Headlight Patents (Class 362/475)
  • Patent number: 11802681
    Abstract: Disclosed are various embodiments for a lighting system. The lighting system may include a headguard adapted to be worn on a head of an operator, where the headguard comprising a headguard cavity, as well as an elongated flashlight base comprising a flashlight base cavity. A detachable flashlight head is adapted to be positioned in either of the headguard cavity and the flashlight base cavity. The detachable flashlight is sized and positioned such that, when positioned in the headguard cavity, the detachable flashlight magnetically and electrically couples to the headguard. Similarly, the detachable flashlight is sized and positioned such that, when positioned in the flashlight base cavity, the detachable flashlight magnetically and electrically couples to the elongated flashlight base.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2023
    Assignee: LB MARKETING, INC.
    Inventors: Douglas R. Kaye, Kevin Joseph Brown, Elvis Isai Perez-Castro, Kelly Dawn Hires, Lauren Lindley
  • Patent number: 11524738
    Abstract: A motorcycle includes a tail lamp, a rear covering, rear end components which are a license plate and a license lamp, a rear stay, and a sensor. The tail lamp emits light toward the rear side. The rear covering is provided with the tail lamp. The rear end components are disposed more rearward than the rear covering. The rear stay extends at least rearward from a connecting portion connected to the rear covering and supports the rear end components. The sensor senses an object rearward is at least partially received in an internal space that is formed either in the rear covering or in the rear stay.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2022
    Assignee: KAWASAKI MOTORS, LTD.
    Inventors: Daisuke Saeki, Hiroyuki Watanabe, Takeshi Nakajima, Shouta Matsuzaki, Mitsuru Kobayashi
  • Patent number: 11414148
    Abstract: A straddle vehicle includes a front fork unit provided to be inclined rearwardly, a front cover provided forwardly of the front fork unit, and having a rear cover member, and a front cover member separately provided from the front cover member and positioned forwardly of the rear cover member, a headlamp provided at the front cover, a holder attached to the rear cover member and holds the headlamp, and a driver that drives the headlamp. The driver stored in the front cover such that the driver is located at a position farther upward than the headlamp, farther rearward than a first virtual line extending in a up-and-down direction through a rear end of the headlamp in a front-to-rear direction of the vehicle, and farther rearward than a second virtual line extending in parallel with an axis of the front fork unit in the side view of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2022
    Assignee: YAMAHA HATSUDOKI KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Kenichi Muramatsu
  • Patent number: 11167815
    Abstract: A saddle riding vehicle includes a pair of left and right front forks (2L, 2R) configured to support a front wheel (Wf), a front fender (3) supported by the pair of left and right front forks (2L, 2R) and configured to cover the front wheel (Wf) from above, and an object information acquisition device (13) configured to image an outer side of the vehicle. An upper wall of the front fender (3) has an opening section (12) facing outside of the vehicle, and the object information acquisition device (13) is disposed in the opening section (12) such that an information acquisition part (13a) faces outside of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2021
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Kiyoshi Katagiri, Masahiro Miki, Taishi Inoue, Takeshi Konno, Atsushi Hatayama
  • Patent number: 10953787
    Abstract: A motor vehicle according to an exemplary aspect of the present disclosure includes, among other things, a sensor, a headlamp, and a controller configured to adjust an aim of the headlamp based on a signal from the sensor. The controller is configured to account for a zero drift of the sensor. A method is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2021
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: David James Bauch, Stephan Biggs, Ryan Craig, Robert Miller, Todd N. Clark
  • Patent number: 10908334
    Abstract: An infrared illumination and detection system can include an infrared light source that can emit infrared light having a first wavelength. A visible light source positioned adjacent the infrared light source can emit visible light that overlaps the emitted infrared light. An infrared detector assembly, positioned adjacent the infrared light source and the visible light source, can include a wavelength-sensitive filter that can block wavelengths away from the first wavelength. The infrared detector assembly can include a sensor that can sense light at the first wavelength. The emitted infrared light can appear red when viewed by the human eye in the absence of the emitted visible light. The emitted visible light can optionally be sufficiently bright so as to substantially eliminate viewed redness when the infrared light and the visible light are viewed, together, by the human eye. Alternatives to reduce or eliminate the perceived redness are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2021
    Assignee: Lumileds LLC
    Inventor: Charles André Schrama
  • Patent number: 10899406
    Abstract: A lighting system for a leaning vehicle includes a pivot frame configured to be fixed to a light emitting and/or light reflective device, a mount configured to be fixed to a light fitting, and a motor attached to the pivot frame and the mount. The motor is configured to provide rotational movement of the pivot frame relative to the mount. A controller in electrical communication with the motor is configured to receive sensor data of a leaning angle of the leaning vehicle and control the motor to rotate the pivot frame to a desired angle relative to the mount based on the leaning angle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2021
    Inventor: Peymon Hashimoto
  • Patent number: 10857937
    Abstract: A steering light device is mounted on left or right sides of a motorcycle having an imaginary middle vertical plane extending horizontally in a front-rear direction. The steering light device includes a light unit and a lens unit. The light unit includes at least one inclined elongate auxiliary light descending inwardly toward the imaginary middle vertical plane. The lens unit includes at least one auxiliary lens cooperating respectively with the main and auxiliary lights to project light for compensating light intensity of a dark area in a road surface located in front of the motorcycle when steering the motorcycle to a corresponding one of the left or right.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2020
    Assignee: T.Y.C. BROTHER INDUSTRIAL CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Ming-Chih Shih
  • Patent number: 10850661
    Abstract: A lighting system and method of operating the same for a vehicle having a vehicle structure includes a plurality of primary low beam elements and a plurality of secondary low beam elements. The system further includes a primary high beam element and a secondary high beam element. A lean angle sensor is coupled to the vehicle structure. A controller is coupled to the lean angle sensor controlling the primary low beam elements, the secondary low beam element and the secondary high beam element in response to the lean angle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2020
    Assignee: Indian Motorcycle International, LLC
    Inventor: Jacob R. Horn
  • Patent number: 10801686
    Abstract: A lighting apparatus includes: a housing; a lens that covers a front surface of the housing; main lighting bodies housed in the housing, the main lighting bodies including left and right two headlights emitting light; a light guide member formed into an ?-shape to extend continuously along peripheries of the two-headlight main lighting bodies; and an extension that partially covers the light guide member from a front. Light source groups that emit light to be guided to the light guide member are disposed on upper end portions at left and right of the ?-shape. The light guide member has a center bent portion bent at a position posterior to the extension.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2020
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Tokujiro Kizaki
  • Patent number: 10793214
    Abstract: In a headlight support structure of a saddle riding vehicle, a headlight support supporting a headlight is mounted on a bottom bridge connected between left and right sides of a front fork. In the headlight support structure, the headlight support is mounted in an integrally-molded headlight stay supporting the headlight. The headlight includes an aiming mechanism outside the headlight. The aiming mechanism is mounted in the headlight stay.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2020
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Shota Yamasaki, Souichiro Makino, Keita Mikura
  • Patent number: 10661703
    Abstract: A motorcycle light includes a lighting device, having a headlight contained within a housing; a rod configured to engage with a headlight connection of a motorcycle; and one or more wires to engage with an electrical system of the motorcycle; a motor engaged with the housing and to provide rotational movement of the housing relative to the rod; and one or more sensors in electrical communication with the motor and to detect when the motorcycle is at a leaning position, the one or more sensors to provide a command to the motor to rotate the housing to a desired angle for improved visibility.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2020
    Assignee: ALLIGHT CORP
    Inventor: Peymon Hashimoto
  • Patent number: 10392067
    Abstract: A lighting device structure includes lighting sources configured to provide lighting illumination, a reflector configured to reflect lighting illumination from the lighting sources as the LED elements, an inner lens mounted to the reflector. The lighting sources, the reflector, the inner lens are housed within a housing, and an outer lens assembled to the housing. The inner lens is mounted to a front end of the reflector and comprises an overlapping portion positions between an outline wall of the reflector and the inner lens. The overlapping portion of the inner lens induces lighting illumination and illuminates the inner lens. The inner lens is mounted to the front end portion of the reflector that does not obstruct to the certain lighting illumination, and comprises a pair of arms which extended closely to the lighting source, such that the inner lens can induce and illuminate itself as the auxiliary light.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2019
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kunakorn Srivirat, Rungroj Saravichai, Panita Julrat
  • Patent number: 10112668
    Abstract: A head lamp device of a straddle-type vehicle, comprises a housing; a pair of light units which are disposed at right and left sides, respectively, in a rightward and leftward direction, and emit light in a forward direction; a pair of support point members which support the pair of light units, respectively; a pair of first tilt members which tilt the pair of light units, respectively in a first direction with respect to the housing; and a pair of second tilt members which tilt the pair of light units, respectively in a second direction with respect to the housing, the pair of support point members are disposed in outward regions, respectively, of the housing in the rightward and leftward direction, and the pair of first tilt members and the pair of second tilt members are disposed in a center region of the housing in the rightward and leftward direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2018
    Assignees: KAWASAKI JUKOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA, KOITO MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Toru Sato, Kaoru Kouchi, Akira Saijyo, Hiroyuki Harada
  • Patent number: 9944340
    Abstract: To provide a LED headlight structure that visually conveys a modern or stylish appearance to an observer, the LED headlight structure is characterized in that: a headlight PCB(260) low beam and high beam headlight LED structures on at least one side of the motorcycle are mounted to one plate or in one plane such that high beam illumination is emitted at the inside of the motorcycle and low beam illumination is emitted at the outside of the motorcycle; an extension member (120) is positioned forward of the reflector assembly (140) and between a headlight case (104) and a headlight lens (102); and a window structure (122) configured for selectively passing portions of the low and the high beam illumination reflected by the reflector assembly is formed at the extension member (120).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2018
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Sohnthaya Kheawhorm, Teppei Matsuzaki
  • Patent number: 9868484
    Abstract: An increase in the size of a body section of a straddled vehicle forward of a steering shaft in a left-right direction and a front-rear direction of a body frame is limited while a space is secured forward of the steering shaft. In left optical lens body 45L, top end TE is disposed below bottom edge B3 of handlebar 23, bottom end BE is disposed above a bottom end (virtual line Lc) of lower bracket 15, left end LE is disposed on the right of a right end (virtual line L6) of left grip 24L, and right end RE is disposed on the left of right edge B1 of left front-wheel support unit 12L. In right optical lens body 45R, top end TE is disposed below bottom edge B3 of handlebar 23, bottom end BE is disposed above the bottom end of lower bracket 15, right end RE is disposed on the left of a left end of right grip 24R, and left end LE is disposed on the right of left edge B2 of right front-wheel support unit 12R.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2018
    Assignee: YAMAHA HATSUDOKI KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Takehiro Inoue, Yutaka Kubo, Takeshi Ikeda
  • Patent number: 9676437
    Abstract: A headlight structure for ensuring easy structural designing of a light guide member to enhance the degree of the freedom of shape. Reflectors and left and right lenses are disposed respectively on the left and right sides of the center of a vehicle body. Second light sources are attached respectively to the left and right of a light guide member which is roughly W-shaped. Attachment portions and connection portions are hidden by a light-blocking light cover. The left and right reflectors and left and right including shining portions that are visible through the lenses wherein light evenness can be enhanced within an externally visible region. The headlight can be easily enlarged in size and in diameter. The second light sources make it is easy to design the structure of the light guide member for enhancing the degree of the freedom of shape.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2017
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Nobuyuki Takenaka
  • Patent number: 9676436
    Abstract: A headlight device for a motorcycle that enables substrates with LED light sources mounted thereon to be disposed efficiently while securing such required functions as the external appearance quality of a shape like eyes that are turned up at the corners, light distribution characteristics, etc. In the headlight device for the motorcycle, a plurality of reflectors provided correspondingly to a plurality of substrates having headlight light sources mounted thereon are disposed in such shapes so as to be turned up, like eyes that are turned up at the corners, in a direction away from a center line in an external view. Each of upper surface parts of the reflectors is substantially horizontal and is in a stepped form relative to the adjacent upper surface part. The substrates are disposed substantially horizontally at the upper surface parts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2017
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Miku Otsuji, Hayato Ohashi
  • Patent number: 9371966
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a lighting fixture that is configured to transfer heat that is generated by a light source and any associated electronics toward the front of the lighting fixture. The lighting fixture includes a heat spreading cup that is formed from a material that efficiently conducts heat and a light source that is coupled inside the heat spreading cup. The heat spreading cup has a bottom panel, a rim, and at least one sidewall extending between the bottom panel and the rim. The light source is coupled inside the heat spreading cup to the bottom panel and configured to emit light in a forward direction through an opening formed by the rim. Heat generated by the light source during operation is transferred radially outward along the bottom panel and in a forward direction along the at least one sidewall toward the rim of the heat spreading cup.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2016
    Assignee: Cree, Inc.
    Inventors: John R. Rowlette, Jr., Craig William Hardin, Scott Schwab
  • Patent number: 9310042
    Abstract: A vehicle headlamp includes a lamp outer case 4, a holding plate 12, a lamp unit 6, and an optical axis adjustment mechanism 16. The lamp outer case 4 includes a lamp housing 2 formed with an opening on at least one side thereof and a cover 3 covers the opening of the lamp housing 2. The holding plate 12 is pivotable in at least one of an up-down direction and a right-left direction. The lamp unit 6 is attached to the holding plate 12 and includes a light source 10b. The optical axis adjustment mechanism 16 is disposed below the lamp unit 6 and adjusts an optical axis direction of the lamp unit 6.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2016
    Assignee: KOITO MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yukio Nomura, Masaaki Nakabayashi
  • Patent number: 9279572
    Abstract: An exemplary embodiments of the present invention includes a light emitting body, a gyro sensor detecting a tremor, and a light emitting body tilt driving unit tilting the light emitting body in response to tremor information detected by the gyro sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2016
    Assignee: LG INNOTEK CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Jong Hyun Kim
  • Patent number: 9140423
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a multi-array chip for a vehicle, including a plurality of LED element having different sizes arranged and installed to emit light, and a head lamp having the multi-array chip for a vehicle. Accordingly, with variable LED elements which are individually turned on and off so as to correspond to a location of an oncoming vehicle, and have different sizes, visibility at the front side of a vehicle may be secured, and light blindness to a driver in the oncoming vehicle, may be prevented.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2015
    Assignee: HYUNDAI MOBIS CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Seong Yeon Han
  • Patent number: 9056643
    Abstract: The invention provides a generator for a bicycle. The generator has one or more driving magnets fixed to a wheel of the bicycle and an induction structure that is fixed to a frame part of the bicycle. The induction structure comprises an induction magnet and a coil. A fixture allows fixing of the driving magnets at locations where they, during operation of the bicycle, repeatedly moves towards and away from the induction magnet. The generator comprises means for reorienting the induction magnet so that it is optimally oriented when a driving magnet approaches. Such means comprises a first driving magnet or a structure of magnetisable material which is magnetisable by the driving magnet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 16, 2015
    Assignee: Reelight APS
    Inventor: Troels Pedersen
  • Patent number: 9028117
    Abstract: The invention relates to a headlight (100) for a two-wheeled vehicle (1), including at least one light source combined with at least one reflector for reflecting the light from the light source in the traveling direction of the vehicle (e1), characterized in that the headlight has a rotational axis about which it can pivot, said axis extending, when the headlight is in a reference position corresponding to a position in which the vehicle is substantially vertical and not inclined, in a substantially median and vertical longitudinal plane (e1, e3) of the headlight, the rotational axis further being inclined relative to the vertical direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2015
    Assignee: Quality Electronics Design S.A.
    Inventor: Benedictus Haest
  • Publication number: 20150124467
    Abstract: A high beam reflector (341) is disposed below a high beam LED light source (46) and reflects light from the high beam LED light source (46) in front of a vehicle. Low beam reflectors (342, 343) are disposed below a low beam LED light source (45) and reflect light from the low beam LED light source (45) in front of the vehicle. The low beam LED light source (45) is located on either side of the high beam LED light source (46) and disposed in front of the high beam LED light source (46). The high beam reflector (341) is longer than the low beam reflectors (342, 343) in the front-rear direction, and the low beam reflectors (342, 343) are positioned before the high beam reflector (341).
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 8, 2013
    Publication date: May 7, 2015
    Applicant: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Daisuke Kuriki
  • Patent number: 9016911
    Abstract: A bicycle light includes a body and a fixture tool for fixing the body to a bicycle. The body includes a light-emitting portion, a substrate unit having an electronic circuit controlling a light-emitting state of the light-emitting portion, a lens for obtaining desired light distribution from light received from the light-emitting portion, a lens cover, a battery case and a battery lid forming a closed space for storing the light-emitting portion and the substrate unit, a bar switch relatively movable with respect to the substrate unit for varying the operational state of the electronic circuit by partially pressing the substrate unit and a guide hole guiding movement of the bar switch. The fixture tool includes a contact portion coming into contact with the bar switch for moving the bar switch and a flexible portion for pivoting the body on the fixture tool.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2015
    Assignee: Cateye Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Nami Kurumatani
  • Publication number: 20150103544
    Abstract: A sunlight restricting member is disposed between a light emitting element and a lens. The sunlight restricting member is configured (i) to allow direct light from the light emitting element to be incident on the lens and (ii) to restrict sunlight from reaching, through the lens, at least one of the light emitting element and a light source support member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 6, 2014
    Publication date: April 16, 2015
    Inventors: Takuma Sano, Kazuki Kajiyama
  • Patent number: 8987991
    Abstract: A sub headlight unit for use in a vehicle that leans into turns includes a sub headlight light source that illuminates an area ahead and outward of the vehicle with respect to a width direction of the vehicle. The sub headlight light source is configured to, when the vehicle is in an upright state, produce an illumination range including an area above a horizontal plane. The sub headlight light source is turned on in accordance with a lean angle of the vehicle. At a time of parking or stopping or at a time of running straight ahead, the sub headlight light source is turned on or caused to flash with the amount of light per unit of time being reduced as compared with the amount of light per unit of time emitted when the sub headlight light source is turned on in accordance with the lean angle of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2015
    Assignee: Yamaha Hatsudoki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Takeshi Ikeda, Yasuhiko Kino, Takehiro Inoue, Makoto Kosugi
  • Patent number: 8979336
    Abstract: A vehicle headlamp apparatus is provided. The vehicle headlamp apparatus includes a lamp unit, a first additional lamp unit which forms a first light distribution pattern, a second additional lamp unit which forms a second light distribution pattern overlapping with the first light distribution pattern, and a controller. The first light distribution pattern includes at least one first partial region, and the first additional lamp unit adjusts a luminous intensity of a light to be irradiated toward the first partial region. The second light distribution pattern includes at least one second partial region which partially overlaps with the first partial region, and the second additional lamp unit adjusts a luminous intensity of a light to be irradiated toward the second partial region. The controller controls the first additional lamp unit and the second additional lamp unit to adjust the luminous intensity of the partial regions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2015
    Assignee: Koito Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Satoshi Yamamura
  • Patent number: 8974100
    Abstract: A lighting unit for a motorcycle for efficiently cooling heat generated from an LED apparatus. An LED lighting unit includes two plate-like members on which LED apparatus are mounted as light sources. Reflectors are disposed so as to cover the LED apparatus and configured to reflect irradiation light from the LED apparatus forwardly of the vehicle body. The two plate-like members are disposed in an opposing relationship to each other with a space provided therebetween such that mounting faces of the LED apparatus are directed to the outer sides. Cooling fins are provided on the two plate-like members in such a manner so as to extend in an opposing relationship to each other toward the space. The cooling fins are disposed such that a longitudinal direction thereof is perpendicular to a longitudinal direction of the two plate-like members. The plate-like members and the reflectors are formed separately from each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2015
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Eikichi Monma, Seiji Kido
  • Publication number: 20150062939
    Abstract: The invention relates to a bicycle dynamo with an external rotor which carries a plurality of permanent magnets on the inside, said permanent magnets generating an electrical voltage in the internal stationary stator winding, wherein the cylindrical outer shell of the external rotor carries an elastic ring for frictional engagement at the rim of the bicycle wheel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 28, 2013
    Publication date: March 5, 2015
    Inventor: Peter Frieden
  • Patent number: 8939620
    Abstract: A headlamp device (18) having left and right pairs of lamp units (20) is disposed inwardly of a front fairing (14) to enclose a front portion of an automotive vehicle. Each of the lamp units (20) is a direct lighting type and includes two light emitting portions (34, 35), on which circuit boards (30, 31) having LED chips (32, 33) mounted thereon, and two lens portions (36, 37) for projecting light, emerging from the light emitting portions (34, 35), in a direction outwardly of the vehicle widthwise direction. The front fairing (14) is so formed as to bulge gradually laterally and upwardly of the vehicle widthwise direction from a tip portion (14a) in a rearward direction, and the headlight device (18) is disposed proximate to a lower end of the front fairing (14).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 27, 2015
    Assignee: Kawasaki Jukogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kaoru Kouchi, Yuu Shibuta
  • Patent number: 8936383
    Abstract: A position light and light guide that serve as a light source are disposed on a front cover. The light guide extends in a width direction and receives and reflects light from the position light that is emitted in the width direction of the chassis. The light guide has first and second emission faces. The first emission face emits a first portion of the reflected light and faces upward or downward. The second emission face emits a second portion of the reflected light and faces forward. A length of the light guide in a front and back direction and a length of the light guide in a normal direction of the first emission face that is normal to the first emission face are both shorter than a length of the light guide in the width direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 20, 2015
    Assignee: Yamaha Hatsudoki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Takahiro Sumi, Masumi Tachibana
  • Patent number: 8899800
    Abstract: An intelligent light device for a vehicle includes a light body, a light-controlling unit, a light-emitting unit and a condensing lens. The light-controlling unit has a MCU and a PWM. The light-controlling unit is used to sense a first illumination level of a surrounding area of a light projection region. Wherein when the MCU receives a signal of the first illumination level, the MCU generates one command of a difference value between a preset illumination level and the first illumination level; and then, the MCU transmits one command to the PWM; thereafter, the PWM adjusts a second illumination level of the light-emitting unit according to one command from the MCU so as to achieve a third illumination level of the light projection region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2014
    Inventor: Wen-Sung Lee
  • Patent number: 8888344
    Abstract: A vehicle lamp unit comprising a cylindrical lens arranged on an optical axis extending in a front-back direction of the vehicle lamp unit, a semiconductor light-emitting element arranged on the optical axis behind a rear focal line of the cylindrical lens, and a reflector, which comprises a right concave curved surface located in a right side region of the reflector, and a left concave curved surface is located in a left side region of the reflector, wherein each of the right and left concave curved surfaces comprises an inner reflecting surface near the optical axis, wherein the light reflected by the inner reflecting surface of the right concave curved surface is directed to the left side region across the optical axis, and the light reflected by the inner reflecting surface of the left concave curved surface is directed to the right side region across the optical axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 18, 2014
    Assignee: Koito Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Masashi Tatsukawa
  • Patent number: 8876341
    Abstract: A light for a bicycle having a head tube is provided. The light includes a body having an opening extending therethrough, the opening sized to receive the head tube, the body further having a recessed area extending about the perimeter of the body. A light emitting device is at least partially disposed within the recessed area. A power source is at least partially disposed within the recessed area and operably coupled to the light emitting device. A cover member is coupled to the body about the recessed area, the cover member being made from a flexible material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2014
    Assignee: Cycling Sports Group, Inc.
    Inventor: Erik Eagleman
  • Patent number: 8870421
    Abstract: A bicycle handlebar and bicycle comprising an integral lighting system. Light emitting diodes are integrated within apertures located in the front of the handlebar to provide substantially forward illumination. A battery power supply located within the handlebar and activated by a power control supplies current to the light emitting diodes to activate them to emit light.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 28, 2014
    Inventors: Andrew Michael Ward, Adam Pennel Shaw
  • Publication number: 20140293628
    Abstract: A headlight device for a motorcycle that can enhance cooling efficiency inexpensively, without using any special device. In the headlight device for the motorcycle, reflectors are provided with inlet parts through which cooling air is taken into an inside space. In addition, a louver provided on the upper sides of the reflectors is provided, at a position close to an outer lens, with openings through which the air in the inside space is discharged into an inside space.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 26, 2014
    Publication date: October 2, 2014
    Applicant: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Miku OTSUJI, Hayato OHASHI
  • Publication number: 20140293627
    Abstract: A headlight device for a motorcycle that is able to emit a light beam in a predetermined shape and in a sufficient light emission amount. The headlight device for the motorcycle includes light guide light sources provided separately from headlight light sources that lights the front side. Light guide members serve to emit a light beam in a predetermined shape, based on light beams emitted from the light guide light sources. In this case, those portions of a first extension at which the light guide members are mounted are configured as reflective parts that reflect forward a rearwardly radiated portion of the light beam emitted from the light guide members.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 26, 2014
    Publication date: October 2, 2014
    Applicant: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Miku OTSUJI, Hayato OHASHI
  • Publication number: 20140293629
    Abstract: A headlight device for a motorcycle that enables substrates with LED light sources mounted thereon to be disposed efficiently while securing such required functions as the external appearance quality of a shape like eyes that are turned up at the corners, light distribution characteristics, etc. In the headlight device for the motorcycle, a plurality of reflectors provided correspondingly to a plurality of substrates having headlight light sources mounted thereon are disposed in such shapes so as to be turned up, like eyes that are turned up at the corners, in a direction away from a center line in an external view. Each of upper surface parts of the reflectors is substantially horizontal and is in a stepped form relative to the adjacent upper surface part. The substrates are disposed substantially horizontally at the upper surface parts.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 26, 2014
    Publication date: October 2, 2014
    Applicant: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Miku OTSUJI, Hayato OHASHI
  • Patent number: 8845153
    Abstract: A high beam and low beam combination lamp for a bicycle includes a main body, a lens, a downward light source and a straight light source, the main body having a receiving space defined thereon, the receiving space having a first surface and a second surface formed therein, the lens being assembled in the receiving space and corresponding to the second surface, the downward light source being assembled with the first surface, parts of the light beam of the downward light source obliquely passing through the receiving space so as to form a low beam lighting region, the straight light source being assembled with the second surface, the light beam of the straight light source passing through the lens so as to form a high beam lighting region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2014
    Inventor: Wen-Sung Lee
  • Patent number: 8845154
    Abstract: A motorcycle wherein an attachment angle of a tail light bulb is increased to reduce a distance between a seat and a tail light unit, to improve the flexibility of a short tail design around a tail light of a motorcycle. The motorcycle includes a rear cowl attached to a rear part of a vehicle body frame, a seat catch arranged on a rear end portion of the vehicle body frame and configured to lock and to unlock an openable/closable seat, a tail light unit arranged behind the seat catch and attached to the rear cowl, a tail light bulb attached to the tail light unit in a forward-tilted state, and a rear fender covering an upper part of a rear wheel WR. An opening that allows access to the tail light bulb is formed at a portion of the rear fender facing the tail light bulb.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2014
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Akira Hamauzu, Kotaro Fujiyama, Jun Suzuki
  • Publication number: 20140286026
    Abstract: A headlamp assembly for a saddle-type vehicle includes left and right light-emitting portions arranged on left and right sides, respectively, of a housing. Each of the light-emitting portions includes a light source and a concave reflector, disposed proximate the light source for reflecting light forwardly. Each reflector has an inclined surface configured such that the rear surfaces of the reflectors extend in directions separating from each other as the reflectors extend rearwardly. A driver for driving the light sources of the left and right light-emitting portions is arranged behind and in between the left and right reflectors.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 14, 2014
    Publication date: September 25, 2014
    Applicant: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hiroshi HAYASHI, Nobuyuki TAKENAKA, Naoki MURASAWA
  • Patent number: 8840291
    Abstract: A vehicle lamp assembly includes a housing having an inner reflective surface with predetermined optics and an outer surface. The inner and outer surfaces extend between proximal and distal ends. A lens is attached to the distal end of the housing. The lens and the inner reflective surface bound an enclosed chamber of the assembly. The assembly further includes a heat sink subassembly. The subassembly includes a heat sink and an electronic module. The electronic module has PCB electronics and at least one LED coupled in electrical communication with one another. The subassembly is mounted to the proximal end of the housing externally from the enclosed chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 23, 2014
    Assignee: Federal-Mogul Ignition Company
    Inventors: Ralf Meyer-Wendt, Xiaolu Chen, John Dominick, Stephen Kowalchik
  • Patent number: 8829794
    Abstract: A vehicle lamp include san LED package as a light source. The LED package includes a first series element section having a plurality of LED elements connected in series with each other, a second series element section having at least one LED element, the number of which is smaller than the number of LED elements of the firs series element section, a first anode electrode provided on an anode side of the first series element section, a first cathode electrode provided on a cathode side of the first series element section, a second anode electrode provided on an anode side of the second series element section, and a second cathode electrode provided on a cathode side of the second series element section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2014
    Assignee: Koito Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Hironori Tsukamoto
  • Patent number: 8820987
    Abstract: A lighting device for a motorcycle includes a first lamp, a second lamp, a first outer proximate portion, and a first inner proximate portion. The first outer proximate portion is provided on one of first and second lenses and extends toward another of the first and second lenses along a surface of said one of the first and second lenses. The first inner proximate portion is provided on said one of the first and second lenses and extends toward said another of the first and second lenses. A first gap is provided between the first outer proximate portion and said another of the first and second lenses. A second gap is provided between the first inner proximate portion and said another of the first and second lenses. The second gap is smaller than the first gap.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2014
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Tsuyoshi Oguchi
  • Patent number: 8816526
    Abstract: An automotive lamp device is provided. The automotive lamp device includes a lamp housing into which a first lamp or a second lamp is inserted and which includes a plurality of lines, and a lamp driver module which is connected to a first line among the plurality of lines, supplies a first level of voltage and/or current to the first lamp if the first lamp is inserted into the lamp housing, and supplies a second level of voltage and/or current to the second lamp if the second lamp is inserted into the lamp housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 26, 2014
    Assignee: SL Corporation
    Inventors: Hae-Seok Song, Dae-Kyu Kim, Eun-Sang Yu
  • Publication number: 20140226350
    Abstract: A saddle type vehicle is provided wherein the visibility thereof can be improved. The saddle type vehicle includes a headlamp configured to illuminate the front of the vehicle and position lamps configured to emit light for the visibility of the vehicle or act as blinkers. The position lamps are disposed in a left and right pair in front of the headlamp. Further, the left and right position lamps are disposed in such a manner as to sandwich the headlamp therebetween as viewed in front elevation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 11, 2014
    Publication date: August 14, 2014
    Applicant: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Keita Mikura, Taro Nishimoto, Eiji Sugiyama, Tomiji Niitsu, Hisashi Kadomasu
  • Patent number: 8803674
    Abstract: A turn signal system for a bicycle comprises a left and right front and rear turn signal and a rear alert signal that has multi-mode operation. The system is battery powered and can be adapted to an electric bicycle having a variety of power voltages. The system includes a controller and a multi-axis accelerometer to actuate the alert signal in the event of sudden deceleration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 12, 2014
    Inventor: Damon Langlois
  • Patent number: 8794805
    Abstract: A straddle-type vehicle with reduced conspicuousness of disagreement between contours of a handle cover and an adjacent head light. The head light swings substantially upward and downward. The handle cover covers the side of the head light. A handle cover end positioned on the side of the head light extends along the contour of a head light end positioned near the handle cover. The handle cover end has a concave and convex shape.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2014
    Assignee: Yamaha Hatsudoki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Kan Mochizuki