Adjustable Lamp Or Lamp Support Patents (Class 362/523)
  • Publication number: 20040240224
    Abstract: A power adjustable headlight system and a related method is provided. The system comprises a lens for receiving a light intensity from a low-beam illumination area; a low-beam sensor for detecting a light intensity from the low-beam illumination area; and a power control unit for receiving a signal from the low-beam sensor and for applying a control signal to the low beam to adjust the light intensity. The system further comprises a high-beam sensor for detecting a light intensity from a high-beam illumination area, and also controlled by the power control unit. A battery for applying an external power to the headlight system is available. Therefore, the headlight system can adjust the light intensities of the low beam and the high beam according to the detection of the light intensities from the environment automatically.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 26, 2003
    Publication date: December 2, 2004
    Inventors: TAI-AN CHIANG, TAI-LIANG LIN
  • Patent number: 6824302
    Abstract: Due to an effect of a solenoid of a moving mechanism, when a valve and a shutter are positioned at a first position, a light source is positioned at a first light source position and a shutter is in a state of closing a window. A lighting luminous flux from a light source is reflected by a reflector so as to be irradiated as a first light distribution pattern. Thus, a part of the lighting luminous flux is introduced to the reflector from the open window. Therefore, it is possible to effectively utilize the lighting luminous flux emitted from one valve in correspondence to a light distribution pattern.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 30, 2004
    Assignee: Ichikoh Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Kunio Akizuki, Yasumitsu Nakabayashi
  • Patent number: 6808298
    Abstract: A headlight system including a mounting device whereby the headlight system can be mounted on a vehicle, and a pair of spaced apart headlights carried by the mounting device. The mounting device includes an adjustment device whereby the distance between the headlights carried by the mounting device may be varied. The adjustment device includes a telescopic mounting device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 26, 2004
    Inventor: Todd Regan Christensen
  • Patent number: 6805473
    Abstract: A bicycle light comprises a light head (18) operable to emit light of one color such as white in one direction and light of another color such as red in the opposite direction, and a mounting (20, 24) for attaching the light head to an end of a bicycle's handlebars (12), preferably the off-side end of the handlebars. The bicycle light enhances the visibility of the cyclist by adopting a novel position for the light, and it also encourages motorists to give the cyclist a wider berth while overtaking. The mounting may include a flexible stem (20), and in one embodiment the stem may be retractable into the handlebars.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 19, 2004
    Inventor: Daniel John Beard
  • Publication number: 20040202007
    Abstract: A plurality of lighting units using light emitting diodes as light sources is accommodated in a lamp housing in such a state as to be supported on a common metallic support member provided tiltably. When a part or all of the lighting units are turned on, the light emitting diodes generate heat with a light emission. These light emitting diodes are supported on the common metallic support member. Also in the case in which any of the lighting units is turned on, therefore, the heat generated by the light emitting diodes is moved to the metallic support member having a large heat capacity through boards and light source support blocks by a heat conducting function. Consequently, a rise in the temperatures of the light emitting diodes can be suppressed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 7, 2004
    Publication date: October 14, 2004
    Applicant: KOITO MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Seiichiro Yagi, Kazutami Oishi, Takashi Inoue, Masaru Sasaki
  • Patent number: 6799876
    Abstract: A lighting device, including an optical system capable of generating a light beam and consisting of a light source and of a reflector, the optical system being mounted on a chassis by way of a fixed point including a ball-joint articulation. The optical system is held on the chassis by a second elastic link and by a third link capable of being put into motion by an actuator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2002
    Date of Patent: October 5, 2004
    Assignee: Valeo Vision
    Inventor: Jean Paul Ravier
  • Patent number: 6773148
    Abstract: A system for mounting an object on a surface. The system has first and second supports for placement at spaced locations on a surface, and a plurality of modules that are engageable with each other and the first and second supports to define a first spanning section between the first and second supports that is spaced relative to a surface on which the first and second supports are placed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2004
    Inventor: George C. Kasboske
  • Publication number: 20040151005
    Abstract: A headlight for motor vehicles is provided that includes an optical element, which is connected to a support element by at least one ball-and-socket joint. The ball-and-socket joint has a spherical ball and a spherical socket. The socket encloses the ball with socket segments and is inserted together with the ball into a receptacle, and contacts, via its socket segments, the inside of the receptacle. The socket contacts the bottom of the receptacle with a base, and has on the other side freestanding elastic socket segments that enclose the ball. Elastic detent elements of the receptacle engage behind the base of the socket and retain the socket axially in the receptacle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 14, 2003
    Publication date: August 5, 2004
    Inventors: Herbert Cramer, Hubertus Hering, Pavel Brostik
  • Publication number: 20040141331
    Abstract: Pivot capsule for a motor vehicle headlamp, of the type including a seating receiving a substantially spherical head of a fixing rod of substantially axial orientation extending from a housing of the headlamp to allow the lighting module to pivot, of the type in which the seating is open at its two transverse ends and includes a channel which receives the head, and at least two lugs extending with play on both sides of the channel and the head, and of which the recurved arms incorporate ends bearing on the head substantially at its junction with the rod to hold it securely in the channel, wherein it includes an additional retaining element intended to be inserted via an open end of the seating and which includes at least one retaining surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 2, 2003
    Publication date: July 22, 2004
    Inventor: Jean-Francois Cavanna
  • Publication number: 20040125611
    Abstract: A motor vehicle light is comprised of a high intensity lamp for attaching to a motor vehicle, such as to a side mounted rear view mirror. The lamp includes optics for focusing a light beam into a small spot on the road in front of the vehicle. The lamp includes a hinge for being pivoted to direct the light spot for marking the track of the vehicle to help the driver position the vehicle within the lane. In a second embodiment, the lamp is linked to the steering apparatus of the vehicle for simultaneous movement so as to mark the track of a rear wheel during a turn.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 31, 2002
    Publication date: July 1, 2004
    Inventor: Philip Pedley
  • Publication number: 20040114389
    Abstract: A vehicular headlamp including a beam radiation unit that has a discharge bulb as a light source and is rotatably supported in a lamp body, an illumination circuit unit that illuminates the discharge bulb, and a cord that connects the illumination circuit unit and the discharge bulb, the cord being held at its middle portion so as to be prevented from being moved around with respect to the lamp body.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 21, 2003
    Publication date: June 17, 2004
    Applicant: Koito Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shoichiro Yokoi, Kazuki Okui
  • Patent number: 6749326
    Abstract: A headlight for a motor vehicle, having a light module, at least one reflector, the module having at least one holding frame which is turnable about two axes extending substantially perpendicularly to one another in a plan parallel to a light outlet plan of the light module, the axis intersecting one another and having an intersecting point located inside the light module.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2004
    Assignee: Automotive Lighting Reutlingen GmbH
    Inventors: Karl-Otto Dobler, Klaus Nagel, Hans-J. Schmidt, Wolfgang Krieg, Harry Hoffmann
  • Publication number: 20040100803
    Abstract: An improved system for selectively deploying an auxiliary lighting system in which the vehicle onboard power system is utilized to permit the operator of the vehicle to deploy lamps to an in use position and to stow the same in a protected environment.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 25, 2002
    Publication date: May 27, 2004
    Inventor: James Michael Steward
  • Publication number: 20040085780
    Abstract: In a headlamp apparatus comprising a sub-CPU integrally provided on a headlamp for controlling an optical axis direction changing operation and a main CPU for sending out to the sub-control circuit a control signal for changing the direction of the optical axis, the sub-CPU comprises a power-on resetting circuit of a simple configuration comprising a capacitor and a resistor. When the main CPU detects an abnormality in the sub-CPU, a power supply is temporarily cut off by a power supply control means, and the sub-CPU is reset by a power-on resetting circuit. An abnormality triggered by a runaway of the sub-CPU can be resolved so that the sub-CPU can be restored to a normal condition as quickly as possible.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 30, 2003
    Publication date: May 6, 2004
    Inventor: Toshihisa Hayami
  • Publication number: 20040066657
    Abstract: Lamp unit for a motor vehicle of the type including at least one housing into which is inserted a lighting module which is fixed in the housing by means of at least one pivot element incorporating a rod of substantially horizontal axial orientation, carried by the housing, of which a spherical head is housed in a capsule integral with the lighting module, wherein it includes at least one retaining enclosure which is traversed by at least part of the rod, which is carried by a wall of the housing, and in which a seating receives the capsule supported vertically substantially aligned with the spherical head, so that the weight of the lighting module bears on the housing, and in that a sidewall of the enclosure has two flanges which are received in a slideway carried by the associated wall of the housing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 1, 2003
    Publication date: April 8, 2004
    Inventors: Daniel Casses, Jean Masse
  • Publication number: 20040062053
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a vehicle headlight assembly having a lamp housing that is pivotally mounted to the vehicle body. One embodiment of the invention includes a lamp housing that is pivotally mounted to the vehicle body and includes a threaded aperture for receiving a threaded adjustment mechanism that is inserted through an aperture in the vehicle body and into the housing aperture. Rotation of the adjustment mechanism adjusts a position of the lamp housing relative to the vehicle body. Typically, a head portion of the adjustment mechanism is positioned on an exterior of the vehicle and is accessible by an operator of the vehicle from a normal operating position of the vehicle for adjusting the position of the housing relative to the vehicle body.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 1, 2002
    Publication date: April 1, 2004
    Applicant: Arctic Cat, Inc.
    Inventors: Ron Bergman, John Zins
  • Patent number: 6709135
    Abstract: A device for automatic correction of the orientation of at least one motor-vehicle headlamp upon variations in the attitude of the motor vehicle includes an emitter projecting, onto the ground in front of the vehicle, two light spots (T1, T2) which are spaced apart in a direction parallel to the longitudinal axis of the vehicle, a sensor of the illumination of the light spots (T1, T2) comprising an objective forming an image (I1, I2) of the light spots (T1, T2) on a receiver and supplying an output signal (dc1, dc2) for each one, processing means suitable for deriving a control signal from the output signal from the sensor, and an actuator controlled by the control signal and able to alter the elevation orientation of a reflector of the headlamp.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2004
    Assignee: Valeo Vision
    Inventors: Philippe Couillaud, Joël Leleve
  • Patent number: 6709140
    Abstract: A vehicle headlamp unit includes a discharge lamp, a socket to which the discharge lamp is fitted, a base carrying the socket and being compatible with a base of a halogen bulb provided with a high beam filament and a low beam filament, and a moving mechanism, in response to a high beam mode or a low beam mode, for moving the socket in parallel along a direction perpendicular to a light axis of the vehicle headlamp unit without inclining a light axis of the discharge lamp.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2004
    Assignee: Asahi Rise Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Takahiro Ui
  • Patent number: 6698914
    Abstract: The optical unit for an automotive vehicle comprises a housing (5) having a main opening (13) intended to be facing the vehicle exterior, and at least one headlamp element (17) fixed inside said housing. The optical unit comprises an intermediate fastening member (21) on which said headlamp element (17) is fixed, said intermediate fastening member (21) being itself fixed detachably inside the housing (5) by releasable fastening means (22), such as to be displaceable toward the main opening (13) of the housing (5) when said fastening means (22) are released.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2004
    Assignee: Faurecia Industries
    Inventors: Sébastien Berne, Caroline Riviere
  • Patent number: 6682210
    Abstract: A tip up light bar assembly includes front and rear light bars pivotally supported above transversely opposed end assemblies joined by connector bars to form a rigid support structure. Each light bar is built on a rigid substrate having a uniform cross section. Longitudinally extending features of the rigid substrate provide locations for mounting light sources, electronic assemblies and lenses which, together with gaskets, define a weather-resistant enclosure surrounding the light sources and electronic assemblies. The light bars pivot at transversely opposed ends to a vertical position in which the light sources are elevated above traffic. Each end assembly includes a base plate, a pivotally mounted pivot plate. A gas spring reduces the dead weight of the light bar while a limit strap controls angular movement of the light bar relative to the base plate to approximately 90°. A motor-drive actuator exerts outward force on the pivot plates to move the light bars between a horizontal and vertical position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 27, 2004
    Assignee: Whelen Engineering Company, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert B. Ford, Jeffrey A. Nelson, Peter J. Tiezzi
  • Publication number: 20030231510
    Abstract: Techniques are provided to decrease load resulting from the bending of a cord when the direction of irradiation of a vehicle headlamp is changed. A vehicle headlamp 100 has a tiltable member for supporting a light source bulb 170 tiltably supported by a lamp body 110. A cord 181 led out from the light source is fixed to cord clamps 181a and 181b in the vicinity of the tiltable fulcrum supporting the tiltable member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 16, 2003
    Publication date: December 18, 2003
    Inventors: Yuki Tawa, Masaaki Ishikawa
  • Publication number: 20030223245
    Abstract: A vehicle headlamp has a projector-type lamp unit. The lamp unit has a lens holder. An external surface of the lens holder is formed in a convex circular-arc shape, centering on a rotation axis. As a result, even if the lamp unit rotates about the rotation axis, the clearance between the internal surface at the edge of an opening in an inner panel and the external surface of the lens holder is maintained substantially constant at all times.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 7, 2003
    Publication date: December 4, 2003
    Applicant: Ichikoh Industries, Ltd.
    Inventor: Toshiya Abe
  • Patent number: 6652130
    Abstract: A vehicle headlamp includes a lamp body having a hollow portion opening forward, a support member supported tiltably in the lamp body, and a plurality of reflectors supported side by side in one of the vertical and lateral directions by the support member. Each reflector is made to support a corresponding light source and least one of the reflectors is pivotably supported by the support member in the horizontal direction. In one embodiment, a lower reflector is pivotable in the horizontal direction and a low beam is formed by an upper reflector and the light source supported by the upper reflector. In this embodiment, the upper reflector does not have any portion that does not affect luminous distribution.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2003
    Assignee: Koito Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Katsuhito Mochizuki, Takashi Matsunaga, Shigeyuki Watanabe, Kiyotaka Fukawa, Takashi Hori, Masatoshi Yoneyama
  • Patent number: 6634778
    Abstract: A vehicular headlamp capable of moving an auxiliary light distribution pattern in the horizontal direction by pivoting an auxiliary lamp fixture unit in which degradation in the visibility of the road surface ahead of the vehicle caused by movement of an auxiliary light distribution pattern is substantially reduced. The brightness of a low-beam light distribution pattern formed by a headlamp unit is partially reinforced with auxiliary light distribution patterns formed by a pair of auxiliary lamp fixture units. When the vehicle turns, one of the auxiliary light distribution patterns is moved in the same direction with an upward displacement, whereby sufficient visibility ahead of the vehicle is assured. As a result of this movement, the hot zone of the auxiliary light distribution pattern is separated from the hot zone of the low-beam light distribution pattern.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2002
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2003
    Assignee: Koito Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Masashi Tatsukawa
  • Publication number: 20030174508
    Abstract: A headlight for a motor vehicle has a light module with at least one reflector and a light source, a first frame with which at least a part of the light module is connected, a first adjusting element for swivelling the first frame around a first swivel axis, a second frame in which the first frame is supported and which is turnable around a second swivel axis, a second adjusting element for swivelling the second swivel frame, a body-fixed frame support in which the second frame is supported, the frames being arranged so that the swivel axes extend perpendicular to one another and arranged in one plane, a base adjustment element for adjusting at least one of the frames around an adjusting axis which is aligned with one of the swivel axis.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 10, 2003
    Publication date: September 18, 2003
    Inventor: Heinz Ruckwied
  • Publication number: 20030174512
    Abstract: A headlight having a light module, adjusting units adjusting said light module and formed so that a vertical adjustment is performed independently from a horizontal adjustment, said adjusting units including adjusting devices; a cover cap which covers at least one of said adjusting devices; a headlight housing, said cover cap being connected of one-piece turnably with said headlight housing and having an arresting structure which is arrestable with a corresponding arresting units on said headlight housing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 12, 2003
    Publication date: September 18, 2003
    Inventor: Holger Rohr
  • Patent number: 6619809
    Abstract: An orientation-adjusting device for a vehicle head light comprises a housing encasement, an active unit, a driven unit, a cover, and driven screw rod, an elastic unit, and an elastic sealing unit. The housing encasement is installed with an elliptical hole and an axial hole. The active unit has an axial portion axially installed to the axial hole, and a gear portion located in the housing encasement. The driven unit is installed with a gear portion engaged with the gear portion of the action unit, and an axially-formed penetrating hole, which includes a threaded hole section near the active unit and a threadless hole section remotely away from the active unit. The cover is installed on the housing encasement to cover the interior of the housing encasement for preventing the driven unit from projecting out from the housing encasement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 16, 2003
    Assignee: Ekpac Taiwan, Ltd.
    Inventor: Zu-Yu Chiang
  • Patent number: 6619826
    Abstract: A headlight device for motor vehicles has a light source for emitting light beams, a reflector for reflecting at least a part of the light beams emitted by the light source in a light outlet direction on a region in front of the vehicle, and a dispersing element which is bringable in beam path of the light beams reflected by the reflector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 16, 2003
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Kirsten Redzinsky, Erwin Wittmeier, Heinz Grimm
  • Publication number: 20030169597
    Abstract: A vehicle headlamp including a reflector installed so as to be tiltable by an aiming mechanism installed in the lamp body. The aiming screw of the aiming mechanism has a rearward-extending portion that extends out of the lamp body, and a crown gear is attached to an area near the end of the rearward-extending portion so as to be spaced apart from a screw supporting wall of the lamp body that supports the middle portion of the aiming screw. An expanded-out wall that functions as a screwdriver guide for supporting a screwdriver that is used to rotate the crown gear is provided above the screw supporting wall. The end of the rearward-extending portion of the aiming screw is supported by a bracket that is installed near the screw supporting wall.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 11, 2003
    Publication date: September 11, 2003
    Applicant: Koito Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hideki Tanaka, Masayoshi Kuroda
  • Publication number: 20030165066
    Abstract: In a projector-type lamp unit, a shade is pivotally supported on a holder provided between a reflector and a projection lens. This support is provided at a plurality of regions disposed on an axis Ax1 of pivotal movement of the shade. This support at the plurality of regions is effected through a single shaft extending in a direction of the pivotal movement axis.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 21, 2003
    Publication date: September 4, 2003
    Inventors: Shigeyuki Watanabe, Shoichiro Yokoi
  • Publication number: 20030133308
    Abstract: A headlight system including a mounting device whereby the headlight system can be mounted on a vehicle, and a pair of spaced apart headlights carried by the mounting device. The mounting device includes an adjustment device whereby the distance between the headlights carried by the mounting device may be varied. The adjustment device includes a telescopic mounting device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 20, 2003
    Publication date: July 17, 2003
    Inventor: Todd Regan Christensen
  • Publication number: 20030128550
    Abstract: A vehicle headlamp unit includes a discharge lamp, a socket to which the discharge lamp is fitted, a base carrying the socket and being compatible with a base of a halogen bulb provided with a high beam filament and a low beam filament, and a moving mechanism, in response to a high beam mode or a low beam mode, for moving the socket in parallel along a direction perpendicular to a light axis of the vehicle headlamp unit without inclining a light axis of the discharge lamp.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 2, 2002
    Publication date: July 10, 2003
    Applicant: ASAHI RISE CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Takahiro Ui
  • Patent number: 6585401
    Abstract: A sliding contact is formed by a first terminal 40 fixed to a side of a lamp base flange 2 and a second terminal 41 fixed to a side of a slider 7. Accordingly, it is possible to supply an electric current to a glass tube 9 without bending a harness 3. Therefore, a harness 3 is not deteriorated, and a resistance at a time of sliding the glass tube 9 is not increased.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2003
    Assignee: Ichikoh Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Kunio Akizuki, Yasumitsu Nakabayashi
  • Patent number: 6568837
    Abstract: A motorized headlamp adjuster which is operably connectable to a control circuit and which is engageable with a headlamp assembly. Specifically, the headlamp adjuster includes an adjuster output shaft which is engageable with a reflector of a headlamp assembly. The headlamp adjuster includes a housing, and the adjuster output shaft extends from the housing. The adjuster output shaft preferably has a sealing member thereon which seals with the housing. Preferably, an external surface of the housing also has a sealing member thereon for engaging and sealing with the housing of the headlamp assembly when the headlamp adjuster is installed. As such, the headlamp adjuster is sealed, and seals with a headlamp housing when installed. Preferably, the headlamp adjuster does not include several complex components and is relatively easy to assemble.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2003
    Assignee: Elco Textron Inc.
    Inventor: Ronald S. Denley
  • Patent number: 6558030
    Abstract: A motor vehicle headlight has a reflector with two focal regions, a light source in one of these focal regions producing a pool of reflected light in the other focal region, and a lens which converts the pool of light into a beam projected on the road. The headlight includes means for displacing the light source with respect to the reflector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2003
    Assignee: Valeo Vision
    Inventors: Eric Blusseau, Alexis Dubrovin, Benny Grigorescu, Laurent Jeannot
  • Patent number: 6558033
    Abstract: The invention relates to a novel vibration proof lamp unit meant especially for demanding operating conditions. The invention relates also to a method for manufacturing the vibration proof lamp unit. The lamp unit embodiment according to the present invention can be utilized on vehicles, such as cars, busses, trucks, farm tractors, aeroplanes or on other mobile devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2003
    Inventors: Jari Ruuttu, Filip Törnroos
  • Patent number: 6550948
    Abstract: Disclosed is an vertically aimable motor vehicle lamp of a one-piece construction. The lamp includes a housing and mounting bracket joined by at least one integral living hinge positioned at the substantial side of the housing at the housing and bracket interface. The integral living hinges define a line of weakness between them about which the housing is pivotable. The housing includes an integral tab extending radially outwardly from the housing and adjacent to the front of the housing. The integral tab is engaged and operable by a vertical-direction adjuster. Further, the one-piece bracket and housing are suitable for manufacture via injection molding and may, because they are a unitary element, be molded in a single injection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2003
    Assignee: Guide Corporation
    Inventors: Nova K. Filbrun, Kenneth L. Trimpe
  • Publication number: 20030072164
    Abstract: A headlamp in which a frame member 50 is supported on a lamp body 14 in a vertically swingable fashion, and a lighting device unit 20 is supported on said frame member 50 in a horizontally swingable fashion. A control unit 108 controls the circular movement of said frame member 50 and said lighting device unit 20 in accordance with vehicle running conditions. With such a construction, a beam emitted from said lighting device unit 20 may be vertically and horizontally varied in its direction in accordance with vehicle running conditions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 17, 2002
    Publication date: April 17, 2003
    Inventors: Shigeyuki Watanabe, Katsuhito Mochizuki, Takashi Hori
  • Patent number: 6547427
    Abstract: The invention relates to a lighting system for a motor vehicle, said lighting system comprising a frame (20) suitable for supporting at least one lighting lamp (4, 5), a housing containing the frame and its lamp, and a structural piece (3) of the vehicle, which piece is suitable internally for supporting parts of the vehicle, and externally for supporting elements of the bodywork of the vehicle. The housing is an integral part of the structural piece (3), which, for this purpose, is provided with a bowl-shaped recess that can receive the frame and its lamp directly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2003
    Assignee: Compagnie Plastic Omnium
    Inventors: Hugues Cheron, Arnold Fayt, Fabien Delwal
  • Patent number: 6543924
    Abstract: A vehicle lamp including an optical means having a light source to be rotated by the driving unit having a driving source. The driving unit is provided with a rotational position detecting means including a base member and a rotating body being rotatable with respect to the base member for supplying signals corresponding to the rotational position of the rotating body with respect to the base member of the rotating body, and the optical means and rotating body of the rotational position detecting means are connected by clutch means.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2003
    Assignee: Koito Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Atsushi Sugimoto, Keiichi Tajima, Kazuma Mochizuki, Masanori Nishigaya
  • Patent number: 6543922
    Abstract: A lane mark irradiation lamp forming a pair of light distribution patterns on left and right sides of the road surface ahead of a vehicle. The light distribution patterns are formed so as to extend along the lane marks provided on the road, and the luminous intensity distribution of the light distribution patterns in lateral direction in a first angle position that is in a downward direction at a predetermined angle with respect to a longitudinal axis of the lamp is set so as to have peaks on both sides of such a longitudinal axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2003
    Assignee: Koito Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Motohiro Komatsu, Shoji Kobayashi, Hiroyuki Ishida
  • Patent number: 6543916
    Abstract: A vehicular headlamp with a movable reflector in which suitable aiming is possible using an aiming screw made from synthetic resin. The headlamp includes a synthetic resin lamp body and synthetic resin front lens that define a lamp compartment is which a reflector carrying a light source is housed. An aiming mechanism is disposed between the lamp body and the reflector and that supports the reflector such that it may be tilted relative to the lamp body. The aiming mechanism includes an aiming fulcrum that forms a tilt fulcrum for the reflector, a synthetic resin screw that extends forward and is rotatably supported in the screw insertion hole of the lamp body, and a synthetic resin nut member attached to a bracket formed on the reflector that meshes with the screw and is moved forward or backward in connection with the rotation of the screw. A nut slide guide carrying the nut member and supporting it so that it can slide forward and backward is integrally formed with the lamp body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2003
    Assignee: Koito Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Katsutada Shirai
  • Patent number: 6540386
    Abstract: A vehicular headlamp wherein aiming adjustment of two reflectors can be conducted accurately regardless of the positional relation between aiming screws operating in conjunction with each other. The headlamp includes first and second reflectors mounted in a lamp chamber defined by a lamp body opening at its front and a lens covering the front opening of the lamp body, the reflectors each being tiltable by turning of an aiming screw of a corresponding aiming mechanism that supports the corresponding reflector in a tiltable manner relative to the lamp body. A belt mechanism rotationally couples the two aiming screws for allowing the first aiming screw for tilting the first reflector and the second aiming screw for tilting the second reflector to be turned in conjunction with each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2003
    Assignee: Koito Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yuji Fujino, Takasumi Aoki
  • Patent number: 6533442
    Abstract: A beam light unit for vehicles, having a light module with a light source and a reflector, includes a downstream light output element to produce a predetermined light distribution. The light output element is mounted in a housing that leaves only a light outlet face of the light output element exposed, with sidewalls of the housing being in contact with jacket walls of the light output element immediately adjacent the light outlet face. Edge contours of the sidewalls correspond to a form of an edge of the light outlet face.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2000
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2003
    Assignee: Hella KG Hueck & Co.
    Inventors: Karsten Eichhorn, Detlef Korff, Roland Lachmayer, Burkhard Woerdenweber
  • Patent number: 6527424
    Abstract: A headlight for a vehicle for producing a low beam and at least one light beam with a greater distance, the headlight comprising a light source, a reflector, the light source and the reflector together forming a headlight unit, an electrically adjusting device for changing a relative position between the light source and the reflector, a light width adjusting device for turning the headlight insert about an at least approximately horizontally extending axis, and a safety device operative for monitoring at least indirectly an operation of the adjusting device and in the case of an error when the adjusting device operates not in an orderly manner, the safety device reduces an electric power with which the light source is operated and/or reduces a distance of a light beam produced by the headlight unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2003
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Ernst-Olaf Rosenhahn, Michael Hamm, Walter Thieringer, Rainer Wuestenhagen, Doris Boebel
  • Patent number: 6527427
    Abstract: A device for setting the distance between a first and a second component, in particular for the horizontal and vertical setting of motor vehicle headlamps, includes a setting screw which is connected to the first component, and which engages the second component. The drive for the setting screw has a slipping clutch that prevents overadjustment of the distance setting device after a maximum torque is reached. The slipping clutch prevents the transmission of torque to the setting screw by slipping, and thereby prevents damage to the distance setting device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2000
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2003
    Assignee: Asyst Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: Joachim Schröder
  • Publication number: 20030039124
    Abstract: A headlamp device for a vehicle includes a first light distribution controlling portion moving light irradiated forward from a light source in a lateral direction of the vehicle, and a second light distribution controlling portion moving the light irradiated forward from the light source in a vertical direction of the vehicle. A light distribution is controlled in response to a signal sent from the first light distribution controlling portion to the second light distribution controlling portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 20, 2002
    Publication date: February 27, 2003
    Inventors: Yuki Tawa, Masaaki Ishikawa, Toshihisa Hayami, Atsushi Sugimoto, Hideki Uchida
  • Patent number: 6511215
    Abstract: A lamp apparatus or a vehicle headlamp having first and second lamp units that are provided adjacent to each other in the lateral direction so as to tilt in a lamp body by first and second aiming mechanisms, respectively. First supporting portions for supporting a fulcrum pin and aiming screws of the fast aiming mechanism are provided behind the first lamp unit in the lamp body, and second supporting portions for supporting a fulcrum pin and aiming screws of the second aiming mechanism are provided behind the second lamp unit in the lamp body; and at least one of the plurality of first supporting portions and at least one of the plurality of second supporting portions are provided so as to overlap each other in a direction in which the lamp units are disposed when the headlamp is viewed from front.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2003
    Assignee: Koito Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Kazuya Hashigaya
  • Patent number: 6502972
    Abstract: A vehicular headlamp has a reflector which is supported at not less than three points through respective link members in relation to the lamp body in a tiltable manner. The reflector is molded by molding of a synthetic resin material. At least one of the link members is supported by an attachment piece which is integrally formed with and protrudes outward from a location where the opening periphery of a reflective surface of the reflector as viewed from the blanking direction during molding of the reflector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 1998
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2003
    Assignee: Koito Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Masao Matsubara
  • Patent number: 6499867
    Abstract: An improved running light fixture that includes a user aimable flood light attached to the convention running like support shaft and plug. The flood light is provided with strobe mechanism for providing a strobe effect that may be used by the boater to attract the attention of other boaters who could then come to provide assistance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2002
    Inventor: Ross M. Neal