With Common Housing Patents (Class 362/544)
  • Patent number: 7722236
    Abstract: A vehicle headlamp is provided with an upper stage light source unit, a middle stage light source unit, and a lower stage light source unit. The upper stage light source unit, the middle stage light source unit, and the lower stage light source unit are provided at a lamp body constituting a lamp member by way of a support member. A low beam light distribution pattern is formed on a front side of a vehicle by overlapping light from the respective light source units. The lower stage light source unit includes two subunits, the two subunits commonly share a single cylindrical lens.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 25, 2010
    Assignee: Koito Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Masahito Naganawa, Michio Tsukamoto
  • Publication number: 20100118558
    Abstract: A vehicle headlamp is provided. The vehicle headlamp includes a lamp body having a front opening, a cover which covers the front opening of the lamp body to form a lamp housing, a first lamp unit which is disposed inside the lamp housing to produce at least one of a high beam and a low beam, and a second lamp unit disposed in a gap region between the lamp body and the first lamp unit to produce a beam other than the high beam and the low beam.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 11, 2009
    Publication date: May 13, 2010
    Applicant: KOITO MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hironori TSUKAMOTO, Ryosuke HARA
  • Publication number: 20100103688
    Abstract: Lights for attachment to a vehicle including a first illuminating means directed substantially perpendicular to a surface plane of the light and a second illuminating means directed substantially parallel with the surface plane of the light. The second illuminating means may be mounted solely within a lower hemisphere of the light. The light may also include a covering hood.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 24, 2008
    Publication date: April 29, 2010
    Inventor: Scott Arthur Riesebosch
  • Publication number: 20100093267
    Abstract: A service apparatus for a transportation means comprises a first component in the form of an air shower with an air inlet and at least one air outlet, and a second component in the form of an illumination device. The first component and the second component are arranged essentially centrically in relation to each other, wherein one of the two components encloses the other component essentially in a ring-shaped manner. In this way an integral reading light with a forced-air nozzle, or an integral forced-air nozzle with a reading light, is implemented that uses little design space.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 6, 2009
    Publication date: April 15, 2010
    Applicant: AIRBUS OPERATIONS GMBH
    Inventors: Robert Hogh, Jochen Mueller
  • Patent number: 7690826
    Abstract: Provided is an adaptive front light system (AFLS) for a vehicle. The AFLS comprising one or more light-emitting diode (LED) lamp units and a housing which accommodates the LED lamp units, wherein each of the LED lamp units comprises one or more LEDs as its light source and a reflector which reflects light emitted by the light source so that the reflected light can be directed forward, and said adaptive front light system is operable to form different beam patterns by selectively turning on or off the lamp units, and wherein one or more reflectors of the lamp units comprise a multi-face reflector including a plurality of cells having different curvature radiuses or focal points.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2010
    Assignees: SL Seobong, SL Lighting
    Inventor: Jong-Un Kim
  • Patent number: 7686488
    Abstract: Five lamp units with light emitting elements are supported by a common metal made support member. Heat generated by the respective light emitting elements is transferred to the metal made support member having a large heat capacity to restrain a temperature rise thereof. The lamp units including the light emitting elements having a relatively large heat generating amount are arranged on lower sides of the lamp units including the light emitting elements having a relatively small heat generating amount.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2010
    Assignee: Koito Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Takashi Inoue, Seiichiro Yagi
  • Patent number: 7645062
    Abstract: A light source apparatus for vehicle lamps and particularly vehicle headlights can include a plurality of LED elements mounted in a cavity located on a base surface or on a base. Each of the LED elements can be arranged in such a manner as to form an emission shape and a brightness distribution that is suited for a light distribution pattern, and especially a light distribution pattern for vehicle headlight.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2010
    Assignee: Stanley Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yasushi Yatsuda, Teruo Koike, Takuya Kushimoto
  • Patent number: 7641372
    Abstract: An advanced headlamp system is proposed for providing a headlamp assembly for vehicles that has peripheral beam technology built in that has a multiplicity of filaments and reflectors built in to provide at least one forward beam and at least one or more peripheral light beams offset in angles to the left (for the driver side) and to the right (for the passenger side) of the forward beam in each assembly each also having a low-beam and a high-beam. The filaments and reflectors are located within a single sealed compartment. An example of a headlamp depicted would have (3) light filament bulbs, (3) reflectors, one pointing forward, one at a 45-degree angle, and one at a 90-degree angle. Included are circuitry and switches to program and to turn the bright lights and the peripheral beam system on or off and to turn the beams on or off automatically when an oncoming car comes within a certain distance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2010
    Inventor: Peter Panopoulos
  • Patent number: 7635209
    Abstract: The present invention provides a lamp for a vehicle provided to a forward inclined face of a roof of a vehicle. The forward inclined face inclines downward and forward of the vehicle from a top of the roof. The lamp for a vehicle is provided with a light emitting face at least on a top face thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 22, 2009
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroshi Uematsu, Yoshiyuki Matsumoto
  • Patent number: 7635212
    Abstract: An electrical center assembly used in a vehicle provides ambient light to the assembly and the area around the assembly using a light-emitting diode. The electrical center assembly generally includes a housing, an electrically conducting link, removable electrical components and at least one light-emitting diode for illuminating the electrical center.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 22, 2009
    Assignee: Delphi Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Robert J. Seidler
  • Patent number: 7629557
    Abstract: A heat treatment apparatus enables a rapid temperature rise of an object to be processed while giving an excellent economical efficiency. A heating unit heats an object to be heated by irradiating a light onto the object. A plurality of lamps are provided in a lamp house. The lamps include at least one first lamp and a plurality of second lamps each having an irradiation area smaller than that of the first lamp. The lamp house has a first lamp accommodation part at a center thereof and a second lamp accommodation part surrounding the first lamp accommodation part so that the first lamp accommodation part accommodates the first lamp and the second lamp accommodation part accommodates the second lamps.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2009
    Assignee: Tokyo Electronic Limited
    Inventor: Masahiro Shimizu
  • Patent number: 7628516
    Abstract: The invention relates to a headlamp adjusting device with lamp units that can be adjusted in groups. To this end, each lamp unit is mounted individually directly or indirectly in the headlamp housing by means of one respective joint; and it is swivelably mounted in a first feed mechanism. The headlamp adjusting device comprises a second feed mechanism. The second feed mechanism guides the first feed mechanism. The orientation of the feed motion of the first feed mechanism and the orientation of the feed motion of the second feed mechanism enclose an angle, which is not equal to an integral multiple of Pi. With the present invention a space-saving headlamp adjusting device for adjusting the lamp units in two directions of adjustment is developed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2009
    Assignee: odelo GmbH
    Inventors: Jens Mertens, Otto Muller, Frank Tebbe
  • Patent number: 7628517
    Abstract: To provide a vehicle headlight assembly designed to increase the productivity, the vehicle headlight assembly includes a light projecting group (34) accommodated within a casing (31) and including a plurality of light projecting units (29, 30). Each of the light projecting units (29, 30) in turn includes a light emitting element (37, 38), and a support member (40A, 40B) supported by and within the casing (31). The support members (40A, 40B) of each light projecting units (29, 30) cooperatively form a single holder (40A, 40B).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2009
    Assignees: Kawasaki Jukogyo Kabushiki Kaisha, Stanley Electric CO., Ltd.
    Inventors: Mikio Domoto, Katsushi Ono
  • Patent number: 7618174
    Abstract: In a vehicle lamp including a light source unit at inside of a lamp chamber formed by a lamp body and a transparent front face cover attached to a front opening portion thereof, a light source unit includes a light emitting element supported by a unit mounting portion, an optical unit for irradiating light from the light emitting element to a front side of the vehicle lamp, and a swivel drive mechanism for driving the optical unit without being moved cooperatively with the light emitting element. The light source unit integral with the unit mounting portion and a heat radiating portion is arranged to penetrate the lamp body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 17, 2009
    Assignee: Koito Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yuji Yasuda, Mitsuyuki Mochizuki, Masashi Tatsukawa, Hiroyuki Ishida, Seiichiro Yagi
  • Patent number: 7611269
    Abstract: A light bar snap bracket assembly includes an elongated rail member, multiple light modules, multiple snap brackets, and multiple locking devices. The light modules are disposed within the rail member channel in a line of light modules extending longitudinally from a first light module disposed at the first end of the rail member to a last light module disposed at the second end of the rail member, the line of light modules defining pairs of adjacent light modules. One of the snap brackets is disposed intermediate each light module in each pair of light modules, one of the snap brackets is disposed intermediate the first light module and the first end of the rail member, and one of the snap brackets is disposed intermediate the last light module and the second end of the rail member. Arm segments of each snap bracket extend longitudinally over tabs extending from the light module sides, of the adjacent light module half portion, with the tabs being received within the notches of the arm segments.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2009
    Assignee: Whelen Engineering Company, Inc.
    Inventor: Jon H. Lyons
  • Publication number: 20090262548
    Abstract: A vehicle interior illumination apparatus includes a first type touch switch which turns illumination ON and OFF when a human body touches a surface of an illumination lens on a vehicle compartment side, and a second type touch switch which switches between linkage and non-linkage between ON and OFF of illumination and a state of a door when the human body moves on the surface of the illumination lens on the vehicle compartment side. The first type touch switch includes a first transparent electrode on a surface of the illumination lens on the light source side for detecting touch of the human body on the surface of the illumination lens on the vehicle compartment side, and the second type touch switch includes a plurality of second transparent electrodes on the surface of the illumination lens on the light source side for detecting movement of the human body on the surface of the illumination lens on the vehicle compartment side.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 8, 2008
    Publication date: October 22, 2009
    Applicant: KOJIMA PRESS INDUSTRY CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Yasuyuki Ando
  • Publication number: 20090237953
    Abstract: A vehicle lighting device is provided to maintain a viewability of light even when seen from a diagonal direction having a predetermined angle to an irradiation direction of the lighting device. The vehicle lighting device includes a board, which includes an array of a plurality of light sources. The vehicle lighting device also includes wall portions that bulge in an irradiation direction of the light sources from edge surfaces of the board. The wall portions also form a polygon surrounding the board. At least one of the wall portions includes a reflective surface on a side facing the light sources.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 5, 2009
    Publication date: September 24, 2009
    Inventors: Koji Komiya, Mutsumi Katayama
  • Publication number: 20090196057
    Abstract: A work vehicle is provided including a frame having a side and an end, the frame structurally carrying a cab structure having a brim. A housing is configured to receive a first light source and a second light source. The housing is structurally carried by the cab structure in close proximity to the brim and disposed above an operator's viewing position. The first light source provides illumination generally directed perpendicular to the end of the frame, the second light source providing illumination generally directed perpendicular to the side of the frame. The first and second light sources are sufficiently disposed within the cab structure for protection from vertically falling objects.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 31, 2008
    Publication date: August 6, 2009
    Inventors: Michael David Case, Carl Joseph Hagele, Salvatore Virgilio, Kyle Brenner
  • Patent number: 7566153
    Abstract: A vehicular lighting assembly with a reflection mirror formed of a BMC resin is provided which prevents glass fiber in the resin from separating and flying away when the direction of illumination is changed for aiming, which can result in degradation in appearance of the reflector or occurrence of glare. The vehicular lighting assembly can be configured such that a high-beam reflector and a low-beam lighting assembly attachment are formed of a plastic member made of the BMC resin as an integrated lighting assembly holder portion. The low-beam lighting assembly attachment of the lighting assembly holder portion can include a low-beam reflector, ball joints, and an adjusting nut attachment engaged with an adjusting screw, so that it can be aimed. The ball joints and the adjusting nut attachment are formed at their respective positions on an integrated metallic member so that they can be attached as an aiming unit to the low-beam lighting assembly attachment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 28, 2009
    Assignee: Stanley Electric Co., Ltd
    Inventors: Katsuya Nagashima, Yoichi Tatsumi
  • Patent number: 7540640
    Abstract: An illuminating warning lamp includes a first light source and a second light source assembled on a lamp socket. An irradiation direction of the first light source and that of the second light source form an angle of 90 degrees with respect to each other. Additionally, a first lamp casing for encapsulating the first light source is further formed with a through hole at one side thereof, and a second lamp casing corresponding to the second light source is assembled within the through hole. After the first and second light sources are both driven to emit lights, the lamp simultaneously emits warning lights and illumination light.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2009
    Inventor: Yung-Fa Lin
  • Patent number: 7537366
    Abstract: A metal bracket that supports a plurality of lamp units is configured so as to be housed in the lamp chamber and to be tiltably supported by a lamp body. In this situation, a portion of the lamp body is configured so as to be a heat sink. The heat sink and the metal bracket are connected to each other by a flexible heat pipe. With this arrangement, the heat that is generated by light emitting elements included in lamp units is allowed to move to the heat sink via the metal bracket and the flexible heat pipe, and is thereby released into the space that is outside the lamp chamber. Further, due to the transformation of the flexible heat pipe having flexibility, even when the metal bracket is tilted, it is possible to easily maintain the water-proof function of the lamp without hindering the movement of the metal bracket.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2009
    Assignee: Koito Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Takashi Inoue, Seiichiro Yagi
  • Patent number: 7527405
    Abstract: An infrared projector for a vehicle using a semiconductor light-emitting element that prevents a lens from becoming reddish by a red light component generated with infrared rays includes: a semiconductor light-emitting element for generating infrared rays and a red light component; and a lens for irradiating in a forward direction the infrared rays and the red light component from said semiconductor light-emitting element. The infrared projector for a vehicle further includes a light source for generating white light and emitting the white light from the light source incident on the lens. Use of scattered light reduces the influence of a red light component passing through the lens.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2009
    Assignee: Koito Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Masashi Tatsukawa
  • Patent number: 7524097
    Abstract: A light emitting assembly having a first light source and a second light source. The first and second light sources are oriented such that when the first and second light sources emit light, light emitted from the first and second light sources overlaps and is capable of forming white light. The light emitted from the first light source exhibits color coordinates different from the light emitted from the second light source. Also disclosed is a license plate illuminator having an LED device capable of emitting white light.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2009
    Assignee: Gentex Corporation
    Inventors: Robert R. Turnbull, Robert C. Knapp, John K. Roberts
  • Publication number: 20090080210
    Abstract: A motor vehicle headlight (80) comprises at least two modules (70) for light production, the radiation characteristics of at least one of the modules (70) being adjustable in a reference system associated with the headlight. Preferably, modules (70) of the headlight (80) have different radiation characteristics and the irradiation characteristics of at least two of the modules (70) overlap to form an adjustable radiation characteristic of the headlight (80).
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 31, 2006
    Publication date: March 26, 2009
    Applicant: Patent-Treuhand-Gesellschaft Für Elektrische Glühlampen MBH
    Inventors: Thomas Reiners, Ralf Vollmer, Alexander Wilm
  • Publication number: 20090067187
    Abstract: A multiple tube, multiple lights effects neon or fluorescent lighting system for a skateboard produces a variety of controlled light effects and combinations. A pair of high strength colored protective transparent elongated casings house the light tubes. The casings are removably attached in a highly visible position on the side edges of a skateboard or under the skateboard adjacent to the side edges. The casings are secured by industrial strength mating hook and loop fasteners.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 7, 2007
    Publication date: March 12, 2009
    Inventor: Richard A. Jaime, SR.
  • Patent number: 7500773
    Abstract: A lamp unit of a vehicle headlamp characterized in a lamp unit of a vehicle headlamp includes a projecting lens arranged on an optical axis extended in a front and rear direction of a vehicle, a first light emitting element arranged on a rear side of a rear side focal point of the projecting lens, and a reflector for reflecting light from the first light emitting element to a front side to be proximate to an optical axis. A vicinity of a rear side focal face of the projecting lens is arranged with a plurality of second light emitting elements for emitting light to the projecting lens.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2009
    Assignee: Koito Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Motohiro Komatsu
  • Publication number: 20090059609
    Abstract: A lighting panel capable of producing a “Starry Sky” lighting effect and which is easily retrofitted into existing aircraft includes a first substrate, a plurality of microminiature light sources, such as LEDs, mounted on an upper surface of the first substrate, a plurality of electrically conductive traces written on the upper surface of the first substrate so as to make electrical interconnections with respective leads of the light sources, a clear filler material surrounding each light source and tapering down to the upper surface of the first substrate so as to planarize it, and a flexible decorative film laminated over the upper surface of the first substrate and light sources, the decorative film containing a plurality of apertures therethrough, each corresponding in location to a respective light source.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 31, 2007
    Publication date: March 5, 2009
    Inventors: Joseph A. Marshall, Gregory W. Nelson, Bradley J. Mitchell
  • Publication number: 20090034282
    Abstract: A vehicular lamp includes a plurality of light sources; a lamp chamber for housing the plurality of light sources; and a bounding member for bounding the plurality of light sources in the lamp chamber. The bounding member includes a sheet-like material integrally formed into a predetermined shape so that one or more bounding walls are provided between or among the plurality of light sources. A vehicular lamp includes a plurality of lamp units; a lamp chamber for housing the plurality of lamp units; and a bounding member for bounding the plurality of lamp units in the lamp chamber. The bounding member includes a sheet-like material integrally formed into a predetermined shape so that one or more bounding walls are provided between or among the plurality of lamp units.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 1, 2008
    Publication date: February 5, 2009
    Applicant: KOITO MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hiromi Nakamura, Hironori Tsukamoto
  • Patent number: 7481561
    Abstract: A vehicle lighting device includes at least one lamp unit, a holder that holds the lamp unit in a rotatable manner around a vertical axis, and a drive unit that rotates the lamp unit around the vertical axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 27, 2009
    Assignee: Ichikoh Industries, Ltd.
    Inventor: Haruo Okuda
  • Patent number: 7476013
    Abstract: A light bar is described that is of a modular construction based on one or more large circuit boards that are populated with light beam assemblies and then fastened to an interior space of the light bar housing. Keys that automatically align the light beam assemblies on each of the boards precisely control placement of the assemblies on the board. In turn, each of the boards is keyed to the interior of the light bar housing so that when the board is fastened to the housing the light beam assemblies are automatically registered into alignment with the lenses in the housing so that the beams from the assemblies are properly oriented. The light bar is inexpensive to fabricate and can be assembled quickly and reliably, yet it provides for a high degree of customization, which is a requirement in the emergency vehicle lighting industry.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 13, 2009
    Assignee: Federal Signal Corporation
    Inventors: Paul M. Gergets, Vince S. Fleszewski, Allan J. Mostello
  • Patent number: 7438453
    Abstract: An exterior mirror assembly includes a mirror member, a housing and a light member. The mirror member is supported in the housing. The light member is attached to the housing to radiate light, having a luminous body and a lens mask configured to cover the luminous body. The housing has an outermost portion which lies outwardly furthest with respect to a width direction of a vehicle. The light member is disposed inside of the outermost portion with respect to a width direction of the vehicle and the lens mask is formed so that its shape smoothly continues to the outermost portion. A projection is formed on the lens mask so that a surface of the projection is inside of the outermost portion with respect to a width direction of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2008
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Makoto Saitoh, Tomohiko Sano, Takayuki Domon
  • Patent number: 7431485
    Abstract: A lighting assembly for a vehicle includes an elongated base plate having an inner surface and an outer surface. The base plate includes at least one opening. The lighting assembly further includes at least one light source adapted to be mounted to the base plate at the opening. The base plate is configured to be mounted and to conform aerodynamically to an exterior surface of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 7, 2008
    Assignee: SportRack LLC
    Inventors: Ronald G. Saward, William R. Henderson, John H. Harberts
  • Patent number: 7419290
    Abstract: A vehicle headlamp including a projector-type lamp unit and a reflection-type lamp unit. The projector-type lamp unit includes a first light source, a first reflector, and a projection lens disposed in a forward direction of the first light source. The reflection-type lamp unit includes a second light source, and a second reflector. The reflection-type lamp unit is disposed beneath the projector-type lamp unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2008
    Assignee: Koito Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Tetsuaki Inaba
  • Publication number: 20080198612
    Abstract: The invention relates to a light arrangement, comprising a motor vehicle light which can be operated in at least two operating modes, as well as further comprising a control mechanism for the motor vehicle light. The invention further relates to a method for operating a motor vehicle light and a motor vehicle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 11, 2008
    Publication date: August 21, 2008
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.
    Inventor: Klaus-Dieter RAMPF
  • Patent number: 7404658
    Abstract: A light bar snap bracket assembly includes an elongated rail member, multiple light modules, and multiple snap brackets. The light modules are disposed within the rail member channel in a line of light modules extending longitudinally from a first light module disposed at the first end of the rail member to a last light module disposed at the second end of the rail member, the line of light modules defining pairs of adjacent light modules. One of the snap brackets is disposed intermediate each light module in each pair of light modules, one of the snap brackets is disposed intermediate the first light module and the first end of the rail member, and one of the snap brackets is disposed intermediate the last light module and the second end of the rail member. Arm segments of each snap bracket extend longitudinally over tabs extending from the light module sides, of the adjacent light module half portion, with the tabs being received within the notches of the arm segments.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2008
    Assignee: Whelen Engineering Company, Inc.
    Inventors: Jon H. Lyons, Jeffrey A. Nelson
  • Publication number: 20080175013
    Abstract: A multiple illumination element lamp apparatus is disclosed of a carriage that includes a proximal reflector having abase and a surrounding sidewall extending from the base to define a proximal reflector interior separated from an exterior environment. The multiple illumination element lamp also includes a first and a second illumination element both disposed within the proximal reflector interior, wherein the first illumination element produces a substantially high brightness light level an the second illumination element produces a substantially low brightness light level. Further, in the multiple illumination lamp the fist and second illumination elements are sized and configured to produce substantially a same light beam shape and projection with the high and low brightness levels.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 23, 2007
    Publication date: July 24, 2008
    Inventor: Jon F. McClelland
  • Patent number: 7401956
    Abstract: A motor vehicle, in particular an automobile, has a trim that constitutes an end section of the motor vehicle on which at least one cooling air opening and one lamp or one lamp cluster are provided. At least one elongated fin is arranged on the at least one cooling air opening. In order to omit additional valves in a kit for installation of the lamp or lamp cluster, the lamp or lamp cluster is arranged within the at least one cooling air opening and is mounted on a fin that extends within the cooling air opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2008
    Assignee: Dr. Ing. h.c.F. Porsche Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Grant Larson, Manfred Wuerfel, Stefan Eberhardt, Oliver Peters, Stef Scheepers
  • Patent number: 7390044
    Abstract: Disclosed is a lighted truck bed rail for use with a truck. The lighted truck bed rails is formed from a tubular member made from a straight central member having end ports and a pair of curved end members that may be connected to the end ports of the straight central member. As a result, a rigid light source such as a neon bulb assembly may be inserted into and secured within the straight central member via one of the end ports. A plurality of light transmitting apertures are provided in the side wall of the straight central member so that the lighted truck bed rail enhances the appearance of the associated truck.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2008
    Inventor: Juan Marquez
  • Patent number: 7387417
    Abstract: Lamp piece units in a parabolic pillar type capable of forming a luminous intensity distribution pattern prolonged sideways are formed as side irradiating lamp piece units. Thereby, a portion of diffused and reflected light from reflectors of the respective side irradiating lamp piece units is prevented from being blocked by other lamp piece constituting members, even when a surface shape of a vehicular headlamp is flexed to the rear side. Further, although the respective side irradiating lamp piece units are constituted by the lamp piece units of the parabolic pillar type having an angular outer shape as a whole, a large depth space for arranging the units is dispensed with.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 17, 2008
    Assignee: Koito Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kiyoshi Sazuka, Hiroyuki Ishida, Masashi Tatsukawa
  • Patent number: 7387414
    Abstract: A kit for a front and/or rear light bar, for providing auxiliary illumination for a vehicle in the forward and/or rearward direction. The light bar typically includes several high intensity flood lights and two infrared illuminator modules, i.e. infrared lights. A switch box is provided for placing in the cabin of the vehicle for turning on and off the lights. A light bar, typically a front light bar, can be provided with strobe lights in place of some of the flood lights. A shield is provided as part of a front light bar to protect the lights when not in use, and to keep the lights from striking the front of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 17, 2008
    Assignee: IBIS TEK, LLC
    Inventors: James Helms, Thomas G. Buckner
  • Patent number: 7384176
    Abstract: A vehicular headlamp employing a semiconductor light-emitting device having a plurality of light-emitting elements such as LEDs and for which light distribution design is made easy. Separate ones of the light-emitting elements within the light-emitting device are employed for forming high and low headlamp beams. The light-emitting device also includes a reflector and a lens. The beams are switched by selectively activating predetermined ones of the light-emitting elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2008
    Assignee: Koito Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Hiroyuki Ishida
  • Patent number: 7374322
    Abstract: A center high mounted stop lamp (12) including a plurality of LEDs (34) mounted on a printed circuit board (30). TIR lenses (40) are employed to focus the light from the LEDs (34) to give an even lighting appearance. The TIR lenses (40) include a prism (44) for directing the light in a desired direction. The circuit board (30) and lenses (40) are mounted in a housing (18) so that each LED (34) includes a separate lens (40) configured relative thereto to provide the desired collection and reflectance of the light. The housing (18) includes a plurality of posts (70) that extend through openings (48, 50) in the circuit board (30) and the lenses (40) to align the LEDs (34) to the lenses (40) relative to the housing (18).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2008
    Inventors: Ronald L. Steen, Kyle P Lucas, Richard A. Dymond, Charles D. McKittrick
  • Patent number: 7370998
    Abstract: A vehicular headlamp including a lighting fixture unit that emits white light in upper beam irradiation and emits infrared light in lower beam irradiation. The lighting fixture unit includes: a light source part including a first semiconductor light-emitting element as a white light source and a second semiconductor light-emitting element as an infrared light source; an optical member for irradiating in forward direction the light from each semiconductor light-emitting element; and an optical axis adjusting unit for changing in a vertical plane the direction of optical axis related to the first and second semiconductor light-emitting elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 13, 2008
    Assignee: Koito Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Masaru Sasaki, Hiroyuki Ishida
  • Patent number: 7350945
    Abstract: A system for a motor vehicle for detecting driving conditions on a road, including a nebulosity, the range of visibility in the presence of a nebulosity or the distance between an obstacle in the road and the motor vehicle. The system includes a headlight which emits a visible light beam and an infrared light beam, at least one light sensor which receives at least a portion of the infrared beam reflected back to the vehicle, a optical device for directing at least a part of the reflected infrared beam to the light sensor and a device for detecting the modulated signal of the reflected infrared beam and determining at least one driving condition based on a comparison of the reflected infrared beam modulated signal and the corresponding emitted infrared beam modulated signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2008
    Assignee: Valeo Vision
    Inventors: Pierre Albou, Joël Lelevé
  • Patent number: 7347597
    Abstract: A full functioning safety light bar and signal assembly for attachment to a vehicle hitch has a light system that uses a wiring harness assembly having one or more of the following lights: driving, brake/signal, flasher/emergency, reverse, marker, strobe, fog or illuminating lights. Electric sensors in the body of the light bar unit control strobe and illuminating lights. The assembly may match differently sized vehicle bumpers. Extension bars with light fixture assemblies can be attached to the light bar units to add greater illumination upon backing of the vehicle, and collars or strips of friction reducing materials may be attached on the hitch components to reduce vibration or noise. Locked protective covers are used to keep lights or lens in the light bar units from becoming scratched or damaged. Lockable security compartments are provided in the safety light bar to store items such as spare keys.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2008
    Assignee: Great Lakes Manufacturing Inc.
    Inventor: Craig French
  • Publication number: 20080068855
    Abstract: The present invention provides a communication facility that includes a plurality of communication circuits. At least one of the communication circuits is a critical communication circuit. The critical communication circuit includes a phosphor-enabled indication that becomes visible to the human eye when exposed to black light.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 30, 2006
    Publication date: March 20, 2008
    Inventors: Stuart Owen Goldman, Richard E. Krock, Karl F. Rauscher, Konrad Rauscher, James Philip Runyon
  • Patent number: 7318662
    Abstract: A vehicular head lamp includes a first light source module having a plurality of semiconductor light emitting elements and a second light source module connected in series to the first light source module, having semiconductor light emitting elements the number of which is smaller than that of the first light source module and generating the light of brightness higher than that of the first light source module when an electric current substantially equal to that of the first light source module is supplied.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2008
    Assignee: Koito Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hitoshi Takeda, Masaru Sasaki, Masayasu Ito
  • Publication number: 20080007961
    Abstract: A vehicular headlamp including a light amount control device that controls the amount of light from at least two of a plurality of light source units each having a light-emitting element as the light source. The light amount control device performs a contrasting control of the lamp to increase the amount of light from at least one of the light source units and decrease the amount of light from the other light source unit, thus enhancing the visibility by increasing the amount of light from one light source unit and enhancing the brightness in an area that the unit illuminates, and decreasing the amount of light from the other light source unit that illuminates an area where visibility is required less, lowering the power consumption.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 3, 2007
    Publication date: January 10, 2008
    Inventors: Kiyotaka Mochizuki, Takashi Hori, Naohisa Tatara
  • Patent number: 7314297
    Abstract: A headlamp unit is provided to emphasize a shape of an individual lamp while suppressing an increase in the number of parts used, while improving ventilation and preventing fogging in areas near an inner surface of a lens, while maintaining a simple housing structure. The headlamp unit including a high beam lamp and a low beam lamp arranged vertically. The high beam lamp and the low beam lamp are disposed on upper and lower portions, respectively. The headlamp unit including an area between the high beam lamp and the low beam lamp covered with a lamp to lamp transverse portion of a front cowl, and an area near each of lenses including an air vent hole disposed so as to face a space between the two lenses. The headlamp unit may further include a moisture conditioning member disposed on an inside of the lamp housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2008
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Ryohei Kitamura, Hiroyasu Ota, Shigeru Kodaira, Hirotoshi Noguchi
  • Patent number: 7290912
    Abstract: A vehicle lamp assembly includes a case, and a bulb cassette for mounting the a light bulb in the case. The case is formed of a resin material having a low thermal resistance and defines an interior space. The case includes at least one partition wall defining a planar partition wall surface to partition the interior space respectively into one and another chambers. The bulb cassette is received in an opening of the case for accommodating a light bulb within the one chamber thereof and includes at least one planar heat shield wall formed of a heat resistant resin which extends in adjacent contact along the planar partition wall surface so as to shield the at least one partition wall and the other chamber from heat generated by the light bulb in the one chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2007
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha T an T
    Inventors: Hiroshi Ochiai, Yuji Shimoda