Patent Description:
The structure of an LED vehicle lamp in the art includes a lamp housing, an LED carrier board, optical units respectively covering each LED, and a light transmissive cover. The optical units are respectively fixed to a corresponding one of the LEDs, such that the quantity of LED vehicle lamp parts is increased and production cost increases. In addition, the optical units are fixed to the LED carrier board, and it is not easy to alter the optical units.

In addition, the intensity of light will gradually decrease as it passes through an optical medium. In a LED vehicle lamp in the art, the light emitted from a LED has to pass through the optical unit and light transmissive cover that cover this individual LED, i.e., the light has to pass through two optical media, which will cause a higher degree of light intensity degradation. In order to maintain sufficient illumination, the power of LEDs has to be increased, which makes LEDs more costly to set up. At the same time, the high power operation also results in shorter LED life and heat dissipation problems.

<CIT> discloses a third brake light with a reduced thickness exit face. <CIT> discloses a vehicle winglet, a sequential blinker assembly and a system for sequentially illuminating regions of a vehicle winglet. Further vehicle lamp is disclosed in <CIT>.

The invention described a vehicle lamp. In this vehicle lamp, a single optical unit is utilized to replace the light transmissive cover and plural optical units on each of the LEDs in the art.

This invention described a vehicle lamp, which includes a lamp housing, a carrier board, a plurality of LEDs, and an optical unit. The lamp housing includes an accommodating space and an opening connecting the accommodating space. The carrier board is disposed in the accommodating space, and a front surface of the carrier board faces the opening. The LEDs are disposed on the front surface of the carrier board. The optical unit includes a light guide plate, a plurality of light guide members, and a plurality of beam pattern adjusting structures.

The light guide plate includes an upper surface and a lower surface, and the light guide plate covers the opening, and the lower surface of the light guide plate faces the carrier board.

The light guide members protrude on the lower surface, and each of the light guide members extends towards one of the LEDs, the beam pattern adjusting structures protrude on the upper surface, and each of the beam pattern adjusting structures corresponds at least one of the light guide members.

In at least one embodiment, a projection of each of the beam pattern adjusting structures of the upper surface of the light guide plate overlaps with the projection of the corresponding light guide member on the lower surface of the light guide member.

In at least one embodiment, the beam pattern adjusting structures include different heights on the upper surface of the light guide plate.

In at least one embodiment, heights of the beam pattern adjusting structures located within a center area of the upper surface are higher than the heights of the beam pattern adjusting structures located outside the center area.

The projections of the beam pattern adjusting structures on the upper surface are rectangular, and each of the projection includes long sides and short sides.

In at least one embodiment, each of the beam pattern adjusting structures in the center area are arranged with the long sides parallel to the long sides of other beam pattern adjusting structure.

The upper surface includes a center area and a peripheral area surrounding the center area, and the beam pattern adjusting structures in the peripheral area are arranged with long sides in radial arrangement.

In at least one embodiment, lateral surfaces of each of the beam pattern adjusting structures corresponding to the long sides of the beam pattern adjusting structure are inclined surfaces, and an included angle between each of the inclined surfaces and the upper surface of the light guide plate is smaller than <NUM> degrees.

In at least one embodiment, lateral surfaces of each of the beam pattern adjusting structures corresponding to the long sides of the beam pattern adjusting structure are concave curved surfaces or convex curved surfaces.

In at least one embodiment, lateral surfaces of each of the beam pattern adjusting structures corresponding to the long sides of the beam pattern adjusting structure are planar surfaces perpendicular to the upper surface of the light guide plate.

In at least one embodiment, lateral surfaces of each of the beam pattern adjusting structures corresponding to the short sides of the beam pattern adjusting structure are inclined surfaces, and an included angle between each of the inclined surfaces and the upper surface of the light guide plate is smaller than <NUM> degrees.

In at least one embodiment, lateral surfaces of each of the beam pattern adjusting structures corresponding to the short sides of the beam pattern adjusting structure are concave curved surfaces or convex curved surfaces.

In at least one embodiment, lateral surfaces of each of the beam pattern adjusting structures corresponding to the short sides of the beam pattern adjusting structure are planar surfaces perpendicular to the upper surface of the light guide plate.

In at least one embodiment, a top surface of each of the beam pattern adjusting structures is an optical diffusion surface with concave and convex structures.

In at least one embodiment, a top surface of each of the beam pattern adjusting structures is a planar surface.

Through the above-mentioned approach, the light transmissive cover and optical units on each of the LEDs in the art are replaced by a single optical unit in this disclosure. Therefore, a structure of the vehicle lamp is simplified, and the optical unit can be easily replaced. In addition, in this invention, the light only needs to pass through one optical medium, and no longer needs to pass through the light transmissive cover, which greatly reduces the illumination degradation rate.

Therefore, in this invention, the operation power of individual LEDs can be reduced, which improves LED life, reduces heat dissipation problems, and reduces production cost.

This invention will become more fully understood from the detailed description given herein below for illustration only, and thus not limitative of this invention, wherein:.

Referring to <FIG> , <FIG> and <FIG> , a vehicle lamp <NUM> according to an embodiment of this invention includes a lamp housing <NUM>, a carrier board <NUM>, plurality of LEDs (light emitting diodes) <NUM>, an optical unit <NUM>. The lamp housing <NUM> includes an accommodating space <NUM> and an opening 112a connecting the accommodating space <NUM>.

As shown in <FIG> , <FIG> , and <FIG> , the carrier board <NUM> is disposed in the accommodating space <NUM>, and a front surface of the carrier board <NUM> faces the opening 112a. The LEDs <NUM> are disposed on the front surface of the carrier board <NUM>. The carrier board <NUM> can be a printed circuit board (PCB) with printed circuitry to supply power to each LED <NUM>. Or the carrier board <NUM> can be made without printed circuitry and made of a material with a high thermal conductivity, for example, the carrier board <NUM> can be aluminum board; at the same time, this aluminum board is equipped with wires to supply power, and the wires are electrically connected to each LED <NUM>.

As shown in <FIG> , <FIG> , <FIG> , and <FIG> , the optical unit <NUM> includes a light guide plate <NUM>, a plurality of light guide members <NUM> and a plurality of beam pattern adjusting structures <NUM>. The light guide plate <NUM> includes an upper surface 141a and a lower surface 141b, the light guide plate <NUM> covers the opening 112a, and the lower surface 141b of the light guide plate <NUM> faces the carrier board <NUM>. The light guide member <NUM> protrudes the lower surface 141b, and each of the light guide members <NUM> extends towards one of the LEDs <NUM> to receive light for each of the LEDs <NUM>. The beam pattern adjusting structures <NUM> protrude on the upper surface 141a, and each of the beam pattern adjusting structures <NUM> is arranged to correspond at least one of the light guide members <NUM>.

The light emitted by the LEDs <NUM> are received by the light guide members <NUM> and then enters the optical unit <NUM>. The light passes through the light guide <NUM> and the beam pattern adjustment structure <NUM> after refraction, and then the light is refracted and diffused by the beam pattern adjustment structure <NUM>, and finally the light is projected outward by the upper surface 141a with a preset beam pattern. The light guide plate <NUM>, the plurality of light guide member <NUM> and the plurality of beam pattern adjusting structures <NUM> are made of transparent material (but may have a specific color, such as red or yellow) and are one-piece molded.

As shown in <FIG> , in one example, each of the beam pattern adjusting structures <NUM> is configured to correspond to one of the light guide members <NUM>. And the projection of each of the beam pattern adjusting structures <NUM> on the upper surface <NUM> overlaps with the projection of the corresponding light guide member <NUM> on the lower surface 141b.

This invention does not exclude that the projection of each of beam pattern adjustment structures <NUM> on upper surface <NUM> and the projection of light guide member <NUM> on lower surface 141b have same configurations, or the projections only have partial overlap. In addition, the beam pattern adjusting structures <NUM> and the light guide members <NUM> are not limited to a one-to-one correspondence. In various embodiments, each beam pattern adjusting structure <NUM> may correspond to multiple light guide members <NUM> at the same time, or, multiple beam pattern adjusting structures <NUM> may correspond to one light guide member <NUM> at the same time.

The beam pattern adjusting structure <NUM> is used as a diffusion structure to expand the angle range of the projected light, so that the average illumination is reduced to avoid strong light affecting the vision of people facing the vehicle lamp <NUM>. Meanwhile, the beam pattern adjusting structures <NUM> increase the angle range of the projected light, so that viewers from different angles can clearly see the vehicle lamp <NUM> luminous.

As shown in <FIG> and <FIG> , the lamp housing <NUM> further includes a fixing post <NUM>, disposed in the accommodating space <NUM>, for supporting and fixing the carrier board <NUM>. Furthermore, the lamp housing <NUM> is provided with a piercing hole <NUM> for a cable <NUM> to pass through to connect directly or indirectly electrically to each LED <NUM>, and supply power to each LED <NUM>. The piercing hole <NUM> can be filled with glue or plugged by a flexible plug <NUM>, and the cable <NUM> passes through the glue or flexible plug <NUM> to provide a watertight seal to the piercing hole <NUM> through the glue or the flexible plug <NUM>.

As shown in <FIG> , <FIG> , and <FIG> , in one example, the beam pattern adjusting structures <NUM> have different heights on the upper surface 141a, so as to generate different optical effects. As shown in <FIG> and <FIG> , heights of the beam pattern adjusting structures <NUM> located with in a center area 141c of the upper surface 141a are higher than the heights of the beam pattern adjusting structures <NUM> outside the center area 141c. Such that the beam pattern adjusting structures <NUM> in the center area 141c generate optical effects different from the optical effects of the pattern adjusting structures <NUM> outside the center area 141c. The overall beam pattern of the vehicle lamp <NUM> is adjusted to meet law and regulatory requirements.

As shown in <FIG> , the projection of each of the beam pattern adjusting structures <NUM> on the upper surface 141a is rectangular, and each of the projection includes long sides 143a and short sides 143b. The upper surface 141a includes a center area 141c and a peripheral area surrounding the center area 141c. Each of the beam pattern adjusting structures <NUM> in the center area 141c are arranged with the long sides 143a parallel to the long sides 143a of the other beam pattern adjusting structures <NUM>. The beam pattern adjusting structures <NUM> in the peripheral area (outside the center area 141c) are arranged with long sides 143a in radial arrangement. Optical effects in the center area 141c and the peripheral area are different, so as to adjust the overall beam pattern of the vehicle lamp <NUM>.

As shown in <FIG> , in one example, lateral surfaces of each of the beam pattern adjusting structures <NUM> corresponding to the long sides 143a of the beam pattern adjusting structure <NUM> are inclined surfaces, and an included angle between each of the inclined surfaces and the upper surface 141a of the light guide plate <NUM> is smaller than <NUM> degrees. Lateral surfaces of each of the beam pattern adjusting structures <NUM> corresponding to the short sides 143b of the beam pattern adjusting structure <NUM> are inclined surfaces, and an included angle between each of the inclined surfaces and the upper surface 141a of the light guide plate <NUM> is smaller than <NUM> degrees. The aforementioned inclined angle is used to adjust the angular range of light emitted from the lateral sides, so as to control the beam pattern variation.

As shown in <FIG> , in different embodiment, lateral surfaces of each of the beam pattern adjusting structures <NUM> corresponding to the long sides 143a of the beam pattern adjusting structure <NUM> are concave curved surfaces or convex curved surfaces. Lateral surfaces of each of the beam pattern adjusting structures <NUM> corresponding to the short sides 143b of the beam pattern adjusting structure <NUM> are concave curved surfaces or convex curved surfaces. The aforementioned curvature of the curved surface is used to adjust the angular range of light emitted from the lateral sides, so as to control the beam pattern variation.

As shown in <FIG> , in another embodiment, lateral surfaces of each of the beam pattern adjusting structures <NUM> corresponding to the long sides 143a of the beam pattern adjusting structures <NUM> are planar surfaces perpendicular to the upper surface 141a of the light guide plate <NUM>. Lateral surfaces of each of the beam pattern adjusting structures <NUM> corresponding to the short sides 143b of the beam pattern adjusting structures <NUM> are planar surfaces perpendicular to the upper surface 141a of the light guide plate <NUM>. The aforementioned vertical plane perpendicular to the upper surface 141a can reduce the brightness of the vehicle lamp <NUM> in the front direction, and enhance the brightness in the lateral direction.

Please refer to <FIG> , a vehicle lamp <NUM> according to another embodiment, which is not part of this invention, includes a lamp housing <NUM>, a carrier board (not shown in the drawings), plurality of LEDs (not shown in the drawings), and an optical unit <NUM>. The lamp housing <NUM>, the carrier board, and the plurality of LEDs have substantially the same structure as the previous embodiment. The structure of the lamp housing <NUM>, the carrier board, and the plurality of LEDs is substantially the same as that of the preceding embodiment and will not be described hereinafter.

As shown in <FIG> , <FIG> , the top surface 143c of each beam pattern adjusting structure <NUM> is partially provided with an oblique cut surface 143d. The oblique cut surface 143d is not parallel to the upper surface 141a of the light guide plate <NUM> and has an angle between the top surface 143c and the oblique cut surface 143d. The light emitted from the LED is received by the light guide member <NUM>, passes through the light guide plate <NUM>, enters the beam pattern adjusting structure <NUM>, and then the light further falls on the oblique cut surface 143d. The light on the oblique cut surface 143d will have an angle of incidence that is not equal to zero. At this time, at least part of the light falling on the oblique cut surface 143d will be reflected to the lateral side of the beam pattern adjusting structure <NUM>, such that the observer can observe the luminescence from the lateral side of the vehicle lamp <NUM>.

Therefore, the brightness of the light in the front side of the vehicle lamp <NUM> is reduced, while the brightness of the lateral side of the vehicle lamp <NUM> is increased. The angle range of the light emitted from the lateral side of the beam pattern adjusting structure <NUM> is increased to adjust the beam pattern, so that the observer can observe the vehicle lamp <NUM> being lit from various angles. The aforementioned incidence angle can be arranged as partial or total reflection.

In the case of total reflection, the top surface 143c of each beam pattern adjusting structure <NUM> may retain part of the planar design, so that part of the light can still be emitted through the top surface 143c at an incidence angle of zero degrees, while maintaining the brightness of the vehicle lamp <NUM> in the front side.

As shown in <FIG> , when the oblique cut surface 143d is set to an angle at which the light is partially reflected and partially not reflected (i.e., the light is refracted by the oblique cut surface 143d), the top surface 143c of the beam pattern adjusting structure <NUM> can all be set to oblique cut surface 143d without retaining the flat configuration.

As shown in <FIG> , the top surface 143c of the beam pattern adjusting structure <NUM> may be all set to the oblique cut surface 143d without retaining the flat configuration. At this time, in order to adjust the brightness of light on the front side of the vehicle lamp <NUM>, the oblique cut surface 143d can be further set as optical diffusion surface to meet the beam pattern, luminous angle range and/or average illumination requirements.

Claim 1:
A vehicle lamp (<NUM>), comprising:
a lamp housing (<NUM>), including an accommodating space (<NUM>) and an opening (112a) connecting the accommodating space (<NUM>);
a carrier board (<NUM>), disposed in the accommodating space (<NUM>), and a front surface of the carrier board (<NUM>) facing the opening (112a);
a plurality of LEDs (<NUM>), disposed on the front surface of the carrier board (<NUM>); and
an optical unit (<NUM>), including a light guide plate (<NUM>), a plurality of light guide members (<NUM>), and a plurality of beam pattern adjusting structures (<NUM>);
wherein, the light guide plate (<NUM>) includes an upper surface (141a) and a lower surface (141b), and the light guide plate (<NUM>) covers the opening (112a), and the lower surface (141b) of the light guide plate (<NUM>) faces the carrier board (<NUM>);
wherein, the light guide members (<NUM>) protrude on the lower surface (141b), and each of the light guide members (<NUM>) extends towards one of the LEDs (<NUM>), the beam pattern adjusting structures (<NUM>) protrude on the upper surface (141a), and each of the beam pattern adjusting structures (<NUM>) corresponds at least one of the light guide members (<NUM>); and
wherein projections of the beam pattern adjusting structures (<NUM>) on the upper surface (141a) are rectangular, and each of the projections includes long sides and short sides;
characterized in that:
the upper surface (141a) includes a center area (141c) and a peripheral area surrounding the center area (141c), and the beam pattern adjusting structures (<NUM>) in the peripheral area are arranged with the long sides in radial arrangement.