speckled pattern (see FIG.
1
). What results is the problem of a significantly impaired appearance of the lamp for a vehicle.
The above mentioned problem can be solved by reducing the pitch of the LED lamps
91
disposed. In this case, however, the pitch reduced to ½ quadruples the number of LED lamps
91
to be mounted in the housing
93
. This leads to some new problems of a temperature rise or a higher cost due to an increased number of LED lamps
91
to be mounted as well as an increased number of mounting steps during manufacturing.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a signal lamp for a vehicle in which the entire light-emitting surface emits light with uniform illuminance and thereby solve the foregoing problems.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a signal lamp for a vehicle which performs light emission with uniform illuminance free from uneven illumination by using a smaller number of LED lamps than that used in a conventional signal lamp for a vehicle.
In order to attain the above mentioned objects, the present invention provides a signal lamp for a vehicle, comprising: a plurality of LED lamps as a light source; a reflecting surface corresponding to a light-emitting surface of the signal lamp; a housing for accommodating the LED lamps and the reflecting surface; and an outer lens disposed in opposing relation to the reflecting surface, the LED lamps being arranged along a periphery of the light-emitting surface such that an illuminating direction thereof is toward a center of the reflecting surface, the reflecting surface being partitioned into segments corresponding in number to the LED lamps.
In one aspect of the present invention, the reflecting surface may have a circular configuration. In this case, the segments into which the reflecting surface is partitioned are arranged radially around the center of the reflecting surface. On the other hand, the LED lamps are arranged in an annular configuration along the periphery of the reflecting surface.
In another aspect of the present invention, the LED lamps are plural pairs of LED lamps, each pair of LED lamps being disposed in opposing relation to each other with a center axis of the reflecting surface interposed therebetween.
In still another aspect of the present invention, the reflecting surface is composed of two types of reflecting portions being alternately arranged, one for reflecting a light beam from one of each pair of opposing LED lamps and the other for reflecting a light beam from the other of each pair of opposing LED lamps.
Preferably, a shade for blocking direct light beams from the LED lamps is provided adjacent the LED lamps.
With the signal lamp for a vehicle according to the present invention, it becomes possible to illuminate the entire reflecting surface even with light beams from the LED lamps having comparatively narrow illuminating angles. This increases the illuminated area, allows the entire light-emitting surface to glow with uniform illuminance, and prevents uneven illumination.
With the reflecting surface thus constructed, the area illuminated with light beams from the LED lamps is increased so that the light emitting surface is allowed to glow without uneven illumination by using a smaller number of LED lamps than in a conventional signal lamp for a vehicle with the light emitting surface having the same area. Hence, the reflecting surface is highly effective in reducing cost and the number of mounting steps for the signal lamp for a vehicle.
REFERENCES:
patent: 4729076 (1988-03-01), Masami et al.
patent: 5152601 (1992-10-01), Ferng
patent: 5838247 (1998-11-01), Bladowski
patent: 5947587 (1999-09-01), Keuper et al.
Cariaso Alan
DelGizzi Ronald E.
Stanley Electric Co. Ltd.
Weingarten, Schurgin Gagnebin & Hayes LLP
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