The present invention relates generally to a lighting system. Specifically, the present invention relates to a low profile light emitting diode strip designed to be integrated directly into the support structure of a truck to provide general illumination.
a through 5f show the illumination patterns of a test area simulating a portion of a truck trailer for various embodiments and positionings of the LED strip light lamp assembly.
For the purpose of promoting an understanding of the LED strip light lamp assembly, reference will be made to embodiments of an LED strip light lamp assembly, as illustrated by the following drawings. It will nevertheless be understood that no limitations on the scope of the invention are thereby intended by such alterations as changing the geometry or any element of the embodiments of the invention, the placement of the various components, the quantity of each component, or the materials from which to make the various components. It is contemplated that such alterations fall within the spirit and scope of the invention described herein. Some of the possible alterations will be mentioned in the following description.
With particular reference to the drawings, the reader should understand that like numerals in different figures refer to the same elements of the various embodiments.
The light emitting diode strip light lamp assembly is positioned on or at least partially within one or more of structural elements 61, 62, 63, 64, 65, and 66 and connected to the truck's power supply (not shown) in any conventional manner. The customer generally establishes the level of illumination required since no legal requirements exist for interior lighting. However, the Technology and Maintenance Council (TMC) part of the American Trucking Association (ATA) has recommended some guidelines that establish minimum photometric performance of interior lighting systems. The Illuminating Engineering Society of North America (IES) also has recommended lighting levels for various tasks. The recommendations vary depending on the person's age and the task to be performed. For example, for general reading, 200 Lux is recommended; for walking and moving about approximately 100 Lux is recommended; and for just looking for an object on the floor of a vehicle 50 Lux is recommended. Lux is a unit of luminous incidence or luminance equal to one lumen per square meter. The LED strip light lamp assembly of the present invention can be constructed to meet or exceed any of the recommended guidelines, as provided in greater detail infra.
Dielectric coating 120 is disposed over heat sink 110. In one embodiment, dielectric coating 120 is disposed only over predetermined routes, connecting each LED 140. However, dielectric coating 120 can also be disposed over the entire surface, or essentially the entire surface, of heat sink 110, as shown in
Circuit traces 130 are disposed on dielectric coating 120, or along the route for an embodiment in which dielectric coating 120 is disposed only over predetermined routes. Circuit traces 130 are printed on dielectric coating 120 or along the routes to establish discrete and electrically conductive paths for electrically connecting LEDs 140. In the embodiment shown, circuit traces 130 consist of a polymeric material having metal particles dispersed therein, such as an epoxy compounded with a noble metal, e.g., silver, gold, alloys thereof, or a phenolic resin compounded with either copper, silver, or nickel. Disposed on circuit traces 130 are LEDs 140, described in detail with respect to
In one embodiment, LED strip light lamp assembly 100 is produced as four (4) foot strips. LED strip light lamp assembly 100 is electrically is connected to the truck's power source and multiple LED strip light lamp assemblies can be electrically connected to each other. In another embodiment, LED strip light lamp assembly 100 is produced according to the process taught in U.S. Pat. No. 6,617,520 (Martter '520, incorporated herein in its entirety). In this embodiment, LED strip light lamp assembly 100 uses a porcelain enameled metal substrate with an external electrical conductor connected to LEDs 140. LED strip light lamp assembly 100 constructed using the Martter '520 method is generally made in a length up to two (2) feet. However, one of ordinary skill in the art will recognize that the length of the strip is not intended to be limiting. Rather any length of LED strip light lamp assembly 100 can be employed.
In the embodiment shown, LEDs 140 are further comprised of leads 142. Leads 142 are adhesively secured to circuit traces 130 via adhesive 144, which is electrically and thermally conductive, in accordance with the procedure of Hochstein '767. In addition, other electrically-conductive securing mechanisms for securing leads 142 to circuit traces 130 well-known to those of ordinary skill in the art could be employed.
Also visible in
In one embodiment, each LED 140 is spaced from each adjacent LED 140 by approximately one (1) to six (6) inches, as measured from the center of each LED 140. In such a construction, high power 1W LEDs are used. This range of spacing between each LED 140 provides for general illumination of the truck trailer without forming any hot and/or cold spots, i.e., areas of relatively high illumination and relatively low illumination, respectively. In an alternate embodiment, LED strip light lamp assembly 100 can be comprised of multiple lines of LEDs 140. In such an embodiment, LED strip light lamp assembly 100 can further be comprised of circuitry that energizes only a portion of LEDs 140. For example, LED strip light lamp assembly 100 can be further comprised of a low switch that illuminates half of LEDs 140 and a high switch that illuminates all LEDs 140.
In an alternate embodiment, each LED strip light lamp assembly 100 is constructed in four (4) foot sections and placed in series along one or more of structural elements 61-66. Each four-foot section contains twelve (12) evenly spaced apart LEDs 140. However, the specific placement and spacing of LEDs 140 is not intended to be limiting. As shown in
LED strip light lamp assembly 100 may be mounted within the support structure of truck trailer 50, thus using existing support structure within truck trailer 50 to support LED strip light lamp assemblies 100. In this embodiment, one or more structural elements 61-66 of support structure are removed, LED strip light lamp assembly 100 is installed within truck trailer 50, and apertures 165 are cut directly into one or more structural elements 61-66 of the support structure such that one or more structural elements 61-66 act as cover 160. In an alternate embodiment, portions of structural elements 61-66 of the support structure are cut away and LED strip light lamp assembly 100, including cover 160 with apertures 165 is inserted into the opening, thereby providing an illumination system with little or no profile. In still another alternate embodiment, LED strip light lamp assembly 100 is secured to an outside of structural elements 61-66 of the support structure. In such an embodiment, cover 160 with apertures 165 would protrude into the truck trailer, forming LED strip light lamp assembly 100 with a small profile. In yet another embodiment, LED strip light lamp assembly 100 is covered by a generally clear plastic, rather than by cover 160, to provide protection to LEDs 140 as well as permit light to enter into truck trailer 50.
As discussed above, LED strip light lamp assembly 100 can be mounted in or onto any structural element 61-66 of the trailer support structure.
a is the resultant light pattern from a test performed on a four foot (4′) LED strip light lamp assembly 100 using fifteen (15) HPA ⅛W Super-Flux LEDs with LED strip light lamp assembly 100 positioned parallel to the length of test area 200.
The following chart summarizes a portion of the test results, including the brightest spot for each test as well as the average luminosity throughout test area 200 (average of Lux readings at 17 positions):
While several embodiments of the present invention have been shown and described, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited thereto, but is susceptible to numerous changes and modifications as known to a person skilled in the art, and it is intended that the present invention not be limited to the details shown and described herein, but rather cover all such changes and modifications as are obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art.
This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application, Ser. No. 60/653,267 filed Feb. 14, 2005.
Number | Name | Date | Kind |
---|---|---|---|
4999755 | Lin | Mar 1991 | A |
5607227 | Yasumoto et al. | Mar 1997 | A |
5655830 | Ruskouski | Aug 1997 | A |
5783909 | Hochstein | Jul 1998 | A |
5833355 | You et al. | Nov 1998 | A |
5857767 | Hochstein | Jan 1999 | A |
6045240 | Hochstein | Apr 2000 | A |
6059414 | Tsai | May 2000 | A |
6074074 | Marcus | Jun 2000 | A |
6078148 | Hochstein | Jun 2000 | A |
6157117 | Taylor | Dec 2000 | A |
6158882 | Bischoff, Jr. | Dec 2000 | A |
6188527 | Bohn | Feb 2001 | B1 |
6203180 | Flieschmann | Mar 2001 | B1 |
6252500 | Chueh et al. | Jun 2001 | B1 |
6283612 | Hunter | Sep 2001 | B1 |
6347880 | Furst et al. | Feb 2002 | B1 |
6354714 | Rhodes | Mar 2002 | B1 |
6361186 | Slayden | Mar 2002 | B1 |
6361190 | McDermott | Mar 2002 | B1 |
6371637 | Atchinson et al. | Apr 2002 | B1 |
6411022 | Machida | Jun 2002 | B1 |
6416200 | George | Jul 2002 | B1 |
6428189 | Hochstein | Aug 2002 | B1 |
6472823 | Yen | Oct 2002 | B2 |
6478449 | Lee et al. | Nov 2002 | B2 |
6517218 | Hochstein | Feb 2003 | B2 |
6536915 | Chang | Mar 2003 | B1 |
6566824 | Panagotacos et al. | May 2003 | B2 |
6573536 | Dry | Jun 2003 | B1 |
6582100 | Hochstein et al. | Jun 2003 | B1 |
6583550 | Iwasa et al. | Jun 2003 | B2 |
6592238 | Cleaver et al. | Jul 2003 | B2 |
6601971 | Ko | Aug 2003 | B1 |
6609804 | Nolan et al. | Aug 2003 | B2 |
6612717 | Yen | Sep 2003 | B2 |
6617520 | Martter et al. | Sep 2003 | B1 |
6720784 | Martter et al. | Apr 2004 | B2 |
6866406 | Starkey et al. | Mar 2005 | B1 |
7134772 | Furuya et al. | Nov 2006 | B2 |
20020145392 | Hair, III et al. | Oct 2002 | A1 |
20020159270 | Lynam et al. | Oct 2002 | A1 |
20030048641 | Alexanderson et al. | Mar 2003 | A1 |
20030102810 | Cross et al. | Jun 2003 | A1 |
20030179585 | Lefebvre | Sep 2003 | A1 |
20040156210 | Pederson | Aug 2004 | A1 |
20040169522 | Martter et al. | Sep 2004 | A1 |
Number | Date | Country | |
---|---|---|---|
20060202850 A1 | Sep 2006 | US |
Number | Date | Country | |
---|---|---|---|
60653267 | Feb 2005 | US |