Semiconductor incandescent lamp retrofit lamp

Abstract

A semiconductor incandescent lamp retrofit lamp may include: at least one semiconductor light source, at least one light scattering body, and at least one optical waveguide, into which light of the at least one semiconductor light source can be coupled, wherein the at least one light scattering body is configured and arranged for the purpose of diffusely emitting light supplied thereto from the at least one semiconductor light source by way of the at least one optical waveguide.

Claims

1. A semiconductor incandescent lamp retrofit lamp in a form of a vehicle headlight lamp, comprising: a bulb disposed above the base of the semiconductor incandescent lamp retrofit lamp; at least one semiconductor light source housed within a base of the semiconductor incandescent lamp retrofit lamp, two light scattering bodies disposed above the at least one semiconductor light source, a framework disposed above the at least one semiconductor light source and adjoined to the base in the direction of a longitudinal axis of the incandescent lamp retrofit lamp; said framework having two sockets arranged and spaced apart along the longitudinal axis; wherein the sockets accommodate one of said light scattering bodies, and at least one optical fiber adjoined to a corresponding light emission surface of the at least one semiconductor light source, which leads from to the light scattering bodies to the at least one semiconductor light source, and into which light of the at least one semiconductor light source can be coupled therein, wherein each of the two light scattering bodies is a roughened substantially cylindrical body made of glass or polymethyl methacrylate(PMMA) to diffusely emit light supplied from the at least one semiconductor light source by way of the at least one optical fiber through the bulb, and wherein a driver for powering the at least one semiconductor light source is housed within the base.

2. The semiconductor incandescent lamp retrofit lamp as claimed in claim 1, having an additional fiber, which leads from a respective light scattering body to a semiconductor light source assigned to the respective light scattering body.

3. The semiconductor incandescent lamp retrofit lamp as claimed in claim 1, wherein the sockets are terminal sockets.

4. The semiconductor incandescent lamp retrofit lamp as claimed in claim 1, wherein at least one semiconductor light source comprises at least one light-emitting diode.

5. The semiconductor incandescent lamp retrofit lamp as claimed in claim 1, wherein a cover cap partially surrounding one of the light scattering bodies is fixed to the framework.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) In the drawings, like reference characters generally refer to the same parts throughout the different views. The drawings are not necessarily to scale, emphasis instead generally being placed upon illustrating the principles of the disclosed embodiments. In the following description, various embodiments described with reference to the following drawings, in which:

(2) FIG. 1 shows a sectional illustration in a side view of an LED halogen lamp retrofit lamp according to the disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

(3) The following detailed description refers to the accompanying drawing that show, by way of illustration, specific details and embodiments in which the disclosure may be practiced.

(4) FIG. 1 shows a sectional illustration in a side view of an LED halogen lamp retrofit lamp 1. The LED halogen lamp retrofit lamp 1 is intended for the purpose of replacing a conventional halogen headlight lamp of the H type, of the type H4 here. The halogen lamp retrofit lamp 1 has the external contour of the conventional H4 halogen lamp here, so that a replacement is possible without problems.

(5) The LED halogen lamp retrofit lamp 1 has a base 2, from which, in a rear direction opposite to a longitudinal axis L, three electrical contact pins 3 typical for H4 halogen lamps extend. The base 2 also has a driver housing 5, into which the contact pins 3 lead and in which a driver 6 is housed. The driver 6 receives the electrical signals fed via the contact pins 3 and converts these into electrical signals for operating or powering two semiconductor light sources in the form of light-emitting diodes 7 and 8 here.

(6) The light-emitting diodes 7 and 8 are also housed in the base 6 and are separately drivable by the driver 6. The light-emitting diodes may be light-emitting diodes which emit white light in particular. Optical waveguides in the form of optical fibers 11 or 12 adjoin corresponding light emission surfaces of the light-emitting diodes 7 and 8 via corresponding coupling units or 10, respectively. The optical fibers 9 and 10 substantially relay all of the light emitted from the light-emitting diodes 7 and 8.

(7) The base is adjoined toward the front in the direction of the longitudinal axis L by a framework 13, which has two terminal sockets 14, 15 arranged spaced apart at least approximately on the longitudinal axis. The terminal sockets 14, 15 are located approximately at the position at which the incandescent filaments are located in conventional H4 halogen lamps. The terminal sockets 14, 15 are each used to accommodate one light scattering body 16 and 17. Light can be coupled from the light-emitting diode 7 into the light scattering body 16 via the optical fiber 11 and light may be coupled from the light-emitting diode 8 into the light scattering body 17 via the optical fiber 12. The optical fibers 11 and 12 run close to or on the framework 13.

(8) The light scattering bodies 16 and 17 are implemented as roughened, cylindrical bodies made of glass or plexiglass (PMMA) and scatter the light coupled therein in a highly unoriented manner.

(9) The light scattering bodies 16 and 17 are protected by a bulb 18, whose shape here corresponds to the shape of a typical H4 bulb. The bulb 18 may consist of transparent or translucent plastic or glass and has a mirrored front region 19. The light scattering bodies 16 and 17 are substantially located at the position at which the incandescent filaments are located in conventional H4 halogen lamps and are at least approximately similar to the incandescent filaments with respect to a maximum external dimension or dimension of the external contour (e.g., length and/or diameter). By way of this position and shape similarity between the light scattering bodies 16 and 17 and the incandescent filaments and by way of the diffuse light scattering of the light scattering bodies 16 and 17, a light emission pattern which is highly similar in comparison to the incandescent filaments of the conventional halogen headlight lamp is thus generated by the LED halogen lamp retrofit lamp 1. The LED halogen lamp retrofit lamp 1 may thus be used without further adaptations as a replacement for conventional H4 halogen headlight lamps. In particular, a cover cap 4 already used in the conventional H4 halogen lamp can be used further substantially without changes. The cover cap 4 ensures that the light emitted from the light scattering body 17 is only emitted in a half space (on the right here). The cover cap 4 is thus also not used for the purpose of aligning the light emission characteristic of the light scattering body 17 per se (which is not necessary), but rather to shape the light emission, which already approximates an incandescent filament, so it is designed further for the application.

(10) Of course, the disclosure is not restricted to the exemplary embodiment shown.

(11) The LED halogen lamp retrofit lamp can thus also be used to replace other incandescent lamps, for example, conventional household incandescent lamps or other halogen headlight lamps of the H type. For example, the LED halogen lamp retrofit lamp may be designed to replace a conventional H7 lamp, which only has one incandescent filament. The corresponding LED halogen lamp retrofit lamp then also only needs to have one light-emitting diode, one optical waveguide, and one light scattering body.

(12) However, it is also possible to couple light of a plurality of light-emitting diodes into at least one of the light scattering bodies. A brightness may thus be increased, or light of different colors (corresponding to light of light-emitting diodes emitting in different colors) may be emitted.

(13) The light-emitting diode(s) may be dimmed by the driver in particular, so that a brightness emitted from the light scattering body may be adjusted.

(14) The use of a compact, in particular cylindrical light scattering body instead of an incandescent filament, in particular at the position thereof and in particular having the external dimensions thereof, may also represent disclosure independently of a type of the at least one optical waveguide (with or without implementation as a light scattering body).

(15) While the disclosed embodiments has been particularly shown and described with reference to specific embodiments, it should be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes in form and detail may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the disclosed embodiments as defined by the appended claims. The scope of the disclosed embodiments is thus indicated by the appended claims and all changes which come within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are therefore intended to be embraced.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMERALS

(16) 1 LED halogen lamp retrofit lamp 2 base 3 contact pin 4 cover cap 5 driver housing 6 driver 7 light-emitting diode 8 light-emitting diode 9 coupling unit 10 coupling unit 11 optical fiber 12 optical fiber 13 framework 14 terminal socket 15 terminal socket 16 light scattering body 17 light scattering body 18 bulb 19 mirrored front region of the bulb L longitudinal axis