Adjustable Or Positionable Patents (Class 362/512)
  • Patent number: 8348487
    Abstract: A headlamp is disclosed. The headlamp includes a light source, at least one light shade, and a linear slide. The light source emits at least one light beam. The linear slide moves the light shade to shade at least one part of the light beam.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2013
    Assignee: Maxzone Auto Parts Corp.
    Inventor: Hui-Chuam Chen
  • Publication number: 20120314439
    Abstract: A vehicular headlamp includes: a light-emitting module; a movement mechanism that moves the light-emitting module; and a reflector having a reflecting surface configured to reflect, toward the front of the lamp, light emitted from the light-emitting module and form a plurality of light distribution patterns in accordance with a position of the moved light-emitting module. The movement mechanism is configured to be capable of translating the light-emitting module to a plurality of positions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 6, 2012
    Publication date: December 13, 2012
    Applicant: KOITO MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Naoki UCHIDA
  • Publication number: 20120300484
    Abstract: A vehicle headlamp includes a light source configured to emit light, a reflector configured to reflect the light, a projection lens through which the light is projected, and a lens holder holding the projection lens. The projection lens has a positioning portion, and the lens holder is formed with a jig insertion hole at a location corresponding to the positioning portion in a direction around an optical axis of the projection lens such that the positioning portion is visible through the jig insertion hole. When mounting the projection lens to the lens holder, a positioning jig is inserted through the jig insertion hole and is engaged with the positioning portion to position the projection lens in the direction around the optical axis of the projection lens.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 24, 2012
    Publication date: November 29, 2012
    Applicant: KOITO MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Katsuhito Mochizuki, Yukio Nomura
  • Patent number: 8297814
    Abstract: A vehicle headlamp includes a first light source configured to emit first light that is projected to form a first irradiation region, a second light source configured to emit second light that is projected to form a second irradiation region joined to the first irradiation region to extend in a transverse direction with respect to an optical axis, a movable shade configured to move between a position at which light irradiation to a joined region of the first irradiation region and the second irradiation region is shielded, and a position at which the light irradiation to the joined region is permitted, and a controller configured to select one of light distribution patterns that are determined by combinations of turning on and off of the first light source, turning on and off of the second light source, and the positions of the movable shade.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2012
    Assignee: Koito Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hidetada Tanaka, Satoshi Yamamura, Motohiro Komatsu
  • Patent number: 8267560
    Abstract: A combination lamp body 10, which are attached with a combination lamp, is arranged in a position adjacent to headlamp bodies 50, and includes a shaft provided on the outer end in the vehicle width direction. A support provided to each of the headlamp bodies 50 regulates inward and forward movements of the shaft in the vehicle width direction. An engagement part is fixed to the vehicle body. An attachment member 20 is provided removable from the rear face of the combination lamp body 10, and includes a locking part 21 engaging with the engagement part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2012
    Assignee: Isuzu Motors Limited
    Inventors: Hidenao Hashimoto, Masaji Takei, Hiromi Takei, legal representative
  • Patent number: 8240897
    Abstract: An optical axis adjusting apparatus and vehicle light include a lamp housing and a reflector. The optical axis adjusting apparatus includes a ball joint via which the lamp housing and the reflector are connected, an aiming screw, a nut portion, and a support member. The nut portion is screwed onto the aiming screw and the support member is fit onto the aiming screw.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2012
    Assignee: Stanley Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Yoshitaka Narumi
  • Patent number: 8235570
    Abstract: A vehicle headlamp is provided with: a main reflector having a convergent reflecting surface; a semiconductor-type light source; a projecting lens; an auxiliary reflector having a parabolic reflecting surface; a shade and a light shading member that are structured integrally with each other; and a switching device. By means of the switching device, the shade and light shading member, which are structured integrally with each other, are switched and positioned in a first location and a second location, thereby allowing light distribution patterns for high and low beams to be switched and illuminated toward a forward direction of a vehicle. As a result, the vehicle headlamp becomes capable of achieving downsizing, weight reduction, power saving, and cost reduction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2012
    Assignee: Ichikoh Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Yasuhiro Okubo, Toshiya Abe
  • Publication number: 20120140502
    Abstract: A beam pattern changing structure for a head lamp is provided, which includes a light source provided in the head lamp to emit light, a reflector provided in the head lamp to reflect the light irradiated through the light source, a shield provided in front of the reflector, and an actuator mounted on the shield to make the shield rotatable. Accordingly, since low beams, high beams, and diverse beam pattern regions in the beam pattern changing stages are all implemented through one light source, the driver's visibility can be maximally secured and the glare of the opposite vehicle can be prevented. Further, the designs of the head lamps for the high beams and the low beams are the same, and thus the merchantability is increased.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 11, 2011
    Publication date: June 7, 2012
    Applicants: Hyundai Mobis, Hyundai Motor Company
    Inventors: Hyun-Soo Lee, Byoung Suk Ahn
  • Patent number: 8182126
    Abstract: An automotive headlamp apparatus includes a left lamp unit, a right lamp unit and a headlamp apparatus control unit. Each of the left lamp unit and the right lamp unit includes a bulb, a movable shade, a shade moving mechanism and a fixed shade. Each movable shade can advance or recede with respect to the light axis of the bulb, and forms an individual light distribution pattern for a low-beam by shielding part of a light at an advanced position while allowing formation of a partial shape of a light distribution pattern for a high-beam at a receded position. The fixed shade forms the partial shape of the light distribution pattern for a high-beam when the movable shade is located at the receded position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2012
    Assignee: Koito Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Atsushi Sugimoto
  • Publication number: 20120113662
    Abstract: There is provided a vehicle headlight. The vehicle headlight includes: a light source configured to emit light; a reflector reflecting the light; a projection lens projecting the light; a stationary shade blocking a part of the light emitted from the light source; a movable shade supported by the stationary shade as to move between a shielding position and a non-shielding position and configured to block a part of the light emitted from the light source; a drive mechanism including: a yoke; a coil disposed in the yoke; and an output shaft configured to move in an axial direction thereof in response to current supplied to the coil, and a transmission mechanism transmitting a driving force of the drive mechanism to the movable shade. At least a part of the yoke of the drive mechanism is formed in a single piece with the stationary shade.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 21, 2011
    Publication date: May 10, 2012
    Applicant: KOITO MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hiroki SHIBATA, Kazutami OISHI
  • Publication number: 20120051076
    Abstract: A vehicle device for switching from a high-beam light distribution to a glare-free light distribution thereby avoiding dazzling of an object; using a control device, whereas the control device shall control at least one actuating variable for setting a horizontal cut-off, and at least one actuating variable for setting a vertical cut-off of at least one headlamp.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 26, 2011
    Publication date: March 1, 2012
    Applicant: Hella KGaA
    Inventors: Christian Schmidt, Tobias Irmscher, Georg Florissen, Christian Hüster, Stefan Krause, Carsten Wilks, Henrik Hesse, Andre Hildebrandt
  • Publication number: 20120051071
    Abstract: The present invention combines control for lighting on/off a right side semiconductor-type light source 5R, control for lighting on/off a left side semiconductor-type light source 5L, and control for moving a movable shade 7 between a first position and a second position via control for driving/stopping the movement mechanism 70 with one another so as to radiate luminous intensity of a light distribution pattern HP1 for high beam having a first function, a light distribution pattern HP2 for high beam having a second function, and a light distribution pattern HP3 for high beam having a third function toward a forward direction of a vehicle 3. As a result, since the present invention includes a set of lamp unit, in comparison with the conventional vehicle headlamp system, the present invention requires a less number of components, and thus downsizing and cost reduction can be achieved accordingly.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 25, 2011
    Publication date: March 1, 2012
    Inventors: Yasuhiro OKUBO, Toshiya ABE
  • Patent number: 8123388
    Abstract: A vehicle headlamp has semiconductor-type light sources and lenses. Emission surfaces of the lenses are made of free curved faces controlled to be curved so that: projection images of light emitting chips of the semiconductor-type light sources, which is emitted from the emission surfaces, are not convexly curved in an upward direction from cutoff lines on a screen light distribution of a light distribution pattern for low beam. As a result, the vehicle headlamp can achieve downsizing, weight reduction, and cost reduction. In addition, the precision of assembling an optical element can be improved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2012
    Assignee: Ichikoh Industries, Ltd.
    Inventor: Yasuhiro Ookubo
  • Patent number: 8113700
    Abstract: A headlamp includes a lamp base with an interior reflecting surface, a lamp provided in the lamp base, a driver deposited on a recessed supporting surface of the lamp base, two light shields installed on the lamp base and a spring biasing the lamp shields towards one another. The driver includes a driving shaft, and a pushing block with a conical surface gradually tapered toward its free end. The light shields are pivotally fixed on the lamp base by fastening elements and their inner portions overlapped each other, and each has a sliding groove bored obliquely and tapered downwards for the pushing block to pass through. The light shields are drawn by the driver to control light projecting from the lamp to produce a high and low beam illumination pattern.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2012
    Assignee: Raiderson Enterprise Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Kwan-Ten Hung
  • Patent number: 8109649
    Abstract: A conversion type light emitting device includes at least one LED element having a predetermined light emitting range and a fluorescent element performing wavelength conversion of light emitted from the LED element when disposed at a first location in the predetermined light emitting range. The fluorescent element is movable from a first location to a second location outside the predetermined light emitting range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2012
    Assignee: Seoul Semiconductor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Won Kuk Son, Yevgeni Aliyev
  • Patent number: 8104940
    Abstract: A vehicle headlamp includes a projection lens, a halogen bulb disposed behind a rear focal point of the projection lens and below an optical axis, a main reflector which forwardly reflects and converges a first part of direct light from the halogen bulb toward the optical axis, the halogen bulb being inserted in the main reflector in a sidewise direction, a movable shade disposed between the projection lens and the halogen bulb to shield a portion of the first part of the light reflected by the main reflector and a second part of the direct light from the halogen bulb to form a cutoff line, an actuator which moves the movable shade, and an auxiliary reflector disposed below the optical axis to forwardly and diffusely reflect a third part of the direct light from the halogen bulb such that the third part of the light passes below the projection lens.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2012
    Assignee: Koito Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Takayuki Ochiai
  • Patent number: 8096687
    Abstract: A vehicle head light includes a lighting casing; a lamp unit disposed in the lighting casing; a support member that supports the lamp unit so as to be rotatable at least in two directions; an actuator that rotates the lamp unit with respect to the support member; and a thrust receiver that receives a load of the lamp unit. The lighting casing includes a lamp housing opened on one side and a cover that closes the opening of the lamp housing. The lamp unit includes a light source and a reflector that reflects light emitted from the light source. The actuator is disposed under the lamp unit. A lower end of the lamp unit is coupled to the actuator. The actuator includes a case member; and a driving mechanism disposed in the case member. The lamp unit is coupled to the driving mechanism. The thrust receiver is integrally provided on the case member of the actuator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2012
    Assignee: Koito Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Keiichi Tajima
  • 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
  • Publication number: 20110305033
    Abstract: An optical unit used in a vehicle lighting device, includes a plurality of first shades which are disposed adjacent to each other in a vehicle width direction and are separated by a specific gap, wherein at least one of the first shades is movable between an advanced position which blocks a part of light emitted from a light source and a retreated position which does not block the light, a second shade, which is engaged with an end portion in the vehicle width direction of the at least one of the first shades, and driven by the first shade to move between the advanced position and the retreated position, and covers the gap between the adjacent first shades, and a movement mechanism which is connected to the at least one first shade and moves the first shade to one of the advanced position and the retreated position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 24, 2011
    Publication date: December 15, 2011
    Applicant: KOITO MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Yuji SUGIYAMA
  • Patent number: 8070338
    Abstract: A high intensity discharge lamp automotive headlamp system is provided for three different lighting functions. The headlamp system is a single unit that provides for low beam, high beam, and daylight running light (DRL) functions. Two optical components are used to easily and effectively switch between the different modes of operation. The first optical component is a shutter that selectively blocks a portion of the light beam output. Secondly, either a single lens or lens portions can be moved either within the light beam path or into the light beam path to alter the divergence.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2011
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Agoston Boroczki, Csaba Horvath, Tamas Panyik
  • Patent number: 8070334
    Abstract: The work machine has an operator's cab, an engine hood, an exhaust pipe, a first headlight, and a second headlight. The engine hood is disposed in front of the operator's cab. The exhaust pipe projects upwards from the engine hood. The first headlight and the second headlight are provided at a front part of the operator's cab spaced in a lateral direction and disposed so that optical axes of the first and second headlights are mutually intersect but not to overlap with the exhaust pipe when viewed in a top plan view.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2011
    Assignee: Komatsu Ltd.
    Inventors: Makoto Yomogita, Masamichi Miyazaki, Keita Muto, Koji Nagami
  • Publication number: 20110273898
    Abstract: Projection module for a light unit of a vehicle having a reflector, a light source assigned to the reflector, a shutter connected to the reflector in a detachable manner, a lens holder holding a lens and being detachably connected to the shutter, and a carrier frame detachably connected to the reflector for the connection to a housing of the light unit, wherein the carrier frame is connected to the lens holder to form an integrally formed basic carrier part having, on a side facing the reflector, positioning means for the positioning of the shutter and screw fastening means for the screwable connection with a front edge of the reflector.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 6, 2011
    Publication date: November 10, 2011
    Applicant: HELLA KGAA HUECK & CO.
    Inventor: Berthold Döring
  • Publication number: 20110261576
    Abstract: A vehicle light can include a bulb, a projector lens disposed in front of the bulb and having a focus located in between the bulb and the projector lens. A first reflecting surface can be disposed behind the projector lens, for reflecting light beams emitted from the bulb toward the projector lens so that the light beams are converged at or near the focus of the projector lens. A shade can be configured to shield part of the light beams directed from the first reflecting surface to the projector lens. A second reflecting surface can be disposed on a rear surface of the shade, for reflecting downward part of the reflected light beams directed from the first reflecting surface to the projector lens. A third reflecting surface can be disposed below the shade, for reflecting the light beams from the second reflecting surface to an outside area below the projector lens to project the light beams forward.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 24, 2011
    Publication date: October 27, 2011
    Inventor: Mitsuhiro Uchida
  • Patent number: 8042980
    Abstract: A vehicle headlamp is provided with semiconductor-type light sources, lenses, a reflector, light shading members, prism members, and a switching device. When the light shading members are positioned in a first location by means of the switching device, a light distribution pattern LP for low beam, having one or more cutoff lines, is illuminated. In addition, when the prism members are positioned in the first location by means of the switching device, a light distribution pattern HP for high beam is illuminated. As a result, the vehicle headlamp can achieve downsizing, weight reduction, power saving, and cost reduction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2011
    Assignee: Ichikoh Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Yasuhiro Ookubo, Toshiya Abe
  • Publication number: 20110242832
    Abstract: Conventionally, it has been important to rotatably mount a lens on a housing without a backlash. The present invention has been made in view of this circumstance, and aims to provide a vehicle room lighting device having a lamp housing 2 and a lamp lens 3. An elastic piece 12 having a predetermined elasticity in a direction of a rotary shaft O-O of the lamp lens 3 is provided at the lamp lens 3. A shaft portion 15 is provided at the elastic piece 12. A shaft hole 23 is provided at the lamp housing 2. The shaft portion 15 is inserted into the shaft hole 23 so as to be rotatable around the rotary shaft O-O of the lamp lens 3. As a result, the vehicle room lighting device according to the present invention is capable of rotatably mounting the lamp lens 3 on the lamp housing 2 without a backlash.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 28, 2011
    Publication date: October 6, 2011
    Inventor: Isao MARUYAMA
  • Patent number: 7985010
    Abstract: In a system for controlling a headlight of a vehicle to be controlled, a dazzling level determiner determines a parameter value of a dazzling level of a driver of an other vehicle ahead of the controlled vehicle based on information associated with a relative positional relationship between the controlled vehicle and the other vehicle. The dazzling level represents a possibility that the driver of the other vehicle feels dazzling to light irradiated from the headlight of the controlled vehicle. A light-quantity adjuster adjusts a quantity of light to be irradiated from the headlight of the controlled vehicle based on the determined parameter value of the dazzling level.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 26, 2011
    Assignee: Denso Corporation
    Inventors: Takahiro Kamioka, Atsushi Yamamoto, Yasutoshi Horii
  • Publication number: 20110170306
    Abstract: Disclosed is a projector-type headlight that can include a light emitting device, a reflector having a reflection surface to reflect a light from the light emitting device forward, a projector lens to project the reflected light from the reflection surface forward, the projector lens being a resin molding, and a shade to form a light distribution pattern having a light-dark border line by blocking a part of the reflected light heading from the reflection surface to the projector lens. A gate trace can be formed in a circumference portion of the projector lens. The gate trace can be provided lower than a horizontal surface on which a light axis of the projector lens passes through, and at the same time can be provided in a state of being shifted either leftward or rightward from a vertical surface on which the light axis of the projector lens passes through.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 14, 2011
    Publication date: July 14, 2011
    Inventors: Yasushi YATSUDA, Yoshihiro NAKATA, Eiji KAWAMOTO
  • Publication number: 20110149584
    Abstract: A light module (5, 6) for lighting equipment (1) of a motor vehicle includes a plurality of semiconductor light sources (8, 9) for emitting light, a plurality of reflection areas (10, 11) for reflecting the light, and a plate-shaped separation element (7) arranged between the reflection areas (10, 11) and onto which the light sources (8, 9) are mounted such that an emitting direction of the light sources (8, 9) is substantially perpendicular to an optical axis of the light module (5, 6). The reflection areas are assigned to separate reflector-element sections (10, 11), and the separation element is used as a support element (7) of the light module (5, 6) onto which the reflector-element sections (10, 11) are mounted separate from one another. Lighting equipment (1) of a motor vehicle includes the light module (5, 6).
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 17, 2010
    Publication date: June 23, 2011
    Inventors: Florian Stade, Doris Boebel, Michael Scholl
  • Patent number: 7914186
    Abstract: A lighting device for a vehicle includes a lamp unit serving to irradiate a light forward, and an actuator having a single output shaft for tilting the lamp unit vertically and transversely. The lamp unit is disposed in a lamp housing formed by a lamp body and a transparent cover for covering a front surface of the lamp body. The lamp unit includes a body coupling portion to be coupled to the lamp body and an actuator coupling portion to be coupled to the actuator. The lamp body includes a lamp unit coupling portion coupled to the body coupling portion and serving to support the lamp unit tiltably in vertical and transverse directions. The actuator is supported on the lamp body and includes an output shaft for tilting the lamp unit vertically and transversely in engagement with the actuator coupling portion of the lamp unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2011
    Assignee: Koito Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Naohisa Tatara, Masahiro Kusagaya
  • Patent number: 7901121
    Abstract: The light distribution of a vehicle headlamp can be changed between various modes, including a basic mode and a motorway mode. In the basic mode, shaded region changeover means block a high light intensity region, and deflection control means controls a lamp optical axis Lx to a straight travel direction. In the motorway mode, the shaded region changeover means does not block the high light intensity region, and the deflection control means controls deflection of the lamp optical axis to a host vehicle lane side. A light distribution in which the high light intensity region faces a far distance ahead of the host vehicle lane can be obtained, and the host vehicle lane is brightly illuminated without dazzling a driver of a preceding vehicle or an oncoming vehicle. Accordingly, illumination suited to the motorway mode during high speed and medium speed travel can be achieved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2011
    Assignee: Koito Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hirohiko Ohshio, Kiyotaka Mochizuki
  • Patent number: 7896512
    Abstract: The vehicle headlamp is provided with a main lamp unit fixed and arranged inside a lamp chamber and sub-lamp units as an auxiliary lamp capable of changing and forming light distribution patterns by using semiconductor light emitting elements as light sources. The sub-lamp units are respectively equipped with a vertically changing mechanism for changing the illuminating direction in a vertical direction, a laterally changing mechanism for changing the illuminating direction in a lateral direction and a pattern changing mechanism for changing a light distribution pattern.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2011
    Assignee: Koito Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Naohisa Tatara, Takashi Hori, Kiyotaka Mochizuki
  • Patent number: 7891851
    Abstract: A headlamp, developed especially for motor vehicle illumination, wherein the light source and reflector surfaces are fully concealed from the oncoming traffic users, having a light plane with fully adjusted height, operating according to the half-lens illumination principle, providing a long-distance illumination without glaring effect by preventing the all of the light rays generated at the light source from reaching to the eye level (EE) of oncoming traffic users. The preferred embodiment of the system (40, 50) consists of three independent reflector units (2, 3), (12, 13), (22, 23) with triple light pathway, designed similar to clover leaf, having a standard light source (1) located at their common first focal point (f1) mounted in a headlamp enclosure (20). The system consists of a lighting assembly that can be used not only in motor vehicle headlamp system but also in general lighting systems and in all optical devices. The system may be applied as an in-bulb structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2011
    Inventor: Turhan Alcelik
  • Patent number: 7866864
    Abstract: A guiding structure includes a base and a guiding unit. The base has an opening, and an inner wall of the base, facing the opening, is formed with at least one first guiding element and at least one first restricting element disposed adjacent to the first guiding element. The guiding unit is inserted into the opening and has at least one second guiding element and at least one second restricting element. The second guiding element is correspondingly coupled to or separated from the first restricting element by deforming, bending, rotating or displacing. The first guiding element is disposed corresponding to the second guiding element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 11, 2011
    Assignee: Delta Electronics, Inc.
    Inventors: Chin-Chu Hsu, Chun-Hua Yang, Chia-Ying Hsu
  • Patent number: 7837367
    Abstract: An automobile headlight high-low switching device includes a fixing plate, an electromagnetic valve, a driven device and a light-shielding board. The fixing plate has a recess, a sliding slot and a pivotal pin. The electromagnetic valve is fixed on the fixing plate, provided with a valve shaft mounted with a spring. The driven device is connected with the valve shaft, having a projecting bar at a bottom to plug into the sliding slot. The light-shielding board has a pivotal hole used to be pivotally fixed with the pivotal bar of the fixing plate, a through hole to be inserted through by the projecting bar of the driven device. With the simple components, the automobile headlight high-low switching device can be not only operated smoothly but also assembled quickly to effectively lower manufacturing cost.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 23, 2010
    Inventors: Hsian-Yi Huang, Ching-Yun Huang
  • Patent number: 7810972
    Abstract: A headlamp assembly for a motor vehicle, including a housing coupling the headlamp assembly to a frame of the motor vehicle, a light source positioned within the housing for emitting light rays, and a reflector positioned within the housing and configured to direct the light rays into a beam. The reflector is movable with respect to the housing and the light source so as to adjust the beam direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 12, 2010
    Assignee: Visteon Global Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Jan Popelek
  • Patent number: 7798689
    Abstract: An infrared light irradiating lamp for a vehicle includes a projection lens disposed on an optical axis extending in a longitudinal direction of the vehicle; a light source bulb disposed behind a rear side focal point of the projection lens that includes a filament for emitting a light; a reflector for reflecting the light emitted from the light source bulb in a forward direction close to the optical axis; and an infrared light transmitting filter disposed between the reflector and the projection lens. The infrared light transmitting filter includes an infrared light transmitting film and a diffusing portion for diffusing a light transmitted from the reflector. The infrared light transmitting filter is movable between a transmitting position in which the infrared light transmitting film intercepts light reflected by the reflector and a retreating position in which infrared light transmitting film does not intercept the reflected light.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 21, 2010
    Assignee: Koito Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Shinji Kagiyama
  • Publication number: 20100226142
    Abstract: The invention relates to a projection module (1) for a motor vehicle headlight. The module (1) serves for generating different light distributions. It comprises a plurality of light sources (2, 3) which are switchable independently of one another. In order to generate a first light distribution (12) with the horizontal bright-dark boundary (13), light from a first light source group (2) is coupled into an optical element (9) arranged in the beam path. The optical element (9) has a totally reflecting underside (9a) having a contour corresponding to the course of the bright-dark boundary (13). The light coupled out from the optical element (9) is projected onto the road by a projection lens (11) for generating the first light distribution (12). A further light source group (3) is additionally activated in order to generate a second light distribution (15). The light emitted by said group (3) illuminates a region of the light distribution (15) above the bright-dark boundary (13).
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 11, 2010
    Publication date: September 9, 2010
    Inventors: Matthias Brendle, Matthias Gebauer
  • Patent number: 7784985
    Abstract: A dual function headlamp for motor vehicle fulfilling a first function as a beam with cut-off, in particular a dipped beam, and a second function as a second-type beam, in particular a full beam, comprising: an elliptical reflector with an interior focal point and an focal point on an optical axis; a light source placed in the vicinity of the interior focal point; an optics placed forward of the reflector and with a focal point merged with, or next to, the exterior focal point of the reflector; and a retractable shade that can occupy an active position for the beam with cut-off and a withdrawn position for the second-type beam, the shade in active position presenting a cut-off edge situated in the vicinity of the focal point of the optics. The retractable shade presents a reflective surface which, in withdrawn position, is placed in the lower part of the reflector, is turned forward and contributes to the second-type beam.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2010
    Assignee: Valeo Vision
    Inventor: Jean-Luc Meyrenaud
  • Patent number: 7775699
    Abstract: A bifunctional vehicle headlamp is described. In one embodiment, a headlamp comprises a light source and a reflector, which cooperate to form a light pattern, a lens positioned forward of the reflector and configured to project a desired beam pattern, and a light shield disposed between the lens and the reflector. The light shield has a first shade that selectively blocks a first portion of the light pattern to form a first beam pattern, and a second shade that selectively blocks a second portion of the light pattern to form a second beam pattern.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2010
    Assignee: Visteon Global Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Amir P. Fallahi, William C. Ince
  • Patent number: 7766523
    Abstract: A lamp unit 18 is provided with a reflecting face 25b for an overhead sign and a light receiving face 28 for the overhead sign. The reflecting face 25b for an overhead sign reflects light from a light source 23a and is provided on an upper side of the light source 23a and rearward from a rear side focal point F of a projector lens 11. The light receiving face 28 for the overhead sign is provided on a front side of a movable shade 30 arranged between the projector lens 11 and the light source 23a. The light receiving face 28 forms overhead sign irradiating light P2 by reflecting light from the reflecting face 25b for the overhead sign to the projector lens 11. Illuminance reducer for reducing a portion of irradiating light is provided at a position of a vicinity of an upper end of the movable shade 30 of the light receiving face 28a for the overhead sign.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 3, 2010
    Assignee: Koito Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Masao Kinoshita, Akinori Matsumoto, Takehiko Tajima
  • Patent number: 7753575
    Abstract: A vehicle lamp is provided with a plurality of lamp units respectively including light sources, and optical units for emitting light from the light sources ahead of the lamp unit, and a driving unit configured to swivel the plurality of optical units in different strokes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 13, 2010
    Assignee: Koito Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Mitsuyuki Mochizuki, Seiichiro Yagi, Yuji Yasuda
  • Publication number: 20100149828
    Abstract: A vehicular lamp including, in a lamp chamber formed by a lamp body having a front opening and a transparent front cover attached to the front opening, a semiconductor light-emitting element; and an inner lens positioned forward of the semiconductor light-emitting element. The inner lens includes a first light control portion for diffusing light from the semiconductor light-emitting element in a horizontal direction; and second light control portions respectively positioned on left and right sides of the first light control portion, each of which have a reflective surface for reflecting the light from the semiconductor light-emitting element in a predetermined direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 15, 2009
    Publication date: June 17, 2010
    Applicant: KOITO MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Hiroya Koizumi
  • Patent number: 7736038
    Abstract: The driving unit includes an attaching portion, a first contact surface, and a second contact surface. The frame includes a receiving portion to which the attaching portion is attached, a first contact receiving surface with which the first contact surface is in contact, and a second contact receiving surface with which the second contact surface is in contact.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2010
    Assignee: Ichikoh Industries, Ltd.
    Inventor: Eiji Suzuki
  • Patent number: 7736037
    Abstract: A projector assembly having a light source and a reflector body positioned proximately to the light source for reflecting light forward along an axis of the projector assembly. Mounted to the reflector body is a lens. The lens is in front of and at a distance from the light source to focus the light into a beam pattern. An actuator is mounted to the reflector body and includes a pair of rotatable shafts extending from opposing ends along an axis that is perpendicular to and below the axis of the projector assembly. A light shield is mounted onto the rotatable shafts of the actuator and is rotatable between a first position, wherein substantially all of the light below the axis of the projector assembly is blocked, and a second position, wherein at least a portion of the light below the axis of the projector assembly is allowed to project forward through the lens.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2010
    Assignee: Visteon Global Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Libor Losak, Vladimir Dobrus, Jiri Kopenec
  • Publication number: 20100142216
    Abstract: An automobile headlight high-low switching device includes a fixing plate, an electromagnetic valve, a driven device and a light-shielding board. The fixing plate has a recess, a sliding slot and a pivotal pin. The electromagnetic valve is fixed on the fixing plate, provided with a valve shaft mounted with a spring. The driven device is connected with the valve shaft, having a projecting bar at a bottom to plug into the sliding slot. The light-shielding board has a pivotal hole used to be pivotally fixed with the pivotal bar of the fixing plate, a through hole to be inserted through by the projecting bar of the driven device. With the simple components, the automobile headlight high-low switching device can be not only operated smoothly but also assembled quickly to effectively lower manufacturing cost.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 5, 2008
    Publication date: June 10, 2010
    Inventors: Hsian-Yi Huang, Ching-Yun Huang
  • Publication number: 20100124070
    Abstract: A vehicle headlamp includes a projection lens, a halogen bulb disposed behind a rear focal point of the projection lens and below an optical axis, a main reflector which forwardly reflects and converges a first part of direct light from the halogen bulb toward the optical axis, the halogen bulb being inserted in the main reflector in a sidewise direction, a movable shade disposed between the projection lens and the halogen bulb to shield a portion of the first part of the light reflected by the main reflector and a second part of the direct light from the halogen bulb to form a cutoff line, an actuator which moves the movable shade, and an auxiliary reflector disposed below the optical axis to forwardly and diffusely reflect a third part of the direct light from the halogen bulb such that the third part of the light passes below the projection lens.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 19, 2009
    Publication date: May 20, 2010
    Applicant: KOITO MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Takayuki OCHIAI
  • Publication number: 20100124069
    Abstract: A vehicle headlamp is provided with: a projection lens disposed on an optical axis extending in a front and rear direction of a vehicle; a light source disposed rearwardly of a rear-side focal point of the projection lens; a reflector configured to reflect direct light from the light source forward to converge reflected light toward the optical axis; a movable shade disposed between the projection lens and the light source and configured to blocking a part of the reflected light from the reflector and a part of the direct light from the light source to form a cutoff line in a light distribution pattern; and a bracket formed from a metal plate member and disposed between the projection lens and the light source, wherein the movable shade is rotatably supported on the bracket. An opening portion is formed in the bracket and configured to pass a part of the reflected light from the reflector along the optical axis.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 9, 2009
    Publication date: May 20, 2010
    Applicant: KOITO MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Yukio NOMURA
  • Patent number: 7712934
    Abstract: A vehicle headlamp. The headlamp comprises a light source and a reflector to direct light received from the light source out of the headlamp. A movable shade is positionable to control the light received by the reflector. A shade driver is coupled to the movable shade to position the shade. A first shade position configures the headlamp for high beam lighting. A second shade position configures the headlamp for low beam lighting. A third shade position configures the headlamp for daytime running lights.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2010
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd
    Inventor: Steven Kovach
  • Patent number: 7677744
    Abstract: An illuminated pointer assembly for a gauge scale having an outer periphery includes a pointer that moves about a periphery of the gauge scale and is illuminated by a light guide. The light guide is disposed on a plane below the pointer and the gauge scale. The light guide includes at least two LEDs that are disposed adjacent first and second ends of the light guide. The light guide also includes a plurality of reflective elements. The plurality of reflective elements is disposed in sets that are orientated with regard to each of the LEDs. The reflective elements provide for the transmission and direction of light within the light guide into the guide body portion of the pointer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 16, 2010
    Assignee: Continental Automotive Systems US, Inc.
    Inventors: Vyacheslav Birman, Werner Eckardt, Richard Sanders, Ronald Struck
  • Patent number: 7658523
    Abstract: An axial direction of an output shaft of a motor is perpendicular to an axial direction of a shaft that moves back and forth with respect to a housing unit. A plurality of power-supplying terminals is symmetrically arranged with respect to a vertical line passing through a center of the shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 9, 2010
    Assignee: Ichikoh Industries, Ltd.
    Inventor: Yuuki Sugimoto