Headlight Patents (Class 362/507)
  • Patent number: 9664353
    Abstract: A device for emitting a light beam, comprising a lens and means for producing a cut-off line in the beam, said device being configured to allow a position of the cut-off line to be adjusted in a given direction, especially vertically, depending on an angular position of the lens about a hinge axis, the lens comprising what is called an optical part for transmission of the beam the and a part that hinges in rotation about said hinge axis, said hinge part and said optical part being made of an integral piece of material. The invention also relates to a light, especially for an automotive vehicle, comprising said emitting device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2017
    Assignee: Valeo Vision Belgique
    Inventors: Remi Maliar, Cyril Herbin, Frederic Hayez, Olivier Draguet
  • Patent number: 9618676
    Abstract: A light-conducting apparatus includes a light source, a light-conducting member and a light-reflecting structure. The light-conducting member includes a ring-shaped portion, a light-receiving surface and a radially outwardly bulged portion. The ring-shaped portion extends continuously over an entire circumference of the ring-shaped portion in a circumferential direction of the ring-shaped portion. The light-receiving surface causes light from the light source to enter the light-conducting member through the light-receiving surface. The radially outwardly bulged portion is bulged radially outwardly from the ring-shaped portion and causes the light having entered the light-conducting member through the light-receiving surface to enter the ring-shaped portion in one direction in the circumferential direction of the ring-shaped portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2017
    Assignee: KOJIMA INDUSTRIES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Katsutoshi Sakanashi, Tomoya Une, Hirokazu Kandori
  • Patent number: 9606288
    Abstract: In various embodiments, an illumination structure includes a discrete light source disposed proximate a bottom surface of a waveguide and below a depression in a top surface thereof. A top mirror may be disposed above the discrete light source to convert modes of light emitted from the discrete light source into trapped modes, thereby increasing the coupling efficiency of the illumination structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2017
    Assignee: OREE ADVANCED ILLUMINATION SOLUTIONS LTD.
    Inventors: Yosi Shani, Tania Kosburd, Dafna Bortman Arbiv
  • Patent number: 9506615
    Abstract: A motor vehicle headlamp (10) including a multi-function projection module (14), which is designed to convert light from a first light source (16) into a first light distribution (34) by means of a first primary lens system (18) in a first beam path bounded by an aperture edge (26), and to focus light from a second light source (20) into a beam waist (44) and convert the light into a second light distribution by means of a second primary lens system (22) in a second beam path. The second light distribution has a predetermined central point (56). The projection module includes a mirror (30), which is arranged in the second beam path between the beam waist (44) and the projection lens (28) in such a way that the mirror produces a virtual mirror image of the beam waist (44) at the focal point of the projection lens.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2016
    Assignee: Automotive Lighting Reutlingen GmbH
    Inventor: Matthias Brendle
  • Patent number: 9482402
    Abstract: An automotive lamp includes an LED, a substrate that mounts the LED, a reflector that reflects the light emitted from the LED, and an projection lens having an incident surface, which receives the light reflected by the reflector, and an emission surface that emits the light toward a front area of the automotive lamp. A fine asperity structure is formed on the incident surface of the projection lens. The fine asperity structure includes recesses or raised portions formed with the pitch less than or equal to the visible light wavelength.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2016
    Assignees: KOITO MANUFACTURING CO., LTD., ITOH OPTICAL INDUSTRIAL CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Noriko Fukawa, Masashi Omote, Mamoru Kosuge, Yuji Saito, Hirohisa Kato, Takehiro Shimizu, Norihito Soma
  • Patent number: 9475423
    Abstract: A lamp assembly is provided for installation in an opening of a vehicle body. The lamp assembly includes a lamp container having first and second sides, each of the first and second sides integrally including first and second stops, and at least one clip assembly including a clip, a threaded bolt, and a nut. The clip has a connecting wall with respective first and second side walls extending from the connecting wall, and first and second tabs extending inwardly respectively from the first and second side walls, the threaded bolt being inserted through an opening in the connecting wall of the clip, and the nut being threaded onto the bolt. When the lamp assembly is in a pre-compressed position, the nut is spaced away from the stops, and, when the lamp assembly is in a compressed position, at least one of the nut and the connecting wall contacts the stops.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2016
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: John Urban Kowalczyk, Albert Ekladyous, Gary Edward Henige, Sleiman N. Abdelnour, Kelley Maria Adams-Campos
  • Patent number: 9470837
    Abstract: In various embodiments, an illumination structure includes a discrete light source disposed proximate a bottom surface of a waveguide and below a depression in a top surface thereof. A top mirror may be disposed above the discrete light source to convert modes of light emitted from the discrete light source into trapped modes, thereby increasing the coupling efficiency of the illumination structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2016
    Assignee: OREE, INC.
    Inventors: Yosi Shani, Tania Kosburd, Dafna Bortman Arbiv
  • Patent number: 9447939
    Abstract: A method for producing a vehicle headlamp lens having at least one light entry surface and at least one optically effective light exit surface wherein glass, (for example, in gob and/or liquid form) is blank-pressed between a first mold and at least one second mold to form a one-piece member comprising a first partial light conducting part and a light tunnel, which transitions into the first partial light conducting part by means of a bend. The glass is, for example, drawn into the second mold by means of an under pressure and the first partial light conducting part is at least partially over molded with transparent plastic to form a second partial light conducting part so that the first partial light conducting part and the second partial light conducting part form and/or shape a light conducting part for imaging the bend as a light-shadow line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2016
    Assignee: Docter Optics SE
    Inventors: Wolfram Wintzer, Dmitry Fedosik
  • Patent number: 9283885
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing a lighting device comprising a body of headlamp or rear light of a motor vehicle that comprises a housing enclosing a transparent cover wherein: 1) the body is clamped in a fixture and a set of actual positions of control points of the cover or housing are measured; 2) the measured actual positions of the control points are compared in a three-dimensional model with a respective calculated tolerance space of control points bounded by permissible deviations from nominal positions; 3) if the actual positions of all the control points do not match up within the respective calculated tolerance space of control points, a set of corrected positions is identified and selected; 4) determining corresponding corrected positions of the associated locating elements for attachment of the lighting device from the corrected positions of the control points; and 5) joining the locating elements in the corrected positions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2016
    Assignee: VARROC LIGHTING SYSTEMS, S.R.O.
    Inventors: Petr Mecner, Jindrich Chylek, Daniel Martincik, Dieter Niessen, David Janecek
  • Patent number: 9222638
    Abstract: Provided is a vehicular headlamp which is capable of enhancing visibility while suppressing glare by forming a dark portion in a portion of a light distribution pattern and suppressing the vicinity of the formed dark portion from becoming a blue series color. The vehicular headlamp includes a light-emitting element, a projection lens, a reflector, a beam shaper, a first shaper disposed between the light-emitting element and a cut-off line forming portion and configured to shield a part of the light reflected from the reflector to form a dark portion in a portion of a low beam light distribution pattern, and a second shaper portion disposed between the cut-off line forming portion and the projection lens and configured to shield a part of the light incident to the lower side of an optical axis of the projection lens.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2015
    Assignee: Koito Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yusuke Nakada, Yuta Ugajin
  • Patent number: 9212798
    Abstract: A lighting device for vehicles with a minimum of two light modules, each comprising a number of LED light sources for the generation of a first light function and a second light function. One light module is a basic light module and the other light module is a long-range light module. A first light source and a second light source are arranged in the basic light module, so that when the first LED light source is energized, a first partial light beam for the creation of a first light function is radiated. When both the second LED light source and the first LED light source are energized, a second partial light beam for the creation of a second light function is radiated. A first LED light source and a second LED light source may also be arranged in the long-range light module, so that when the first LED light source is energized, a first partial light beam for the creation of the first light function is radiated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2015
    Assignee: HELLA KGAA HUECK & CO.
    Inventor: Martin Seipel
  • Patent number: 9188301
    Abstract: A headlamp of a vehicle is disclosed having an optical system arranged after a light source in a path of a light beam emitted by the light source. The light beam has a directed main beam and a component of undirected diffused light. A cover screen is arranged parallel to the directed main beam after the optical system. A plate for discharging heat is arranged after the cover screen. A lens cover in combination with the cover screen forms an in travelling direction front cover of the headlamp. The cover screen has an aperture which opens the space between the optical system and the cover screen in the direction of the plate and the optical system includes an optical lens body and the undirected diffused light of the light source substantially radiates through the aperture in the cover screen onto the plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 17, 2015
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventor: Ingolf Schneider
  • Patent number: 9134000
    Abstract: An illuminating module for a motor vehicle lamp able to form a wide light beam containing a cutoff, which module is equipped with optical elements comprising an output lens and a plurality of concave reflectors associated with a deflector having a reflective face intended to deflect light beams generated by light sources located in the concavities of the reflectors. The output lens is a toric lens, and these optical elements are arranged in order to make the light beams generated by said light sources converge on points of focus before these light beams are transmitted through the output lens. The module comprises two reflectors (102, 102?) oriented toward each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 15, 2015
    Assignee: Valeo Vision
    Inventors: Antoine de Lamberterie, Ziyed Thabet
  • Patent number: 9068711
    Abstract: A headlamp apparatus for a vehicle which produces a glare-free high beam may include a light source including a plurality of chips which may be arranged in line, and each of which may be separately turned on or off, a condenser lens disposed in front of the light source, and configured to improve light efficiency by condensing light emitted from the light source, a beam pattern conversion lens disposed in front of the condenser lens and configured to increase a size of a beam pattern of the light source in a vertical direction, and an optical refractive lens disposed in front of the beam pattern conversion lens, the optical refractive lens projecting the light that has passed through the beam pattern conversion lens onto a road by imaging the light onto a screen.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 30, 2015
    Assignees: HYUNDAI MOTOR COMPANY, KIA MOTORS CORP., SL LIGHTING CORPORATION
    Inventors: Jin Ho Na, Young Ho Son
  • Patent number: 9057496
    Abstract: A vehicle headlamp that is capable of optically distributing a spot portion of a light distribution pattern having a cutoff line to a cruising lane side is provided. The present invention includes semiconductor-type light sources 2L and 2R and lenses 3L and 3R. On emission surfaces 31L and 31R of the lenses 3L and 3R, peak portions 32L and 32R that form a spot portion SP of a light distribution pattern for low beam LP are respectively provided in given locations that are close to a cruising lane side with respect to optical axes ZL and ZR of the lenses 3L and 3R. As a result, the present invention can provide the vehicle headlamp that is capable of optically distributing the spot portion SP of the light distribution pattern for low beam LP having a cutoff line CL.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 16, 2015
    Assignee: ICHIKOH INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventor: Yasuhiro Okubo
  • Patent number: 9057495
    Abstract: An illuminating lamp and a vehicle head lamp, using a light emitting diode, respectively, are capable of not only keeping the same brightness as obtained at the time of lighting after many hours from the lighting, but also being usable for many hours without deterioration in efficiency besides advantages of providing a high output in low power consumption, a long service life, and a simple structure. The illuminating lamp comprises a light source support made up of an upper structure and a lower structure, the upper structure being linked with the lower structure via the heat conduction bar, wherein the light source support is inserted into an aluminum heat-release mount, thereby causing heat generated from the light emitting diode to be released into the aluminum heat-release mount through cooling of the heat conduction bar.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 16, 2015
    Assignee: NIHON COATING CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Tatsuya Ota
  • Patent number: 9039259
    Abstract: A lighting module comprising at least one first lighting device and one second lighting device; the first lighting device comprises a support common to at least one first light emitter generating a first light strip and at least one second light emitter generating a second light strip. The first light emitter is arranged relative to second light emitter so as to generate a zone that is unlit by the first lighting device between the first light strip and the second light strip. The at least one second lighting device generates at least one third light strip that extends in the zone that is unlit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2015
    Assignee: Valeo Vision
    Inventors: Pierre Albou, Benoit Reiss, Vanesa Sanchez
  • Patent number: 9033399
    Abstract: In some embodiments, an energy absorber element can comprise: a first support wall and a second support wall, a crush wall joining the first and second support walls together to define a deformable zone; a connection mechanism configured to connect the first and/or second support wall to a vehicle. In one embodiment, a method for using an energy absorber element in a vehicle can comprise: detachably connecting an energy absorber element to a vehicle at a support location for a vehicle component, once the energy absorber element has absorbed energy, detaching the energy absorber element from the vehicle; and separately replacing the energy absorber element from the vehicle component. In some embodiments, the vehicle component is not replaced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2015
    Assignee: SABIC GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES B.V.
    Inventors: Sudhakar Ramamoorthy Marur, Ankit Kumar Garg, Subrata Nayak, Triloka Chander Tankala, James Robert Wilson
  • Patent number: 8998465
    Abstract: A method for injection molding of plastic-material lenticular bodies for lights; of motor vehicles and similar, the method comprising the steps of coupling a punch half-mold with a first matrix half-mold so as to define, on the surface of the punch half-mold, a first closed cavity that copies in reverse the shape of the first plastic-material sheet; filling said first cavity with a first plastic polymer in a liquid state, injecting the first plastic polymer in the first cavity from an injection point located at said first segment of the peripheral edge of the first plastic-material sheet; and finally separating, after the first plastic polymer has solidified to form the first plastic-material sheet, the punch half-mold from the first; matrix half-mold maintaining the first plastic-material sheet still on the surface of the punch half-mold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2015
    Assignee: Automotive Lighting Italia S.p.A.
    Inventors: Daniele Dereani, Franco Marcori, Bruno Norio
  • Patent number: 8992056
    Abstract: A vehicle headlight and control system for a bus or large vehicle includes a headlight fixture with a center or low beam light source and side illumination light source operated independently. The side illumination light source may be activated when the vehicle is turning, as detected by the vehicle speed and steering shaft turn angle, to provide supplemental illumination. Both right and left side illumination sources may be provided, and may comprise LED light elements. The system may also include an audible sound generator to alert pedestrians when the vehicle is turning.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignee: I/O Controls Corporation
    Inventors: Jerry Lin, Yongchang Wang, Ren-Cheng Chao, Chin-Tin Hsiao, Chih-Li Wang
  • Patent number: 8985823
    Abstract: A vehicle lamp includes a lamp body having an opening, a front cover attached to the lamp body to close the opening, and a first optical unit disposed inside a lamp chamber defined by the lamp body and the cover. The first optical unit includes a printed wiring board having a first section formed with a first conductor pattern and a second section formed with a second conductor pattern electrically coupled to the first conductor pattern, an LED mounted on the first section of the printed wiring board, and a lighting control circuit provided on the second section of the printed wiring board to control a lighting of the LED. The first optical unit further has a bracket supporting the printed wiring board in a horizontal manner, and a drip-preventive cover covering the lighting control circuit. The drip-preventive cover is provided on the bracket.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2015
    Assignee: Koito Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Takao Sugiyama
  • 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: 8974099
    Abstract: A vehicle headlight having a plurality of semiconductor emitters for the alternative production of a low-beam light distribution and a daytime driving light distribution is provided. For producing the low-beam light distribution, a low-beam light luminous surface is generated by the vehicle headlight. For producing the daytime driving light distribution, a daytime driving light luminous surface is generated by the vehicle headlight. The low-beam light luminous surface and the daytime driving light luminous surface are essentially identical.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2015
    Assignee: Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Sebastian Morgenstern, Stefan Danner, Christopher Weil, Helmut Erdl
  • Patent number: 8972117
    Abstract: A vehicular light distribution control system (100) controls a light distribution of headlights (3). The control system includes the following parts. The vehicle detecting part (10) detects an anterior vehicle driving in front of an occupants vehicle. The unirradiated region setting part (12) sets a region where the anterior vehicle detected by the vehicle detecting part (10) exists as an unirradiated region. The vehicle motion estimating part (13) estimates an ensuing motion of the anterior vehicle detected by the vehicle detecting part (10). The unirradiated region adjusting part (14) adjusts a size of the unirradiated region set by the unirradiated region setting part (12) depending on an estimated result 15 of the vehicle motion estimating part (13).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2015
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Seiichi Tanaka, Satoshi Fujiyoshi
  • Patent number: 8967841
    Abstract: The invention relates to an LED light module (1) for a motor vehicle or for a head light for a motor vehicle, wherein the LED light module (1) has at least one LED light source (3) which comprises at least one light-emitting diode, and wherein the light (10, 11) which is emitted by the at least one LED light source (3) is emitted via at least one reflector (2) into a region located in front of a motor vehicle, wherein the light (10?, 11?) which is emitted via the reflector (2) forms a defined basic light distribution (30?), wherein according to the invention at least one shutter (4) is provided after the at least one LED light source (3) in the light exit direction, which at least one shutter (4) is located in the beam path of at least part of the light (20) which is emitted in the light exit direction by the at least one LED light source (3), and wherein the at least one shutter (4) is designed to reflect light at least in certain areas on its side (4?) facing the at least one LED light source (3), and where
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2015
    Assignee: Zizala Lichtsysteme GmbH
    Inventor: Gerald Bohm
  • Patent number: 8944653
    Abstract: A vehicle lamp is provided with: a projection lens; a light source; a reflector that reflects light from the light source to the projection lens; and a shade member. A shade member includes an opening, and a portion of an inner peripheral edge of the opening is defined by an upper edge of a shading part for shielding a portion of the light reflected on the reflector. A side end portion of a reflection surface of the reflector penetrates the opening of the shade member and extends forward beyond the shading part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2015
    Assignee: Koito Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Takehiko Tajima, Akinori Matsumoto
  • Patent number: 8940386
    Abstract: A formed body having a curved surface, a method of producing the formed body, a front cover for a vehicle lighting device, and a method of producing the front cover. A front cover for a vehicle lighting device, mounted to a front opening in a vehicle lighting device having a lamp body and a light source which is provided in the lamp body, wherein a heat generating body is provided in a substantially rectangular region of that surface of the front cover which faces the light source. The heat generating body maintains the relationship of Ra =(2 R0), where R0 is the electric resistance value (initial value) of the heat generating body before the heat generating body is elongated and Ra is the electric resistance value of the heat generating body after the heat generating body is elongated 5%.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 27, 2015
    Assignee: Fujifilm Corporation
    Inventors: Sumio Ohtani, Tadashi Kuriki, Tsukasa Tokunaga
  • Patent number: 8939621
    Abstract: A lighting system for a vehicle comprises a headlamp light source. A trim piece is mounted adjacent the light source having an inner surface illuminated by light from the light source and an outer surface visible from outside the vehicle. The trim piece comprises a light transmitting plastic body, wherein a signature image is formed on the body having a foreground region and a background region. The foreground region has a corresponding surface characteristic on the inner and outer surfaces within the foreground region different from a corresponding surface characteristic on the inner and outer surfaces within the background region so that more light from the light source is transmitted through the foreground region than through the background region. The outer surface may be fully metalized to provide a pleasing appearance under ambient light conditions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 27, 2015
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: David A. Brown, Arun Kumar
  • Patent number: 8939623
    Abstract: Disclosed is a projection lens that is disposed in front of a first semiconductor light emitting device and configured to irradiate light incident from the rear side to the front side. A first reflector reflects a part of the light emitted from the first semiconductor light emitting device to converge on the rear side of the projection lens. A light guide member is disposed across the front side of the projection lens and configured to emit the light incident from the second semiconductor light emitting device to a predetermined direction. A second reflector reflects a part of the light reflected by the first reflector toward the projection lens. The light reflected by the second reflector to be incident on the projection lens is emitted from the projection to avoid the light guide member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 27, 2015
    Assignee: Koito Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Michio Tsukamoto
  • Patent number: 8920006
    Abstract: A lighting or signalling device for a motor vehicle, having an optical axis and comprising at least one light source and at least one guide for the light rays between the source and an exit face, the guide having an entry edge associated with the source. The guide for the light rays is formed by a sheet and the sheet comprises a curved rear edge convex towards the rear, able to provide reflection of the light rays towards the exit face. A curved shape of the rear edge being associated with the profile of the exit face so that the emerging light rays have a direction contained in a substantially horizontal plane containing the optical axis of the device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2014
    Assignee: Valeo Vision
    Inventor: Antoine de Lamberterie
  • Patent number: 8905607
    Abstract: A vehicle headlight can facilitate an earlier awareness with peripheral vision under dark environment (such as during nighttime, tunnel, or adverse weather driving). The light source can include a plurality of white LEDs. The plurality of white LEDs include a first white LED and a second white LED. The first white LED has an S/P ratio, which is represented by (S(?)*V?(?))/(S(?)*V(?)) in which S(?) is a spectrum of the first light source, V?(?) is a relative luminosity factor in scotopic vision, and V(?) is a relative luminosity factor in photopic vision, lower than that of the second white LED.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2014
    Assignee: Stanley Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Takashi Sato, Yasushi Kita
  • Patent number: 8899807
    Abstract: A vehicular headlamp includes: a plurality of semiconductor light emitting element chips; and a reflector that has a reflection surface with a paraboloid shape, and that reflects, by the reflection surface, light from the semiconductor light emitting element chips so as to send the light in a headlamp beam direction of the vehicular headlamp, wherein the plurality of semiconductor light emitting element chips are arranged along a plane perpendicular to the headlamp beam direction, and a focal point of the reflection surface of the reflector is disposed in or near an area between the semiconductor light emitting element chips that are next to each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2014
    Assignee: Koito Manufacturing Co., Ltd
    Inventor: Satoshi Yamamura
  • Patent number: 8899782
    Abstract: A lighting system is disclosed which includes a light source unit and a projection system for producing a desired light distribution pattern in a target area, especially for use in an automotive head lighting, studio and theater lighting, indoor spots with adjustable beam width or direction, architectural dynamic lighting, disco lighting and other. The lighting system is especially suitable for a light source unit having one or more Lambertian light sources, especially a plurality of LEDs. For generating a desired light distribution pattern in the target area, the light source unit may include a plurality of collimators that are configured especially such that the curved focal plane (P) of the projection system intersects with or tangentially touches the exit apertures of the collimators.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2014
    Assignee: Koninkljke Philips N.V.
    Inventors: Marten Sikkens, Marcel De Jong, Martinus Petrus Creusen, Silvia Maria Booij, Josef Andreas Schug
  • 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: 8870423
    Abstract: A vehicle decorative lighting device and a vehicle lamp including a lighting device can include a light guide lens formed in a substantially U-shape and a pair of LED light sources that can emit various color lights. Each of the light sources can be located at both end surfaces of the light guide lens having a U-shaped light-emitting surface. The vehicle lamp can include a lamp room between an outer lens and a housing, and can incorporate various vehicle lamps such as a headlight along with the lighting device in the lamp room. The lighting device can be located in the lamp room so as to emit various U-shaped color lights along a periphery of the outer lens. Thus, the disclosed subject matter can include providing vehicle lamps including the decorative lighting device having a harmonious favorable light distribution, for example, such that combine a headlight with a position lamp.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 28, 2014
    Assignee: Stanley Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Teruhiko Mihara, Yasuaki Kaizumi, Kazuya Shiraishi
  • Patent number: 8862335
    Abstract: Device for the control of vertical cut-off lines for headlamps of a motor vehicle within a swivel range, wherein the control device (10) has a first input (12) for a first signal, which indicates the direction referring to a longitudinal axis (1) of the motor vehicle, in which the motor vehicle (F1) meets the oncoming light source of a motor vehicle (F2) or in which it moves in front of the motor vehicle (F1) in the same direction of travel, wherein the control device is suitable and equipped for the generation of a control signal for the right-hand headlamp (50) and a control signal for the left-hand headlamp (40) of the motor vehicle (F1) for the adjustment of a vertical cut-off line depending on the first signal, with which a right-hand vertical cut-off line and a left-hand vertical cut-off line can be adjusted to eliminate the dazzling effect on an oncoming motor vehicle (F2) or a motor vehicle (F2) driving ahead, wherein the control device (10) is suitable and equipped for the adjustment of the right
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2014
    Assignee: Hella KGAA
    Inventors: Christian Schmidt, Tobias Irmscher, Sergej Schwarz, Georg Florissen, Christian Hüster, Carsten Wilks
  • Patent number: 8858050
    Abstract: A vehicular lamp having first and second light source units disposed behind a projection lens is provided. In the second light source unit, light from a second light source disposed at a position lying further downward than the position of an optical axis of the projection lens is reflected toward the projection lens by a reflection surface of a second reflector disposed to extend downward from a front end edge of a shade. In this case, an upper area of the projection lens is configured such that light from a rear focus of the upper area of the projection lens is emitted further downward than emission light from a general area other than the upper area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2014
    Assignee: Koito Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Ippei Yamamoto
  • Patent number: 8851722
    Abstract: Headlight lens for a vehicle headlight having a monolithic body of transparent material, the monolithic body including at least one light entry face, a light passage section and at least one optically operative light exit face.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 11, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 7, 2014
    Assignee: Docter Optics SE
    Inventors: Dmitry Fedosik, Wolfram Wintzer
  • Patent number: 8845158
    Abstract: A vehicle lamp includes a light source, and a resin component disposed on the periphery of the light source. The resin component has a designed surface that can be observed from the outside of the lamp. The designed surface includes a textured surface having minute irregularities, and a projecting portion provided adjacent to the textured surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2014
    Assignee: Koito Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroya Ito, Takahiro Kohata, Toshimasa Ikeda
  • Patent number: 8840289
    Abstract: The present invention provides a headlamp assembly including a light pipe and reflex reflector integration utilizing a single bulb to illuminate both the reflex reflector and the light pipe, simultaneously. The headlamp assembly includes a single light source, a light pipe and a reflex reflector positioned adjacent one another allowing the light source to provide light to both the reflex reflector and the light pipe. The reflex reflector includes a reflecting element and a cutout to allow light to pass though the reflex reflector into the reflecting element. The reflex reflector is adapted to transform light from white to amber thereby creating the side marker function. The headlamp assembly further includes a reflector behind the light source to direct light into the light pipe. The automotive headlamp assembly provides an automotive headlamp assembly that includes a reflex reflector light and a light pipe while reducing cost and decreasing weight.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 23, 2014
    Assignees: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc., II Stanley Co., Inc.
    Inventors: Brian Lindsay, Yasuo Watanabe
  • Patent number: 8833990
    Abstract: A lamp apparatus (14) includes a heat sink (28), a heat conductive post (26) having a plurality of faces (36), one or more light engines (30) coupled to each of a plurality of faces (36), a connector (32) to provide power to the light engine (30) when electrically coupled to a lamp socket, and a grommet (34). The grommet (34) is secured to and extends around a perimeter of the heat conductive post (26) and includes a radial groove (48) receiving a rim (21) of an opening (20) of a reflector (12) such that a first and a second portion (50, 51) of the grommet (34) extend beyond the rim (21) and over a portion of an interior and an exterior surface (23, 25) of the reflector (12) to secure the lamp apparatus (14) to the opening (20) of the reflector (12).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 16, 2014
    Assignee: OSRAM SYLVANIA Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas Tessnow, Ronald Boyd, Lawrence M. Rice
  • Patent number: 8833992
    Abstract: An automotive headlamp is provided with: a light-emitting module; a control circuit unit configured to control the lighting of the light-emitting module; a support substrate configured to support both the light-emitting module and the control circuit unit; and a reflector configured to reflect, through an inner surface of the reflector, light emitted by the light-emitting module and collect the reflected light. The support substrate is arranged in a manner such that the control circuit unit is positioned in a region outside the reflector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 16, 2014
    Assignee: Koito Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Akihiro Matsumoto, Tetsuya Suzuki, Tomoyuki Nakagawa
  • Patent number: 8807808
    Abstract: A replacement vehicular lamp assembly (10) configured for insertion into a vehicle chassis-mounted lamp housing (110) originally containing an incandescent lamp (118) installed in an aperture (102) in a chassis-mounted reflector (116). Lamp assembly (10) has a housing (12) supporting LED(s) and displaceably mounted reflector segments (40) moveable between a closed configuration facilitating installation through the aperture (102) and an outwardly open configuration for function within the lamp housing (110) to form a first reflector (38). A biasing mechanism (25) biases the reflector segments (40) to the open configuration to deploy the first reflector (38) overlying the chassis-mounted reflector (116) so that light from the LED is received on the first reflector (38) defined by the reflector segments (40).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2014
    Inventors: Ronald E. Boyd, Jr., Lawrence M. Rice, Thomas Tessnow
  • Patent number: 8801250
    Abstract: A vehicle lighting device can include a bulb or a light source, a projector lens, a first reflection surface which reflects light toward the projector lens and collects the reflected light, a shade including an upper rim, the upper rim being movable between a light blocking position and a retracting position. The lighting device can also include a second reflection surface which reflects light downward when the shade is in the light blocking position, and a third reflection surface which reflects light forward to allow the reflected light to be emitted forward, when the shade is in the light blocking position. The device can also include a pair of left and right fourth reflection surfaces which reflect light in diagonally forward right and left directions, respectively, to allow the reflected light to be emitted in the diagonally forward right and left directions, when the shade is in the light blocking position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 12, 2014
    Assignee: Stanley Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Mitsuhiro Uchida
  • Patent number: 8801242
    Abstract: A light module of a motor vehicle generates a spot distribution of a high-beam-light distribution formed by superimposition of the spot distribution and a base distribution generated by at least one other module. The light module comprises a plurality of separately controllable sub-modules that generate a plurality of stripe-shaped segments of the spot distribution that supplement it. Also, a headlight generates the high-beam-light distribution and comprises the light module. Furthermore, a headlight system comprises a pair of the headlights disposed in a front region toward sides of the vehicle and each of which generates the high-beam-light distribution. The headlights include corresponding light modules that generate stripe-shaped segments of left and right sides, respectively, of the spot distribution such that the stripe-shaped segments of the light modules of the headlights supplement the spot distribution or are at least partially superimposed thereon.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 12, 2014
    Assignee: Automotive Lighting Reutlingen GmbH
    Inventors: Michael Hamm, Ernst-Olaf Rosenhahn, Emil P. Stefanov
  • Patent number: 8783923
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an auto lamp structure, which comprises a reflector, a light source, and a covering part. The reflector exhibits a first ellipse in the direction of a first axis about a center, and exhibits a second ellipse in the direction of a second axis about the center. The long axis or the short axis of the first ellipse is different from the long axis or the short axis of the second ellipse. In addition. the reflector has an opening. The light source is disposed in the reflector, and illuminates light via the opening. The covering part is disposed above the reflector for controlling the distribution pattern of the light. Thereby, the present invention uses a reflector of a complex ellipse structure to control the distribution pattern of the light of the light source for complying with the regulations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2014
    Assignee: Chung Yuan Christian University
    Inventors: Ming Chang, Wen-Bin Chen, Chi-Tang Hsieh
  • Patent number: 8764258
    Abstract: An inner lens for use in a vehicle light can be configured to sufficiently enhance aesthetic features, decorative features, unpredictable features, etc., without adversely affecting the formation of the main light distribution. The inner lens can include a main body portion having a main surface that faces towards the reflecting surface of the reflector, and a plurality of independent convex projections formed on the main surface of the main body portion at an area corresponding to the reflecting surface. The light emitted from the light source and that reaches the projections can enter the projections and the main body portion and then be reflected and/or refracted by the projections and the main body portion so as to be directed to a direction diagonally forward of the vehicle light as light that does not contribute to the formation of the main light distribution.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2014
    Assignee: Stanley Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Naoki Watanabe, Hiroshi Miura
  • Patent number: 8757848
    Abstract: A double reflecting structure may include a first reflecting portion reflecting light that may be emitted from a light source, and a second reflecting portion formed on one side of the first reflecting portion to reflect again the light that may be reflected by the first reflecting portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2014
    Assignees: Kia Motors Corporation, SL Corporation
    Inventors: Jin Ho Na, Seong Je Kang
  • Patent number: 8752990
    Abstract: A vehicle light can allow light to be emitted more uniformly through an elongated area from a fewer number of light sources as compared with a conventional one. The vehicle light can include an outer lens, a plurality of light sources arranged along the outer edge of the outer lens for emitting light in an optical axis direction orthogonal to the arraying direction thereof, an inner lens including a light guide portion elongated in the arraying direction of the light sources and disposed along the optical axis of the light sources, for dispersing the light in a longitudinal direction of the lens and emitting in the optical axis direction, and a first diffusion reflector and second diffusion reflectors configured to be elongated in the longitudinal direction of the inner lens and disposed in the optical axis direction of the lens.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 17, 2014
    Assignee: Stanley Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hidetaka Okada, Takuya Matsumaru, Kazuya Makiuchi
  • Patent number: 8746939
    Abstract: A light assembly for motor vehicles includes a body made of a light-transmitting material. The light-transmitting material preferably includes a front light-emitting surface, and a plurality of rear surface portions that provide for inward reflection of light from a plurality of LEDs or other light sources. The reflective surface portions may be in the form of truncated parabolas having flat upper, lower, and/or side surfaces to reduce the overall height and/or width of the light assembly. The reflective surfaces can be oriented at off-axis relative to a vehicle axis to provide a specific beam intensity and direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2014
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Bruce Preston Williams, Mahendra Somasara Dassanayake