Plural Separate Sections With Complex Surfaces Patents (Class 362/522)
  • Patent number: 7654713
    Abstract: A vehicular lamp includes a projection lens with an optical axis extending in a longitudinal direction of a vehicle and a light source with a light emission portion. The light emission portion is directly incident to the projection lens. The projection lens has a plurality of lens areas with different focal points, with the lens areas centered on the optical axis and disposed on generally concentric circles. The focal points corresponding to the plurality of lens areas have respectively different positions on the optical axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2010
    Assignee: Koito Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroki Tendo, Takehiko Tajima
  • Patent number: 7648262
    Abstract: By a convex lens arranged on an optical axis extending in a front and rear direction of a lamp unit, direct light from a light emitting element arranged rearward of the convex lens is deflected to emit so that the light is made to be parallel light in a vertical face and diffused light toward left and right sides in a horizontal face. An entire region of a left side lens region of the convex lens is constituted as upper deflecting regions for deflecting light to a direction upward with respect to a direction of light of a right side lens region. Light emitted to the front side by transmitting the respective upper deflecting regions is made to be light directed upward from light emitted from the right side lens region to thereby form a laterally elongated light distribution pattern in which an upper end edge of a portion of being disposed on a left side relative to the optical axis is stepped up from an upper end edge of a portion thereof disposed on a right side.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 19, 2010
    Assignee: Koito Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Hidetada Tanaka
  • Patent number: 7645061
    Abstract: The invention relates to a low beam headlight with at least one light module. The individual light module exhibits at least one light source and at least one primary lens connected downstream of the light source; and the light source is a luminescent diode. In addition, the low beam headlight has at least one secondary lens, which is connected optically downstream of the primary lens or the primary lenses. Both the primary and the secondary lens exhibit at least two lens segments, which are arranged one over the other. In addition, at least one lens segment of the primary lens and its assigned lens segment of the secondary lens lie outside the optical axis of the light module. The present invention develops a compact low beam headlight, whose light distribution has a clearly defined hot spot. The light intensity of the illumination decreases steadily in the direction of the basic distribution.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2010
    Assignee: odelo GmbH
    Inventors: Emil Stefanov, Veit Schwegler, Dagmar Wurtenberger
  • Publication number: 20100002460
    Abstract: The invention relates to a projection module (1; 10; 20) of an automobile headlight. The module (1; 10; 20) includes several semiconductor light sources (101, 102, 103) to broadcast optical irradiation (104, 105, 106) of a primary optics assembly (110, 111, 112) to bundle the emitted irradiation (104, 105, 106), and a secondary optics assembly (2; 12; 22; 32) that projects the bundled irradiation (113, 114, 115) to create the desired light distribution in front of the vehicle. In order to reduce the weight and dimensions of the projection module, it is proposed that the secondary optics assembly (2; 12; 22; 32) is formed as a multi-part complex lens that includes several lens segments (3, 4, 5; 13, 14, 15; 23, 24, 25; 33-41).
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 29, 2008
    Publication date: January 7, 2010
    Applicant: AUTOMOTIVE LIGHTING REUTLINGEN GMBH
    Inventors: Ernst-Olaf Rosenhahn, Ralf Ackermann, Ulrike Schloeder, Henning Weinhold, Benjamin Stauss
  • Patent number: 7631997
    Abstract: A vehicular headlamp includes a semiconductor light emitting device that faces in a direction substantially perpendicular to a forward direction, a reflector that is formed like a curved surface so as to surround the semiconductor light emitting device, has an opening at its front, has its optical center on the semiconductor light emitting device, and reflects forward light generated by the semiconductor light emitting device, and a light transmitting member that is formed so as to cover the semiconductor light emitting device. Here, the light transmitting member includes a cover member that covers the semiconductor light emitting device and transmits at least apart of the light generated by the semiconductor light emitting device, and a deflection member that covers front of the semiconductor light emitting device and deflects forward a part of the light generated by the semiconductor light emitting device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2009
    Assignee: Koito Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Ishida, Masashi Tatsukawa
  • Patent number: 7588358
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for producing a light output pattern from a single LED source through a lens that diverges light at or around the center of the lens from a single source but converges light at concentric areas around the center area. The assembly can avoid a central hot spot of intensity in the light output pattern and create one or more concentric rings of higher apparent intensity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 15, 2009
    Assignee: Innovative Lighting, Inc
    Inventor: Patrick J. Condon
  • Patent number: 7563008
    Abstract: A condenser lens and a headlamp assembly employing the condenser lens improves control over the beam spread characteristics, while at the same time reduces the package size of the headlamp assembly. The condenser lens is provided for a projector-type headlamp assembly having a light source emitting light which is projected longitudinally downstream in front of a motor vehicle. The condenser lens generally includes a main body of light transmitting material. The main body defines a first surface receiving light from the light source and a second surface emitting the light. The second surface has at least one facet structured to spread the light and provide a predetermined beam pattern.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 21, 2009
    Assignee: Visteon Global Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Jeyachandrabose Chinniah, Amir P. Fallahi, Edwin M. Sayers
  • Patent number: 7559679
    Abstract: A vehicle light apparatus has a lamp bulb that is not visible from the outside and a reflecting area that is not conspicuous when the light is on. An inner lens reflects light, from the lamp bulb toward a lens opening and an outer lens attached to the lens opening covers the lamp bulb. A reflecting area having a lower light transmission rate than the outer lens is provided on the tail lens where it opposes the lamp bulb. Light transmission areas having a higher light transmission rate than the reflecting area are provided on the reflecting area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2009
    Assignee: Yamaha Hatsudoki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Isayama, Niran Thuptimkuna
  • Patent number: 7534020
    Abstract: A vehicle headlight, having multiple LEDs provided on a carrier and organized into a group arrangement having an asymmetric design arrived at by starting with an overall symmetric design and providing therein at least one area with non-functional or missing LEDs; and at least one optical element functioning as a common collection lens, wherein the vertical angle of beam spread ? is less than 5° and the horizontal angle of beam spread ? is in the range of less than 20° relative to the central optical axis of the optical element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2009
    Assignee: Daimler AG
    Inventor: Joerg Moisel
  • Patent number: 7530709
    Abstract: A light emitting apparatus including a first light source, a second light source to emit light of a color different from that of the light emitted from the first light source, a frame configured to cover above the first light source and the second light source, and exit areas formed on the frame to correspond to the first light source and the second light source, respectively, the light emitted from each of the first light source and the second light source being emitted through the corresponding exit areas to the exterior of the frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2009
    Assignee: Citizen Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Satoru Kikuchi, Atsushi Nishida
  • Patent number: 7503679
    Abstract: An optical module for a motor vehicle headlight comprising a reflector having an optical axis and at least one focus, a light source placed in the vicinity of the focus to be reflected, and a transparent optical deviation element placed in front of part of the reflector and comprising a lens referred to as a “square lens”, the reflector being placed at the rear of the lens, the optical deviation element being able to provide an essentially horizontal spread of the light. The exit face of the “square lens”is tangent to a plane disposed obliquely with respect to the optical axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2009
    Assignee: Valeo Vision
    Inventor: Vincent Godbillon
  • Patent number: 7488094
    Abstract: A semiconductor device made by mounting a light emitting element on a substrate, where an optically-transparent cover with a flat plate shape is installed on the light emitting element and a groove part for suppressing reflection of light emission of the light emitting element is formed in the cover.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 26, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2009
    Assignee: Shinko Electric Industries Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kei Murayama, Akinori Shiraishi, Masahiro Sunohara, Naoyuki Koizumi, Hideaki Sakaguchi, Mitsutoshi Higashi, Yuichi Taguchi
  • Patent number: 7416324
    Abstract: A vehicle light assembly may be made from a lamp having a plurality of LED light sources arrayed circumferentially around the lamp; a reflector body having a reflector axis generally directed to a field to be illuminated. A plurality of reflective surfaces is formed on the front side, the respective reflective surfaces separated by one or more axially extending walls. A through passage is formed in the reflector body, sized and shaped to receive a portion of the lamp, and intersecting a planar extension of at least one of the axially extending walls separating a first reflective surface from a second reflective surface. The planar extension intersects the lamp between a first LED and a second LED whereby light form the first LED substantially shines toward the first reflective surface and the light from the second LED shines toward the second reflective surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 26, 2008
    Assignee: Osram Sylvania Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas Tessnow, Charles Coushaine, Howard Eng, Michael Tucker
  • Patent number: 7407310
    Abstract: A vehicular headlamp 1 including a projection lens 16 installed on the optical axis Ax extending in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle a light source 12a provided behind the rear side focal point F of the projection lens 16, and a reflector 14 that reflects direct light from the light source 12a forward and toward the optical axis Ax; and in this headlamp, an additional lens 30, which deflects and directs light from the light source 12a to the front is provided around the outer perimeter of the projection lens 16, and grooves 33, which have side faces that direct at least a part of the incident light toward the side of the vehicle, are formed in the outer surface of the additional lens 30.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2008
    Assignee: Koito Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Motohiro Komatsu
  • Patent number: 7367703
    Abstract: The projection lens of a lamp unit is configured as a plano-convex lens whose front surface is a convex curved surface and whose rear surface is a plane. The rear surface is constituted by a plane tilted upward with respect to a plane orthogonal to the optical axis and outward in a vehicle width direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2008
    Assignee: Koito Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Takayuki Yagi, Naoki Uchida
  • Patent number: 7364332
    Abstract: A light source bulb 22 is inserted and fixed into a reflector 24 from a side in a position placed downward apart from an optical axis Ax. Thus, it is possible to effectively utilize an optical-axis side region in a reflecting plane 24a for a light distribution control. Moreover, an almost prism-shaped light transmitting member 30 is provided in the vicinity of the upper end of the outer peripheral edge portion of a projection lens 28 between the projection lens 28 and the reflector 24, and a direct light from a light source 22a toward the upper space of the projection lens 28 is emitted forward to be deflected downward. Consequently, it is possible to increase the amount of a light to be irradiated on the forward part of a vehicle, and furthermore, to carry out a deflection control for the direct light emitted from the light source 22a with high precision.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2008
    Assignee: Koito Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Motohiro Komatsu, Michihiko Hayakawa
  • Patent number: 7364333
    Abstract: In a vehicle headlight system with a light source (2) and at least one reflector (1) for shaping the light emitted by the light source into a high beam and a low beam, and with a shield (7) adjustable via an actuating element (9) between a position in which the light from the light source (2) is blocked across a maximum cross section and an essentially transmissive position in which this light is substantially allowed to pass through, the actuating element (9) adapted for adjusting the shield (7) in a plurality of intermediate positions between the maximal blocking and the essentially transmissive position in which intermediate position the blocked cross section is less than the maximal cross section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2008
    Assignee: Daimler AG
    Inventors: Gerhard Kurz, Volker Oltmann, Reinhold Schoeb, Bernd Woltermann
  • Patent number: 7357545
    Abstract: The headlamp assembly having low beam and high beam operation modes includes a light source, a reflector surface adapted to reflect light from the light source outward to a condenser lens positioned at a distance from the light source. An opaque shield is positioned between the light source and the condenser lens and is moveable between a first position, where a portion of the reflected light is blocked from reaching the condenser lens, and a second position, where substantially all of the reflected light is allowed to reach the condenser lens. The condenser lens has a first segment and a second segment wherein, when the opaque shield is in the first position, light is reflected almost entirely to the first segment of the condenser lens, and when the opaque shield is in the second position, light is reflected to the first and second segments of the condenser lens.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2008
    Assignee: Visteon Global Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Jan Stefka, Marek Olivik, David Hynar, Tomas Kreml
  • Patent number: 7339200
    Abstract: A light-emitting diode including a curved surface portion 14aA formed in the front face of a sealing member 14 with the cross-sectional shape of the curved surface portion being in the shape of an undulating curve that has a concave curve C1 near the optical axis and convex curves C2 on both sides of concave curve C1, thus allowing the light emitted from a light-emitting chip 12 at a small divergence angle centered on the optical axis Ax to reach the concave curve C1 and to be directed forward as diffused light deflected from the optical axis and further allowing the light emitted at a large divergence angle centered on the optical axis Ax to reach the convex curves C2 and to be directed forward as light deflected toward line L positioned at the divergence angle ?.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2008
    Assignee: Koito Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yasuyuki Amano, Tsutomu Machida, Hiroya Koizumi
  • Patent number: 7322725
    Abstract: A vehicle and associated light source that comprises a single source of light and a surrounding housing and lens arrangement that gives the visual effect of multiple light sources.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2008
    Assignee: Yamaha Hatsudoki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Pairuch Worakasemsuk, Takeshi Okada
  • 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: 7290908
    Abstract: A vehicular lamp including a light-emitting element 10 that emits light at a greater diffusion angle in the lateral direction than in the vertical direction, thus enabling the light to be incident on the rear face 34a of a horizontally elongated inner lens 34 with high efficiency. The rear face 34a has a cylindrical surface that extends in the lateral direction, and the curvature of a convex curve, which forms the cross-sectional shape of the cylindrical surface taken along the vertical plane parallel to the optical axis Ax, gradually reduces according to the increase in the distance from the optical axis Ax in the lateral direction, thus allowing the curvature of the convex curve to be maintained at a substantially constant value in the lateral direction and further preventing the diffusion angle of the light into the lens in the vertical direction from increasing in the lateral direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2007
    Assignee: Koito Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yasuyuki Amano, Tsutomu Machida
  • Patent number: 7287876
    Abstract: A cold cathode fluorescent lamp lighting device includes a lens cover, a cold cathode fluorescent lamp and a control box. The lens cover is a semicircular-shaped tube and includes a post having a threaded hole for insertion of a bolt. The cold cathode fluorescent lamp is circular and secured in the lens cover. The control box includes a control circuit to control the lighting of the cold cathode fluorescent lamp. The control box further comprises electric wires and a connector to be connected with a connector of the cold cathode fluorescent lamp.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2007
    Inventor: Yu-Chu Lin
  • Patent number: 7273306
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a lens for a light-emitting diode (LED) vehicle marker having a projection for increasing visibility of the vehicle to which the marker is affixed. In accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, the lens includes a generally elongated projection which increases longitudinal illumination.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2007
    Inventor: Charles I. Sassoon
  • Patent number: 7270454
    Abstract: A vehicular lamp in which a luminous flux utilization factor is enhanced by a structure of a light-emitting element that is disposed to face forward with respect to a vehicular lamp and covered from its front side with a translucent member. The circumferential region of the translucent member forms a reflected light control portion that allows light from the light-emitting element which has impinged on the translucent member to be internally reflected by the rear face of the translucent member and turned into parallel light which travels forward, and the reflected light control portion further allows the parallel light to emit forward from the front face of the reflected light control portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2007
    Assignee: Koito Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Yasuyuki Amano
  • 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: 7255467
    Abstract: A vehicular headlamp for emitting light ahead of an automobile, includes: a semiconductor light emitting device; a reflector, having its optical center on the semiconductor light emitting device, for reflecting light generated by the semiconductor light emitting device forward; and a light transmitting member formed from material that transmits the light generated by the semiconductor light emitting device in such a manner that the light transmitting member covers the semiconductor light emitting device, the light transmitting member deflecting forward a part of the light generated by the semiconductor light emitting device and transmitting another part of the light generated by the semiconductor light emitting device toward the reflector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2007
    Assignee: Koito Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Ishida, Masashi Tatsukawa
  • Patent number: 7234852
    Abstract: A lamp includes a projection lens, a reflector, and a prismatic lens. The prismatic lens receives direct light, which has been transmitted from the light source outwardly with respect to a widthwise direction of a vehicle, and refracts the received light toward the optical axis. The prismatic lens is separated outwardly from the optical axis in the widthwise direction of a vehicle and is provided between the projection lens and the reflector. The prismatic lens can provide an additional light distribution pattern formed outside, in the widthwise orientation, of a basic light distribution pattern formed from light passed though the projection lens.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2007
    Assignee: Koito Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Takaaki Nishizawa, Hiroki Ikegaya, Masahito Naganawa
  • Patent number: 7201503
    Abstract: A vehicular lamp including a translucent member 14 and a light-emitting element 12 with its front being covered by the translucent member 14; a plurality of lens elements 14s1 and 14s2 being formed on the front surface 14b of the translucent member 14 so that the lens elements are located on a hemispherical surface which is centered upon the light-emitting element 12 and serves as a reference plane B. The front surface 14b of the translucent member 14 is divided in a radial pattern to form a plurality of fan-shaped zones SA and SB, which are further divided into concentric circular shapes to form a plurality of fan-shaped zone bands SA1, SA2, SA3 and SA4, and SB1, SB2 and SB3, respectively, which are provided with the lens elements 14s1 and 14s2 therein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2007
    Assignee: Koito Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yasuyuki Amano, Kazunori Natsume, Hiroya Koizumi
  • 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: 7168832
    Abstract: As the annular translucent member, an annular lens formed from a peripheral edge portion of a convex-meniscus lens is disposed between a projection lens and a reflector along an outer peripheral edge of the projection lens. Direct light from a light source toward a space beyond the outer periphery of the projection lens is caused to illuminate forward of the lamp by the annular lens, thereby effectively utilizing light source luminous flux. In relation to the above, a shape of a back surface of the annular lens is formed into a spherical surface having its center at a luminescence center of the light source. Accordingly, direct light from the light source can travel straight without being deflected by a back surface of the annular lens, whereby a light deflection angle on a front surface of the annular lens can be calculated easily and with good accuracy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2007
    Assignee: Koito Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Motohiro Komatsu, Masao Kinoshita, Masahito Naganawa, Kenichi Takada, Mitsuyuki Mochizuki
  • Patent number: 7134768
    Abstract: Light emitted from a plurality of LED light sources can be introduced into a light guide and inwardly reflected (totally reflected) at a first reflective surface formed on the light guide to form a substantially collimated light. The substantially collimated light can then be inwardly reflected (totally reflected) at a second reflective surface and a third reflective surface. The light can then be led out of the light guide and emitted in a direction of illumination of the lamp. An increased amount of light provides a bright lamp. An arrangement of LEDs emitting different colored lights enables the different colored lights to be emitted at the same time or with time delays.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2006
    Assignee: Stanley Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Nobuyuki Suzuki
  • Patent number: 7134769
    Abstract: The invention relates to a lantern, preferably for use aboard ships, in particular leisure vessels, which has a housing, at least one illuminant and a light-permeable cover. According to the invention, at least one LED is provided as the illuminant and is associated with a beam baffler.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2006
    Assignee: Aqua Signal Aktiengesellshaft
    Inventors: Ralph Rohlfing, Wolfgang Serfass
  • 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: 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: 6994454
    Abstract: A vehicular cornering lamp which radiates beams having different light distribution patterns in accordance with different driving conditions such as different driving speed ranges. A bulb shade blocks light from a front filament from reaching a lower reflecting area on a reflecting surface of the reflector of the lamp while allowing light from the front filament to strike only an upper reflecting area, while an upward light blocking shade provided above and adjacent the light source bulb blocks light from the rear filament from reaching the upper reflecting area while allowing light from the rear filament to strike only the lower reflecting area. The active area of the reflecting surface of the reflector can be changed by switching illumination between the front filament and the rear filament.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2006
    Assignee: Koito Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Toshiyuki Kinouchi
  • Patent number: 6976774
    Abstract: A combined assembly of a center high mounted stop lamp (CHMSL) assembly and a cargo lamp assembly for a vehicle including a housing having compartments including at least one compartment for housing a CHMSL component and having a stop lens. The housing further includes left and right compartments, respectively on opposite sides of the CHMSL compartment, each having a cargo light lens and a white LED for directing a beam of light to the respective cargo light lens. Each of the cargo lamp assemblies includes one of the cargo lenses and one of the LEDs, the LEDs each having an aperture for emitting the light beam in an arc of about 120° in horizontal and vertical planes, and each of the cargo lenses being adapted to reduce the light beam in a horizontal plane to about 60° and reducing the light beam in a vertical plane to about 60°.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2005
    Inventor: Benoit Reiss
  • Patent number: 6971778
    Abstract: A headlight for vehicles with a projection module is provided, which includes a bowl-shaped reflector, an illumination unit dedicated to the reflector, a lens, and a shutter arranged between the lens and the reflector. The shutter forms a light-dark-border of a light bundle. The lens features a convex front side facing away from the reflector and an optical element mounted to the headlight in the lower middle margin area on the front. The light beams emerging from the optical element are directed to an area above the light-dark-border of the light bundle of the headlight. In vertical second planar sections, to which the optical axis of the projection module extends perpendicularly, the surface of the optical element is concave-shaped, and in vertical planar sections extending parallel to the optical axis, it is convex-shaped.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2005
    Assignee: Hella KG Hueck & Co.
    Inventors: Wolfgang Peitz, Dirk Schwemin
  • Patent number: 6953273
    Abstract: A vehicle lamp has first and second lamp chamber portions each including: a light source; a casing having opening and portion for reflecting light emitted from the light source; and lens portion for closing the opening of the casing; the first and second lamp chamber portions each forming lamp chamber partitioned with the casing and the lens portion, wherein the lens portion of the first lamp chamber portion passes light through substantially forward or backward from a vehicle; at least a part of the second lamp chamber portion is disposed within the lamp chamber of the first lamp chamber portion; and the second lamp chamber portion overlaps with the light source of the first lamp chamber portion in the substantially longitudinal direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2005
    Assignee: Fuji Jukogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Tetsuya Nakajima, Atsushi Kochi
  • Patent number: 6953271
    Abstract: The invention proposes an indicator lamp comprising an optical axis oriented from the rear to the front, on which there is a light source which is provided for emitting a light flux towards the front, and of the type comprising an optical device for recovering and distributing the rays of light emitted by the source, with a view to providing an indicating faction that meets the regulations, wherein the optical device comprises a coaxial annular reflector and, in front of the light source a central optical part known as the light engine which is provided for distributing the rays of light emitted by the source in directions that are generally transverse about the optical axis, towards the coaxial annular reflector that is provided for distributing the rays of light axially towards the front.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2005
    Assignee: Valeo Vision
    Inventors: Jean-Pierre Aynié, Jean-Claude Gasquet
  • Patent number: 6932497
    Abstract: A signal light and rear-view mirror arrangement is constructed to include a circuit board mounted in the back recess of a vehicle rear-view mirror and adapted to control a set of lamps to flash, and a lens covered on the back side of the vehicle rear-view mirror, the lens having a plurality of raised portions protruded from the inner surface and forming a honeycomb-like condensing area adapted to condense and refract light from the lamps, a transparent area surrounding the honeycomb-like condensing area, and a photomask covered on the outer surface of the lens corresponding to the condensing area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2005
    Inventor: Jean-San Huang
  • Patent number: 6880960
    Abstract: A side mirror cover comprises a mirror plate covering member and a side mirror lamp. The lamp comprises a lamp housing having a plurality of light emitting elements and a translucent lamp cover for covering the light emitting elements. A through hole comprises first and second through holes formed side by side along the width of the vehicle. A lamp housing comprises first and second housing sections. The lamp cover comprises first and second cover sections. A plurality of light emitting elements comprises a first LED for illuminating the front of the vehicle and a second LED for illuminating the side of the vehicle. The inner surface of the first cover section has concavities and convexities so as to reflect light. Two types of side mirror lamps are clearly differentiated so that a function as a direction indicator lamp and a function as a position lamp or a daytime lamp are provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2005
    Assignee: E'Sam Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Kazuharu Mishimagi
  • Patent number: 6848816
    Abstract: The present application includes a vehicle mirror which includes an approach light in the attachment assembly. The approach light is a single light source positionable in relation to predetermined inputs for directing light to various areas, depending on the inputs. Additionally, an intercom system is provided for communication between the interior of the vehicle and exterior of the vehicle, by way of the vehicle mirror. Also, a remote sensor is utilized to set predetermined memory positions of interior vehicle components such as seats, steering columns and brake pedals. This allows customization of the interior components upon an individual's approach to the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2005
    Assignee: Schefenacker Vision Systems Australia Pty Ltd
    Inventors: Robert W. Gilbert, Kash A. Munir, Mark Olijnyk, Patrick McCaffrey, Paul Schwarz, Alex Gersch, Paul van de Loo, Maarten J. Schuumans, Andrew D. Herps, Adam S. Peacock, Richard G. Teal, Chris Moase
  • Patent number: 6846099
    Abstract: A position light (200) for use on an aircraft. The aircraft position light uses light sources (302) installed into an alignment fixture (304) which optionally carries away heat generated by the light sources. Light emitted by the light sources is directed into a first prism (308), which distributes and directs the light. A second prism (324) is used to further shape the pattern of the light. A lens (206) is installed over the position light (200) to protect it from the elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2005
    Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
    Inventors: Matthew B. Dubin, Brent D. Larson, Scott R. Mangum
  • Patent number: 6811287
    Abstract: A vehicular lamp employs a single, high-flux light emitting diode as a light source, and is capable of performing stop, tail, turn and marker functions. The vehicular lamp can satisfy the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard 108, as well as Society of Automotive Engineers Standards J585 (3/00), J1395 (6/91), J1398 (6/91), and J592 (12/94).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 2, 2004
    Assignee: Truck-Lite Co., Inc.
    Inventors: Philip C. Roller, Todd H. Kolstee, Christopher A. Ross
  • Publication number: 20040174714
    Abstract: A headlight for vehicles with a projection module is provided, which includes a bowl-shaped reflector, an illumination unit dedicated to the reflector, a lens, and a shutter arranged between the lens and the reflector. The shutter forms a light-dark-border of a light bundle. The lens features a convex front side facing away from the reflector and an optical element mounted to the headlight in the lower middle margin area on the front. The light beams emerging from the optical element are directed to an area above the light-dark-border of the light bundle of the headlight. In vertical second planar sections, to which the optical axis of the projection module extends perpendicularly, the surface of the optical element is concave-shaped, and in vertical planar sections extending parallel to the optical axis, it is convex-shaped.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 5, 2004
    Publication date: September 9, 2004
    Inventors: Wolfgang Peitz, Dirk Schwemin
  • Patent number: 6783268
    Abstract: An indicator lamp for a motor vehicle includes a plurality of light sources, and a plurality of linking elements. The lamp includes components that straighten out the light emitted by the light sources so that the light is propagated in a direction essentially parallel to a general direction of emisssion. These components include multiple first elements and a second element. East first element corresponds to one of the plurality of light sources. The first elements are able to distribute the light in a plane essentially perpendicular to the general direction of emission, in an essentially uniform way onto the second element. The second element is able to straighten out the incident light towards the general direction of emission.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2004
    Assignee: Valeo Vision
    Inventors: Jean Pierre Aynie, Jean Dera, Jean Claude Gasquet, Ghislain Lefevre, Filipe Videira
  • Patent number: 6769798
    Abstract: A side mirror cover for allowing flickering or illumination of lamps to be visible from relatively a wide range is provided. The side mirror cover has a mirror cover body and a cover lamp. The lamp has a lamp housing having plural light emitting elements and a translucent lamp cover for covering the elements. The housing has a curved first corner section for closing up a part of the through hole and a first principal portion for closing up the remainder thereof. The lamp cover has a second corner section facing the first corner section and a second principal portion facing the first principal portion. The light emitting elements include first LEDs and second LEDs for emitting light toward the front and the side of the vehicle, respectively. The inner surface of the lamp cover has a projected portion facing the second LED, and the inner surface of the second corner section has concavities and convexities for reflecting light.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 3, 2004
    Assignee: E'SAM Co.,. Ltd.
    Inventor: Kazuharu Mishimagi
  • Patent number: 6752522
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a component for a motor-vehicle lighting or indicator device. According to the invention, it consists of a transparent material within which light-diffusion foci consisting of local discontinuities are situated only at predetermined locations in order to diffuse the light emitted by a light source associated with the lighting or indicator device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 22, 2004
    Assignee: Valeo Vision
    Inventors: Ghislaine Pinson, Régis Duplessy
  • Patent number: 6752523
    Abstract: A vehicle lamp that uses a special LED made of: translucent block body, an LED chip embedded in the translucent block body, a semi-spherical shape condenser lens provided on the front end surface of the translucent block body and positioned in front of the LED chip, and a reflector provided inside the translucent block body and forwardly reflects the light from the LED chip. The vehicle lamp includes a front lens disposed in front of the special LED so that the front lens is positioned where the direct light from the LED chip and the reflection light reflected by the reflector start to intersect with each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 22, 2004
    Assignee: Koito Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Daisuke Takahashi