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EP-4739945-A1 - COMPACT LED RETROFIT AND ADJUSTABLE CENTERING RING

EP4739945A1EP 4739945 A1EP4739945 A1EP 4739945A1EP-4739945-A1

Abstract

A referencing ring (430), LRF light source (490) and method of assembling an LRF light source (490) are described. A referencing ring (430) includes a disk-shaped member with an opening formed in a middle of the disk-shaped member. The opening has a circumference. At least one chamfered slot (480) is formed in the disk-shaped member. The at least one slot (480) extends along the circumference of the opening a discrete number of degrees less than or equal to 360°.

Inventors

  • SCHUG, JOSEF ANDREAS
  • MERTENS, Jürgen
  • STRAETMANS, JEAN-SEBASTIEN

Assignees

  • Lumileds LLC

Dates

Publication Date
20260513
Application Date
20240628

Claims (20)

  1. 1 . A referencing ring for a light-emitting diode (LED) retrofit light source, the referencing ring comprising: a disk-shaped member with an opening formed in a middle of the disk-shaped member, the opening having a circumference; and at least one chamfered slot formed in the disk-shaped member, the slot extending along the circumference of the opening a discrete number of degrees less than or equal to 360°.
  2. 2. The referencing ring of claim 1 , further comprising at least one notch formed in the disk-shaped member
  3. 3. The referencing ring of claim 1 , wherein the disk-shaped member comprises two chamfered slots, each extending along the circumference of the opening a discrete number of degrees.
  4. 4. The referencing ring of claim 1 , wherein the disk-shaped member comprises four chamfered slots, each extending along the circumference of the opening a discrete number of degrees.
  5. 5. The referencing ring of claim 1 , wherein the disk-shaped member comprises one chamfered slot extending along the circumference of the opening 360° or substantially 360°.
  6. 6. The referencing ring of claim 1 , further comprising at least one second chamfered slot adjacent the at least one chamfered slot, the at least one second chamfered slot being deeper than the at least one chamfered slot.
  7. 7. A light-emitting diode (LED) retrofit light source comprising: a lamp body comprising: a first LED on a first surface of the lamp body, a second LED on a second surface of the lamp body opposite the first surface, and at least one protrusion; and a referencing ring comprising: a disk-shaped member with an opening formed in a middle of the disk-shaped member, the opening having a circumference, and at least one chamfered slot formed in the disk-shaped member, the slot extending along the circumference of the opening a discrete number of degrees less than or equal to 360°.
  8. 8. The LED light source of claim 7, wherein the lamp body isdisposed within the opening in the referencing ring with the at least one protrusion engaged with the at least one notch at a position corresponding to a desired angle of placement of the first and second LEDs.
  9. 9. The LED light source of claim 7, wherein the disk-shaped member comprises two chamfered slots, each extending along the circumference of the opening a discrete number of degrees.
  10. 10. The LED light source of claim 7, wherein the disk-shaped member comprises four chamfered slots, each extending along the circumference of the opening a discrete number of degrees
  11. 11. The LED light source of claim 7, wherein the disk-shaped member comprises one chamfered slot extending along the circumference of the opening 360° or substantially 360°.
  12. 12. The LED light source of claim 7, wherein: the referencing ring further comprises at least one second chamfered slot adjacent the at least one chamfered slot, the at least one second chamfered slot being deeper than the at least one chamfered slot, and the at least one protrusion is locked in place in the at least one second chamfered slot.
  13. 13. The LED light source of claim 7, wherein the disk-shaped member further comprises at least one notch formed in the disk-shaped member, the at least one notch being slightly larger than the at least one protrusion such that the at least one protrusion is slidable through the at least one notch upon removal of the referencing ring from, or placement of the referencing ring around, the lamp body.
  14. 14. The LED light source of claim 7, wherein no notches are formed in the disk-shaped member such that the referencing ring is not removable from the lamp body.
  15. 15. A method of assembling a light-emitting diode (LED) light source, the method comprising: obtaining a lamp body comprising: a first LED on a first surface of the lamp body, a second LED on a second surface of the lamp body opposite the first surface, at least one protrusion, and a referencing ring comprising: a disk-shaped member with an opening formed in a middle of the diskshaped member, the opening having a circumference, and at least one chamfered slot formed in the disk-shaped member, the slot extending along the circumference of the opening a discrete number of degrees less than 360°; and rotating the referencing ring a desired number of degrees such that the at least one protrusion on the lamp body engages with the at least one chamfered slot at the desired number of degrees.
  16. 16. The method of claim 15, wherein the referencing ring further comprises at least one notch formed in the disk-shaped member, and the method further comprises inserting the lamp body in the opening in the referencing ring prior to the rotating by sliding the lamp body through the opening in the disk-shaped member such that the at least one protrusion slides through the at least one notch.
  17. 17. The method of claim 15, wherein the desired number of degrees is limited by a number of the at least one slot and a length of the at least one slot.
  18. 18. The method of claim 15, wherein the desired number of degrees is between 1 ° and 80°.
  19. 19. The method of claim 15, wherein the desired number of degrees is between 1 ° and 170°.
  20. 20. The method of claim 15, wherein: the referencing ring further comprises at least one second chamfered slot adjacent the at least one chamfered slot, the at least one second chamfered slot being deeper than the at least one chamfered slot, and the rotating the referencing ring further comprises rotating the referencing ring the desired number of degrees such that the at least one protrusion slides over a top surface of the at least one slot until it locks in place in the at least one second slot.

Description

COMPACT LED RETROFIT AND ADJUSTABLE CENTERING RING CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS [0001] This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Appln. No. 63/525,313, filed July 6, 2023 which is incorporated by reference as if fully set forth. BACKGROUND [0002] Light-emitting diode (LED) retrofit (LRF) light sources are becoming more and more popular for automotive headlighting as substitutes for halogen light sources. For halogen light sources, the intensity of light emitted by halogen lamp filaments is roughly constant around the axis of the filament. SUMMARY [0003] A referencing ring, LRF light source and method of assembling an LRF light source are described. A referencing ring includes a disk-shaped member with an opening formed in a middle of the disk-shaped member. The opening has a circumference. At least one chamfered slot is formed in the disk-shaped member. The at least one slot extends along the circumference of the opening a discrete number of degrees less than or equal to 360°. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS [0004] A more detailed understanding can be had from the following description, given by way of example in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein: [0005] FIG. 1 A is a diagram of an example halogen light source for an automotive headlamp; [0006] FIG. 1 B is a graph showing the light intensity distribution of an example light output of the halogen light source of FIG. 1A centered in a reflector headlamp; [0007] FIG. 2A is a diagram of an example LRF light source for an automotive headlamp; [0008] FIG. 2B is a graph showing the light intensity distribution of an example light output of the LRF light source of FIG 2A centered in a reflector headlamp; [0009] FIG. 3A is an exploded view of an example compact LRF light source with integrated lamp body and referencing ring. [0010] FIG. 3B is a perspective view of the example compact LRF light source of FIG. 3A when completely assembled; [0011] FIG. 4A is a diagram of an example lamp body of an LRF light source; [0012] FIG. 4B is a diagram of an example referencing ring; [0013] FIG. 4C is a diagram of an example LRF light source that includes the lamp body of FIG. 4A and the referencing ring of FIG. 4B; [0014] FIG. 5A is a diagram of another example lamp body of an LRF light source; [0015] FIG. 5B is a diagram of another example referencing ring; [0016] FIG. 5C is a diagram of another example LRF light source that includes the lamp body of FIG. 5A and the referencing ring of FIG. 5B; [0017] FIG. 6A is a diagram of another example lamp body of an LRF light source; [0018] FIG. 6B is a diagram of another example referencing ring; [0019] FIG. 6C is a diagram of another example LRF light source that includes the lamp body of FIG. 6A and the referencing ring of FIG. 6B; [0020] FIG. 7 is a diagram of an example vehicle headlamp system; and [0021] FIG. 8 is a flow diagram of an example method of assembling an LRF light source. DETAILED DESCRIPTION [0022] Examples of different light illumination systems and/or light emitting diode (“LED”) implementations will be described more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings. These examples are not mutually exclusive, and features found in one example may be combined with features found in one or more other examples to achieve additional implementations. Accordingly, it will be understood that the examples shown in the accompanying drawings are provided for illustrative purposes only and they are not intended to limit the disclosure in any way. Like numbers refer to like elements throughout. [0023] It will be understood that, although the terms first, second, third, etc. may be used herein to describe various elements, these elements should not be limited by these terms. These terms may be used to distinguish one element from another For example, a first element may be termed a second element and a second element may be termed a first element without departing from the scope of the present invention. As used herein, the term "and/or" may include any and all combinations of one or more of the associated listed items. [0024] It will be understood that when an element such as a layer, region, or substrate is referred to as being "on" or extending "onto" another element, it may be directly on or extend directly onto the other element or intervening elements may also be present. In contrast, when an element is referred to as being "directly on" or extending "directly onto" another element, there may be no intervening elements present. It will also be understood that when an element is referred to as being "connected" or "coupled" to another element, it may be directly connected or coupled to the other element and/or connected or coupled to the other element via one or more intervening elements. In contrast, when an element is referred to as being "directly connected" or "directly coupled" to another element, there are no intervening elements present between the element