Modular vehicle light

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9738217-B1
Application number	US-201414516613-A
Country	US
Kind code	B1
Filing date	Oct 17, 2014
Priority date	Oct 17, 2014
Publication date	Aug 22, 2017
Grant date	Aug 22, 2017

Abstract

A modular vehicle light comprises multiple elongated modules which are disposed in end-to-end relationship. The modules are mechanically joined and electrically connected in series. The modules are preferably substantially identical. Each module contains a power board with a microprocessor and a buffer. The microprocessor transmits signals to a matrix of LEDs. The LEDs emit light which transverses an optical assembly to form a narrow band of illumination. In one embodiment, a linear matrix of 36 LEDs comprising 3 color groups of LEDs is employed. Fasteners captured in a bracket at the rear of the module fasten the vehicle light to the vehicle.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A vehicle light comprising:
a first shell having longitudinally spaced ends and a second shell substantially identical to said first shell, said first and second shells being joined to define a housing having a front and a rear, said housing defining a longitudinal channel adjacent said rear;
a power board disposed in said housing and electrically connectable through an end;
a matrix of longitudinally spaced LEDs communicating with said power board;
an optical assembly in optical communication with said LEDs to transmit illumination at said front; and
a bracket received in said channel and defining a longitudinal retaining slot accessible at said rear.

2. The vehicle light of claim 1 wherein said ends of said first and second shells define circular openings and a grommet is received in at least one said opening.

3. The vehicle light of claim 1 wherein said optical assembly comprises an elongated concave reflector and a central refractor.

4. The vehicle light of claim 1 wherein said LEDs comprise at least two groups with different emission frequencies.

5. The vehicle light of claim 4 wherein said matrix of LEDs consists of three groups of LEDs, each group having a different emission frequency.

6. The vehicle light of claim 1 wherein said first shell has a pair of anchoring bosses which are alignable with a corresponding boss of said second shell and a fastener connects said bosses to secure together said first and second shell.

7. The vehicle light of claim 1 wherein said bracket defines a T-shaped slot.

8. The vehicle light of claim 1 wherein said power board is centrally located in said housing and is at least partially encased in potting material.

9. The vehicle light of claim 1 comprising a controller remote from said housing which communicates with said power board via a cord through an end of said housing.

10. A modular vehicle light comprising:
a plurality of elongated light modules disposed and connected in a linear end-to-end relationship, each said module comprising:
an elongated housing having a front, a rear, and a pair of opposed ends, said housing defining a longitudinal channel open at both opposed ends of said housing and including a first rearward-facing longitudinal slot;
a power board disposed in said housing and electrically connectable through a said end;
a matrix of longitudinally spaced LEDs communicating with said power board;
an elongated optical assembly in optical communication with said LEDs projects illumination at said front; and

said vehicle light comprising a bracket extending through the longitudinal channel of said plurality of modules, said bracket defining a second rearward-facing longitudinal slot aligned with said first longitudinal slot.

11. The modular vehicle light of claim 10 wherein said optical assembly further comprises an elongated concave reflector, a central refractor and a lens which projects a narrow band of illumination forwardly from said module upon energizing said LEDs.

12. The modular vehicle light of claim 10 wherein said matrix of spaced LEDs comprises at least two groups of LEDs, each group having a different emission frequency.

13. The modular vehicle light of claim 12 wherein there are 36 LEDs in 3 groups, said groups emitting light in the blue, yellow and red frequencies.

14. The modular vehicle light of claim 10 wherein said longitudinal channel is T-shaped and said bracket has a complimentary configuration.

15. A modular vehicle light assembly comprising:
a controller and a plurality of light modules disposed and connected in a linear end-to-end relationship, each said module comprising:
a housing having a front and a rear defining a channel and a pair of opposed ends;
a power board disposed in said housing and having a microprocessor which generates command signals and electrically connectable through a said end for communication with said controller;
a matrix of longitudinally spaced LEDs powered via said power board and responsive to said command signals;
an optical assembly in optical communication with said LEDs to generate a band of illumination at said front;
a bracket received in said channel and connecting each said module; and
a plurality of fasteners extending through said housing to engage said bracket, thereby securing said housing to said bracket in a predetermined longitudinal position on said bracket.

16. The modular vehicle light assembly of claim 15 , wherein each said power board is connected in series.

17. The modular vehicle light assembly of claim 15 wherein said controller and said modules connect via a four conductor line.

18. The modular vehicle light assembly of claim 15 wherein said controller and said modules connects via a four-pin connection disposed at a module end.

19. The modular vehicle light assembly of claim 15 wherein each said power board has a buffer which communicates with said controller and said microprocessor.

20. The modular vehicle light assembly of claim 19 wherein data is transmitted from the controller in a serial format in 12 byte packets and each buffer is filled with two-byte segments of data and remaining two-byte segments of data are transmitted to the succeeding modules, wherein each said two-byte segment includes information regarding the flash pattern, color, phase and intensity of the light emitted by the LEDs.

Assignees

• Whelen Eng

Inventors

• Bradley Lauren
• Sousa David J

Classifications

• F21S43/40

  characterised by the combination of reflectors and refractors · CPC title

• F21S43/315

  using total internal reflection · CPC title

• F21S43/19

  Attachment of light sources or lamp holders · CPC title

• F21S43/14

  Light emitting diodes [LED] · CPC title

• B60Q3/78

  for generating luminous strips, e.g. for marking trim component edges · CPC title