Reflector Structure Patents (Class 362/516)
  • Publication number: 20110249461
    Abstract: A vehicle headlamp according to the present invention is provided with: a semiconductor-type light source 5U; a reflector 3; a holder 6; a mount member 70U; and a light shading member 12U which has first additional reflection surfaces 15U, 15U as optical members. The mount member 70U and the light shading member 12U that has the first additional reflection surfaces 15U, 15U form an integrated structure. As a result, the vehicle headlamp according to the present invention is capable of mutually mounting, with high precision, a semiconductor-type light source 5U and the light shading member 12U that has the first additional reflection surfaces 15U, 15U as the optical members.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 7, 2011
    Publication date: October 13, 2011
    Inventors: Yoshihiro Sugie, Yasuhiro Okubo
  • Patent number: 8021031
    Abstract: A head lamp for a motor vehicle is disclosed with a reflector for reflecting light. A light bulb is oriented within the head lamp and spaced apart from the reflector for providing illumination that is reflected from the reflector and out of the head lamp. A bulb shield is provided with a peripheral region displaced about the light bulb for preventing glare light from exiting the head lamp. In one embodiment, the peripheral region is a polygon that is not radially symmetrical. In another embodiment, the bulb shield has a rear opening and a front opening for minimizing heat within the bulb shield. In yet another embodiment, the bulb shield has a front opening and the light bulb front portion is coated with an opaque material for blocking glare light.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2011
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Ehab Kaoud, Lon Zaback, David Griffiths, Bruce P. Williams, Albert Ekladyous
  • Publication number: 20110222303
    Abstract: A vehicle headlamp is provided with a light emitting module. The light emitting module is provided with a light emitting portion and a frame member. The frame member surrounds the light emitting portion to define a light emitting surface. The frame member includes a first surface and a second surface in which a part of an internal diffusing/reflection light reflected on the first surface is to be projected upwardly of a cutoff line of a low-beam light distribution pattern, and a part of the internal diffusing/reflection light reflected on the second surface is to be projected downwardly of the cutoff line. A reflectance of the first surface is lower than a reflectance of the second surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 22, 2011
    Publication date: September 15, 2011
    Applicant: KOITO MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Tsukasa TOKIDA, Noriko SATO
  • 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
  • Publication number: 20110216549
    Abstract: A vehicle light unit can convert an LED light source to a linear light emitting state and can be incorporated into a vehicle light. The vehicle light unit can include a first to fourth lens part in front of an LED light source. The first to third lens parts can convert the point light source or the LED light source into a linear light emitting portion with improved light utilization efficiency by providing first to fourth total reflection surfaces utilizing internal reflection to the third lens part. The light rays through the linear light emitting portion can be incident on the fourth lens part. The fourth lens part can include a plate-shaped light guiding portion with a plurality of total reflection surfaces on one surface and corresponding lens cut portions on the other opposite surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 7, 2011
    Publication date: September 8, 2011
    Inventor: Takashi FUTAMI
  • Patent number: 8011788
    Abstract: An illumination system adapted for a projection apparatus is provided. The illumination system comprises a cooling air guiding apparatus, a lamp, and a cooling fan. The cooling air guiding apparatus comprises an air intake device and an adjustment device, while the adjustment device comprises an air-flow adjustment element and an air-flow guiding element. The cooling fan generates a cooling air, which flows from the exterior through the air intake device into the air-flow adjustment element. The air-flow guiding element guides the cooling air in the air-flow adjustment element out of an air-flow adjustment hole towards a specific direction. Since the adjustment device may move relatively to the air intake device, the air-flow adjustment hole is adapted to move from the first position substantially aligned with the opening to the second position constituting a substantial displacement with respect to the opening. The cooling air can cool the lamp no matter what angle the projection apparatus is disposed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2011
    Assignee: Delta Electronics, Inc.
    Inventor: Hsiu-Ming Chang
  • Publication number: 20110211361
    Abstract: A vehicle lighting device is provided which is capable of merely changing a shade, thereby using a first reflector and a second reflector as they are, to cope with a variety of light distribution pattern specifications, and which is capable of avoiding deformation of a shade due to a thermal effect even if incidence of sunlight going back has optically focused on the shade. In a heat sink member 40, there are arranged: a semiconductor-type light source 10; a first reflector 21 covering the semiconductor-type light source 10 therewith; a second reflector 22 for causing the reflected light from the first reflector 21so as to be made incident thereto and then reflecting the incident light forward of the lighting device; and a shade 30 for shading a part of the reflected light from the first reflector 21 so as to be made incident to the second reflector 22. The shade 30 is configured as another member independent of the first and second reflectors 21, 22, and is arranged in the heat sink 40.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 24, 2011
    Publication date: September 1, 2011
    Inventor: Takayuki KAWAMURA
  • Patent number: 7997778
    Abstract: A vehicle light can include a reflector and a light source. The reflector has a reflection surface formed by at least part of a parabolic cylindrical surface obtained by moving a parabola by parallel displacement, where the parabola has a coefficient of 0.5, a focal length, and a focal point. The light source includes at least one set of at least two light emitting devices that have respective light emission surfaces facing toward the reflection surface. The at least two light emitting devices include a front light emitting device and a rear light emitting device spaced apart by a predetermined distance along an illumination direction of the vehicle light, with the focal point interposed between the front and rear light emitting devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2011
    Assignee: Stanley Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Hidetaka Okada
  • Publication number: 20110170310
    Abstract: A lighting unit (1) is provided with a reflecting surface (2, 2?, 2?) for providing an output beam of light with at least two beam patterns. A first light source (5) and a second light source (7) are arranged to illuminate substantially identical surface areas of said reflecting surface (2, 2?, 2?) and are independently controllable from each other. The reflecting surface (2, 2?, 2?) is shaped and said light sources (5, 7) are positioned relative to said reflecting surface (2, 2?, 2?) so that said first light source (5) generates an output beam of light, having a first beam pattern and said at least second light source (7) generates an output beam of light, having a second beam pattern, different from said first beam pattern. A corresponding vehicle headlamp (10) comprises at least one lighting unit (1).
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 28, 2009
    Publication date: July 14, 2011
    Applicant: KONINKLIJKE PHILIPS ELECTRONICS N.V.
    Inventors: Ludo Haenen, Nils Benter, Pascal Bloemen, Augustinus G. H. Meijers
  • Publication number: 20110170309
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a reflector in a lighting apparatus of a motor vehicle comprising a reflecting surface and a pot-shaped metal body carrying the reflecting surface, wherein the reflecting surface is attached to an inner side of the body, wherein at least the reflecting surface of the reflector is comprised of an element injection molded from a plastic material and attached to the metal body of the reflector, and wherein the metal body is shaped such that the injection molded element is connected to said metal body in a stationary manner.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 14, 2009
    Publication date: July 14, 2011
    Applicant: Hella KGaA
    Inventors: Berthold Doring, Gerhard Rotgeri
  • Publication number: 20110170307
    Abstract: In a vehicle lamp (1), a plurality of LED light sources (11) are arranged on a common substrate (12). A light guiding lens (13) elongated in a direction in which the LED light sources (11) are aligned is provided. A plurality of reflecting sections (22) are provided on the light guiding lens (13). The reflecting sections (22) are configured to individually reflect incident lights from the respective LED light sources (11) to a periphery of a vehicle. Respective directions of the reflecting sections (22) are made to differ in accordance with positions of the corresponding LED light sources (11).
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 11, 2011
    Publication date: July 14, 2011
    Applicant: KOITO MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Tomomi ISHIKAWA, Shigehiko KAZAOKA
  • Publication number: 20110170308
    Abstract: A vehicle head lamp includes: a light source; a reflector that reflects light emitted from the light source; a condenser lens that irradiates the light reflected by the reflector forward; and a shade that blocks part of the light reflected by the reflector to obtain a desired light distribution. The shade includes a main shade that has an opening for passing overhead sign light irradiated forward and upward and a sub-shade that is provided so as to be inclined rearward and downward from an upper edge of the main shade in order to obtain a cut line of the light distribution, and the reflector has an OHS reflection area used to project part of the reflected light toward a lower surface of the sub-shade and that allows the light reflected on the lower surface to pass through the opening of the main shade as the OHS light.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 11, 2011
    Publication date: July 14, 2011
    Applicant: KOITO MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Masao KINOSHITA, Akinori MATSUMOTO, Tomoyuki MORITANI, Takahiro SUZUKI
  • Publication number: 20110163670
    Abstract: A device for controlling LED light beam direction and brightness.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 5, 2011
    Publication date: July 7, 2011
    Inventors: Michel O. Ruelle, Gary L. Boie
  • 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: 7963682
    Abstract: A temporary headlight reflector device for application to a vehicle of a sandwich construction having a temporary elastic or flexible reflective panel with protruding tabs including protective layers releasably bonded by adhesive material to the tab substrate which may be folded over for attachment to the front of a vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2011
    Inventor: William David McAnally
  • Patent number: 7961455
    Abstract: A housing for mounting a display device is provided. The display device includes a display screen capable of displaying an executable function and an input selector which corresponds to the displayed function such that upon actuation of the input selector the displayed function is executed. The housing includes a generally planar surface disposed spaced apart from the display screen. An aperture is formed in the generally planar surface so that the display screen is visible through the generally planar surface. A ledge bounding at least a portion of the aperture extends from the generally planar surface to the display screen. A guide formed on the ledge links the input selector to the displayed function. The ledge has a first reflectance and the guide has a second reflectance which is different than the first reflectance so as to provide a contrast between the ledge and the guide due to the different amounts of light emitted from the display screen reflecting off the ledge and the guide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2011
    Assignee: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.
    Inventor: Erik Anthony Wippler
  • 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
  • Patent number: 7932523
    Abstract: An LED lamp can be used as a light source of a lighting device. The LED lamp can be combined with a reflecting mirror formed as a paraboloid of revolution, to obtain desired light distribution characteristics, as with a conventional light source. The emission surface of the LED lamp for the light source of the lighting device can be rectangular, and the ratio between a short side and a long side thereof is set in a range of 1:2 to 1:6. Therefore, it is possible to form a light distribution pattern similar to that of a filament, which is conventionally used as an emission source. It is also possible to use almost all light emitted from the LED lamp as illumination light.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2011
    Assignee: Stanley Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yasushi Yatsuda, Teruo Koike, Ryotaro Owada
  • Patent number: 7927892
    Abstract: A thermal treatment apparatus having a first light source emitting a first light having light diffusion property, a reflectance measuring unit irradiating a treatment target with the light from plural directions by the first light source and determining a light reflectance of the treatment target, a light irradiation controller adjusting an intensity of a second light of a second light source on the basis of the light reflectance, the second light has diffusion property, and a thermal treatment unit irradiating the treatment target with the second light having adjusted the intensity of the second light by the light irradiation controller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2011
    Assignee: Fujitsu Semiconductor Limited
    Inventor: Tomohiro Kubo
  • Publication number: 20110085343
    Abstract: A vehicle light can include a light emitting diode (LED) serving as a light source and an optical system for controlling a light distribution pattern of the light beams from the LED light source utilizing a light guide (such as a lens body having an inner reflecting surface). The vehicle light can project illumination light with a low beam light distribution pattern. The vehicle light can include an LED light source and a lens body serving as a light guide. The lens body can include a light incident surface, a reflecting surface, and a light exiting surface. The LED light source can have a rearmost end light emitting point from which light beams are emitted to form a bright-dark boundary line.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 8, 2010
    Publication date: April 14, 2011
    Inventors: Masafumi OHNO, Ryotaro Owada, Norikatsu Myojin, Mitsuo Yamada, Yasushi Kita, Satoshi Sakai
  • Publication number: 20110085345
    Abstract: A motor vehicle lighting and/or signalling device comprising a housing comprising a rear opening in which a light source can be fitted to the housing and a ventilation hole opening into the rear opening of the housing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 7, 2010
    Publication date: April 14, 2011
    Applicant: VALEO VISION
    Inventors: Cyril HERBIN, Olivier GREBERT
  • 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: 7922375
    Abstract: Light having entered a light transmitting member through a predetermined point on an optical axis undergoes internal reflection in a front surface perpendicular to the optical axis, then undergoes internal reflection again in a rear surface composed of a paraboloid of revolution having a focal point at a position of plane symmetry with the predetermined point, and then exits the front surface. A mirror-finished annular region around the optical axis in the front surface has an outer peripheral edge set to be near a position where the incident angle of the light emitted from the light emitting element is equal to a critical angle, and an inner peripheral edge near a position where the light having undergone internal reflection in the front surface enters a position immediately behind the outer peripheral edge in the rear surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2011
    Assignee: Koito Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Masashi Tatsukawa
  • Patent number: 7918596
    Abstract: A warning light and warning light assembly are disclosed. The warning light includes a housing including a base and a translucent cover. The warning light includes one or more light emitting diodes within the housing, each of the light emitting diodes operable to emit light substantially along an optical output axis. The warning light also includes a reflector within the housing, the reflector including a reflective surface having a curve section disposed substantially perpendicular to the optical output axis of at least one of the one or more light emitting diodes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2011
    Assignee: Federal Signal Corporation
    Inventors: George Frank, Paul Gergets, Vince Fleszewski, Robert Czajkowski
  • Publication number: 20110075436
    Abstract: A vehicle lamp can include a light source, a reflector and a lens. The reflector can be formed in a slender shape so as to include a parabolic reflex surface in a longitudinal direction and an ellipsoidal reflex surface in a direction substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal direction. A focus of the parabolic reflex surface and one of the focuses of the ellipsoidal reflex surface can be located at the light source, and other focuses of the ellipsoidal reflex surface can be substantially parallel with a central axis of the lens. The reflector can reflect light emitted from the light source toward the lens with a wide angle so that light use efficiency of the light source can improve as compared with certain conventional vehicle lamps. Thus, the vehicle lamp can provide a favorable light distribution even when it is formed in a slender shape.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 27, 2010
    Publication date: March 31, 2011
    Inventor: Yasuyuki ZANMA
  • Publication number: 20110069505
    Abstract: The invention provides a light assembly to enable various light functions, such as braking lights, tail lights, license plate lights, flashers, etc., using LEDs that consume low power and have a long service life. The LEDs are located on a single, two-sided printed circuit board (PCB), which reduces the assembly costs and the size of tail light, as well as the complexity of assembly.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 31, 2010
    Publication date: March 24, 2011
    Applicant: FEDERAL-MOGUL CORPORATION
    Inventors: Joe Allen CHAMBERS, Nadeshda Alexsandrovina Zelikovskaya, Felipe De Jesus Domingo Mehado Moya
  • Publication number: 20110051440
    Abstract: A motorcycle includes a seat, side covers covering the periphery of the lower side of the seat and formed in curved shapes to gradually decrease in width toward the rear side of the vehicle. Rear blinkers mounted to left and right portions in the vehicle width direction of the side covers. Each of the rear blinkers includes a base member mounted to the side cover, a bulb and a lens covering the bulb. The left and right rear blinkers are disposed at recesses provided in the side covers. Each of the left and right rear blinkers is mounted to the side cover in such a manner that the lens is substantially entirely exposed from the recess to not overlap with a curved surface of the side cover in plan sectional view as viewed from the upper side of the vehicle, the section containing the optical axis of the bulb.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 20, 2010
    Publication date: March 3, 2011
    Inventors: Takashi SUMADA, Tomonori Hayashi, Tetsu Horiuchi
  • Publication number: 20110044066
    Abstract: A reflector for a vehicle can include a plurality of retroreflective elements configured to retroreflect incident light incident parallel to a horizontally-arranged reference axis, obliquely upward at a prescribed angle with respect to the reference axis.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 17, 2010
    Publication date: February 24, 2011
    Inventor: Takeshi Ishii
  • Patent number: 7894117
    Abstract: A transparent window switchable rear vision mirror adapted to be secured to a motor vehicle for improved road safety, said switchable window/mirror including, a film suitable for use as a light modulating unit of suspended particle device (spd) light valve, said film comprising a matrix polymer material having droplets of a liquid light valve suspension comprising a plurality of particles dispersed in a liquid suspending medium distributed within a matrix, said film characterized in that presence or lack thereof of an electric field results in the particles being aligned such that a beam of light may be reflected, transmitted or absorbed depending on the status of the electrical field applied thereto such a film; a switchable mirror device comprising a substrate and a mono layer film capable of undergoing a reversible change in light transmission or reflectance, said substrate including a film comprising a transmission metal composition; and a power supply device to provide an electrical charge to said film f
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2011
    Inventor: Andrew Finlayson
  • 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
  • Publication number: 20110032720
    Abstract: A vehicle headlamp having a pivotal multifaceted reflector, a light source, and an actuator typically including a solenoid, the actuator disposed and coupled to the multifaceted reflector and to other portions of the headlamp so as to pivot, under the action of the actuator, into a first position to generate a first beam of light serving as a high beam, and into a second position to generate a second beam of light serving as a low beam, and so providing a high beam and a low beam using the same light source, fixed within the headlamp, and a single reflector. In some embodiments, the high beam meets FMVSS 108 requirements for a vehicle headlamp high beam, and the low beam meets FMVSS 108 requirements for a vehicle headlamp low beam.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 4, 2009
    Publication date: February 10, 2011
    Inventors: Xiaolu Chen, James M. Helms
  • Patent number: 7883250
    Abstract: In existing lamp unit for vehicles, the light from the semiconductor light source can not be effectively used. In the present invention, a planar reflect surface (7) is arranged between the projection lens (6) and its focus (FL1) in such a way that the planar reflect surface (7) intersects the light axis (Z1-Z1) of the projection lens (6); a light shutout member (8) is arranged between the semiconductor light source (4) and the projection lens (6); the light shutout member (8) is provided with supplemental reflect surfaces (17-20) reflecting the light (L3) from the semiconductor light source (4) toward the shade (5). As a result, the light (L3) from the semiconductor light source (4) can be effectively used.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 8, 2011
    Assignee: Ichikoh Industries, Ltd.
    Inventor: Koji Nishihata
  • 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: 20110019432
    Abstract: The invention relates to a projection module for a headlamp, in particular a motor vehicle headlamp, comprising a light source, which is arranged inside a reflector housing, and which illuminates a projection lens, wherein means are arranged to display a sharp light-dark boundary. The means are integrated into the reflector (2) in such a way that they do not project into the beam path of the light source (1). The invention also relates to a motor vehicle headlamp comprising a projection module of this type.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 1, 2009
    Publication date: January 27, 2011
    Applicant: KONINKLIJKE PHILIPS ELECTRONICS N.V.
    Inventor: Matthias Daniel Epmeier
  • Patent number: 7866863
    Abstract: A vehicle headlamp has a segment light source, and a reflector configured to forward reflect light from the segment light source. The segment light source is arranged such that a first predetermined point located at a front end edge of the segment light source is located on a first reference axis. A reflecting surface of the reflector is split into a plurality of reflection regions. At least one of the plurality of reflection regions is constituted as a fan-like reflection region surrounded by a first straight line extending obliquely downward from the first reference axis, and a second straight line extending immediately downward from the first reference axis. The fan-like reflection region is constituted with a curved surface that deflects, diffuses, or reflects the light from the segment light source in a direction orthogonal to the first straight line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 11, 2011
    Assignee: Koito Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Hidetada Tanaka
  • Publication number: 20110002135
    Abstract: A vehicular lamp includes: a lamp outer housing composed of a lamp housing with an opening on one side and a cover attached to the lamp housing to close the opening; a light source disposed inside the lamp outer housing; a reflector that is disposed inside the lamp outer housing, reflects light emitted from the light source, and is formed with an optical path notch or an optical path hole which serves as a path for a part of the light emitted from the light source; and a control optical section having a lens member attached to the reflector so as to close the optical path notch or the optical path hole, and controlling light emitted from the light source toward the optical path notch or the optical path hole to guide the light in a predetermined direction for radiation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 28, 2010
    Publication date: January 6, 2011
    Applicant: Koito Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Ryosuke Hara
  • Publication number: 20100321947
    Abstract: A reflector made of a synthetic resin material is positioned and fixed in a heat sink member. At a position spaced from the positioned and fixed portion, a deformation prevention portion for preventing a warping deformation of the reflector is provided for a respective one of the reflector and the heat sink member, thus preventing a warping deformation of the reflector due to a heat generated from a semiconductor-type light source. As a result, the impairment of light distribution performance, caused by a slight warping deformation of the reflector, is avoided. In this manner, a thermal deformation of the reflector due to the heat generated from the semiconductor-type light source is prevented.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 18, 2009
    Publication date: December 23, 2010
    Inventor: Yoshihiko HAMASHIMA
  • Publication number: 20100315827
    Abstract: The invention relates to a motor vehicle lighting fixture which comprises at least: a light source comprising at least one LED; a light-transmitting part that is arranged such that it receives light from the light source; and a reflector that is arranged such that it reflects that portion of the light from the light source that passes through the light-transmitting part and couples it out to the front of the lighting fixture, a reflection portion and a refraction portion being provided within the light-transmitting part, wherein said reflection portion deflects the light issuing from the light source through total reflection in one direction that is substantially perpendicular to the optical axis of the reflector, whereas the refraction portion couples out the light in the direction of the reflector.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 15, 2008
    Publication date: December 16, 2010
    Applicant: KONINKLIJKE PHILIPS ELECTRONICS N.V.
    Inventors: Nils Benter, Benno Spinger, Ludo Haenen, Augustinus Gregorius Henricus Meijers, Wouter Petrus Kaandorp
  • Publication number: 20100302797
    Abstract: A lighted exterior mirror system includes an exterior mirror assembly having a folding portion and a non-folding portion. The non-folding portion is configured to mount to a side of a vehicle and the folding portion includes a reflective element. The folding portion is movable relative to the non-folding portion and between a normal operating position and a folded position. A ground illumination light is configured to project a pattern of light from the exterior mirror assembly to provide a lighted zone on a ground area adjacent the side of the vehicle at least at a front door region at the side of the vehicle where occupants may enter/exit the vehicle. The pattern of light projected by the ground illumination light provides ground illumination of at least about one lux illumination intensity at least on the ground area adjacent the front door region at the side of the vehicle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 15, 2010
    Publication date: December 2, 2010
    Applicant: MAGNA MIRRORS OF AMERICA, INC.
    Inventors: Todd W. Pastrick, Michiel P. van de Ven, Peter J. Whitehead, Rick Mousseau, Niall R. Lynam
  • Publication number: 20100296305
    Abstract: A vehicle light is provided which can prevent the accumulation of assembly errors during the assembling of separate optical components. The vehicle light can include a first heat sink having a first heat sink body and a first heat radiation fin, and a first optical system configured to form a part of a predetermined light distribution pattern. The first optical system can include a first LED light source, a first reflector configured to reflect light emitted from the first LED light source, and a projection lens configured to allow light reflected from the first reflector to pass therethrough. The first LED light source, the first reflector, and the projection lens can be secured to an upper surface of the first heat sink body.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 24, 2010
    Publication date: November 25, 2010
    Inventors: Hideki TOYOYAMA, Yoshiaki AKIYAMA
  • Publication number: 20100290241
    Abstract: A vehicular lamp including a light source unit including a light-emitting element inside a lamp housing; a planar wiring member on which the light-emitting element is mounted; and a support substrate having a flat portion that supports the planar wiring member. The support substrate is formed from a plate having high thermal conductivity, the planar wiring member is fixed to the flat portion of the support substrate, and a portion of the support substrate is fixedly supported inside the lamp housing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 13, 2010
    Publication date: November 18, 2010
    Applicant: KOITO MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Hironori Tsukamoto
  • Patent number: 7832912
    Abstract: In existing lamp unit for vehicles, the light from the semiconductor light source can not be effectively used. In the present invention, a shade (5) is arranged between the second focus (F2) of a first reflect surface (9) and a semiconductor light source (4), for cutting off a portion of the reflected light (L4) emitting from the semiconductor light source (4) and reflected by the first reflect surface (9), and using the remaining reflected light (L4) to form a predetermined distributed light pattern (P) having the cutoff lines (CL); a light shutout member (8) is provided with the fourth part (20) of the supplemental reflect surface for reflecting the light (L3) from the semiconductor light source (4) toward the shade (5); a through hole (24) is arranged on the shade (5) for the reflected light (L17) from the fourth part (20) of the supplemental reflect surface illuminating therethrough toward the planar reflect surface (7).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 16, 2010
    Assignee: Ichikoh Industries, Ltd.
    Inventor: Koji Nishihata
  • Publication number: 20100277939
    Abstract: A vehicular lamp comprising includes a light-emitting diode that is used as a light source and that emits light; and a light transmitting member that is arranged in a path of the emitted light and through which the light is passed. The light transmitting member shields the light-emitting diode from infrared rays that travel in an opposite direction to a traveling direction of the light.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 20, 2010
    Publication date: November 4, 2010
    Applicant: KOITO MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Motohiro Komatsu, Hiroyuki Serizawa, Hiroyuki Ishida, Shigeyuki Watanabe, Kiyoshi Sazuka
  • Patent number: 7824086
    Abstract: A lamp unit for a vehicle headlamp includes a projection lens disposed on an optical axis extending in a longitudinal direction of a vehicle and a plurality of light source units disposed rearwards of a rear focal plane of the projection lens. Each of the light source units includes a light emitting device; and a light guiding member having a front end light output port and adapted to guide light from the light emitting device to the front end light output port so as to allow the light be emitted from the front end light output port. The front end light output ports of the light guiding members of the respective light source units are arranged adjacent to each other in a horizontal direction in a vicinity of the rear focal plane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 2, 2010
    Assignee: Koito Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Satoshi Yamamura, Takuya Kotajima
  • Publication number: 20100271835
    Abstract: The invention relates to a lighting device for a motor vehicle. Said lighting device comprises a light source (1; 96) for emitting electromagnetic radiation, in particular light which is visible to the human eye, and a reflector (70; 81; 90) for focusing the emitted light. The light source (1; 96) is fastened on the reflector (70; 81; 90) at least indirectly in a defined position relative to a reflective surface of said reflector. In order firstly to make heat transfer from the reflector (70; 81; 90) to the light source (1; 96) more difficult and secondly to enable EMC shielding by virtue of an electrical contact between the light source (1; 96) and the reflector (70; 81; 90), the invention proposes that a material (72) with poor thermal conductivity is arranged between the reflector (70; 81; 90) and the light source (1; 96) for thermally insulating the light source (1; 96) from the reflector (70; 81; 90).
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 14, 2010
    Publication date: October 28, 2010
    Applicant: AUTOMOTIVE LIGHTING REULINGEN GMBH
    Inventors: Thomas Froehlich, Jochen Mehl, Christian Johann, Matthias Roder
  • Patent number: 7815344
    Abstract: A high visibility emergency signaling device includes a base configured to be secured to an external support raised above ground level, light-emitting means mounted thereto for generating at least one light beam, and power supply means for such light-emitting means. Optical means are further provided, operating on the at least one light beam to model and orient it in such a manner as to illuminate a substantially circular area in space and/or on the ground.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 19, 2010
    Inventors: Thomas Bleiner, Bruno Dussert-Vidalet
  • Publication number: 20100238675
    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: Application
    Filed: June 7, 2010
    Publication date: September 23, 2010
    Applicant: VALEO VISION
    Inventors: Christophe Dubosc, Antoine De Lamberterie
  • Publication number: 20100232172
    Abstract: An optical device, in particular for a motor vehicle, such as a lighting or signaling device, this device comprising at least one light guide which is designed to guide at least part of the light which is emitted by a source of light, the light guide comprising at least one output surface and at least one main reflection surface, which is designed to reflect towards the output surface light which is propagated in the guide, the light guide comprising a portion for coupling with the source of light, this coupling portion having a transverse axis (Y), wherein the coupling portion is arranged such that the light which is emitted from this coupling portion is propagated in the light guide, around the transverse axis, according to a total angular opening, measured around this transverse axis, which is strictly less than 360°, and in particular is less than 320° or 300°.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 9, 2010
    Publication date: September 16, 2010
    Applicant: VALEO VISION
    Inventor: Antoine de Lamberterie