US 6276822

Patent Overview — US 6,276,822 B1

Title: Method of replacing a conventional vehicle light bulb with a light-emitting diode array
Patent number: US 6,276,822 B1
Application number: US09/239,196
Inventors: Yerchanik Bedrosian; Ara Bedrosian
Assignee: Individual (original assignee: Individual)
Prior art date: 1998-02-20 (noted as an assumption, not a legal conclusion)
Filing date: 1999-01-28
Publication/grant date: 2001-08-21
Legal status (per source): Expired – Fee Related; anticipated expiration 2019-01-28

Purpose. The patent addresses problems with conventional filament bulbs in vehicle warning light assemblies — excessive current draw, sometimes insufficient brightness, short life, and frequent replacement creating unsafe conditions. It notes LEDs can last up to 100,000 hours, draw less current, and emit more light than similarly configured filament bulbs. The invention is a conversion kit and method letting a user replace standard incandescent bulbs with an LED array.

Plain-language scope. The method involves: removing the lens and conventional bulb from the warning light assembly; accessing the assembly's electrical leads and connecting them to the LED array's electrical connector; securing the array to the assembly (e.g., screws through mounting-member apertures into assembly apertures, drilled if absent or misaligned); optionally connecting a license plate illuminating bulb to the warning light leads; and replacing the lens. The LED array generally comprises a mounting member and electrical connector connected to a circuit board having, in circuit, multiple LEDs, at least one resistor, and at least one diode. LEDs may be on one or both sides of the circuit board. Two connection variants are described: spliced wires, or a bayonet connector inserted into the assembly's mating bayonet connector receiver. Listed applications include taillights, headlights, brake lights, turn signals, dash lights, side marker lights, dome/courtesy lights, map lights, and reverse lights.

Source: https://patents.google.com/patent/US6276822/en

What the excerpt does not establish. It does not include the full claims, the abstract, the complete description, or the drawing content; claim scope, claim count, and claim limitations are therefore not verifiable from this text. It does not establish examination history, any prior-art references, validity, enforceability, or ownership changes. Classifications and legal-status entries are as listed by the source, which itself disclaims legal conclusions.