IP Library › Granted Patent US 11,738,688
Granted Patent B2
US 11,738,688 · App. 18/155,151 · Granted Aug 29, 2023

Vehicular lighting assembly with micro-LED lighting device

Inventors: Gregory A. Huizen (Hudsonville, MI); Eric Peterson (West Olive, MI)
Assignee: Magna Mirrors of America, Inc.
B60R1/12B60K35/00B60R1/04H01L25/0753B60K2370/1523B60K2370/1533B60K2370/23B60K2370/332B60K2370/779B60R2001/1215B60R2300/8046
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,738,688
App. No.
18/155,151
Granted
Aug 29, 2023
Kind
B2
Abstract

A vehicular lighting assembly includes an plurality of micro-LEDs disposed at a substrate. Width dimension of each individual micro-LED of the plurality of micro-LEDs is less than 500 microns, and length dimension of each individual micro-LED of the plurality of micro-LEDs is less than 500 microns. Packing density of micro-LEDs of the plurality of micro-LEDs at the substrate is at least 10 micro-LEDs per square centimeter. Each individual micro-LED of the plurality of micro-LEDs, when the vehicular lighting assembly is operated to emit light, passes less than 4 mA electrical current. The vehicular lighting assembly is configured to be disposed at a portion of a vehicle equipped with the vehicular lighting assembly, With the vehicular lighting assembly disposed at the portion of the vehicle, light emitted by the plurality of micro-LEDs, when the vehicular lighting assembly is operated to emit light, is viewable at the portion of the vehicle.

Claims (110)

1. A vehicular lighting assembly, the vehicular lighting assembly comprising:

an plurality of micro-LEDs disposed at a substrate;

wherein width dimension of each individual micro-LED of the plurality of micro-LEDs is less than 500 microns, and wherein length dimension of each individual micro-LED of the plurality of micro-LEDs is less than 500 microns;

wherein packing density of micro-LEDs of the plurality of micro-LEDs at the substrate is at least 10 micro-LEDs per square centimeter;

wherein each individual micro-LED of the plurality of micro-LEDs, when the vehicular lighting assembly is operated to emit light, passes less than 4 mA electrical current;

wherein the vehicular lighting assembly is configured to be disposed at a portion of a vehicle equipped with the vehicular lighting assembly; and

wherein, with the vehicular lighting assembly disposed at the portion of the equipped vehicle, light emitted by the plurality of micro-LEDs, when the vehicular lighting assembly is operated to emit light, is viewable at the portion of the equipped vehicle.

2. The vehicular lighting assembly of claim 1 , wherein the substrate comprises a rigid substrate.

3. The vehicular lighting assembly of claim 1 , wherein the substrate comprises a flexible substrate with a stiffening element attached at the flexible substrate.

4. The vehicular lighting assembly of claim 1 , wherein the substrate comprises a flexible substrate.

5. The vehicular lighting assembly of claim 4 , wherein the flexible substrate comprises a flexible polyimide film.

6. The vehicular lighting assembly of claim 5 , wherein the flexible polyimide film is folded around an aluminum core.

7. The vehicular lighting assembly of claim 4 , wherein the flexible substrate comprises a flexible polyethylene terephthalate film.

8. The vehicular lighting assembly of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of micro-LEDs comprises at least 1,300 micro-LEDs.

9. The vehicular lighting assembly of claim 1 , wherein width dimension of each individual micro-LED of the plurality of micro-LEDs is greater than 75 microns, and wherein length dimension of each individual micro-LED of the plurality of micro-LEDs is greater than 75 microns.

10. The vehicular lighting assembly of claim 1 , wherein micro-LEDs of the plurality of micro-LEDs are disposed at the substrate with spacing between individual micro-LEDs of the plurality of micro-LEDs being no greater than 300 microns.

11. The vehicular lighting assembly of claim 1 , wherein micro-LEDs of the plurality of micro-LEDs are disposed at electrically conductive traces of the substrate.

12. The vehicular lighting assembly of claim 11 , wherein micro-LEDs of the plurality of micro-LEDs are disposed at silver traces of the substrate.

13. The vehicular lighting assembly of claim 11 , wherein micro-LEDs of the plurality of micro-LEDs are disposed at copper traces of the substrate.

14. The vehicular lighting assembly of claim 1 , wherein the packing density of micro-LEDs of the plurality of micro-LEDs at the substrate is at least 20 micro-LEDs per square centimeter.

15. The vehicular lighting assembly of claim 1 , wherein the packing density of micro-LEDs of the plurality of micro-LEDs at the substrate is at least 30 micro-LEDs per square centimeter.

16. The vehicular lighting assembly of claim 1 , wherein each individual micro-LED of the plurality of micro-LEDs, when the vehicular lighting assembly is operated to emit light, passes greater than 0.75 mA electrical current.

17. The vehicular lighting assembly of claim 1 , wherein each individual micro-LED of the plurality of micro-LEDs, when the vehicular lighting assembly is operated to emit light, passes greater than 1 mA and less than 2.5 mA electrical current.

18. The vehicular lighting assembly of claim 1 , wherein each individual micro-LED of the plurality of micro-LEDs, when the vehicular lighting assembly is operated to emit light, passes greater than 1.25 mA and less than 1.75 mA electrical current.

19. The vehicular lighting assembly of claim 1 , wherein the vehicular lighting assembly comprises a vehicular exterior lighting assembly.

20. The vehicular lighting assembly of claim 19 , wherein the vehicular exterior lighting assembly comprises a vehicular taillight assembly.

21. The vehicular lighting assembly of claim 20 , wherein light emitted by the plurality of micro-LEDs, when the vehicular lighting assembly is operated to emit light, provides a brake lighting function.

22. The vehicular lighting assembly of claim 20 , wherein light emitted by the plurality of micro-LEDs, when the vehicular lighting assembly is operated to emit light, provides a rear backup lighting function.

23. The vehicular lighting assembly of claim 19 , wherein the vehicular exterior lighting assembly comprises a vehicular exterior rearview mirror assembly.

24. The vehicular lighting assembly of claim 23 , wherein light emitted by the plurality of micro-LEDs, when the vehicular lighting assembly is operated to emit light, provides a turn signal indicator function.

25. The vehicular lighting assembly of claim 23 , wherein light emitted by the plurality of micro-LEDs, when the vehicular lighting assembly is operated to emit light, provides a ground illumination function.

26. The vehicular lighting assembly of claim 1 , wherein the vehicular lighting assembly comprises a vehicular interior lighting assembly.

27. The vehicular lighting assembly of claim 26 , wherein the vehicular interior lighting assembly comprises a vehicular interior rearview mirror assembly.

28. The vehicular lighting assembly of claim 26 , wherein the vehicular interior lighting assembly comprises part of a vehicular interior video display device.

29. The vehicular lighting assembly of claim 28 , wherein vehicular interior video display device is disposed behind a mirror reflective element of a vehicular interior rearview mirror assembly.

30. The vehicular lighting assembly of claim 29 , wherein the plurality of micro-LEDs, when the vehicular lighting assembly is operated to emit light, provide backlighting at a video display screen of the vehicular interior video display device.

31. The vehicular lighting assembly of claim 1 , wherein micro-LEDs of the plurality of micro-LEDs are connected in parallel.

32. The vehicular lighting assembly of claim 1 , wherein micro-LEDs of the plurality of micro-LEDs are connected in series.

33. The vehicular lighting assembly of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of micro-LEDs comprises a first set of micro-LEDs operable to emit light for a first lighting function and a second set of micro-LEDs that is different than the first set of micro-LEDs and that is operable to emit light for a second lighting function.

34. A vehicular lighting assembly, the vehicular lighting assembly comprising:

an plurality of micro-LEDs disposed at a substrate;

wherein width dimension of each individual micro-LED of the plurality of micro-LEDs is less than 500 microns, and wherein length dimension of each individual micro-LED of the plurality of micro-LEDs is less than 500 microns;

wherein the plurality of micro-LEDs comprises at least 1,300 micro-LEDs;

wherein micro-LEDs of the plurality of micro-LEDs are disposed at the substrate with spacing between individual micro-LEDs of the plurality of micro-LEDs being no greater than 300 microns;

wherein packing density of micro-LEDs of the plurality of micro-LEDs at the substrate is at least 10 micro-LEDs per square centimeter;

wherein each individual micro-LED of the plurality of micro-LEDs, when the vehicular lighting assembly is operated to emit light, passes less than 4 mA electrical current;

wherein the vehicular lighting assembly is configured to be disposed at a portion of a vehicle equipped with the vehicular lighting assembly; and

wherein, with the vehicular lighting assembly disposed at the portion of the equipped vehicle, light emitted by the plurality of micro-LEDs, when the vehicular lighting assembly is operated to emit light, is viewable at the portion of the equipped vehicle.

35. The vehicular lighting assembly of claim 34 , wherein the substrate comprises a rigid substrate.

36. The vehicular lighting assembly of claim 34 , wherein the substrate comprises a flexible substrate with a stiffening element attached at the flexible substrate.

37. The vehicular lighting assembly of claim 34 , wherein the substrate comprises a flexible substrate.

38. The vehicular lighting assembly of claim 37 , wherein the flexible substrate comprises a flexible polyimide film.

39. The vehicular lighting assembly of claim 38 , wherein the flexible polyimide film is folded around an aluminum core.

40. The vehicular lighting assembly of claim 37 , wherein the flexible substrate comprises a flexible polyethylene terephthalate film.

41. The vehicular lighting assembly of claim 34 , wherein width dimension of each individual micro-LED of the plurality of micro-LEDs is greater than 75 microns, and wherein length dimension of each individual micro-LED of the plurality of micro-LEDs is greater than 75 microns.

42. The vehicular lighting assembly of claim 34 , wherein micro-LEDs of the plurality of micro-LEDs are disposed at electrically conductive traces of the substrate.

43. The vehicular lighting assembly of claim 42 , wherein micro-LEDs of the plurality of micro-LEDs are disposed at silver traces of the substrate.

44. The vehicular lighting assembly of claim 42 , wherein micro-LEDs of the plurality of micro-LEDs are disposed at copper traces of the substrate.

45. The vehicular lighting assembly of claim 34 , wherein the packing density of micro-LEDs of the plurality of micro-LEDs at the substrate is at least 20 micro-LEDs per square centimeter.

46. The vehicular lighting assembly of claim 34 , wherein the packing density of micro-LEDs of the plurality of micro-LEDs at the substrate is at least 30 micro-LEDs per square centimeter.

47. The vehicular lighting assembly of claim 34 , wherein each individual micro-LED of the plurality of micro-LEDs, when the vehicular lighting assembly is operated to emit light, passes greater than 0.75 mA electrical current.

48. The vehicular lighting assembly of claim 34 , wherein each individual micro-LED of the plurality of micro-LEDs, when the vehicular lighting assembly is operated to emit light, passes greater than 1 mA and less than 2.5 mA electrical current.

49. The vehicular lighting assembly of claim 34 , wherein each individual micro-LED of the plurality of micro-LEDs, when the vehicular lighting assembly is operated to emit light, passes greater than 1.25 mA and less than 1.75 mA electrical current.

50. The vehicular lighting assembly of claim 34 , wherein the vehicular lighting assembly comprises a vehicular exterior lighting assembly.

51. The vehicular lighting assembly of claim 50 , wherein the vehicular exterior lighting assembly comprises a vehicular taillight assembly.

52. The vehicular lighting assembly of claim 51 , wherein light emitted by the plurality of micro-LEDs, when the vehicular lighting assembly is operated to emit light, provides a brake lighting function.

53. The vehicular lighting assembly of claim 51 , wherein light emitted by the plurality of micro-LEDs, when the vehicular lighting assembly is operated to emit light, provides a rear backup lighting function.

54. The vehicular lighting assembly of claim 50 , wherein the vehicular exterior lighting assembly comprises a vehicular exterior rearview mirror assembly.

55. The vehicular lighting assembly of claim 54 , wherein light emitted by the plurality of micro-LEDs, when the vehicular lighting assembly is operated to emit light, provides a turn signal indicator function.

56. The vehicular lighting assembly of claim 54 , wherein light emitted by the plurality of micro-LEDs, when the vehicular lighting assembly is operated to emit light, provides a ground illumination function.

57. The vehicular lighting assembly of claim 34 , wherein the vehicular lighting assembly comprises a vehicular interior lighting assembly.

58. The vehicular lighting assembly of claim 57 , wherein the vehicular interior lighting assembly comprises a vehicular interior rearview mirror assembly.

59. The vehicular lighting assembly of claim 57 , wherein the vehicular interior lighting assembly comprises a vehicular interior video display screen.

60. The vehicular lighting assembly of claim 59 , wherein vehicular interior video display device is disposed behind a mirror reflective element of a vehicular interior rearview mirror assembly.

61. The vehicular lighting assembly of claim 60 , wherein the plurality of micro-LEDs, when the vehicular lighting assembly is operated to emit light, provide backlighting at a video display screen of the vehicular interior video display device.

62. The vehicular lighting assembly of claim 34 , wherein micro-LEDs of the plurality of micro-LEDs are connected in parallel.

63. The vehicular lighting assembly of claim 34 , wherein micro-LEDs of the plurality of micro-LEDs are connected in series.

64. The vehicular lighting assembly of claim 34 , wherein the plurality of micro-LEDs comprises a first set of micro-LEDs operable to emit light for a first lighting function and a second set of micro-LEDs that is different than the first set of micro-LEDs and that is operable to emit light for a second lighting function.

65. A vehicular lighting assembly, the vehicular lighting assembly comprising:

a plurality of micro-LEDs disposed at a substrate;

wherein width dimension of each individual micro-LED of the plurality of micro-LEDs is less than 500 microns, and wherein length dimension of each individual micro-LED of the plurality of micro-LEDs is less than 500 microns;

wherein packing density of micro-LEDs of the plurality of micro-LEDs at the substrate is at least 10 micro-LEDs per square centimeter;

wherein each individual micro-LED of the plurality of micro-LEDs, when the vehicular lighting assembly is operated to emit light, passes greater than 0.75 mA electrical current and less than 4 mA electrical current;

wherein the vehicular lighting assembly is configured to be disposed at an exterior portion of a vehicle equipped with the vehicular lighting assembly; and

wherein, with the vehicular lighting assembly disposed at the exterior portion of the equipped vehicle, light emitted by the plurality of micro-LEDs, when the vehicular lighting assembly is operated to emit light, is viewable exterior of the equipped vehicle.

66. The vehicular lighting assembly of claim 65 , wherein the substrate comprises a rigid substrate.

67. The vehicular lighting assembly of claim 65 , wherein the substrate comprises a flexible substrate with a stiffening element attached at the flexible substrate.

68. The vehicular lighting assembly of claim 65 , wherein the substrate comprises a flexible substrate.

69. The vehicular lighting assembly of claim 68 , wherein the flexible substrate comprises a flexible polyimide film.

70. The vehicular lighting assembly of claim 69 , wherein the flexible polyimide film is folded around an aluminum core.

71. The vehicular lighting assembly of claim 68 , wherein the flexible substrate comprises a flexible polyethylene terephthalate film.

72. The vehicular lighting assembly of claim 65 , wherein the plurality of micro-LEDs comprises at least 1,300 micro-LEDs.

73. The vehicular lighting assembly of claim 65 , wherein width dimension of each individual micro-LED of the plurality of micro-LEDs is greater than 75 microns, and wherein length dimension of each individual micro-LED of the plurality of micro-LEDs is greater than 75 microns.

74. The vehicular lighting assembly of claim 65 , wherein micro-LEDs of the plurality of micro-LEDs are disposed at the substrate with spacing between individual micro-LEDs of the plurality of micro-LEDs being no greater than 300 microns.

75. The vehicular lighting assembly of claim 65 , wherein micro-LEDs of the plurality of micro-LEDs are disposed at electrically conductive traces of the substrate.

76. The vehicular lighting assembly of claim 75 , wherein micro-LEDs of the plurality of micro-LEDs are disposed at silver traces of the substrate.

77. The vehicular lighting assembly of claim 75 , wherein micro-LEDs of the plurality of micro-LEDs are disposed at copper traces of the substrate.

78. The vehicular lighting assembly of claim 65 , wherein the packing density of micro-LEDs of the plurality of micro-LEDs at the substrate is at least 20 micro-LEDs per square centimeter.

79. The vehicular lighting assembly of claim 65 , wherein the packing density of micro-LEDs of the plurality of micro-LEDs at the substrate is at least 30 micro-LEDs per square centimeter.

80. The vehicular lighting assembly of claim 65 , wherein each individual micro-LED of the plurality of micro-LEDs, when the vehicular lighting assembly is operated to emit light, passes greater than 1 mA and less than 2.5 mA electrical current.

81. The vehicular lighting assembly of claim 65 , wherein each individual micro-LED of the plurality of micro-LEDs, when the vehicular lighting assembly is operated to emit light, passes greater than 1.25 mA and less than 1.75 mA electrical current.

82. The vehicular lighting assembly of claim 65 , wherein the vehicular lighting assembly comprises a vehicular taillight assembly.

83. The vehicular lighting assembly of claim 82 , wherein light emitted by the plurality of micro-LEDs, when the vehicular lighting assembly is operated to emit light, provides a brake lighting function.

84. The vehicular lighting assembly of claim 82 , wherein light emitted by the plurality of micro-LEDs, when the vehicular lighting assembly is operated to emit light, provides a rear backup lighting function.

85. The vehicular lighting assembly of claim 65 , wherein the vehicular lighting assembly comprises a vehicular exterior rearview mirror assembly.

86. The vehicular lighting assembly of claim 85 , wherein light emitted by the plurality of micro-LEDs, when the vehicular lighting assembly is operated to emit light, provides a turn signal indicator function.

87. The vehicular lighting assembly of claim 85 , wherein light emitted by the plurality of micro-LEDs, when the vehicular lighting assembly is operated to emit light, provides a ground illumination function.

88. The vehicular lighting assembly of claim 65 , wherein micro-LEDs of the plurality of micro-LEDs are connected in parallel.

89. The vehicular lighting assembly of claim 65 , wherein micro-LEDs of the plurality of micro-LEDs are connected in series.

90. The vehicular lighting assembly of claim 65 , wherein the plurality of micro-LEDs comprises a first set of micro-LEDs operable to emit light for a first lighting function and a second set of micro-LEDs that is different than the first set of micro-LEDs and that is operable to emit light for a second lighting function.

Continuity (5)
Continuation 17809927 · Jun 30, 2022
Continuation 17446855 · Sep 3, 2021
Continuation 16640750
Provisional Application 62549101 · Aug 23, 2017
Related Publication 20230150433A1 · May 18, 2023
Cited By (1)
US 12,508,992