Patents by Inventor Heinz-Uwe Spork

Heinz-Uwe Spork has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 10907792
    Abstract: An illuminating device for vehicles with at least one light module that has a semiconductor-based light source and a carrier plate holding the semiconductor-based light source that extends along a base area of the light module. The illuminating device also includes a fan for the purpose of generating an airflow (LG) that can be guided by means of an air guide along the base area of the light module. An injector is provided for as light guide that is designed in such a way that a main airflow (L1) flowing through a housing of the fan and a secondary air flow (L2) not flowing through the housing of the fan can be guided to the base area of the light module.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2021
    Assignee: Hella GmbH & Co. KGaA
    Inventors: Heinz-Uwe Spork, Franz-Georg Willeke
  • Patent number: 10816158
    Abstract: A light guide assembly for a vehicle headlamp is provided. The light guide assembly generally includes a light guide, a retainer defining an elongated channel for the light guide, and a carrier within the retainer and partially surrounding the light guide. The carrier is a standalone component in some embodiments, while in other embodiments the carrier is a layer or a coating on the retainer. The carrier is substantially black and is visible on either side of the light guide to mask a break in the carrier, the break providing an opening for the light guide to enter the headlamp housing. The light guide assembly thereby achieves a consistently-dark border on either side of the light guide along its entire length, even in the location of the housing opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2020
    Assignee: HELLA GmbH & Co. KGaA
    Inventor: Heinz-Uwe Spork
  • Publication number: 20200182429
    Abstract: A light guide assembly for a vehicle headlamp is provided. The light guide assembly generally includes a light guide, a retainer defining an elongated channel for the light guide, and a carrier within the retainer and partially surrounding the light guide. The carrier is a standalone component in some embodiments, while in other embodiments the carrier is a layer or a coating on the retainer. The carrier is substantially black and is visible on either side of the light guide to mask a break in the carrier, the break providing an opening for the light guide to enter the headlamp housing. The light guide assembly thereby achieves a consistently-dark border on either side of the light guide along its entire length, even in the location of the housing opening.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 18, 2020
    Publication date: June 11, 2020
    Inventor: Heinz-Uwe Spork
  • Publication number: 20200116327
    Abstract: An illuminating device for vehicles with at least one light module that has a semiconductor-based light source and a carrier plate holding the semiconductor-based light source that extends along a base area of the light module. The illuminating device also includes a fan for the purpose of generating an airflow (LG) that can be guided by means of an air guide along the base area of the light module. An injector is provided for as light guide that is designed in such a way that a main airflow (L1) flowing through a housing of the fan and a secondary air flow (L2) not flowing through the housing of the fan can be guided to the base area of the light module.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 5, 2017
    Publication date: April 16, 2020
    Inventors: Heinz-Uwe Spork, Franz-Georg Willeke
  • Patent number: 10605424
    Abstract: A light guide assembly for a vehicle headlamp is provided. The light guide assembly generally includes a light guide, a retainer defining an elongated channel for the light guide, and a carrier within the retainer and partially surrounding the light guide. The carrier is a standalone component in some embodiments, while in other embodiments the carrier is a layer or a coating on the retainer. The carrier is substantially black and is visible on either side of the light guide to mask a break in the carrier, the break providing an opening for the light guide to enter the headlamp housing. The light guide assembly thereby achieves a consistently-dark border on either side of the light guide along its entire length, even in the location of the housing opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2020
    Assignee: HELLA GmbH & Co. KGaA
    Inventor: Heinz-Uwe Spork
  • Publication number: 20190249841
    Abstract: A light guide assembly for a vehicle headlamp is provided. The light guide assembly generally includes a light guide, a retainer defining an elongated channel for the light guide, and a carrier within the retainer and partially surrounding the light guide. The carrier is a standalone component in some embodiments, while in other embodiments the carrier is a layer or a coating on the retainer. The carrier is substantially black and is visible on either side of the light guide to mask a break in the carrier, the break providing an opening for the light guide to enter the headlamp housing. The light guide assembly thereby achieves a consistently-dark border on either side of the light guide along its entire length, even in the location of the housing opening.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 13, 2018
    Publication date: August 15, 2019
    Inventor: Heinz-Uwe Spork
  • Patent number: 10240740
    Abstract: A light module for a lighting apparatus of a vehicle having a reflector body, a light generating unit having at least one light source, a carrier on which the light generating unit is arranged. The light generating unit is replaceably arranged on the light module. The reflector body has at least one reference surface and the light generating unit has at least one locating surface. The locating surface can be brought to rest against the reference surface during insertion of the light generating unit into the light module in order to create a precisely positioned arrangement of the light generating unit on the reflector body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2019
    Assignee: Hella KGaA Hueck & Co.
    Inventors: Ralf Seiger, Heinz-Uwe Spork
  • Publication number: 20180031194
    Abstract: A light module for a lighting apparatus of a vehicle having a reflector body, a light generating unit having at least one light source, a carrier on which the light generating unit is arranged. The light generating unit is replaceably arranged on the light module. The reflector body has at least one reference surface and the light generating unit has at least one locating surface. The locating surface can be brought to rest against the reference surface during insertion of the light generating unit into the light module in order to create a precisely positioned arrangement of the light generating unit on the reflector body.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 28, 2017
    Publication date: February 1, 2018
    Applicant: Hella KGaA Hueck & Co.
    Inventors: Ralf SEIGER, Heinz-Uwe SPORK
  • Publication number: 20150252995
    Abstract: A semiconductor light module with at least one semiconductor light source and with a cooling body. The cooling body has a base section with a mounting side on which is mounted the semiconductor light source. The base section has a cooling side on which is arranged a cooling structure. A blowing unit is provided, which produces a forced convection of the cooling structure with blown air stream. An inventive deflection channel is provided and it is designed in such a manner that a deflection of the blown air stream by at least 90° between the air outlet direction of the blown air stream from the blowing unit and a flow direction of the blown air stream through the cooling structure are produced.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 4, 2015
    Publication date: September 10, 2015
    Inventors: Dieter Jestel, Sonia Martinez, Christian Neesen, Heinz-Uwe Spork, Martin Metha Waga
  • Patent number: 8511875
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a lighting unit for vehicles, comprising a light source arranged on a circuit board and further comprising an optical attachment mounted in the direction of light emission in front of the light source, said optical attachment comprising at least one holding turret on one of the sides facing the circuit board such that, at its mounting position, the holding turret slots into a hole drilled into the circuit board, wherein the optical attachment is positive-locking to a holding body arranged on one of the sides facing away from the light source, wherein the holding body is molded to a carrier frame, and wherein the holding body or the carrier frame snaps on to the optical attachment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2013
    Assignee: Hella KGaA Hueck & Co.
    Inventors: Heinz-Uwe Spork, Sonia Martinez, David Hanuschkiewitz
  • Patent number: 8100570
    Abstract: A headlight for a vehicle has a lens, a mounting frame, an LED on an LED board. The LED board is mounted on a heat sink. The heat sink has a first adjustment slot and a second adjustment slot. Each of the slots is dimensioned and disposed to closely cooperate with an eccenter adjustment device mounted on one of the LED module or an LED module carrier, said eccenters being adjustable on a fulcrum such that adjustment of one of the eccenters adjusts one of a first position or a second position of the LED module within a plane normal to an optical axis of a lens mounted in a fixed position relative to the LED module carrier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2012
    Assignee: Hella KGAA Hueck & Co.
    Inventors: Hubert Borgschulte, Heinz-Uwe Spork, Jörg Sudahl
  • Publication number: 20110122639
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an adjustment system for at least one light module of a lighting apparatus of a vehicle, comprising a holding frame located in a housing of the lighting apparatus which holds the at least one light module, wherein the holding frame is installed such that it is able to pivot around an axis of rotation of the adjustment system inside the housing of the lighting apparatus, and further comprising an adjusting device for tilting the holding frame around the axis of rotation of the adjustment system, wherein the adjusting device and the holding frame are swivel-mounted to one another. The invention further relates to a lighting apparatus for a vehicle, comprising a housing, at least one light module inside the housing, and a corresponding adjustment system for the at least one light module.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 19, 2010
    Publication date: May 26, 2011
    Applicant: HELLA KGaA HUECK & CO.
    Inventors: Heinz-Uwe Spork, Jürgen Schulte, Hans-Gerd Hammelbeck, Katrin Hunecke
  • Publication number: 20110122643
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a lighting unit for vehicles, comprising a light source arranged on a circuit board and further comprising an optical attachment mounted in the direction of light emission in front of the light source, said optical attachment comprising at least one holding turret on one of the sides facing the circuit board such that, at its mounting position, the holding turret slots into a hole drilled into the circuit board, wherein the optical attachment is positive-locking to a holding body arranged on one of the sides facing away from the light source, wherein the holding body is molded to a carrier frame, and wherein the holding body or the carrier frame snaps on to the optical attachment.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 19, 2010
    Publication date: May 26, 2011
    Applicant: HELLA KGaA HUECK & CO.
    Inventors: Heinz-Uwe Spork, Sonia Martinez, David Hanuschkiewitz
  • Publication number: 20090303726
    Abstract: A headlight for a vehicle has a lens, a mounting frame, an LED on an LED board. The LED board is mounted on a heat sink. The heat sink has a first adjustment slot and a second adjustment slot. Each of the slots is dimensioned and disposed to closely cooperate with an eccenter adjustment device mounted on one of the LED module or an LED module carrier, said eccenters being adjustable on a fulcrum such that adjustment of one of the eccenters adjusts one of a first position or a second position of the LED module within a plane normal to an optical axis of a lens mounted in a fixed position relative to the LED module carrier.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 1, 2009
    Publication date: December 10, 2009
    Applicant: HELLA KGAA HUECK & CO
    Inventors: Hubert Borgschulte, Heinz-Uwe Spork, Jorg Sudahl