Plural Separate Sections With Complex Surfaces Patents (Class 362/522)
  • Patent number: 11745639
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a headlamp optical element comprising a light collecting part, a light emitting part and a reflecting part connected in sequence. The reflecting part comprises a low beam or high beam cutoff line structure. The end of the light collecting part comprises an outer contour surface and a concave cavity including a cambered front light incident surface and a lateral light incident surface that is curved with a smaller circumference closer to the reflecting part. The outer contour surface is curved with a larger circumference closer to the reflecting part. A lower portion of the light collecting part is provided with a region III light-shape forming structure, wherein part of light converged can be emitted from region III and under the reflecting part in sequence forming a light-shape of a low beam region III. The headlamp optical element is simple, compact, and lighter in weight.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2023
    Assignee: HASCO VISION TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: He Zhu, Zhiping Qiu, Wenhui Sang
  • Patent number: 11668449
    Abstract: A vehicle lamp includes a light source unit including a plurality of light emitting units for forming different beam patterns, and an optical unit disposed in front of the light source unit for transmitting light generated from the light source unit to form a predetermined beam pattern. The plurality of light emitting units includes a first light emitting unit for forming a first beam pattern and a second light emitting unit disposed around the first light emitting unit for forming a second beam pattern different from the first beam pattern.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2022
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2023
    Assignee: SL Corporation
    Inventors: Dong Hyun Go, Hyo Jin Han, Tae Seok Seo, Joo Jin Chang, Young Ho Son, Jun Woo Woo
  • Patent number: 11560995
    Abstract: A lamp for a vehicle including a light source configured to emit light, and a light guide body including a light entering portion, a light exiting portion, and a recessed region disposed between the light entering portion and the light exiting portion and having a shape recessed upward in a lower surface of the light guide body, in which the recessed region includes a first surface formed in a region adjacent to the light entering portion, a second surface connected to the first surface through a first connection portion and extending toward the light exiting portion, and a third surface connected to the second surface through a second connection portion and extending toward the light exiting portion, and in which the second connection portion includes a curved connection portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2023
    Assignee: HYUNDAI MOBIS CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Hyun Soo Lee
  • Patent number: 11268666
    Abstract: A light fixture includes a circuit board having a plurality of light-emitting elements, and a plurality of collimators positioned adjacent the circuit board. Each of the collimators includes a first end positioned adjacent one of the light-emitting elements, a second end, and an interior wall extending between the first end and the second end. The wall is curved to internally reflect the light output of the associated light-emitting element and focus the light through the second end and provide a light distribution. The light fixture further includes a beam controlling optic positioned adjacent the second end of the plurality of collimators to modify the light output from the plurality of collimators to provide a modified light distribution.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2022
    Assignee: Hubbell Incorporated
    Inventors: Connie Anna Steadman, Shawn Ard Wilcox
  • Patent number: 11242101
    Abstract: An equipment rack is described with an integrated lighting system. The integrated lighting system may connect to the vehicle's electrical system to provide tail light, brake light, hazard, reverse light, and turn signal functions. The lighting system may include an automatic connection for lighting attached to a rack extension when the rack extension is attached to a base rack. The lighting may also be visible on a pivoting rack when the rack is stowed or in use to carry bicycles. The lighting elements may be disposed on or inside the equipment rack and may be provided with internal wiring to connect the lights to the vehicle's electrical system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 8, 2022
    Assignee: Kuat Innovations, LLC
    Inventors: Luke Kuschmeader, Aaron Houston, Jordan Bowles, Austin Harrill
  • Patent number: 11226078
    Abstract: A vehicular lamp fitting comprising a front lens body, a rear lens unit, and a light source that emits light, which passes through the rear lens unit and the front lens body, to form a low beam light distribution pattern, wherein the rear lens unit is a lens unit configured to condense, in a first direction, the light coming from the light source, and includes a first entry surface, and a first exit surface, the front lens body is a lens unit configured to condense, in a second direction, the light coming from the rear lens unit, and includes a second entry surface, and a second exit surface, the front lens body is disposed in an attitude that is inclined, and a curvature of the first exit surface in the longitudinal section or a curvature of the second entry surface in the longitudinal section is different in each longitudinal section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 18, 2022
    Assignee: STANLEY ELECTRIC CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Shota Nishimura, Kazuma Kamioka
  • Patent number: 11217059
    Abstract: A long decorative illumination device according to one or more embodiments may include a plurality of light guide plates configured to reflect light entering therein from an end surface thereof with reflection surfaces formed in recesses thereon, and causing the light to be emitted from a light emitting surface thereof; a plurality of light sources provided corresponding to the plurality of light guide plates; and a long window part open from at least two directions of the front surface and side surfaces of the decorative illumination device; and the plurality of light guide plates is slanted with gaps therebetween, so that in the slanted state the light emitting surfaces thereof are oriented toward the window part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2022
    Assignee: OMRON Corporation
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Onitsuka, Junya Fujita, Takehiro Agata
  • Patent number: 10941918
    Abstract: A vehicle lamp assembly includes a lamp lens having a smooth surface and a contoured surface. The contoured has a first portion, a second portion and a central section that together define a linear Fresnel lens. The first portion has a plurality of first parallel grooves and projections shaped to direct light passing therethrough in predetermined directions. The second portion has a plurality of second parallel grooves and projections shaped to direct light passing therethrough in directions approximately parallel to the predetermined directions of the first portion. The central section is disposed between the first portion and the second portion and has a first section with a vertex located a first distance from the smooth surface and a second section with a vertex located a second distance away from the smooth surface. The first section and the second section are adjacent to one another.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2021
    Assignee: Nissan North America, Inc.
    Inventor: Kyle Happy
  • Patent number: 10845022
    Abstract: A light-emitting module for a motor vehicle. The light-emitting module includes a substrate including a curved main section, light-emitting elements arranged on a face of the substrate and configured to generate light rays, a curved screen arranged facing the face of the substrate and away from the face, an area of the screen being suitable for being illuminated by the light rays emitted by the light-emitting elements, the screen having scattering properties with respect to the light emitted by the light-emitting elements, each light-emitting element being arranged on the substrate in a given zone, each light-emitting element furthermore being arranged to emit the corresponding light rays in a main emission direction that is angularly offset from a local direction that is normal to the substrate in the given zone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2020
    Assignee: VALEO VISION
    Inventors: Vincent Godbillon, Franck Millon, Jean-Didier Kinfack, Lothar Seif, Natacha Audy, Lingxuan Zhu, Patrice Collot, Arnaud Abala
  • Patent number: 10641452
    Abstract: An illumination system includes a light source that is fixed to a vehicle mount structure to direct light toward ground level. A lens covers the light source and includes an outer surface with a sawtooth profile. The sawtooth profile includes a plurality of teeth that are spaced apart from each other by flat surfaces, and wherein each light is generally aligned with a flat surface between adjacent teeth.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2020
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Stuart C. Salter, David Brian Glickman, Paul Kenneth Dellock, Cornel Lewis Gardner
  • Patent number: 10598336
    Abstract: A light device for motor vehicles, especially a signal lamp, comprises a carrier housing (1), covered by a translucent cover (2), and an inner chamber (3) wherein at least one light source for generating light rays is mounted, and a transparent optical part (5) with at least one output surface for the output of at least a part of light rays from the transparent optical part. The light device further comprises at least one macrotexture (8) the surface of which consists of individual surfaces designed for transmission and/or reflection of a part of light rays, the macrotexture and the transparent optical part arranged in such a way that in a view of the inner chamber (3) towards the output surface through the translucent cover from the outside of the light device, the impression of a spatial effect is produced, which is even visible with the light source being off.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2020
    Assignee: Varroc Lighting Systems, S.R.O.
    Inventors: Patrik Hanulak, Kamil Oczko, Peter Hajduk
  • Patent number: 10563832
    Abstract: A condenser for a low-beam vehicle light module comprises light condensing structures, a cut-off line forming structure, a 50L dark area forming structure, a zone III forming structure and an SEG10 luminance reducing structure. The zone III forming structure comprises a zone III breadth forming structure and an HV luminance reducing structure. The cut-off line forming structure is disposed at a front end of the condenser. The SEG10 luminance reducing structure is disposed at the bottom of the condenser. The zone III forming structure is disposed at the bottom of the condenser and is located at a front end of the SEG10 luminance reducing structure. The 50L dark area forming structure is disposed at the bottom of the condenser and is located between the zone III forming structure and the cut-off line forming structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2020
    Assignee: H.A. AUTOMOTIVE SYSTEMS, INC.
    Inventors: He Zhu, Zhiping Qiu
  • Patent number: 10330942
    Abstract: Techniques are described for designing and manufacturing a surface that produces a desired image when illuminated by a light source. As described, the desired image may be decomposed into a collection of Gaussian kernels (referred to as Gaussians). A shape of a micropatch lens corresponding to each Gaussian may be determined, and the resulting micropatch lenses may be assembled to form a highly continuous surface that will cast an approximation of the desired image formed form the sum of a plurality of Gaussian caustics. The disclosed techniques may be used to create a design for a light-redirecting surface amenable to milling (or other manufacturing process).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2019
    Assignee: Disney Enterprises, Inc.
    Inventors: Marios Papas, Wojciech Jarosz, Wenzel A. Jakob, Szymon M. Rusinkiewicz, Wojciech Matusik, Tim A. Weyrich
  • Patent number: 10281100
    Abstract: An optical device comprising: an optical element for converting wavelength formed from a first optical medium having a first refractive index. The converter element receives an incident light beam at a first face and converts it into a converted light beam. The reflective optical element, positioned on a second face of the converter is configured to reflect the converted light beam. The optical device comprises a primary optical element formed from a second optical medium having a second refractive index substantially identical to the first refractive index. A first face of the primary optical element being positioned in proximity to the first face of the converter element, the primary optical element receives the incident light beam and transmits it to the converter. A second face of the primary optical element forms an output face for outputting the converted light beam to minimize parasitic reflections of the converted light beam off itself.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 5, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2019
    Assignee: VALEO VISION
    Inventors: Marine Courcier, Pierre Albou
  • Patent number: 10161617
    Abstract: A lighting apparatus includes: a projection lens; a light source behind the projection lens; a reflector that reflects light from the light source toward the projection lens; and a shield that blocks a portion of the light reflected by the reflector to form a cutoff line in a distribution pattern of the light. A textured section demarcated by unit regions is formed on a surface of the projection lens, and when a region in a center of the projection lens is defined as a central region, and regions left and right of the central region are defined as left and right regions, respectively, in a front view, a proportion of the unit regions in the central region is greater than a proportion of the unit regions in each of the left region and the right region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2018
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yoshihiko Kanayama, Naoki Tomoda, Hideaki Hyuga
  • Patent number: 10144339
    Abstract: A vehicle lamp device and a light cut-off structure thereof are disclosed. The light cut-off structure includes a front cut-off edge, a rear cut-off edge, and a top surface. The front cut-off edge corresponds in position to the rear cut-off edge and the top surface is connected between the front and rear cut-off edges. A portion of the top surface is inclined along an inclination direction from the front cut-off edge toward the rear cut-off edge. The portion has a predetermined inclination angle relative to a horizontal plane or a lens optical axis. The predetermined inclination angle is greater than 0 degrees and less than 30 degrees. A lighting pattern with a cut-off line is formed when at least one emitted light is selectively shielded by the front cut-off edge. Therefore, the light concentration ratio can be significantly raised.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2018
    Assignee: CHIAN YIH OPTOTECH CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Cheng Wang
  • Patent number: 9625116
    Abstract: A headlight system includes a seat, a radiator, a mounting ring, a circuit board and a lens unit. A cooling device is connected to the back of the seat and includes a housing, a fan and an external cover. The housing has a receiving area in which the fan is located. The housing defines multiple first ventilation holes which communicate with the receiving area. The external cover is connected to the housing to seal the receiving area of the housing and has multiple second ventilation holes being opposite to the first ventilation holes of the housing. The fan sends out an air current to the radiator via the ventilation holes to quickly cool down the radiator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2017
    Inventor: Chen-Wei Hsu
  • Patent number: 9488328
    Abstract: There is provided a vehicle lamp including: a light source; a lens disposed on a front side of the light source and having a front surface and a rear surface which is opposite to the front surface and faces the light source, wherein the lens has a convex lens shape, and a curvature of the rear surface is larger than that of the front surface; and a reflector disposed on a rear side of the lens and configured to reflect direct light emitted from the light source toward the lens. The vehicle lamp is configured to form a light distribution pattern by controlling a deflection of the direct light using the lens.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2016
    Assignee: KOITO MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Kazuhisa Sakashita
  • Patent number: 9341336
    Abstract: A vehicle headlamp has a first light source disposed on a first optical axis that extends in a front-to-rear direction of a vehicle, a first lens that projects light emitted from the first light source to a front of the vehicle, a second lens having a rear focal point on a second optical axis that is parallel to the first optical axis and disposed adjacent to the first lens, a second light source disposed on the second optical axis rearwards of the first light source, a reflector that reflects light emitted from the second light source towards the rear focal point of the second lens, and a sub-reflector disposed such that the sub-reflector does not interfere with an optical path which extends from the reflector to the second lens and that causes part of light emitted from the first light source to be incident on the second lens.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2016
    Assignee: KOITO MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Hiroya Koizumi
  • Patent number: 9188304
    Abstract: An automotive light including a substantially basin-shaped rear body structured so to be fixed onto the vehicle body; a front lenticular semi-shell provided with at least one band-like, transparent or semi-transparent portion; and at least a first lighting assembly, which is structured so as to emit light when electrically powered and is arranged so as to backlight the band-like; the first lighting assembly including: a first light-guiding plate made of photoconductive material which extends from the bottom of the rear body up to/close to the front lenticular semi-shell, while remaining perpendicular to the front lenticular semi-shell; and a second light-guiding plate made of photoconductive material, which laterally rests on/is joined with one of the two larger faces of the first light-guiding plate, close to the front lateral side of the same first light-guiding plate, so as to form an L-shaped structure which extends tangentially to the front lenticular semi-shell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 17, 2015
    Assignee: Automotive Lighting Italia S.p.A.
    Inventors: Denis Fadi, Sara Paroni, Marco Svettini
  • Publication number: 20150146448
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a multi-array chip for a vehicle, including a plurality of LED element having different sizes arranged and installed to emit light, and a head lamp having the multi-array chip for a vehicle. Accordingly, with variable LED elements which are individually turned on and off so as to correspond to a location of an oncoming vehicle, and have different sizes, visibility at the front side of a vehicle may be secured, and light blindness to a driver in the oncoming vehicle, may be prevented.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 16, 2014
    Publication date: May 28, 2015
    Applicant: HYUNDAI MOBIS CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Seong Yeon Han
  • Publication number: 20150138821
    Abstract: A resin optical member allows light to pass therethrough. The resin optical member includes a fine asperity portion formed with fine asperity structure and a flat portion not formed with fine asperity structure. The fine asperity structure include concavities or convexities formed at a pitch equal to or less than a wavelength of visible light. The fine asperity structure includes concavities or convexities having a height 37 nm or more.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 28, 2015
    Publication date: May 21, 2015
    Applicant: KOITO MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Mamoru KOSUGE, Noriko Fukawa, Masashi Katayama, Takahito Osawa, Yuji Saito, Hirohisa Kato, Takehiro Shimizu, Norihito Soma
  • Publication number: 20150131305
    Abstract: A primary optical element for a motor vehicle lighting module, comprising a single monoblock input member and a corrective part, the input member having at least one input face intended to receive light, the input member being connected at output to the corrective part. The corrective part comprises a light output face, at least partly in the shape of a substantially spherical dome, the input member and the corrective part forming a monoblock structure, wherein a vertical profile of the input face of the input member has a convex first part and a second part that is planar or concave.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 6, 2014
    Publication date: May 14, 2015
    Inventors: Marine Courcier, Delphine Puech
  • Publication number: 20150124473
    Abstract: A headlamp assembly comprising a housing forming an internal chamber and forming an opening to one side, at least a first light source having a first illumination axis, the first light source mounted in a central portion of the internal chamber substantially at a first depth, at least a second light source having a second illumination axis, the second light source mounted in a circumferential portion of the chamber substantially at a second depth wherein the first depth is greater than the second depth, a first aspherical lens formed about a first optic axis, the first aspherical lens mounted within the opening with the first optic axis coaxially aligned with the first illumination axis and a second aspherical lens formed about a second optic axis, the second aspherical lens mounted within the opening with the second optic axis coaxially aligned with the second illumination axis.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 12, 2015
    Publication date: May 7, 2015
    Inventor: Bradley William Kay
  • Publication number: 20150124472
    Abstract: The invention relates to a motor vehicle headlight having at least one first light source and a headlight lens which comprising, for example, a blank-molded integrally formed body which is made from a transparent material, and which comprises at least one light tunnel and a light-conducting part having at least one optically effective light exit surface, wherein the light tunnel comprises, an optically effective, light entry surface and merges, while forming a kink, into the light-conducting part for imaging the kink as a light-dark boundary by means of light coupled in or radiated into the light entry surface from the first light source, wherein the light tunnel has a transition region in which the surface delimiting the light tunnel at the top rises in the direction of the light-conducting part.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 22, 2013
    Publication date: May 7, 2015
    Applicant: DOCTER OPTICS SE
    Inventors: Wolfram Wintzer, Dmitry Fedosik
  • Patent number: 9022625
    Abstract: A vehicle headlamp that is capable of optically distributing a spot portion of a light distribution pattern having a cutoff line to a cruising lane side is provided. The present invention includes semiconductor-type light sources 2L and 2R and lenses 3L and 3R. On emission surfaces 31L and 31R of the lenses 3L and 3R, peak portions 32L and 32R that form a spot portion SP of a light distribution pattern for low beam LP are respectively provided in given locations that are close to a cruising lane side with respect to optical axes ZL and ZR of the lenses 3L and 3R. As a result, the present invention can provide the vehicle headlamp that is capable of optically distributing the spot portion SP of the light distribution pattern for low beam LP having a cutoff line CL.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2015
    Assignee: Ichikoh Industries, Ltd.
    Inventor: Yasuhiro Okubo
  • 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: 20150085513
    Abstract: Lighting arrangement (1, 1?) comprising a light source (2) for generating light; a spreading element (3) realised to laterally spread the generated light in a spreading plane (S), defined by an optical axis (AO) of the light source (2) and a longitudinal axis (L) of the spreading element (3), to give an essentially uniform quantity of light per unit area at an emission face (41, 51) orthogonal to the spreading plane (S) and parallel to the longitudinal axis (L) of the spreading element (3) and a light redirecting element (4, 5) arranged to collect the spread light, which comprises a longitudinal planar emission face (41, 51), and is realised to collect the laterally spread light and to emit the collected light essentially uniformly from the emission face (41, 51).
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 23, 2013
    Publication date: March 26, 2015
    Inventors: Benno Spinger, Paul Scott Martin, Pascal Jean Henri Bloemen, Kuochou Tai
  • Publication number: 20150078029
    Abstract: A vehicle headlamp module is provided that includes a lens having a plurality of near-field lens elements, a canted input surface, an exit surface and a cavity between the surfaces. The headlamp module also includes an LED lighting module that directs incident light through the input and exit surfaces. The lens elements are configured to transmit from the exit surface a collimated light pattern containing at least 60% of the incident light. In some embodiments, the exit surface includes a step-wise pattern of optical elements. In other implementations, a headlamp assembly is provided that includes a plurality of vehicle headlamp modules. Each headlamp module includes: a lens with a canted input surface and an exit surface, a bezel surrounding the lens, and an LED light source that directs incident light through the input surface. The lens of each module includes a plurality of near-field lens elements.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 24, 2014
    Publication date: March 19, 2015
    Inventors: Arun Kumar, Albert Ekladyous, Mahendra Somasara Dassanayake, Bruce Preston Williams, Junmo Park, Eric Stoddard
  • Patent number: 8974101
    Abstract: A vehicular lamp including a lens member between a light-emitting element (22) and a light guiding plate (26) in which emitted light from the light-emitting element (22) is incident on the rear end surface (26a) and then emitted from the front end surface (26b) to the front of the lamp. The lens member (28) allows a part of the emitted light, which travels in a direction close to an optical axis (Ax), to reach the light guiding plate (26) as diffusing light that diffuses in a horizontal plane and further allows the emitted light to reach the light guiding plate (26) as parallel light along the optical axis (Ax) in a vertical plane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2015
    Assignee: Koito Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Hiroya Koizumi
  • Publication number: 20150062950
    Abstract: An arrangement of headlight lenses for a vehicle headlight, each headlight lens having a monolithic body of transparent material, which monolithic body includes at least one light entry face, a light passage section, and at least one optically operative light exit face.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 3, 2014
    Publication date: March 5, 2015
    Inventors: Dmitry Fedosik, Wolfram Wintzer
  • Patent number: 8944649
    Abstract: An arrangement of headlight lenses for a vehicle headlight, each headlight lens having a monolithic body of transparent material, which monolithic body includes at least one light entry face, a light passage section and at least one optically operative light exit face.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 11, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2015
    Assignee: Doctor Optics SE
    Inventors: Dmitry Fedosik, Wolfram Wintzer
  • Publication number: 20150023044
    Abstract: Headlight lens for a vehicle headlight having a monolithic body of transparent material, the monolithic body including at least one light entry face, a light passage section and at least one optically operative light exit face.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 3, 2014
    Publication date: January 22, 2015
    Inventors: Dmitry Fedosik, Wolfram Wintzer
  • Patent number: 8920012
    Abstract: A lamp unit mounted in a vehicle includes a light source, a light source mounting portion on which the light source is mounted, and a projection lens having a front surface with a convex shape and configured to project light from the light source to the front of the lamp unit. When looking at the lamp unit from the front, the front surface of the projection lens takes a substantially round shape which is centered at an optical axis of the lamp unit in a position which lies closer to a front end portion and a substantially non-round shape at a rear end portion. The front surface changing gradually its shape from the substantially round shape to the substantially non-round shape in a region between the position and the rear end portion as it extends from the position towards the rear end portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2014
    Assignee: Koito Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Takayuki Yagi
  • Patent number: 8905608
    Abstract: An optical body for a vehicle light serves for coupling in, passing on and emitting the light delivered by a light source in a conical spatial region. It has a light emission surface and a recess which is opposite thereto and which has a longitudinal axis. The recess has an annularly closed inner peripheral wall which surrounds the longitudinal axis and a cover wall which extends transversely relative to its longitudinal axis and in which there is an optical structure. To improve the emission, a plurality of optically active surface portions are provided arranged around the point at which the longitudinal axis of the recess passes through the cover wall and each of which has a focal point lying on the longitudinal axis and the focal points of at least two of the surface portions are at a mutual spacing in the direction of the longitudinal axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2014
    Assignee: Truck-Lite Europe GmbH
    Inventor: Thilo Günther
  • Publication number: 20140334177
    Abstract: A lens for a motor vehicle optical module, wherein it comprises a series of patterns on an optical surface, said patterns extending in a preferred direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 14, 2013
    Publication date: November 13, 2014
    Inventors: Antoine de Lamberterie, Paul Racine
  • Patent number: 8870425
    Abstract: In a lamp body, a second reflective surface, which reflects light reflected from a first reflective surface to a front side again so as to emit the light toward the front side, is formed on a back surface of a lens main body; fixing portions protrude outward from an outer peripheral portion of the lens main body and are fixed to a seating section; the first reflective surface is formed in a shape of a band which extends in one direction and of which both end portions reach the outer peripheral portion of the lens main body; constricted portions, which are recessed inward, are formed at the outer peripheral portion of the lens main body near at least one of the both end portions of the first reflective surface; and the fixing portions are disposed in the constricted portions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 28, 2014
    Assignees: Honda Motor Co., Ltd, Stanley Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Michio Furukawa, Hitoshi Aoki, Koji Fukura, Daisen Kojima, Naoki Akita, Taku Saito, Hidemi Tanaka, Seiji Hasegawa, Kosuke Shiohama
  • Publication number: 20140301103
    Abstract: An elastically deformable flange locator arrangement includes a first component having a first engagement surface. Also included is a second component configured to be mated with the first component. Further included is a first portion of the second component. Yet further included is a second portion of the second component extending relatively perpendicularly from the first portion proximate a perimeter of the first portion, the second portion having a second engagement surface, wherein the second portion is configured to elastically deform at a first interface upon contact between the first engagement surface and the second engagement surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 4, 2013
    Publication date: October 9, 2014
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: JOEL COLOMBO, STEVEN E. MORRIS, MICHAEL D. RICHARDSON
  • Patent number: 8840290
    Abstract: An optical device for a motor vehicle comprising a surface light source emitting light rays in a first direction, wherein it comprises an optical system including first deflecting optical means that are at least locally remote from the surface light source and deflecting the light rays emitted in the first direction, in a second direction different from the first direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 23, 2014
    Assignee: Valeo Vision
    Inventors: Jean-Claude Gasquet, Pierre Albou, Christophe Dubosc, Antoine De Lamberterie, Marc Brassier, Vincent Godbillon, Vanesa Sanchez
  • Patent number: 8814391
    Abstract: A light guiding structure includes a light transmissive body and microstructures; the light transmissive body includes an upper conical groove and a lower accommodating groove, and the upper conical groove has a curved surface with a continually varied slope; the microstructures are disposed on the light transmissive body. A lighting device includes a circuit board, a light source and the aforesaid light guiding structure; the light source and the light guiding structure are disposed on the circuit board, and the light source is accommodated within the lower accommodating groove.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 26, 2014
    Assignee: Luxingtek, Ltd.
    Inventors: Zhi-Wei Koh, Chi-Jen Kao, Wen-Chiun Ing, Wei-Hsin Hou
  • Publication number: 20140226356
    Abstract: A front surface 14a of a lens 14 is divided into 48 front surface areas 14a1, 14a2, 14a3 via ridge lines R1 to R5, and a rear surface 14b of the lens 14 is divided into 48 rear surface areas 14b1, 14b2, 14b3 via trough lines T1 to T5. The individual rear surface areas 14b1, 14b2, 14b3 are formed so as to have surface shapes which are set so that light from a predetermined point A which is positioned on a light source 12 is caused to reach zones on the individual front surfaces areas 14a1, 14a2, 14a3 which correspond to the individual rear surface areas 14b1, 14b2, 14b3, the zones each lying centrally inwards apart from the ridge lines which define the circumference of each of the front surface areas.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 2, 2012
    Publication date: August 14, 2014
    Applicant: KOITO MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Takayuki Yagi
  • Patent number: 8777467
    Abstract: A vehicle interior lighting system includes: a designed cover 10 attached to a ceiling wall in an inside of a vehicle compartment; and a light source unit 20 arranged in the rear of the designed cover. In this system, a light beam emitted from an emission port 25 of the light source unit illuminates the inside of the vehicle compartment through two irradiation holes 15 for spot illumination, which are provided in the designed cover. A light guide 50 is arranged between the emission port 25 of the light source unit and the two irradiation holes 15 of the designed cover. The light guide 50 is configured to divide the light beam emitted from the light source unit into two directions, and to guide the thus-divided light beams to the respective irradiation holes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2014
    Assignee: Yazaki Corporation
    Inventors: Kentaro Nagai, Hiroyuki Suzuki
  • Publication number: 20140192547
    Abstract: A vehicle lighting module is provided that includes a lens having a plurality of near-field lens elements, an input surface, and an exit surface. The lighting module also includes an LED light source that directs incident light through the input surface and out of the exit surface. The plurality of lens elements is configured to transmit from the exit surface a collimated light pattern containing at least 60% of the incident light. Further, a vehicle headlamp assembly is provided that includes a plurality of vehicle lighting modules, each module comprising a lens, and an LED light source that directs incident light through the lens. The assembly further includes a case for housing the lighting modules. The lens includes a plurality of lens elements configured to transmit at least 60% of the incident light in a collimated, vehicular light pattern.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 8, 2013
    Publication date: July 10, 2014
    Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Arun Kumar, Mahendra Somasara Dassanayake, Albert Ekladyous, Bruce Preston Williams
  • Patent number: 8764257
    Abstract: An optical device, in particular for a motor vehicle, such as a lighting or indicating device, this device comprising at least two light sources associated with different predetermined photometric functions and a principal light guide comprising an emergent end and arranged to guide the light generated by the light sources towards this emergent end, so that this emergent end defines a common illuminating surface for the two photometric functions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2014
    Assignee: Valeo Vision
    Inventor: Antoine De Lamberterie
  • Patent number: 8764258
    Abstract: An inner lens for use in a vehicle light can be configured to sufficiently enhance aesthetic features, decorative features, unpredictable features, etc., without adversely affecting the formation of the main light distribution. The inner lens can include a main body portion having a main surface that faces towards the reflecting surface of the reflector, and a plurality of independent convex projections formed on the main surface of the main body portion at an area corresponding to the reflecting surface. The light emitted from the light source and that reaches the projections can enter the projections and the main body portion and then be reflected and/or refracted by the projections and the main body portion so as to be directed to a direction diagonally forward of the vehicle light as light that does not contribute to the formation of the main light distribution.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2014
    Assignee: Stanley Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Naoki Watanabe, Hiroshi Miura
  • Patent number: 8752991
    Abstract: A vehicle lighting device can include a plurality of semiconductor light-emitting devices and a projector lens configured to illuminate a front of a vehicle with light emitted from the semiconductor light-emitting devices. The projector lens can include a plurality of incidence surfaces which perform main control of light distribution, and respectively correspond to the semiconductor light-emitting devices. A single exit surface of the projector lens can include a plurality of exit regions which emits light entering through the incidence surfaces into the projector lens, wherein the exit regions provided next to each other overlap with each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 17, 2014
    Assignee: Stanley Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Ryotaro Owada
  • Patent number: 8740429
    Abstract: A vehicular lamp can include a guiding lens having a polygonal outline. The guiding lens can include divided portions around the optical axis with an equal center angle. The divided portions can each have an incidence face, a reflection face that can reflect to an optical axis direction light emitted from a light source and having passed through the incidence face, and a light-exiting face that can allow the light from the reflection face to pass therethrough to be projected in an illumination direction of the vehicular lamp. Each divided portion can have an outer-diameter end of the light-exiting face or reflection face at a position farthest from the optical axis within a plane including the maximum radius portion of the divided portion and the optical axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2014
    Assignee: Stanley Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hidetaka Okada, Takuya Matsumaru
  • Patent number: 8714770
    Abstract: A lighting device (1) is configured to include: an elongated flat substrate (2); a plurality of semiconductor light sources (3) arranged on the flat substrate in a longitudinal direction of the flat substrate; and a lens plate (4) disposed to face the semiconductor light sources, wherein the lens plate includes a lens-light-incident surface facing the semiconductor light sources and includes a lens-light-emitting surface, a first lens section (5) is formed on one of the lens-light-incident surface and the lens-light-emitting surface and distributing the light emitted by the semiconductor light source in the longitudinal direction, a second lens section (9) is formed on the other one of the lens-light-incident surface and the lens-light-emitting surface for distributing the light emitted by the semiconductor light sources in a width direction, and the first lens section has a curvature surface unit including two or more convex section curvature surfaces having different curvature radii and formed adjacent in t
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2014
    Assignees: Nichia Corporation, Koito Electric Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Masaru Kato, Kazunori Watanabe
  • Patent number: 8714794
    Abstract: A vehicle lamp includes a first lamp having a first light emitting area, the first light emitting area having a circular shape or a roughly circular shape, a second lamp having a second light emitting area, the second light emitting area having a ring shape surrounding the first light emitting area, a lamp housing inside which the first lamp and the second lamp are provided, the lamp housing having an outer lens, the outer lens having first light distribution control steps in the first light emitting area, and an inner lens having second light distribution control steps in the second light emitting area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2014
    Assignees: Koito Manufacturing Co., Ltd., Hino Motors Ltd., Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Tomoyasu Yamazaki, Shimpei Masuda, Hisayoshi Shirasu
  • Patent number: 8708539
    Abstract: A vehicular lamp is provided with a light source and a projector lens. An incidence plane of the projector lens includes a first light distribution control surface configured to form a first light distribution pattern and a second light distribution control surface configured to form a second light distribution pattern which is formed above the first light distribution pattern.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2014
    Assignee: Koito Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Yuta Ugajin