Plural Separate Sections With Complex Surfaces Patents (Class 362/518)
  • Publication number: 20080180967
    Abstract: A lighting device for a vehicle includes: a light source; a light guide member that has a light-introducing part provided in a back surface side through which the light of the light source is introduced and finally emits the light from a front surface side; a part near the light-introducing part being thicker than an edge part of the light guide member, a plurality of reflecting parts and connecting parts being alternately formed continuously toward a direction separate from the light-introducing part in the back surface side, the reflecting parts respectively reflecting on interfaces the introduced light reaching there to form the light in the direction of the front surface of the light guide member; and a housing that is connected to a position between the edge part of the back surface of the light guide member and the light-introducing part and attached to the back surface side of the light guide member to house the light source.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 10, 2007
    Publication date: July 31, 2008
    Applicant: TOYODA GOSEI CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Chiharu Totani, Akihiro Misawa, Tatsuya Oba, Tetsuya Arakawa
  • Publication number: 20080175015
    Abstract: A light source or signaling module for the emission of an illuminating or signaling beam along a main direction, of the type including a light source, a luminous flux recovery mirror made up of a set of reflecting tiles, each reflecting tile being formed of a conical segment with two focal points, the first of which is located on the light source and a second focal point which is located, with respect to the reflecting tile, in a direction parallel to the main direction, each reflecting tile forming an image of the light source. The parameters of the conical segments with two focal points made up of the reflecting tiles are adjusted to confer upon the second focal points pre-determined photometric characteristics, and the images from the light source are directly visible.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 15, 2008
    Publication date: July 24, 2008
    Applicant: VALEO VISION
    Inventors: Whilk Goncalves, Otavio Henrique Reis
  • Patent number: 7401959
    Abstract: A turn signal lamp for a vehicle is provided having an improved appearance. In a front blinker including a lamp housing, an LED provided on the lamp housing, a reflector for reflecting light from the LED, and a lens fitted into an opening of the lamp housing, a reflector has a concave curved surface which functions as a reflecting surface and the LED is located in an area invisible from a direction in which light is reflected by the curved surface so that the LED is invisible through the lens from outside the front blinker.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2008
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Satoshi Kogo, Hayato Ohashi
  • Publication number: 20080170408
    Abstract: A vehicle headlamp includes a reflector configured to forward reflect light from a segment light source extending in a vehicle width direction such that a light distribution pattern is formed that has a cut-off line at an upper end thereof. The segment light source is arranged such that a first predetermined point located at a front end edge of the segment light source at end edges thereof in right and left directions in a plan view of the vehicle headlamp is located on a first reference axis extending in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle. A reflecting surface of the reflector is split into a plurality of reflection regions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 14, 2008
    Publication date: July 17, 2008
    Applicant: KOITO MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Hidetada Tanaka
  • Patent number: 7393126
    Abstract: A headlamp for vehicle use is provided with: a light source bulb having a light source from which light is emergent; a reflector for reflecting light emergent from the light source; a sub-reflector for reflecting light, which has been reflected on the reflector, to the front side; and a projection lens for directly projecting light of the light source to the front side. These components are arranged in a light chamber composed of a lamp body and a lens cover.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2008
    Assignee: Koito Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Masahito Naganawa, Takehiko Tajima
  • Patent number: 7387416
    Abstract: An illumination lamp including a projection lens 12 and primary and secondary light source units 14, 16 are disposed rearwards of a projection lens 12 disposed on an optical axis Ax, which extends in a longitudinal direction of a lamp. The primary light source unit 14 includes a primary reflector 34 and an upwardly oriented reflecting surface 36a which extends rearwards from the rear focal point F of the projection lens 12. The secondary light source unit 16 includes a secondary reflector 44 that reflects light upwards so as to be caused to substantially converge on a location lying near the rear focal point F on a downwardly oriented reflecting surface 46a, which extends obliquely downwards from a front end edge of the upwardly oriented reflecting surface 36a towards a rear of the lamp.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 17, 2008
    Assignee: Koito Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Michio Tsukamoto, Hiroyuki Ishida, Kiyoshi Sazuka, Masashi Tatsukawa
  • Publication number: 20080112180
    Abstract: A lighting unit is provided with a cutoff line forming member disposed between a projection lens and a first light source and having a tip edge positioned in a vicinity of a rear focal point of the projection lens. The cutoff line forming member is capable of shielding a part of a light reflected by a reflector, thereby forming a cutoff line of a light distribution pattern for a low beam. An additional reflector is capable of collecting a light emitted from a second light source in a vicinity of the rear focal point of the projection lens. The light emitted from the second light source is collected in the vicinity of the rear focal point of the projection lens in a state in which the tip edge of the cutoff line forming member and the rear focal point of the projection lens are relatively separated from each other, and a light distribution pattern for a high beam is thus formed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 9, 2007
    Publication date: May 15, 2008
    Applicant: KOITO MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Noriko Okada
  • Patent number: 7347600
    Abstract: A lighting module for a vehicle headlight for producing a lighting beam of the type having a cut-off. The module is adapted for use with light emitting diodes and has a first reflector including an elliptical surface for reflecting light rays. The lighting module includes a second reflector for producing a first portion of the cut-off beam that passes through a second focus of the first reflector. The lighting module also includes a third reflector for producing a second portion of the cut-off beam, the optical axis of which passes through the second focus of the reflector. The lighting module further includes a bender, or fourth reflector, having a cut-off edge arranged between the second reflector and the third reflector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2008
    Assignee: Valeo Vision
    Inventor: Pierre Albou
  • Publication number: 20080055918
    Abstract: A vehicular lamp assembly, such as a headlight, can be configured for attachment to a vehicle for providing illumination about the exterior of a vehicle. The lamp assembly can include a light source configured to emit light during use, a lens, first and second reflectors, and an actuator assembly. The first and second reflectors can be positioned to reflect light emitted from the light source through the lens and can be moveable with respect to the light source. The actuator assembly can be configured to move the first and second reflectors with respect to the light source in response to at least one control signal. The lamp assembly can be configured such that, during use, the first and second reflectors are positioned to reflect light from the light source through the lens. A vehicle including a control system and a headlight having multiple moveable reflectors is also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 31, 2006
    Publication date: March 6, 2008
    Inventor: Anthony Peter Mascadri
  • Patent number: 7334926
    Abstract: A vehicle headlamp, for projecting light forward along an optical axis extending in a longitudinal direction of the vehicle, is provided with a light source, a first main reflector, a second main reflector, a shade, and a projection lens. The light source emits light. The first main reflector is arranged above the light source and reflects the light emitted from the light source toward the optical axis. The second main reflector is arranged below the light source and reflects the light emitted from the light source toward a direction different from the optical axis. The shade cuts a part of the light reflected by the first main reflector to form a cut-of line. The projection lens is arranged in front of the first main reflector and forward projects the light having passed the shade.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2008
    Assignee: Koito Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Kenichi Takada
  • Patent number: 7322727
    Abstract: The invention relates to an illumination comprised of an illumination source of electromagnetic radiation and a multi-part reflector (10) to route and focus the electromagnetic illumination, whereby the function of the separation (Y) from the angle (?) across at least partial areas of the reflector (10) is not a constant function.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2008
    Assignee: Automotive Lighting Reutlinger GmbH
    Inventors: Martin Lampen, Hermann Kellermann
  • Patent number: 7303316
    Abstract: A car lamp includes a lamp shell, a reflecting shade ahead of the lamp shell, a bulb on the reflecting shell, a set-off member ahead of the reflecting shade, and a pervious-to-light lamp cover secured ahead of the set-off member; the reflecting shade has several reflecting surfaces; the set-off member has a pervious-to-light cover on a middle portion, several concave portions around the pervious-to-light cover, through holes respectively connected to rear ends of the concave portions and faced with the reflecting surfaces of the reflecting shade; the set-off member further has several reflecting surfaces on each of inner sides of the concave portions, and several pervious-to-light plates respectively fitted in the through holes thereof; therefore, when the bulb shines, the whole car lamp will look like it has several light emitting diodes shining therein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2007
    Inventor: Mei-Chen Liu
  • Patent number: 7303807
    Abstract: A lighting unit cover including a deep color (first) resin layer subject to preblanking is laminated and molded in a predetermined position on a backside of a light color (second) resin layer on a surface side subject to postblanking. The second layer protrudes toward the first layer side and a boundary surface between the first and second layers and is offset by a distance toward the first layer side in a laminated portion. The first layer contacts the melted second resin and is subject to postblanking so that a part thereof is molten and drawn by its flow. A step portion in a cavity corresponding to a protruded portion of the second layer toward the first layer side blocks the flow of the molten first resin into the second layer. The first resin is not mixed into the first layer, resulting in excellent appearance and a large light emitting area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2007
    Assignee: Koito Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Toshimasa Ikeda, Masami Nakajima
  • Patent number: 7281833
    Abstract: A vehicle lamp includes a set of alternatively provided first and second reflection surfaces that reflect the light emitted by a first and second respective diodes toward a lamp lens. Each of the first and second reflection surface is a part of a rotational paraboloid having a focus on a light emission source of a respective one of the first and second diodes such that the paraboloids corresponding to reflection surfaces that are farther from the their respective diodes have longer focal lengths.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2007
    Assignee: Ichikoh Industries, Ltd.
    Inventor: Kiyohiro Akiyama
  • Patent number: 7281824
    Abstract: A luminaire has a concave reflector with an optical center on an optical main axis in an optical main plane. A screen extends along the optical main axis to a light emission window. The reflector has a first faceted reflector portion at a first side of the optical main plane, the optical center being its focus and the optical main axis being its axis. A second faceted reflector portion is present at a second side of the optical main plane, having a secondary axis passing through and a focus lying in the optical center. The secondary axis is tilted with respect to the main axis through acute angles in the main plane as well as out of the plane. The luminaire produces a screened-off light beam which is horizontally and vertically asymmetrical, which makes the luminaire suitable for an illumination of highways in a counter-traffic direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2007
    Assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electronics, N.V.
    Inventors: Hendrik Wijbenga, Jean Paul Entrop
  • Patent number: 7281829
    Abstract: A main reflector has a main reflection-surface based on an ellipsoid of revolution. A light source is arranged substantially at a first focal-point of the main reflection-surface. A shade arranged substantially at a second focal-point of the main reflection-surface cuts off a part of reflected light from the main reflection-surface to form a predetermined main light-distribution-pattern. A projection lens projects the main light-distribution-pattern ahead of a vehicle. A sub reflector reflects a light from the light source to irradiate the light on outer sides of the main light-distribution-pattern as a predetermined sub-light distribution pattern.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2007
    Assignee: Ichikoh Industries, Ltd.
    Inventor: Eiji Suzuki
  • Patent number: 7275846
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is an adaptive head light assembly, comprising a parabolic reflector for housing a filament assembly; a lever arm having one end pivotably affixed to a bearing point of the parabolic reflector; an actuator in operative communication with the other end of the lever arm to actuate motion of the lever arm, wherein the actuator comprises a shape memory material adapted to change a shape orientation or modulus property upon receipt of an activation signal; and a spring in operative communication with the other end of the lever arm and adapted to provide a restoring force.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2007
    Assignee: General Motors Corporation
    Inventors: Alan L. Browne, Jan H. Aase, Nancy L. Johnson, Andrew C. Keefe
  • Patent number: 7273303
    Abstract: A two-wheel vehicle headlamp including a lamp body having a concave portion that is opened toward the front, a translucent cover that covers the front open portion of the lamp body, and a reflector which is installed inside the concave portion of the lamp body and to which light sources are attached. The headlamp further includes a light transmitting member provided along the peripheral edge portion of die reflector and between the open edge portion of the lamp body and the peripheral edge portion of the reflector, a position bulb provided in the lamp body, and a reflective portion formed in an area that substantially faces, from behind, the light transmitting member of the lamp body. Wit this structure, light of the position bulb is reflected by the reflective portion, transmitted through the light transmitting member, and radiated forward to illuminate the entire light transmitting member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2007
    Assignee: Koito Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Shinichi Mochizuki
  • Patent number: 7270453
    Abstract: A molded plastic lamp component includes, in an exemplary embodiment, a first portion formed from a first material having a first heat distortion temperature, and a second portion formed from a second material having a second heat distortion temperature. The first heat distortion temperature is higher than the second heat distortion temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2007
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: James R. Wilson, Peter Zuber
  • Patent number: 7270449
    Abstract: Systems, methods and devices for lighting are provided with a reflector with paraboloidal segments. One lighting system includes a reflector having one or more reflector segments. Each reflector segment is substantially paraboloidal and has a central axis of syrmetry. The lighting system also includes an illumination portion having one or more light sources. Each light source corresponds to one of the reflector segments and has a central illumination axis. The central illumination axis is directed toward the corresponding segment and substantially perpendicular to the central axis of symmetry of the corresponding segment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2007
    Inventor: Alan Uke
  • Patent number: 7261439
    Abstract: The invention relates to a road illumination system for forming a low beam in traffic applications comprising a light source and a reflecting surface formed by a multiplicity of reflector segments arranged around a central optical axis. According to the invention, the light source emits light over an angle of at most 180° in a direction facing away from the intersection of the central optical axis and the reflecting surface and the reflector segments are parabolically-shaped and have a segment optical axis parallel to the central optical axis, while the reflector segments are positioned such that the segment optical axis substantially intersects with an edge of the light source. Preferably, the illumination system is provided on poles (5, 5?, . . . ) or on a crash barrier adjacent the traffic lanes 1. Alternatively, the illumination system is a vehicle headlamp. Preferably, the light source (13) is a (white) lightemitting diode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2007
    Assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electronics, N.V.
    Inventors: Joseph Ludovicus Antonius Maria Sormani, Johannes Petrus Maria Ansems, Leonardus Urbanus Emile Konings
  • Patent number: 7261449
    Abstract: A lighting module able to give a light beam with cut-off line for a motor vehicle headlight, comprising a light source, a reflector, a dioptre serving as an exit lens or an exit lens, and a reflective folder. The light source is combined with a collimator in order to give a beam that can be assimilated to a parallel beam, substantially orthogonal to an exit plane of the collimator. The reflector and the dioptre or lens may be combined in a single piece made from transparent material, and the surface of the reflector and that of the folder means work in total reflection according to an air/transparent material interface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2007
    Assignee: Valeo Vision
    Inventor: Pierre Albou
  • Patent number: 7258473
    Abstract: A vehicle lamp can include a first light source located almost at the center of an emission region, and a transparent cover lens arranged to cover the front in the direction of illumination from the first light source. A central reflective portion of the cover lens can be located in front of the first light source to receive light from the first light source and reflect it toward the entire circumference in a direction almost perpendicular to the direction of illumination. A diametrical outer reflective portion can be located at the rim of the cover lens to receive the light from the first light source and reflect it along the direction of illumination for radial emission. The central reflective portion and the outer reflective portion of the cover lens can be integrated with a joint portion of the same material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2007
    Assignee: Stanley Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Takeaki Okamura, Asaki Ichikawa
  • Patent number: 7252420
    Abstract: The object of the invention is a lighting device for a motor vehicle, comprising a first light source focused on a first reflective zone and a second light source focused on second reflective zone. The first light source is able to emit light both in the direction of the first reflective zone and part of the second reflective zone, the light coming from the light source and reflected by the two reflective zones corresponding to a DRL daylight light beam.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2007
    Assignee: Valeo Vision
    Inventors: Etienne Pauty, Jean-Paul Ravier, Patrice Collot, Claude Penn
  • Patent number: 7249877
    Abstract: A reflector lamp assembly may be formed with a reflector housing having a reflector with a prescribed reflective surface; the reflector formed with a wall defining a through passage. A lamp bulb assembly having an axially extending stem supports a head extending transverse to the axis, the head having a first generally linearly extending region, a first set of LEDs mounted generally in a row along the region oriented to face in one plane towards a reflector. Electrical connections for the LEDs extend through the head, and stem to the exterior of the assembly for electrical connection. A base extends in the through passage and is mechanically mounted to the optical housing with the LED assembly oriented to face the reflective surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2007
    Assignee: Osram Sylvania Inc.
    Inventors: Ralph J. Johnson, Paul R. Lyman
  • Patent number: 7241036
    Abstract: A tail light structure having a light-emitting body and a reflector member for reflecting light from the light-emitting body for external illumination. The reflector member has a lower reflecting surface for receiving maximum external light and an upper reflecting surface and left and right reflecting surfaces, and the lower reflecting surface having a lower reflectance than the upper reflecting surface and the left and right reflecting surfaces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2007
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Toru Miyagawa, Koichi Hikichi, Koichi Shimamura
  • Patent number: 7223000
    Abstract: Light emitted from the light source, which is disposed above an optical axis extending in front and rear direction of a vehicle lighting device, is reflected toward front of the vehicle lighting device by a reflector made of a transmissive member. An exterior surface of the reflector is formed with a plurality of protruding portions extending in a radial pattern with respect to the optical axis. Each of the protruding portions has a total reflection prism having a cross sectional shape perpendicular to the optical axis, which is approximately a V shape. The reflector is divided into twelve fan-shaped reflective regions, each having three protruding portions. The fan-shaped reflective regions, which are located in the left and right directions of the optical axis, reflect the light emitted from the light source in the direction more deviating from a direction along the optical axis than the fan-shaped reflective regions, which are located at the upper and lower directions of the optical axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2007
    Assignee: Koito Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Satoshi Yamamura
  • Patent number: 7216065
    Abstract: A reflecting surface design system (50) has (1) first rendering means (54) for displaying a free-form surface (20) on which a plurality of segments (24), each of which is defined by a plurality of vertices (251 to 254), are formed, (2) reflection information specifying means (56) for specifying the vertex position and light reflecting direction for each of the plurality of vertices (251 to 254) that define one of the plurality of segments (24), and (3) surface calculation means (58) for calculating a surface (S) to be assigned to the one segment (24) on the basis of the vertex positions and light reflecting directions specified for the plurality of vertices (251 to 254) that define one segment (24), and the light source position, which is specified in advance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2007
    Assignee: Koito Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kazunori Natsume, Masahiro Maeda
  • Patent number: 7207705
    Abstract: A vehicle illumination lamp having a light-emitting element including an optical axis, a first reflection surface, a second reflection surface, and a third reflection surface. The third reflecting surface is formed on a plane intersecting the optical axis in such a manner as to include a first focal point and a second focal point of the first reflecting surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2007
    Assignee: Koito Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Hiroyuki Ishida
  • Patent number: 7188982
    Abstract: The projector type vehicle headlamp includes a light source, a reflector including a reflection surface for reflecting light from the light source, and a condenser lens that irradiates reflected light from the reflection surface forwards. The reflection surface includes a plurality of segments, and is formed of a free-form surface obtained by deforming a reference ellipsoid of revolution. The light source is arranged between a first focal point of the reference ellipsoid of revolution and the condenser lens, closer to the first focal point than to the condenser lens. Segments forming one end and other end portions of a light distribution pattern includes a wide area-illuminating reflection surface that makes the one end and the other end portions substantially a rectangular shape, where the other end portion is opposite to the one end portion with respect to a center of the light distribution pattern.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2007
    Assignee: Ichikoh Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Yoshiki Kato, Tatsuya Hoshi
  • Patent number: 7188980
    Abstract: To provide a head light system comprising first and second bulbs, wherein a coupler can be attached and detached smoothly and the appearance can be made favorable. A first movable-side coupler and a second movable-side coupler are attached to and detached from a first fixed-side coupler for a first bulb and a second fixed-side coupler for a second bulb, respectively. The first fixed-side coupler and the second fixed-side coupler are disposed substantially in the same plane. The attaching and detaching directions of the first and second movable-side couplers are substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal directions of the first bulb and the second bulb. The first fixed-side coupler is so disposed that the second fixed-side coupler is not located in the attaching and detaching direction of the first movable-side coupler attached to and detached from the first fixed-side coupler.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2007
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yukimi Ase, Shigeru Kodaira, Tetsuya Kondo
  • Patent number: 7188984
    Abstract: An LED headlamp array having discrete LED light source modules, where each light source module has an LED light source, optics dedicated to each LED light source, and a faceted reflector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2007
    Assignee: Visteon Global Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Edwin Mitchell Sayers, Jeffrey Erion, Rainer Neumann, Jeyachandrabose Chinniah, Leonard Livschitz, Scott West
  • Patent number: 7186009
    Abstract: A light source bulb is fixedly inserted into a lateral direction to the optical axis Ax at a position below an optical axis Ax. Accordingly, a region lateral to the optical axis Ax on a reflection surface of the reflector can be effectively utilized for light distribution control. Furthermore, a first additional reflector having a reflection surface of substantially-spheroidal shape whose first focal point is at a position coincident with the light source is disposed at a position above the optical axis Ax. A second additional reflector 36 having a reflection surface of a substantially-parabolic vertical cross-sectional profile whose focal point is coincident with a second focal point of the first additional reflector is disposed at a position below the optical axis. As a result, light from the light source is illuminated forward without passing through a projection lens.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2007
    Assignee: Koito Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Satoshi Yamamura, Hidetada Tanaka, Michio Tsukamoto, Noriko Okada
  • Patent number: 7178960
    Abstract: A vehicular illumination lamp, including four light emitting devices 12 which are disposed in such a manner as to spread about a predetermined point A as a center, a reflector 14 having four reflecting surfaces 14a that are made up of ellipsoids of revolution Er1, which take light emitting centers of the respective light emitting devices 12 and the predetermined point A as primary focal points and secondary focal points thereof, respectively, and a light distribution control member 16, which controls the light distribution of light from the respective light emitting devices 12 that is reflected on the reflector 14 so as to cause the light so controlled to traverse to a front of the lamp, whereby light emitted from the respective light emitting devices 12 is made first to be reflected on the respective reflecting surfaces 14a and is then caused to converge on the predetermined point A.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2007
    Assignee: Koito Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Hiroyuki Ishida
  • Patent number: 7165872
    Abstract: A headlamp includes a sub-reflector between a main reflector and a projection lens. The sub-reflector has a sub-reflection surface in a form of a paraboloid of revolution. The sub-reflector is movable between a low-beam posture and a high-beam posture. The sub-reflector forms a diffused light distribution pattern superposes the pattern on a low-beam light distribution pattern produced by the main reflector when the sub-reflector is in the low-beam posture and forms a condensed light distribution pattern and superposes the pattern on a high-beam light distribution pattern formed by the main reflector when the sub-reflector is in the high-beam posture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2007
    Assignee: Ichikoh Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Eiji Suzuki, Yasuhiro Ohkubo
  • Patent number: 7150551
    Abstract: A reflector for a vehicle headlight is described, capable of illuminating the surrounding space according to a predetermined light distribution. The reflector is formed of a plurality of sectors capable of reflecting the light beam emitted by a light source of the headlight and directing it into predetermined regions of said light distribution. The major part of the sectors of the reflector is delimited at least in part by an edge in which the divergence value of the light beam reflected at said edge portions is constant. The sectors delimited by edge portions having lower values of the angle of spread are arranged to direct the light beam reflected thereby into the regions of the light distribution having a higher spatial gradient of illuminance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2006
    Assignee: C.R.F. Societa Consortile per Azioni
    Inventors: Davide Capello, Piermario Repetto, Pietro Perlo
  • Patent number: 7136784
    Abstract: There are provided a method of evaluating the reflection performance of a reflecting mirror designed for a vehicle lamp, an evaluation system, and a computer-readable storage medium. There are provided steps (108a) and (108b) in the method. The step (108a) is provided so as to enter design information representative of a plurality of reflecting basic surfaces as well as position information of a light source in a vehicle lamp. The step (108b) is provided so as to display attribute information with respect to each of a plurality of areas into which one reflecting basic surface selected from among the reflecting basic surfaces is divided on the basis of design information. The attribute information indicates whether imaginary light from the light source position can effectively reach each area, and is applied to a reflecting mirror composed of the plurality of reflecting basic surfaces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2006
    Assignee: Koito Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Masahiro Maeda
  • Patent number: 7130137
    Abstract: The method of designing a reflective surface of a reflector in a vehicle lamp according to the present invention comprise (1) a segment creating step of sectioning a free curved surface and creating a plurality of segments having a plurality of vertexes, and (2) a curved surface generating step of deciding the light reflecting direction at each one of the plurality of vertexes, and generating curved surfaces to be assigned to the segments based on the reflecting direction for each one of the plurality of segments. The present invention provides a method of designing a reflective surface of a reflector in a vehicle lamp whereby the controllability of the luminous intensity distribution pattern is improved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2002
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2006
    Assignee: Koito Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Kazunori Natsume
  • Patent number: 7108412
    Abstract: A vehicle headlamp structure includes a light distribution pattern having a horizontal cutoff line formed by a first reflecting optical system. The structure includes a first light source including a light emitting diode in which a rectangular light emitting chip is covered with a hemispherical mold lens, and a first reflector for reflecting a light emitted from the first light source toward a front part of a lighting unit. In that case, the first light source is provided in such a manner that the light emitting chip is turned in a horizontal direction with one side of the light emitting chip set horizontally. The horizontal cutoff line is formed by selectively utilizing a light emitted from the first light source and reflected by the first reflector, which is reflected in a reflecting region Za positioned in an almost front direction of the light emitting chip.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2006
    Assignee: Koito Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Ishida, Kiyoshi Sazuka
  • Patent number: 7101062
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a headlight device comprising in particular a light source, a mirror exhibiting a reflecting surface and a transparent optical deflection element positioned in front of the mirror, the mirror being capable of interacting with the light source in order to generate a beam bounded by a line of interruption, and the deflection element being capable of providing a horizontal displacement of the light without modifying the vertical distribution of the latter, and at least one detachment element arranged on at least one of the surfaces of the mirror or of the optical deflection element reached by the light to obtain a line of interruption of the light beam that is not flat.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2006
    Assignee: Valeo Vision
    Inventors: Pierre Albou, Stephanie Figuiere
  • Patent number: 7097336
    Abstract: An auxiliary light ring device for a vehicular light includes a light collective ring, a secondary reflecting cover and a plurality of emitting objects. The light collective ring is secured around the vehicular light. The secondary reflecting cover is secured to the inner wall of the light collective ring and comprises a plurality of arc-shaped reflecting bowls. Each reflecting bowl receives an emitting object therein. The light from the emitting objects is reflected by the reflecting bowls and collected by the light collective ring to enhance the light emission.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2006
    Inventor: Yu-Chu Lin
  • Patent number: 7090383
    Abstract: The shape of a reflector is to be made conspicuous to improve the appearance of a headlamp assembly. A headlamp assembly includes electric bulbs, a reflector, a lens and a case. Between the reflector and the case are formed gaps which result from a difference in shape between the reflector and the case. Blindfold portions are formed integrally with the reflector for filling the gaps. The blindfold members are provided with reflecting surfaces which project a black portion of the ground or of an inner surface of the case. With the reflecting surfaces of the blindfold members, a contrast is created between the blindfold member and reflecting surfaces of the reflector to make the reflecting surface shape of the reflector conspicuous.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2006
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tetsuya Kondo, Shigeru Kodaira, Yukimi Ase, Kenichiro Kuboshima
  • Patent number: 7080929
    Abstract: A lamp unit (23) mounted above a front fender (7) for a wheel (6) of a motorcycle includes left and right head lamps (23a, 23b), a single lens member (23d) positioned forwardly of and covering the head lamps (23a, 23b), and a mirror finished body (29) positioned rearwardly of the lens member (23d). The mirror finished body (29) includes a first mirror surface area (29a) aligned with an intermediate portion of the lens member (23d) extending vertically, and left and right second mirror surface areas (29b) continued from the first mirror surface area (29a) extending horizontally along a lower edge of the lens member (23d). The mirror finished body (29) is formed to reflect an image of the fender (7) when viewed either from front or slantwise from front.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2006
    Assignee: Kawasaki Jukogyo Kabushika Kaisha
    Inventors: Takumi Uemoto, Ryota Obuki
  • Patent number: 7055998
    Abstract: A vehicular lamp including a first lamp component having a first light source and a first reflector, and a second lamp component disposed behind the first lamp component and having a second light source and a second reflector, and front sides of the first and second lamp components being covered by an outer lens; and in this vehicular lamp, the first reflector having an overlapping area that covers the front of the second reflector so that the second reflector appears to be segmented in two or more portions; and light transmission holes through which light from the second lamp component passes being formed in the overlapping area of the first reflector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2006
    Assignee: Koito Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Katsumi Mochizuki
  • Patent number: 7040787
    Abstract: The invention provides a signaling device for a motor vehicle, the signaling device being constituted by a skin of translucent material presenting an outside face to be seen from outside the vehicle when said device is mounted on the vehicle, and an inside face opposite the outside face. Projecting from its inside face, translucent skin has at least one rib made integrally with the skin and out of the same translucent material as the skin. The thickness of the rib is greater than the thickness of the translucent skin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2006
    Assignee: Compagnie Plastic Omnium
    Inventors: Maelig Pommeret, Fabien Delwal
  • Patent number: 7036967
    Abstract: A reflector of a vehicle lamp includes a main reflector, a first sub-reflector, a second sub-reflector, and a relief portion. The main reflector includes a main reflection surface that reflects light from a light source in a forward direction. The first sub-reflector includes a first sub-reflection surface that reflects the light toward the second sub-reflector. The second sub-reflector includes a second sub-reflection surface that reflects the light reflected from the first sub-reflection surface in the forward direction. The second sub-reflector is arranged closer to the center axis than the main reflector, and the first sub-reflector is arranged farther from a center axis of the light than the main reflector, inclined inward via the relief portion, so that the light reflected from the main reflection surface is not blocked.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2006
    Assignee: Ichikoh Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Hisaya Morishita, Masafumi Kobayashi
  • Patent number: 7021804
    Abstract: A lamp assembly with a multi-stage reflector is described for use with automobile lamps. A singular shield is positioned about a light source inside a housing. A first reflective surface and a second reflective surface are formed on the housing. The singular shield is moveable between a first position and a second position. In the first position, the moveable shield blocks light from striking the second reflective surface, and a main beam is projected from the lamp assembly. In the second position, the moveable shield allows light to strike both the first and second reflective surfaces, and a second beam is projected. Thus, the singular shield may be moved to switch between the main beam and the second beam, creating the ability to alter the functionality of the lamp assembly. More than two reflective surfaces and moveable positions may be used, to create a multitude of possible beam patterns.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2006
    Assignee: Guide Corporation
    Inventor: Paul D. Van Duyn
  • Patent number: 7021805
    Abstract: A translucent member is arranged so as to cause light originating from an LED light source oriented toward the front of a lamp to enter the translucent member. Outgoing LED light that has entered the translucent member is reflected rearward by a front surface, and then the light is reflected forward by a rear surface, to thereby exit forward of the lamp from the translucent member. At that time, an area on the front surface located in the vicinity of an optical axis Ax is formed as a normal reflection section subjected to reflection surface treatment. The other area of the front surface is formed as an internal reflection section which causes the outgoing LED light to undergo internal reflection. A plurality of reflection elements are formed on the rear surface of the translucent member so as to cause the outgoing LED light reflected from the front surface to enter the internal reflection section at an incidence angle which is smaller than or equal to a critical angle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2006
    Assignee: Koito Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yasuyuki Amano, Yasuo Teranishi, Hiroya Koizumi
  • Patent number: 7020368
    Abstract: An optical coupling element for use in large numerical aperture collecting and condensing systems. The optical coupling element includes a curved surface such as a lens at the output of a tapered light pipe (TLP). The TLP in combination with the curved surface alters the divergence angle and the area of the light exiting the curved surface. Electromagnetic radiation emitted by a source is collected and focused onto a target by positioning the source of electromagnetic radiation substantially at a first focal point of a primary reflector so that the primary reflector produces rays of radiation reflected from the primary reflector that converge at a second focal point of the secondary reflector. The optical coupling element is positioned so that its input end is substantially proximate with the second focal point of the secondary reflector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2006
    Assignee: Wavien, Inc.
    Inventor: Kenneth K. Li
  • Patent number: 7008079
    Abstract: A composite reflecting surface for a linear LED array incorporates a truncated circular parabolic reflector surrounding each LED and a trough axially above the circular parabolic reflectors defined between parallel longitudinal reflecting surfaces. The short circular parabolic reflectors collimate wide angle light from the LED into a direction parallel to the LED optical axis. The longitudinal reflecting surfaces are linear parabolic surfaces altered to improve the vertical spread of the light radiation pattern. Longitudinal convex ribs project inwardly from the basic linear parabolic shape. The convex shape of the ribs “sprays” the light incident upon it in a vertically spread pattern. The composite reflecting surface makes use of light from a linear array of LEDs that would otherwise be wasted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2006
    Assignee: Whelen Engineering Company, Inc.
    Inventor: Todd J. Smith