Headlight Patents (Class 362/475)
  • Patent number: 7766522
    Abstract: A headlight device for a vehicle that improves external appearance by varying irradiation light reflected by a reflector. The reflector is in a shape of a bowl opening to a front side of the vehicle. An outer housing supports the reflector so that the reflector can swing back and forth. A ring member formed separately from the outer housing covers an opening edge of the reflector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 3, 2010
    Assignee: Yamaha Hatsudoki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Yoshikazu Suita
  • Patent number: 7744261
    Abstract: A vehicle lighting system includes a plurality of lamps having their own inherent respective light distribution characteristics. The plurality of lamps includes a first lamp to irradiate an area excluding a nearest field area just in front of a vehicle, and a second lamp which irradiates only the nearest field area. The plurality of lamps are operable to be simultaneously or selectively lit, and are operable so that irradiation lights of the lamps are combined so as to obtain a particular light distribution characteristic in accordance with various driving conditions of a vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 29, 2010
    Assignee: Koito Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kiyotaka Fukawa, Naohisa Tatara
  • Patent number: 7736035
    Abstract: An LED headlamp is disclosed, wherein the headlamp is a replacement for a seven inch headlamp. The headlamp includes a housing adapted to replace any conventional seven inch round headlamp, a first light source adapted to be coupled to a source of electrical energy, a second light source adapted to be coupled to a source of electrical energy, a first optical system disposed adjacent the first light source, wherein the first optical system is adapted to provide a low beam lighting pattern, a second optical system disposed adjacent the second light source, wherein the second optical system is adapted to provide a high beam lighting pattern, and a cover lens coupled to the housing for enclosing the first light source, the second light source, the first optical system, and the second optical system within the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2010
    Assignee: Visteon Global Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Jeyachandrabose Chinniah, Edwin Mitchell Sayers, Kyle Lucas, Todd Patterson
  • Publication number: 20100123402
    Abstract: A bicycle control device includes a speed sensing unit, a light sensing unit, a microprocessor, at least one lamp, a lock module and a warning module. When a bicycle is moving, the speed sensing unit detects the speed of the bicycle and generates a speed signal transmitted to the microprocessor, and the light sensing unit detects lightness around the bicycle and generates a lightness signal transmitted to the microprocessor. According to the signals, the microprocessor of the control device sends a command signal to turn on the lamp and adjusts the luminance of the lamp in accordance with the lightness signal and the speed signal respectively. Once the bicycle is being parked and the bicycle control device is being removed, the microprocessor generates a lock control signal to lock the bicycle. Meanwhile, it also generates a trigger signal to turn on the warning module.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 19, 2008
    Publication date: May 20, 2010
    Inventor: Yi-Lun Chen
  • Patent number: 7717592
    Abstract: An exterior auxiliary lighting system is provided including a light source for generating a beam of visible light, the light source having an aperture through which the beam of light is projected. A cover can be detachably connected to the light source to overlay at least a portion of the aperture. A sensor is provided for detecting whether the cover is attached to the light source. A switch responsive to an output signal from the sensor is adapted to selectively decouple the light source from a power supply when the sensor detects that the cover is attached to the light source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 18, 2010
    Assignee: Nissan Technical Center North America, Inc.
    Inventors: Paul Tyll, Jason Nantais, Chris Prisby, Tom Schumacher
  • Patent number: 7714516
    Abstract: When the level at an input terminal goes low upon the reception of a signal to dim an LED, a PNP transistor is rendered on and a voltage at the positive input terminal of an operational amplifier is raised, in accordance with a time constant that is defined by a resistor and a capacitor. In accordance with the increase in this voltage, a source current is supplied from the operational amplifier to a current detection terminal, and as the value of the source current is gradually increased, a current flowing across the shunt resistor of the switching regulator is gradually reduced. Further, the light emission level of the LED is gradually lowered from the fully lighted state to the 70% lighted state, and there is, for the LED, a light quantity change of about 30% in ten seconds.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2010
    Assignee: Koito Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Masayasu Ito, Takanori Namba
  • Publication number: 20100096829
    Abstract: A motorcycle includes a fork assembly and a headlight. The fork assembly is provided with a cavity. The headlight is at least partially disposed within the cavity in the fork assembly and is configured to selectively provide illumination ahead of the motorcycle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 21, 2008
    Publication date: April 22, 2010
    Inventors: Daisuke Nagao, Kenji Tamura
  • Patent number: 7695173
    Abstract: A motorcycle front lighting apparatus structure includes a headlight and a position light provided adjacent to the headlight. In this structure, the position light is disposed in a condition protruding downwardly from a lower edge of the headlight. This structure allows the position light to be made larger, and makes any needed repair easy and cost effective.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2010
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroyasu Ota, Eiji Ashihara
  • 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: 7674022
    Abstract: To provide a headlight device, in which a change of the region of illumination afforded by the headlamp can be initiated substantially punctual to the start of cornering of the motorcycle, the headlight device includes a headlamp for illuminating forwardly of the motorcycle, a light-distribution adjusting mechanism for changing a region of illumination, a bank angle detecting unit for detecting a bank angle ? of the motorcycle in reference to an angular velocity ?y about a vertical axis of the motorcycle, an angular velocity ?r about a longitudinal axis of the motorcycle and a motorcycle velocity v, and a light-distribution controller for controlling the light-distribution adjusting mechanism based on the detected bank angle ? to change the region of illumination into an area further away from and at least inwardly of a direction of turn of the motorcycle during a cornering.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2010
    Assignee: Kawasaki Jukogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Shinichi Nakano, Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Mikio Domoto, Makoto Baino
  • Patent number: 7674023
    Abstract: A headlight assembly for a straddle-type vehicle (e.g., a motor scooter) is provided that is positioned lower to the ground and farther forward than typical headlights to provide enhanced illumination from a front end of the vehicle. The assembly comprises a front portion of a vehicle body cover that extends over a portion of the front wheel of the vehicle. A headlight assembly is disposed at least partially on a front end of the front portion of the vehicle body cover. The headlight assembly comprises an upper light for generating a low beam of light and a lower light for generating a high beam of light. In addition, the headlight comprises position lights disposed on the right side and the left side of the upper and lower lights. Preferably, at least a portion of the headlight assembly is positioned farther forward than a leading end of the front wheel of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2010
    Assignee: Yamaha Hatsudoki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Masaru Ohira
  • Patent number: 7628518
    Abstract: A bicycle hub includes a hub shaft, a hub shell, a bearing arrangement, an electricity generating mechanism and at least one lamp. The hub shaft is configured and arranged to be mounted in a non-rotatable manner to a bicycle frame. The hub shell has a hollow interior with the hub shaft being disposed in the hollow interior of the hub shell. The bearing arrangement is arranged between the hub shell and the hub shaft in such a manner that the hub shell can rotate freely with respect to the hub shaft. The electricity generating mechanism is arranged inside the hub shell and is configured to generate electricity in response to relative rotation of the hub shell with respect to the hub shaft. The lamp is arranged on at least one end of the hub shell and illuminated using electricity generated by the electricity generating mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2009
    Assignee: Shimano Inc.
    Inventors: Kazuhiro Fujii, Koji Uno
  • 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: 7618172
    Abstract: A vehicle light can include a light source, a reflector configured to reflect light emitted from the light source in an irradiation direction of a vehicle on which the vehicle light is mounted, and a diffusion plate for diffusion of light and which can irradiate light in the irradiation direction. In this configuration, the diffusion plate can be configured such that light emitted from the light source and light reflected by the reflector enter the diffusion plate and pass therethrough while being refracted. The light is emitted from the diffusion plate in the irradiation direction while being diffused. At the same time, light which is incident on the diffusion plate and is reflected by the diffusion plate is diffused and irradiated in the irradiation direction of the vehicle light. The end portion of the diffusion plate can be bent or curved so as to diffuse the light reflected by the diffusion plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 17, 2009
    Assignee: Stanley Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Hiroo Oyama
  • Patent number: 7594741
    Abstract: A bicycle lighting device configured to be mounted to a bicycle includes a lamp case, a control case and a mounting unit. The lamp case has a light emitting diode arranged therein. The control case is connected to the lamp case by a hinge. The control case is configured to clamp onto a handlebar. A control circuit for controlling the light emitting diode is installed inside the control case. The mounting unit is for attaching the lamp case and the control case to the handlebar in such a fashion that the lamp case and the control case are drawn close together.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 29, 2009
    Assignee: Shimano Inc.
    Inventors: Shinpei Okajima, Masashi Goto
  • Publication number: 20090231869
    Abstract: A headlight case, that houses a light body, is made small in size. The light body includes a reflector, and a lens attached to the reflector. The light body is pivotally supported in the headlight case by bolts extending through a ring member extending around the light body, so that an aiming operation can be performed. The ring member is connected to the light body behind the lens, and is locked to the headlight case at a position spaced away from an open edge thereof. A ring body of the ring member has an outer shape smaller than a maximum outer shape of the light body. A rim, to be fitted around the open end of the headlight case, has a lead that extends toward a position spaced away from the open end of the headlight case, to be fitted into a concave part of the headlight case.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 29, 2009
    Publication date: September 17, 2009
    Applicant: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Osugi, Naoki Murasawa
  • Patent number: 7578608
    Abstract: A compact headlight for a motor vehicle having a light source with a substantially horizontal axis extending substantially perpendicular to the optical axis of the headlight. The headlight does not have a reflector and includes a lens which receives the light rays emitted from the light source and produces a light beam with cut-off. According to one embodiment, the light source and the lens are formed in a single unit wherein the light source is formed from one or more light emitting diodes and the lens is formed from a heat-resistant synthetic material which is molded onto at least one luminous surface of the source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2009
    Assignee: Valeo Vision
    Inventor: Pierre Albou
  • Publication number: 20090207624
    Abstract: In a device including a headlight assembly that outputs a beam of light and a lens housing mountable at a forward end of the headlight assembly, an arrangement, receivable on the lens housing, renders the beam of light adaptable to different weather and lighting conditions. In a preferred form, the arrangement includes a plurality of interchangeable filter elements, such as green, blue, yellow, and red elements, that are alternatively receivable on the lens housing, A wide angle lens could also be included among the interchangeable filter elements. The device as a whole could be provided in the form of a packaged collection of elements adapted for subsequent assembly.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 15, 2008
    Publication date: August 20, 2009
    Applicant: Acumen, Inc.
    Inventors: Cheuk Nam Ma, Kwok Ming Au
  • Publication number: 20090141510
    Abstract: A lighting apparatus is mounted to a lower end of a front fork that supports a front wheel via a bearing portion. The lighting apparatus has a housing, an upper surface of which includes a bottom case receiving surface formed thereon. The bottom case receiving surface is shaped so that an outer periphery of a bottom case can fit therein. A rubber sheet is placed between the bottom case and the bottom case receiving surface to offer vibration isolation property. A bolt is screwed into a threaded hole in the bottom case so as to penetrate through a mounting portion having the bottom case receiving surface, so that the lighting apparatus is secured to the bottom case.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 13, 2008
    Publication date: June 4, 2009
    Applicant: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Koshi HAYAKAWA
  • Patent number: 7537362
    Abstract: A vehicular lighting system that enhances motorcycle visibility is provided. Vehicle front headlights, arranged so as to be laterally symmetrical, are formed in a shape of eyes capable of evoking a face. A headlight includes a circular main light forming a pupil portion, an annular ring forming an iris portion, plates each forming a sclera portion (white of eye), an upper frame forming the contour of an upper eyelid portion, and a lower frame forming the contour of a lower eyelid portion. When the main light and the plates are made to emit light, and the ring is non-light emitting, the pupil portion and the sclera portion are clearly discriminated from each other, thus enabling recognition as “eyes” not only in the daytime but also in the nighttime. The light emitting portions may be set as the main light, the upper frame and the lower frame, and the like.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2009
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kazumitsu Kushida, Yoshiyuki Matsumoto, Yutaka Murata
  • Patent number: 7527297
    Abstract: A straddle-type vehicle that can reduce influence by air resistance without having a cowling has a handle bar for changing a direction of a front wheel, a headlight unit disposed in front of a handle bar base portion, and a fuel tank unit disposed behind the handle bar base portion for storing fuel supplied to an engine. A headlight line defined by a top surface of the headlight unit and a fuel tank line defined by a top surface of the fuel tank unit together extend along a fixed curved line in a side view of the motorcycle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2009
    Assignee: Yamaha Hatsudoki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Takehiro Miyamoto
  • Patent number: 7513648
    Abstract: The invention concerns a headlamp for vehicles with a reflector comprising a reflector opening for receiving a gas discharge lamp, with an ignition device for operating the gas discharge lamp, with holding means for releasably connecting the ignition device to a reflector, with electromagnetically compatible contact means arranged between the ignition device and the reflector, wherein the holding means includes a holding element which together with the ignition device and the gas discharge lamp forms a common unit, and the electromagnetically compatible contact means is integrated in the holding element, in such a way that, in a locking position of the holding element with the reflector, there is an electrically conductive connection between the ignition device and the reflector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2009
    Assignee: Hella KGaA Hueck & Co.,
    Inventors: Gerhard Rotgeri, Martin Dobrescu, Markus Gösling, Wolfgang Daub
  • Patent number: 7507007
    Abstract: A power-generating illumination device for the bicycle comprises comprising at least one permanent magnet disposed onto wheel spokes so as to form a rotor, an induction coil assembly mounted onto a fork for forming a stator, such that during the rotation of the rotor, the induction coil assembly may be cut by magnetic lines of force to generate electrical energy for being outputted to a light-emitting unit, characterized in between the induction coil assembly and the light-emitting unit is provided with a control unit at least including a wave detector, a wave filter, and a current limiting resistor so that the wave detector, the wave filter, and the current limiting resistor are connected together to form a loop, thereby detecting and filtering polarity of voltage of the generated electrical energy and lowering the resonating frequency to maintain the service life and illuminative brightness.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2009
    Inventor: Yin Jhong Jhao
  • Patent number: 7503679
    Abstract: An optical module for a motor vehicle headlight comprising a reflector having an optical axis and at least one focus, a light source placed in the vicinity of the focus to be reflected, and a transparent optical deviation element placed in front of part of the reflector and comprising a lens referred to as a “square lens”, the reflector being placed at the rear of the lens, the optical deviation element being able to provide an essentially horizontal spread of the light. The exit face of the “square lens”is tangent to a plane disposed obliquely with respect to the optical axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2009
    Assignee: Valeo Vision
    Inventor: Vincent Godbillon
  • Patent number: 7494257
    Abstract: The invention relates to an illumination device, particularly for automobiles, with a light source and a light conductor that emits the light from the light source conducted within it via a light decoupling surface, whereby light decoupling elements are positioned on the side opposite the light decoupling surface that divert light toward the light decoupling surface, whereby the light decoupling elements possess at least two diverting surfaces, and the first diverting surface is positioned closer to the light source than the second diverting surface of a light decoupling element, each of which subtends an angle with the light decoupling surface whereby the angles of the diverting surfaces are so selected that at least a portion of the light striking the second diverting surface is transmittable through it under refraction, and may be again coupled into the light conductor by means of the first diverting surface of the subsequent decoupling element, whereby this light is at least partially conducted from the f
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2009
    Assignee: Automotive Lighting Reutlingen GmbH
    Inventors: Matthias Gebauer, Steffen Wiersdorff
  • Publication number: 20090010016
    Abstract: A vehicle lighting device is mounted in a bicycle. The lighting device includes a cantilever, a light-emitting lamp, and a power generating unit. The cantilever is fixed on a frame of the bicycle, so as to support the power generating unit to urge the power generating unit against a wheel of the bicycle constantly. The power generating unit includes an induction coil winding, a magnetic rotor, and a roller. The induction coil winding is wound around a winding axis. A rotating axis of the magnetic rotor is perpendicular to the winding axis. When wheels of the bicycle rotate, the roller and the magnetic rotor are driven to rotate relative to the induction coil winding, such that the induction coil winding generates an inductive electric power, which is supplied to the light-emitting lamp. Thus, a low-cost and labor-saving vehicle lighting device is developed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 21, 2007
    Publication date: January 8, 2009
    Applicant: ACXING INDUSTRIAL CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Shuei-Yuan Lee, Pei-Hsin Pei
  • Patent number: 7445364
    Abstract: A vehicle headlight unit comprising a sensor-controlled corrective device for the light beam pattern generated by the dipped low beam, at least one central headlight for driving in a straight line and one respective lateral headlight positioned to the right and left thereof, with right-hand headlight for illuminating left-hand bends and the left-hand headlight for illuminating right-hand bends. Each headlight is rotated away from the horizontal position about its optical axis through an incline-compensation angle, so that the outer edge that lies at a distance from the central headlight is in a lower position than the latter. The corrective device comprises an electronic control unit, which activates at least the central headlight within a driving range for a substantially upright driving position and when bends are negotiated and a minimal tilting angle is exceeded, deactivates the central headlight and activates either the left-hand or right-hand headlight.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2008
    Inventors: Stephan Gropp, Klaus Freudenberg
  • Publication number: 20080239736
    Abstract: A headlight device that has a visual appearance of having a lamp body using a plurality of light sources, while only a single light source is used. A shielding wall shields light radiated from a headlight bulb, or light reflected by a reflector portion. The shielding wall is arranged between a front lens and the reflector portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 24, 2007
    Publication date: October 2, 2008
    Applicant: YAMAHA HATSUDOKI KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Yasushi AOKI
  • Publication number: 20080239737
    Abstract: A headlight apparatus that adjusts the luminous energy and traveling direction of light emitted from a flasher bulb without applying a machining on an inner surface of a flasher lens. A headlight unit includes a flasher bulb that flashes at predetermined intervals, and a flasher lens. The headlight unit has a louver that partitions the flasher lens. The louver is disposed on an inner surface of the flasher lens.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 24, 2007
    Publication date: October 2, 2008
    Applicant: YAMAHA HATSUDOKI KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Yasushi AOKI
  • Publication number: 20080239738
    Abstract: A motorcycle front lighting apparatus structure includes a headlight and a position light provided adjacent to the headlight. In this structure, the position light is disposed in a condition protruding downwardly from a lower edge of the headlight. This structure allows the position light to be made larger, and makes any needed repair easy and cost effective.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 26, 2008
    Publication date: October 2, 2008
    Inventors: Hiroyasu Ota, Eiji Ashihara
  • Patent number: 7425893
    Abstract: An integrated motorcycle light frame and turn indicator is provided. In one embodiment, the integrated light frame and turn siganal includes both turn-signals integrated into a headlight frame, or bezel. One feature of the present invention is that the manufacturer installed turn signal lights may be eliminated. Alternatively, the additional lights provided by the integrated light frame and turn signal assembly provided additional warning to on-coming motorists that a motorcycle rider wishes to turn. This Abstract is provided for the sole purpose of complying with the Abstract requirement rules that allow a reader to quickly ascertain the subject matter of the disclosure contained herein. This Abstract is submitted with the explicit understanding that it will not be used to interpret or to limit the scope or the meaning of the claims.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 16, 2008
    Inventor: Mathew Randolph Aron
  • Publication number: 20080192498
    Abstract: A headlight device for a vehicle that improves external appearance by varying irradiation light reflected by a reflector. The reflector is in a shape of a bowl opening to a front side of the vehicle. An outer housing supports the reflector so that the reflector can swing back and forth. A ring member formed separately from the outer housing covers an opening edge of the reflector.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 11, 2008
    Publication date: August 14, 2008
    Applicants: Yamaha Hatsudoki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Yoshikazu Suita
  • Patent number: 7410278
    Abstract: A bicycle light assembly is electrically connected to a dynamo. The bicycle light assembly has a lamp housing mountable to a portion of the bicycle. An input portion is disposed on the lamp housing and electrically connected to the dynamo for inputting a dynamo output signal and for outputting an input signal. A regulator circuit is electrically connected to the input portion for regulating the input signal to a regulated signal. A light source is electrically connected to the regulator circuit for lighting the periphery and an output portion being disposed on the lamp housing and electrically connected to the regulator circuit for outputting the regulated signal. The output portion has at least one auxiliary electrical output connector for outputting the regulated signal to at least one auxiliary electrical device electrically connected to the at least one auxiliary electrical output connector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 12, 2008
    Assignee: Shimano Inc.
    Inventor: Satoshi Kitamura
  • Patent number: 7401953
    Abstract: A motorcycle wherein it is possible to easily identify the state of a headlight and flasher lamps covered with a common outer lens. A a headlight is disposed in a central portion of a light unit in a transverse direction of the motorcycle. A pair of left and right flasher lamps is disposed on left and right sides of the headlight. A common outer lens covers the left and right flasher lamps and the headlight. An upper edge of a light opening in a handlebar cover has left and right interposed parts extending downward to be interposed between the headlight and the left and right flasher lamps.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2008
    Assignee: Yamaha Hatsudoki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Hiroyuki Isayama
  • Publication number: 20080130303
    Abstract: A tail light assembly for a motorcycle. The tail light assembly includes a housing configured to receive a circuit. The circuit includes a light emitting diode (LED) and a controller. The LED provides tail, stop, and turn visual indications associated with the motorcycle. The controller supplies a voltage to the LED to light the LED to a brightness based on the signals received. In addition, the controller also sinks a current of a magnitude substantially equivalent to a magnitude of current drawn by an incandescent lamp when providing a visual turn indication.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 5, 2006
    Publication date: June 5, 2008
    Applicant: HARLEY-DAVIDSON MOTOR COMPANY GROUP, INC.
    Inventors: Michael Medina, Steven Osgood
  • Publication number: 20080112174
    Abstract: To provide a headlight device, in which a change of the region of illumination afforded by the headlamp can be initiated substantially punctual to the start of cornering of the motorcycle, the headlight device includes a headlamp for illuminating forwardly of the motorcycle, a light-distribution adjusting mechanism for changing a region of illumination, a bank angle detecting unit for detecting a bank angle ? of the motorcycle in reference to an angular velocity ?y about a vertical axis of the motorcycle, an angular velocity ?r about a longitudinal axis of the motorcycle and a motorcycle velocity v, and a light-distribution controller for controlling the light-distribution adjusting mechanism based on the detected bank angle ? to change the region of illumination into an area further away from and at least inwardly of a direction of turn of the motorcycle during a cornering.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 9, 2006
    Publication date: May 15, 2008
    Inventors: Shinichi Nakano, Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Mikio Domoto, Makoto Baino
  • Publication number: 20080055918
    Abstract: A vehicular lamp assembly, such as a headlight, can be configured for attachment to a vehicle for providing illumination about the exterior of a vehicle. The lamp assembly can include a light source configured to emit light during use, a lens, first and second reflectors, and an actuator assembly. The first and second reflectors can be positioned to reflect light emitted from the light source through the lens and can be moveable with respect to the light source. The actuator assembly can be configured to move the first and second reflectors with respect to the light source in response to at least one control signal. The lamp assembly can be configured such that, during use, the first and second reflectors are positioned to reflect light from the light source through the lens. A vehicle including a control system and a headlight having multiple moveable reflectors is also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 31, 2006
    Publication date: March 6, 2008
    Inventor: Anthony Peter Mascadri
  • Patent number: 7329031
    Abstract: A headlight for bicycle includes an insulative barrel and including peripheral openings; a lens mounted in the barrel; a heat sink including parallel grooves on its outer surface, and water resistant rings mounted thereon; a PCB fitted onto an end of the barrel; a reflector mounted inside the barrel; an LED bulb fitted in the reflector; and a conductor electrically interconnected the bulb and the PCB; and a power supply releasably secured to the barrel and including a switch. The switch is manually movable between on and off position and is adapted to electrically connect the power supply to the bulb when the switch is in the on position, and in response to disposing the switch in the on position, heat generated by the bulb is dissipated through the conductor, the heat sink, and the openings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2008
    Inventors: Suh Jang Liaw, Di Shun Liao
  • Patent number: 7325952
    Abstract: A tail light (lamp) for a motorcycle with improved visibility and outward appearance includes a bulb, a reflector that reflects light from the bulb in a predetermined direction, and a lens that transmits the reflected light. Flux density is varied about a set point, which is distant from the bulb, according to a distance from the set point.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2008
    Assignee: Yamaha Hatsudoki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Katsumitsu Wakamatsu, Kazuo Nakamura, Toshiaki Ozawa
  • 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: 20080002417
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to a bicycle frame combined with an illuminating lamp. The bicycle frame includes a front pipe for assembling with a handlebar and a front fork. An illuminating lamp is directly built in the front pipe for providing a light source to illuminate the front of the bicycle frame. With this arrangement, unlike the conventional illuminating lamp hung on the outside of the bicycle, the loosening of the illuminating lamp due to the vibration of the bicycle and the deviation of the illuminating angle will not happen.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 8, 2006
    Publication date: January 3, 2008
    Applicant: DEM Inc.
    Inventor: Nai-Chien Mohr
  • 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
  • Publication number: 20070236949
    Abstract: A position guide is disposed adjacent a main reflector (head reflector) and formed such that a position width dimension w1 of the position guide is less than a main width dimension of the main reflector. A position bulb is disposed in the position guide. In another embodiment, the position guide is generally tubular and has a front opening disposed generally forwardly of the main reflector.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 5, 2007
    Publication date: October 11, 2007
    Inventor: Kouji Kurihara
  • Patent number: 7275844
    Abstract: A bicycle headlamp including: a rotor having a plurality of magnet plates attached to spokes of a bicycle wheel, each magnet plate including a plurality of magnets disposed at regular circumferential spacings with alternating south and north poles; and a stator including a power-generating coil disposed in a fixed position to face the magnetic pole faces of the magnet plates. A case includes at least a headlamp electrical circuit for establishing resonance with a certain relative speed of the magnets by means of the power-generating coil and a capacitor connected in series, and for rectifying, smoothing out, and outputting electric power obtained from the power-generating coil. Also included are a light-emitting diode and a condenser lens for focusing light emitted from the light emitting diode in front of the bicycle and for illuminating the roadway.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2007
    Assignee: Akidenki Kabushikigaisya
    Inventor: Masashi Watanabe
  • Patent number: 7273303
    Abstract: A two-wheel vehicle headlamp including a lamp body having a concave portion that is opened toward the front, a translucent cover that covers the front open portion of the lamp body, and a reflector which is installed inside the concave portion of the lamp body and to which light sources are attached. The headlamp further includes a light transmitting member provided along the peripheral edge portion of die reflector and between the open edge portion of the lamp body and the peripheral edge portion of the reflector, a position bulb provided in the lamp body, and a reflective portion formed in an area that substantially faces, from behind, the light transmitting member of the lamp body. Wit this structure, light of the position bulb is reflected by the reflective portion, transmitted through the light transmitting member, and radiated forward to illuminate the entire light transmitting member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2007
    Assignee: Koito Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Shinichi Mochizuki
  • Patent number: 7258475
    Abstract: In a casing of a headlamp, a substrate portion to which a light-emitting diode as a light source is mounted, and a battery case accommodating a battery for providing necessary power to the light-emitting diode are provided. The substrate portion is spaced apart from a partition disposed on the front side of the battery case, with spacing provided therebetween. The partition is provided with a vent hole, having an upper vent hole and a lower vent hole, for establishing communication of the spacing between the substrate portion and the partition with the space within the battery case, for circulation of the air. Thus, a headlamp capable of suppressing adverse effects of the heat generated from the light-emitting diode or the like on the elements mounted on the substrate is provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2007
    Assignee: Cateye Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Toshimitsu Kurumatani
  • Patent number: 7237928
    Abstract: A vehicle head lamp is disclosed for use in a vehicle, and includes a plurality of semiconductor light sources which differ in directions of radiation; an optical system disposed for common use by the plurality of semiconductor light sources; and a luminous energy control section for changing a ratio among luminous energies emitted by the respective semiconductor light sources in accordance with a vehicle-originated signal provided by a vehicle-side. In addition, the luminous energy control section may change the ratio among the luminous energy in accordance with a rotation angle by means of receiving a signal indicating a rotation angle of a steering wheel as the vehicle-originated signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2007
    Assignee: Koito Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hitoshi Takeda, Masayasu Ito
  • Patent number: 7204624
    Abstract: A headlamp of a two-wheeled vehicle is provided which improves visibility, increases flexibility in design of a vehicle body cover to be mounted at the front of the vehicle by the shape of the headlamp, and gives a novel impression. Specifically, in a two-wheeled vehicle including a leg shield at the front of the vehicle and a headlamp on the leg shield, the headlamp includes an elongated portion extending in a lateral direction and portions extending in a vertical direction from the left and right ends of the lateral portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2007
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Kiyoshi Katagiri
  • Patent number: 7192169
    Abstract: A bicycle lighting apparatus comprises a computer housing adapted to be mounted to a bicycle, a computer housed within the computer housing, and an integrated lighting device that is controlled by the computer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2007
    Assignee: Shimano, Inc.
    Inventor: Kazuhiro Takeda
  • Patent number: 7178955
    Abstract: A safety headlight with a battery power monitor is provided. The headlight includes one primary light bulb and at least one LED bulb. When the battery power begins to fade so that the primary bulb is in danger of going out, a sensor in the headlight switches power to the LED bulb(s) to provide safety lighting so that the headlight user can be seen by others. The safety headlight is typically used by cyclists riding before sunrise or after sunset. The headlight permits the cyclists to see the road surface and provides notice to other motorists of the cycle's presence.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2007
    Assignee: Bell Sports, Inc.
    Inventor: Henry David Hayes