IP Library › Granted Patent US 7,168,834
Granted Patent B2
US 7,168,834 · App. 10/949,881 · Granted Jan 30, 2007

Vehicular lamp

Assignees: Koito Manufacturing Co., Ltd.; Nichia Corporation
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 7,168,834
App. No.
10/949,881
Granted
Jan 30, 2007
Kind
B2
Abstract

A vehicular lamp that irradiates amber light includes: a light emitting diode operable to emit blue light; a long-wavelength phosphor operable to emit light of which a peak wavelength is substantially equal to or longer than a wavelength of the umber light based on the blue light emitting from the light emitting diode; and an optical filter operable to block the bulk of light emitting from the light emitting diode and also to transmit the bulk of light, which has a wavelength similar to the peak wavelength, among light emitting from the long-wavelength phosphor to generate the amber light depending to light emitting from the light emitting diode and the long-wavelength phosphor.

Claims (19)

1. A vehicular lamp that irradiates amber light, comprising:

a light emitting diode emitting blue light;

a long-wavelength phosphor emitting light, of which a peak wavelength is substantially equal to or longer than a wavelength of the amber light according to the blue light emitting from said light emitting diode;

an optical filter operable to block almost all light emitting from said light emitting diode and also to transmit almost all light, which has a wavelength similar to the peak wavelength, among light emitting from said long-wavelength phosphor to generate the amber light based on the light emitting from said light emitting diode and said long-wavelength phosphor; and

a chamber comprising a lamp body and an outer lens, said chamber surrounding said diode, said long wavelength phosphor, and said optical filter.

2. A vehicular lamp as claimed in claim 1 , wherein said long-wavelength phosphor comprises Y 3 Al 5 O 12 :Ce or Tb 3 Al 5 O 12 :Ce.

3. A vehicular lamp as claimed in claim 1 , wherein said long-wavelength phosphor comprises M x Si y N z :Eu, where z=2x/3+4y/3, M is at least an element selected from a group consisting of alkaline earth metals.

4. A vehicular lamp as claimed in claim 1 , wherein said optical filter blocks almost all light having a wavelength of 500 nm or less.

5. A vehicular lamp as claimed in claim 1 , wherein said optical filter transmits almost all light having a wavelength of 600 nm or more.

6. A vehicular lamp as claimed in claim 1 , wherein said long wavelength phosphor covers the surface of the light emitting diode, said long wavelength phosphor being sealed by a sealing member within the lamp.

7. A vehicular lamp as claimed in claim 1 , wherein a plurality of said light emitting diodes are disposed within said chamber.

8. A vehicular lamp that irradiates amber light, comprising:

a light emitting diode;

a long-wavelength phosphor emitting light, of which a peak wavelength is substantially equal to or longer than a wavelength of the amber light according to light emitting from said light emitting diode; and

an optical filter operable to block light having shorter wavelength than a transmission limit and transmit light having longer wavelength than the transmission limit,

wherein the transmission limit in said optical filter is located between a peak wavelength of light emitting from said light emitting diode and the peak wavelength of light emitting from said long-wavelength phosphor, and is located at longer wavelength side than that of a position of which light intensity is the lowest among light of continuous spectrum emitted from said light emitting diode and said long-wavelength phosphor and also located at shorter wavelength side than that of the peak of light emitting from said long-wavelength phosphor.

9. A vehicular lamp as claimed in claim 8 , wherein the transmission limit in said optical filter is located at shorter wavelength side than that of 50% of the peak of light emitting from said long-wavelength phosphor.

10. A vehicular lamp as claimed in claim 8 , wherein said long-wavelength phosphor comprises Y 3 Al 5 O 12 :Ce or Tb 3 Al 5 O 12 :Ce.

11. A vehicular lamp as claimed in claim 8 , wherein said long-wavelength phosphor comprises M x Si y N z :Eu, where z=2x/3+4y/3, M is at least an element selected from a group consisting of alkaline earth metals.

Assignments (3)
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE THIRD ASSIGNOR'S EXECUTION DATE PREVIOUSLY RECORDED ON REEL 017184, FRAME 0774. (ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST) Recorded Mar 13, 2006
From: TAKEDA, HITOSHI; TOKIDA, TSUKASA; INOUE, TAKUMI
To: KOITO MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.; NICHIA CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 017677/0621 →
CORRECT ASSIGNMENT RECORDED Recorded Jan 13, 2006
From: TAKEDA, HITOSHI; TOKIDA, TSUKASA; INOUE, TAKUMI
To: KOITO MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.; NICHIA CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 017184/0774 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jan 14, 2005
From: TAKEDA, HITOSHI; TOKIDA, TSUKASA; INOUE, TAKUMI
To: KOITO MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
Reel/Frame 016166/0142 →
Priority Claims (2)
JP 2003-333116 · Sep 25, 2003 · national
JP 2004-237912 · Aug 18, 2004 · national
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20050117361A1 · Jun 2, 2005