IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII
`US007195381B2
`
`112j United States Patent
`Lynam et al.
`
`110) Patent No. :
`145) Date of Patent:
`
`US 7, 195, 381 B2
`Mar. 27, 2007
`
`154) VEHICLE INTERIOR LED LIGHTING
`SYSTEM
`
`175)
`
`Inventors: Niall R Lynam, Holland, MI (US);
`John 0 Lindahl, Fruitport, MI 1US)
`173) Assignee: Donnelly Corporation, Holland, MI
`1US)
`
`* ) Notice:
`
`1
`
`the term of this
`Subject to any disclaimer,
`is extended or adjusted under 35
`patent
`U. S. C. 1541b) by 264 days.
`
`121) Appl. No. : 10/054, 633
`
`122) Filed:
`
`Jan. 22, 2002
`
`165)
`
`Prior Publication Data
`
`US 2002/0159270 Al
`
`Oct. 31, 2002
`
`Related U. S. Application Data
`
`160) Provisional application No. 09/793, 002, filed on Feb.
`26, 2001, now Pat. No. 6, 690, 268, provisional appli-
`cation No. 60/346, 733, filed on Jan. 7, 2002, provi-
`sional application No. 60/315, 384, filed on Aug. 28,
`2001, provisional
`application No. 60/271, 466, filed
`on Feb. 26, 2001, provisional application No. 60/263,
`680, filed on Jan. 23, 2001.
`
`151) Int. Cl.
`86' 1I26
`F21 V 29/OO
`152) U. S. Cl. . . . .
`
`12006. 01)
`12006. 01)
`362/494; 362/294; 362/300;
`362/373; 362/800
`158) Field of Classification Search
`. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 362/459,
`362/471, 482, 483, 487, 488, 492, 494, 543,
`362/544, 545, 227, 235, 236, 247, 249, 257,
`362/294, 362, 373, 800, 300; 313/483, 498,
`313/499; 257/79, 98, 100
`file for complete search history.
`
`See application
`
`156)
`
`References Cited
`
`U. S. PATENT DOCUMENTS
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`
`1Continued)
`
`. . . . 240/4. 2
`. . . 313/499
`. . . 313/499
`. . . 313/499
`. . . 313/499
`315/53
`
`DE
`
`FOREIGN PATENT DOCUMENTS
`941408
`4/1956
`1Continued)
`
`OTHER PUBLICATIONS
`Stewart, James W. ; HP SnapLED: LED Assemblies
`for Automotive
`Signal Applications; Nov. 1, 1998; Hewlett-Packard
`Journal; vol.
`50, No. 1, Article 1; wwwhpl. hp. corn/hpjournal/9gnov/nov9gal.
`pdf 4
`
`1Continued)
`Sandra O' Shea
`Primary Examiner
`Assistant Examiner
`Ismael Negron
`174) Attorney, Agent, or Firm VanDyke, Gardner, Linn &
`Burkhart, LLP
`
`ABSTRACT
`157)
`A vehicle lighting system for a vehicle includes an accessory
`for attachment
`to an
`module
`is adapted
`assembly
`that
`interior portion of a vehicle and configured to illuminate,
`for
`example, an area inside the vehicle. The module assembly
`power light emitting diode
`includes a single high-intensity
`that has a luminous efficiency of at least about I lumen per
`light emitting diode
`is
`is operated and
`the
`watt when
`preferably operated at a forward current of at least 100
`milliamps. The system also includes a voltage conversion
`voltage of the
`for converting
`the battery/ignition
`element
`vehicle to the forward operating voltage of the light emitting
`diode.
`
`39 Claims, 32 Drawing Sheets
`
`1300
`
`I 343
`
`l340
`
`1342
`
`1341
`
`1350
`
`1340
`
`l314
`
`312
`
`1330
`310
`
`344
`
`345
`
`~ 320
`
`~4. ", l
`
`Valeo Ex. 1003_001
`
`

`
`US 7, 195, 381 B2
`Page 2
`
`U. S. PATENT DOCUMENTS
`
`4, 228, 490
`4, 435, 042
`4, 436, 371
`4, 524, 941
`4, 580, 196
`4, 646, 210
`4, 729, 076
`4, 733, 335
`4, 733, 336
`4, 780, 752
`4, 793, 690
`4, 807, 096
`4, 882, 565
`4, 930, 742
`4, 935, 665
`4, 936, 533
`4, 959, 865
`4, 973, 844
`5, 006, 971
`5, 014, 167
`5, 038, 255
`5, 058, 851
`5, 073, 012
`5, 076, 673
`5, 100, 095
`5, 117, 346
`5, 140, 455
`5, 151, 816
`5, 151, 824
`5, 160, 200
`5, 160, 201
`5, 178, 448
`5, 179, 471
`5, 207, 492
`5, 233, 461
`5, 239, 405
`5, 253, 109
`5, 255, 442
`5, 330, 149
`5, 355, 284
`5, 371, 659
`5, 406, 414
`5, 424, 865
`5, 446, 576
`5, 487, 522
`5, 497, 305
`5, 497, 306
`5, 500, 760
`5, 521, 760
`5, 525, 264
`5, 528, 474
`5, 530, 240
`5, 567, 360
`5, 576, 687
`5, 610, 756
`5, 611, 966
`5, 632, 551
`5, 649, 756
`5, 668, 663
`5, 669, 698
`5, 669, 699
`5, 669, 704
`5, 669, 705
`5, 670, 935
`5, 671, 996
`5, 673, 994
`5, 708, 410
`5, 715, 093
`5, 724, 187
`5, 760, 962
`5, 765, 940
`
`A
`A
`A
`A
`A
`A
`A
`A
`A
`A
`A
`A
`A
`A
`A
`A
`A
`A
`A
`A
`A
`A
`A
`A
`A
`A
`A
`A
`A
`A
`A
`A
`A
`A
`A
`A
`A
`A
`A
`A
`A
`A
`A
`A
`A
`A
`A
`A
`A
`A
`A
`A
`A
`A
`A
`A
`A
`A
`A
`A
`A
`A
`A
`A
`A
`A
`A
`A
`A
`A
`A
`
`10/1980
`3/1984
`3/1984
`6/1985
`4/1986
`2/1987
`3/1988
`3/1988
`3/1988
`10/1988
`12/1988
`2/1989
`11/1989
`6/1990
`6/1990
`6/1990
`9/1990
`11/1990
`4/1991
`5/1991
`g/1991
`10/1991
`12/1991
`12/1991
`3/1992
`5/1992
`g/1992
`9/1992
`9/1992
`11/1992
`11/1992
`1/1993
`1/1993
`5/1993
`g/1993
`g/1993
`10/1993
`10/1993
`7/1994
`10/1994
`12/1994
`4/1995
`6/1995
`g/1995
`1/1996
`3/1996
`3/1996
`3/1996
`5/1996
`6/1996
`6/1996
`6/1996
`10/1996
`11/1996
`3/1997
`3/1997
`5/1997
`7/1997
`9/1997
`9/1997
`9/1997
`9/1997
`9/1997
`9/1997
`9/1997
`10/1997
`1/1998
`2/1998
`3/1998
`6/1998
`6/1998
`
`. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
`Thillays
`Wood et al.
`Wood et al.
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`0 ' Farrell
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`. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
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`Lynam
`Lynam et al. . . . . . . . . .
`Haan et al.
`. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
`Gard
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`0 ' Farrell
`. . . . . . . . . . . . .
`. . . . . . . . . . . .
`Cheselske
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`. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
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`362/311
`350/281
`350/281
`248/544
`362/62
`362/142
`362/235
`362/545
`362/142
`257/788
`350/279
`362/142
`340/461
`248/475. 1
`. 313/500
`248/222. 1
`. . 381/46
`250/341
`362/252
`362/83. 1
`362/544
`248/549
`359/265
`359/271
`248/549
`363/51
`359/275
`359/275
`359/604
`362/249
`362/249
`362/83. 1
`359/603
`362/30
`359/272
`359/272
`359/604
`. 33/361
`248/549
`362/30
`362/494
`359/604
`359/270
`359/267
`248/549
`362/464
`362/83. 1
`359/272
`359/601
`252/583
`362/545
`250/214
`252/583
`340/438
`359/267
`252/583
`362/545
`362/83. 1
`359/608
`362/83. 1
`362/494
`362/494
`362/494
`340/461
`362/545
`362/831
`340/438
`359/601
`359/608
`359/604
`362/240
`
`5, 786, 772 A
`5, 788, 357 A
`5, 796, 094 A
`5, 796, 176 A
`5, 798, 575 A
`5, 798, 688 A
`5, 803, 579 A
`5, 806, 965 A
`5, 813, 745 A
`5, 820, 097 A
`5, 820, 245 A
`5, 823, 654 A
`5, 863, 116 A
`5, 871, 275 A
`5, 877, 897 A
`5, 879, 074 A
`5, 910, 854 A
`5, 914, 815 A
`5, 924, 212 A
`5, 929, 786 A
`5, 938, 321 A
`5, 949, 331 A
`5, 959, 367 A
`5, 971, 552 A
`5, 975, 715 A
`6, 000, 823 A
`6, 002, 511 A
`6, 007, 222 A
`6, 016, 035 A
`6, 019, 411 A
`6, 037, 689 A
`6, 042, 253 A
`6, 045, 243 A
`6, 074, 777 A
`6, 086, 131 A
`6, 086, 229 A
`6, 087, 953 A
`6, 099, 155 A
`6, 102, 559 A
`6, 124, 886 A
`6, 132, 072 A
`6, 139, 171 A
`6, 139, 172 A
`6, 146, 003 A
`6, 149, 287 A
`6, 150, 014 A
`6, 152, 590 A
`6, 154, 306 A
`6, 166, 625 A
`6, 166, 848 A
`6, 172, 613 Bl
`6, 175, 164 Bl
`6, 176, 602 Bl
`6, 183, 119 Bl
`6, 198, 409 Bl
`6, 201, 642 Bl
`6, 222, 447 Bl
`6, 222, 460 Bl
`6, 227, 689 Bl
`6, 243, 003 Bl
`6, 245, 262 Bl
`6, 250, 783 Bl
`6, 257, 746 Bl
`6, 276, 821 Bl
`6, 276, 822 Bl
`6, 278, 377 Bl
`6, 280, 068 Bl
`6, 280, 069 Bl
`6, 286, 984 Bl
`6, 294, 989 Bl
`6, 296, 379 Bl
`6, 299, 333 Bl
`6, 317, 248 Bl
`
`7/1998
`g/1998
`g/1998
`g/1998
`g/1998
`g/1998
`9/1998
`9/1998
`9/1998
`10/1998
`10/1998
`10/1998
`1/1999
`2/1999
`3/1999
`3/1999
`6/1999
`6/1999
`7/1999
`7/1999
`g/1999
`9/1999
`9/1999
`10/1999
`11/1999
`12/1999
`12/1999
`12/1999
`1/2000
`2/2000
`3/2000
`3/2000
`4/2000
`6/2000
`7/2000
`7/2000
`7/2000
`g/2000
`g/2000
`9/2000
`10/2000
`10/2000
`10/2000
`11/2000
`11/2000
`11/2000
`11/2000
`11/2000
`12/2000
`12/2000
`1/2001
`1/2001
`1/2001
`2/2001
`3/2001
`3/2001
`4/2001
`4/2001
`5/2001
`6/2001
`6/2001
`6/2001
`7/2001
`g/2001
`g/2001
`g/2001
`g/2001
`g/2001
`9/2001
`9/2001
`10/2001
`10/2001
`11/2001
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`Schofield et al.
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`. . . . . . . . . .
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`. 340/903
`. 362/494
`250/208. 1
`307/10. 1
`307/10. 1
`340/438
`362/83. 1
`362/249
`362/83. 1
`248/549
`362/83. 1
`362/494
`362/494
`362/494
`359/604
`362/494
`359/273
`359/571
`33/355
`340/903
`362/494
`340/461
`307/10. 1
`359/871
`362/226
`362/494
`359/265
`362/494
`. 315/82
`296/37. 7
`. . 310/89
`362/494
`362/494
`. . 429/61
`. . 296/76
`362/494
`340/815. 4
`362/494
`362/558
`348/184
`362/494
`362/494
`362/494
`326/494
`326/494
`428/324
`362/545
`359/273
`340/426
`359/267
`340/815. 4
`307/10. 1
`. 362/494
`. 362/494
`. 340/903
`. 359/565
`. 340/461
`340/815. 4
`. 362/494
`340/425. 5
`264/1. 31
`362/494
`362/494
`362/494
`362/545
`340/815. 4
`. 362/494
`. 362/494
`. 362/505
`. 340/442
`. 362/494
`. 362/494
`. 359/265
`
`Valeo Ex. 1003_002
`
`

`
`US 7, 195, 381 B2
`Page 3
`
`6, 31g, g70
`6, 326, 613
`6, 326, 900
`6, 329, 925
`6, 331, 066
`6, 336, 737
`6, 362, 54g
`6, 366, 213
`6, 371, 636
`6, 386, 742
`6, 390, 529
`6, 396, 397
`6, 411, 204
`6, 412, 973
`6, 416, 20g
`6, 419, 300
`6, 420, 975
`6, 428, 172
`6, 433, 676
`6, 439, 755
`6, 445, 287
`6, 474, 853
`6, 494, 602
`6, 522, 451
`6, 553, 30g
`6, 56g, g39
`2002/0003571
`2002/0072026
`2002/0093826
`2002/0126497
`2002/0172053
`2002/0191409
`
`Bl
`Bl
`B2
`Bl
`Bl
`Bl
`Bl
`B2
`Bl *
`Bl
`Bl
`Bl
`Bl
`Bl *
`B2
`Bl
`Bl
`Bl
`B2
`Bl
`Bl
`B2
`B2
`Bl
`Bl
`Bl
`Al
`Al
`Al
`Al
`Al
`Al
`
`11/2001
`12/2001
`12/2001
`12/2001
`12/2001
`I/2002
`3/2002
`4/2002
`4/2002
`5/2002
`5/2002
`5/2002
`6/2002
`7/2002
`7/2002
`7/2002
`7/2002
`g/2002
`g/2002
`g/2002
`9/2002
`11/2002
`12/2002
`2/2003
`4/2003
`5/2003
`I/2002
`6/2002
`7/2002
`9/2002
`11/2002
`12/2002
`
`Spooner et al. . .
`Heslin et al.
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`
`. 359/g72
`. 250/239
`340/815. 4
`340/815. 4
`. 362/494
`. . 362/494
`. . . 310/g9
`340/815. 4
`. . 362/545
`. 362/494
`. . . 296/76
`. 340/461
`. 340/467
`. 362/545
`. 362/494
`296/I g0. I
`340/815. 4
`. 359/g3g
`340/425. 5
`. 362/494
`. 340/442
`. 362/494
`. 362/494
`. . 359/g74
`. 701/20g
`. 362/494
`. 340/43g
`. 359/g74
`. 362/494
`. . 362/494
`. 326/494
`. 362/494
`
`2003/0016542 Al
`
`I/2003 Pastrick et al.
`
`FOREIGN PATENT DOCUMENTS
`
`DE
`DE
`DE
`DE
`EP
`EP
`FR
`GB
`GB
`GB
`WO
`
`944531
`7323996
`2631713 Al
`3301945 Al
`0165817
`0254435 Bl
`1461419
`g10010
`1008411
`1136134
`WO 00/55685 Al
`
`7/1956
`11/1973
`2/1977
`7/1984
`12/1985
`5/1992
`12/1966
`3/1959
`10/1965
`12/196 g
`9/2000
`
`OTHER PUBLICATIONS
`
`Edgar, Julian; Goodbye 12 Volts. . . Hello 42 Volts!; Oct. 5, 1999;
`Issue 50; www. autospeed. co. nz/cms/A
`0319/article.
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`Industries; Cahners Publishing Company; www. findarticles. corn/p/
`articles/mi m3012/is 3 180/ai 61361677. *
`Jewett, Dale; Aug. 2000; Automotive
`Industries; Cahners Publish-
`m3012/
`www. findarticles. corn/p/articles/mi
`Company;
`ing
`is g 180/ai 64341779. *
`National Semiconductor, LM7gS40, Universal Switching Regulator
`Subsystem, National Semiconductor Corporation, Apr. 1996, p. 6. *
`PCT International
`Search Report dated Jun. g, 2002, for PCT
`to the present application.
`application corresponding
`* cited by examiner
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`Mar. 27, 2007
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`Mar. 27, 2007
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`US 7, 195, 381 B2
`
`1
`VEHICLE INTERIOR LED LIGHTING
`SYSTEM
`
`This application claims priority from and incorporates by
`in their entireties U. S. Provisional Appli-
`reference herein
`cation Ser. No. 60/346, 733, filed Jan. 7, 2002, entitled
`IMPROVED VEHICULAR LIGHTING SYSTEM, by
`and Niall R. Lynam, U. S.
`John O. Lindahl
`Applicants
`Provisional Applications Ser. No. 60/263, 680, filed Jan. 23,
`2001; Ser. No. 60/271, 466, filed Feb. 26, 2001; and Ser. No.
`60/315, 384, filed Aug. 28, 2001, and is a continuation-in-
`part of U. S. Utility patent application Ser. No. 09/793, 002,
`entitled VIDEO MIRROR SYSTEMS INCORPORATING
`AN ACCESSORY MODULE, filed Feb. 26, 2001, now U. S.
`Pat. No. 6, 690, 268.
`
`5
`
`10
`
`15
`
`TECHNICAL FIELD AND BACKGROUND OF
`THE INVENTION
`
`The present invention relates to automotive
`lighting, more
`for a vehicle, such as an
`to lighted mirrors
`specifically
`truck or similar
`road
`sports utility vehicle,
`automobile,
`transportation vehicle. More particularly,
`the present inven-
`tion relates to a lighting system that incorporates at least one
`non-incandescent
`light source, such as a light emitting diode
`intensity LED light
`(LED) light source,
`a high
`including
`lighting system for a
`to a vehicular
`source, and especially
`vehicular accessory such as a lighted interior mirror assem-
`bly, a lighted exterior mirror assembly, and a lighted acces-
`sory module.
`have developed a wide variety of
`Mirror manufacturers
`for use
`incandescent-based
`in mirrors.
`lighting products
`that use incan-
`Typically, prior art lighted mirror assemblies
`descent lighting have a mirror case, a mirror reflector, and
`the various com-
`that carries circuitry for powering
`wiring
`the incandescent
`in the mirror assembly,
`including
`ponents
`light bulb.
`light source, which typically comprises a filament
`In some applications, a lighted mirror assembly may incor-
`porate a carrier, such as disclosed in U. S. Pat. Nos. 5, 669,
`698 and 6, 124, 886, which are commonly assigned
`to Don-
`nelly Corporation of Holland, Mich. , the entire disclosures
`of which are herein
`incorporated by reference. The carrier
`provides a mounting surface for various electrical/electronic
`devices housed
`including a circuit
`in the mirror assembly,
`light source or other light sources. The
`for an incandescent
`includes a reflector element
`mirror assembly also typically
`to direct the light from the
`and a lens, which are configured
`In
`light source
`incandescent
`in a desired
`light pattern.
`addition, most, if not all of these mirror assemblies,
`incor-
`light source. For
`porate a way to service the incandescent
`these
`incandescent
`sources are
`example,
`typically
`light
`in a socket, such as screw type sockets, a wedge
`mounted
`socket
`socket, a cartridge
`(which
`typically
`type
`type
`type socket, a
`two spaced apart clips), a bayonet
`includes
`bi-pin socket, or the like, such as disclosed in U. S. Pat. Nos.
`5, 178, 448; 5, 649, 756; 5, 673, 994; 5, 813, 745; and 6, 042, 253,
`the entire disclosures of which are incorporated by reference
`the bulb or lamp to be retrieved for
`herein, which permits
`light source is plugged
`replacement. When the incandescent
`to a
`it is normally connected
`into its respective connector,
`line which when thrown, directs current from the
`switched
`line/battery of the vehicle to the light source.
`ignition
`However more recently, non-incandescent
`light sources,
`such as light emitting diodes (LEDs), have been incorpo-
`rated into mirror assemblies, such as disclosed in U. S. Pat.
`Nos. 5, 371, 659 and 5, 671, 996, which
`are commonly
`to Donnelly Corporation of Holland, Mich. and
`assigned
`
`20
`
`25
`
`30
`
`35
`
`40
`
`45
`
`50
`
`55
`
`60
`
`65
`
`U. S. Pat. No. 6, 152, 590, which
`to Donnelly
`is assigned
`Hohe, which are incorporated by reference herein
`in their
`entireties. Other examples of the use of LEDs in vehicular
`interior and exterior mirror assemblies are disclosed in U. S.
`Pat. Nos. 6, 280, 069; 6, 276, 821; 6, 176, 602; 6, 152, 590;
`6, 149, 287; 6, 139, 172; 6, 086, 229; 5, 938, 321; 5, 868, 116;
`5, 497, 306; 6, 132, 072; 5, 803, 579; 5, 671, 996; and 5, 497, 305;
`World IPO Applications WO55914AI and WO55685AI;
`and European Pat. Application EP917734, and of the use of
`LEDs as warning
`lights such as in taillights are disclosed in
`U. S. Pat. Nos. 6, 016, 035; 6, 286, 984; 6, 102, 559; 6, 276, 822;
`5, 975, 715; and 5, 765, 940, all of which patents and patent
`applications are hereby incorporated herein by reference
`in
`their entireties.
`LEDs are desirable
`since
`in certain applications
`they
`light sources
`less heat than incandescent
`typically produce
`and are more compact. In addition, LEDs produce direc-
`the light from the LEDs can be
`light. As a result,
`tional
`directed or manipulated by merely selective positioning or
`orienting of the LEDs. Hence, the various optical devices
`associated with incandescent
`light sources, such as reflectors
`lenses, can be optionally
`simplified and even
`and optical
`saving material costs and assembly
`time.
`eliminated,
`However, most vehicular battery/ignition
`systems operate
`at around 12 volts nominal
`ignition voltages can
`(although
`vary from about 9 volts to about 16 volts during vehicular
`use) whereas most LED units
`typically operate at a lower
`less than about 5 volts (and in or around
`voltage; typically
`1. 5 volts
`to 2. 5 volts being common). Because of the
`for LEDs, LED applications
`difl'erent circuit requirements
`tooling of the mirror assem-
`require specialized
`typically
`blies. Some manufacturers
`to retool existing
`are slower
`to accommodate
`incandescent
`lighted mirror assembles
`LEDs and, as a result, have and will continue to have a large
`inventory of mirror assemblies
`that are tooled for incandes-
`cent light sources. Other manufactures may have already
`retooled their mirror assemblies as hybrid mirror assemblies
`that have some LED applications,
`such as console lighting,
`while other lights in the mirror assemblies remain as incan-
`descent based
`In
`such as map
`light applications,
`lights.
`which case, these mirror assemblies may have one circuit for
`the LED application and another circuit for the incandescent
`light application.
`Heretofore,
`therefore,
`lighted mirror assemblies
`have
`required application-specific
`to power
`circuitry
`the
`light
`sources because of the difl'erent current and voltage needs of
`light sources (incandescent or LED). When
`these various
`mirror assemblies are tooled for incandescent
`light sources,
`these mirror assemblies have heretofore been
`to
`limited
`for the incan-
`using incandescent-light-source
`replacements
`descent light sources. Therefore, mirror manufacturers
`that
`have their current production of mirror assemblies
`tooled for
`light source applications have not been able to
`incandescent
`take full advantage of the recent developments
`in the use of
`light sources.
`non-incandescent
`Also, LED reading/map
`lights used
`interior
`in lighted
`mirror assemblies, and in turn-signal
`and security-lighted
`exterior mirror assemblies, often use a plurality of LEDs in
`light intensity across the zone
`order to provide
`the desired
`desired illuminated.
`there is need for an improved non-incan-
`Consequently,
`descent
`including a way to incorporate a
`system,
`lighting
`non-incandescent
`light source in a mirror assembly
`that has
`been tooled to receive an incandescent
`light source.
`Use of a non-incandescent LED light source as a source
`of illumination
`in a vehicle such as in a lighted interior or a
`is known, such as is dis-
`lighted exterior mirror assembly
`
`Valeo Ex. 1003_036
`
`

`
`US 7, 195, 381 B2
`
`closed in U. S. Pat. Nos. 6, 280, 069; 6, 276, 821; 6, 176, 602;
`6, 152, 590; 6, 149, 287; 6, 139, 172; 6, 086, 229; 5, 938, 321;
`5, 868, 116; 5, 497, 306; 6, 132, 072; 5, 803, 579; 5, 671, 996; and
`IPO Applications WO55914AI
`5, 497, 305; World
`and
`WO55685AI; and European Pat. Application EP917734, all
`of which patents and patent applications are hereby
`incor-
`porated herein by reference. Such LED-lighted
`interior and
`exterior mirror systems work well for their intended pur-
`pose. However, most vehicular
`systems
`battery/ignition
`ignition volt-
`operate at around 12 volts nominal
`(although
`ages can vary from about 9 volts to about 16 volts during
`vehicular use) whereas most LED units typically operate at
`less than about 5 volts (and in or
`a lower voltage; typically
`around 1. 5 volts to 2. 5 volts being common). Also, LED
`interior mirror assem-
`lights used in lighted
`reading/map
`exterior mirror
`and security-lighted
`blies, and in turn-signal
`assemblies, often use a plurality of LEDs in order to provide
`intensity across the zone desired
`illumi-
`the desired
`light
`nated.
`there is a need for an improved LED lighting
`Therefore,
`system such as an improved LED lighted mirror system.
`
`SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
`
`for a non-
`the present
`invention provides
`Accordingly,
`that can be used as a direct
`incandescent
`light unit/module
`for an incandescent
`light source in a mirror
`replacement
`that has been tooled for the incandescent
`assembly
`light
`source.
`In one form of the invention,
`a non-incandescent
`light
`light source assem-
`source unit includes a non-incandescent
`bly with at least one non-incandescent
`light source and a
`non-incandescent
`light source circuit. The non-incandescent
`light source circuit is electrically coupled to the non-incan-
`light source and includes a pair of electrical con-
`descent
`nectors for connecting
`the non-incandescent
`light source
`circuit to a light source circuit of a mirror assembly. The
`is adapted to releas-
`non-incandescent
`light source assembly
`ably establish mechanical connection and electrical connec-
`tion with the mirror assembly.
`In one aspect, the non-incandescent
`light source circuit
`element or device, such as a
`includes a current
`limiting
`emitting diode, for controlling
`resistor or a non-light
`the
`to the non-incandescent
`light source. In
`current
`flowing
`other aspects, the non-incandescent
`light source preferably
`other
`comprises
`a light emitting
`diode
`(although
`light
`sources or neon sources or
`sources such as fluorescent
`sources may optionally be used). In a
`electroluminescent
`further aspect, the light source unit includes a plurality of
`light emitting diodes. For example, the light emitting diodes
`may be connected wherein
`their
`total additive
`forward
`is greater than about 2 volts. Alternately,
`operating voltage
`their total additive forward operating voltage may be greater
`than about 4 volts or in a range of about 2 to 16 volts. For
`vehicles equipped with a 42 volt ignition/battery
`source,
`their total additive forward operating voltage may be greater
`than about 16 volts or in a range of about 16 to about 42
`volts.
`In yet other aspects the light source unit includes at least
`in series.
`two light emitting diodes electrically connected
`the unit may include at least four emitting diodes
`Optionally,
`in series.
`connected
`In another aspect, the light source unit may include two or
`more groups of light emitting diodes electrically connected
`each group of the light emitting
`in parallel. Furthermore,
`diodes may include at least two light emitting diodes con-
`
`5
`
`10
`
`15
`
`20
`
`25
`
`30
`
`35
`
`40
`
`45
`
`50
`
`55
`
`60
`
`65
`
`light
`
`at least three
`
`nected
`in series and, more preferably,
`in series.
`emitting diodes connected
`In yet another aspect, the non-incandescent
`light source
`indicator associated
`includes at least one polarity
`assembly
`with at least one of the connectors. For example, the polarity
`indicator may comprise either an indentation or a projection.
`the respective connector may include the polar-
`In addition,
`ity indicator.
`light source cir-
`In another aspect, the non-incandescent
`cuit further
`rectifier, such as a diode
`includes a polarity
`the polarity of the light
`bridge rectifier, which eliminates
`the light source unit can be
`source module. In this manner,
`in with the connectors
`in either orientation without
`plugged
`a need for a polarity
`indicator.
`In another form of the invention, a non-incandescent
`light
`source unit includes a modular package having an electrical
`such as a resistor or a non-light emitting diode,
`component
`preferably on a circuit board, at least one non-incandescent
`light source, and an interface, preferably
`including at least
`one electrical and/or mechanical connector connecting
`to a
`socket. The
`non-incandescent
`light source circuit and/or
`light source interface/circuit of the non-
`non-incandescent
`light source unit is electrically connected to the
`incandescent
`non-incandescent
`light source and preferably
`includes a pair
`of electrical connectors for connecting
`the non-incandescent
`light source circuit to the light source circuit of the mirror
`assembly.
`light source of the
`In one aspect, the non-incandescent
`light source unit comprises a plurality of
`non-incandescent
`the circuit of the non-
`light emitting diodes. For example,
`light source unit may include a silicon wafer or
`incandescent
`the light emit-
`similar microelectronic chip element having
`ting diodes established as junctions on the chip surface, as
`is known in the light emitting diode (LED) art. The chip may
`include a plurality of individual
`the indi-
`junctions forming
`light emitting diodes. Optionally,
`the light emitting
`vidual
`diodes are enclosed in a surround
`that functions both as an
`to protect the LED junctions from environmen-
`encapsulant
`tal and mechanical damage and as an optical element (such
`for light emitted by the LED
`as a lens and/or a difl'user)
`junctions on the chip surface.
`light source cir-
`In another aspect, the non-incandescent
`limiting device, such as at least one
`cuit includes a current