LED LIGHT ASSEMBLY

US 20030156416A1
Filed: 02/21/2002
Published: 08/21/2003
Est. Priority Date: 02/21/2002
Status: Active Grant

First Claim

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1. A light assembly comprising:

a parabolic reflector defining a reflecting cavity having a linear focal axis; and

a plurality of LEDs positioned in said cavity, each said LED having an optical axis;

wherein the optical axis of each said LED intersects said linear focal axis.

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Abstract

An light source utilizes a parabolic reflector to collimate light emitted from at greater than a predetermined angle relative to the optical axis of an LED arranged at the focus of the reflector. An optional collimating lens is arranged to collimate light emitted at less than the predetermined angle. Both variations provide light in the form of a substantially collimated beam. The parabolic reflector is preferably extended along its focal point to form a linear parabolic section having a linear focal axis. A linear array of LEDs is arranged such that the linear focal axis passes through the area of light emission of each LED. The linear parabolic section may be provided with parabolic dish ends. Alternatively, the ends of the parabolic section may be left open for increased wide angle visibility.

164 Citations

23 Claims

1. A light assembly comprising:
- a parabolic reflector defining a reflecting cavity having a linear focal axis; and
  
  a plurality of LEDs positioned in said cavity, each said LED having an optical axis;
  
  wherein the optical axis of each said LED intersects said linear focal axis.
- View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
- - 2. The light assembly of claim 1, wherein said parabolic reflector comprises a linear parabolic reflecting surface, said linear focal axis is defined by said reflecting surface and said LEDs are configured in a linear array.
  - 3. The light assembly of claim 1, wherein each said LED comprises a die substantially defining a point source of light emission, said parabolic reflector comprises a linear parabolic section defining said linear focal axis and said LEDs are arranged such that said linear focal axis passes through their respective point sources of light emission.
  - 4. The light assembly of claim 1, wherein said parabolic reflector comprises a linear parabolic section defining said linear focal axis and at least one parabolic dish end.
  - 5. The light assembly of claim 4, wherein said linear parabolic section defines a concave reflecting surface described by a parabola projected along said linear focal axis and said parabolic dish end comprises a reflecting surface described by partial rotation of said parabola about a vertex axis of said parabola.
  - 6. The light assembly of claim 1, wherein each said LED comprises a die mounted to a thermally conductive slug.
  - 7. The light assembly of claim 6, wherein each said LED is mounted with its slug thermally coupled to a first side of a PC board and said light assembly comprises a heat sink, said PC board and heat sink being mounted to said reflector such that said heat sink substantially covers a second side of said PC board.
  - 8. The light assembly of claim 7, wherein each said LED emits heat which traverses through said slug and said PC board comprises heat transfer means for transferring said heat to said heat sink.
  - 9. The light assembly of claim 1, wherein said reflector comprises a linear parabolic section and opposed parabolic dish ends.
  - 10. The light assembly of claim 1, comprising a collimating lens mounted within said reflecting cavity so that the optical axes of said plurality of LEDs pass through said collimating lens.
  - 11. The light assembly of claim 10, wherein said collimating lens comprises a convex lens surface facing said LEDs and a flat lens surface opposite said convex lens surface.

12. A light assembly comprising:
- a reflector comprising a concave reflecting surface defining a reflecting cavity, said reflecting surface flaring from an inner vertex to an open outer end, said reflecting surface being symmetrical to a plane through said vertex;
  
  at least one light emitting diode having an optical axis and disposed in said reflecting cavity such that said optical axis is generally coincident with said plane; and
  
  a collimating lens mounted within said reflecting cavity, wherein said collimating lens is configured to collimate substantially all light output from said at least one LED that is not incident upon said reflecting surface.
- View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
- - 13. The light assembly of claim 12, wherein said reflecting surface is described by rotating a parabola around an axis bisecting the parabola.
  - 14. The light assembly of claim 12, wherein said reflecting surface comprises a linear parabolic section defining a linear focal axis generally coincident with said plane and said at least one light emitting diode comprises a plurality of light emitting diodes arranged in a linear array with their optical axes orthogonally intersecting said linear focal axis and generally coincident with said plane.
  - 15. The light assembly of claim 14, wherein said linear parabolic section comprises at least one parabolic dish end.
  - 16. The light assembly of claim 12, wherein said reflecting surface defines a focal axis and said at least one light emitting diode comprises a die substantially defining a point source of light emission generally coincident with said focal axis.
  - 17. The light assembly of claim 14, wherein each said light emitting diode comprises a die substantially defining a point source of light emission and said linear focal axis passes through each said point of light emission.

18. A light assembly comprising:
- an elongated concave reflector extending a first longitudinal span and having a linear focal axis; and
  
  a linear array of LEDs, each said LED having an optical axis and a light output on said optical axis of a first luminous intensity, wherein the optical axes of said LEDs substantially intersect said focal axis in orthogonal relationship thereto and the reflector integrates the light output of said array of LEDs into a band of illumination extending the longitudinal span of said reflector.
- View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
- - 19. The light assembly of claim 18, wherein said reflector defines a central directional axis and said band of illumination has a continuous second luminous intensity distribution measured in a horizontal plane passing through said linear focal axis, each point of said second luminous intensity distribution exceeding three times the sum of the first intensities over an arc of 30 degrees to either side of said directional axis in said horizontal plane.
  - 20. The light assembly of claim 19, wherein said band of illumination has a continuous third luminous intensity distribution measured in a vertical plane perpendicular to said horizontal plane and intersecting said horizontal plane along said directional axis, each point of said third luminous intensity distribution exceeding twice the sum of the first intensities over an arc of 5 above and below said directional axis in said vertical plane.
  - 21. The light assembly of claim 18, wherein said band of illumination has a peak luminous intensity measured along the directional axis which exceeds four times the sum of said first luminous intensities.
  - 22. The light assembly of claim 18, wherein said reflector defines a reflecting cavity and the light output of each LED at least partially overlaps the light output of at least one other LED within said reflecting cavity.
  - 23. The light assembly of claim 18, wherein each said LED has a viewing angle in excess of 100 degrees.

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Current Assignee
Whelen Engineering Company Incorporated
Original Assignee
Whelen Engineering Company Incorporated
Inventors
Smith, Todd J., Stopa, James L.

Granted Patent

US 6,641,284 B2
Time in Patent Office

Days
Field of Search
US Class Current

362/294
CPC Class Codes

B64D 47/02   Arrangements or adaptations...

F21S 4/20   with light sources held by ...

F21S 43/14   Light emitting diodes [LED]

F21S 43/15   Strips of light sources

F21S 43/31   Optical layout thereof

F21S 45/47   Passive cooling, e.g. using...

F21V 13/04   the elements being reflecto...

F21V 17/164   the parts being subjected t...

F21V 29/70   characterised by passive he...

F21V 29/75   with fins or blades having ...

F21V 29/763   the planes containing the f...

F21V 5/04   of lens shape

F21V 7/005   with an elongated shape to ...

F21V 7/06   with parabolic curvature

F21W 2107/10   for land vehicles

F21W 2107/30   for aircraft

F21Y 2103/10   comprising a linear array o...

F21Y 2115/10   Light-emitting diodes [LED]

H01L 2224/48091   Arched

H01L 2224/73265   Layer and wire connectors

H01L 25/0753 : the devices being arranged ...

H01L 2924/00014 : the subject-matter covered ...

Y10S 362/80 : Light emitting diode

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LED LIGHT ASSEMBLY

First Claim

1 Assignment

0 Petitions

Accused Products

Abstract

164 Citations

23 Claims

Specification

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LED LIGHT ASSEMBLY

First Claim

1 Assignment

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0 Petitions

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Accused Products

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Abstract

164 Citations

23 Claims

Specification

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Solutions

Use Cases

Quick Links