Reflector Structure Patents (Class 362/516)
  • Patent number: 6958495
    Abstract: Rearview mirror assemblies are provided that incorporate a plurality of added features. In at least one embodiment, at least two devices are incorporated into a rearview mirror selected from a group comprising an interior illumination assembly, an illuminated operator interface and an information display. In at least one embodiment, the light rays emitted by the selected at least two devices comprise substantially the same spectral characteristics. In at least one embodiment, the spectral characteristics are operator selectable from a plurality of predetermined spectral characteristics.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2005
    Assignee: Gentex Corporation
    Inventors: Kazuhiko Nishijima, Timothy A. Bonardi, John K. Roberts, Kenton Van Klompenberg
  • Patent number: 6948836
    Abstract: A light source unit including an LED mounted on an optical axis extending in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle with its light output directed upward, and a reflector is provided above the LED having a first reflecting surface for collecting the light emitted by the LED and reflecting the light generally in the direction of the optical axis Ax. The first reflecting surface is formed in such a manner that a distance L in a vertical direction from the LED to the first reflecting surface is approximately 10 mm in a preferred embodiment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2005
    Assignee: Koito Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Ishida, Masashi Tatsukawa
  • Patent number: 6945681
    Abstract: Headlamp assemblies utilize a solid optical body made of glass or another heat resistant, light transmissive material. The solid optical body has an axially positioned cavity therethrough which receives a bulb that injects light through a cylindrical wall of the cavity into the optical body. In order to reflect light from the bulb, the optical body has a rear surface which is coated with a reflecting material, such as aluminize or a dichroic material. In accordance with one embodiment of the invention in which a plastic lens is used, the optical body is made of glass with a dichroic coating configured so that the infrared component of light from the bulb is transmitted through the dichroic coating and emitted through the rear of the optical body. This reduces transmission of heat from the bulb to the plastic lens so that the lens can be positioned closer to the optical body, which decreases the fore/aft extent of the headlamp assemblies.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2005
    Assignee: General Motors Corporation
    Inventor: Michael K. Larsen
  • Patent number: 6939029
    Abstract: A modular light for decorative use on light strips on motorcycles or similar vehicle has an outer lens or light transmitting housing that forms an interior chamber. The chamber has an open side, and a light transmitting wall is opposite from the open side through which light will be transmitted. A circuit board carrying a plurality of LEDs is shaped to close the open side of the chamber in the light transmitting housing. The circuit board supports a reflector that has openings through which the LEDs protrude. The circuit board is secured in place in the light transmitting housing to form a modular light that be used in a number of locations. The modular light fits into a support housing on a light support strip or similar structure that will mount the modular light in desired locations on a vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2005
    Assignee: Kuryakyn Holdings, Inc.
    Inventors: Alwin J. Stahel, David C. Abbe, Thomas H. Rudd
  • Patent number: 6921187
    Abstract: A vehicle lamp including light sources, a reflective mirror for effecting desired light distribution by reflecting light emitted from the light sources and a lens disposed in front of the reflective mirror. In the vehicle lamp, the reflective mirror has a dummy portion which makes no contribution to effecting light distribution and is exposed to the outside through the lens, and an indicative mark for identifying the lighting device is formed integrally with the dummy portion. As the indicative mark can be visually recognized from the outside through the lens, the indicative mark needed not be formed on the lens. When lighting devices having different light distribution characteristics are provided, it is only needed to produce reflective mirrors respectively having corresponding indicative marks and the rest of the parts including the lens and the lamp body can be provided for common use.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 26, 2005
    Assignee: Koito Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shinichi Mochizuki, Susumu Kakidaira
  • Patent number: 6863412
    Abstract: A device for vehicle lighting includes a deviating prism which deflects a light beam by approximately 180 degrees from a direction of incidence in which the light beam is emitted by a light source. A reflector is also provided which deflects the light beam so that the light beam is emitted substantially transversely to the direction of incidence.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2005
    Assignee: DaimlerChrysler AG
    Inventor: Edgar Weidel
  • Patent number: 6814480
    Abstract: A vehicular lamp which radiates a light by indirect illumination using a plurality of LED light sources which has a thin structure while providing sufficient light output to the front of the lamp, even in the case where the lamp is mounted in a wrap-around portion of the vehicle body. Respective Fresnel lenses which form light from respective LED light sources into parallel light fluxes are arranged so as to align the directions of the parallel light fluxes upward, and the parallel light fluxes are then reflected toward the front of the lamp by a reflector. The reflector is separated into sub-reflectors for every area which the parallel light fluxes from the respective Fresnel lenses strike, and the sub-reflectors are arranged in a stepped configuration extending in a lateral direction of the reflector from the front of the lamp toward the rear of the lamp.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2004
    Assignee: Koito Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Yasuyuki Amano
  • Publication number: 20040218401
    Abstract: A digital lighting apparatus for a vehicle, which employs a reflection digital light deflector, includes a storage unit that stores digital data of a plurality of light distribution patterns and a controller. The controller selects digital data corresponding to a predetermined light distribution pattern from among the digital data stored in the storage unit and controls the reflection digital light deflector, and illuminates a road surface and the like with the predetermined light distribution pattern.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 24, 2003
    Publication date: November 4, 2004
    Applicant: Ichikoh Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Yasuhiro Okubo, Seiji Hayashi
  • Publication number: 20040218398
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an article of manufacture having a reflective design thereon, as well as a method for manufacture thereof. The article of manufacture, such as a tire cover, comprises a substrate having a display surface, at least one adhesive material disposed on the display surface, and a first pigmented material arranged in a first design pattern and adhered to the display surface by the adhesive material, where the first pigmented material includes a plurality of glass particles operative to reflect light received from a light source. A second pigmented material, such as a reflective or non-reflective material of a different color, may be adhered to the display surface in a second design pattern. The present invention also provides a transfer pattern, and method for forming the same, that is for use in transferring a reflective design to a display surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 17, 2004
    Publication date: November 4, 2004
    Inventors: Christopher E. Fischer, Mark Domenico
  • Patent number: 6811289
    Abstract: A lens has a concave shape or a convex shape in either vertical cross section or transverse cross section. Thereby light passing through the lens is largely refracted and the interior is harder to be seen even if a prism is not formed. As a result, there is no need to give a finish more than optical performance required for reflection to the front surface of the reflecting surface of a reflector, which is for the purpose of enhancement of its appearance, and thereby the machining work is simpler than the conventional way. Further, since the lens has a flat shape in either vertical cross section or transverse cross section, the lens is easily polished when it is made of glass, which is excellent in manufacture of the lens.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 2, 2004
    Assignee: Ichikoh Industries, Ltd.
    Inventor: Yutaka Nakata
  • Patent number: 6808299
    Abstract: The luminaire comprises a reflector body (1) which has a reflecting coating (2) on its reflection side (3), and means (4) for accommodating an electric lamp on the reflection side (3). The reflection side (3) has an area (31) with a metal reflecting surface. The area (31) may have a metal sheet cover (32). The cover (32) may follow the surface of the area (31), or it may be spaced apart therefrom. The luminaire benefits from the low absorption of light by the coating (2), and from the high specular reflection of metal in the area (31) to give a high light intensity in a direction determined by the position of the area (31) with respect to a lamp accommodated by the means (4).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2002
    Date of Patent: October 26, 2004
    Assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V.
    Inventors: Hendrik Wijbenga, Jean Entrop
  • Patent number: 6796679
    Abstract: A two-piece reflector has a base member with a substantially planar surface including a substantially complete reflector and a partially complete reflector projecting therefrom and integral therewith. First and second spaced apart supports are associated with the partially complete reflector and project from the base member and provide pivot points therein. A substantially concave housing is adjustably fitted to cooperate with the partially complete reflector. The concave housing has a pair of spaced apart, projecting, axially aligned nubbins, a first of these nubbins being rotationally fixed to the pivot point in the first support and a second of the nubbins being rotationally fixed to the pivot point in said second support. This allows rotational adjustment of the housing about the axis defined between the pivot points. Means are provided attached to the concave housing for fixing the same in a desired position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 28, 2004
    Assignee: Valeo Sylvania L.L.C.
    Inventors: John L. Smith, Jr., Paul W. Krinop
  • Publication number: 20040184282
    Abstract: Rearview mirror assemblies are provided that incorporate a plurality of added features. In at least one embodiment, at least two devices are incorporated into a rearview mirror selected from a group comprising an interior illumination assembly, an illuminated operator interface and an information display. In at least one embodiment, the light rays emitted by the selected at least two devices comprise substantially the same spectral characteristics. In at least one embodiment, the spectral characteristics are operator selectable from a plurality of predetermined spectral characteristics.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 20, 2003
    Publication date: September 23, 2004
    Inventors: Kazuhiko Nishijima, Timothy A. Bonardi, John K. Roberts, Kenton Van Klompenberg
  • Publication number: 20040174714
    Abstract: A headlight for vehicles with a projection module is provided, which includes a bowl-shaped reflector, an illumination unit dedicated to the reflector, a lens, and a shutter arranged between the lens and the reflector. The shutter forms a light-dark-border of a light bundle. The lens features a convex front side facing away from the reflector and an optical element mounted to the headlight in the lower middle margin area on the front. The light beams emerging from the optical element are directed to an area above the light-dark-border of the light bundle of the headlight. In vertical second planar sections, to which the optical axis of the projection module extends perpendicularly, the surface of the optical element is concave-shaped, and in vertical planar sections extending parallel to the optical axis, it is convex-shaped.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 5, 2004
    Publication date: September 9, 2004
    Inventors: Wolfgang Peitz, Dirk Schwemin
  • Patent number: 6779912
    Abstract: The headlight, especially for a motor vehicle, includes at least two separately adjustable reflectors and a reflector height adjusting mechanism for adjusting the reflector heights separately or synchronously. The reflectors include a first reflector for high beam light and/or fog light and a second reflector associated with a low beam light module. The reflector height adjusting device includes separate adjusting devices for individually adjusting the respective heights for the at least two separately adjustable reflectors and a coupling member for the separate adjusting devices. When the separate adjusting devices are put in a coupled state by the coupling member the heights of the at least two reflectors are synchronously adjusted by operation of only one of the separate adjusting devices. The method for adjusting light radiated from the headlight includes performing a pre-adjustment in which each of the reflectors is separately adjusted by the separate adjusting devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 24, 2004
    Assignee: Automotive Lighting Reutlingen GmbH
    Inventors: Wolfgang Krieg, Hans-Joachim Schmidt, Harry Hofmann
  • Publication number: 20040156209
    Abstract: A vehicular headlamp used in au automobile, includes: a light source for generating light; a light transmitting member formed from material transmitting the light; a reflector, formed on at least a part of a surface of the light transmitting member, for reflecting the light incident via the light transmitting member from the light source, the reflector having an optical center near the light source; and a lens formed integrally with the light transmitting member for deflecting the light reflected by the reflector to direct the light to the outside of the vehicular headlamp.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 3, 2004
    Publication date: August 12, 2004
    Inventor: Hiroyuki Ishida
  • Patent number: 6773149
    Abstract: A method for predicting headlamp reflector temperature comprising receiving a headlamp type and transmitting a request for an input parameter value responsive to the headlamp type. The input parameter value is received in response to transmitting the request. A transfer function is executed in response to the input parameter and the headlamp type and the execution results in a predicted maximum reflector temperature. The predicted maximum reflector temperature is then output.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2004
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Anant Kulkarni, Eric Jaarda, James Wilson, Erwin Liang
  • Publication number: 20040145909
    Abstract: A light device with incorporated tortuous path venting is provided. The light device includes a reflector that has a base. A portion of the surface of the base is recessed to define a circuitous path around a perimeter of the base. Also, a side channel is connected to the recessed surface such that the circuitous path and the side channel together provide an air pathway between an interior of the reflector and an exterior of the reflector when a covering is positioned over the base.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 28, 2003
    Publication date: July 29, 2004
    Applicant: North American Lighting, Inc.
    Inventors: Eric John Ognian, Dean Bryant Bowles
  • Publication number: 20040145908
    Abstract: A light source housing and light device with a light source securing mechanism is provided. The light housing has a reflector with a mounting block on its backside. A bulb shield with a mounting arm is mounted within the housing such that a curved end of the mounting arm slides over the mounting block. A portion of the curved end extends beyond the mounting block providing an area to fasten a light source within the light housing using a retaining spring.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 28, 2003
    Publication date: July 29, 2004
    Applicant: North American Lighting, Inc.
    Inventors: Eric John Ognian, Dean Bryant Bowles
  • Publication number: 20040141330
    Abstract: A pair of additional reflectors are disposed face to face under a light source. The reflective surfaces of the respective additional reflectors are formed of paraboloids of revolution, with the first focal point of the reflective surface of a reflector as a focal point, and with an optical axis as the central axis of the revolution. As a result, retroreflective light from both reflectors is incident on the upper reflective region of the reflector. Thus, the spreading of the retroreflective light can be reduced based on the enhanced efficiency of utilizing the luminous flux of the light source, to the extent of the presence of the retroreflective light, as compared with the related art structure, wherein a spherical reflective surface centering on the light source is provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 13, 2004
    Publication date: July 22, 2004
    Applicant: KOITO MANUFACTURING CO., LTD
    Inventor: Kenichi Takada
  • Patent number: 6764208
    Abstract: A shape of a vertical cross section and a shape of a horizontal cross section in a lens are formed in a convex shape. Accordingly, even when a prism is not formed, alight transmitting through the lens is largely refracted and an interior section is hard to be visible. As a result, it is not necessary to finish a surface of a reflection surface of a reflector so as to have an optical performance equal to or more than an optical performance required for reflection with taking an appearance into consideration, and a working operation can be easily executed in comparison with the conventional one.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 20, 2004
    Assignee: Ichikoh Industries, Ltd.
    Inventor: Yutaka Nakata
  • Publication number: 20040114388
    Abstract: A method for predicting headlamp reflector temperature comprising receiving a headlamp type and transmitting a request for an input parameter value responsive to the headlamp type. The input parameter value is received in response to transmitting the request. A transfer function is executed in response to the input parameter and the headlamp type and the execution results in a predicted maximum reflector temperature. The predicted maximum reflector temperature is then output.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 17, 2002
    Publication date: June 17, 2004
    Inventors: Anant Kulkarni, Eric Jaarda, James Wilson, Erwin Liang
  • Patent number: 6736532
    Abstract: The present invention is generally directed towards a headlight assembly installed in a motor vehicle. The headlight assembly includes a reflector member, and a light source. The reflector member is coated with a first layer of a highly reflective material to reflect the light emitted by the light source. In order to protect the first layer from oxidation, a second layer of an organic carbon compound free of electronegative compound is deposited on top of the first layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 18, 2004
    Assignee: Visteon Global Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Richard Lee Crawley, Lawrence Francsis Wilski
  • Publication number: 20040085778
    Abstract: Day travelling light, in particular for automotive vehicles, comprising a light source in an illumination housing and a means associated with the light source for bundling the light emitted by the light source, wherein the light source comprises at least one LED (13) (FIG. 1).
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 7, 2003
    Publication date: May 6, 2004
    Inventors: Kurt Schuster, Petra Heinbuch, Ralf Ackermann
  • Publication number: 20040085779
    Abstract: The present invention is a headlamp and headlamp assembly that utilizes light emitting diodes as a light source. The light emitting diode headlamp and headlamp assembly effectively emanates white light and is capable of low beam and high beam functions. The light emitting diode headlamps comprise high-flux light emitting diodes, a reflector subassembly, and a first and second light transmissive member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 1, 2003
    Publication date: May 6, 2004
    Inventors: Gregory R. Pond, Philip C. Roller, Chris A. Suckow, Ronald D. Madison, Timothy DiPenti, Todd Kolstee
  • Publication number: 20040052085
    Abstract: A headlamp has a light chamber defined by a lamp body and a front cover. The headlamp houses a projection-type light source unit which integrates a reflector, a light source disposed in the vicinity of a first focal point of the reflector, a convex lens disposed in the front of the reflector via a lens holder, and an extension disposed so as to surround the light source unit U. The lens holder is provided with an upper opening portion. The extension extends to the rear of the upper opening portion. During the daytime when the light source is not lit, incoming light enters the interior of the light source unit via the upper opening portion, without being shielded by the extension.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 30, 2003
    Publication date: March 18, 2004
    Inventors: Hideki Tanaka, Kaoru Yamamoto, Hisaya Kano
  • Publication number: 20040042229
    Abstract: Lighting or indicating apparatus for a motor vehicle comprises in particular a light emitting element which includes a reflector, a light source, and a casing which defines a set of faces, comprising side, lower and upper faces. There is, optionally, at least one opening formed in at least one of the said faces and having removable obturating means.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 6, 2003
    Publication date: March 4, 2004
    Inventors: Marc Duarte, Jean-Marc Nicolai, David Myotte
  • Patent number: 6698912
    Abstract: The present invention of a haloed vehicle light mainly includes a primary light-emitting socket, a secondary light-emitting socket, an outer reflector, an inner reflector and a light-permeable shield; the inner reflector is disposed inside the outer reflector and both of them are spaced at a proper interval distance; both of the primary and secondary light-emitting sockets are disposed with a light-emitting body; a projector with the function of refraction can be additionally disposed inside the inner reflector; a luminous washer can be additionally disposed in front of the frame of the inner reflector; a plurality of ring-shaped and light-reflecting saw teeth are disposed on the inner wall of the light-permeable shield incorporating with the luminous washer; the vehicle light of the present invention has a central light area, an outer circular light area, a luminous area and is capable of generating various applicative functions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2004
    Inventor: Chiu-Ling Yang
  • Publication number: 20040027835
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a reflector device (300) which provides for good ventilation of a light source located in the said device and facilitates the passage of the reflector device on production lines for the purpose of covering an internal surface (310) of the reflector device with powder. To this end, there is proposed according to the invention a reflector device in which a reflector element (301) and a lamp holder element (302) are produced separately, prior to being interlocked. The reflector element (301) produced thus comprises a set of supports (303; 304; 305) which are arranged such that a light source subsequently fitted in the reflector device (300) can be ventilated in a satisfactory manner. The lamp holder element (302) is interlocked with the reflector element (301) on the supports by means of centering pins (316) and assembly studs (317).
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 6, 2003
    Publication date: February 12, 2004
    Inventor: Jean-Francois Delourme
  • Publication number: 20040008516
    Abstract: A vehicular lamp with an LED light source in which light from the LED light source is formed into parallel light fluxes by an optical member, and the parallel light fluxes are reflected by a reflector in the forward direction of the lamp. The bottom-face wall of the lamp body that houses the reflector has a translucent portion, and the LED light source and the optical member are disposed outside the translucent portion so that they are unrecognizable. The reflector is formed by a translucent member and is provided at a distance from the translucent portion of the lamp body and from the rear-face wall of the reflector, so that the parallel light fluxes from the optical member is subject to internal reflection.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 9, 2003
    Publication date: January 15, 2004
    Applicant: Koito Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Yasuyuki Amano
  • Publication number: 20030231509
    Abstract: A vehicular lamp including a lamp chamber formed by a lamp body and a transparent outer lens covering the front opening of the lamp body, a light source installed in the lamp chamber, a reflecting surface formed in the lamp chamber and reflects light from the light source to radiate light in the forward direction of the lamp body, and an inner lens disposed between the light source and the outer lens, the inner having a refracting step, and the refracting step having a refracting surface that refracts light, which is from the front of the lamp body and is directly incident to the inner lens, in a direction away from the light source.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 18, 2003
    Publication date: December 18, 2003
    Applicant: Koito Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Kazunori Natsume
  • Publication number: 20030214815
    Abstract: A light source unit capable of considerably reducing the size of a vehicular lamp. An LED is mounted on an optical axis extending in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle with its light output directed upward, and a reflector is provided above the LED having a first reflecting surface for collecting the light emitted by the LED and reflecting the light generally in the direction of the optical axis Ax. The reflector is formed by a reflective coating formed on the surface of a translucent block covering the LED. Consequently, the size of the reflector can be considerably reduced as compared with reflectors employed in conventional vehicular lamps. Moreover, since the LED used as a light source emits little heat, the reflector can be designed without having to take into account the influence of heat generated by the light source. Furthermore, the LED can be treated substantially as a point light source so that proper reflection control can be carried out even if the size of the reflector is reduced.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 22, 2003
    Publication date: November 20, 2003
    Applicant: KOITO MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Ishida, Masashi Tatsukawa
  • Patent number: 6644828
    Abstract: A vehicular headlamp includes a bulb with two filaments disposed one behind the other, a bulb internal shade provided in the vicinity of the front filament, and a reflector for reflecting light produced by the filaments. The reflector includes an upper part and a lower part. A bulb external shade is provided outside the bulb. The bulb internal shade prevents light produced by the front filament from entering into the lower reflector part, and the bulb external shade prevents light produced by the rear filament from entering into the upper reflector part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2003
    Assignee: Koito Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Toshiyuki Kinouchi
  • Publication number: 20030202360
    Abstract: A movable reflector with integrally molded bulb assembly retention features. The movable reflector comprises a bore at the center of the reflector for receiving a bulb assembly and retention features integrally molded on the rear side of the reflector to retain the bulb assembly. The movable reflector further comprises mold voids spaced around the bore adjacent to the retention features and extending through the movable reflector so that the structure of the retention features and the movable reflector may be molded in one injection molding step without additional tool movement.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 24, 2002
    Publication date: October 30, 2003
    Applicant: Guide Corporation
    Inventors: Kenneth L. Trimpe, Joseph C. Ballman
  • Patent number: 6637920
    Abstract: A vehicular lamp having an improved luminous intensity of reflected light that has passed through a tinted topcoat layer. Light emitted from a light source bulb is reflected by a reflector to form an outward beam. The reflector is formed of an effective reflector portion contributing to formation of the outward beam and a non-effective reflector portion not contributing to formation of the outward beam. Only the non-effective reflector portion or only the non-effective reflector portion and an extension portion are coated with a tinted topcoat layer. The particle diameter of pigments dispersed in the tinted topcoat layer is limited to a certain range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 28, 2003
    Assignee: Koito Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Mamoru Murakoshi, Shigeki Ono
  • Patent number: 6637918
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a lighting or indicator device for a motor vehicle, including at least one light source, a reflector and a light-diffusing plate. According to the present invention, the reflector and the light-diffusing plate consist of substantially flat elements forming a small but non-zero angle between them and delimiting between them a prismatic volume.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 28, 2003
    Assignee: Valeo Vision
    Inventors: Fabien Changeur, Jean Paul Drouet, Régis Duplessy
  • Publication number: 20030198060
    Abstract: A light source unit capable of considerably reducing the size of a vehicular lamp. An LED is mounted on an optical axis extending in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle with its light output directed upward, and a reflector is provided above the LED having a first reflecting surface for collecting the light emitted by the LED and reflecting the light generally in the direction of the optical axis Ax. The first reflecting surface is formed in such a manner that a distance L in a vertical direction from the LED to the first reflecting surface is approximately 10 mm in a preferred embodiment. Consequently, the size of the reflector can be considerably reduced as compared with reflectors employed in conventional vehicular lamps. Moreover, the LED used as a light source emits little heat, the reflector can be designed without having to take into account the influence of heat generated by the light source.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 22, 2003
    Publication date: October 23, 2003
    Applicant: KOITO MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Ishida, Masashi Tatsukawa
  • Patent number: 6634776
    Abstract: An infrared irradiation lamp having a lamp housing S formed by a Lamp body 12 and a front lens 14, a reflector 16 provided in the lamp body 12, a bulb 20 inserted and attached into a bulb insertion attachment hole 13 of the reflector 16 and provided ahead of the reflector 16, and a cylindrical globe 30 for infrared light formation which is provided to cover the bulb 20 and serves to shield a visible light and to transmit only an infrared light, wherein a metallic bulb holder 60 having a radiation fin 68 extended to the back of the reflector 16 is provided between the bulb insertion attachment hole 13 and a mouth piece 21 of the bulb 20. Heat generated by turning on the bulb 20 is transferred to the bulb holder 60 and is radiated from the radiation fin 68 provided on the back of the reflector 16 to a space provided on the back of the reflector 16 so that the inside of the globe 30 is not filled with the heat.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2002
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2003
    Assignee: Koito Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Seiichiro Yagi, Takashi Inoue, Takashi Hori
  • Publication number: 20030193814
    Abstract: A signaling assembly is described and which includes a reflective substrate having opposite first and second surfaces, and wherein each of the surfaces simultaneously reflects visibly discernable electromagnetic radiation and passes electromagnetic radiation; and an emitter for emitting visibly discernable electromagnetic radiation is provided, and wherein the emitted visibly discernable electromagnetic radiation may be simultaneously viewed from locations forward of the opposite first and second surfaces.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 15, 2002
    Publication date: October 16, 2003
    Inventors: Allen A. Bukosky, Daniel J. Mathieu
  • Patent number: 6629769
    Abstract: A light-reflecting molded article is constituted of a molded article made from a polyester resin composition and a light-reflecting metal layer formed on the molded article. The light-reflecting molded article has an average surface roughness of at most 0.3 &mgr;m and a deflection temperature under load of at least 160° C. The polyester resin composition includes 100 parts by weight of polybutylene terephthalate resin and 1 to 100 parts by weight of polyalkylene naphthalate resin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 7, 2003
    Assignee: Toyo Boseki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Satoshi Kosugi, Nori Yoshihara, Koji Nakanishi
  • Publication number: 20030185016
    Abstract: The present invention is generally directed towards a headlight assembly installed in a motor vehicle. The headlight assembly includes a reflector member, and a light source. The reflector member is coated with a first layer of a highly reflective material to reflect the light emitted by the light source. In order to protect the first layer from oxidation, a second layer of an organic carbon compound free of electronegative compound is deposited on top of the first layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 27, 2002
    Publication date: October 2, 2003
    Inventors: Richard Lee Crawley, Lawrence Francsis Wilski
  • Publication number: 20030165064
    Abstract: The present invention of a haloed vehicle light mainly includes a primary light-emitting socket, a secondary light-emitting socket, an outer reflector, an inner reflector and a light-permeable shield; the inner reflector is disposed inside the outer reflector and both of them are spaced at a proper interval distance; both of the primary and secondary light-emitting sockets are disposed with a light-emitting body; a projector with the function of refraction can be additionally disposed inside the inner reflector; a luminous washer can be additionally disposed in front of the frame of the inner reflector; a plurality of ring-shaped and light-reflecting saw teeth are disposed on the inner wall of the light-permeable shield incorporating with the luminous washer; the vehicle light of the present invention has a central light area, an outer circular light area, a luminous area and is capable of generating various applicative functions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 4, 2002
    Publication date: September 4, 2003
    Inventor: Chiu-Ling Yang
  • Publication number: 20030156423
    Abstract: A headlight, in particular, for motor vehicles, has an elongated incandescent body (2) with an incandescent body longitudinal axis (4), a reflector, associated with the incandescent body (2) for bundling of the light emitted from the incandescent body (8), and a photoconductor (8), in which the light emitted from the reflector (6) in the direction of an optical axis is coupled-in by means of a coupling-in surface (12) of the photoconductor (8). The incandescent body longitudinal axis (4) forms an angle (&agr;) with the optical axis (10) that is greater than 0 degrees.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 2, 2003
    Publication date: August 21, 2003
    Inventors: Martin Lampen, Matthias Gebauer
  • Patent number: 6607295
    Abstract: A first auxiliary reflector 36 is provided above the optical axis Ax between a reflector of a lamp unit 20 and projection lens 28, and under the optical axis Ax, a second auxiliary reflector 44 is formed. An auxiliary luminous distribution pattern is formed at center area of a high-beam luminous distribution pattern additionally by reflecting forward at the second auxiliary reflector 44 after direct light directing to forward and obliquely upward from a light source 22a is reflected downward at the first auxiliary reflector 36 at the time of high-beam emission. Because of that, at the low-beam emission, an area close cut-off line at opposite lane side of the low-beam luminous distribution pattern does not brighten more than necessity, further, luminous intensity of a part of the area at the hot zone of the high-beam luminous distribution pattern is obtained enough.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2003
    Assignee: Koito Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Michihiko Hayakawa
  • Patent number: 6582110
    Abstract: A motor-vehicle light comprises a hollow body with a transparent element facing a main reflective structure which reflects the light rays coming from a source arranged at one side of the main reflective structure towards the transparent element, an auxiliary reflective element being associated with the light source. The main reflective structure has a shell-like configuration, which is visible from the outside since the transparent element has no optical elements. The shell-like configuration comprises a plurality of optically active surface sectors alternated to connecting walls which are substantially radial with respect to the source. The optically active sectors are geometrically generated by translation or rotation of a family of generating curves each having undulations with a pitch substantially lower than the pitch of the distribution of the optically active surface sectors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2000
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2003
    Assignee: Automotive Lighting Italia SpA
    Inventors: Alessandro Negri, Maria Teresa Dalmasso
  • Publication number: 20030112637
    Abstract: A method of designing a reflective surface of a reflector used in a vehicle lamp includes a first base curve generating step of generating a first base curve Q; a second base curve generating step of generating a plurality of second base curves R; and a surface shape generating step of generating a surface shape of the reflective surface RS, based on the first base curve and the plurality of second base curves, wherein the first base curve generating step includes repeating a step of generating one partial curve Qi and thereafter generating a subsequent partial curve Qi+1 so as to be connected to the partial curve, thereby generating one first base curve Q consisting of a plurality of partial curves Qi connected to each other, and wherein each partial curve Q1 is generated based on a shape parameter according thereto.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 14, 2001
    Publication date: June 19, 2003
    Applicant: KOITO MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hiroshi Kawashima, Masashi Tatsukawa
  • Patent number: 6578996
    Abstract: A method of designing a reflective surface of a reflector used in a vehicle lamp includes a first base curve generating step of generating a first base curve Q; a second base curve generating step of generating a plurality of second base curves R; and a surface shape generating step of generating a surface shape of the reflective surface RS, based on the first base curve and the plurality of second base curves, wherein the first base curve generating step includes repeating a step of generating one partial curve Qi and thereafter generating a subsequent partial curve Qi+1 so as to be connected to the partial curve, thereby generating one first base curve Q consisting of a plurality of partial curves Qi connected to each other, and wherein each partial curve Qi is generated based on a shape parameter according thereto.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 17, 2003
    Assignee: Koito Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroshi Kawashima, Masashi Tatsukawa
  • Patent number: 6578995
    Abstract: A lower reflector (3), disposed in a opening (23) of an upper reflector (2) to reflect conventionally unused light, is rotatable relative to the upper reflector (2), thereby changing a dispersed light-distribution pattern (WP) with respect to a fixed reference light-distribution pattern (LP), with an improvement in visibility when the vehicle negotiates a curve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2000
    Date of Patent: June 17, 2003
    Assignee: Ichikoh Industries, Ltd.
    Inventor: Yasufumi Suzuki
  • Patent number: 6575612
    Abstract: A vehicle lamp fixture comprising a reflector that is made of a thermoplastic resin and is covered with a light reflecting film on its surface and a lens that is made of a thermoplastic resin and is mounted on the reflector. The reflector has a welding leg portion which projects from the circumferential edge of the reflector, and the tip end of the reflector welding leg portion is formed with an inclined surface which is inclined with respect to a direction in which the lens is brought to make a contact with the reflector when welding is performed between the reflector and the lens.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2003
    Assignee: Koito Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Kageyama, Teruaki Inaba
  • Publication number: 20030099112
    Abstract: The present invention is generally directed towards a headlight assembly installed in a motor vehicle. The headlight assembly includes a reflector member, a light source and a light shield. In order to give the appearance during daytime that the reflector member is colored, the headlight assembly is provided with a colored ring around the reflector member. Additionally, the light shield is also coated with the same color.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 26, 2001
    Publication date: May 29, 2003
    Inventor: Lawrence F. Wilski