Plural Separate Reflectors With Complex Surfaces Patents (Class 362/517)
  • Publication number: 20140016342
    Abstract: A headlight is disclosed, having separate low-beam and high beam housings. The high-beam housing includes four planar inward-facing reflectors, in the shape of a pyramid, with the high-beam LED array at the apex and a plano-convex high-beam lens at the base. The low-beam housing includes three planar inward-facing reflectors along the top and lateral sides, similarly arranged as three sides of a pyramid. The low-beam housing has one or more planar, horizontal upward-facing reflectors, disposed below the longitudinal axis of the low-beam housing. Light propagating downward from the low-beam LED array directly strikes either the incident face of the low-beam lens or exactly one upward-facing reflector. When viewed from the front of the low-beam housing, the upward-facing reflectors resemble steps that descend from a lower edge of the low-beam LED array.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 10, 2012
    Publication date: January 16, 2014
    Applicant: OSRAM SYLVANIA INC.
    Inventor: Lawrence M. Rice
  • Patent number: 8622597
    Abstract: A vehicle lighting device includes a body, a light source and a reflecting module. The body defines an outputting opening. The light source includes an LED. The reflecting module includes a first reflector, a second reflector and a third reflector. One part of light incident to the first reflector is firstly reflected by the first reflector, secondly reflected by the second reflector, thirdly reflected by the third reflector, and finally travels out of the body via the outputting opening. Another part of the light incident to the first reflector is firstly reflected by the first reflector, secondly reflected by the third reflector, and finally travels out of the body via the outputting opening. The rest part of the light is incident to the third reflector and then is reflected by the third reflector to travel out of the body via the outputting opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2014
    Assignee: Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Kuo-Fong Tseng
  • Patent number: 8616741
    Abstract: A vehicle headlamp is provided with: a reflector having reflecting surfaces made of a parabola-based free curved face; and semiconductor-type light sources having a light emitting chip shaped like a planar rectangle. The reflecting surfaces 2U, 2D are made up of: a first reflecting surface forming a high luminous intensity zone; a second reflecting surface forming a middle luminous intensity zone; and a third reflecting surface forming a low luminous intensity zone. As a result, the vehicle headlamp allows downsizing, weight reduction, and cost reduction. In addition, precision of assembling optical elements can be improved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2013
    Assignee: Ichikoh Industries, Ltd.
    Inventor: Yasuhiro Ookubo
  • Patent number: 8616742
    Abstract: A vehicle lighting unit can include a first lens and a second lens disposed below the first lens, and a first semiconductor light-emitting device disposed substantially at a vehicle rear-side focal point of the first lens. Light emitted from the first semiconductor light-emitting device in a narrow angle direction can be incident on the first lens. A first reflector can be disposed diagonally forward and downward with respect to the first semiconductor light-emitting device such that light emitted from the first semiconductor light-emitting device in a wide angle direction is incident thereon and reflected diagonally rearward and downward. The light emitted in the narrow angle direction and incident on the first lens having a luminous intensity higher than the light emitted in the wide angle direction. A second reflector can be disposed diagonally rearward and downward with respect to the first reflector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2013
    Assignee: Stanley Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Tatsuya Sekiguchi
  • Publication number: 20130322105
    Abstract: A vehicular headlamp (100) including a first lamp unit (10) provided with a first LED (11) and a first translucent member (13) internally reflecting light from the first LED (11) twice and then emitting the reflected light, a second lamp unit (20) provided with a second LED (21) and a second translucent member (23) internally reflecting light from the second LED (21) twice and then emitting the reflected light, and a third lamp unit (30) provided with a third LED (31) and a third translucent member (33) internally reflecting light from the third LED (31) twice and then emitting the reflected light. The first translucent member (13), the second translucent member (23), and the third translucent member (33) are coupled together at their ends in the vehicle width direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 30, 2013
    Publication date: December 5, 2013
    Inventors: Naoki Uchida, Masashi Tatsukawa
  • Patent number: 8596842
    Abstract: A head lamp apparatus for a vehicle may include a reflector provided with a light source that emits light to reflect the light emitted from the light source in a forward direction, the reflector having an upper end at which a first auxiliary reflective surface may be formed, and a lower end at which a second auxiliary reflective surface may be formed, and a bezel mounted in front of the reflector and having an upper part on which a first reflective hole that corresponds to the first auxiliary reflective surface may be formed, and a lower part on which a second reflective hole that corresponds to the second auxiliary reflective surface may be formed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2013
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Motors Corporation
    Inventor: Jae Hun Lee
  • Patent number: 8596841
    Abstract: A vehicle lamp is provided. The vehicle lamp includes a lens disposed on an optical axis of the vehicle lamp, the optical axis extending in a front-and-rear direction of the vehicle lamp, the lens comprising a first concave lens portion; a plurality of light emitting elements disposed to a rear side of the lens and around the optical axis at regular intervals in a circumferential direction, the plurality of light emitting elements comprising at least one first light emitting element disposed to a rear side of the first concave lens portion; at least one first reflector corresponding to the at least one first light emitting element and disposed between the corresponding first light emitting element and the optical axis, wherein the first reflector comprises a first reflecting surface which reflects light from the corresponding first light emitting element toward the first concave lens portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2013
    Assignee: Koito Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Takayuki Yagi, Motohiro Komatsu
  • Patent number: 8585261
    Abstract: It is provided a lamp assembly (10) for an automotive headlamp, comprising at least two lamps (12) each comprising a light source (14) for emitting light rays, wherein the respective light rays (16) of each lamp (12) are bordered in horizontal direction mainly orthogonal to its lighting direction by a guiding element (20), and a single shield (24) comprising a mainly horizontal top surface (22) for bordering the light rays (16) of at least two lamps (12) in one vertical direction, wherein the shield (24) is arranged such that the light rays (16) of two adjacent lamps (12) overlap at the top surface (22) of the shield (24). Since the light rays (16) of two neighboring lamps (12) overlap at the top surface (22) of the shield, it is possible to provide a smooth change of the brightness between an area illuminated by two lamps (12) and an area illuminated by only one lamp (12). Due to the smooth change of the brightness the lamp assembly (10) provides an easily to perceived illuminated area (30).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2013
    Assignee: Koninklijke Philips N.V.
    Inventor: Josef Andreas Schug
  • Patent number: 8579486
    Abstract: A vehicular headlamp apparatus includes: a lamp body; a translucent cover having a slanted portion; and a lamp unit. A semiconductor light-emitting element is mounted on a mounting surface so that its irradiation axis intersects with lamp unit's optical axis. Reflector's reflective surface reflects light from the semiconductor light-emitting element toward a vehicle front. One end of the reflective surface is located on a vehicle rear side of the light-emitting element. The other end protrudes toward a vehicle front from a front side end of the mounting portion. The reflective surface has a portion protruding toward the vehicle front from the front side end to face the slanted portion. Within a light distribution pattern, rays of light reflected by first area, second area adjacent to the first area and third area on the reflective surface respectively form a horizontal cut-off line, an oblique cut-off line and a diffusion portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2013
    Assignee: Koito Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Michio Tsukamoto
  • Patent number: 8573821
    Abstract: A vehicle lamp has a light source having an edge extending linearly, a first reflector, and a second reflector. The vehicle lamp forms a light distribution pattern having cut-off lines at an upper end section thereof by sequentially reflecting light from the light source using the first and second reflectors. An edge of the light source is disposed so as to extend in the horizontal direction. A first reflecting surface of the first reflector is formed of a curved surface, and shaped such that, when an image of the light source formed on the first reflecting surface of the first reflector is viewed from respective points on a first reflecting surface of the second reflector, an edge portion of the image of the light source corresponding to the edge of the light source appears to be inclined with respect to the horizontal direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2013
    Assignee: Koito Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Noriko Sato, Naoki Uchida
  • Publication number: 20130272008
    Abstract: Optical module of a lighting and/or signaling device of a motor vehicle, comprising a reflector associated with a light source, in particular comprising an LED, in order to reflect the light coming from this light source, this reflector being formed on a part, in particular a monolithic part, namely produced in one piece, provided with a cooling opening for a circulation of cooling air.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 22, 2011
    Publication date: October 17, 2013
    Applicant: VALEO VISION
    Inventors: Christophe Thullier, Thomas Canonne
  • Publication number: 20130272009
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides a vehicular lamp including a low-beam lamp and a daytime running lamp. The low-beam lamp includes a low-beam LED, a low-beam reflector, and a projection lens. The daytime running lamp includes a DRL LED, and a DRL reflector. The DRL LED is disposed at the rear side of the low-beam reflector to emit a light in a direction which intersects with the optical axis of the vehicular lamp. The DRL reflector includes an extension area that extends to at least the outer side of the projection lens when viewed from the front, and reflects the light from the DRL LED in the extension area to emit the light to the front side of the lamp through the outer side of the projection lens.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 4, 2013
    Publication date: October 17, 2013
    Applicant: Koito Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hideko FUJIU, Asami NAKADA, Kazuhisa SAKASHITA, Ryujiro IKUTA, Kazunori NATSUME
  • Publication number: 20130258697
    Abstract: A polyhedron type lamp apparatus for a vehicle may include a 3D polyhedron lens having a plurality of outer and inner surfaces facing each other, wherein the outer and inner surfaces may be flat and parallel to each other, at least one mirror surface formed at at least one of the inner surfaces inside the polyhedron lens to reflect light, and at least one semi-mirror surface formed at at least one of the inner surfaces inside the polyhedron lens to divide light into a transmitted light passing light outside the polyhedron lens and a reflected light reflecting light inside the polyhedron lens, wherein a plurality of point light sources may be mounted on at least one of the at least one mirror surfaces and light of the point light sources may be multi-reflected on the at least one mirror surface and the at least one semi-mirror surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 10, 2012
    Publication date: October 3, 2013
    Applicants: Hyundai Motor Japan R&D Center Inc., Kia Motors Corporation, Hyundai Motor Company
    Inventor: Hiroshi Suzuki
  • Patent number: 8545072
    Abstract: An optic includes an LED light source inside a primary reflector, where the primary reflector includes a parabolic trough whose interior surface has a longitudinally extending parabolic first reflective surface that receives light from the light source and emits a fan-shaped beam of light. The LED light source includes an LED die mounted so as to be at or near a focus of the parabolic trough. A selectively shaped secondary reflector is spaced from the primary reflector and has a second reflective surface that is arranged to intersect and reflect the fan of light. The size and shape of the second reflective surface corresponds to the fan of light where the second reflective surface intersects the fan of light. The second reflective surface displays a band of light that appears disassociated from a particular physical surface so as to float in space.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2013
    Assignee: OSRAM SYLVANIA Inc.
    Inventors: Lawrence M. Rice, Thomas Tessnow
  • Patent number: 8534889
    Abstract: A vehicle headlight can include a projector lens, a bulb disposed in a back direction from the projector lens, and having an axis in a right-left direction, a reflector disposed to cover the bulb from behind, a shade disposed between the projector lens and the bulb, a first additional reflection surface disposed in the front direction from the bulb, and reflecting light from the bulb toward a space lying ahead of the bulb end in a bulb-axis direction. A second additional reflection surface can be disposed in the space, and reflect light from the first additional reflection surface toward the projector lens. A top end portion of the shade can be bent in the back direction to form a low-beam cutoff line with back end edge. The first additional reflection surface can be disposed lower than the top end portion and in the front direction from the back end edge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2013
    Assignee: Stanley Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yoshihiro Fujiyama, Hideyasu Shoji, Takashi Akutagawa
  • Publication number: 20130235605
    Abstract: The invention relates to an LED light module (1) for a motor vehicle or for a head light for a motor vehicle, wherein the LED light module (1) has at least one LED light source (3) which comprises at least one light-emitting diode, and wherein the light (10, 11) which is emitted by the at least one LED light source (3) is emitted via at least one reflector (2) into a region located in front of a motor vehicle, wherein the light (10?, 11?) which is emitted via the reflector (2) forms a defined basic light distribution (30?), wherein according to the invention at least one shutter (4) is provided after the at least one LED light source (3) in the light exit direction, which at least one shutter (4) is located in the beam path of at least part of the light (20) which is emitted in the light exit direction by the at least one LED light source (3), and wherein the at least one shutter (4) is designed to reflect light at least in certain areas on its side (4?) facing the at least one LED light source (3), and where
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 18, 2011
    Publication date: September 12, 2013
    Applicant: ZIZALA LICHTSYSTEME GMBH
    Inventor: Gerald Bohm
  • Publication number: 20130229817
    Abstract: A lamp apparatus for a vehicle may include a hollow tub having a mirror surface, an upper cover mounted at a side of the tub and having a first surface perpendicular to an axial direction of the tub, wherein the first surface includes a semi-mirror surface which divides light into a transmitted light passing to the outside and a reflected light reflected to the inside, a lower cover mounted at the other side of the tub and having a second surface perpendicular to the axial direction of the tub, wherein the second surface includes a mirror surface formed on an inner side thereof, and a plurality of point light sources mounted on the mirror surface of the lower cover, wherein light emitted from the point light sources is multiple-reflected between the semi-mirror surface of the upper cover and the mirror surface of the lower cover.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 12, 2012
    Publication date: September 5, 2013
    Applicants: Hyundai Motor Japan R&D Center Inc., Kia Motors Corporation, Hyundai Motor Company
    Inventor: Hiroshi Suzuki
  • Patent number: 8506146
    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: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2013
    Assignee: Koito Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Masao Kinoshita, Akinori Matsumoto, Tomoyuki Moritani, Takahiro Suzuki
  • Publication number: 20130194816
    Abstract: A light-emitting device may include: one first light source group having at least one light source and one second light source group having at least one light source, at least one reflector, which is configured and arranged for the purpose of reflecting light emitted by the first light source group to an optical plane, and at least one light conducting element, which is configured and arranged for the purpose of conducting light emitted by the second light source group to the optical plane, wherein the light conducting element is configured and arranged as an aperture for light reflected by the at least one reflector.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 23, 2011
    Publication date: August 1, 2013
    Applicant: OSRAM AG
    Inventors: Juergen Hager, Oliver Hering, Ralf Vollmer
  • Publication number: 20130188381
    Abstract: A semiconductor light-emitting device, a method for manufacturing the same and a vehicle headlight can include the light-emitting device, which is composed of a light-emitting structure including a transparent plate, at least one semiconductor light-emitting chip and a wavelength converting layer between the transparent plate and the light-emitting chip to emit various colored lights including white light. The light-emitting device can also include a mounting board mounting the light-emitting structure and a frame thereon, a reflective material disposed between the frame and the light-emitting structure and the transparent material located on the reflective material to prevent an occurrence of oil-bleeding phenomenon. Thus, the disclosed subject matter can provide the light-emitting device having a high reliability for the vehicle headlight and the like, which can be maintained at a high quality even when they have been used for a long time under harsh conditions, and methods of manufacturing such devices.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 22, 2013
    Publication date: July 25, 2013
    Applicant: Stanley Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Stanley Electric Co., Ltd.
  • Patent number: 8491171
    Abstract: The present invention provides: a reflector 3 having a main reflector 2U and second additional reflection surfaces 9, 9; a semiconductor-type light source 5U; a light shading member 12U having first additional reflection surfaces 15U, 15U; and a shades 13U, 13U, 14U, 14U. The main reflection surface 2U reflects light L1 emitted from the semiconductor-type light source 5U and then emits a light distribution pattern LP for low beam. The first additional reflection surfaces 15U, 15U and the second additional reflection surfaces 9, 9 reflect light L2 emitted from the semiconductor-type light source 5U and then emit an additional light distribution pattern LP1. As a result, the present invention can form a main light distribution pattern and prevents the leakage of the light emitted from the semiconductor-type light source 5U through the light shading member 12U.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2013
    Assignee: Ichikoh Industries, Ltd.
    Inventor: Yasuhiro Okubo
  • Patent number: 8485705
    Abstract: An improved light collecting efficiency in a projector type automotive headlamp is achieved by including a curved mirror to re-direct light otherwise absorbed by a rear surface of the blocking cut-off shield in “low beam” operating mode of the headlamp. When the shield is moved to a second non-blocking position, a mirror segment conforms to the curved surface of the substantially ellipsoidal reflector to maximize lumen output in “high beam” operating mode of the headlamp. In addition, auxiliary mirror segments may be used to provide a more complete substantially ellipsoidal reflector configuration that maximizes the light collection efficiency. Preferably, the cap holder is purposefully offset in order to position the centerline of the bowed arc of the arc discharge light source in alignment with the optical axis of the optical system in order to maximize light collection efficiency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2013
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Agoston Boroczki, Istvan Csanyi, Csaba Horvath, Tamas Panyik
  • Patent number: 8480266
    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: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2013
    Assignee: Stanley Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Takashi Futami
  • Patent number: 8475020
    Abstract: A light signalling device, particularly designed for motor vehicles. The device has a reflector with a reflecting surface and a screen arranged opposite the reflector and having a semi-reflecting zone. The screen being arranged away from the reflector and forming a cavity with the reflector. The light rays of the source penetrate the cavity; and some of these rays are transmitted by the semi-reflecting zone, and others of these rays are reflected by the semi-reflecting zone, then by the reflector into the cavity in such a way as to generate a repetitive visual or three-dimensional effect of depth. The screen is configured and arranged in relation to the direction of emission of the light source in such a way that another part of the light rays leaves the cavity at the level of the screen without meeting the semi-reflecting zone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2013
    Assignee: Valeo Vision
    Inventor: Christophe Dubosc
  • Publication number: 20130135888
    Abstract: A lighting module comprising a light source of the LED type (not visible), a reflector with an elliptical reflective surface and a lens, the module being provided with means of quick-fastening to a mount. These means comprise a flange fitted with tabs (not visible) able to collaborate with corresponding notches of an orifice in the mount. This mounting allows the module to be fitted and removed very easily so that the light source or sources can be replaced, without disturbing the beam alignment. The invention also relates to the mount in question and to a corresponding headlamp.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 25, 2012
    Publication date: May 30, 2013
    Applicant: VALEO VISION
    Inventors: Jean-Francois Le Bars, Eric Moisy
  • Patent number: 8444305
    Abstract: A head light device, according to one embodiment, has a head light, a position light provided around the head light, a reflector to reflect bulb light of the head light, and an extension covering the perimeter of the reflector. The extension covers a position in front of the position light, and the extension is provided with openings, and reflection members to guide the light of the position light to the outside.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2013
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroshi Nishijima, Hiroyasu Ota, Hayato Ohashi, Eiji Ashihara
  • Patent number: 8439539
    Abstract: Disclosed is a low-beam lamp unit including an LED, a projector lens disposed on an optical axis, a reflector reflecting light of the LED toward the vicinity of a back focus of the projector lens on a vertical cross section, a shade having a front edge portion disposed in the vicinity of the back focus of projector lens to block a portion of light reflected by the reflector, and a re-reflection surface integrally provided in the back of the front edge portion to re-reflect the portion of reflected light blocked by the shade to the projector lens. In the low-beam lamp unit, at least a portion of the re-reflection surface has a light diffusion portion which is a continuously curved surface that is convex toward the reflector in the vertical cross section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2013
    Assignee: Koito Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Ippei Yamamoto
  • Patent number: 8439538
    Abstract: A vehicle light can achieve the same or similar heat dissipation performance as that of a conventional vehicle light while having a smaller height than that of the conventional vehicle light, thereby improving space utilization efficiency for a limited installation space of a vehicle body. The vehicle light can include a housing, a cover lens attached to the housing to define a lighting chamber between itself and the housing. A heat dissipation member can be attached to the housing. An optical system can be disposed within the lighting chamber. The optical system can include a heat conduction member including an LED attached surface and a support member fixed to the LED attached surface at one end thereof and to the housing or the heat dissipation member at the other end thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2013
    Assignee: Stanley Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Sadaharu Hatta
  • Patent number: 8425096
    Abstract: The signal light of mirror type consists of a light source (1), a primary optical component (2), a secondary optical component (3), a tertiary optical component (4), one or more internal glasses (5), a cover glass (6) and an optical filter (7), characterized in that the light put out by the light source (1) is focused by the primary optical component (2) on the secondary optical component (3), and scattering elements, which are on the primary optical component (2) or on the secondary optical component (3) or on the primary optical component (2) and the secondary optical component (3), after passing through the optical filter (7) are projected onto the tertiary optical component (4), while the tertiary optical component (4) is formed by one or more smooth surfaces of a mirror type, and the image of the scattering elements is further distributed by the tertiary optical component (4) and passes through the one or more internal glasses (5) and the cover glass (6).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2013
    Assignee: Visteon Global Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Wilfried Dejmek, Jakub Lenk, Lumír Soukup
  • Patent number: 8425097
    Abstract: A lamp unit includes: a first board supporting a first LED; a second board supporting a second LED; a first reflector that is disposed so as to reflect, toward a projection lens, light emitted by the first LED; a second reflector that is disposed so as to reflect, toward the projection lens, light emitted by the second LED; and a shade that blocks part of light reflected by the first reflector. The first and second boards support the first and second LEDs so that the first and second LEDs are disposed on opposite sides with respect to an optical axis Ax of the projection lens. The first reflector is disposed on the side opposite to the first LED with respect to the optical axis Ax, and the second reflector is disposed on the side opposite to the second LED with respect to the optical axis Ax.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2013
    Assignee: Koito Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Ippei Yamamoto
  • Publication number: 20130094232
    Abstract: Disclosed is a lamp device for a vehicle, which includes: a lens disposed on a first optical axis extending to a front and a rear of the vehicle; a main reflector disposed at a rear side of the lens, reflecting light frontward, and including a first focus on the first optical axis; a light source disposed on the first focus, and emitting light; a lower sub reflector disposed below the light source, upwardly reflecting the light, and including a first focus on a point at which the first optical axis and a second optical axis extending above and below the vehicle intersect; an upper sub reflector disposed above the light source, and frontwardly reflecting the light reflected by the lower sub reflector; and a shield plate disposed between the lens and the light source, and disposed to correspond to a second focus of the main reflector.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 23, 2012
    Publication date: April 18, 2013
    Applicant: HYUNDAI MOBIS Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Gun woo PARK
  • Publication number: 20130083553
    Abstract: A vehicle lighting unit can include a first lens and a second lens disposed below the first lens, and a first semiconductor light-emitting device disposed substantially at a vehicle rear-side focal point of the first lens. Light emitted from the first semiconductor light-emitting device in a narrow angle direction can be incident on the first lens. A first reflector can be disposed diagonally forward and downward with respect to the first semiconductor light-emitting device such that light emitted from the first semiconductor light-emitting device in a wide angle direction is incident thereon and reflected diagonally rearward and downward. The light emitted in the narrow angle direction and incident on the first lens having a luminous intensity higher than the light emitted in the wide angle direction. A second reflector can be disposed diagonally rearward and downward with respect to the first reflector.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 2, 2012
    Publication date: April 4, 2013
    Inventor: TATSUYA SEKIGUCHI
  • Publication number: 20130077335
    Abstract: A modular headlamp assembly includes a low beam headlamp module, a high beam headlamp module, and front turn/parking lamp module. The low beam headlamp module and the high beam headlamp module are supported by a reflector carrier. Each of the high and low beam headlamp modules includes a heat sink and mounting assembly with a heat sink portion bisecting a reflector member. The reflector carrier is adjustably fastened to a housing to allow for adjustment of the high and low beam headlamp modules within the modular headlamp assembly.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 27, 2011
    Publication date: March 28, 2013
    Inventors: Mike Murley, Gregory Alan Stol
  • Patent number: 8388201
    Abstract: A headlight unit includes a reflector that is concave in shape and has left and right reflection surfaces for reflecting light emitted by a headlight bulb in a desired direction. Protection covers cover outer edge sections of the reflector and have a color different from that of the left and right reflection surfaces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2013
    Assignee: Yamaha Hatsudoki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Gen Ohzono
  • Patent number: 8382351
    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: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2013
    Assignee: Koito Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tomomi Ishikawa, Shigehiko Kazaoka
  • Patent number: 8371731
    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: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2013
    Assignee: Stanley Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Yasuyuki Zanma
  • Publication number: 20130021817
    Abstract: A projector lens of a vehicular headlamp has a shape of a convex lens in which the upper and lower portions are cut by a predetermined amount. A light source is disposed above optical axis Ax of the projector lens while a light emission surface is inclined downwardly. A first reflecting mirror has an elliptical reflective surface, and is adjusted in size such that almost all the light reflected from the reflective surface is incident on the projector lens. A shield plate is disposed in the vicinity of the focus of the first reflecting mirror to form a horizontal cutoff line. A second reflecting mirror is disposed to reflect light that is not incident on the first reflecting mirror. The third reflecting mirror is disposed above the upper end of the shield plate at a position that does not interfere with the light reflected from the first reflecting mirror.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 10, 2012
    Publication date: January 24, 2013
    Applicant: KOITO MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Hiroyuki ISHIDA
  • Publication number: 20130010488
    Abstract: A vehicle headlamp has a first light source disposed on a first optical axis that extends in a front-to-rear direction of a vehicle, a first lens that projects light emitted from the first light source to a front of the vehicle, a second lens having a rear focal point on a second optical axis that is parallel to the first optical axis and disposed adjacent to the first lens, a second light source disposed on the second optical axis rearwards of the first light source, a reflector that reflects light emitted from the second light source towards the rear focal point of the second lens, and a sub-reflector disposed such that the sub-reflector does not interfere with an optical path which extends from the reflector to the second lens and that causes part of light emitted from the first light source to be incident on the second lens.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 3, 2012
    Publication date: January 10, 2013
    Applicant: KOITO MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Hiroya Koizumi
  • Patent number: 8348486
    Abstract: A vehicular lamp unit includes a projection lens disposed on an optical axis extending in a vehicular longitudinal direction; a light source disposed rearward of a rear side focal point of the projection lens; a reflector reflecting direct light from the light source forward towards the optical axis; a shade disposed between the projection lens and the light source such that the shade blocks a part of reflected light from the reflector and a part of the direct light from the light source to form a cut-off line of a light distribution pattern; a first reflective surface formed on a tip portion of the reflector such that the first reflective surface reflects a part of the direct light from the light source downward to the front of the shade; and a second reflective surface formed on the front of the shade and below the rear side focal point of the projection lens such that the second reflective surface reflects reflected light from the first reflective surface towards the projection lens.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2013
    Assignee: Koito Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Yusuke Nakada
  • Publication number: 20130003401
    Abstract: A vehicle lighting unit can be configured to allow the brightnesses of light observed through vertically arranged lenses to substantially match when the lenses are viewed from a certain viewpoint in front of the vehicle. The vehicle lighting unit can include: a first lens on a first upper optical axis; a second lens on a second lower optical axis; a semiconductor light-emitting device; a first revolved ellipsoidal reflector; a shade; a second revolved ellipsoidal reflector; and a third reflector. The third reflector is inclined at an inclination angle with respect to the horizontal plane adjusted such that light emitted from the semiconductor light-emitting device, reflected by the second reflector, focused at a second focal point of the second reflector, reflected by the third reflector, and passing through the second lens is directed in a direction at a predetermined upward angle with respect to the horizontal plane.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 2, 2012
    Publication date: January 3, 2013
    Inventors: Tatsuya SEKIGUCHI, Kazuyuki Shimada
  • Publication number: 20130003400
    Abstract: A headlight of the present invention includes: a fluorescent material light-emitting section; a reflector that reflects light emitted from the fluorescent material light-emitting section so as to emit reflected light out of the headlight; and a mini-mirror that reflects, toward a predetermined surface of the fluorescent material light-emitting section provided substantially at a focal point of the reflector, at least part of light that has not been directed toward the reflector. The mini-mirror has its optical axis inclined with respect to a normal line of the predetermined surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 4, 2012
    Publication date: January 3, 2013
    Applicant: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hiroshi KIJIMA, Kensei Toyota, Koji Takahashi
  • Publication number: 20120327677
    Abstract: In a lamp body, a second reflective surface, which reflects light reflected from a first reflective surface to a front side again so as to emit the light toward the front side, is formed on a back surface of a lens main body; fixing portions protrude outward from an outer peripheral portion of the lens main body and are fixed to a seating section; the first reflective surface is formed in a shape of a band which extends in one direction and of which both end portions reach the outer peripheral portion of the lens main body; constricted portions, which are recessed inward, are formed at the outer peripheral portion of the lens main body near at least one of the both end portions of the first reflective surface; and the fixing portions are disposed in the constricted portions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 12, 2012
    Publication date: December 27, 2012
    Applicants: STANLEY ELECTRIC CO., LTD., HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Michio Furukawa, Hitoshi Aoki, Koji Fukura, Daisen Kojima, Naoki Akita, Taku Saito, Hidemi Tanaka, Seiji Hasegawa, Kosuke Shiohama
  • Publication number: 20120294026
    Abstract: A vehicle headlamp includes: a light-emitting module; a control circuit section for controlling a lighting of the light-emitting module; and a reflector including a reflecting face configured to reflect and collect light emitted from the light-emitting module. The control circuit section includes an opposing portion that is opposed to the reflecting face. The opposing portion is disposed at a position away from an optical path of light to be collected by the reflector.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 27, 2012
    Publication date: November 22, 2012
    Applicant: KOITO MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Akihiro Matsumoto, Tetsuya Suzuki, Tomoyuki Nakagawa
  • Patent number: 8308326
    Abstract: A lighting or signaling device for a motor vehicle which is capable of emitting a linear beam in the direction of an optical axis and which comprises a point light source that emits light rays radially around a source; a light ray guiding plate; wherein the light guiding plate is shaped so that the light rays generally propagate in incident propagation planes normal to the plate between the light source and the reflection edge and in reflected propagation planes normal to the plate between the reflection edge and the output edge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2012
    Assignee: Valeo Vision
    Inventors: Christophe Dubosc, Antoine De Lamberterie
  • Patent number: 8308327
    Abstract: Provided is an apparatus and method for providing a fail-safe in a head lamp apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2012
    Assignee: SL Corporation
    Inventors: Young-Min Lee, Sang-Kook Kang, Sun-Kyoung Park
  • Publication number: 20120281424
    Abstract: Implementations described and claimed herein provide a dual function illumination lamp in compliance with regulations for vehicular forward lighting. In one implementation, the illumination lamp includes a first reflector and a second reflector. The first reflector has a first reflecting region adapted to reflect light emitted from a first light emitting diode through an optics-free lens. The light reflected from the first reflecting region forms a first beam light pattern. The second reflector has a second reflecting region adapted to reflect light emitted from a second light emitting diode through the optics-free lens. The light reflected from the second reflecting region forms a second beam light pattern that is different from the first beam light pattern. In some implementations, the first beam light pattern is a low beam light pattern, and the second beam light pattern is a high beam light pattern.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 2, 2012
    Publication date: November 8, 2012
    Applicant: PETERSON MANUFACTURING COMPANY
    Inventors: John Alexander Hansen, Nathan Thomas Taylor, Donald M. Lane
  • Patent number: 8297816
    Abstract: A vehicle headlamp includes: a light-emitting module; a control circuit section for controlling a lighting of the light-emitting module; and a reflector including a reflecting face configured to reflect and collect light emitted from the light-emitting module. The control circuit section includes an opposing portion that is opposed to the reflecting face. The opposing portion is disposed at a position away from an optical path of light to be collected by the reflector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2012
    Assignee: Koito Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Akihiro Matsumoto, Tetsuya Suzuki, Tomoyuki Nakagawa
  • Patent number: 8292455
    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: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2012
    Assignee: Koito Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Hiroya Koizumi
  • Patent number: 8287165
    Abstract: A conventional vehicle lighting device entails difficulty in smoothly dimming a part at a downside of a cutoff line of a light distribution pattern. A shade-cum additional reflector includes a cutoff line forming portion which forms an opposite lane side cutoff line, an oblique cutoff line, and a cruising lane side cutoff line, of a light distribution pattern for passing, i.e., a horizontal portion, an inclined portion, and a corner portion, of a protrusion. Of an additional reflecting surface, in proximal to at least the horizontal portion of the protrusion, a spherical convex portion is provided as a diffusion portion for diffusing and reflecting a part of the cut off reflected light onto a side of a projecting lens. As a result, a lighting device of the present invention allows for smooth dimming of a part at a downside of at least the opposite lane side cutoff line, of a light distribution pattern for passing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2012
    Assignee: Ichikoh Industries, Ltd.
    Inventor: Kazunori Iwasaki
  • Patent number: 8256942
    Abstract: A vehicle headlamp is provided. The vehicle headlamp includes a lamp body having a front opening, a cover which covers the front opening of the lamp body to form a lamp housing, a first lamp unit which is disposed inside the lamp housing to produce at least one of a high beam and a low beam, and a second lamp unit disposed in a gap region between the lamp body and the first lamp unit to produce a beam other than the high beam and the low beam.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 11, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2012
    Assignee: Koito Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hironori Tsukamoto, Ryosuke Hara