Fog Lamp and the Like Employing Semiconductor Light Sources

Abstract

A novel vehicular light fixture ( 10 ) is disclosed. The light fixture ( 10 ) is compact, yet efficient, and employs semiconductor light sources ( 44 ) to produce output light in desired patterns. The fixture ( 10 ) can be used to produce fog lamps, driving lamps and other non-headlamp vehicle lighting functions. Depending upon the light output required, one or more semiconductor light sources ( 44 ) and a corresponding number of optical bodies ( 64 ) are employed in the fixture ( 10 ) to produce the desired light pattern.

1 . A vehicular lighting fixture for producing light in a desired pattern, comprising:
 a base member;   a substrate mounted to said base member, said substrate being in thermal communication with said base member;   at least one semiconductor light source mounted to said substrate, said at least one semiconductor light source being in thermal communication with said substrate; and   at least one optical body mounted on said substrate and being operable for receiving light from said at least one semiconductor light source for producing a desired beam pattern.   
     
     
         2 . The vehicular lighting fixture for producing light in a desired pattern of  claim 1 , said at least one semiconductor light source further comprising a light emitting surface operable for emitting light from said at least one semiconductor light source. 
     
     
         3 . The vehicular lighting fixture for producing light in a desired pattern of  claim 2 , said at least one optical body further comprising:
 a light receiving surface operable for receiving light from said light emitting surface of said at least one semiconductor light source; and   a light output surface for producing said desired beam pattern from said at least one optical body.   
     
     
         4 . The vehicular lighting fixture for producing light in a desired pattern of  claim 1 , said at least one optical body further comprising at least one mounting leg for mounting said at least one optical body to said substrate. 
     
     
         5 . The vehicular lighting fixture for producing light in a desired pattern of  claim 1 , wherein said at least one optical body is of a general D-shape. 
     
     
         6 . The vehicular lighting fixture for producing light in a desired pattern of  claim 1 , said at least one semiconductor light source further comprising a plurality of semiconductor light sources, and said at least one optical body further comprising a plurality of optical bodies, each one of said plurality of optical bodies being operable for receiving light from one of said plurality of semiconductor light sources. 
     
     
         7 . The vehicular lighting fixture for producing light in a desired pattern of  claim 1 , further comprising a set of cooling fins in thermal communication with said base member, said set of cooling fins being operable for removing heat from said base member. 
     
     
         8 . The vehicular lighting fixture for producing light in a desired pattern of  claim 1 , further comprising an electrical circuit board operable for providing a power supply to said at least one semiconductor light source. 
     
     
         9 . The vehicular lighting fixture for producing light in a desired pattern of  claim 8 , said electrical circuit board further comprising:
 power regulation circuitry operable for delivering power to said at least one semiconductor light source; and   a set of electrical input connectors extending away from said electrical circuit board for receiving electrical power.   
     
     
         10 . The vehicular lighting fixture for producing light in a desired pattern of  claim 9 , said base member further comprising:
 an elastomeric sealing member; and   a wiring harness connector receptacle formed as part of said base member, wherein said set of electrical input connectors extend through said elastomeric sealing member to said wiring harness connector receptacle.   
     
     
         11 . The vehicular lighting fixture for producing light in a desired pattern of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a lens having a peripheral lip; and   a complementary channel formed on said base member, said peripheral lip being received in said complementary channel such that a waterproof enclosure is formed between said lens and said base member.   
     
     
         12 . A vehicular lighting fixture for producing light in a desired pattern, comprising:
 a base member operable for being mounted to a vehicle;   a substrate mounted to said base member, said substrate being in thermal communication with said base member;   at least one semiconductor light source having a light emitting surface, said at least one semiconductor light source being mounted to and in thermal communication with said substrate;   at least one optical body mounted on said substrate, said at least one optical body having a light receiving surface operable for receiving light from said light emitting surface of at least one semiconductor light source, and said at least one optical body having a light output surface, wherein the shape of said at least one optical body and said light output surface produce a desired beam pattern; and   a lens being operable for connection with said base member such that light emitted from said at least one optical body travels through said lens.   
     
     
         13 . The vehicular lighting fixture for producing light in a desired pattern of  claim 12 , said at least one semiconductor light source further comprising a plurality of semiconductor light sources, and said at least one optical body further comprising a plurality of optical bodies, each one of said plurality of optical bodies being operable for receiving light from one of said plurality of semiconductor light sources. 
     
     
         14 . The vehicular lighting fixture for producing light in a desired pattern of  claim 12 , further comprising said at least one optical body to be of a general D-shape for producing said desired beam pattern. 
     
     
         15 . The vehicular lighting fixture for producing light in a desired pattern of  claim 12 , further comprising at least one mounting leg formed as part of said at least one optical body for connecting said at least one optical body to said substrate. 
     
     
         16 . The vehicular lighting fixture for producing light in a desired pattern of  claim 12 , further comprising:
 a peripheral lip formed as part of said lens; and   a complementary channel formed as part of said base member such that said peripheral lip is operable for being received into said complementary channel to form a waterproof enclosure between said lens and said base member.   
     
     
         17 . The vehicular lighting fixture for producing light in a desired pattern of  claim 12 , further comprising a set of cooling fins integrally formed as part of said base member, said set of cooling fins being operable for removing waste heat from said base member. 
     
     
         18 . The vehicular lighting fixture for producing light in a desired pattern of  claim 12 , further comprising:
 an electrical circuit board having power regulation circuitry operable for providing power to said at least one semiconductor light source;   a set of electrical input connectors mounted on an extending away from said electrical circuit board;   an elastomeric sealing member mounted on said base member; and   a wiring harness connector receptacle formed as part of said base member, wherein said set of electrical input connectors extend through said elastomeric sealing member to said wiring harness connector receptacle.   
     
     
         19 . A vehicular lighting fixture for producing light in a desired pattern, comprising:
 a base member operable for being mounted to a vehicle;   a substrate mounted to said base member, said substrate being in thermal communication with said base member;   a plurality of semiconductor light sources, each of said plurality of semiconductor light sources having a light emitting surface, said plurality of semiconductor light sources being mounted to and in thermal communication with said substrate;   a plurality of optical bodies, each of said plurality of optical bodies being of a general D-shape and having a light receiving surface operable for receiving light from said light emitting surface of a corresponding one of said plurality of semiconductor light sources, and each of said plurality of optical bodies having a light output surface, wherein the shape of each of said plurality of optical bodies and said light output surface of each of said plurality of optical bodies produces a desired beam pattern;   a plurality of cooling fins formed as part of said base member, said plurality of cooling fins being operable for transferring waste heat away from said substrate and said base member; and   a lens being operable for connection with said base member such that light emitted from said at least one optical body travels through said lens.   
     
     
         20 . The vehicular lighting fixture for producing light in a desired pattern of  claim 19 , further comprising at least one mounting leg formed as part of said at least one optical body, said at least one mounting leg operable for connecting said at least one optical body to said substrate. 
     
     
         21 . The vehicular lighting fixture for producing light in a desired pattern of  claim 19 , further comprising:
 an electrical circuit board having power regulation circuitry for providing power to said plurality of semiconductor light sources;   a set of electrical input connectors extending away from said electrical circuit board for receiving electrical power;   an elastomeric sealing member operable for being mounting on said base member; and   a wiring harness connector receptacle formed as part of said base member, wherein said set of electrical input connectors extend through said elastomeric sealing member to said wiring harness connector receptacle.   
     
     
         22 . The vehicular lighting fixture for producing light in a desired pattern of  claim 19 , further comprising:
 a peripheral lip integrally formed as part of said lens; and   a complementary channel formed on said base member, wherein said peripheral lip of said lens is operable for being received into said complementary channel such that a waterproof enclosure is formed between said lens and said base member.