Turn signal for vehicle

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016010826-A1
Application number	US-201414770505-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Feb 28, 2014
Priority date	Mar 4, 2013
Publication date	Jan 14, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

A turn signal for a vehicle has a blue LED as a light source, and an outer cover irradiated by the blue light. The outer cover includes a molded body of a polymeric material including phosphors dispersed therein that absorb blue light and emit light. By means of the present invention, it is possible to provide a turn signal for vehicles which has improved visibility and which imparts excellent visibility and sufficient luminous intensity over a wide angle. Further, because the entire outer cover surface-emits light, uniformity of luminous intensity is ensured without subjecting the outer cover to light scattering treatment, enabling as a result preventing glare caused by light scattering treatment, making this turn signal safe without being unpleasant for pedestrians and drivers of nearby vehicles. Furthermore, because no complex optical design is necessary, this turn signal saves space and can be arranged in a vehicle.

First claim

1 . A vehicle-mount turn signal comprising a blue LED array capable of emitting blue light as a light source and an outer cover adapted to receive blue light, said outer cover comprising a molded body of a polymer material having dispersed therein a phosphor capable of absorbing blue light and emitting light.

2 . The vehicle-mount turn signal of claim 1 , further comprising a base housing on which the blue LED array is mounted.

3 . The vehicle-mount turn signal of claim 1 wherein the phosphor is an orange emissive phosphor.

4 . The vehicle-mount turn signal of claim 3 wherein the orange emissive phosphor is an orange emissive phosphor of garnet structure.

5 . The vehicle-mount turn signal of claim 1 wherein the polymer material is at least one resin selected from thermoplastic resins and thermosetting resins.

6 . The vehicle-mount turn signal of claim 5 wherein the thermoplastic resin is at least one resin selected from the group consisting of a polyethylene, polypropylene, polystyrene, polycarbonate, ABS resin and acrylic resin.

7 . The vehicle-mount turn signal of claim 5 wherein the thermosetting resin is at least one resin selected from the group consisting of a silicone resin, epoxy resin, phenolic resin, urethane resin and unsaturated polyester resin.

8 . The vehicle-mount turn signal of claim 1 wherein said blue LED array comprises a chip serving as an emissive part encapsulated with an encapsulant having a light scattering agent dispersed therein.

9 . The vehicle-mount turn signal of claim 1 , further comprising a light scattering member disposed forward of the blue LED array in the emission direction, the light scattering member having a light scattering agent dispersed therein.

10 . The vehicle-mount turn signal of claim 1 , further comprising a lens disposed forward of the blue LED array in the emission direction for imparting a luminous intensity distribution angle to the blue light from the blue LED array.

11 . The vehicle-mount turn signal of claim 1 wherein the outer cover has a textured surface of rugged configuration.

12 . The vehicle-mount turn signal of claim 1 , further comprising a color filter disposed outside the outer cover.

13 . The vehicle-mount turn signal of claim 12 wherein the color filter has a textured surface of rugged configuration.

14 . The vehicle-mount turn signal of claim 1 which is integrated with an outer surface portion of the vehicle so that light is illuminated outside the vehicle.

Assignees

• Shinetsu Chemical Co

Inventors

• Tsukatani Toshihiko
• Tsumori Toshihiro
• Wataya Kazuhiro
• Kaneyoshi Masami
• Minowa Takehisa

Classifications

• F21S43/14 Primary

  Light emitting diodes [LED] · CPC title

• F21S43/255 Primary

  Filters · CPC title

• F21V9/30

  Elements containing photoluminescent material distinct from or spaced from the light source (shades F21V1/17; globes, bowls or cover glasses F21V3/08, F21V3/12; refractors F21V5/10; reflectors F21V7/26, F21V7/30; elements with provision for controlling the spectral properties or intensity F21V9/40) · CPC title

• F21S43/26

  Refractors, transparent cover plates, light guides or filters not provided in groups F21S43/235 - F21S43/255 · CPC title

• F21W2103/20

  Direction indicator lights · CPC title