Lamp unit and vehicle using the same

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9890916-B2
Application number	US-201313912701-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 7, 2013
Priority date	Jun 8, 2012
Publication date	Feb 13, 2018
Grant date	Feb 13, 2018

Abstract

A lamp unit and a vehicle using the same are provided that include a substrate; and at least two light sources disposed on the substrate, wherein angles formed by a reference line and normal lines to the surface of the substrate, to which the at least two light sources are attached, are different from one another. The lamp unit and the vehicle using the same use a plurality of the light sources having different arrangement directions from a reference direction, so that it is possible to implement a surface light source by means of a small number of the light sources.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A lamp unit comprising:
a curved substrate; and
a plurality of light sources disposed on the curved substrate,
wherein the curved substrate includes a plurality of supporting portions having a top surface and a bottom surface opposite to the top surface and a plurality of connecting portions having a top surface and a bottom surface opposite to the top surface for connecting the supporting portions,
wherein the supporting portion is disposed corresponding to the light sources respectively,
wherein the connecting portion is disposed between the supporting portions,
wherein the supporting portion is formed of a hard and unbendable material,
wherein the connecting portion is formed of a flexible and bendable material,
wherein the top surface of the connecting portion includes an unevenness pattern for reflecting light generated from the light source,
wherein the connecting portion includes a conductor electrically connected to the light sources,
wherein a position of a lowest portion of the unevenness pattern is lower than a-the top surface of the supporting portion, and
wherein angles formed by a reference line and normal lines to a surface of the supporting portion are different from one another,
wherein at least two light sources have a different light intensity.

2. The lamp unit of claim 1 ,
wherein the supporting portion includes a first surface facing the light source and a second surface disposed on an opposite side of the first surface,
wherein a reflector is disposed on the first surface, and
wherein a plurality of heat radiating fins are disposed on the second surface.

3. The lamp unit of claim 2 ,
wherein the supporting portion includes unevenness pattern disposed on the first surface.

4. The lamp unit of claim 1 ,
wherein the supporting portion has a first thickness t 1 , and the connecting portion has a second thickness t 2 ,
wherein the first thickness t 1 is greater than the second thickness t 2 ,
wherein the supporting portion has a first width W 1 , and the connecting portion has a second width W 2 , and
wherein the width W 2 of the connecting portion is less than the width W 1 of the supporting portion.

5. The lamp unit of claim 1 ,
wherein the lamp unit includes a lens surrounding the light source, and
wherein the lens includes a recess disposed on a position corresponding to a central area of a light emitting surface of the light source.

6. The lamp unit of claim 1 , comprising:
an optical member disposed apart from the substrate,
wherein the optical member includes a lower surface facing the light source and a upper surface disposed on an opposite side of the lower surface,
wherein the optical member includes a unevenness pattern disposed on the upper surface of the optical member.

7. The lamp unit of claim 6 ,
wherein the lower surface of the optical member includes a reflector disposed on a position corresponding to the light source.

8. The lamp unit of claim 6 ,
wherein the optical member includes at least two inclined surfaces having at least one inflection point.

9. The lamp unit of claim 1 ,
wherein a thickness of the connecting portion, which is farther from the supporting portion, is less than a thickness of the connecting portion, which is adjacent to the supporting portion.

10. A vehicle including a plurality of lamp units,
wherein the lamp unit comprises: a curved substrate; and
a plurality of light sources disposed on the curved substrate,
wherein the curved substrate includes a plurality of supporting portions each having a top surface and an opposing bottom surface and a plurality of connecting portions each having a top surface and an opposing bottom surface for connecting the supporting portions,
wherein the supporting portion is disposed corresponding to the light sources respectively,
wherein the connecting portion is disposed between the supporting portions,
wherein the connecting portion is formed of a flexible and bendable material,
wherein the top surface of the connecting portion includes an unevenness pattern for reflecting light generated from the light source,
wherein the connecting portion includes a conductor electrically connected to the light sources, and
wherein a position of a lowest portion of the unevenness pattern is lower than the top surface of the supporting portion,
wherein the lamp unit displays information on driving conditions of the vehicle.

Assignees

• Lg Innotek Co Ltd

Inventors

• Oh Nam Seok

Classifications

• F21S43/26

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

• B60Q1/2607

  comprising at least two indicating lamps · CPC title

• F21S4/22

  flexible or deformable, e.g. into a curved shape · CPC title

• F21S43/14

  Light emitting diodes [LED] · CPC title

• B60Q1/2696

  Mounting of devices using LEDs · CPC title