Abstract: A method for aiming headlamps on a vehicle achieves a reduced variation in beam heights without making any changes to existing test equipment. A cutoff height of a first headlamp is measured. The first headlamp is adjusted until a first measured cutoff height is within a predetermined range centered on a predetermined fixed height. A cutoff height of a second headlamp is measured. The second headlamp is adjusted until a second measured cutoff height is within the predetermined range centered on the first measured cutoff height.

Abstract: A video display system includes a light source configured to generate light and a substrate having a plurality of pixels deposited on a first side of the substrate. Each of the pixels is formed from a plurality of photo-luminescent dyes, and the light source is configured to project light onto the first side of the substrate to illuminate at least a subset of the photo-luminescent dyes in a raster pattern to generate an image. In another embodiment omitting the substrate, the photo-luminescent dyes forming the pixels are deposited directly onto a screen.

Abstract: A headlamp aiming system is provided for aiming a headlamp of a vehicle. An aimer includes a CCD camera for receiving illumination produced by the headlamp to produce a beam pattern image. A controller receives the beam pattern image from the aimer to determine an aiming correction to move the detected beam pattern to a predetermined position. An adjuster is operatively coupled to the vehicle for executing adjustments of the headlamp in response to the aiming correction. The CCD camera captures an initial image using an initial exposure time, measures a light accumulation value corresponding to the initial image, determines a final exposure time in response to the measured light accumulation value and a predetermined light accumulation value, and captures the beam pattern image using the final exposure time.

Abstract: A method for aiming headlamps on a vehicle achieves a reduced variation in beam heights without making any changes to existing test equipment. A cutoff height of a first headlamp is measured. The first headlamp is adjusted until a first measured cutoff height is within a predetermined range centered on a predetermined fixed height. A cutoff height of a second headlamp is measured. The second headlamp is adjusted until a second measured cutoff height is within the predetermined range centered on the first measured cutoff height.

Abstract: A light engine combines light of first, second, and third color ranges using three pentagonal prism elements. Each prism has first and second diagonal surfaces. Each first diagonal surface has a first dichroic treatment and each second diagonal surface has a second dichroic treatment. The prisms are arranged with the first diagonal surface of the first prism juxtaposed with one diagonal surface of the third prism and with the second diagonal surface of the second prism juxtaposed with the other diagonal surface of the third prism. A first light beam of the first color is reflected at a right angle by the first diagonal surfaces, and a second light beam is reflected at a right angle by the second diagonal surfaces. A third light beam of the third color passes unreflected through the surfaces to produce a combined light beam or common output light path.

Abstract: A light engine combines light of first, second, and third color ranges using three pentagonal prism elements. Each prism has first and second diagonal surfaces. Each first diagonal surface has a first dichroic treatment and each second diagonal surface has a second dichroic treatment. The prisms are arranged with the first diagonal surface of the first prism juxtaposed with one diagonal surface of the third prism and with the second diagonal surface of the second prism juxtaposed with the other diagonal surface of the third prism. A first light beam of the first color is reflected at a right angle by the first diagonal surfaces, and a second light beam is reflected at a right angle by the second diagonal surfaces. A third light beam of the third color passes unreflected through the surfaces to produce a combined light beam or common output light path.

Abstract: A control panel system has a projection screen with an inside surface for being illuminated to produce a graphical display and with an outside surface accessible to a user. An illumination source projects radiation to illuminate the projection screen, wherein the radiation includes visible radiation and infrared radiation. An optical distribution system distributes the visible radiation according to an image for the graphical display and distributes the infrared radiation according to a predetermined pattern, wherein the projection screen transmits the infrared radiation out from the outside surface where it can be reflected back toward the optical distribution system by a manually-controlled object that is placed by the user in relation to the image. An infrared sensor receives the reflected infrared radiation from the optical distribution system and generates a detection signal identifying the location of the manually-controlled object in response to the predetermined pattern.

Abstract: A headlamp system for an automotive vehicle is provided having a light source generating light, a reflector, a generally transparent light shield, an electrostatic shutter and a lens. The light shield has a surface and laterally displaced edges. The reflector has a predetermined relationship with the light shield and the light source and directs a portion of light from the light source to the surface of the light shield. The electrostatic shutter means is adjacent the surface of the light shield to selectively blocking a portion of the light from the light source. A lens between the light shield and the image surface directs light passing the light shield.

Abstract: A reduced package depth low profile lighting system has a light source emitting light at a solid lens for shaping the light to conform to governmental lighting standards. The solid lens has a first surface comprised of a plurality of conic section cylinders. Each of the cylinders has a length first focal line, a second focal line and a cylinder line. The first focal line is tangent to a package curve preferably defined by a circle preferably in the horizontal plane of the vehicle. The circle has a center and a predetermined radius length. The center is coincidence with the light source. Each of conic cylinders substantially collimates light in the vertical plane while spreading light in the horizontal plane within a predetermined angle from the optical axis.

Abstract: The lighting system for an automotive vehicle has uses smooth conic section solids to form a beam pattern. In one aspect of the invention the A/C ratio of the conic section solids are varied to collimate the light emitted in the vertical direction and spread light in the horizontal direction. In another aspect of the invention the A/C ratio of a hyperbolic conic section may remain the same while adding fluting to the outer surface of the lens to provide beam redirection.

Abstract: Headlamp system for an automotive vehicle has an individual lamp for illuminating a high intensity zone and a spread zone of an image surface. The system includes a first light source having a substantially elliptical reflector for directing light to a spread light zone on an image surface and a second light source having a filament mounted in an axial direction to the length. A second reflector has a generally elliptical shape, a first focus, a second focus and a magnification. The second reflector directs light to a high intensity zone on the image surface. A light shield having a generally planar surface is mounted substantially normal to the longitudinal axis substantially at the second focus. An aspheric lens having an aperture having a width is located between the shield and image surface. The maximum magnification of the filament at the aspheric lens is substantially the width of the aperture.

Abstract: A central lighting system for providing light to locations remote from the light source includes first and second ellipsoidally shaped reflector members joined so as to substantially surround the light source. The reflector members collect the light output and focus it onto an input face of either a light guide or a non-imaging optical coupling member. If the optical coupling member is utilized, an angle to area conversion occurs so as to allow light introduced at high angles to an input face of the optical coupler to exit the optical coupler at a smaller angle. The reflector members can also be configured so that respective second optical focal points can reside at the apex of the opposing reflector member thereby allowing for a coupling efficiency of approximately 70% or greater.

Abstract: A reduced package depth low profile headlamp includes a light source emitting light in an elongated shape with a length longer than a width. The length forms a predetermined angle with respect to the horizontal axis to generate light within predetermined a cutoff. A converging lens receiving light from the light source has an optical axis. The lens has a spherical inner surface with a center and an elliptical outer surface having a first and second focal point. The light source is positioned substantially on the optical axis so that the light source is substantially at the center of the spherical inner surface and the first focal point of the elliptical outer surface is substantially coincident with the center of the spherical inner surface.

Abstract: A light distribution system for an automotive vehicle is provided having a light source mounted in a fixed location in the vehicle. A plurality of light pipes is located in a fixed relation to said light source with each light pipe having a first and second end. The first ends each light pipe having a face which in combination substantially form a ring having a predetermined width with an outer diameter and an inner diameter. A collector for coupling light emitted by the light source into the first ends of the light pipes reflects the light on the faces of the light pipes in a ring-shaped pattern having a predetermined area.