ILLUMINATION APPARATUS FOR VEHICLE

Abstract

An illumination apparatus for vehicle is disclosed, which includes an illumination module and a microcontroller. The illumination module includes a circuit base and an LED array which is disposed on the circuit base and includes a plurality of LED packages. Each of the LED packages includes a driver chip, a light source and a packaging structure, in which the driver chip and the light source are disposed. The driver chip is electrically connected to the light source to drive the light source to emit lights. The microcontroller is electrically connected to the LED packages to control the operation of the LED packages. Therefore, lights emitted from the LED packages can form a dynamic or static image; moreover, the light source (LED chip) and the driver chip are in the same packaging structure, so the circuit layout of the circuit base can be simplified.

Claims

1. An illumination apparatus for a vehicle, comprising: an illumination module, including a first circuit base and a first LED array, the first LED array being disposed on the first circuit base and comprising a plurality of first LED packages, each of the first LED packages comprising a first driver chip, a first light source and a first packaging structure, the first driver chip and the first light source being disposed within the first packaging structure, and the first driver chip being electrically connected to the first light source so as to drive the first light source to emit light; and a first microcontroller, being electrically connected to the first LED packages so as to control operation of the first driver chips of the first LED packages.

2. The illumination apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a housing module including a base and an outer cover, wherein the outer cover is disposed on the base, and the illumination module is disposed within the housing module.

3. The illumination apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first light source comprises at least one LED chip, and the first driver chip is electrically connected to the at least one LED chip so as to drive the at least one LED chip to emit light.

4. The illumination apparatus of claim 3, wherein the LED chips emit blue light, green light and red light, respectively.

5. The illumination apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first packaging structure comprises a housing and a conductive lead frame, the conductive lead frame is partially covered by the housing, the conductive lead frame comprises a first lead and a second lead that are separated from each other, and the first driver chip and the first light source are disposed on the first lead and the second lead, respectively.

6. The illumination apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first circuit base comprises a circuit board and a wall, the first LED array is disposed on the circuit board, and the wall surrounds the first LED array.

7. The illumination apparatus of claim 1, wherein part or all of the first LED packages are electrically connected with each other in series.

8. The illumination apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first driver chip comprises a sensing circuit that senses temperature and/or voltage of the first light source.

9. The illumination apparatus of claim 1, wherein the illumination module further comprises a first optical element, and the first optical element is disposed at a light-exiting side of the first LED array.

10. The illumination apparatus of claim 9, wherein the first optical element comprises at least one of a light diffusing sheet, a light guiding element, an optical lens, a light shielding element and a prism.

11. The illumination apparatus of claim 10, wherein the light shielding element comprises a plurality of openings, and these openings are separated from each other and respectively correspond to the first LED packages.

12. The illumination apparatus of claim 1, wherein the illumination module further comprises a second circuit base and a second LED array, the second LED array is disposed on the second circuit base and comprises a plurality of second LED packages, each of the second LED packages comprises a second driver chip, a second light source and a second packaging structure, the second driver chip and the second light source are disposed within the second packaging structure, and the second driving chip is electrically connected to the second light source so as to drive the second light source to emit light.

13. The illumination apparatus of claim 12, wherein the first microcontroller is also electrically connected to the second LED packages so as to control operation of the second driver chips of the second LED packages.

14. The illumination apparatus of claim 12, wherein the illumination module further comprises a second microcontroller, and the second microcontroller is electrically connected to the second LED packages so as to control operation of the second driver chips of the second LED packages.

15. The illumination apparatus of claim 12, wherein the second light source comprises at least one LED chip electrically connected to the second driver chip.

16. The illumination apparatus of claim 12, wherein the second circuit base comprises a ladder platform and a plurality of circuit boards, the circuit boards are disposed on the ladder platform, and the second LED packages are respectively disposed on the circuit boards.

17. The illumination apparatus of claim 12, wherein the illumination module further comprises a second optical element, and the second optical element is disposed at a light-exiting side of the second LED array.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0041] FIG. 1A and FIG. 1B are perspective exploded views of an illumination apparatus according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention;

[0042] FIG. 2A and FIG. 2B are a perspective exploded view and a partially enlarged view of an illumination apparatus according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention;

[0043] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of an illumination module of an illumination apparatus according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention;

[0044] FIG. 4 is a perspective view of an LED package of an illumination apparatus according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention;

[0045] FIG. 5A and FIG. 5B are front and cross-sectional views of an LED package according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention;

[0046] FIG. 6A and FIG. 6B are schematic circuit views of an illumination apparatus according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention;

[0047] FIG. 7A to FIG. 7D are views illustrating the arrangement of LED chips of an LED package of an illumination apparatus according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention;

[0048] FIG. 8 is a schematic view illustrating the change in the display pattern of an illumination apparatus according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention;

[0049] FIG. 9A to FIG. 9C are schematic views illustrating the display pattern of an illumination apparatus according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention; and

[0050] FIG. 10 is a schematic view illustrating another change in the display pattern of an illumination apparatus according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

[0051] Specific embodiments of the present invention will be described specifically hereinafter. However, the present invention may be implemented with various different forms of embodiments without departing from the spirit of the present invention, and the scope claimed in the present invention should not be construed as being limited to what is described in the specification. Additionally, the technical contents of various implementations in the above summary of the invention may also serve as the technical contents of the embodiments or as possible variants of the embodiments. Moreover, the orientation described hereinafter (e.g., front, back, upper, lower, two sides or the like) are opposite orientations, and may be defined according to the use status of the illumination apparatus.

[0052] With reference to FIGS. 1A and 1B, which are perspective exploded views of an illumination apparatus 1 according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention. The illumination apparatus 1 may be used for a vehicle (e.g., an automobile, a motorcycle, a bicycle, a scooter or the like) as a component of the vehicle and may generate illumination or light for indication. In this embodiment, the tail lamps of an automobile are taken as an application example of the illumination apparatus 1. However, the illumination apparatus 1 is not limited thereto. The illumination apparatus 1 may comprise a housing module 10, an illumination module 20 and a first microcontroller 30A (which is referred to as a microcontroller 30A hereinafter, as shown in FIG. 6A). The technical contents of these elements will be described sequentially as follows.

[0053] The housing module 10 is a lamp housing shaped for the tail lamp of the automobile applied, and it may vary in response to the overall shape of the automobile. Structurally, the housing module 10 comprises a base 11 and an outer cover 12. The base 11 may be a hollow structure with a side thereof formed as an opening for providing a receiving space, so the illumination module 20 may be received in the base 11 through the opening. The base 11 may also comprise a fixing structure (e.g., a threaded hole, a fastener or the like) therein so that the illumination module 20 can be fixed within the base 11. The base 11 may mainly be made of an opaque and non-conductive material (or a material of poor transparency or conductivity), e.g., a plastic material, so the light generated by the illumination module 20 is not expected to emit from portions other than the opening of the base 11. The outer cover 12 is disposed (covered) above the base 11 and is disposed at the opening side of the base 11 and closes the opening. The outer cover 12 is mainly made of a light-transmissive and non-conductive material, so the light generated by the illumination module 20 may be emitted to the outside through the outer cover 12. In an embodiment, the base 11 and the outer cover 12 are used to cover the illumination module 20. In an embodiment, the inner side surface of the base 11 may be coated with a layer of reflective material to reflect the light of the illumination module 20.

[0054] Referring to the perspective view of the illumination module 20 shown in FIG. 3 together, the illumination module 20 is disposed within the base 11 to generate light that can form specific and preset patterns. The illumination module 20 comprises a first circuit base 21A (which is referred to as a circuit base 21A hereinafter) and a first LED array 22A (which is referred to as an LED array 22A hereinafter). The circuit base 21A is configured to be fixed with the base 11, support the LED array 22A and provide a circuit for transmitting signals and electrical energy to the LED array 22A. The circuit base 21A comprises a circuit board 211, and the substrate thereof may be a type of substrate that shall be well known in the art, e.g., a plastic substrate, a ceramic substrate or a metal substrate or the like, and a circuit or the like is disposed within the substrate or on the surface of the substrate. The LED array 22A is disposed on the circuit board 211 and electrically connected with the circuit board 211. The circuit base 21A may selectively further comprise a wall 212. The wall 212 may be disposed on the circuit board 211 or may be larger than the circuit board 211 to surround the circuit board 211. Moreover, the wall 212 surrounds the LED array 22A. The wall 212 is made of an opaque or reflective material, so the wall 212 may reflect the light to limit the light-emitting angle (range) of the LED array 22A.

[0055] The LED array 22A comprises a plurality of first LED packages 221 (which is referred to as LED packages 221 hereinafter), these LED packages 221 are arranged into a two-dimensional array of any shape, e.g., a 540 array, and the number of the LED packages 221 in each column may be different. Each LED package 221 may be controlled to emit light of a particular color (wavelength) or intensity. Please refer to the perspective view of the LED packages 221 shown in FIG. 4 together. Each of the LED packages 221 comprises a first driver chip 2211 (which is referred to as a driver chip 2211 hereinafter), a first light source 2212 (which is referred to as a light source 2212 hereinafter) and a first packaging structure 2213 (which is referred to as a packaging structure 2213 hereinafter). The driver chip 2211 and the light source 2212 are all disposed within the packaging structure 2213 (in other words, the driver chip 2211 and the light source 2212 are packaged together rather than being separated), so the space and the cost can be saved. In an embodiment, the light source 2212 may be of a multiple-chip design formed by at least one light-emitting diode chip or laser diode chip.

[0056] The driver chip 2211 is further electrically connected to the light source 2212 within the packaging structure 2213 to drive the light source 2212 to emit light. The light source 2212 may comprise one or a plurality of LED chips (i.e., at least one LED chip). Each LED chip is electrically connected with the driver chip 2211 individually to be driven independently to emit light. The driver chip 2211 may also drive a plurality of LED chips 2212 together. In this embodiment, three LED chips 2212 are taken as an example and are respectively configured to emit red light, green light and blue light. In an embodiment, the light emitted by the LED chips 2212 may be the same, partially the same or different. The driver chip 2211 and the LED chip 2212 may be horizontal chips, and may also be vertical chips or flip chips.

[0057] With reference to the front and cross-sectional views of the LED package 221 shown in both FIGS. 5A and 5B, the packaging structure 2213 may comprise a housing 22131 and a conductive lead frame 22132. The conductive lead frame 22132 is partially covered by the housing 22131, and the part of the conductive lead frame 22132 may be used for connection with other elements. The conductive lead frame 22132 may further comprise a plurality of leads 22133. The two leads that are separated from each other are defined as a first lead and a second lead, and the driver chip 2211 and the light source (LED chip) 2212 are respectively disposed on the two leads. The contacts of the driver chip 2211 are wire bonded to the light source 2212 and the leads 22133 to form an electrical connection. The packaging structure 2213 may further comprise one or more types of encapsulant gel (not shown) to cover and protect the light source 2212 and the driver chip 2211, wherein the encapsulant gel covering the light source 2212 is light transmissive. In an embodiment, contacts 22112 of the driver chip 2211 include a power input terminal (VCC), a ground terminal (GND), a data input terminal (DAi), a data output terminal (DAo), a clock input terminal (CKi) and a clock output terminal (CKo). The voltage input terminal (VCC), these contacts 22112 are configured to electrically connected to the light sources (LED chips) 2212 and the leads 22133 respectively.

[0058] Moreover, the driver chip 2211 may preferably further comprise a sensing circuit 22111 (as shown in FIG. 6B) to sense the temperature and/or voltage of the light source (LED chip) 2212. Therefore, if the temperature of the LED chip 2212 changes and thus causes a reduction in the light-emitting efficiency, then, the driver chip 2211 may adjust the current supplied to the LED chip 2212 to maintain the preset luminance. For example, if the temperature is higher than a preset value, then the driver chip 2211 may improve the current value of the red LED chip 2212 or the time during which the current passes through the red LED chip 2212. It may also reduce the current value of the blue and green LED chips 2212 or the time during which the current passes through the blue and green LED chips 2212 so that the preset color can still be maintained after mixing the red light, green light and blue light. Moreover, the driver chip 2211 senses whether the voltage of the LED chip 2212 exceeds a preset value to determine whether the circuit of the LED chip 2212 is a short circuit or open circuit.

[0059] With reference to the element layout diagram of the illumination apparatus 1 shown in both FIGS. 6A and 6B, the microcontroller 30A is electrically connected to the LED packages 221 to control the operation of the driver chips 2211 of the LED packages 221. That is, the microcontroller 30A may give instructions to the driver chips 2211 of the LED packages 221 to control the color and/or luminance displayed through the driver chips 2211. The microcontroller 30A may be disposed outside the housing module 10, e.g., disposed in an electronic control unit (ECU) of the vehicle which may also be referred to as a vehicle-mounted computer. Then, the microcontroller 30A is electrically connected to the circuit base 21A through a transmission line, and then electrically connected to the LED array 22A. In other words, the ECU may also be regarded as an implementation of the microcontroller 30A. Alternatively, the microcontroller 30A may be directly disposed on the circuit base 21A, and then electrically connected to the ECU or other electronic apparatuses through the transmission line.

[0060] Moreover, some or all of the LED packages 221 can be electrically connected with each other in series and then electrically connected with the microcontroller 30A. In this way, as compared to the case of parallel connection among the LED packages 221, the circuit design of the circuit base 21A may be simpler so that the LED packages 221 can be arranged closer to each other. In an implementation, the microcontroller 30A may have a data transmission line and a clock (CLK) transmission line connected with the driver chip 2211 of the LED package 221, and the driver chip 2211 determines to drive which LED chip 2212 to emit light, the light luminance and the light-emitting time or the like according to the content of the data signal received. Moreover, the microcontroller 30A may also have the power (VCC) transmission line and the ground (GND) transmission line connected with the driver chip 2211. The microcontroller 30A may control the LED chip 2212 with pulse-width modulation (PWM), i.e., the microcontroller 30A outputs a pulse signal to the driver chip 2211 and then the driver chip 2111 lightens the LED chip 2212 according to the width of the pulse. The driver chip 2211 may also output an error detection signal to the microcontroller 30A to indicate which LED chip 2212 is defective or the like. In an embodiment, the microcontroller 30A and the driver chip 2211 may be application-specific integrated circuits (ASICs), complex programmable logic devices (CPLDs) or field programmable gate array (FPGA).

[0061] Accordingly, the microcontroller 30A may control an LED package 221 at a specific location to emit light according to a set program so that the light L emitted overall by the LED array 22A may form a pattern, and the pattern may change dynamically or sequentially (as shown in FIG. 8), or the pattern may also be a static pattern (as shown in FIG. 9A and FIG. 9B). Moreover, since the LED packages 221 are arranged closer to each other, there may be more LED packages 221 within a unit size, so the pattern formed can have higher resolution. In an embodiment, the pattern may be a static or dynamic word, figure or any combination thereof. In an embodiment, the luminance of the pattern may be fixed continuously or changed dynamically. In an embodiment, the pattern may be planar, three-dimensional or of a visual design of any combination thereof.

[0062] On the other hand, because each LED package 221 comprises LED chips 2212 of three colors, i.e., red (R), green (G) and blue (B), the pattern displayed overall by the LED array 22A may be colorful. The microcontroller 30A may also lighten all the LED packages 221 at the same time to emit light of the same color, e.g., emit red light to represent deceleration or stop of the vehicle, emit yellow light to signal turning of the vehicle, or emit white light to signal reversing of the vehicle or the like. Additionally, during the deceleration or stop of the vehicle, the microcontroller 30A may control larger current to flow in the LED package 221 to increase the luminance of the red light.

[0063] In addition to the LED chips 2212 of the three colors R, G and B, the LED package 221 may also select other arrangements of the LED chips. Referring to FIG. 7A, the light source 2212 of the LED package 221 may comprise an LED chip (e.g., a red LED chip R), so the pattern displayed overall by the LED array 22A is of a single color. With reference to FIG. 7B, the light source 2212 may comprise a plurality of LED chips, which are all red LED chips R for example, to increase the luminance of the red light so that it is easier to draw the attention of drivers of other vehicles or pedestrians. With reference to FIG. 7C, the light source 2212 may comprise a plurality of LED chips, some are red LED chips R while others may have a yellow LED element Y constituted by a blue (or ultraviolet) LED chip and fluorescent powder or the like for example. With reference to FIG. 7C, the light source 2212 may comprise a red LED chip R, a green LED chip G and a blue LED chip B, and further comprise a white LED element W constituted by a blue LED and fluorescent powder or the like for example to increase the color quality of the white color of the pattern. The fluorescent materials may be mixed in the encapsulant gel and then covered on the LED chip, or the fluorescent materials may be a fluorescent patch disposed on the LED chip. In an embodiment, the light sources 22112 may be multiple light-emitting diode chips emitting light of the same color, partially same color or different colors. In an embodiment, the light sources 22112 may be multiple laser diode chips emitting light of the same color, partially same color or different colors. In an embodiment, the light sources 22112 may be multiple light-emitting diode chips and laser diode chips emitting light of the same color, partially the same color or different colors. In an embodiment, the light sources 22112 may be visible-light and invisible-light LED chips. In an embodiment, the light sources 22112 may be a combination of visible-light and invisible-light LED chips and laser diode chips.

[0064] With reference back to FIGS. 1A and 1B, the illumination module 20 may selectively further comprise a first optical element 23A (which is referred to as an optical element 23A) which is disposed at a light-exiting side (i.e., a side opposite to the circuit base 21A and towards the outer cover 12) of the LED array 22A to change the path or angle of the light emitted by the LED array 22A so that the pattern constituted by the light is variable. In this embodiment, a light diffusing sheet is taken as an example of the optical element 23A. The light diffusing sheet can change the pattern of the light into a curved form, as shown in FIG. 9C. The distance and angle between the optical element 23A and the LED array 22A will all cause change in the pattern presented by the light, and in this embodiment, the optical element 23A abuts against the circuit base 21A and is spaced from the LED array 22A at a specific distance. In addition to the shape of a planar sheet, the optical element 23A may also be curved, and the curvature thereof will also influence the pattern presented by the light. The technical content of the optical element 23A may comprise the disclosure of Taiwan Patent Application No. 107101069, and this application is incorporated herein in its entirety by reference.

[0065] In addition to the light diffusing sheet, the optical element 23A may also comprise one or a combination of a light guiding element, an optical lens and a prism. FIG. 2A and FIG. 2B are a perspective exploded view and a partially enlarged view of another embodiment of the illumination apparatus 1, respectively. The optical element 23A may further comprise a light shielding element 231 comprising a mesh and grid structure, i.e., comprising a plurality of openings 2311. The openings 2311 are separated from each other and do not communicate with each other, so the light can pass through an opening 2311 along the depth direction of the opening 2311, but the light cannot reach other openings 2311 along the width direction (length direction) of the opening 2311 (light will be blocked by the opaque part of the light shielding element 231 between the openings 2311). These openings 2311 respectively correspond to the LED packages 221, i.e., the location and the size of the openings 2311 all correspond to the location and size of the LED packages 221, so these openings 2311 are also arranged into an matrix, and the size (length, width) of the openings 2311 is equal to or slightly larger than the LED packages 221. Thus, the openings 2311 may prevent light emitted by adjacent LED packages 221 from being mixed, thereby increasing the contrast of the pattern presented by the light.

[0066] With reference back to FIGS. 1A and 1B, the illumination module 20 may also further comprise a second circuit base 21B, a second LED array 22B and a second optical element 23B so that the illumination module 20 can provide another display pattern. The technical contents of these elements are respectively similar to those of the circuit base 21A, the LED array 22A and the optical element 23A, so reference may be made to the technical contents of the circuit base 21A. The LED array 22A and the optical element 23A for the technical contents of the second circuit base 21B, the second LED array 22B and the second optical element 23B and vice versa and the technical contents of these elements will be described in brief hereinafter.

[0067] The second LED array 22B is disposed on the second circuit base 21B and comprises a plurality of LED packages 222. The second circuit base 21B is located beside the circuit base 21A and may be located in front of the circuit base 21A. The second circuit base 21B and the circuit base 21A may also possibly be electrically connected through a transmission line. The shape of the second circuit base 21B is not a planar sheet, and instead, the second circuit base 21B is step-shaped in response to the shape of the base 11 of the housing module 10. That is, the second circuit base 21B may comprise a ladder platform 213 and a plurality of circuit boards 214. The ladder platform 213 has a plurality of planes that are separated from each other in the longitudinal direction, and the circuit boards 214 are disposed on the ladder platform 213, i.e., disposed respectively on these planes. These LED packages 222 are respectively disposed on these circuit boards 214, and since these circuit boards 214 are separated from each other in the longitudinal direction, these LED packages 222 are also separated from each other in the longitudinal direction (i.e., separated from each other in the light-emitting direction). Moreover, a one-dimensional array (e.g., a 15 array) is taken as example of the LED packages 222.

[0068] With reference to FIGS. 4, 5A and 5B together, the LED package 222 also comprises a second driver chip 2221, a second light source 2222 and a second package structure 2223. The second driver chip 2221 and the second light source 2222 are disposed within the second package structure 2223. The second driver chip 2221 is electrically connected to the second light source 2222 to drive the second light source 2222 to emit light. The second light source 2222 may comprise one or a plurality of LED chips electrically connected with the second driver chip 2221, and the color of the light emitted by the LED chips and the number of the LED chips may be selected depending on requirements.

[0069] With reference to both FIGS. 6A and 6B, the LED package 222 may be electrically connected to the microcontroller 30A, so the microcontroller 30A is connected with two sets of LED packages 221 and 222 at the same time and may individually or simultaneously control the LED packages 221 and 222. The LED package 222 may also be electrically connected to the microcontroller 30B and independently controlled by the microcontroller 30B. The second optical element 23B is disposed at the light-exiting side of the second LED array 22B to change the path or angle of the light emitted by the second LED array 22B. In an embodiment, the microcontrollers 30A and 30B may be a same microcontroller.

[0070] Referring to a schematic view illustrating the change in the display pattern of the illumination module 20 shown in FIG. 10, the first LED array 22A and the second LED array 22B may provide different display patterns to achieve different indication purposes. For example, the light L emitted by the first LED array 22A is line-shaped and becomes thicker and more sequentially to represent the braking of the vehicle. The light L emitted by the second LED array 22B moves rightwards sequentially to represent the turning of the vehicle. In an embodiment, under the control of the microcontrollers 30A and 30B as well as the driver chips 2211 and 2221 (as shown in FIG. 6B), the LED arrays 22A and 22B (as shown in FIG. 1A) may present unlimited changes in patterns, and may present dynamic or sequential patterns, or perform communication between vehicles or between a vehicle and a person.

[0071] What has been described above are only the embodiments of the present invention, but are not intended to limit the scope of the present invention. Any equivalent structures or equivalent process flow modifications that are made according to the specification and the attached drawings of the present invention, or any direct or indirect applications of the present invention in other related technical fields shall all be covered within the scope of the present invention.

[0072] The above embodiments are only used for describing technical solutions of the present invention rather than for limiting the present invention. Although the present invention has been described in detail with reference to the above embodiments, these of ordinary skill in the art shall appreciate that: modifications to technical solutions recorded in the above embodiments or equivalent displacements for some or all technical features in the above embodiments are still possible, and these modifications or displacements will not cause the corresponding technical solution to substantially depart from the scope of the technical solutions of the embodiments of the present invention.