Plural Separate Sections With Complex Surfaces Patents (Class 362/518)
  • Patent number: 11761602
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an automotive optical system; the optical system includes one or more first optical elements that reflect light rays emitted from a number of first light sources that are configured to perform a first lighting function and a second optical element; the second optical element is configured to project a light beam from the first optical elements configured to perform the first lighting function where a portion of the second optical element is made of a diffusive material. Furthermore, the optical system includes a number of secondary light sources where the second optical element is configured to receive light ray emissions from the secondary light sources and perform a second lighting function by scattering light rays received from secondary light sources.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2022
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2023
    Assignee: Valeo Vision
    Inventor: Brant Potter
  • Patent number: 11435050
    Abstract: A lamp for a vehicle is provided that can include a housing, an axial symmetric lens coupled to the housing and defining an optical axis and a focal point, an image shifting lens positioned within the housing behind the axial symmetric lens relative to the optical axis, and a light source positioned within the housing. The light source can be positioned behind the image shifting lens. The light source can be configured to emit light along an optical path that extends, from the light source, through the image shifting lens, towards the axial symmetric lens above the optical axis, and through the axial symmetric lens to define a high beam illumination pattern.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2022
    Assignee: J.W. SPEAKER CORPORATION
    Inventor: Bradley William Kay
  • Patent number: 11230225
    Abstract: Light-based devices may be provided that emit light. The light-based devices may be incorporated into systems such as vehicles. The light-based devices may include light sources such as light-emitting diodes and lasers. Mirrors may be used to collimate light from the light sources. Light modulators may be used to pattern light from the light sources. The light sources may include light sources of different colors. Arrays of pixels may be used to provide dynamically varying patterns of emitted light. A light source may produce light that is diffracted by an array of diffractive elements on a window. Mechanical and electrical shutters may obscure light sources, mirrors, and light-emitting components mounted on windows.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2022
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Thaddeus Stefanov-Wagner, Albert J. Golko, Sawyer I. Cohen, Ibuki Kamei, Ryan J. Garrone, Matthew E. Last, Clarisse Mazuir
  • Patent number: 11187393
    Abstract: A light system comprising: (a) a plurality of light sources; (b) a plurality of reflectors that are each aligned with and reflect one or more of the plurality of light sources in a first direction away from a vehicle that houses the light system, wherein at least one of the plurality of reflectors comprises: (i) a plurality of reflector facets; (ii) a vertical centerline that extends through a central reflector facet; and (iii) an equal number of the plurality of reflector facets in a first region on a first side of the vertical centerline and second region on a second side of the vertical centerline; wherein the second region has a width from the centerline that is less than a width of the first region from the centerline.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 30, 2021
    Assignee: Valeo Vision
    Inventor: Brant Potter
  • Patent number: 10982833
    Abstract: The vehicle lamp of the present invention includes: a first light source that emits light for low-beam light distribution; a lens arranged in a front side of the first light source; a shade that is arranged between the first light source and the lens and forms a cut-off line of a low-beam light distribution pattern; a reflector that reflects light from the first light source towards the lens; and a second light source that is arranged between the first light source and the lens and emits light for high-beam additional light distribution. A rear focal point of the lens is located more to a front side than a second focal point which is a focal point on a front side of the reflector, and a lens optical axis of the lens is inclined forward and obliquely downward with respect to a lamp optical axis of the lamp.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2021
    Assignee: Ichikoh Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Kazunori Iwasaki, Yasuhiro Okubo, Takanori Hamamoto, Yosuke Omori
  • Patent number: 10955105
    Abstract: A vehicle lamp is provided with an upper light source and a lower light source spaced apart from the upper light source in a height direction. A reflector has a central optical axis extending a forward direction and oriented between the upper and lower light source. The reflector has first and second arrays of reflective surfaces. The first array of first reflective surfaces reflects light emitted from the upper light source in a first light pattern in the direction of the central optical axis. The second array of second reflective surfaces reflecting light emitted from the lower light source in a second light pattern in the direction of the central optical axis. At least one of the first reflective surfaces is oriented between two second reflective surfaces in the height direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2021
    Assignee: NORTH AMERICAN LIGHTING, INC.
    Inventors: Zachary Brian Fredricks, Paul Christopher Hawks, Marc Bell
  • Patent number: 10900629
    Abstract: A vehicular lamp includes a laser light source configured to radiate a laser beam, a wavelength conversion member configured to receive the laser beam and radiate white light, and a lens body disposed between the laser light source and the wavelength conversion member and configured to emit the white light, wherein the lens body has a laser beam incident surface configured to allow incidence of the laser beam, a white light incident surface configured to emit the laser beam from inside of the lens body and to allow incidence of the white light radiated from the wavelength conversion member, and an emission surface configured to emit the white light, and the wavelength conversion member is disposed to be separated from the white light incident surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2021
    Assignee: STANLEY ELECTRIC CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Shinya Kogure, Ryotaro Owada
  • Patent number: 10821879
    Abstract: A vehicle equipped with analysing means that analyse a zone (ZA) located in front of the vehicle is equipped with a lighting device (DE). This device (DE) comprises: —a first source (S1) that generates first photons and a reflector (RP) that reflects the first photons toward the zone (ZA) so that they form a first light beam (F1) that performs a photometric lighting function, —a second source (S2) that is installed in front of a central portion (PC) of the reflector (RP) and that generates second photons, —a lens (LF) that is inserted between the second source (S2) and the zone (ZA), that is positionable in various positions, and that forms, with the second photons, a second light beam (F2) that is narrow and that points toward a sub-zone of the zone (ZA) that depends on a set lens position, and—controlling means (MC) that set the position of the lens in case of detection of an obstacle in a sub-zone of known position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2020
    Assignee: PSA AUTOMOBILES SA
    Inventors: Whilk Marcelino Goncalves, Lucien Stee, Gilles Moynier, Bertrand Deguines
  • Patent number: 10753565
    Abstract: A parabolic reflector is utilized for a vehicle head lamp having a housing, lens, light emitting diodes and control circuits for the light emitting diodes. The parabolic reflector comprises a plurality of reflective panels in an upper array for the low beam and a lower array for the high beam. The upper array is formed by three rows of twelve panels in side-to-side configuration. The lower array is divide into two separate groups, with each group having a two outermost panels, two intermediate panels and two innermost panels. The reflective panels of the upper array and the lower array are so positioned with respect to the light emitting diodes as to form a desired luminous intensity distribution from the head lamp.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2020
    Assignee: True Parts Inc.
    Inventor: Mitul Patel
  • Patent number: 10746364
    Abstract: A ground illumination aircraft light unit includes a mounting portion, which is configured for mounting the light unit to an aircraft; a transparent cover, which is mounted to the mounting portion and in combination with the mounting portion defines an interior space of the light unit; and at least one light source, which is arranged within the interior space of the light unit and which is configured for emitting light for illuminating an airfield in the vicinity of the aircraft. The light unit is configured to emit predominantly p-polarized light in a predefined spatial sector; and to emit non-polarized light in an area outside said predefined spatial sector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2020
    Assignee: GOODRICH LIGHTING SYSTEMS GMBH
    Inventors: Andre Hessling-Von Heimendahl, Christian Schoen
  • Patent number: 10697606
    Abstract: A vehicle lamp is provided with an upper light source and a lower light source spaced apart from the upper light source in a height direction. A reflector has a central optical axis extending a forward direction and oriented between the upper and lower light source. The reflector has first and second arrays of reflective surfaces. The first array of first reflective surfaces reflects light emitted from the upper light source in a first light pattern in the direction of the central optical axis. The second array of second reflective surfaces reflecting light emitted from the lower light source in a second light pattern in the direction of the central optical axis. At least one of the first reflective surfaces is oriented between two second reflective surfaces in the height direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 30, 2020
    Assignee: NORTH AMERICAN LIGHTING, INC.
    Inventors: Zachary Brian Fredricks, Paul Christopher Hawks, Marc Bell
  • Patent number: 10677414
    Abstract: Light emission module, comprising a housing having at least one first opening and a second opening, a shaping optic, a light emission source, a module with mirrors disposed to receive at least a part of the light rays emitted by the light emission source, and a plurality of mirrors. The light emission module furthermore includes a cooling module configured to generate a flow of fluid circulating inside the inner space between the first and second openings in order to cool the light emission module.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 9, 2020
    Assignee: VALEO VISION
    Inventors: Christophe Duval, Stephan Sommerschuh
  • Patent number: 10663137
    Abstract: A light source unit for a vehicle headlight includes a circuit board on which four light emitting devices are disposed at each of four directions with respect to a center thereof, and a reflector provided on the circuit board so as to surround the four light emitting devices, wherein the circuit board includes four side areas in which the four light emitting devices are disposed, one center area disposed at a center of the four side areas and four corner areas disposed at corner sections next to the four side areas, and the reflector includes eight first reflective surfaces provided to divide spaces between each of the side areas and the corner areas, and four second reflective surfaces provided to divide sides of each of side areas opposite to the center area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2020
    Assignee: STANLEY ELECTRIC CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Koichiro Ano, Nobuo Kato
  • Patent number: 10634769
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to systems and methods that facilitate light detection and ranging operations. An example transmit block includes at least one substrate with a plurality of angled facets. The plurality of angled facets provides a corresponding plurality of elevation angles. A set of angle differences between adjacent elevation angles includes at least two different angle difference values. A plurality of light-emitter devices is configured to emit light into an environment along the plurality of elevation angles toward respective target locations so as to provide a desired resolution and/or a respective elevation angle. The present disclosure also relates to adjusting shot power and a shot schedule based on the desired resolution and/or a respective elevation angle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2020
    Assignee: Waymo LLC
    Inventors: Benjamin Ingram, Pierre-Yves Droz, Luke Wachter, Scott McCloskey, Blaise Gassend, Gaetan Pennecot
  • Patent number: 10619817
    Abstract: A light assembly for use on a vehicle comprising a support mounted on the vehicle, at least one light source and a lens body having a first area for reflecting light and a second area for distributing light from the at least one light source. The lens body further comprises a top wall, a generally opposing bottom wall, a first side wall and a second side wall that generally opposes the first side wall, the lens body also has at least one detent or lock associated with the second area. The at least one detent or lock engages a surface on a support to which the lens body is mounted in order to lock or secure the lens body onto the support. The at least one detent or lock is not visible when viewing an exit surface of the lens after it is mounted on the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2020
    Assignee: Valeo North America, Inc.
    Inventors: Kevin Dwayne Koons, Cameron Lee Crisp
  • Patent number: 10605426
    Abstract: Disclosed is an LED light source high-beam and low-beam integrated automobile lamp module with an ADB function, comprising a condenser (1), high-beam LED light sources (2), a low-beam LED light source (3), an auxiliary reflector (4), a reflector (5) and a lens (6). A block cavity structure (7) is arranged in the middle of a left or right portion of the condenser (1), and the number of the high-beam LED light sources (2) is at least two. An LED light source corresponding to a rear end of the block cavity structure on the condenser (1) is in a lit-up state when being in a full-high-beam working state, and light emitted thereby is transmitted by the block cavity structure and then is emitted forwards, so as to form a part of a high-beam light shape.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2020
    Assignee: HASCO VISION TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Zhiping Qiu, He Zhu, Weigang Gong
  • Patent number: 10502388
    Abstract: Provided is a vehicle lamp capable of uniformly emitting light, which is emitted from light sources and incident on one end surface and the other end surface, from the front surface (lateral surface) thereof. The vehicle lamp includes a light guiding rod extending in a prescribed direction. The light guiding rod includes a front surface, and a rear surface. The front surface includes a first region, a second region, and a third region positioned between the first region and the second region. The first region and the second region are configured to diffuse the light emitted from the first light source and the light emitted from the second light source, in a direction orthogonal to the prescribed direction, respectively. A rear surface is configured to diffuse the light emitted from the first light source and the light emitted from the second light source, in the prescribed direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2019
    Assignee: STANLEY ELECTRIC CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Hirokazu Saito
  • Patent number: 10436402
    Abstract: A vehicle headlamp includes a surface light source and a reflector that forms a low beam light distribution pattern having an oblique cut-off line and a horizontal cut-off line. The surface light source is provided in a perpendicular direction with respect to an optical axis of the reflector, and the reflector forms a hot zone of the light distribution pattern by first areas with a great disposition angle and second areas with a small disposition angle where a light source image of the surface light source becomes narrow and small.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2019
    Assignee: KOITO MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Makino, Takeshi Horiba
  • Patent number: 10416290
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to systems and methods that facilitate light detection and ranging operations. An example transmit block includes at least one substrate with a plurality of angled facets. The plurality of angled facets provides a corresponding plurality of elevation angles. A set of angle differences between adjacent elevation angles includes at least two different angle difference values. A plurality of light-emitter devices is configured to emit light into an environment along the plurality of elevation angles toward respective target locations so as to provide a desired resolution and/or a respective elevation angle. The present disclosure also relates to adjusting shot power and a shot schedule based on the desired resolution and/or a respective elevation angle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2019
    Assignee: Waymo LLC
    Inventors: Benjamin Ingram, Pierre-Yves Droz, Luke Wachter, Scott McCloskey, Blaise Gassend, Gaetan Pennecot
  • Patent number: 10408424
    Abstract: A housing or pocket for supporting a light guide device for an illumination device, especially for a motor vehicle or an indicator device in a rearview device of a motor vehicle. The housing has a first side which is configured to support the light guiding device for exposure to the pictogram of the reflection layer. The housing also include a second side containing exposed wire connectors to connect the light guide device to a power source. One of the light guide device, the printed circuit board or both structures are fitted with an encapsulation member and secured to the housing through the use of a fixative mount.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2019
    Assignee: SMR Patents S.à.r.l.
    Inventors: Norbert Kürschner, Andreas Herrmann, Chun Seop Kwak, Ho Jin Huh
  • Patent number: 10393345
    Abstract: A light guiding device includes a light guide body including a light incoupling side for incoupling light from a light source, a light outcoupling side, and a plurality of light guiding funnels, each of the light guiding funnels being provided with a reflection side that deflects light from the light incoupling side to the light outcoupling side of the light guide body, where the light guiding funnels are provided with light adjustment by bundling or focusing light within light outcoupling windows at the light outcoupling side, and at least one of a length of the light guiding funnels, a width of the light guiding funnels, a number of the light guiding funnels, a surface structure of the reflection side of the light guiding funnels, or an optical means provided at or by the reflection side is adapted to the light outcoupling windows for providing illumination areas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2019
    Assignee: SMR Patents S.à.r.l.
    Inventors: Andreas Herrmann, Daniel Fritz
  • Patent number: 10393335
    Abstract: A vehicle headlamp includes a surface light source and a reflector that forms a low beam light distribution pattern having an oblique cut-off line and a horizontal cut-off line. The surface light source is provided in a perpendicular direction with respect to an optical axis of the reflector, and the reflector forms a hot zone of the light distribution pattern by first areas with a great disposition angle and second areas with a small disposition angle where a light source image of the surface light source becomes narrow and small.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2019
    Assignee: KOITO MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Makino, Takeshi Horiba
  • Patent number: 10365351
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to systems and methods that facilitate light detection and ranging operations. An example transmit block includes at least one substrate with a plurality of angled facets. The plurality of angled facets provides a corresponding plurality of elevation angles. A set of angle differences between adjacent elevation angles includes at least two different angle difference values. A plurality of light-emitter devices is configured to emit light into an environment along the plurality of elevation angles toward respective target locations so as to provide a desired resolution and/or a respective elevation angle. The present disclosure also relates to adjusting shot power and a shot schedule based on the desired resolution and/or a respective elevation angle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 30, 2019
    Assignee: Waymo LLC
    Inventors: Benjamin Ingram, Pierre-Yves Droz, Luke Wachter, Scott McCloskey, Blaise Gassend, Gaetan Pennecot
  • Patent number: 10352518
    Abstract: A lens assembly for implementing a low beam may include: a first lens including an incident surface having a shape enclosing a light emitting diode (LED), and an exit surface through which light of the LED exits in a direction perpendicular to the exit surface; and a second lens disposed on the exit surface of the first lens and configured to project the light of the LED that exits from the exit surface. The light of the LED that is projected through the second lens may form a low-beam pattern.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2019
    Assignee: Hyundai Mobis Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Hyun Soo Lee
  • Patent number: 10197236
    Abstract: A vehicle headlamp system that includes: a photochromic lens, a primary light source for transmitting a headlamp pattern, a secondary light source for emitting UV light to darken the photochromic lens, a lens heating system, an imaging sensor for detecting an object external to the vehicle, and a controller for activating the secondary light source and the heating system, in response to data provided by the sensor, to darken or lighten a portion of the lens and prevent light from the primary light source from passing through the lens.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2019
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: Connor I. Robinson
  • Patent number: 10184634
    Abstract: A headlamp including a matrix static bending lights (SBL) optical system, which enables light to be turned on/off. The headlamp includes a headlamp body installed in a front region of a vehicle and including a main optical system for irradiating light, corresponding to one of a low beam headlight, a high beam headlight, and a glare free high beam (GFHB) headlight, onto the front of the vehicle, a reflective structure disposed on one side surface of the inside of a housing of the headlamp body with respect to a direction intersecting an installation reference direction of the main optical system and including a plurality of reflective surfaces, and a light source unit disposed apart from the reflective structure and including a plurality of light source chips that target at a reflective surface of the reflective structure and irradiate light onto the targeted reflective surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 22, 2019
    Assignee: Hyundai Mobis Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Hyung Rok Shim
  • Patent number: 10168021
    Abstract: A light guiding device for an illumination device, especially for a motor vehicle or an indicator device in a rearview device of a motor vehicle includes a light coupling side for incoupling light from a light source, a reflection side having a reflection layer; and a light outcoupling side, which is disposed generally opposite the reflection side. A clearance between the reflection side and the light outcoupling side generally decreases as the distance from the light incoupling side increases. The reflection side having the reflection layer is configured so that light arriving from the light incoupling side is deflected to the light outcoupling side. The reflection layer may be a paint or lacquer layer that is imprinted or evaporation-coated on the reflection side.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2019
    Assignee: SMR Patents S.à.r.l.
    Inventors: Norbert Kürschner, Daniel Fritz
  • Patent number: 10107466
    Abstract: A headlight lens for a vehicle headlight, the headlight lens having a body of transparent material. The monolithic body includes a light passage section having at least one optically operative light exit face and a light tunnel having at least one optically operative light entry face. The light tunnel transits into the light passage section via a bend being curved in its longitudinal extension, wherein the light tunnel at the bend has a smaller cross section than the light passage section at the bend and wherein the light passage section is configured for imaging the bend as a bright-dark-boundary.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2018
    Assignee: Docter Optics SE
    Inventors: Dmitry Fedosik, Wolfram Wintzer
  • Patent number: 9903551
    Abstract: Disclosed is a vehicle lamp structure including a lamp cup structure and a light-emitting structure. The lamp cup structure has a first light-reflecting surface and a second light-reflecting surface. The first light-reflecting surface has a first focal point and a second focal point. The second light-reflecting surface has a third focal point and a fourth focal point. The light-emitting structure includes a first light-emitting element and a second light-emitting element. The first light-emitting element corresponds to the first focal point. The second light-emitting element corresponds to the third focal point. The first light-emitting element generates a first light source projected onto the first light-reflecting surface to form a first reflection light source through the second focal point. The second light-emitting element generates a second light source projected onto the second light-reflecting surface to form a second reflection light source through the fourth focal point.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2018
    Inventor: Cheng Wang
  • Patent number: 9759396
    Abstract: A lighting device for vehicles with an elongated light guide comprising an end face for the coupling-in of light, into which a light beam radiated from a light source can be coupled-in. The lighting device further comprises elements for the coupling-out of light for the deflection of the coupled-in light beam in the direction of a front skin surface of the elongated light guide, on which the light beam can be coupled-out for the generation of a given light function, such that the front skin surface of the elongated light guide is connected to a rear skin surface by means of a curved dispersion surface. At least one light directing element is arranged between a row of light sources and the light guide so that the light of the light sources arranged in a row can be coupled into the rear skin surface or the curved dispersion surface of the light guide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2017
    Assignee: Hella KGaA Hueck & Co.
    Inventors: Carmen Bungenstock, Christoph Geister, Martin Mügge, Heinrich Schäfer
  • Patent number: 9709234
    Abstract: Disclosed is a vehicle lamp structure including a lamp cup structure and a light-emitting structure. The lamp cup structure has a first light-reflecting surface and a second light-reflecting surface. The first light-reflecting surface has a first focal point and a second focal point. The second light-reflecting surface has a third focal point and a fourth focal point. The light-emitting structure includes a first light-emitting element and a second light-emitting element. The first light-emitting element corresponds to the first focal point. The second light-emitting element corresponds to the third focal point. The first light-emitting element generates a first light source projected onto the first light-reflecting surface to form a first reflection light source through the second focal point. The second light-emitting element generates a second light source projected onto the second light-reflecting surface to form a second reflection light source through the fourth focal point.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2017
    Inventor: Cheng Wang
  • Patent number: 9631786
    Abstract: A vehicle lamp 10 includes a projection lens 12 which is disposed on an optical axis which extends in a longitudinal direction of a vehicle, an LED 14 which emits light which is directed towards a rear focal point F of the projection lens, an LED 16 which emits light which is directed towards the rear focal point of the projection lens, and a shade 22 which can not only form a first light distribution pattern having a first cut-off line by cutting off part of light emitted from the LED 14 but also form a second light distribution pattern having a second cut-off line by cutting off part of light emitted from the LED 16. The shade 22 is disposed so that a front edge 22a thereof is positioned further rearwards than the rear focal point F.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2017
    Assignee: KOITO MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Takahiko Honda
  • Patent number: 9482401
    Abstract: A vehicular illumination lamp includes a projection lens configured to output forward, as light that is parallel with an axial line extending in a lamp front-rear direction, light emitted from a prescribed point on the axial line, and a light source disposed in the rear of the projection lens. A front surface of the projection lens is a convex free surface and a perimeter of the front surface extends approximately along a plane that is perpendicular to the axial line. A rear surface of the projection lens is a curved surface which is formed so that light emitted from the prescribed point and incident on the projection lens is output from the projection lens as light that is parallel with the axial line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2016
    Assignee: KOITO MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Takayuki Yagi
  • Patent number: 9464775
    Abstract: A lighting apparatus includes: a base that is open toward a front and includes a low beam light-distribution pattern forming component; a lens body disposed forward of the base; a first light-emitting device; and a second light-emitting device. A refractive portion is provided in a lower portion of the lens body, and a non-refractive portion is provided in an upper portion of the lens body. The first light-emitting device is disposed behind the refractive portion of the lens body, the second light-emitting device is disposed further forward than the first light-emitting device and behind the non-refractive portion of the lens body, and the low beam light-distribution pattern forming component is disposed in front of the first light-emitting device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2016
    Assignee: Panasonic Intellectual Property Management Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yoshihiko Kanayama, Makoto Kai, Hiro Aoki, Tomoyuki Ogata
  • Patent number: 9400089
    Abstract: A vehicle lighting unit can use a light guiding body, and prevent light loss due to the internal reflection of light at the light exiting surface as a result of being guided through the light guiding body. The vehicle lighting unit can include: a light source; a projection lens; and a light guiding body to collect light from the light source near a rear side focal point of the projection lens so as to guide the light to the projection lens. The light guiding body can include a first optical surface that can serve as a light exiting surface through which the light from the light source guided through the light guiding body can exit. The projection lens can include the first optical surface, a second optical surface, and a third optical surface, and be configured to have the rear side focal point located behind the first optical surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 26, 2016
    Assignee: STANLEY ELECTRIC CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Yoshiaki Nakaya
  • Patent number: 9303837
    Abstract: A vehicular lamp has a light-emitting element facing a forward direction of the lamp, and a translucent member that covers the light-emitting element from a front side. The translucent member has a center region located forward of the light-emitting element that serves as a lens-like direct light control portion. The translucent member has a peripheral region surrounding the center region that serves as a reflecting light control portion in which light emitted from the light-emitting element and incident on the translucent member is internally reflected forward by a rear surface of the translucent member and emitted forward from a front surface of the translucent member. The direct light control portion is configured such that light emitted from the direct light control portion has a light intensity distribution in which light intensity is highest in a direction at a first required angle from the forward direction of the lamp.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2016
    Assignee: KOITO MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Tomoyuki Watanabe
  • Patent number: 9255689
    Abstract: A light source module includes a light source and an optical lens facing the light source. The optical lens includes a light incident face facing the light source, a light emitting face opposite to the light incident face, and a connecting face connecting the light incident face and the light emitting face. The connecting face is planar. The light emitting face includes a lateral face extending upwardly from an outer periphery of the connecting face and a top face located above the light incident face. The optical lens further includes a plurality of protrusions protruding outwardly from the light emitting face, and a plurality of grooves defining in the connecting face. The protrusions are formed on the lateral face and located adjacent to the connecting face, and the grooves are located adjacent to the lateral face.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 9, 2016
    Assignee: HON HAI PRECISION INDUSTRY CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Li-Ying Wang He
  • Patent number: 9227554
    Abstract: A vehicular lamp includes a lamp body having an opening opened in the front side of the lamp; a cover that covers the opening; an irradiation unit mounted inside a lamp chamber formed by the lamp body and the cover, and configured to irradiate light emitted from a light source to the front side of the lamp; a rotation mechanism provided with a shaft portion installed on one of the irradiation unit and the lamp body and extending in a horizontal direction, and a bearing portion installed on the other and configured to support the shaft portion, the rotation mechanism being configured to enable the irradiation unit to rotate about a horizontal axis with regard to the lamp body; and a positioning mechanism configured to position the irradiation unit at a predetermined position within a range of possible rotation about the horizontal axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2016
    Assignee: Koito Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kiyoshi Sazuka, Yasuyuki Kato
  • Patent number: 9121589
    Abstract: A projector is provided. The projector comprising a projector housing in which there are arranged an illuminant holder, for holding an illuminant, a reflector that reflects the light beams emitted by the illuminant to a light exit opening of the projector housing that is covered by a transparent disk, and a convective cooling device, partially enclosing the illuminant, that produces a convection flow for dissipating the heat output by the illuminant and has a number of cooling fins combined into cooling fin packs. The cooling fins are aligned parallel to the radiating direction of the projector, and the cooling fin packs are arranged above and below the illuminant in the direction of gravity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 1, 2015
    Assignee: Arnold & Richter Cine Technik GmbH & Co. Betriebs KG
    Inventor: Erwin Melzner
  • Patent number: 9074746
    Abstract: A rear combination lamp for a vehicle is disclosed, in which facets on a reflective surface impart relatively large angular deviations to their respective reflected beams. Reflected light from each facet is only visible over a particular angular range. The angular ranges for all facets overlap only in a predetermined manner, so that at a given viewing angle, light from only particular facets is visible. The appearance of the rear combination lamp varies as a function of viewing direction. As a viewing angle changes, light from certain facets becomes visible, and light from other facets becomes invisible. This changing subset of which facet reflections are visible produces a sparkling or twinkling effect from the rear combination lamp. In some designs, the sparkling can take on a pattern that moves across the rear combination lamp, as the viewing angle changes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2015
    Assignee: OSRAM SYLVANIA Inc.
    Inventors: Lawrence M. Rice, Sharon L. Ernest
  • Patent number: 9039259
    Abstract: A lighting module comprising at least one first lighting device and one second lighting device; the first lighting device comprises a support common to at least one first light emitter generating a first light strip and at least one second light emitter generating a second light strip. The first light emitter is arranged relative to second light emitter so as to generate a zone that is unlit by the first lighting device between the first light strip and the second light strip. The at least one second lighting device generates at least one third light strip that extends in the zone that is unlit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2015
    Assignee: Valeo Vision
    Inventors: Pierre Albou, Benoit Reiss, Vanesa Sanchez
  • Patent number: 8992060
    Abstract: One embodiment of a vehicle lamp assembly may include a housing, which includes a pair of opposing reflective surfaces defining a chamber therebetween. The assembly may further have a single light emitting diode (LED) disposed within the chamber and a lens carried by the housing. At least one of the reflective surfaces may have a grain pattern configured to interact the light emitted from the single LED with the housing in a range between one and five times before the housing directs the light through the lens.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Mahendra Somasara Dassanayake, Arun Kumar, Martin Witte
  • Patent number: 8992059
    Abstract: A vehicle lighting device includes first and second light sources and a light guide lens that is elongate and extending along a direction oblique to a front-back direction of a vehicle. The first light source faces with a back end portion of the lens in a longitudinal direction of the lens. The second light source is arranged close to a front end portion of the lens in the longitudinal direction to emit light toward a back surface of the lens. The lens has a plurality of cut portions in the back surface. The cut portions are arranged parallel with each other in the longitudinal direction, internally reflect the light emitted from the first light source and enters the lens through the back end portion to a forward direction of the vehicle, and refract the light emitted from the second light source and enters the lens to the forward direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignee: Stanley Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Koji Sato
  • Publication number: 20150062948
    Abstract: A vehicular lamp unit has a substrate, a light source having a first light-emitting element and a second light-emitting element disposed on the substrate, and an optical element having the light source attached thereto. The substrate is long in a first direction. The optical element radiates emitted light of the first and second light-emitting elements toward a front of the vehicular lamp unit, with a desired light distribution. A reference portion serving as a positioning reference for the optical element is provided in a part of the substrate. The first and second light-emitting elements are arranged in the first direction. The first light-emitting element illuminates an area having high light intensity of the light distribution. The second light-emitting element illuminates an area having low light intensity of the light distribution. The first light-emitting element is mounted at a position closer to the reference portion in the first direction than the second light-emitting element.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 5, 2014
    Publication date: March 5, 2015
    Inventor: Takayuki Otsubo
  • Patent number: 8956027
    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: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2015
    Assignee: Koito Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Hiroyuki Ishida
  • Patent number: 8920011
    Abstract: The present invention is provided with a semiconductor-type light source 2 and a reflector 3. The reflector 3 has reflection surfaces 31U to 31D. The semiconductor-type light source 2 is disposed at or near a reference focal point F of the reflection surfaces 31U to 31D. The reflection surfaces 31U to 31D are divided into upper and lower sides in a direction in which light is to be radiated from the semiconductor-type light source 2, with respect to an X axis passing through a center O of the semiconductor light source 2 or its proximity. Among the upper and lower reflection surfaces, on the upper side, convergent scattering reflection surfaces 31U to 34U are disposed, and on the lower side, divergent scattering reflection surfaces 31D to 34D are disposed. As a result, the present invention is capable of forming an approximately ideal light distribution pattern HPA for high beam.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2014
    Assignee: Ichikoh Industries, Ltd.
    Inventor: Yasuhiro Okubo
  • Patent number: 8920010
    Abstract: An automotive headlamp (12) having first and second solid-state light sources (44, 46) and a reflector (26) having a light collecting region (28) and an aperture (40) defined therein. The light collecting region (28) of the reflector (26) is adapted to receive and reflect light emitted by the first solid-state light source (44) in a first illumination pattern. The second solid-state light source (46) is adapted to emit light through the aperture (40) in a second illumination pattern.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2014
    Assignee: Osram Sylvania Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas Tessnow, Jonathan Dunlap, Lawrence M. Rice
  • Patent number: 8905576
    Abstract: Certain disclosed embodiments use two substantially hemispherical illumination sources, mounted on a mount that allows the illumination sources to illuminate both sides of the reflector, allowing both halves of the reflector, with 2 pi rotation, to be used for generating the lighting distribution. This system and method both increases the amount of light collected and increases the efficiency of the illumination source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2014
    Assignee: Grote Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Albert J. Bolander, Jr., Brian K. Norris
  • Patent number: 8894258
    Abstract: An LED optical assembly for automotive low-beam headlamps, including: a lens, a lens frame, a light source frame assembly, and an LED light source. The lens includes a main lens and a plurality of reflectors. The main lens is located in the front of the LED optical assembly and the reflectors are scattered therearound. At one side of the main lens, four sets of the reflectors, which are symmetrical in shape, are respectively disposed at the left part and the right part thereof, and in a back of the main lens, six sets of the reflectors, which are symmetrical in shape, are respectively disposed at the left part and the right part thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2014
    Assignee: Tianjin Foncol Science & Technology Development Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Xinghua Cheng
  • Publication number: 20140340924
    Abstract: A vehicular lamp includes: a projection lens; a light source arranged to a rear of a rear side focal point of the projection lens; a reflector that reflects light from the light source toward the projection lens; a cut-off forming member arranged between the light source and the projection lens; a first sub-reflector that is arranged in front of the reflector and reflects the light from the light source rearward; and a second sub-reflector that is arranged to the rear of the rear side focal point and reflects reflected light from the first sub-reflector toward the projection lens.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 16, 2014
    Publication date: November 20, 2014
    Applicant: KOITO MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Akinori MATSUMOTO