Claims
- 1. An LED signal lamp comprising:
a housing, having an open end; at least one light emitting diode; a single optical element with optical features on an inner face and a substantially smooth outer face, the single optical element having an area; the housing enclosing the at least one light emitting diode(s); and the single optical element covering the open end of the housing.
- 2. The signal of claim 1, wherein:
the at least one light emitting diode is a plurality of light emitting diodes located in a cluster covering a second area; and the second area is 30% or less than the area of the single optical element.
- 3. The signal of claim 11 wherein:
the at least one light emitting diode is at least one encapsulated LED package containing more than one LED die.
- 4. The signal of claim 1, wherein:
the at least one light emitting diode is a plurality of light emitting diodes clustered together on a planar surface, the planar surface is oriented at an angle with respect to a back plane of the housing, and the single optical element outer face is oriented at a second angle with respect to the back plane of the housing.
- 5. The signal of claim 4, wherein:
the planar surface is a heat sink.
- 6. The signal of claim 1, wherein:
the single optical element is formed with a sealing surface which mates with the housing to create seal between the single optical element and the housing.
- 7. The signal of claim 6, further including:
an o-ring located between the sealing surface and the housing.
- 8. The signal of claim 1, wherein:
the ratio of a diameter of the single optical element to a distance between the single optical element and the at least one LED is between 0.5 and 3.
- 9. An optical element for use in a LED signal, comprising:
a light transmissive element having a front and a back surface, the front surface being substantially smooth, the back surface populated with a plurality of optical elements in a center zone and a periphery zone, the optical elements in the center zone including a plurality of Fresnel elements; and the optical elements in the periphery zone including a plurality of total internal reflection elements.
- 10. The optical element of claim 9, wherein:
at least one of the total internal reflection elements and the Fresnel elements has a face that is curved.
- 11. The optical element of claim 9, wherein:
the front surface has a diffusion pattern.
- 12. The optical element of claim 9, wherein:
the total internal reflection and Fresnel elements are configured without countersinking.
- 13. The optical element of claim 9, further including:
a sealing surface on an outer periphery.
- 14. The optical element of claim 9, wherein:
the optical element is one of clear, white, red, yellow and green.
Parent Case Info
[0001] This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/266,360 filed Feb. 2, 2001 which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.
Provisional Applications (1)
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Number |
Date |
Country |
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60266360 |
Feb 2001 |
US |