Projection-type Headlamp Patents (Class 362/538)
  • Patent number: 11959610
    Abstract: A luminous motor-vehicle module including in a first light source, and a first reflective surface that is configured to collect and reflect the light rays emitted by the first light source into a first light beam, a second light source and a second reflective surface that is configured to collect and reflect the light rays emitted by said second light source into a second light beam, and an optical system configured to project the first and second light beams; the first and second light sources emitting the light rays in the same direction, the first and second reflective surfaces are offset along the optical axis and the optical system is configured to form an image of the second reflective surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2024
    Assignee: Valeo Vision
    Inventor: Yves Gromfeld
  • Patent number: 11873961
    Abstract: Illumination device (10) for a motor vehicle headlight, which comprises the following: a first light module (100) for producing light distribution, a bulb shield (300) having a bulb shield (300), which comprises an optically relevant shield edge (310) for producing a cut-off line, a projection lens (400) with an optical axis (A), which is designed to image the light that can be produced by the first light module (100) in front of the illumination device (10), wherein the projection lens (400) is designed as a Fresnel lens, which Fresnel lens has a base body (410) and several annular steps (420) arranged on the base body (410), wherein each step (420) has a main surface (420a) to project the light beams of the at least one light module (100) in front of the illumination device (10) and a sloping surface (420b) extending from the base body (410) to the main surface (420a), wherein the sloping surface (420a) forms a slope angle (W2) to the optical axis (A), and wherein the main surface (420a) and the sloping
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2024
    Assignee: ZKW Group GmbH
    Inventors: Bernhard Mandl, Andreas Hölzl, Johann Steinkellner, Sunjung Park
  • Patent number: 11670742
    Abstract: An optoelectronic semiconductor chip and a method for producing an optoelectronic semiconductor chip are disclosed. In an embodiment an optoelectronic semiconductor chip includes a semiconductor layer sequence having a plurality of pixels, the semiconductor layer sequence comprising an active layer configured to generate electromagnetic radiation of a first wavelength range and a plurality of conversion elements, wherein each conversion element is configured to convert the radiation of the first wavelength range into radiation of a second wavelength range, wherein each pixel has a radiation exit surface and a conversion element is arranged on each radiation exit surface, and wherein each conversion element has a greater thickness in a central region than in a peripheral region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2023
    Assignee: OSRAM OLED GmbH
    Inventors: Britta Göötz, Alexander Linkov
  • Patent number: 11624490
    Abstract: A lighting apparatus for vehicles, having a light source and a headlamp lens assigned thereto. The headlamp lens has scattering optical elements for scattering the light. A light guide is disposed between the light source and the headlamp lens in such a way that, firstly, light emitted by the light source strikes an area of the headlamp lens delimited by an edge of the same or a portion of the headlamp lens and/or that, secondly, the plurality of light sources are disposed with different spatial orientations with respect to one another in terms of their principal axes such that the light emitted by the light sources strikes different portions of the headlamp lens, wherein the headlamp lens is disposed upstream and/or downstream of the light source in the principal emission direction for the purposes of scattering the light in a transmissive or reflective manner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2023
    Assignee: Hella GmbH & Co. KGaA
    Inventor: Martin Muegge
  • Patent number: 11435047
    Abstract: A front light module for a headlamp is provided, with a light source unit containing a number of light sources, and with an optical unit featuring a lens for generating a front light distribution (LV). The optical unit features a number of collimator lens elements arranged adjacent to each other. A first collimator lens element features a rotationally symmetrical light emitting surface and a second collimator lens element features a rotationally symmetrical light emitting surface section and a toroidal light emitting surface section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2022
    Assignee: Hella GmbH & Co. KGaA
    Inventor: Bernd Fischer
  • Patent number: 11370352
    Abstract: The present invention proposes a lighting device for a motor vehicle comprising a first module that projects a first pixelated high beam, a second module that projects a second pixelated writing beam onto the road, and a third module that projects a third low beam cut-off. The first, second and third modules are arranged such that the first and second beams overlap at least partially vertically; and the second and third beams overlap at least partially vertically.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2022
    Assignee: Valeo Vision
    Inventors: Sebastien Roels, Marie Pellarin, Sophie Clade
  • Patent number: 11370351
    Abstract: There is provided an aiming adjustment method for a vehicle headlamp which performs aiming adjustment based on a reference point on a light-dark boundary of a light distribution pattern, the method includes setting, as the reference point, an intersection between a vertical light-dark boundary of a part of multi-divided light distribution patterns which are to be synthesized to form a high-beam light distribution pattern and a horizontal light-dark boundary of a low-beam light distribution pattern.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2022
    Assignee: KOITO MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Atsushi Sugimoto
  • Patent number: 11299091
    Abstract: The invention relates to a vehicle headlamp (1) comprising; a high-resolution lighting apparatus (2) for projecting various light distributions onto a roadway area (4) positioned in front of a vehicle (3); an environmental detection device (5) for detecting at least one parking space (6) located in the environment surrounding the vehicle (3); and a control device (7) for dynamically controlling the lighting apparatus (2); wherein the environmental detection device (5) is designed to issue information corresponding to a detected parking space (6) to the control device (7), wherein the control device (7) is designed, in case the environmental detection device (5) detects a parking space (6), to control the lighting apparatus (2), under consideration of at least the information issued by the environmental detection device (5) related to the parking space (6), in such a manner that the lighting apparatus (2) at least projects a definable ground projection (8), which at least represents the vehicle length, onto th
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2022
    Assignee: ZKW GROUP GMBH
    Inventors: Peter Hartmann, Markus Reinprecht, Josef Pürstinger, Bettina Reisinger, Clemens Hauer, Matthias Mayer, Christian Kalousek, Martin Lahmer
  • Patent number: 11268669
    Abstract: A bifocal lens module of vehicle headlight for vehicle includes a low beam condenser, a high beam condenser, a partition, a light guide member, and an optical lens. The partition has a curvy end face and an opening. The opening of the partition faces toward the optical lens. Light emitted by at least one low beam light source is converged through the low beam condenser, then transmitted from the upper position of the partition to the bottom of the partition, and eventually sent to the lower part of the optical lens. Light emitted by at least one high beam light source is converged by the high beam condenser, transmitted from the bottom of the partition through the light guide channel to the top of the partition, and then sent to the upper part of the optical lens.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2022
    Assignee: Zhejiang Bicorn Optics Co., Ltd
    Inventors: Yun Zhou, Yanxia Fu
  • Patent number: 11262043
    Abstract: Lit image projection lamp and assemblies and methods to use the same to generate three-dimensional images. In an exemplary embodiment of a projection device of the present disclosure, the projection device comprises a light source and a curved lens positioned at a first distance from the light source, wherein the curved lens is a lenticular lens, having a concave portion and a convex portion, and wherein the projection device is configured to generate a homogenous light bar image from light emitted from the light source that passes through the curved lens.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2022
    Assignee: Flex-N-Gate Advanced Product Development, LLC
    Inventors: Todd M. Nykerk, Lester R. Sullivan
  • Patent number: 11189987
    Abstract: A light emitting device includes: one or more semiconductor laser elements; one or more light-reflecting parts, each having a light-reflecting surface configured to reflect laser light emitted from a corresponding one of the one or more semiconductor laser elements; and a fluorescent part having a light-receiving surface configured to be irradiated with the laser light reflected at the light-reflecting surface of each of the one or more light-reflecting parts. An irradiated region is formed on the light-reflecting surface when the light-reflecting surface is irradiated with the laser light, the irradiated region including a first end and a second end opposite the first end.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 30, 2021
    Assignee: NICHIA CORPORATION
    Inventor: Soichiro Miura
  • Patent number: 11156333
    Abstract: A lighting system for a motor vehicle comprising at least one primary optical device for emitting a light beam exhibiting a cutoff profile, the primary optical emission device comprising at least one light source and one single-piece primary optical member comprising an input surface suitable for receiving a light beam emitted by the light source, a ray interception surface configured to form the cutoff profile in the light beam received and an output surface for the light beam. This system also comprises a projection device arranged downstream of the primary optical emission device(s) and comprising an input surface arranged facing the primary optical emission device(s), and through which are introduced rays of the light beam derived as output from the primary optical emission device(s) a single continuous output surface through which the light beam is projected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 26, 2021
    Assignee: VALEO VISION
    Inventors: Yves Gromfeld, Maxime Laminette, Sylvain Giraud, Jean-Francois Doha
  • Patent number: 11125395
    Abstract: Light systems and light fixtures are described herein. In one embodiment, a light system may include a light fixture, a first diffuser attached to the light fixture, where the first diffuser and the light fixture define a cavity, a first LED producing ambient light within the cavity, and a second LED producing directional light in the cavity, where the first diffuser is adapted or configured to receive the ambient light and the directional light and emit the ambient light and the directional light external to the light system. In another embodiment, a light fixture may include a first LED subsystem including a first LED and a diffuser, the first LED subsystem adapted or configured to produce ambient light, a second LED subsystem including a second LED and a reflector, the second LED subsystem adapted or configured to produce directional light, where the directional light passes through the diffuser.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 21, 2021
    Assignee: LUMINII LLC
    Inventors: Jeffery Parker, Laurentiu Vlad, Meng Yang, Sergey Lagonsky
  • Patent number: 11097652
    Abstract: There is provided an aiming adjustment method for a vehicle headlamp which performs aiming adjustment based on a reference point on a light-dark boundary of a light distribution pattern, the method includes setting, as the reference point, an intersection between a vertical light-dark boundary of a part of multi-divided light distribution patterns which are to be synthesized to form a high-beam light distribution pattern and a horizontal light-dark boundary of a low-beam light distribution pattern.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 24, 2021
    Assignee: KOITO MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Atsushi Sugimoto
  • Patent number: 11021095
    Abstract: A remotely controllable headlight assembly for use on a vehicle, the assembly comprising a circuit board including a plurality of LEDs including at least a first low beam LED, a first high beam LED and at least one additional LED, optic elements supported adjacent the LEDs on the circuit board, a processor and a remote communication module coupled to the processor, the remote communication module configured to receive commands from a wireless device, wherein the commands instruct the processor to illuminate the at least one additional LED, wherein the processor controls the at least one additional LED based on the received wireless commands.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2021
    Assignee: J.W. SPEAKER CORPORATION
    Inventors: Jeffrey L. Spenner, Dragan Popovic, Michael Herre, Sanjay Bora, Troy A. VerStrate
  • Patent number: 10995937
    Abstract: Submersible lights including housings and a multilayer stack for pressure transfer are disclosed. A transparent pressure-bearing window, a window support structure, a circuit element populated with LEDs, and a pressure support structure may be mounted inside the housing. The support structure may be structured to bear at least some of the pressure applied to the transparent window from external pressure sources. The support structures may also be adapted to transfer thermal energy to an exterior environment such as sea water.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2021
    Assignee: SEESCAN, INC.
    Inventors: Mark S. Olsson, Jon E. Simmons, John R. Sanderson, IV, Aaron J. Steiner
  • Patent number: 10962188
    Abstract: A vehicle lamp includes a lamp unit configured such that emitted light from a light source is emitted toward the front of the lamp via a projection lens. The lamp unit includes first and second light sources as the light source, which are turned on at respective required turning on modes. The first light source includes at least one light emitting element disposed in a vicinity of a rear focal point of the projection lens. The second light source includes at least one light emitting element disposed at a position obtained by being moved from the rear focal point in a front-rear direction above the rear focal point. Light emitting elements including the first and second light source respectively are mounted on the same substrate extending obliquely in the front-rear direction of the lamp relative to a vertical plane orthogonal to the front-rear direction of the lamp.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2021
    Assignee: KOITO MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Ryujiro Ikuta
  • Patent number: 10955102
    Abstract: An optical unit of a lamp for a vehicle may include: a first lens unit which lights emitted from light sources arranged in an x-axis direction penetrate while propagating in a y-axis direction; and a second lens unit disposed in the y-axis direction from the first lens unit, and having an incident refracting surface for adjusting an x-axis directional optical path of light having passed through the first lens unit and an emission refracting surface for adjusting a z-axis directional optical path of the light having passed through the incident refracting surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2021
    Assignee: HYUNDAI MOBIS CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Jong Cheol Lee
  • Patent number: 10941917
    Abstract: A lighting tool for a vehicle configured to radiate light toward a side in front of a vehicle includes: a light radiation unit having a light source main body; a first optical system configured to condense light radiated from the light radiation unit; and a cover member disposed in front of the first optical system and configured to overlap at least a part of the first optical system when seen from the front, wherein an opening disposed on an optical axis of the first optical system is provided in the cover member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2021
    Assignee: STANLEY ELECTRIC CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Shinya Kogure
  • Patent number: 10915011
    Abstract: Disclosed is a lighting assembly including a plurality of Light Emitting Diodes (LEDs) for providing a projection of a substantially uniform light at a working distance from the lighting assembly by oscillating the included plurality of LEDs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 9, 2021
    Assignee: Designs for Vision, Inc.
    Inventors: Richard E. Feinbloom, Kenneth N. Braganca, Kenneth Koscheka, Saida Mohbi
  • Patent number: 10913387
    Abstract: A lighting device for a motor vehicle including a first lighting module projecting at least one first matrix of first independently activatable juxtaposed pixels, the first pixels being arranged in several vertical columns and in at least one transverse row of determined height (Dh), characterized in that it includes a second lighting module projecting a second matrix of second independently activatable juxtaposed pixels, the second pixels being arranged in at least one transverse row, the second matrix being superposed with the first matrix with a vertical offset by a vertical offset distance (P) less than the determined height (Dh) relative to the first pixels of the first matrix.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 9, 2021
    Assignee: Valeo Vision
    Inventors: Marie Pellarin, Vanesa Sanchez, Sebastien Roels
  • Patent number: 10912168
    Abstract: A LED light apparatus includes a central beam module, a peripheral light module, a support housing and a cap. The central beam module has a beam lens for converting a first light to form a light beam. The peripheral light module has a light passing ring. The light passing ring surrounds the beam lens for converting a second light to form a peripheral light. The peripheral light has a lower intensity strength than the light beam. The support housing fixes the central beam module and the peripheral light module. The cap is fixed to the support housing for plugging in an external socket for getting an external power supply.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2021
    Assignee: XIAMEN ECO LIGHTING CO. LTD.
    Inventors: Dejuan Liang, Qiyuan Wang, Liangliang Cao, Yi Yang, Xueqiong Chen
  • Patent number: 10899470
    Abstract: An aircraft landing light with static function switching for producing at least two beams having different characteristics, in particular different orientations and/or openings, comprises an array of light-emitting diode lighting modules (6) each comprising at least two sets of at least one light source (S1, S2), operable selectively and statically to provide at least one of the lighting functions. Each lighting module (6) comprises a common converging lens (L) for the light sources, the converging lens comprising a light input optical surface (Li) and a light output optical surface (L2), said light sources being positioned in relation to the light input optical surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2021
    Assignee: ZODIAC AERO ELECTRIC
    Inventors: Philippe Millet, Claude Doule, Christian Tsao
  • Patent number: 10883688
    Abstract: A lamp device for vehicle 1 comprises a light source 2, an inner lens 3 configured to accept light of the light source 2, and a housing 5 configured to cover a periphery of the light source unit 2 and the inner lens 3. When a traveling direction of a light beam with a largest light amount in the light emitted from the light source 2 is defined as front, the housing 5 includes a back surface portion 51 located on a rear side of the inner lens 3, and a lower surface portion 53 located on a lower side of the inner lens 3, the lower surface portion 53 includes an extended portion 53a extended to a front side of a front surface portion 31a of the inner lens 3.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2021
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Naoto Inoue
  • Patent number: 10766399
    Abstract: A front-lighting system for a vehicle has: a first light source, a second light source, a first primary optics, a second primary optics, a transparent shutter, and a secondary optics. The first primary optics receives light from the first light source and projects it onto the transparent shutter and the secondary optics. The second primary optics receives light from the second light source and projects it onto the transparent shutter. The transparent shutter receives light from the first primary optics and prevents a lower part of it from entering the secondary optics, receives light from the second primary optics and projects it onto the secondary optics, and has a light out-coupling surface and micro-optical structures on a bordering surface. The secondary optics receives light from the first primary optics and the transparent shutter, and projects it onto a road in front of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2020
    Assignee: LUMILEDS LLC
    Inventors: Kang Lu, Ping Wu, Meng Han, Huayun Feng, Yiwen Lu
  • Patent number: 10697607
    Abstract: A thin aspect lighting system and method are shown. The system and method include at least one module having a reflector that is generally elliptical in one cross-section and generally parabolic in another cross-section. Each module is adapted to generate at least one of a flat beam pattern, a high beam pattern or a low beam pattern, such as a low beam pattern with a kink or elbow. Also shown is a headlamp assembly having a plurality of modules that generate the same or a different light beam pattern. Manipulation and variation of facets and/or positions of various components, such as at least one light source, have been found to provide improved characteristics in one or more of the light beam patterns.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 30, 2020
    Assignee: Valeo North America, Inc.
    Inventors: Brant Potter, John Steven Orisich, Matthew Berry
  • Patent number: 10697604
    Abstract: A vehicle lamp for installing on a vehicle includes a projector lens, a reflector, a first light emitting element, a shield, and an optical grating unit. The projector lens has a light entry surface and a light exit surface. The first light emitting element is adjacent to a first focal point of the reflector, and is for emitting light towards the reflector. The shield is for blocking a portion of the light that is emitted from the first light emitting element to form a cut-off line in a light distribution pattern. The optical grating unit is for reflecting at least a portion of the light that has passed a second focal point of the reflector and that has not passed through the light exit surface of the projector lens.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 30, 2020
    Assignee: Hua Xin Optronics Co.
    Inventors: You-Kang Guan, I-Liang Huang
  • Patent number: 10655808
    Abstract: A vehicle lamp includes a projection lens, a first light source disposed behind the projection lens and configured to emit light forming a low-beam light distribution pattern which is a predetermined light distribution pattern, a reflector configured to reflect light emitted from the first light source toward a first rear focal point of the projection lens, and a second array light source disposed behind the projection lens and having a plurality of semiconductor light emitting elements arranged in at least one row. The second array light source is configured to emit light forming an additional light distribution pattern, and the center position or maximum light intensity position of the additional light distribution pattern overlaps with the low-beam light distribution pattern on a virtual vertical screen in front of the lamp.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2020
    Assignee: KOITO MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Kenichi Takada, Tatsuma Kitazawa, Hiroki Kawai, Teruaki Yamamoto, Akira Hanada, Kenta Oishi, Akinori Matsumoto
  • Patent number: 10598325
    Abstract: A light source module and a vehicle headlamp is provided. The light source module and the vehicle headlamp include a circuit board and first and second light emitting modules that are disposed on the circuit board. The first and second light emitting modules are divided by a partition wall. Each of the first and second light emitting modules includes a blue LED light source and a phosphor that is disposed on the blue LED light source. The phosphor is configured to be activated by the blue LED light source to emit first light and includes a phosphor film that is disposed on an exterior of the first light emitting module and the phosphor film is configured to emit a second light.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2020
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Motors Corporation
    Inventor: Chan Hee Kang
  • Patent number: 10598337
    Abstract: A lamp for a vehicle includes: a light generation unit including an array provided with a plurality of micro-light emitting diode (micro-LED) chips arranged therein; and a lens configured to redirect light beams generated by the light generation unit. The light generation unit is configured to output a plurality of beams having a divergence angle defined in a vertical direction. The lens is arranged to have a largest vertical cross-section thereof inscribed in the divergence angle of the beams that are output from the light generation unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2020
    Assignee: ZKW Group GmbH
    Inventors: Juung Jo, Hankyu Cho
  • Patent number: 10598326
    Abstract: A universal type mounting structure for a car lamp bulb and a method for assembling the universal type mounting structure for a car lamp bulb with a bulb. The universal type mounting structure for a car lamp bulb is used for assembling the bulb by being cooperated with a bulb base and includes a contact piece, a reflecting mirror mounting part and a supporting seat, wherein the supporting seat is arranged in the reflecting mirror mounting part. According to the universal type mounting structure for a car lamp bulb, the assembly of arranged parts and the bulb is completed according to assembly procedures, so that high mounting convenience and dismounting convenience (single-hand mounting can be performed) are guaranteed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2020
    Assignee: H.A. AUTOMOTIVE SYSTEMS, INC.
    Inventors: Hao Hou, Jingquan Li, Xianfeng Lu, Yuan Zhang
  • Patent number: 10569711
    Abstract: The invention relates to a monitoring apparatus for monitoring the operating state of a laser vehicle headlamp (4), wherein the laser vehicle headlamp (4) comprises at least one laser light source (5) and a light conversion element (6) that can be illuminated by the laser light source (5) and therefore can be excited to emit visible light, wherein the monitoring apparatus has at least one photosensitive device (3) and one comparison device (1), wherein the photosensitive device (3) comprises at least one LED (D1) that is set up to convert light received from the laser light source (5) into an electrical signal (UD) that is supplied to the comparison device (1), wherein the comparison device (1) is set up to compare the electrical signal (UD) with a preselectable value and to output a fault signal (U0) on the basis of the result of the comparison.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2020
    Assignee: ZKW Group GmbH
    Inventor: Georg Hebenstreit
  • Patent number: 10551022
    Abstract: A vehicle lamp includes a light source, a rotation reflector that includes a reflective surface that reflects emission light emitted from the light source while rotating, a projection lens that projects the reflected light from the rotation reflector to a front of the vehicle, and a movable shade provided between the rotation reflector and the projection lens. The movable shade is configured to be movable between a first position where the reflected light passes when the reflected light is projected to the front side of the vehicle and a second position where at least a part of incident light that is incident from the projection lens is shielded so as not to reach the rotation reflector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2020
    Assignee: Koito Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Yoshiyuki Nakanishi
  • Patent number: 10544916
    Abstract: A headlamp system for a vehicle is provided that includes: a headlamp comprising a photochromic lens, a primary light source for transmitting a headlamp pattern through the lens and a secondary light source; an imaging sensor; and a controller that directs the secondary light source to darken a portion of the lens in response to an object exterior to the vehicle sensed by the sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2020
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: Connor I. Robinson
  • Patent number: 10527246
    Abstract: The invention relates to an optical device for projecting a pixelized light beam, in particular for a motor vehicle. The device comprises at least two matrix-arrays each equipped with primary light sources able to emit light rays and each placed in a plane that is specific thereto; at least one primary optical system associated with each matrix-array and placed downstream of the matrix-array, each primary optical system forming a virtual image of the matrix-array upstream of the latter; and an optical projecting system forming an image from the virtual images, in which image the virtual images overlap partially.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2020
    Assignee: VALEO VISION
    Inventors: Antoine De Lamberterie, Guillaume Thin, Olivier-Sebastien Lesaffre
  • Patent number: 10508787
    Abstract: A vehicle lighting module includes first and second optical units, each having a light source and a light distribution forming portion configured to control an optical path of light emitted from the light source. The first and second optical units are configured to form first and second light distribution patterns in front, respectively. Horizontal illumination widths of the first and second light distribution patterns are substantially equal. Each of the first and second light distribution patterns has a horizontally extending cutoff line at at least a part of an end edge of one of upper and lower sides thereof. The cutoff line of the first light distribution pattern is positioned at the one of the upper and lower sides of the cutoff line of the second light distribution pattern.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2019
    Assignee: STANLEY ELECTRIC CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Ryotaro Owada
  • Patent number: 10451243
    Abstract: A light device, especially a signal lamp for motor vehicles, includes a carrier housing (1) covered by a translucent cover (2) and an internal chamber (3) that houses an optical system comprising a light source (13) to generate coherent light (101) with a high luminous intensity. The optical system further comprises a lens (6) to direct the coherent light (101) generated by the light source (13) into a focused light beam (102), a divider (7) to divide the focused light beam (102) into separate light streams (103), and a diffusion means (9) to transform the light streams (103) entering the diffusion means (9) into homogenized light beams (104), the above mentioned parts of the optical system being arranged and configured for creating, in the front view, a spatial and/or designer light effect.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2019
    Assignee: Varroc Lighting Systems, s.r.o.
    Inventors: Tomas Gloss, Tomas Mateju, Milan Stylarek, Ludek Mazal
  • Patent number: 10429022
    Abstract: A headlight for a motor vehicle includes a light source, a projection lens, an optical element that corrects a chromatic aberration of the projection lens and a screen arranged between the light source and the projection lens, on which screen the corrective optical element is mounted at a distance from the projection lens.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2019
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Rouven Haberkorn, Justus Illium, Philipp Roeckl, Gregor Krieg
  • Patent number: 10415782
    Abstract: A lighting device for vehicles with a multitude of light modules, each comprising a light source arranged on a substrate and a lens arranged at a distance to the light source for the creation of a given light distribution. A fixed side light module and a fixed main light module are provided as a light module. The side light module has an asymmetric lens, so that a light beam radiated by the side light module creates a side light distribution extending a main light distribution created by the main light module in the lateral direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2019
    Assignee: Hella GmbH & Co. KGaA
    Inventors: Dirk Kliebisch, Jaroslaw Schimon
  • Patent number: 10415794
    Abstract: A light emitting device includes: a base member; a laser element disposed on or above a mounting surface of the base member; a fluorescent member including a first main surface and a second main surface respectively positioned on opposite sides of the fluorescent member, the second main surface being fixed to the mounting surface of the base member; a first optical member configured to change a traveling direction of laser light emitted by the laser element to be directed toward the first main surface of the fluorescent member; and a lid connected to the base member and enclosing the laser element, the fluorescent member, and the first optical member in a space beneath the lid, the lid being configured to transmit light from the fluorescent member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2019
    Assignee: NICHIA CORPORATION
    Inventors: Seiji Kiyota, Hiroaki Yuto, Kei Adachi
  • Patent number: 10378718
    Abstract: The invention relates to an optical structure (100) for a lighting device (1) of a motor vehicle headlight, which lighting device (1) is designed to radiate light, the light radiated from the lighting device (1) forming a predefined light distribution (LV1), wherein the optical structure (100) is associated with the lighting device (1) in such a way or is part of the lighting device (1) in such a way that substantially the entire flow of light from the lighting device (1) passes through the optical structure (100), and wherein the unmodified light distribution (LV1) produced by the lighting device (1) is modified by the optical structure (100) into a predefinable, modified light distribution (LV2), wherein the modified light distribution (LV2) is formed by convolution of the unmodified light distribution (LV1) with a scattering function (PSF), and wherein the optical structure (100) is designed in such a way that the unmodified light distribution (LV1) is modified according to the scattering function.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2019
    Assignee: ZKW Group GmbH
    Inventor: Dietmar Kieslinger
  • Patent number: 10371339
    Abstract: The invention proposes a lighting module for motor vehicles, which comprises optical means for deviating in angular manner at least a portion of the light rays passing through them, without thereby changing the geometry of the projection lens of the lighting module.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2019
    Assignee: VALEO VISION
    Inventors: Marie Pellarin, David Bourdin
  • Patent number: 10359177
    Abstract: Provided is an illumination device mounted in a vehicle. The illumination device includes: a light source; a projection lens unit having a projection lens; a support member that supports the projection lens; a shaft portion including a pivot axis that extends in a direction intersecting with an optical axis; a shaft holding portion that holds the shaft portion to be pivotable around the pivot axis; a screw member provided to be rotatable around a rotation axis that extends in a direction different from the optical axis; and a conversion mechanism that converts a rotating motion of the screw member around the rotation axis into a pivoting motion of the shaft portion around the pivot axis. The screw member and the conversion mechanism are positioned farther away from the optical axis than the shaft portion and the shaft holding portion in the direction intersecting with the optical axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2019
    Assignee: Koito Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Hiroki Shibata
  • Patent number: 10302268
    Abstract: A vehicular headlamp includes: a light source emitting light; a projection lens through which the light emitted from the light source is transmitted; and a reflective plate positioned between the light source and the projection lens so as to reflect a portion of the light emitted from the light source toward the projection lens. An emission direction of at least a portion of the light reflected by the reflective plate from the projection lens is different from an emission direction of light emitted from the projection lens and forming a light distribution pattern.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2019
    Assignee: Koito Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Masashi Tatsukawa
  • Patent number: 10288244
    Abstract: A vehicle lighting fixture capable of improving the visual recognizability when seen from its front oblique direction is provided. The vehicle lighting fixture includes: a light guide plate having a front light emission surface extending in a circular arc shape. A plurality of lens cut surfaces is formed in the front light emission surface to extend in a circular arc shape, the lens cut surfaces being recessed rearward and formed in a concentric manner. A structural body is provided to the rear surface thereof to diffuse and reflect light guided within the light guide plate in order for the light to exit through the front light emission surface. The light guide plate is formed in a substantially circular truncated conical shape where the light guide plate on an outer peripheral side is located rearward more than on an inner peripheral side.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2019
    Assignee: STANLEY ELECTRIC CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Kazuya Furubayashi
  • Patent number: 10240737
    Abstract: A light assembly for a vehicle is provided herein. The light assembly includes a housing and a lens. A light source is disposed between the housing and lens. A bulb shield is disposed between the light source and the lens. A peripheral portion of the bulb shield has a first optical transmittance and a central region of the bulb shield has a second optical transmittance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2019
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Stuart C. Salter, Aaron Bradley Johnson, Paul Kenneth Dellock, Stephen Kenneth Helwig
  • Patent number: 10215358
    Abstract: A low beam shield for headlamps forms a low beam pattern having a uniform light distribution. The low beam shield for headlamps is installed within a headlamp of a vehicle and forms a low beam pattern irradiated ahead of the vehicle and includes a back plate that forms a horizontal plane, a first front plate that extends from a first side of a front end of the back plate and forms a first cut-off edge and a second front plate that extends from a second side of the front end of the back plate and forms a second cut-off edge. An upper surface of the first front plate having the first cut-off edge has a different slope than an upper surface of the second front plate having the second cut-off edge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2019
    Assignee: SL Corporation
    Inventors: Hyo Jin Han, Jin Young Jung
  • Patent number: 10208911
    Abstract: An optical unit includes a light source, a rotary reflector that rotates about an axis of rotation and includes a reflective surface that reflects light emitted by the light source, and a projection lens including an incident surface on which reflected light from the rotary reflector is incident. A shade is provided between the projection lens and the rotary reflector. The shade blocks at least a portion of light that has been incident on an emission surface of the projection lens at an angle within a predetermined range, that has been condensed by the projection lens, and that travels toward the reflective surface of the rotary reflector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2019
    Assignee: KOITO MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hidetada Tanaka, Misako Nakazawa, Satoshi Yamamura
  • Patent number: 10174901
    Abstract: A vehicle lamp includes a light source including a plurality of light emitting elements or light emitting surfaces, a projection lens that projects light emitted from the light source, and a light distribution adjusting element that adjusts light distribution of the light emitted from the light source, wherein the light distribution adjusting element has a plurality of prisms having different angles of inclined surfaces corresponding to a direction in which the plurality of light emitting elements or light emitting surfaces are arranged, and prism surfaces in which at least one or a plurality of flat surfaces are arranged.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2019
    Assignee: STANLEY ELECTRIC CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Masafumi Ohno
  • Patent number: 10174925
    Abstract: A wavelength conversion member includes a light-reflecting member configured to reflect laser light, and a phosphor-containing layer disposed on the light-reflecting member. The phosphor-containing layer includes one or more projecting portions each configured to be irradiated with laser light. An area of each projecting portion is larger than an area of a spot of the laser light in a plan view. A light source device includes the wavelength-converting member and one or more laser elements. The wavelength-converting member is arranged at a position so that laser light emitted from the one or more laser elements are irradiated on a corresponding one of the one or more projecting portions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2019
    Assignee: NICHIA CORPORATION
    Inventor: Toshiaki Yamashita