Light Modifier Patents (Class 362/509)
  • Publication number: 20120106183
    Abstract: A headlamp includes an laser element for emitting a laser beam; a light emitting section for emitting fluorescence by receiving the laser beam emitted from the laser element; and a parabolic mirror for reflecting the fluorescence emitted from the light emitting section, the light emitting section being placed so that a focal point of the parabolic mirror and a periphery of the focal point are positioned on the light emitting section, the light emitting section being most strongly excited at a portion corresponding to the focal point, meanwhile, at a portion corresponding to the periphery of the focal point, the light emitting section being excited with intensity being dependent on light intensity distribution of the excitation light on an irradiation surface of the light emitting section.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 25, 2011
    Publication date: May 3, 2012
    Applicant: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Koji TAKAHASHI
  • Publication number: 20120074725
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a luminous garnish for a vehicle in which an illumination unit and a light emitting unit forms an integral part, wherein the garnish provides various patterns and illuminations at a same portion of an integral part, thereby realizing the luxury and high product value of the interior material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 23, 2010
    Publication date: March 29, 2012
    Applicant: HYUNDAI MOTOR COMPANY
    Inventor: Ho Tak Jeon
  • Patent number: 8140219
    Abstract: An apparatus and method of controlling the transparency of at least one window in a vehicle includes at least one multi-segment light filtering element, each segment having a controllable light transmissive characteristic. The apparatus includes at least one sensor configured to determine the physical location and orientation of the vehicle, a memory that includes stored road map information including glare characteristics of each roadway, and a control unit electrically connected to the memory and at least one sensor. The apparatus and method is configured to automatically adjust the transmissive characteristic of the at least one light transmitting element based at least upon stored road map information and the location of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2012
    Inventor: Nathalie Grace Cernasov
  • Patent number: 8139909
    Abstract: A first toroidal ray guide defines an axis of revolution and has a toroidal entrance pupil adapted to image light incident on the entrance pupil at an angle to the axis of revolution between 40 and 140 degrees, and it also has a first imaging surface opposite the entrance pupil. A second toroidal ray guide also defines the same axis of revolution and has a second imaging surface adjacent to the first imaging surface. Various additions and further qualities of the ray guides, which form optical channels, are disclosed. In a method light emanating from a source at between 40-140 degrees from an optical axis is received at an entrance pupil of a ray guide arrangement that is circularly symmetric about the optical axis. Then the received light is redirected through the ray guide arrangement to an exit pupil in an average direction substantially parallel to the optical axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2012
    Assignee: Upstream Engineering Oy
    Inventors: Ilkka A. Alasaarela, Jussi P. Soukkamäki, Teuvo K. Viljamaa
  • Publication number: 20120057363
    Abstract: A vehicle lamp includes a semiconductor light emitting device arranged to face toward a front of the vehicle lamp, a first optical member disposed in front of the semiconductor light emitting device, and a second optical member disposed in front of the first optical member. The first optical member comprises a front surface and a back surface. The front surface is configured to internally reflect light from the semiconductor light emitting device toward the back surface. The back surface is configured to internally reflect the light reflected by the front surface back toward the front surface such that the light exits the first optical member from the front surface. The second optical member is disposed directly in front of the front surface of the first optical member and diffuses the light from the first optical member to form a light distribution pattern.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 2, 2011
    Publication date: March 8, 2012
    Applicant: KOITO MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hiroyuki ISHIDA, Naoki UCHIDA
  • Publication number: 20120051074
    Abstract: A lighting apparatus is provided that, while suppressing an increase in size, can change the illuminating direction. The lighting apparatus has: a laser generator which emits laser light; a light emitting member which is irradiated with the laser light emitted from the laser generator to emit light; an irradiated position changer which moves and thereafter stops an irradiated position at which the light emitting member is irradiated with the laser light; and a light projecting member which projects the light emitted from the light emitting member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 29, 2011
    Publication date: March 1, 2012
    Applicant: SHARP KABUSHKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Koji TAKAHASHI
  • Patent number: 8113701
    Abstract: A vehicular lamp has an opening portion extending in a left-right direction provided on a side that wraps around toward a rear of a vehicle on an end side of an outer side wall of a mirror housing that supports a side mirror body has a main lamp body. The vehicular lamp has a lamp body and a front lens. The main lamp body is formed into a shape that generally follows the curved opening portion. The front lens is attached to the mirror housing so as to slightly project from or be on generally the same plane as the opening portion. The vehicular lamp has a surface-emitting light guide inner lens provided along the front lens in a curved lamp chamber space. The lamp chamber space is defined by the lamp body and the front lens. The lamp chamber space is elongated in the left-right direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2012
    Assignee: Koito Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Tomomi Ishikawa
  • Patent number: 8104938
    Abstract: A vehicle headlamp is provided. The vehicle headlamp includes a light source, an image forming section which forms a light image using light from the light source, and a projection lens which projects the light image. The image forming section includes a boundary shade and movable shades. Each of the movable shades is individually movable between a closed position at which the movable shade blocks a corresponding part of the light from entering the projection lens and an open position at which the movable shade allows the corresponding part of the light to enter the projection lens. The boundary shade is disposed to extend along distal ends of the respective movable shades that are arranged side by side when the movable shades are in the closed positions. When the movable shades are in the closed positions, the boundary shade forms a boundary line of the light image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2012
    Assignee: Koito Manufacturing Co., Ltd
    Inventor: Kenichi Takada
  • Publication number: 20120014124
    Abstract: A lighting assembly for a vehicle, and in particular, an interior lighting assembly having a reduced profile using solid state illuminators is provided along with a method of construction thereof. The assembly includes a housing; a lens attached to the housing; a printed circuit board disposed between the housing and the lens; at least one light source attached in operable electrical communication to the printed circuit board; and a light blade. The light blade has opposite sides disposed between the printed circuit board and the lens. One of the sides has a first configuration of optics and the other of the sides has a second configuration of optics, wherein the first and second configurations of optics are different from one another.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 21, 2011
    Publication date: January 19, 2012
    Inventors: James B. Anderson, Stephen A. Bynum
  • Publication number: 20120002432
    Abstract: The invention relates to a lighting device for vehicles, having a housing, a translucent diffusing screen covering a light exit opening of the housing, and a reflector. The translucent diffusing screen and the reflector may be fastened to the housing. A rapidly curing connection means may be applied to at least one interface between the housing and the diffusing screen to facilitate positioning.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 28, 2011
    Publication date: January 5, 2012
    Applicant: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventor: Frank Aust
  • Patent number: 8083385
    Abstract: An apparatus for attenuating the intensity of light transmitted through the apparatus is provided. In one embodiment, the apparatus may comprise a first polarizer having a first polarizing orientation and a second polarizer having a polarizing orientation perpendicular to the first polarizer. First and second electrodes are disposed between the polarizers and a nematic liquid crystal layer is disposed between the electrodes. At least one light detector positioned for measuring the intensity of the transmitted light may be positioned on an outer side of the second polarizer. A voltage controller in electrical communication with the light detector is provided for controlling the voltage level applied to the electrodes based on the intensity of the measured light wherein the voltage determines the amount of light transmitted through the apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2011
    Inventor: Yongwu Yang
  • Patent number: 8070336
    Abstract: A lighting or signaling device for a motor vehicle which is capable of emitting a linear beam in the direction of an optical axis and which comprises a point light source that emits light rays radially around a source; a light ray guiding plate; wherein the light guiding plate is shaped so that the light rays generally propagate in incident propagation planes normal to the plate between the light source and the reflection edge and in reflected propagation planes normal to the plate between the reflection edge and the output edge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2011
    Assignee: Valeo Vision
    Inventors: Christophe Dubosc, Antoine De Lamberterie
  • Publication number: 20110273897
    Abstract: A vehicle light can improve the visibility (noticeability) for pedestrians, roadside obstructs, other vehicles and the like in actual traffic environments. The vehicle light can be configured to project light beams with a predetermined white color, and can include a light source with a color temperature range of 4500 K to 7000 K. The light source emits light beams including four color light beams represented by four coordinate values of predicted colors including red, green, blue and yellow in the a* b* coordinate system corresponding to the CIE 1976 L*a*b* color space. The four coordinate values in the a* b* coordinate system can be encompassed by respective circle areas having a radius of, for example, 5, and each having center coordinate values of (41.7, 20.9) for red, (?39.5, 14.3) for green, (8.8, ?29.9) for blue and (?10.4, 74.2) for yellow, for example.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 4, 2011
    Publication date: November 10, 2011
    Inventors: Shinichi Kojima, Masafumi Ohno, Yasushi Kita, Takako Minoda, Naoko Takenobu, Susumu Nakamura, Norikatsu Myojin, Takashi Sato
  • Publication number: 20110260616
    Abstract: A vehicle exterior lamp includes an optical structure defining a plurality of geometric indicia, and a plurality of light emitting diodes (LEDs) for emitting light. Light emitted by the LEDs is directed towards the optical structure, to interact with the optical structure, and exit the exterior lamp.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 22, 2010
    Publication date: October 27, 2011
    Applicant: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: William Chaterlea, Jeffrey Nield
  • Patent number: 8042981
    Abstract: In a vehicle headlamp, a light source image forming device forms a first light source image and a second light source image. A projection lens projects the first light source image and the second light source image so as to have a common border with each other. The light source image forming device forms the first light source image and the second light source image at positions spaced apart from each other along respective edges forming the common border.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2011
    Assignee: Koito Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Takuya Kotajima, Satoshi Yamamura
  • Publication number: 20110249459
    Abstract: A vehicle light can achieve the same or similar heat dissipation performance as that of a conventional vehicle light while having a smaller height than that of the conventional vehicle light, thereby improving space utilization efficiency for a limited installation space of a vehicle body. The vehicle light can include a housing, a cover lens attached to the housing to define a lighting chamber between itself and the housing. A heat dissipation member can be attached to the housing. An optical system can be disposed within the lighting chamber. The optical system can include a heat conduction member including an LED attached surface and a support member fixed to the LED attached surface at one end thereof and to the housing or the heat dissipation member at the other end thereof.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 7, 2011
    Publication date: October 13, 2011
    Inventor: Sadaharu HATTA
  • Publication number: 20110249460
    Abstract: A vehicle headlight including a common light distribution unit and a variable light distribution unit and a headlight system including the headlight can form a common light distribution pattern and a variable light distribution pattern using the common and the variable light distribution units. The variable distribution unit can include a light source, a phosphor panel, a mirror reflecting/scanning light emitted from the light source onto the phosphor panel and a projector lens projecting the scanning light adjacent the common light distribution pattern. The headlight system can include a front sensor detecting a surrounding condition, and can control the common and the variable light distribution units to form an optimum light distribution pattern in accordance with surrounding conditions. Thus, the disclosed subject matter can provide a headlight system including a headlight that can form an optimum light distribution pattern in accordance with surrounding conditions and can have a simple structure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 8, 2011
    Publication date: October 13, 2011
    Inventor: Takuya KUSHIMOTO
  • Publication number: 20110235361
    Abstract: This invention relates to a device for diffused lighting for vehicle interiors that includes one or more light sources and that is located outside the field of vision of the driver of the vehicle. Drivers, especially following refractive surgery, manifest debilitating effects and symptoms of dazzling. The mioisis caused by the diffused light of this invention improves the driver's visual performance, in terms of quality of vision.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 13, 2009
    Publication date: September 29, 2011
    Inventor: Celia Sánchezramos
  • Publication number: 20110235354
    Abstract: An illuminated cup holder assembly for a vehicle includes at least one side wall and a base wall together defining a cup holder recess. The base wall has a light transmissive portion. An illumination source is secured to an underside of the base wall for illuminating the cup holder recess through the light transmissive portion of the base wall.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 29, 2010
    Publication date: September 29, 2011
    Applicant: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Joshua T. Glazier
  • Publication number: 20110222265
    Abstract: The invention relates to a lighting device (1) comprising at least one light-emitting device (3) and at least one optical element (7) in an optical path (15) of the light-emitting device (3) for generating output illumination having at least one directional characteristic. The lighting device according to the invention further comprises a screen-like member (5) for changing at least one physical property of light passing through it and an optical device (4) for generating an intermediate image (9) on the screen-like member (5), both located in the optical path (15) between the light-emitting device (3) and the optical element (7), wherein the optical element (7) is an optical element (12) for projecting said image (9). The invention further relates to a corresponding method of generating output illumination having a plurality of directional characteristics.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 11, 2009
    Publication date: September 15, 2011
    Applicant: KONINKLIJKE PHILIPS ELECTRONICS N.V.
    Inventors: Ronald R. Drenten, Josef A. Schug, Adriaan Valster
  • Patent number: 8016466
    Abstract: A reflector 30 is constituted as an aspherical mirror that forms a light distribution S1 in which spread of reflected light in a longitudinal direction of the vehicle is larger than spread of reflected light in a lateral direction of the vehicle. The light distribution expanded in the longitudinal direction of a vehicle 3 makes the light less likely to impinge on a side surface of the vehicle 3, so that the rear part of the vehicle 3 can be illuminated efficiently. As a result, maximum illumination can be achieved with the minimum amount of light. In addition, because the range of illumination is long in the longitudinal direction, not only the area around an occupant's feet outside a front door 5 but also an area around the feet outside a rear door 6 can be illuminated easily.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2011
    Assignee: Murakami Corporation
    Inventor: Yasuhiro Sato
  • Patent number: 8007155
    Abstract: A composite lamp assembly for use on a camouflaged military vehicle comprises a lamp housing colored to match the camouflaged scheme of the vehicle. The lamp housing defines an interior space, a first opening and a plurality of second openings in communication with the interior space. The lamp assembly includes a clear lens attached to the housing to occupy the first opening and a plurality of diffusers attached to the housing to occupy the plurality of second openings, the diffusers being colored to match the camouflaged scheme of the vehicle. The lamp assembly further includes a circuit board arranged within the interior space of the lamp housing having first and second pluralities of LEDs mounted thereto. The first plurality of LEDs is positioned to provide light through the clear lens and the second is positioned to provide light through the diffusers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2011
    Assignee: Grote Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Albert J. Bolander, Jr., Matthew E. Drake
  • Patent number: 8007153
    Abstract: A projector type vehicle light can have a decreased total weight and prevent the insufficiency in strength of a rotational shaft of a base member. The projector type vehicle light can include a light source, a reflector, a shade, and a projection lens. The vehicle light can further include a shade rotational shaft extending in the left-to-right direction, a base member configured so that the shade can rotate around the shade rotational shaft, a solenoid for making the shade rotate between a low-beam position and a high-beam position, and a crank shaft configured to connect the solenoid with the shade for driving the shade. The solenoid can be supported by the base member so that the plunger of the solenoid can move in the left-to-right direction. The lens holder can be made of a first material, such as a resin material, and the base member can be made from a second material, such as metal material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2011
    Assignee: Stanley Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yoichi Tatsumi, Yoshiaki Akiyama
  • Patent number: 8007152
    Abstract: A lighting device for a vehicle is provided. The lighting device includes a projection lens disposed on an optical axis and having a focal line, a first light emitting device disposed on a rear side of the focal line, a reflector which reflects light toward the focal line; a shade which shields a part of the light; a second light emitting device disposed on a rear side of the first light emitting device; and a light guide. The light guide includes an incident portion into which light emitted from the second light emitting device is introduced, a light guiding portion which guides the light, a shielding portion which forms a part of the shade, and an emitting portion coupled to the shielding portion and disposed on the focal line or in a vicinity of the focal line. The emitting portion emits the light guided by the light guiding portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2011
    Assignee: Koito Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Masaaki Nakabayashi
  • Patent number: 8007154
    Abstract: A vehicle lamp can include a light source, a reflector having a parabolic reflective surface for reflecting light beams from the light source, and a lens formed in a generally rectangular shape (i.e., square, rectangular, substantially square, substantially rectangular). The lens can include a plurality of lens cut portions for diffusing the generally parallel light beams from the reflector. The principal optical axis of the vehicle lamp can be aligned with the center of the lens. A plurality of ridge lines or valley lines can extend radially from the principal optical axis to divide the generally rectangular lens into at least a first lens cut portion, a second lens cut portion, a third lens cut portion, and a fourth lens cut portion. The first lens cut portion can be a substantial mirror image of the second lens cut portion, and the third lens cut portion can be a substantial mirror image of the fourth lens cut portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2011
    Assignee: Stanley Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hidetaka Okada, Nao Nakano, Norihide Todoroki
  • Patent number: 7993043
    Abstract: A vehicle lamp, which is configured to irradiate infrared light in a vehicle forward direction, includes: a projection lens disposed along an optical axis extending in a lamp backward and forward direction; and first and second light source units disposed in the rear of the projection lens. The first light source unit includes: a first light emitting element which is disposed in the rear of a rear focal point of the projection lens and emits the infrared light; and a first reflector which reflects the infrared light toward the optical axis in a lamp forward direction. An infrared light distribution pattern is formed by the infrared light which is reflected by the first reflector to pass through the projection lens. The second light source unit includes: a second light emitting element which is disposed in the rear of the rear focal point of the projection lens and emits visible light; and a second reflector which reflects the visible light toward the optical axis in a lamp forward direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2011
    Assignee: Koito Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kiyoshi Sazuka, Michio Tsukamoto, Shigeyuki Watanabe
  • Publication number: 20110170304
    Abstract: A lighting device for use in a vehicle, is equipped with one light source and a linear light-guiding body which guides light from the light source. The light-guiding body has a linear, primary spotlight part which emits light in a linear shape and a secondary spotlight part which emits a spot of light from the tip of the light-guiding body, thus providing different lighting with one light source.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 16, 2009
    Publication date: July 14, 2011
    Applicant: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Yusuke Fujita
  • Patent number: 7976203
    Abstract: A vehicle lamp including a light-emitting semiconductor device can have high visibility even in an area outside of the standard light distribution pattern. The vehicle lamp can include at least one light-emitting semiconductor device and at least one lens that includes both a first lens formation and second lens formation. An optical axis of the at least one lens can correspond with that of the at least one light-emitting semiconductor device. The first lens formation can receive a strong light that is within the range of a half-value angle of light emitted from the at least one light-emitting semiconductor and which forms a standard light distribution pattern. The second lens formation can receive a weak light that is beyond the range of the half-value angle and forms a light distribution pattern in an area outside of the standard light distribution formed by the first lens formation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2011
    Assignee: Stanley Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Hidetaka Okada
  • Publication number: 20110163671
    Abstract: A head light for a motor vehicle has a light source for generating a beam of light as well as a electronic beam steering module for steering the beam of light and/or a electronic beam shaping module for shaping the beam of light, wherein the head light has a light filter for eliminating at least the substantial portion of red light from the light generated by means of the light source.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 4, 2010
    Publication date: July 7, 2011
    Inventors: Pao Hsu Chen, Luis Sampedro Diaz, Arne Stoschek
  • Publication number: 20110157908
    Abstract: There is provided an illuminating device for vehicle which can be protected from penetration of, for example water. An illuminating device 1 for vehicle comprises a light source 7 and a lighting main body 2 that transmits light irradiated from the light source 7 and then emits the light outward. The lighting main body 2 includes a light guide body 5 and a casing 6 formed integrally with the light guide body 5. The casing 6 has a light source installation portion 11 for installing the light source 7 and a cover 4 which covers only the light source installation portion 11. A gap is sealed between the light source installation portion 11 and the cover 4.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 9, 2010
    Publication date: June 30, 2011
    Applicant: HONDA ACCESS CORP.
    Inventors: Shiro IWAI, Koji IMAIZUMI, Aika SAITO, Ryoichi ENOKI
  • Publication number: 20110149586
    Abstract: It is provided a lamp assembly (10) for an automotive headlamp, comprising an LED (12) for emitting light rays, a housing (16), to which the LED (12) is detachably connectable, wherein the housing (16) comprises an entrance window (20) assigned to the LED (12), and a guiding element (22) for guiding the light rays passing through the entrance window (20), wherein the guiding element (22) is connected to the housing (16). Since the LED (12) is detachable connected to the housing (16) a defect LED (12) can by exchanged by only exchanging the LED (12) itself without exchanging the whole lamp assembly (10) including the housing (16) and the guiding element (22). Since the correct position of the bright/dark-cutoff may be provided by the entrance window (20) and/or the guiding element (22) only, a misalignment of a newly inserted LED (12) does not affect the correct position of the bright/dark-cutoff. The exchange of a LED (12) is facilitated and without affecting the correct position of the bright/dark-cutoff.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 31, 2009
    Publication date: June 23, 2011
    Applicant: KONINKLIJKE PHILIPS ELECTRONICS N.V.
    Inventors: Josef Andreas Schug, Harald Willwohl, Ralph Hubert Peters, Wouter Petrus Kaandorp
  • Publication number: 20110141754
    Abstract: The invention relates to a vehicle light system comprising a laser device for generating a laser beam, further comprising a light output module provided with a phosphor element for emitting a light beam upon incidence of the generated laser beam and provided with an optical element associated with the phosphor element for producing a light output beam. Furthermore, the light system comprises a further light output module provided with a corresponding further phosphor element and a second optical element. The laser device is arranged to switch between a first state, in which the generated laser beam is directed to the phosphor element, and a second state in which the generated laser beam is directed to the further phosphor element.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 17, 2009
    Publication date: June 16, 2011
    Applicant: KONINKLIJKE PHILIPS ELECTRONICS N.V.
    Inventors: Rifat A. M. Hikmet, Ties Van Bommel
  • Patent number: 7954986
    Abstract: A vehicle light can have a simple configuration for easily determining whether or not a coating, such as an anti-fog coating and a hard coating, has been applied to a lens. A manufacturing method of such a vehicle light is also disclosed. The vehicle light can include a housing opened in an illumination direction, a light source disposed within the housing, a reflecting surface disposed within the housing and configured to reflect light from the light source to the illumination direction, and an outer lens disposed so as to hermetically close the front open end of the housing. The outer lens can have an inner surface and an outer surface, at least one of which including a coating for surface treatment. The outer lens can further have a first area which is subjected to a texturing process on the inner surface and/or the outer surface, with at least part of the first area including the coating for surface treatment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2011
    Assignee: Stanley Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Motoyasu Ishizu, Kazuo Yoshikawa
  • Publication number: 20110127912
    Abstract: Disclosed are an LED package, an LED package module having the same and a manufacturing method thereof, and a head lamp module having the same and a control method thereof. The light emitting diode package includes: a package substrate; a light emitting diode chip mounted on one surface of the package substrate; an electrode pad formed on the other surface of the package substrate and electrically connected to the light emitting diode chip; and a heat radiation pad formed on the other surface of the package substrate and electrically insulated from the electrode pad.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 30, 2010
    Publication date: June 2, 2011
    Inventors: Young Jin LEE, Hyung Kun Kim
  • Publication number: 20110122636
    Abstract: A signal indicator lamp assembly (10) for a vehicle (14) has an LED assembly (16) that emits electromagnetic radiation (20), which is visible light, such as white light, that is composed of at least two wavelengths. A collimating optic (18) is positioned forwardly of the LED assembly (16) for providing substantially parallel light rays of the emitted radiation (20). A second optic (22) is positioned forwardly of the collimating optic (18), the second optic (22) having a first planar surface (33) facing the collimating optic (18) and a second, outer surface (35), the first planar, surface (33) having an interference coating (24) thereon, the interference coating (24) reflecting back toward the LED assembly (16) at least some of the first wavelengths (31) of the radiation (20) and transmitting at least some of the second wavelengths (39).
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 25, 2009
    Publication date: May 26, 2011
    Inventors: Thomas Tessnow, Christian Meier
  • Patent number: 7946743
    Abstract: A vehicle lamp assembly includes a first lamp section and a second lamp section, which are disposed inside a lamp chamber defined by a lamp body and a front cover. The first lamp section includes a light source and a reflector which reflects light from the light source. The second lamp section includes a first light emitting device, a second light emitting device, a light guide member, and an optical component. The light guide member includes a base end face from which the light guide member extends in a strip shape along the front cover, a functional portion having a diffusing front surface which emits light from a first light emitting device, and a decorative portion having an internally reflecting rear surface which reflects light from a second light emitting device. A light emitting area of the decorative portion is larger than that of the functional portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2011
    Assignee: Koito Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kazunori Natsume, Kenji Nobuhara
  • Publication number: 20110110111
    Abstract: A light guide unit of a lamp for a vehicle, may include a light guide having at least two guide bodies arranged in parallel in upper and lower directions respectively, and transfer portions extending from the at least two guide bodies respectively and being connected together to form a mount portion, and at least a LED mounted on the mount portion and aligned towards the at least two guide bodies together, wherein each focus of light ray of the at least a LED is disposed within an intersected area of the transfer portions such that the light emitted from the at least a LED is uniformly dispersed through the respective transfer portion and then transferred to the corresponding two guide bodies.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 2, 2010
    Publication date: May 12, 2011
    Applicants: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Motors Corporation
    Inventor: Hyeong Woon RHO
  • Patent number: 7931394
    Abstract: A vehicle light assembly that includes a light cover and a cap is described. The light cover includes a light blocking, sealing rib that prevents undesirable light leakage around a housing of the light assembly. The cap includes one or more retention members that upon attachment of the cap to the light cover, prevent unintended detachment of the cap from the light cover.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2011
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Nicholas Goldsberry
  • Publication number: 20110085344
    Abstract: A lamp unit includes at least one light source that emits light in a predetermined direction, and a light guide body including at least one incident surface where light emitted from the light source enters, a first emission surface that emits light entering from the incident surface in a horizontal direction, and a plurality of second emission surfaces that emits light entering the incident surface in a horizontal direction and emits light entering the incident surface to the upper side of the horizontal direction. The second emission surfaces are formed above the first emission surface at different positions in an up-down direction, and are positioned on the back side of the first emission surface so as to be spaced apart from one another in the horizontal direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 20, 2010
    Publication date: April 14, 2011
    Applicant: Koito Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroya Koizumi, Asami Nakada, Kazunori Natsume
  • Patent number: 7922376
    Abstract: A headlamp for a vehicle has a projection lens, a light source disposed behind a rear focal point of the projection lens and having an optical axis extending in a longitudinal direction, a reflector which reflects light from the light source toward the projection lens, and a rotary shade which is rotatable and shields a part of the light which is projected from the light source and reflected by the reflector. The rotary shade has a plurality of pattern forming sections, each of which respectively forms a corresponding light distribution pattern including an upper part irradiation pattern and a lower part irradiation pattern. A center of the lower part irradiating patterns is located lower than a horizontal line. A center of the upper part irradiating patterns is located above the horizontal line. The pattern forming sections form at least four different upper part irradiating patterns.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2011
    Assignee: Koito Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Naohisa Tatara, Masahito Naganawa
  • Publication number: 20110075441
    Abstract: Example light fixtures include one or more light transmitting illuminated rods that emit a series or array of discrete spots of light. Some example light fixtures disclosed herein include optical features that provide an intriguing, attention-getting affect that can be useful particularly in alerting personnel of certain conditions at a doorway of a truck loading dock. In some examples, the light transmitting rods are mechanically coupled to a housing that contains an LED light source. The mechanical coupling allows the illuminated rods to be readily replaced without disrupting with the operation or wiring of the light source. Some example light fixtures illuminate the cargo bay of a vehicle at the loading dock.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 28, 2009
    Publication date: March 31, 2011
    Inventors: Mark R. Swessel, Norbert Hahn, Tim Muhl, Mark G. Petri, Paul Maly, Charles S. Waugaman, Matthew C. McNeill, Paul D. Rowlett, Jason Dondlinger
  • Patent number: 7909494
    Abstract: A side directional signal includes a base and a cover that together define a compartment receiving a circuit board on which first and second groups of light-emitting diodes (LEDs) are mounted. Mounted between the LEDs and the cover is a light-guiding plate including an inner face with a plurality of semispheres aligned with the LEDs. The light-guiding plate further includes an outer face with grooves. A portion of the semispheres concentrates the light beams emitted from the first group of LEDs to provide enhanced brightness. The concentrated light beams transmit through the outer face and then the cover after being reflected by sidewalls of the grooves. A reflective plate is mounted between the first and second groups of LEDs. The light beams emitted from the second group of LEDs are concentrated by a remaining portion of the semispheres, reflected by the reflective plate, and transmitted through the cover.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2011
    Assignee: Min Hsiang Corporation
    Inventors: Yao-Te Chung, Kun Yeh Lin
  • Publication number: 20110063864
    Abstract: A cover for use in connection with a vehicle light having a light source and a light reflector is provided. A lens of the cover has an electrically activatable material switchable between a light inhibiting state and a light transmissive state. The electrically activatable material prevents the transmission of visible light from entering into and reflecting out from the vehicle light when the electrically activatable material is set to the light inhibiting state. The lens has an area without having the electrically activatable material such that visible light from the light source is also to pass through the area. A baffle having the electrically activatable material extends from the body of the lens. The baffle blocks a portion of the visible light that passes through the area of the lens from traveling in certain directions when the electrically activatable material is in the light inhibiting state.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 16, 2009
    Publication date: March 17, 2011
    Applicant: Control Solutions, LLC
    Inventors: Alyn Brown, James Wiff
  • Publication number: 20110063865
    Abstract: A light emitting module includes: a circuit board having a shape in which an outer peripheral edge of the circuit board corresponds to an outer peripheral edge of the circuit board before rotating the circuit board about a center point by an angle of 90 degrees in a direction orthogonal to a thickness direction of the circuit board; a semiconductor light emitting element; and a first and second electrodes that are formed on the circuit board at positions symmetrical to each other with respect to the center point.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 13, 2010
    Publication date: March 17, 2011
    Applicant: KOITO MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Motohiro KOMATSU, Hidetada TANAKA, Takayuki YAGI
  • Patent number: 7901120
    Abstract: The invention relates to a decorative unit with illuminable decorative elements (1, 2, 3, 4), in particular a sill strip for positioning on the body of a vehicle, preferably in the region of a door sill, comprising a light-conducting layer (5) into which light can be radiated by an illuminant (6), in particular at least one light emitting diode (LED), disposed to the side, a light-covering decorative element layer (7) disposed over the light-conducting layer (5) with opaque and translucent regions which are designed to correspond to the decorative elements (1, 2, 3, 4), and a reflection layer (8) disposed beneath the light-conducting layer (5), a translucent dispersal layer (10) being disposed between the light-conducting layer (5) and the light-covering decorative element layer (7) disposed over the latter, wherein the translucent dispersal layer (10) contains a coarse fraction of particles with an average grain size in the region of between 30 and 120 ?m, and preferably between 60 and 90 ?m.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2011
    Assignee: CCL Design GmbH
    Inventors: Frank Droste, Reiner Kling, Peter Fleissner
  • Publication number: 20110051446
    Abstract: A vehicle lamp using an LED optical unit can include a connector. The LED optical unit can include a circuit board upon which an LED is mounted, a shield plate including lock grooves and a connector including terminal members and engaging portions. Each of the terminal members can contact with conductor pads of the circuit board with confidence using an elastic force of the terminal members, while each of the engaging portions is engaged with the lock grooves via insert slits in the circuit board and the shield plate. The connector can be attached to the circuit board by inserting the engaging portions into the insert slits and by rotating the connector. The LED can receive power supply via the conductor pads and can emit variously-colored lights. Thus, vehicle lamps can be used for various vehicles with a simple structure by using the disclosed LED optical unit including connector.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 2, 2010
    Publication date: March 3, 2011
    Inventor: Taku Saito
  • Publication number: 20110051445
    Abstract: A vehicle rear lamp assembly of a pre-determined shape includes one or more CCFL, electric wires extending from the CCFL and meet at a point to form a circuit loop. A plurality of soft positioning bands secure to CCFL electric wires which are around CCFL. A soft shock-proof sleeve is added to further secure electric wires to CCFL at the ends of CCFL.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 1, 2009
    Publication date: March 3, 2011
    Inventor: KENG-CHIN YEH
  • Publication number: 20110026266
    Abstract: A light source module for a vehicle lamp, including an optical system that guides light emitted from the light source module in a certain irradiation direction and has an optical center, the light source module has a plurality of semiconductor light emitting elements disposed in a straight line and electrically connected to each other in series. One of the semiconductor light emitting elements that is positioned closest to the optical center of the optical system has a light emitting area that is smallest of the plurality of the semiconductor light emitting elements.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 21, 2009
    Publication date: February 3, 2011
    Applicant: KOITO MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yasutaka Sasaki, Hiroyuki Ishida
  • Publication number: 20110019431
    Abstract: A vehicle lamp has at least one transparent element (10), and at least one main light source, whose emitted light passes the optical boundary layers of the at least one transparent element (10) substantially perpendicularly. The at least one transparent element (10) has at least two optical areas (12, 20, 26) with different optical indices of refraction which adjoin one another along at least one optical boundary layer (16, 24), and at least in one of the adjoining optical areas (12), whose index of refraction is greater than the index of refraction of the adjoining optical area (20, 26), the light of at least one light source is coupled via at least one light coupling point (22) into a direction pointing substantially along the at least one optical boundary layer (16, 24), and the introduced light is decoupled via at least one light decoupling point (14).
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 4, 2008
    Publication date: January 27, 2011
    Inventors: Berend Wegner, Henning Kiel
  • Publication number: 20110013413
    Abstract: An improved vehicle lamp assembly includes a lamp seat with a circuit board arranged on a top of the lamp seat. The circuit board has a plurality of retaining holes for receiving retaining sheets. The retaining sheets are inserted into the retaining holes as a pyramid. Light Emitting Diode (LED) is arranged onto a surface of each retaining sheet so that a wide illumination of lights by the LEDs is formed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 15, 2009
    Publication date: January 20, 2011
    Inventor: A-Sheng Yang