Reflector Structure Patents (Class 362/516)
  • Publication number: 20120268959
    Abstract: A lighting assembly for movable control surfaces of a vehicle. The light assembly includes a lens, a plurality of light-emitting diodes (LEDs) and a housing that receives the plurality of LEDs and the lens. The housing of the light assembly is received within the movable control surface, such that the lens is flush with a surface of the movable control surface. The light assembly includes a plurality of reflectors. The plurality of LEDs is rotatably mounted within the housing. The light assembly includes a controller that controls the position of the LEDs relative to the housing, based on a received control signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 19, 2011
    Publication date: October 25, 2012
    Applicant: HONEYWELL INTERNATIONAL INC.
    Inventors: David Barnett, Jeffrey M. Singer, Timothy C. Martin
  • Patent number: 8292479
    Abstract: A vehicular infrared irradiation lamp includes an infrared light-emitting element for projecting infrared light; a visible light-emitting element that emits visible light; and a transparent member provided at least partially adjacent to a light-emitting portion of the infrared light-emitting element. The transparent member radiates visible light received from the visible light-emitting element in a radiation direction of infrared light.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2012
    Assignee: Koito Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kiyoshi Sazuka, Osamu Masuda, Hiroya Koizumi, Takatomo Fujiyoshi
  • Publication number: 20120262935
    Abstract: Disclosed is a vehicular lamp having first and second light source units disposed in the rear of a projection lens. 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 projection lens is emitted further downward than emission light from a general area other than the upper area. As a result, the additional light distribution pattern is formed as a light distribution pattern which is expanded further downward than cut-off lines of the low-beam light distribution pattern.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 6, 2012
    Publication date: October 18, 2012
    Applicant: KOITO MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Ippei YAMAMOTO
  • Publication number: 20120257403
    Abstract: An illumination device includes, but is not limited to at least one light-conductor plate and at least one light source. The at least one light-conductor plate includes, but is not limited to a first main surface and a first lateral surface. In addition, the at least one light-conductor plate includes, but is not limited to light-decoupling elements at least in a part region of the volume of the at least one light-conductor plate. The at least one light-conductor plate is arranged in an outer region of the motor vehicle and forms a decorative shaped part of the motor vehicle. Light of the at least one light source can be coupled into the at least one light-conductor plate via the first lateral surface and can be at least partially decoupled from the at least one light-conductor plate with the light-decoupling elements via the first main surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 6, 2012
    Publication date: October 11, 2012
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventor: Ralf WILFERT
  • Publication number: 20120257402
    Abstract: An illumination device for a vehicle includes a light source and an inside handle well. The inside handle well has a lower wall, an upper wall, and an opening. The light source is arranged under the lower wall. The lower wall has a light exit portion configured such that light emitted from the light source exits therethrough and travels to an inside of the inside handle well. The upper wall has a light reflecting portion configured to reflect light exiting through the light exit portion and traveling upward in the inside handle well toward the inside handle. The opening is formed on the inner side of the interior of the vehicle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 7, 2012
    Publication date: October 11, 2012
    Applicant: TOYOTA BOSHOKU KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Nobuki HAYASHI, Kouichi TAKEUCHI
  • Publication number: 20120256543
    Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to illuminated devices attached to vehicles. More specifically, an illuminated device may be attached to a vehicle in the form of an illuminated logo or emblem. The illumination of the device may be controlled for color, state, and/or intensity in response to vehicle signals received by the device. In addition, the illuminated device may use switching circuitry to interface with a vehicle's electrical power and/or signals.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 11, 2012
    Publication date: October 11, 2012
    Applicant: CMARLITE, LLC
    Inventors: Howard Marcove, Philip Allen Boe
  • Publication number: 20120243248
    Abstract: A vehicle headlight can include a projector lens, a bulb disposed in a back direction from the projector lens, and having an axis in a right-left direction, a reflector disposed to cover the bulb from behind, a shade disposed between the projector lens and the bulb, a first additional reflection surface disposed in the front direction from the bulb, and reflecting light from the bulb toward a space lying ahead of the bulb end in a bulb-axis direction. A second additional reflection surface can be disposed in the space, and reflect light from the first additional reflection surface toward the projector lens. A top end portion of the shade can be bent in the back direction to form a low-beam cutoff line with back end edge. The first additional reflection surface can be disposed lower than the top end portion and in the front direction from the back end edge.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 23, 2012
    Publication date: September 27, 2012
    Inventors: Yoshihiro FUJIYAMA, Hideyasu SHOJI, Takashi AKUTAGAWA
  • Publication number: 20120243247
    Abstract: A vehicle light fitting unit includes two headlights which irradiate a low beam. The two headlights can each include a light emitting element, an elliptical series reflecting surface provided in a state where a first focal position is positioned near the light emitting element and a second focal position is positioned on an optical axis of the headlight, and a projecting lens provided so that a focal position on a rear side of the light irradiating direction is near the second focal position. Only a first headlight among the two headlights includes a light shielding member. The elliptical series reflecting surface of a second headlight is positioned so that the first focal position is positioned to the front of the light irradiating direction than the light emitting element.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 22, 2012
    Publication date: September 27, 2012
    Inventor: Shinji YAMAGATA
  • Publication number: 20120218772
    Abstract: A lighting unit including a lens body can achieve luminous flux utilization efficiency equal to or greater than a conventional lighting unit even with a reduced width of the lens body. A vehicle lighting unit can be constituted by a plurality of the lighting units. The lighting unit can include an LED light source, and a lens body disposed in front of the LED light source so that light emitted from the LED light source can be incident thereon. The lens body can include a lens portion configured to receive the light from the LED light source to collect the light, a front surface including the lens portion, a rear surface opposite to the front surface, a first end surface functioning as a light exiting surface having a substantially rectangular shape greater in width than in thickness, and a second end surface opposite to the first end surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 24, 2012
    Publication date: August 30, 2012
    Inventors: Yuki MITSUHASHI, Toru UMEDA
  • Patent number: 8251559
    Abstract: A projector type vehicle light is provided that can reduce temperature increase of a solenoid due to heat generated by a light source, while a shade and a projection lens can be disposed closer to each other. The vehicle light can be formed as a headlight and can include a light source, a reflector, a shade, and a projection lens. The projector type vehicle light can further include a shade rotational shaft extending in a left-to-right direction, a base member configured to support the shade so that the shade can rotate around the shade rotational shaft, a solenoid for making the shade rotate between a low-beam position and a high-beam position, and a crank shaft configured to connect the solenoid with the shade for driving. The solenoid can be disposed just below the shade so that a moving direction of the plunger of the solenoid is aligned with the left-to-right direction of the projector type vehicle headlight.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2012
    Assignee: Stanley Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yoichi Tatsumi, Yoshiaki Akiyama
  • Patent number: 8235569
    Abstract: The invention provides a light assembly to enable various light functions, such as braking lights, tail lights, license plate lights, flashers, etc., using LEDs that consume low power and have a long service life. The LEDs are located on a single, two-sided printed circuit board (PCB), which reduces the assembly costs and the size of tail light, as well as the complexity of assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2012
    Assignee: Federal-Mogul Corporation
    Inventors: Joe Allen Chambers, Nadeshda Alexsandrovina Zelikovskaya, Felipe De Jesus Domingo Mehado Moya
  • Publication number: 20120195057
    Abstract: A light emitting device of the present invention includes: an LD chip for emitting excitation light; a light emitting body for emitting fluorescence upon irradiation with the excitation light from the LD chip; and a mirror including a light reflecting concave surface for reflecting the fluorescence from the light emitting body, the light reflecting concave surface of the mirror having a through-hole at a region other than a bottom region in the vicinity of the bottom of the light reflecting concave surface, and a truncated pyramid light converging section being inserted into the through-hole in order to guide the excitation light from the LD chip to the light emitting body.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 31, 2012
    Publication date: August 2, 2012
    Applicant: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Katsuhiko Kishimoto, Shigetoshi Ito
  • Publication number: 20120188781
    Abstract: A vehicle light using a projection lens of a novel appearance can provide a feeling of solidness as compared to a simple spherical shape. The vehicle light can include a projection lens having an optical axis and a plurality of separate lens portions divided in a radial pattern with respect to the optical axis of the projection lens. The separate lens portions can have respective light exiting surfaces of different curvatures, and respective light incident surfaces, the shapes of which are determined such that the separate lens portions have the same thickness and the same focal point.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 24, 2012
    Publication date: July 26, 2012
    Inventor: Takashi FUTAMI
  • Patent number: 8226282
    Abstract: A vehicle lamp includes a light guide including: a first end surface; a second end surface opposite to the first end surface; a front side surface; and a back side surface opposite to the front side surface; a light source disposed to face the first end surface of the light guide so as to emit light toward the first end surface; and a reflector disposed to face the back side surface of the light guide. The light is incident on the first end surface and travels toward the second end surface along an longitudinal direction of the light guide. A first beam of the light is output from the front side surface of the light guide. A second beam of the light is output from the back side surface, and reflected by the reflector to travel toward a forward area of the vehicle lamp.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2012
    Assignee: Koito Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Naoki Kazaoka, Masahiro Fukumuro, Kyouhei Akiyama
  • Publication number: 20120163031
    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: Application
    Filed: December 2, 2011
    Publication date: June 28, 2012
    Inventors: Hidetaka Okada, Takuya Matsumaru, Kazuya Makiuchi
  • Publication number: 20120155100
    Abstract: The present disclosure sets forth a composite headlight assembly which increases the visibility and sight afforded to the driver of a vocational truck using such a composite lighting assembly. A composite lighting assembly includes a low beam light and a high beam light, as well as a turn signal and a parking light within one composite housing. As the overall size of the housing is limited by the size of the grill of the vehicle, the present disclosure increases the visibility and sight afforded to the driver by taking advantage of the untapped space within known composite headlight assemblies. More specifically, the turn signal and parking light may include a downwardly depending trapezoidal appendage increasing the overall area of the turn signal and parking light by at least ten percent.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 20, 2011
    Publication date: June 21, 2012
    Inventors: Eric J. Hanson, Marcey Collins, Susan M. LaBounty, Greg C. Miller, Erik C. Wilson, George C.A. McCowan, Joe F. DeNatale, Kim Hemme
  • Publication number: 20120140506
    Abstract: A semiconductor light-emitting device and a method for manufacturing the same can include a wavelength converting layer in order to emit various colored lights including white light. The semiconductor light-emitting device can include a base board, a frame located on the base board, at least one light-emitting chip mounted on the base board, the wavelength converting layer located between an optical plate and each outside surface of the chips so as to extend toward the optical plate using a meniscus control structure, and a reflective material layer disposed at least between the frame and both side surfaces of the wavelength converting layer and the optical plate. The semiconductor light-emitting device can be configured to improve light-emitting efficiency and color variability between the light-emitting chips by using the reflective material layer as each reflector, and therefore can emit a wavelength-converted light having a high light-emitting efficiency from various small light-emitting surfaces.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 13, 2011
    Publication date: June 7, 2012
    Inventors: Takeshi WARAGAWA, Kosaburo Ito
  • Publication number: 20120140504
    Abstract: A headlamp 1 includes (i) a laser element 2 for emitting a laser beam, (ii) a light emitting section 4, including a sealing material made from an inorganic material, for emitting fluorescence upon receiving the laser beam emitted from the laser element 2, and (iii) a heat sink 7 for releasing, via a contact surface of the heat sink 7 which contact surface is in contact with the light emitting section 4, heat generated in the light emitting section 4 in response to the laser beam emitted onto the light emitting section 4, the light emitting section 4 existing within a range which is determined on the basis of the contact surface and with which desired heat releasing efficiency is obtained.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 15, 2011
    Publication date: June 7, 2012
    Applicant: SHARP KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yasuo Fukai, Yoshiyuki Takahira, Koji Takahashi, Yosuke Maemura, Yoshitaka Tomomura
  • Publication number: 20120140505
    Abstract: Disclosed is a vehicular headlamp which includes a lamp unit placed in a lamp unit outer case constituted by an outer cover and a lamp housing. The lamp unit includes a light emitting diode provided as a light source; a circuit substrate mounted with the light emitting diode and having a connection terminal for supplying power to the light emitting diode; a projection lens configured to project light emitted from the light emitting diode and irradiate the projected light forwardly; and a cover member placed to surround the light emitting diode and include a colored part of which an inner peripheral surface is formed as an incident surface, on which a part of the light emitted from the light emitting diode is incident, and in which a predetermined color other than a yellow color is given to a surface other than the incident surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 28, 2011
    Publication date: June 7, 2012
    Applicant: KOITO MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Michio TSUKAMOTO
  • Patent number: 8192062
    Abstract: A vehicular headlamp is provided. The vehicular lamp includes a projection lens disposed on an optical axis of a lamp extending in a longitudinal direction of a vehicle; a light source disposed on a rear side of a rear focal point of the projection lens; a reflector that concentrates the light emitted from the light source on the projection lens; and a shade disposed such that an upper edge of the shade extends through the vicinity of the rear focal point to block a part of the light reflected from the reflector. In plan view, the light source is disposed near the central axis of the reflector, and the reflector is disposed such that the central axis of the reflector intersects the optical axis of the lamp in a vicinity of the projection lens while being inclined toward the own lane of the vehicle on the front side.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2012
    Assignee: Koito Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Masashi Tatsukawa
  • Publication number: 20120134166
    Abstract: Arrangement accuracy of a transmission member with respect to an exposure hole is increased. In a door mirror device for a vehicle, a turn lamp is assembled to a bracket, a visor rim, and a visor cover, and an exposure portion of a lamp lens of the turn lamp is exposed by an exposure hole of a lower visor cover. As an anchor plate of the lower visor cover is inserted into an anchoring hole of the lamp lens and a fitting column of the lamp lens is inserted into a fitting hole of the lower visor cover, the lamp lens is positioned in the lower visor cover. Therefore, the accuracy precision of the exposure portion with respect to the exposure hole can be increased, thereby enhancing the appearance of a gap between the exposure portion and the periphery of the exposure hole.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 23, 2011
    Publication date: May 31, 2012
    Applicant: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOKAI-RIKA-DENKI-SEISAKUSHO
    Inventor: Hiroto ASAI
  • Patent number: 8186861
    Abstract: Each of a pair of lower reflection areas, which are located on both left and right sides of an optical axis in a lower end portion of a reflective surface of a reflector, respectively, is formed so as to converge light from a light source at a position located forward of a rear side focal point of a projection lens in a horizontal direction, and on the same lateral side as that of each of the lower reflection areas with respect to the optical axis. Thus, the pair of light ray bundles are emitted from the projection lens, whereby a pair of additional light distribution patterns are formed on both sides of a lateral direction central portion in an upper area of a high-beam distribution pattern, respectively. The upper area of the high-beam distribution pattern is thus made bright widely in a lateral direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2012
    Assignee: Koito Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Shinji Kagiyama
  • Publication number: 20120113665
    Abstract: A vehicle lighting apparatus is provided with: a light source device including a first light source and a second light source; a reflector adapted to reflect forwardly light emitted from the light sources; a main shade adapted to shade a portion of light emitted from the first light source and reflected by the reflector; and a sub shade adapted to shade at least a portion of light emitted from the second light source and reflected by the reflector.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 4, 2011
    Publication date: May 10, 2012
    Applicant: KOITO MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Akinori Matsumoto
  • Publication number: 20120113664
    Abstract: A head lamp for a vehicle is provided, which includes a reflector for reflecting light emitted from a light source, a reflection plate for collecting the light reflected from the reflector in an upward direction, a micro-reflection module provided over the reflector to tilt and reflect the light collected by the reflection plate at a desired angle, and an optical lens for irradiating the light reflected from the micro-reflector onto a road surface. The head lamp can implement various beam patterns in accordance with road and surrounding circumferences, and irradiate vehicle information onto a road surface, thereby reducing the dazzle of other drivers of opposite vehicles and improving the field of vision of the driver to improve the safety and convenience.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 8, 2011
    Publication date: May 10, 2012
    Applicants: Hyundai Mobis, Hyundai Motor Company
    Inventors: Jong Bae Park, Byoung Suk Ahn, Young Sub Oh, Tae-Won Lee, In Heum Park
  • Patent number: 8172442
    Abstract: A vehicle headlamp can include a daytime running lamp with favorable light distribution characteristics. The vehicle headlamp can also include a headlight such as a low beam/high beam, a fog lamp, and the like. The vehicle headlamp can include a parabolic type reflector, a halogen bulb, and a driving circuit. The halogen bulb can include a first filament, a second filament and a shield member if necessary or desired. The first filament can be used as the above headlight, and the second filament adjacent the first filament can be used as the daytime running lamp. Because the second filament can be located at a closer position than the first filament with respect to the reflector, light emitted from the second filament can form a wider light distribution than that of the first filament. Therefore, the vehicle headlamp can provide a daytime running lamp with a favorable light distribution pattern along with the above headlight.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2012
    Assignee: Stanley Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Sadayuki Konishi
  • Patent number: 8172441
    Abstract: A light emitting module used in a vehicle headlamp is provided with a light source having a light emitting plane directing toward a front side of a lighting unit, a projection lens disposed ahead of the light source, and a reflecting plane extending in an oblique and forward direction from a side of the light source. The projection lens is disposed by setting a focal point in a vicinity of a lower side of the light emitting plane. The reflecting plane has a structure so that a light emitted from the light source is reflected toward a lower region from a cut line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2012
    Assignee: Koito Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Hiroyuki Ishida
  • Publication number: 20120106188
    Abstract: A headlamp of an embodiment of this invention includes a laser element, a light emitting section, and a parabolic mirror. A part of the parabolic mirror is provided so as to face an upper surface of the light emitting section, which upper surface has a larger area than that of a side surface of the light emitting section. The light emitting section emits fluorescence in such a manner that distribution of the fluorescence corresponds to the Lambertian distribution.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 28, 2011
    Publication date: May 3, 2012
    Applicant: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Koji TAKAHASHI, Yoshiyuki Takahira, David Montgomery, James Suckling
  • Publication number: 20120106187
    Abstract: A vehicle lamp includes a lamp outer case, a reflection-type first lamp unit, a direct emission-type second lamp unit, and a compound lens. The lamp outer case includes a cover and a lamp housing. The first lamp unit has a first light source, a reflector and a shade and forms a collective optical system. The second lamp unit has a second light source, which directly emits light, and forms a defuse optical system. The compound lens is disposed along an inner surface of the cover, and has an outer surface facing the inner surface of the cover that is formed as a curved light emitting surface. The cover also includes first and second control portions. The light emitting surface has a shape which is displaced to the rear as it extends transversely outwards of a vehicle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 28, 2011
    Publication date: May 3, 2012
    Applicant: KOITO MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Naoki Uchida
  • Patent number: 8169684
    Abstract: The present invention relates to improved electro-optic rearview mirror elements and assemblies incorporating the same. Area of the effective field of view of the electro-optic mirror element substantially equals to that defined by the outermost perimeter of the element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2012
    Assignee: Gentex Corporation
    Inventors: Mark D. Bugno, William L. Tonar, George A. Neuman, Danny L. Minikey, Jr., John S. Anderson, Mark R. Roth, Nigel T. Lock, Spencer D. Reese
  • Publication number: 20120081916
    Abstract: The present disclosure has been made in an effort to provide a vehicular lamp that can adopt a low-priced material having a low heat-resisting temperature as a material for a reflector. A vehicular lamp includes a tail and stop lamp bulb and a reflector reflecting light from bulb to the front of the lamp, in a lamp chamber defined by a lamp body and a front cover. In addition, lamp body includes an opening for exposing the rear surface of reflector in the vicinity of tail and stop lamp bulb to the outside of the lamp chamber.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 20, 2011
    Publication date: April 5, 2012
    Applicant: KOITO MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Misao YAMAMOTO, Hideyuki AIHARA
  • Publication number: 20120075876
    Abstract: A lighting or signaling device for a motor vehicle which is capable of emitting a linear beam in the direction of an optical axis and which comprises a point light source that emits light rays radially around a source; a light ray guiding plate; wherein the light guiding plate is shaped so that the light rays generally propagate in incident propagation planes normal to the plate between the light source and the reflection edge and in reflected propagation planes normal to the plate between the reflection edge and the output edge.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 5, 2011
    Publication date: March 29, 2012
    Applicant: VALEO VISION
    Inventors: Christophe DUBOSC, Antoine DE LAMBERTERIE
  • Publication number: 20120069594
    Abstract: An interior lighting display device and a display panel thereof capable of effectively preventing a dark area from being formed in the display panel. A film or sheet that reflects light is disposed on a back surface and a side surface of a display panel of an interior lighting display device. For example, the film or sheet is disposed on a back surface and a side surface of a region that is a colored area having low transmittance of the display panel, and an area in which a light source is not present behind the display panel. In addition, a light reflective body is placed in an area in which the light source is not present within the interior lighting display device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 9, 2009
    Publication date: March 22, 2012
    Applicant: FURUKAWA ELECTRIC CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Shingo Nomura, Kensuke Mizobuchi, Hideyuki Ikeda, Kouji Kumada, Kouji Katsura, Yoichi Shibata, Hideo Yoshida, Yoichiro Shiozaki
  • Publication number: 20120063156
    Abstract: An optical unit includes: a heat sink that radiates heat from a light source; and a base portion including a reflector mounting section, a lens mounting section and a connecting section connecting the reflector mounting section and the lens mounting section. The base portion is configured such that the light from the light source is reflected by a reflector mounted onto the reflector mounting section and is incident onto a projection lens mounted onto the lens mounting section. The heat sink is exposed to a space surrounded by the lens mounting section, the connecting section and the reflector mounting section.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 9, 2011
    Publication date: March 15, 2012
    Applicant: KOITO MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yuji Yasuda, Tatsuhiko Yamamichi, Shigeyuki Watanabe
  • Patent number: 8132947
    Abstract: A vehicle head light device includes an inner housing attached to front of an outer housing and having an upper casing and a lower casing located within the outer housing, and the casings each include a reflective member, two circuit boards are attached to the casings and each include one or more light members directed toward the reflective members for generating lights toward the reflective members which reflect the lights to form a high beam and a low beam respectively, a control device is disposed in the outer housing and electrically coupled to the circuit boards for controlling the light member to generate the lights toward the reflective members of the casings respectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2012
    Inventor: Jen Shieh Shih
  • Publication number: 20120057363
    Abstract: A vehicle lamp includes a semiconductor light emitting device arranged to face toward a front of the vehicle lamp, a first optical member disposed in front of the semiconductor light emitting device, and a second optical member disposed in front of the first optical member. The first optical member comprises a front surface and a back surface. The front surface is configured to internally reflect light from the semiconductor light emitting device toward the back surface. The back surface is configured to internally reflect the light reflected by the front surface back toward the front surface such that the light exits the first optical member from the front surface. The second optical member is disposed directly in front of the front surface of the first optical member and diffuses the light from the first optical member to form a light distribution pattern.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 2, 2011
    Publication date: March 8, 2012
    Applicant: KOITO MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hiroyuki ISHIDA, Naoki UCHIDA
  • Publication number: 20120051077
    Abstract: A vehicular lamp has a lamp chamber defined by an outer lens and a lamp body, a linear light guide arranged inside the lamp chamber, a light source provided facing a light incident end portion of the light guide, and a light guide attachment portion to which the linear light guide is mounted. Light emitted by the light source and incident on the light incident end portion is repeatedly internally reflected and guided toward another end portion such that a front surface side of a side surface of the light guide radiates light. The linear light guide is formed with a tongue-shaped extending portion that extends rearward parallel to an extending direction of the light guide. A side edge portion of the tongue-shaped extending portion is formed into a tapered shape in which a width of the extending portion narrows toward a distal end side thereof.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 17, 2011
    Publication date: March 1, 2012
    Applicant: KOITO MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Hajime Arai
  • Publication number: 20120039083
    Abstract: A lighting module notably for motor vehicles comprising a first concave reflector comprising a first and a second focal point, a second concave reflector and comprising a first and a second focal point, the first and the second reflectors having a truncated circumference such that the reflecting face of the first reflector is oriented towards that of the second reflector, a shield between the first and the second reflectors, an optical element comprising a first focal point situated in a plane perpendicular to the optical axis of the module and passing through the cut-off edge, the cut-off edge being situated at the second focal point of the first reflector and at the second focal point of the second reflector.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 15, 2010
    Publication date: February 16, 2012
    Applicant: VALEO VISION
    Inventor: Jean-Luc Meyrenaud
  • Publication number: 20120039084
    Abstract: Light assembly (10) having reflector (16), light source(18), an outer light cover(12), and a curved transflective surface (15). Embodiments of light assemblies described herein are useful, for example, as signs, backlights, displays, task lighting, luminaire, and vehicle (e.g., cars, trucks, airplanes, etc.) components. Vehicle comprising light assemblies include those where the light assembly is a vehicle tail light assembly.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 23, 2010
    Publication date: February 16, 2012
    Inventors: Stephen K. Eckhardt, Barry S. Carpenter, David A. Ender, David J. Lundin, Mark E. Napierala, Jennifer J. Sahlin, David F. Slama, Karl A. Vick, John A. Wheatley
  • Publication number: 20120039082
    Abstract: A kitchen container make of flexible material (such as a silicone elastomer) for culinary applications. The flexible material is capable of being deformed into different positions befitting different uses, in particular cooking in a microwave and in a conventional oven. Opposite openings separated by portions of two sides of a perimetric wall of the kitchen container facilitate air circulation and partial retention of vapours while cooking.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 13, 2009
    Publication date: February 16, 2012
    Inventor: Alejandro Rodriguez Barros
  • Patent number: 8106568
    Abstract: Disclosed is an assembly of light-emitting units, which is applicable to a lighting device that comprises a plurality of light-emitting elements respectively mounted to heat dissipation units. The light-emitting elements give off light beams that project outward through a light-transmitting hood. One surface of the light-transmitting hood is provided with a light diffusion layer featuring light refraction. As such, the light beams emitting from the light-emitting elements are made converging on a light incidence area, which, together with the feature of light spreading of the light-transmitting hood, can spread off and thus homogenize the light beams to form a surface source, and can also concentrate the light energy of the lighting device to enhance the brightness. The lighting device can be applied to any lighting facility.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2012
    Inventors: Hsueh-Chung Kao, Chao-Jen Wang
  • Publication number: 20120008333
    Abstract: A vehicle lamp unit has a light emitting device disposed adjacent to a base point on an optical axis extending in a front-rear direction of a vehicle on which the vehicle lamp unit is mounted, and a transparent member disposed in front of the light emitting device. The light emitting device has a light emitting surface arranged to face forward. The transparent member is configured such that light emitted by the light emitting device enters the transparent member and is internally reflected by a front surface of the transparent member, and such that the light reflected by the front surface is internally reflected again by a rear surface of the transparent member and emitted from the front surface of the transparent member. The front surface has a flat surface facing obliquely upward.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 7, 2011
    Publication date: January 12, 2012
    Applicant: KOITO MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Tomoaki Otani
  • Publication number: 20110292669
    Abstract: A lighting module having a flat light emitter, a reflector (R1) determined so as to create, in a plane comprising the emitter, a hot spot (S) limited by a control curve (A) contained in the plane comprising the first emitter and constituting the front or rear edge of the spot and a lens (L) determined and arranged with the reflector so as to form the first cutoff beam.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 27, 2011
    Publication date: December 1, 2011
    Applicant: VALEO VISION
    Inventors: Pierre ALBOU, Vanesa Sanchez
  • Patent number: 8067881
    Abstract: A light emitting device comprises: a concave mirror having one focal point; a plurality of main light sources each of which is arranged between the focal point and a light reflection surface of the concave mirror, and emits light toward the light reflection surface; and a plurality of main lenses each of which is arranged between a corresponding one of the main light sources and the light reflection surface, refracts the light emitted from the corresponding main light source toward the light reflection surface, and produces a virtual image of the main light source on the focal point situated at a backside of the main light source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 24, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2011
    Assignee: Phoenix Electric Co. Ltd.
    Inventor: Andrei Kazmierski
  • Publication number: 20110286228
    Abstract: A vehicle headlight can include a housing including a front surface provided with an opening, a reflector which reflects light, and a supporting member including a plurality of shaft bearing portions which support the reflector. The supporting member can be made in such a way that at least the shaft bearing portions have flexibility, and engage with the housing in a vicinity of the opening of the front surface of the housing so as to be fixed to the housing. The housing can be configured to support the reflector via the supporting member disposed in the housing in such a way that the reflector is tiltable in the housing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 23, 2011
    Publication date: November 24, 2011
    Inventor: Yasuyuki Zanma
  • Publication number: 20110280028
    Abstract: A lighting apparatus is provided. The lighting apparatus includes a light source having a light emitting surface, and a reflector configured to reflect light from the light source to form a light distribution pattern having a first cutoff line and a second cutoff line such that the first cutoff line and the second cutoff line form an angle with each other. The reflector is configured to form the first cutoff line and the second cutoff line by reflection images of the same edge of the light emitting surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 3, 2011
    Publication date: November 17, 2011
    Applicant: KOITO MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Naoki UCHIDA
  • Publication number: 20110280029
    Abstract: Disclosed is a low-beam lamp unit including an LED, a projector lens disposed on an optical axis, a reflector reflecting light of the LED toward the vicinity of a back focus of the projector lens on a vertical cross section, a shade having a front edge portion disposed in the vicinity of the back focus of projector lens to block a portion of light reflected by the reflector, and a re-reflection surface integrally provided in the back of the front edge portion to re-reflect the portion of reflected light blocked by the shade to the projector lens. In the low-beam lamp unit, at least a portion of the re-reflection surface has a light diffusion portion which is a continuously curved surface that is convex toward the reflector in the vertical cross section.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 9, 2011
    Publication date: November 17, 2011
    Applicant: KOITO MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Ippei YAMAMOTO
  • Patent number: 8047693
    Abstract: A cooling device for a light emitting device package of a vibration generating machine, includes: a heat releasing plate provided at one side of the light emitting device package; a vibrator disposed to face the heat releasing plate and vibrating to generate an air flow according to vibration of the vibration generating machine; and a vibration transfer unit configured to connect the vibrator and the heat releasing plate to allow the air flow generated from the vibrator to be transferred to the heat releasing plate so as to be cooled.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2011
    Assignee: Samsung LED Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Young Ki Lee, Seog Moon Choi, Sang Hyun Shin, Shan Gao, Jong Woon Kim
  • Publication number: 20110261574
    Abstract: In a method for controlling a headlight assembly for a vehicle (10) with a right and a left headlight unit (1, 2), for a dipped-beam function, the optical axes (L1, L2) of the headlight units (1, 2) are tilted away from one another horizontally relative to a parallel direction. According to the method for a main-beam function, the optical axes (L1, L2) of the headlight units (1, 2) are tilted toward one another horizontally relative to a parallel direction. A respective headlight assembly can be particularly suitable for carrying out the method.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 29, 2009
    Publication date: October 27, 2011
    Inventor: Rolf Koppermann
  • Publication number: 20110261576
    Abstract: A vehicle light can include a bulb, a projector lens disposed in front of the bulb and having a focus located in between the bulb and the projector lens. A first reflecting surface can be disposed behind the projector lens, for reflecting light beams emitted from the bulb toward the projector lens so that the light beams are converged at or near the focus of the projector lens. A shade can be configured to shield part of the light beams directed from the first reflecting surface to the projector lens. A second reflecting surface can be disposed on a rear surface of the shade, for reflecting downward part of the reflected light beams directed from the first reflecting surface to the projector lens. A third reflecting surface can be disposed below the shade, for reflecting the light beams from the second reflecting surface to an outside area below the projector lens to project the light beams forward.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 24, 2011
    Publication date: October 27, 2011
    Inventor: Mitsuhiro Uchida
  • Publication number: 20110249460
    Abstract: A vehicle headlight including a common light distribution unit and a variable light distribution unit and a headlight system including the headlight can form a common light distribution pattern and a variable light distribution pattern using the common and the variable light distribution units. The variable distribution unit can include a light source, a phosphor panel, a mirror reflecting/scanning light emitted from the light source onto the phosphor panel and a projector lens projecting the scanning light adjacent the common light distribution pattern. The headlight system can include a front sensor detecting a surrounding condition, and can control the common and the variable light distribution units to form an optimum light distribution pattern in accordance with surrounding conditions. Thus, the disclosed subject matter can provide a headlight system including a headlight that can form an optimum light distribution pattern in accordance with surrounding conditions and can have a simple structure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 8, 2011
    Publication date: October 13, 2011
    Inventor: Takuya KUSHIMOTO