SEMICONDUCTOR LIGHT ENGINE USING POLYMER LIGHT PIPES AND LIGHTING SYSTEMS CONSTRUCTED WITH THE LIGHT ENGINE

摘要

A light engine for use in systems such as automotive lighting systems emp loys two or more semiconductor light sources, such as LEDs. Light emitted fr om the light sources is captured by light pipes which are mounted such that the light capturing surface of the light pipes are properly positioned, with respect to the semiconductor light sources, substantially independent of ch anges in the dimensions of the light pipes which may result from thermal exp ansion or contraction of the light pipes. The light pipes transfer substanti ally all of the light captured from the semiconductor light sources to light emitting surfaces of the light pipes which can be appropriately located adj acent the output optics of the lighting system. The light engine can be easi ly assembled as the light pipes are retained in slots on a positioning membe r which is mounted at a known position with respect to the semiconductor lig ht sources.