LED light assembly

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9605834-B2
Application number	US-201414304200-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 13, 2014
Priority date	Jun 13, 2013
Publication date	Mar 28, 2017
Grant date	Mar 28, 2017

Abstract

A light assembly comprises an LED light source, a reflector, and an optical element assembly. The LED light source comprises a light emitting die and has an optical axis which extends from the light emitting die and perpendicular to a first plane. The reflector defines an optical cavity and has a reflective surface oriented to reflect light emitted by the light source incident to the reflective surface along a range of reflected angles. The optical element assembly comprises an optical element disposed in the path of the light emitted from the light source. The optical element is supported within the optical cavity by a connector arm, which has first and second ends. The first end is connected to the optical element and the second end supports the optical element assembly from behind the reflector.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A light assembly having an illumination pattern, said light assembly comprising:
an LED light source comprising a light emitting die in a first plane, an optical axis extending from said light emitting die and perpendicular to said first plane, said LED light source emitting light to one side of said first plane within a hemisphere centered on said optical axis, said hemisphere bisected by a second plane including said optical axis and perpendicular to said first plane;
a reflector asymmetrical with respect to said second plane, said reflector surrounding said LED light source and configured to reflect the light from said LED light source into a range of reflected trajectories with respect to said second plane, said reflector comprising a first reflector surface, a second reflector surface, and a pair of end reflector surfaces intersected by said second plane, said first reflector surface spaced from said second plane in a first direction, said second reflector surface spaced from said second plane in a second direction opposite said first direction, at least a portion of the range of reflected trajectories from said first reflector surface including trajectories which converge with and pass through said second plane, no portion of the range of reflected trajectories from said second reflector surface converges with or passes through said second plane, said end reflector surfaces connecting said first and second reflector surfaces; and
an optical element asymmetrical with respect to all planes parallel to and including said second plane and located in the path of light emitted from said LED light source, said optical element closer to said first reflector surface than said second reflector surface and defining a gap between said optical element and said second reflector surface, said optical element comprising a light entry surface and a light emission surface, said light entry and emission surfaces configured to refract light from said LED light source passing through said optical element into a range of refracted trajectories with respect to said second plane, at least a portion of which refracted trajectories converge with and pass through said second plane;
wherein a portion of the light emitted from said LED light source exits the light assembly through said gap without redirection by either said optical element or said reflector.

2. The light assembly of claim 1 , wherein said optical element further comprises a first edge facing said second reflector surface, said first edge defined by a third plane canted with respect to said second plane at an acute angle.

3. The light assembly of claim 1 , wherein said LED light source is mounted to a PC board parallel to said first plane.

4. The light assembly of claim 3 , wherein the optical element is attached to a connector arm having a first end connected to the optical element and a second end supporting the optical element and first end from behind the reflector surfaces.

5. The light assembly of claim 1 , wherein said reflective surfaces define sidewalls having a generally parabolic shape, and wherein said sidewalls are bisected by a reflector axis intersecting with but canted at an acute angle θ relative to said optical axis.

6. The light assembly of claim 5 , wherein 8 is selected to provide a lighting effect which mimics mounting said LED light source on an angle selected from approximately 5° to approximately 15° with respect to said optical axis.

7. The light assembly of claim 1 , wherein said LED light source comprises a plurality of light emitting dies arranged along a laterally extending axis perpendicular to said optical axes of said LED light sources.

8. The light assembly of claim 7 , wherein each of said LED light sources comprises a pair of light emitting dies.

9. A high intensity light comprising:
a PC board;
a plurality of light assemblies, each individual light assembly having an LED light source mounted to said PC board said LED light source comprising a light emitting die and having an optical axis extending from said light emitting die and perpendicular to a first plane passing through said light emitting die and parallel to said PC board, a reflector defining an optical cavity having a reflective surface oriented to reflect light emitted by said LED light source incident on said reflective surface along a range of reflected angles, and an optical element assembly having an optical element disposed in the path of light emitted from said LED light source and spaced apart from said reflective surface and supported within said optical cavity by a connector arm at a connector arm first end, and wherein a connector arm second end is connected to said PC board at a point eccentric to said optical cavity and said optical axis and supports said optical element and first end from behind said reflector.

10. The light of claim 9 , wherein each of said light emitting dies is arranged along a laterally extending axis perpendicular to and intersecting with said optical axes of said light emitting dies.

11. The light of claim 10 , wherein each of said individual LED light sources comprises a plurality of light emitting dies.

12. The light of claim 11 , wherein each of said individual LED light sources comprises a pair of light emitting dies.

13. The light of claim 9 , wherein said lens and said reflector are configured to cooperatively refract and reflect light emitted from said LED light source above a reflector axis intersecting with and canted relative to a third plane containing said optical axis.

14. The light of claim 9 , wherein said reflective surfaces define sidewalls having a generally parabolic shape, and wherein said sidewalls are bisected by a reflector axis intersecting with but canted at an angle θ relative to said optical axis.

15. The light of claim 14 , wherein 8 is selected to provide a lighting effect which mimics mounting said LED light source on an angle selected from approximately 5° to approximately 15° with respect to the optical axis.

16. The light of claim 9 , wherein optical element assembly complex comprises a plurality of said optical assemblies connected at said connector second end to a laterally extending base.

17. The light of claim 16 , wherein a pair of cylindrical platforms project from each said connector arm, a fastener secures each of said optical assemblies to said PC board, and wherein said platforms are configured to secure the position of said optical element within the cavity.

Assignees

• Whelen Eng

Inventors

• Smith Todd J

Classifications

• B60Q1/2611

  Indicating devices mounted on the roof of the vehicle · CPC title

• F21Y2115/10

  Light-emitting diodes [LED] · CPC title

• F21V13/04 Primary

  the elements being reflectors and refractors {(for vehicle rear lights F21S43/40)} · CPC title

• B60Q1/247

  for illuminating the close surroundings of the vehicle, e.g. to facilitate entry or exit (for reverse drive B60Q1/22; by opening a side door B60Q1/323) · CPC title

• B60Q1/323

  on or for doors (illuminated exterior door handles B60Q1/2669; illuminated door locks E05B17/10) · CPC title