US 7,195,381 · Granted 2007-03-27
The High-Power LED That Transformed Car Interior Lighting
This patent describes a bright LED light system you can mount inside a car that's way more efficient than old bulbs. It uses a single super-bright LED that converts your car's battery power into the exact voltage the LED needs, so it glows steadily without wasting energy.
The plain-English version
What it protects
The claim covers a vehicle interior lighting assembly that combines a high-intensity LED (producing at least 1 lumen per watt) with a voltage conversion module that transforms the car's battery voltage to match the LED's operating requirements. What's protected here is specifically the coupling of this efficient LED with the conversion electronics, mounted as an attachable accessory module inside a vehicle.
Why it matters
This patent matters because it represents an early adoption of efficient LED technology in automotive interiors at a time when traditional incandescent and halogen bulbs dominated. By patenting the specific combination of high-efficiency LEDs with voltage conversion circuitry, Donnelly Corporation protected a key design approach that would become standard in modern vehicles. LEDs consume far less power than older bulbs, which means less drain on the car battery and longer-lasting lighting.
Real-world use
Every time you flip on the dome light, map light, or courtesy light in a modern car, you're likely benefiting from LED technology similar to what this patent describes.
Original USPTO abstract
A vehicle lighting system for a vehicle includes an accessory module assembly that is adapted for attachment to an interior portion of a vehicle and configured to illuminate, for example, an area inside the vehicle. The module assembly includes a single high-intensity power light emitting diode that has a luminous efficiency of at least about 1 lumen per watt when the light emitting diode is operated and is preferably operated at a forward current of at least 100 milliamps. The system also includes a voltage conversion element for converting the battery/ignition voltage of the vehicle to the forward operating voltage of the light emitting diode.
Patent details
- Publication number
- US 7,195,381
- Filing date
- 2002-01-22
- Grant date
- 2007-03-27
- Assignee
- Donnelly Corporation
- Inventor(s)
- LYNAM NIALL R, LINDAHL JOHN O
- CPC class
- B60K35/10
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