Background of Invention [0002] Light emitting diodes (LEDs) are gradually replacing incandescent light bulbs in many automotive applications. For example, it is attractive to use LEDs for automotive exterior lighting applications such as brake, turn or other signal lamps due to the long life and high luminance provided the latest generation of LEDs. LEDs also enable the lamp housing to have a narrower or shallower profile, which can be advantageous in many applications.

[0003] In order to provide luminance levels comparable to incandescent lamps, a series or plurality of LEDs must often be used in a lamp thus increasing the complexity and cost of manufacture. For example, the conventional manufacturing practice is to mount the LEDs on a printed circuit board (PCB), which in turn is mounted in a lamp housing. The problem with this practice is that it typically requires the use of sophisticated soldering machinery or techniques, and the resultant PCBs are typically limited in form factor since PCBs are generally flat (complexly shaped PCBs being considerably more expensive to procure). However, the luminaire housing, such as an automotive turn signal, may be a complex shape and thus a PCB-based LED lamp may not be the most optimal design choice.

[0004] Examples of LED arrays mounted on PCBs or other substrates can be found in US Patent Numbers: 4,742, 432; 4,966, 862; 5,119, 174; 5,331, 512; 6,299, 337; and 6,346, 777.

[0005] An alternative method of constructing LED arrays employs a foldable metal substrate onto which the LEDs can be solderlessly connected using a clinching machine. The metal substrate features flexible joints between rows of LED bus bars that allow the substrate to be formed to a complex shape. Such systems are disclosed

in US 5,404, 282 and US 5,519, 596. A commercially available system similar to that disclosed in US 5,519, 596 is marketed in association with the SnapLED brand by Lumileds Lighting of San Jose, CA. This system requires machinery for the creation of a metallic substrate and tooling for clinching the LEDs to the metallic substrate (or the outsourcing thereof), as well as tooling for stamping the metallic substrate into the desired final form.

[0006] A more economical approach is desired to minimize the cost and/or complexity for assembling LED arrays, especially for use in complexly shaped luminaire housings such as may be found in automotive exterior lighting applications.

Summary of Invention [0007] According to one aspect of the invention, a lamp is provided which includes a non-electrically conductive housing. One or more light emitting diodes (LEDs) are attached to the housing by one or more beads of electrically conductive epoxy. The LEDs can optionally be mechanically attached to the housing. The electrically conductive epoxy provides one or more voltage rails for connecting the LEDs to driving circuitry.

[0008] In the preferred embodiment, at least two grooves are formed in the housing. A platform formed or present between two walls provides a snap for mechanically attaching the LEDs to the housing. One of the grooves is intended for placement of LED cathodes therein and the other groove is intended for placement of LED anodes therein. A bead of the electrically conductive epoxy is deposited in each of the grooves so as to provide a voltage rail to power the LEDs.

[0009] According to another aspect of the invention, a method of constructing a lamp is provided. A non-electrically conductive housing is provided. One or more light emitting diodes (LEDs) are mechanically attached to the housing. One or more beads of electrically conductive epoxy are deposited on the housing so as to fasten the LEDs to the housing and connect the LEDs to driving circuitry.

Brief Description of Drawings

[0010] The foregoing and other aspects of the invention will become more apparent from the following description of illustrative embodiments thereof and the accompanying drawings, which illustrate, by way of example only, the principles of the invention. In the drawings: [0011] Fig. 1 is a plan view of a lamp according to the preferred embodiment; [0012] Fig. 2 is a sectional view of the lamp taken along line A-A in Fig. 1; [0013] Fig. 3 is a sectional view of the lamp taken along line B-B in Fig. 1 ; [0014] Fig. 4 is a detail perspective view of region C in Figure 1; and [0015] Fig. 5 is a sectional view of a lamp according to an alternative embodiment of the invention.

Detailed Description of Preferred Embodiments [0016] Fig. 1 shows an LED-based lamp 10 comprising a lamp housing assembly 12 onto which a lens (not shown) may be mounted along the perimeter of the housing. The housing 12 is preferably constructed from a non-electrically conductive plastic material such as polyvinyl chloride (PVC), polyethylene terephthalate (PET) or acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS) and may be manufactured via well known molding techniques, as known in the art per se. In the illustrated example, the housing 12 is curvilinear in shape (as seen best in Fig. 2) but it should be understood that the housing 12 may be molded to much more complex shapes, determined by styling criteria. Other types of non-conductive materials may be employed for the housing, but as will be discussed shortly, a material which is somewhat resilient is most preferred.

[0017] The housing 12 includes at least one channel 15 formed therein which features two independent grooves 16a and 16b. Cross-sectional profiles of the preferred housing 12 along lines A-A and B-B in Fig. 2 are shown in Figs. 2 and 3, and a detailed perspective view of the housing is shown in Fig. 4. As seen in these drawings, the channel 15 includes inner walls 20a and 20b and outer walls 22a and 22b. A ridge or platform 18 is formed between the inner walls 20a, 20b in the junction. On this platform, a plurality of snaps are provided, each comprising two

posts 23a, 23b. Each post includes a small notch 24 therein and the top portion of the post above the notches is slightly tapered or chamfered.

[0018] An LED 30, such as a SuperFlux model manufactured by Lumileds Lighting of San Jose, CA (which is shown in isolation in Fig. 3) is mechanically mounted onto the posts 23a, 23b, in or over the channel 15. The posts 23a, 23b and notches 24 are dimensioned such that the cathode lead (s) or pin (s) 32 of the LED 30 extend into one of the grooves 16a, 16b (as illustrated, groove 16a) and the anode lead (s) or pin (s) 34 extend into the other groove (as illustrated, groove 16b). The body of the LED is supported by the posts 23a, 23b, the spacing of which is closely matched to the dimensions of the LED body so as to provide a snap fit. The LED 30 is preferably forcibly inserted so as to deflect the posts 23a, 23b until the LED body nestles into the notches 24 formed therein. The posts 23a, 23b are preferably formed from a resilient organic material such as PVC, PET or ABS plastic so that once the LED is inserted it cannot back out of the posts unless they are deflected apart. The lamp is unlikely to encounter such forces under normal operating conditions and thus the preferred embodiment provides a snap mechanism for mechanically attaching the LEDs to the housing 12.

[0019] In addition to the snap, a bead of epoxy 28 is used to bond the leads or pins 32,34 of the LED 30 to the channel 15 and hence the housing 12. The epoxy 28 is preferably electrically and thermally conductive, and thus serves to electrically connect together all of the cathodes 32 or anodes 34 of the LEDs mounted in the same groove 16a or 16b and provides a heat sink for carrying heat away from the LED. By mounting the LED on the posts 23a, 23b, the grooves 16a, 16b can be made relatively wide and deep to provide sufficient heat dissipation and electrical conduction for many applications. Examples of suitable epoxies include TIGA 920hum TIGA 951TM and TIGA 901 silver conductive epoxies marketed by Resin Technology Group LLC, of S. Easton, MA ; Bolger C-14F epoxy marketed by Tech Film Services Inc. of Billerica, MA ; and Metaduct epoxies marketed by Mereco Technologies Group of West Warwick, RI. These epoxies are flexible, deformable, functional over a wide range of operating temperatures, and can be laid over a complex topography via manual or automated means.

[0020] In the preferred embodiment, the beads of electrically conductive epoxy 28 are laid by a robot as is well known in the art. The above mentioned epoxies have some viscosity prior to curing, and thus the epoxy can fill the groove 16a or 16b to ensconce the leads or pins 32,34. Furthermore, the manipulator or working tip of the robot can be angled to reach underneath the LED body near the leads or pins 32,34 in order to deposit the epoxy proximate thereto.

[0021] In the illustrated embodiment, when filled with the electrically conductive epoxy, groove 16b functions as a ground rail that electrically connects the cathodes of the series of LEDs mounted therein. Groove 16a, when filled with electrically conductive epoxy, functions as a positive voltage rail for connecting the anodes of the series of LEDs mounted therein. The illustrated lamp includes a third groove 16c which co-operates with groove 16b for mounting the anodes of another series of LEDs associated with a second electrical circuit. In this region of the housing, grooves 16b and 16c. Numerous other patterns can be employed for mounting one or more series of LEDs, the number of LEDs in each channel being limited only by the electrical and thermal conduction limits of the particular epoxy being used.

[0022] A PCB 40 carrying LED control and driving circuitry is mounted to the housing as well known in the art. The PCB 40 includes terminations (not explicitly shown) for electrically connecting the beads of electrically conductive epoxy 28 to the driving circuitry.

[0023] In an alternative manufacturing process, it is possible to first lay down the beads of electrically conductive epoxy using a glue robot and the use of a second robot to mount the LEDs in the channel. This is possible due to the time typically required for the epoxy to cure, which often exceeds 10 minutes. This will ensure a continuous bead of the electrically conductive epoxy in each groove underneath each LED. It may also be possible to avoid the use of the mechanical attachments, if the epoxy is sufficiently cured to retain the LED in position when inserted therein.

[0024] In a still further manufacturing process, it may be desirable to lay down a first layer of electrically conductive epoxy in each groove, followed by a flexible metallic strip in each groove, followed by a second layer of electrically

conductive epoxy in each groove. The LEDs may be mounted in the channel before or after the deposit of the second epoxy layer.

[0025] By mounting the LEDs directly onto the flexible housing using a ductile epoxy, the lamp housing remains somewhat flexible which is advantageous when installing the lamp housing onto the vehicle.

[0026] An alternative embodiment of the invention is shown in cross sectional view in Fig. 5. In this embodiment, a channel 215 formed in the housing 12 includes planar inner walls 220a and 220b and planar outer walls 222a and 222b, the outer walls being taller than the inner walls. Independent grooves 216a and 216b are located between the inner and outer walls, as shown. A ridge or platform 218 is formed between the inner walls 220a, 220b, which are slightly tapered or chamfered.

The outer walls 222a, 222b include small notches 224 therein and the top portions of the outer walls 222a, 222b above the notches 224 are also slightly tapered or chamfered. In this embodiment, the spacing between the outer walls 222a, 22b of the channel 215 and the size of each notch 224 is closely matched to the dimensions of the LED body so as to provide a snap fit. If desired, the body of the LED 30 can also be supported by the platform 218.

[0027] The illustrated embodiments have shown the use of a snap for mechanically attaching the LEDs to the housing, but a variety of other mechanisms such as detents, index keys, latches or other such mechanisms can be used to mechanically attach the LEDs to the housing. The mechanical attachment means preferably locks the LED to the housing but in alternative embodiments it does not need to immovably lock the LEDs to the housing since the epoxy provides an additional means for immovably locking the LEDs in place.

[0028] Those skilled in the art will appreciate that a variety of modifications may be made to the preferred embodiments without departing from the spirit of the invention.