Projection-type Headlamp Patents (Class 362/538)
  • Patent number: 10156333
    Abstract: A lamp for a vehicle is provided. The lamp includes a first lamp unit that includes a first light source portion and a first reflection portion having a reflection surface which forms a first beam pattern by reflecting light generated by the first light source portion in a forward direction. A second lamp unit is located on one side of the first lamp unit and includes a second light source portion and a second reflection portion having a reflection surface which forms a second beam pattern by reflecting light generated by the second light source portion in a forward direction. The first lamp unit includes a main reflection pattern formed on an outer wall portion disposed on a side of the first reflection portion and reflects a part of the light generated by the first light source portion toward the second reflection portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2018
    Assignee: SL Corporation
    Inventors: Wooyeong Shon, Sunkyoung Park
  • Patent number: 10139069
    Abstract: A partially aluminized lens for an automotive lamp which is set in front of the automotive lamp light source and comprised of a light-incident surface and a light-emitting surface forming the main light shape, and the reflection surface forming the auxiliary light shape. The aforesaid light-incident surface and the light-emitting surface forming the main light shape is completed by a plano-convex lens. The aforesaid reflection surface forming the auxiliary light shape is completed by a reflection frame integrated and provided with the plano-convex lens, and the aforesaid reflection frame is formed by partial aluminization.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2018
    Assignee: SHANGHAI KOITO AUTOMOTIVE LAMP CO., LTD
    Inventor: Jie Zhang
  • Patent number: 10077887
    Abstract: A light emitting apparatus is provided. The light emitting apparatus may include a light source device that emits a plurality of laser beams in parallel, a light transmission device that gathers the plurality of laser beams emitted from the light source device into a single beam and outputs the single beam to a focus, a wavelength conversion device that converts the wavelength of the single beam on the focus, and a housing to receive the light source device, the light transmission device, and the wavelength conversion device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2018
    Assignee: LG INNOTEK CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Chang Gyun Son, Ki Cheol Kim, Sung Phil Kim, Kang Yeol Park
  • Patent number: 10054278
    Abstract: A vehicle headlamp includes a reflector unit including plural reflectors connected to each other, and base portions to which the reflectors are connected respectively, plural light-source units disposed on the base portions for the respective reflectors, plural heat radiation members disposed on the respective light-source units. The base portions are provided with plural heat radiation member fixing ribs extending to a side opposite to the reflectors. The heat radiation members are formed with plural heat radiation member fixing holes having a diameter larger than that of the heat radiation member fixing ribs. Each of the heat radiation member fixing ribs is inserted through the respective one of the heat radiation member fixing holes and thermally crimped such that a gap is formed between an inner peripheral surface of the heat radiation member fixing hole and an outer peripheral surface of the heat radiation member fixing rib.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2018
    Assignee: KOITO MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Suemitsu, Yusuke Aoki, Koji Okawa
  • Patent number: 10052999
    Abstract: A lighting apparatus for vehicle use that projects light forward includes a base, a low beam lamp including a low beam light emitter disposed on the base, a first light emitter disposed on the base and a second light emitter. A lighting controller turns on the low beam light emitter, the first light emitter, and the second light emitter, and an optical system reflects light from the first and second light emitters at least above and below the first and second light emitters, to produce a light distribution pattern. Centers of areas illuminated by the light from the first and second light emitters are horizontally spaced from each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2018
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yoshihiko Kanayama, Hiro Aoki, Makoto Kai, Tomoyuki Ogata
  • Patent number: 10054279
    Abstract: An illumination device for vehicles with a first light module for producing a first light distribution and with a second light module for producing a second light distribution. The second light module has numerous semiconductor-based light sources arranged as a matrix, a primary optics unit with primary optical elements assigned to each of the light sources and a secondary optics unit. An intermediary optics unit is arranged between the primary optics unit and the secondary optics unit of the second light module; the intermediary optics unit is designed so that a light-intensity gradient of the second light distribution gradually diminishes in a vertical and/or horizontal direction in a lower subarea, in which the first light distribution of the first light module connects or overlaps with an upper subarea.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2018
    Assignee: Hella GmbH & Co. KGaA
    Inventor: Dirk Kliebisch
  • Patent number: 10036522
    Abstract: A clearance lamp (20) including an LED, a light guide (23) that receives light from the LED on its one end surface and guides the light therein to emit the light forward from the emitting surface (23c) extending along the extending direction of the light guide; and a back surface portion (26b) of a clearance lamp body (26) to which the light guide is attached. The light guide includes a bar-shaped light guide body (23b), a first extended portion (23f) extended downward from the light guide body, a second extended portion (23g) extended rearward from an extended end of the first extended portion, and a fixing portion (23h) that is formed in the second extended portion to fix the light guide to the back surface portion of the clearance lamp body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2018
    Assignee: Koito Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Daisuke Aizawa
  • Patent number: 9975471
    Abstract: A driver assistance system for controlling a high beam, including an environment detecting device. At least one radar or lidar sensor system as well as a camera sensor system are provided for detecting the environment in front of the vehicle. A control signal for a high beam controller or warning device is generated when the high beam is active and at least one sensor system for detecting the environment simultaneously detects a potentially dazzled object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2018
    Assignee: Conti Temic microelectronic GmbH
    Inventors: Thomas Bopp, Frank Gruson, Stefan Hegemann, Peter van der Vegte
  • Patent number: 9964270
    Abstract: An optoelectronic semiconductor component and an adaptive headlight are disclosed. In an embodiment an optoelectronic semiconductor component includes a carrier having a carrier top side and a carrier underside, a plurality of active zones, which are fitted at the carrier top side and which are designed for emitting radiation, electrical contact locations at the carrier underside, which are designed for electrically connecting the semiconductor component and a drive unit for electrically addressing the semiconductor component and for electrically driving the active zones, wherein the active zones are fitted in a regular grid at the carrier top side, wherein the grid has a grid pitch, wherein geometrical midpoints of radiation main sides of the active zones lie on grid points of the grid, and wherein a distance between the geometrical midpoints of marginal active zones and a closest edge of the carrier is at most 50% of the grid pitch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2018
    Assignee: OSRAM Opto Semiconductors GmbH
    Inventors: Stefan Grötsch, Norbert Häfner
  • Patent number: 9869454
    Abstract: Embodiments provide a light-emitting apparatus including at least one light source, a wavelength converter configured to convert a wavelength of light emitted from the light source, a reflector configured to reflect the light having the wavelength converted in the wavelength converter and light having an unconverted wavelength, and a refractive member disposed in a light passage space between the reflector and the wavelength converter, the refractive member being configured to emit the reflected light.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2018
    Assignee: LG INNOTEK CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Ki Cheol Kim, Chang Gyun Son, Kang Yeol Park
  • Patent number: 9862301
    Abstract: A vehicular rear panel with a new configuration is provided. The vehicular rear panel according to an aspect of the present disclosure is made of a resin material and disposed on a rear vehicle body part. The vehicular rear panel includes a light guiding unit configured to guide light from the light source along an extending direction of the vehicular rear panel and a light emitting unit configured to emit light in the light guiding unit to a rear side of a vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2018
    Assignee: Koito Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kenji Yamada, Masaaki Nakabayashi, Koji Uchino, Manabu Maeda, Noriaki Ito, Norimasa Yamamoto, Asami Nakada, Yuji Sakurai, Hiroya Koizumi, Tsukasa Tokida, Takao Muramatsu, Tomoaki Otani, Motohiro Komatsu, Akihiro Matsumoto, Takashi Terayama, Hiroki Ishibashi
  • Patent number: 9765940
    Abstract: A lighting apparatus for vehicle use that projects light forward includes: a base; a low beam light emitting device disposed on the base; a high beam light emitting device disposed on the base; a lens body disposed in front of the low beam light emitting device and the high beam light emitting device; and a first light restrictor disposed in front of the high beam light emitting device, the first light restrictor restricting light emitted by the high beam light emitting device from traveling downward.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2017
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yoshihiko Kanayama, Hiro Aoki, Makoto Kai, Tomoyuki Ogata
  • Patent number: 9702520
    Abstract: Automotive daytime running lights, includes a light source and reflecting plates arranged on a light path of the light source. A substrate is arranged near the reflecting plates. A plurality of reflecting cups is formed on a surface of the substrate. Every reflecting plate faces a corresponding reflecting cup. The reflecting plates can rotate around light source to change the light exiting from the light source. The invention uses a laser source with reflecting plates to make the automotive daytime running lights have high visibility and be aesthetic in appearance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2017
    Assignee: ScienBiziP Consulting(Shenzhen)Co.,Ltd.
    Inventor: Chen-Han Lin
  • Patent number: 9695999
    Abstract: In a lighting system for a vehicle provided with a main light, an extension arranged between a reflector of the main light and an outer lens, a light guide member located in the vicinity of the extension, and a light source for the light guide member provided separately from a light source for the main light, the light source and a driver for the light guide member are arranged effectively to improve external appearance. A light incident section provided in the light guide member for admitting light from the light source for the light guide member, and a driver for the light guide member for adjusting power supply amount to the light source for the light guide member, are arranged in such a position as to be covered with an extension in a front view.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2017
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Nobuyuki Takenaka, Hiroshi Hayashi
  • Patent number: 9666756
    Abstract: An optoelectronic semiconductor module includes a plurality of light-emitting areas, which emit light when in operation. At least two abutting lateral edges of at least one light-emitting area are arranged at an angle of more than 0 degrees and less than 90 degrees to each other. Further embodiments relate to a display having a plurality of such modules.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2017
    Assignee: OSRAM Opto Semiconductors, GmbH
    Inventors: Norwin von Malm, Georg Bogner, Joachim Reill, Stefan Grötsch
  • Patent number: 9587794
    Abstract: A headlight assembly including a plurality of low-beam modules and a plurality of high-beam modules are enclosed in a housing. The low-beam modules include a top reflector disposed above a low-beam LED light source that projects a height limited first beam of light through the low-beam lens. The high-beam modules include a bottom reflector disposed below a high-beam LED light source that projects a second beam of light through a high-beam lens above the first beam of light. Each module has an aspect ratio of 2:1 with the height of the lens being twice the width of the lens.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2017
    Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Ketan K. Desai, David A. Brown, Li Yan, Stephen Kenneth Helwig, Sleiman N. Abdelnour
  • Patent number: 9557025
    Abstract: A lighting apparatus for a vehicle may include a reflector configured to reflect light generated from a light source forward, a lens configured to be disposed in front of the reflector to receive the light reflected from the reflector, a first reflecting body configured to be disposed between the lens and the reflector to receive light not received in the lens among the light reflected from the reflector, and a second reflecting body configured to guide the light reflected from the first reflecting body to the lens.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2017
    Assignee: Hyundai Motor Company
    Inventor: Seong Hoon Lee
  • Patent number: 9518713
    Abstract: Disclosed is a bi function LED head lamp using a thin shield. The lamp includes: a low beam light source and a high beam light source installed at inner upper and lower sides of a reflector; a shield installed at a front end of the partition in the reflector; a lens holder in which the rear is joined to a front surface of the reflector; and a signal reflection surface installed at an inner lower end of the lens holder. The low beam and the high beam are implemented only by turning on and off an LED through applying the thin shield without an actuator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2016
    Assignee: HYUNDAI MOBIS CO., LTD
    Inventor: Hyun Soo Lee
  • Patent number: 9494284
    Abstract: In a light emitting section, a phosphor layer including a first phosphor particle which receives excitation light and emits fluorescence with a first peak wavelength and a phosphor layer including a second phosphor particle which receives the excitation light and emits fluorescence with a second peak wavelength are stacked. In the light emitting section, when an upper surface is a surface from which illumination light is mostly emitted, the illumination light including the fluorescence emitted from the first phosphor particle and the fluorescence emitted from the second phosphor particle, a reflective member to reduce leakage of fluorescence is provided on a side surface of the light emitting section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2016
    Assignee: SHARP KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Koji Takahashi, Yoshiyuki Takahira, Yosuke Maemura, Tomohiro Sakaue
  • Patent number: 9482405
    Abstract: A present invention includes a lamp housing, a lamp lens, a first lamp unit, and a second lamp unit. The first lamp unit includes a semiconductor-type light source, and a light guide member. The light guide member has an exit surface, and a reflection surface. A plane exit surface is provided in a part of the exit surface for blocking a part of a radiated light L4 from the second lamp unit, and a plane incident surface is provided in a part of the reflection surface for blocking a part of the radiated light L4 from the second lamp unit. As a result, the present invention is able to minimize an optical loss of the radiated light L4, even when the light guide member is located at a position for blocking a part of the radiated light L4 from the second lamp unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2016
    Assignee: ICHIKOH INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventor: Hiroshi Koshiro
  • Patent number: 9423087
    Abstract: A vehicular lamp has a light source attachment flat surface having a plurality of light source attachment portions, a plurality of light sources attached to the plurality of light source attachment portions, and a plurality of parabolic reflectors. Each of the plurality of parabolic reflectors reflect light from a corresponding one of the light sources in a predetermined optical axis direction. The light source attachment flat surface is tilted with respect to an optical axis of the reflector so as to be higher on a front side of the lamp than on a rear side of the lamp.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2016
    Assignee: KOITO MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Ippei Yamamoto
  • Patent number: 9366405
    Abstract: A projector headlamp includes light sources, a cooling system and reflector comprising an upper part with a first focal point and second focal point and a lower part with a first focal point and second focal point. The headlamp also includes an aperture with a cutoff edge proximate an optical axis of the headlamp and a convergent lens. The convergent lens includes at least two segments with their own first focal points, the first segment in a lower part of the convergent lens has a greater optical power than a second segment in an upper part, the first focal points of the segments located near the optical axis of the headlamp between the light sources and the lens. The light sources comprise at least two light sources, a first adjoins the first focal point of the upper part and a second adjoins the first focal point of the bottom part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2016
    Assignee: VARROC LIGHTING SYSTEMS, S.R.O.
    Inventors: Ondrej Barta, Radek Chmela, Tomas Kreml, Petr Straka
  • Patent number: 9346395
    Abstract: A headlamp (1) includes a semiconductor laser (3); a light-emitting element (7) that emits light in response to laser light emitted from the semiconductor laser (3); a heat-conducting member (13) that receives heat generated by the light-emitting element (7) through a light-emitting-element facing surface (13a); and a gap layer (15) that is disposed between the light-emitting element (7) and the light-emitting-element facing surface (13a) and that conducts the heat generated by the light-emitting element (7) to the light-emitting-element facing surface (13a). The gap layer (15) contains at least an inorganic amorphous material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2016
    Assignee: SHARP KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Rina Sato, Katsuhiko Kishimoto
  • Patent number: 9291322
    Abstract: A headlamp assembly comprising a housing forming an internal chamber and forming an opening to one side, at least a first light source having a first illumination axis, the first light source mounted in a central portion of the internal chamber substantially at a first depth, at least a second light source having a second illumination axis, the second light source mounted in a circumferential portion of the chamber substantially at a second depth wherein the first depth is greater than the second depth, a first aspherical lens formed about a first optic axis, the first aspherical lens mounted within the opening with the first optic axis coaxially aligned with the first illumination axis and a second aspherical lens formed about a second optic axis, the second aspherical lens mounted within the opening with the second optic axis coaxially aligned with the second illumination axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2016
    Assignee: J.W. Speaker, Corporation
    Inventor: Bradley William Kay
  • Patent number: 9267655
    Abstract: A vehicle lamp includes: an LED mount on which an LED is placed; an attachment that fixes the LED to the LED mount; a power supply that supplies power to the LED; a first optical member that controls light emitted from the LED; and a second optical member that controls light emitted from the first optical member. The power supply and the first optical member are provided at the attachment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2016
    Assignee: KOITO MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hidetada Tanaka, Takashi Inoue, Takayuki Yagi, Ken Kato, Tsukasa Tokida, Hidemichi Sone
  • Patent number: 9261253
    Abstract: A vehicle headlamp includes a light source configured to emit light, a reflector configured to reflect the light, a projection lens through which the light is projected, and a lens holder holding the projection lens. The projection lens has a positioning portion, and the lens holder is formed with a jig insertion hole at a location corresponding to the positioning portion in a direction around an optical axis of the projection lens such that the positioning portion is visible through the jig insertion hole. When mounting the projection lens to the lens holder, a positioning jig is inserted through the jig insertion hole and is engaged with the positioning portion to position the projection lens in the direction around the optical axis of the projection lens.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2016
    Assignee: KOITO MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Katsuhito Mochizuki, Yukio Nomura
  • Patent number: 9255683
    Abstract: A light module of a lighting device comprises one passing-light sub-module for production of a dimmed-light distribution below a horizontal “light/dark” boundary, one high-beam sub-module for production of a light distribution above the boundary, a common projection-lens system for production of an overall light distribution, and one element deflecting a course of light beams of the sub-module(s) before it falls on the system. To realize the smallest system and a reduction of non-homogeneities in the overall light distribution in a region of the boundary, a majority of the light beams of the high-beam sub-module falls on a common segment of the system as a majority of the light beams of the passing-light sub-module, a smaller portion of the light beams of the high-beam sub-module falls on another segment of the system, and the system exhibits a deflector that deflects at least a portion of the light beams falling on the other segment downward.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 9, 2016
    Assignee: AUTOMOTIVE LIGHTING REUTLINGER GMBH
    Inventor: Matthias Brendle
  • Patent number: 9182104
    Abstract: A lighting module comprising an elliptical collector for reflecting in the direction of an optical element a beam originating from a light source. The module comprises a screen assembled along the path of the light beam so as to form a cutoff edge. In accordance with the invention, the light source, the elliptical collector and the screen are assembled on an active surface of a support, which additionally comprises a referencing wall. Means for pressing the screen against said active surface and for pushing the front face of the screen, which comprises the cutoff edge, against said referencing wall are provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 10, 2015
    Assignee: Valeo Vision
    Inventors: Remi Letoumelin, Thomas Canonne
  • Patent number: 9169985
    Abstract: A lighting apparatus is provided that, while suppressing an increase in size, can change the illuminating direction. The lighting apparatus has: a laser generator which emits laser light; a light emitting member which is irradiated with the laser light emitted from the laser generator to emit light; an irradiated position changer which moves and thereafter stops an irradiated position at which the light emitting member is irradiated with the laser light; and a light projecting member which projects the light emitted from the light emitting member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2015
    Assignee: SHARP KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Koji Takahashi
  • Patent number: 9157595
    Abstract: A light-emitting device may include: one first light source group having at least one light source and one second light source group having at least one light source, at least one reflector, which is configured and arranged for the purpose of reflecting light emitted by the first light source group to an optical plane, and at least one light conducting element, which is configured and arranged for the purpose of conducting light emitted by the second light source group to the optical plane, wherein the light conducting element is configured and arranged as an aperture for light reflected by the at least one reflector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2015
    Assignee: OSRAM GmbH
    Inventors: Juergen Hager, Oliver Hering, Ralf Vollmer
  • Patent number: 9142733
    Abstract: A light source device is provided. The light source device comprises a semiconductor light-emitting element; and a wavelength conversion member for converting a wavelength of a light emitted from the semiconductor light-emitting element. The semiconductor light-emitting element has a light-emitting peak wavelength of not less than 380 nanometers and not more than 420 nanometers. The light emitted from the semiconductor light-emitting element has a light energy density of not less than 0.2 kW/cm2. The wavelength conversion member contains at least one fluorescent substance selected from the group consisting of a (Sr1-x,Bax)3MgSi2O8:Eu2+ (0?x?1) fluorescent substance, a (Y1-y,Gdy)3(Al1-z,Gaz)5O12:Ce3+ (0?y?1, 0?z?1) fluorescent substance, and an Eu3+-activated fluorescent substance. The light source device has a high output and a high light-emitting efficiency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2015
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yoshihisa Nagasaki, Takashi Ohbayashi, Osamu Inoue, Kojiro Okuyama, Mitsuru Nitta, Seigo Shiraishi
  • Patent number: 9133998
    Abstract: A parabola type vehicular illumination lamp that forms a low-beam distribution pattern with a horizontal cut-off line at its upper end, including a reflector (34) formed in its lower reflection area (34a1) with a light non-incident area (34aL1) on which light from a light source bulb (32) is not incident since the light is blocked by a shade (36) provided in front of the light source bulb (32). The light non-incident area (34aL1) of the reflector (34) has an additional reflection portion (34aL1A) for reflecting light, which is from the light source bulb (32) and reflected by the upper reflection area (34au) of the reflector (34) and then reflected by the upper area (14u) of a translucent cover (14), in a direction below the horizontal cut-off line of the low-beam distribution pattern.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 15, 2015
    Assignee: KOITO MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Junichi Saito, Hiroyuki Makino
  • Patent number: 9109771
    Abstract: A light projecting device of the present invention includes: a light source unit including (i) a laser element for emitting light, (ii) a light converging lens for converging the light emitted from the laser element, and (iii) a light emitting section for emitting light upon receipt of the light converged by the light converging lens; and a reflector for projecting light emitted from the light source unit. The light source unit is provided so as to be attached to or detached from a fixed part to which the light source unit is to be fixed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2015
    Assignee: SHARP KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Koji Takahashi, Shigetoshi Ito, Yoshiyuki Takahira
  • Patent number: 9080742
    Abstract: A near infrared illuminator can facilitate the adjustment of an optical axis thereof with favorable accuracy. The near infrared illuminator can include: a light source configured to emit near infrared rays; and a projector lens configured to project the near infrared rays emitted from the light source forward to form a predetermined light distribution pattern in front thereof. The projector lens can include a light distribution control section configured to project part of the near infrared rays emitted from the light source forward to form the predetermined light distribution pattern, and a marker forming section configured to project part of the near infrared rays emitted from the light source forward to form an alignment marker for positioning the light distribution pattern at a predetermined position beside the light distribution pattern.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2015
    Assignee: Stanley Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Hideo Otsuka
  • Patent number: 9074755
    Abstract: A lighting device, comprising at least one reflector, at least one luminous region containing phosphor, and at least one laser, wherein the at least one luminous region is adapted to be excited to emit light by at least one laser and at least part of the light emitted by the at least one luminous region is incident on the at least one reflector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2015
    Assignee: OSRAM GmbH
    Inventors: Klaus Finsterbusch, Ulrich Hartwig
  • Patent number: 9039262
    Abstract: An optical unit includes: a heat sink that radiates heat from a light source; and a base portion including a reflector mounting section, a lens mounting section and a connecting section connecting the reflector mounting section and the lens mounting section. The base portion is configured such that the light from the light source is reflected by a reflector mounted onto the reflector mounting section and is incident onto a projection lens mounted onto the lens mounting section. The heat sink is exposed to a space surrounded by the lens mounting section, the connecting section and the reflector mounting section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2015
    Assignee: KOITO MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yuji Yasuda, Tatsuhiko Yamamichi, Shigeyuki Watanabe
  • Patent number: 9022623
    Abstract: A vehicular lamp is provided with a vibrator and a shock-absorbing member. The vibrator is attached to a lamp body. The lamp body vibrates in response to the vibration of the vibrator and an alarm sound is generated. The shock-absorbing member is provided to an attachment part and the transfer of the vibration from the vibrator through the attachment part is suppressed by the shock-absorbing member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2015
    Assignee: Koito Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Naoki Tatara, Toru Takahashi, Naoki Takii, Yuji Sugiyama
  • Publication number: 20150085514
    Abstract: A vehicle headlamp includes a light source, a projection optical member, and a light deflector. The projection optical member projects incident light ahead. The light deflector is disposed on an optical axis of the projection optical member and includes plural optical devices which are individually switchable between (i) a first state in which light emitted from the light source is reflected to a direction other than a direction toward the projection optical member and (ii) a second state in which the emitted light is reflected toward the projection optical member. An angle between a normal line to a center portion of each optical device when each optical device is in the first state and the optical axis is smaller than that between a normal line to the center portion of each optical device when each optical device is in the second state and the optical axis.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 23, 2014
    Publication date: March 26, 2015
    Applicant: KOITO MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Takayuki YAGI
  • Publication number: 20150070926
    Abstract: The invention relates to a projection lens for use in an LED module of a motor vehicle headlamp. The LED module has a light source in the form of an LED matrix including numerous LED chips disposed in a matrix adjacent to and/or above one another, a primary lens including numerous primary lens elements disposed in a matrix adjacent to and/or above one another for bundling light emitted from the light source, and a projection lens. The projection lens projects a light exit surface of the primary lens to generate a predefined light distribution on a surface in front of the vehicle. The projection lens is designed such that it generates at least two separate images of the light exit surface of the primary lens on its image side, which are offset to one another in the horizontal direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 4, 2014
    Publication date: March 12, 2015
    Inventors: Emil P. Stefanov, Christian Buchberger, Markus Kiesel, Martin Licht
  • Patent number: 8974089
    Abstract: An illumination device 1 which is a light emitting device capable of emitting white light, includes: a laser element 2 for emitting a blue laser beam; a light emitting section 4 for generating fluorescence by be being irradiated with the blue laser beam emitted from the laser element 2; and a parabolic mirror 5 for reflecting the fluorescence generated from the light emitting section 4, the parabolic mirror 5 being disposed on an irradiated surface side which irradiated surface is a surface of the light emitting section 4 which surface is irradiated with the blue laser beam. This allows the illumination device 1 to efficiently project the white illumination light.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2015
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yoshiyuki Takahira, Yosuke Maemura, Yasuo Fukai, Koji Takahashi
  • Patent number: 8974099
    Abstract: A vehicle headlight having a plurality of semiconductor emitters for the alternative production of a low-beam light distribution and a daytime driving light distribution is provided. For producing the low-beam light distribution, a low-beam light luminous surface is generated by the vehicle headlight. For producing the daytime driving light distribution, a daytime driving light luminous surface is generated by the vehicle headlight. The low-beam light luminous surface and the daytime driving light luminous surface are essentially identical.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2015
    Assignee: Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Sebastian Morgenstern, Stefan Danner, Christopher Weil, Helmut Erdl
  • Patent number: 8956027
    Abstract: A projector lens of a vehicular headlamp has a shape of a convex lens in which the upper and lower portions are cut by a predetermined amount. A light source is disposed above optical axis Ax of the projector lens while a light emission surface is inclined downwardly. A first reflecting mirror has an elliptical reflective surface, and is adjusted in size such that almost all the light reflected from the reflective surface is incident on the projector lens. A shield plate is disposed in the vicinity of the focus of the first reflecting mirror to form a horizontal cutoff line. A second reflecting mirror is disposed to reflect light that is not incident on the first reflecting mirror. The third reflecting mirror is disposed above the upper end of the shield plate at a position that does not interfere with the light reflected from the first reflecting mirror.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2015
    Assignee: Koito Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Hiroyuki Ishida
  • Patent number: 8956028
    Abstract: A light projection unit capable of improving light use efficiency is provided. This light projection unit includes: a fluorescent member that includes an illuminated surface to which laser light is directed, converts at least part of the laser light into fluorescent light and outputs the fluorescent light from chiefly the illuminated surface; and a reflection member that includes a first reflection surface which reflects the fluorescent light output from the fluorescent member. The illuminated surface of the fluorescent member is inclined with respect to a predetermined direction in such a way that the illuminated surface faces in a direction opposite to a light projection direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2015
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Koji Takahashi, Yoshiyuki Takahira, James Suckling, David Montgomery
  • Patent number: 8956029
    Abstract: A vehicle lighting unit can be capable of illuminating pedestrians and the like present in lateral areas above a horizontal line while suppressing generation of glare to oncoming or preceding vehicles. A vehicle lighting unit can also be capable of forming both a basic light distribution pattern and an overhead light distribution pattern without invading an area for reflecting light for forming a basic light distribution pattern. The vehicle lighting unit can include a projector lens disposed on an optical axis, a light source disposed behind a rear-side focal point of the projector lens, a reflecting surface configured to reflect light emitted from the light source so that the light is directed toward the optical axis, and a shade disposed between the projector lens and the light source. The shade can be configured to shield part of light emitted from the light source and reflected by the reflecting surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2015
    Assignee: Stanley Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Tatsuya Sekiguchi
  • Patent number: 8950917
    Abstract: In a vehicular lamp in which a light source unit that includes an LED as a light source and an optical element is attached to a heat sink, and an LED module in which the LED is mounted to a power supply substrate is pressed against and fixed to a substrate mounting surface of the heat sink via an attachment, a plurality of positioning protrusions that abut an outside edge of the power supply substrate are provided around the substrate mounting surface, and a groove that extends along an outer peripheral surface of each protrusion is provided on at least a side of a base of the protrusion, the side of the base facing the substrate mounting surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2015
    Assignee: Koito Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Yuji Yasuda
  • Patent number: 8939619
    Abstract: Provided is a vehicular headlamp that includes a light source unit, a reflector, a heat sink, a fixation frame fixed inside an external case of a lamp, a movable frame supported on the fixation frame to be movable in a vertical direction, a lens unit including a projection lens and a lens holder and supported on the movable frame to be movable in a horizontal direction, a first aiming operating shaft that performs optical axis adjustment, and a second aiming operating shaft that performs the optical axis adjustment. In particular, the lens unit moves in the horizontal direction and the vertical direction with respect to the fixation frame while a distance from a focus of light reflected by the reflector to the projection lens is constant, and the light source unit is fixed to the lamp housing while the heat sink is positioned outside the external case.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 27, 2015
    Assignee: Koito Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Hiroki Shibata
  • Patent number: 8939623
    Abstract: Disclosed is a projection lens that is disposed in front of a first semiconductor light emitting device and configured to irradiate light incident from the rear side to the front side. A first reflector reflects a part of the light emitted from the first semiconductor light emitting device to converge on the rear side of the projection lens. A light guide member is disposed across the front side of the projection lens and configured to emit the light incident from the second semiconductor light emitting device to a predetermined direction. A second reflector reflects a part of the light reflected by the first reflector toward the projection lens. The light reflected by the second reflector to be incident on the projection lens is emitted from the projection to avoid the light guide member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 27, 2015
    Assignee: Koito Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Michio Tsukamoto
  • Publication number: 20150023040
    Abstract: A vehicular lamp includes a projection lens, a light source disposed to the rear of the projection lens, and an additional lens. First light from the light source is irradiated to the front through the projection lens to form a predetermined light distribution pattern. The projection lens has an elongated external shape when the lamp is seen from the front. The additional lens is disposed on a circumference of the projection lens and configured to control second light from the light source to forwardly pass through the additional lens.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 16, 2014
    Publication date: January 22, 2015
    Applicant: KOITO MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Masashi TATSUKAWA
  • Publication number: 20150023045
    Abstract: The invention relates to a light module (1) for a motor vehicle, comprising at least one light source (1, 10, 11, 100, 110), at least one reflector (2, 20, 21, 200, 210, 2000), and at least one lens (3, 30, 31, 300, 310), wherein the light emitted by the light source (1, 10, 11, 100, 110) is formed into a light distribution by a reflecting surface (2a, 20a, 21a, 22a, 200a, 210a, 2000a) of the at least one reflector (2, 20, 21, 200, 210, 2000) and—when the light module (1) is fitted in a vehicle—is projected via the at least one lens (3, 30, 31, 300, 310) into an area in front of the vehicle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 20, 2013
    Publication date: January 22, 2015
    Inventors: Friedrich Bauer, Dietmar Kieslinger, Andreas Moser, Marcel Rauch, Thomas Schlinger
  • Patent number: 8936381
    Abstract: The invention relates to an LED light module for a motor vehicle, or for a headlight for a motor vehicle, wherein the light module comprises a lens and an LED light source, wherein according to the invention a diffusion disk is disposed between the LED light source and the lens as viewed in the light exit direction, wherein the diffusion disk has at least one aperture for the direct passage of at least one component of the light emitted by the LED light source, and wherein the direct component of the light emitted by the LED light source, which component emerges through the aperture of the diffusion disk, is projected through the lens so as to generate a lighting function in the region in front of the motor vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 20, 2015
    Assignee: Zizala Lichtsysteme GmbH
    Inventors: Andreas Luger, Andreas Moser