Projection-type Headlamp Patents (Class 362/538)
  • Publication number: 20130335990
    Abstract: A lamp unit 10 is one for use in a vehicle lamp. The lamp unit 10 includes a light source mounting portion on which a light source is mounted, and a projector lens 100 that is disposed on a vehicle front side of the light source. The projector lens includes an incident surface 100a on which light emitted from the light source is incident, a convex emission surface 100b from which the light incident on the incident surface is emitted forwardly of the lamp, a connection surface 100c that connects an edge part of the incident surface 100a and an edge part of the emission surface 100b. The connection surface 100c includes, at least in a partial area thereof, a convex surface that is convex, in section including an optical axis, outward in a diameter direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 12, 2013
    Publication date: December 19, 2013
    Inventor: Noriko SATO
  • Patent number: 8602618
    Abstract: An intelligent head lamp assembly for a vehicle may include a light source to irradiate light, a reflector reflecting the light irradiated from the light source, a beam pattern variable unit having at least a digital micro-mirror device (DMD) that selectively change direction of the light reflected by the reflector to a predetermined angle, and a projection lens optical system irradiating the light selectively reflected by the beam pattern variable unit onto a road surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2013
    Assignee: Hyundai Motor Company
    Inventors: Byoung Suk Ahn, Hoo Taek Cho, Young Sub Oh, Jong Ryoul Park, Myong Guan Jeong
  • Publication number: 20130314937
    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: Application
    Filed: May 21, 2013
    Publication date: November 28, 2013
    Applicant: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Koji TAKAHASHI, Shigetoshi ITO, Yoshiyuki TAKAHIRA
  • Patent number: 8591082
    Abstract: A vehicle lamp unit has a light emitting device disposed adjacent to a base point on an optical axis extending in a front-rear direction of a vehicle on which the vehicle lamp unit is mounted, and a transparent member disposed in front of the light emitting device. The light emitting device has a light emitting surface arranged to face forward. The transparent member is configured such that light emitted by the light emitting device enters the transparent member and is internally reflected by a front surface of the transparent member, and such that the light reflected by the front surface is internally reflected again by a rear surface of the transparent member and emitted from the front surface of the transparent member. The front surface has a flat surface facing obliquely upward.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2013
    Assignee: Koito Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Tomoaki Otani
  • Patent number: 8585265
    Abstract: A vehicle headlamp includes: a lamp outer casing; a lamp unit including: a light source unit having a light source that emits light, a reflector and a heat sink; a stationary frame; a movable frame that is supported by the stationary frame to be rotatable about a rotating shaft; a lens unit supported by the movable frame and having a projection lens; a first aiming operation shaft that adjusts an optical axis in the lateral direction; and a second aiming operation shaft that adjusts the optical axis in the vertical direction. A focal point of the light reflected by the reflector is coincident with a center of the rotating shaft. The lens unit is moved relative to the stationary frame such that a distance between the focal point and the projection lens is constant. The heat sink is positioned on the outside of the lamp outer casing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2013
    Assignee: Koito Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroki Shibata, Masashi Tatsukawa, Hitoshi Takeda, Kazutami Oishi
  • Patent number: 8579486
    Abstract: A vehicular headlamp apparatus includes: a lamp body; a translucent cover having a slanted portion; and a lamp unit. A semiconductor light-emitting element is mounted on a mounting surface so that its irradiation axis intersects with lamp unit's optical axis. Reflector's reflective surface reflects light from the semiconductor light-emitting element toward a vehicle front. One end of the reflective surface is located on a vehicle rear side of the light-emitting element. The other end protrudes toward a vehicle front from a front side end of the mounting portion. The reflective surface has a portion protruding toward the vehicle front from the front side end to face the slanted portion. Within a light distribution pattern, rays of light reflected by first area, second area adjacent to the first area and third area on the reflective surface respectively form a horizontal cut-off line, an oblique cut-off line and a diffusion portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2013
    Assignee: Koito Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Michio Tsukamoto
  • Patent number: 8569942
    Abstract: A headlamp 1 includes a laser diode 3 that emits a laser beam, a light emitting part 7 that emits light upon receiving the laser beam emitted from the laser diode 3, and a reflection mirror 8 that reflects the light emitted from the light emitting part 7. According to the headlamp 1, the light emitting part 7 has a luminance greater than 25 cd/mm2, and an area size of an aperture plane 8a perpendicular to a direction in which an incoherent light travels outward from the headlamp 1 is less than 2000 mm2.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2013
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Katsuhiko Kishimoto, Hidenori Kawanishi
  • Patent number: 8556482
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for producing a headlamp lens (2) for a vehicle headlamp, in particular for a motor-vehicle headlamp (1), wherein the headlamp lens (2) comprises a transparent body (3) with an optically effective surface (5), which is in particular substantially planar and can be turned towards a light source (10), and an optically effective surface (4), which is in particular convex and can be turned away from the light source (10), wherein the gradient of a light-dark boundary (25) projected by the headlamp lens (2) or a further headlamp lens is measured, and wherein a light diffusing structure (35) is produced in the transparent body (3) in accordance with the measured gradient.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2013
    Assignee: Docter Optics SE
    Inventor: Jens Fischer
  • Publication number: 20130265757
    Abstract: A light-emitting unit includes a mounting substrate, and a first light-emitting portion disposed on the mounting substrate and emits light of a first color temperature to irradiate a first irradiation area, and second light-emitting portions each disposed on the mounting substrate and emits light of a second color temperature to irradiate a second irradiation area. The second irradiation area overlaps part of the first irradiation area and includes a region surrounding the first irradiation area.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 29, 2013
    Publication date: October 10, 2013
    Applicant: PANASONIC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kenichiro TANAKA, Tomoyuki NAKANO, Yoshiyuki NAKANO
  • Publication number: 20130265561
    Abstract: A light-emitting device includes a plurality of laser elements, a light-emitting section for emitting light in response to a laser beam, and an emission control section for controlling whether each of the plurality of laser elements emits light or not. At least a part of the plurality of laser elements is positioned in such a manner that irradiation regions of the light-emitting section are positioned at least partially differently.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 2, 2013
    Publication date: October 10, 2013
    Applicant: SHARP KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yoshiyuki TAKAHIRA, Koji TAKAHASHI, Yosuke MAEMURA, Hiroshi KIJIMA
  • Publication number: 20130265793
    Abstract: A lighting apparatus includes semiconductor light sources and a heat sink for the semiconductor light sources, wherein the lighting apparatus has a carrier element for at least one first group and one second group of luminous elements, said carrier element being connected to the heat sink and projecting from a side of the heat sink, and wherein the first group and second group of luminous elements are arranged on surface regions of the carrier element and in each case comprise at least one semiconductor light source, wherein a further group of luminous elements is arranged at the side of the heat sink from which the carrier element projects, and the further group of luminous elements comprises at least one semiconductor light source.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 6, 2011
    Publication date: October 10, 2013
    Applicant: OSRAM GMBH
    Inventors: Philipp Helbig, Oliver Hering
  • Patent number: 8540407
    Abstract: A head lamp for a vehicle is provided, which includes a reflector for reflecting light emitted from a light source, a reflection plate for collecting the light reflected from the reflector in an upward direction, a micro-reflection module provided over the reflector to tilt and reflect the light collected by the reflection plate at a desired angle, and an optical lens for irradiating the light reflected from the micro-reflector onto a road surface. The head lamp can implement various beam patterns in accordance with road and surrounding circumferences, and irradiate vehicle information onto a road surface, thereby reducing the dazzle of other drivers of opposite vehicles and improving the field of vision of the driver to improve the safety and convenience.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2013
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Hyundai Mobis
    Inventors: Jong Bae Park, Byoung Suk Ahn, Young Sub Oh, Tae-Won Lee, In Heum Park
  • Patent number: 8536774
    Abstract: A headlamp 1 includes a laser diode 3 that emits a laser beam, a light emitting part 7 that emits light upon receiving the laser beam emitted from the laser diode 3, and a reflection mirror 8 that reflects the light emitted from the light emitting part 7. According to the headlamp 1, the light emitting part 7 has a luminance greater than 25 cd/mm2, and an area size of an aperture plane 8a perpendicular to a direction in which an incoherent light travels outward from the headlamp 1 is less than 2000 mm2.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2013
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Katsuhiko Kishimoto, Hidenori Kawanishi
  • Patent number: 8523416
    Abstract: A vehicular lamp has a light source unit having an LED and an optical element that performs light distribution control for directing light from the LED in a predetermined direction, a heat sink to which the light source unit is attached, and a lamp chamber in which the light source unit is disposed. The LED is an LED module formed by installing an LED chip on a power supply circuit board. The LED module is installed on a circuit board installation portion of the heat sink, and an attachment, which has a frame shape a size larger than the LED module and has a circuit board retaining portion at a center open portion of the attachment, is attached and fixed to the heat sink by a fixing member, whereby the LED module is held between the attachment and the circuit board installation portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2013
    Assignee: Koito Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Takeshi Ohmi, Takashi Matsunaga, Michio Tsukamoto
  • Patent number: 8517582
    Abstract: A headlight lens is provided for a vehicle headlight. The headlight lens includes a lens body and a lens edge. The lens body has an operative surface that extends beyond the lens edge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2013
    Assignee: Docter Optics SE
    Inventors: Klaus Erward, Franz Sykura
  • Patent number: 8506137
    Abstract: Provided is an Adaptive Front Lighting System and a control method thereof, which includes a motor driver which controls a beam irradiation direction of a headlamp by operating a motor coupled to the headlamp according to a motor control signal, and generates a motor fault signal when fail occurs in the motor, a power supply unit which controls a magnitude of electric power supplied to the headlamp according to a power control signal, and a controller which selectively outputs the power control signal to the power supply unit according to the motor fault signal of the motor driver.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2013
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, SL Lighting Corporation
    Inventors: Sung Uk Choi, Hun Soo Kim, Hee Jun Jeong, Se Wook Oh, Ki-Young Ahn
  • Patent number: 8500315
    Abstract: A light emitting module includes: a semiconductor light emitting element; a plate-shaped light wavelength conversion ceramic that is provided so as to face the light emitting surface of the semiconductor light emitting element and that is configured to convert the wavelength of the light, which has been emitted by the semiconductor light emitting element; and a reflective film that is formed on the surface of the light wavelength conversion ceramic and that is configured to shield part of the light, which has been transmitted through the light wavelength conversion ceramic. The light wavelength conversion ceramic is composed on an inorganic material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2013
    Assignee: Koito Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tsukasa Tokida, Hiroyuki Ishida
  • Publication number: 20130194817
    Abstract: A vehicle lamp includes a light source, and a resin component disposed on the periphery of the light source. The resin component has a designed surface that can be observed from the outside of the lamp. The designed surface includes a textured surface having minute irregularities, and a projecting portion provided adjacent to the textured surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 22, 2013
    Publication date: August 1, 2013
    Inventors: Hiroya ITO, Takahiro KOHATA, Toshimasa IKEDA
  • Patent number: 8485705
    Abstract: An improved light collecting efficiency in a projector type automotive headlamp is achieved by including a curved mirror to re-direct light otherwise absorbed by a rear surface of the blocking cut-off shield in “low beam” operating mode of the headlamp. When the shield is moved to a second non-blocking position, a mirror segment conforms to the curved surface of the substantially ellipsoidal reflector to maximize lumen output in “high beam” operating mode of the headlamp. In addition, auxiliary mirror segments may be used to provide a more complete substantially ellipsoidal reflector configuration that maximizes the light collection efficiency. Preferably, the cap holder is purposefully offset in order to position the centerline of the bowed arc of the arc discharge light source in alignment with the optical axis of the optical system in order to maximize light collection efficiency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2013
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Agoston Boroczki, Istvan Csanyi, Csaba Horvath, Tamas Panyik
  • Patent number: 8469570
    Abstract: The vehicle head light is provided with a heat radiating member including a pillar member provided to extend from a bottom wall of a housing, on which a light source is mounted, a heat radiating fins fixed radially to the outer periphery of the pillar member, and a guide wall provided surrounding sides of the heat radiating fins. The guide wall is sloped with respect to bottom wall of the housing so that spaces each formed by adjacent two of the heat radiating fins and the guide wall become narrower with increasing distance from the lower end of the guide wall. The guide wall is formed with slits to make air communication between the light chamber and each of the spaces, the slits being shaped to be narrower with increasing distance from the lower end of the guide wall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2013
    Assignees: Denso Corporation, Nippon Soken, Inc.
    Inventors: Motonori Tominaga, Takahito Nishii
  • Patent number: 8471447
    Abstract: It is provided a lamp (12) for an automotive headlamp (10), comprising a filament coil (14) for emitting light (22) and a nominal alignment axis (32) for aligning the filament coil (14) such, that the filament coil (14) is positioned in the middle of an allowable tolerance box wherein the filament coil (14) is arranged shifted to the nominal alignment axis (32). Due to the shifted arrangement of the filament coil (14) the flexibility given by the allowable tolerance may be used for positioning the filament coil (14) such, that the projected image (18) of the filament coil (14) is projected nearer to the bright/dark-cutoff (40) without blinding oncoming traffic.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2013
    Assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V.
    Inventor: Lukas Kuepper
  • Patent number: 8469568
    Abstract: A vehicle light having a plurality of optical units utilizing a semiconductor light emitting device as a light source can effectively prevent or suppress illuminance unevenness. One example of such a vehicle light can be a vehicle headlamp that includes four optical units each having a semiconductor light emitting device as a light source. The optical units can be arranged in line in the vehicle width direction so as to prevent the luminance unevenness, which can otherwise be generated due to a gap between optical units disposed in a vertical two-stage arrangement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2013
    Assignee: Stanley Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Masafumi Ohno
  • Patent number: 8465187
    Abstract: The invention relates to a light module (23) for a motor vehicle headlight (2), for generating an adaptive light distribution. The light module (23) comprises a light source (30, 70, 71) for emitting light, a primary optical element (31, 73, 74) for focusing the emitted light, and a diaphragm arrangement (32, 32?) for implementing a variable effective upper edge (36, 36?), which can be introduced into a beam path of the emitted and/or focused light.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2013
    Assignee: Automotive Lighting Reutlingen GmbH
    Inventors: Christian Buchberger, Ernst-Olaf Rosenhahn, Benjamin Stauss
  • Patent number: 8459849
    Abstract: An optical device having an optical axis (y-y) and comprising a source of light; a reflector which is associated with the source of light in order to form a light beam; and a rotary assembly which is designed to intercept the light beam, and can be rotated around an axis of rotation between first and second distinctive lighting positions. The rotary assembly comprises at least first and second shields associated respectively with the first and second lighting positions, in order to create a cut-off of the light beam. The first and second shields each comprise at least one ridge. The rotary assembly additionally is designed to permit progressive transition of the lighting between the first and second distinctive lighting positions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2013
    Assignee: Valeo Vision
    Inventors: Martin Grimm, Stephane Thery, Alice Mulin, David Bourdin, Jonathan Blandin, Jean Masse
  • Patent number: 8454216
    Abstract: It is provided a lamp assembly (10) for an automotive headlamp, comprising an LED (12) for emitting light rays, a housing (16), to which the LED (12) is detachably connectable, wherein the housing (16) comprises an entrance window (20) assigned to the LED (12), and a guiding element (22) for guiding the light rays passing through the entrance window (20), wherein the guiding element (22) is connected to the housing (16). Since the LED (12) is detachable connected to the housing (16) a defect LED (12) can by exchanged by only exchanging the LED (12) itself without exchanging the whole lamp assembly (10) including the housing (16) and the guiding element (22). Since the correct position of the bright/dark-cutoff may be provided by the entrance window (20) and/or the guiding element (22) only, a misalignment of a newly inserted LED (12) does not affect the correct position of the bright/dark-cutoff. The exchange of a LED (12) is facilitated and without affecting the correct position of the bright/dark-cutoff.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2013
    Assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V.
    Inventors: Josef Andreas Schug, Harald Willwohl, Ralph Hubert Peters, Wouter Petrus Kaandorp
  • Patent number: 8446084
    Abstract: A headlamp 1 includes a laser diode 3 that emits a laser beam, a light emitting part 7 that emits light upon receiving the laser beam emitted from the laser diode 3, and a reflection mirror 8 that reflects the light emitted from the light emitting part 7. According to the headlamp 1, the light emitting part 7 has a luminance greater than 25 cd/mm2, and an area size of an aperture plane 8a perpendicular to a direction in which an incoherent light travels outward from the headlamp 1 is less than 2000 mm2.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2013
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Katsuhiko Kishimoto, Hidenori Kawanishi
  • Publication number: 20130114283
    Abstract: Light emitted from a light source having an S/P ratio being 2.0 or more is projected to a peripheral area in front of a vehicle body, and thereby an earlier awareness with the peripheral vision under dark environment (e.g., during nighttime driving) can be facilitated.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 9, 2012
    Publication date: May 9, 2013
    Applicant: STANLEY ELECTRIC CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Stanley Electric Co., Ltd.
  • Patent number: 8427048
    Abstract: By using a light emitting device including an insulating substrate and a light emitting unit formed on the insulating substrate, the light emitting unit including: a plurality of linear wiring patterns disposed on the insulating substrate in parallel with one another, a plurality of light emitting elements that are mounted between the wiring patterns while being electrically connected to the wiring patterns, and a sealing member for sealing the light emitting elements, as well as a method for manufacturing thereof, it becomes possible to provide a light emitting device that achieves sufficient electrical insulation and has simple manufacturing processes so that it can be manufactured at a low cost, and a method for manufacturing the same.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2013
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Masahiro Konishi, Makoto Agatani, Toshio Hata
  • Patent number: 8419248
    Abstract: A vehicle light is provided which can prevent the accumulation of assembly errors during the assembling of separate optical components. The vehicle light can include a first heat sink having a first heat sink body and a first heat radiation fin, and a first optical system configured to form a part of a predetermined light distribution pattern. The first optical system can include a first LED light source, a first reflector configured to reflect light emitted from the first LED light source, and a projection lens configured to allow light reflected from the first reflector to pass therethrough. The first LED light source, the first reflector, and the projection lens can be secured to an upper surface of the first heat sink body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2013
    Assignee: Stanley Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hideki Toyoyama, Yoshiaki Akiyama
  • Patent number: 8403547
    Abstract: A light module (5, 6) for lighting equipment (1) of a motor vehicle comprises a plurality of semiconductor light sources (8, 9) for emitting light, a plurality of reflection areas (10, 11) for reflecting the light and assigned to separate reflector-element sections (10, 11), and a plate-shaped separation element (7) onto which the reflector-element sections (10, 11) are movably fixed separate from one another, arranged between the reflection areas (10, 11), and onto which the light sources (8, 9) are mounted such that an emitting direction of the light sources (8, 9) is substantially perpendicular to an optical axis of the light module (5, 6). The reflector-element sections (10, 11) are adjusted by moving the reflector-element sections (10, 11) in relation to the light sources (8, 9).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2013
    Assignee: Automotive Lighting Reutlingen GmbH
    Inventors: Florian Stade, Doris Boebel, Michael Scholl
  • Patent number: 8398283
    Abstract: An automotive signal light is taught which employs multi-focal length light pipes to collect, collimate and direct, as needed, light emitted from one or more semiconductor light sources. Each multi-focal length light pipe includes at least one light transmission structure, each of which has a light receiving port to receive light emitted from a semiconductor light source spaced from the light receiving port by an air gap. The light transmission structure includes at least two superimposed parabolic reflecting surfaces, each having a common focal point at the light receiving port but having different focal lengths, and the superimposed parabolic reflectors operate to receive, collimate, spread and transmit the light from the semiconductor light source to a light emitting surface of the light pipe which is located adjacent to a lens of the signal light. The aesthetic arrangement of the light pipes is not particularly limited and a wide range of signal light functionalities can be provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2013
    Assignee: Magna International, Inc.
    Inventors: Chad D. Lambert, James R. McFadden
  • Patent number: 8393771
    Abstract: A vehicle headlamp including a discharge lamp, which includes a light source, and a cap that holds the light source. The vehicle headlamp also includes a reflector, which includes a light reflecting part and a lamp holding part formed contiguously with one end of the light reflecting part. The vehicle headlamp also includes a socket connected to the cap, which supplies drive current to the lamp. The socket includes a case that holds a structure disposed therein, and a connection portion, which is connected to the cap and which protrudes toward the cap from an opposite surface of the case facing the cap. A conductive member is mounted on the lamp holding part to transmit noise generated when the lamp is turned on and a conducting portion is formed on the opposite surface of the case to surround the connection portion. The conductive member and the conducting portion are connected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2013
    Assignee: Koito Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Naoshi Kawamura, Satoru Yashiki
  • Patent number: 8393768
    Abstract: A side-illuminating projection lens and a headlight having the same, in which a side-illuminating lamp is implemented with a projection lamp that illuminates to the side of a vehicle by radiating light in the radial direction, wherein sideways-radiated light is projected in the radial direction and is thus smoothly combined with forward-radiated light, thereby improving the driver's vision.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2013
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, SL Lighting Corporation
    Inventors: Kyung Soo Lee, Dae Kon Kim, Byung Kyu Yoon, Kwang Min Ko
  • Patent number: 8376599
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a light module (10) for an illumination device, in particular for a headlight (1), of a motor vehicle. The light module (10) comprises at least one light source (18) for emitting light beams, at least one primary optical unit (20) for concentrating the emitted light beams, a diaphragm arrangement (22) in the beam path of the concentrated light beams, and at least one secondary optical unit (30) for imaging the light beams that have traveled past the diaphragm arrangement (22) onto a roadway in front of the motor vehicle in order to generate a desired light distribution. There is formed in the diaphragm arrangement (22) at least one opening (26) and/or cutout to which is assigned an optically active element (28), which deflects or attenuates at least a portion of the light beams passing through the opening (26) and/or cutout.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2013
    Assignee: Automotive Lighting Reutlingen GmbH
    Inventors: Florian Stade, Benjamin Stauss, Michael Scholl
  • Patent number: 8376598
    Abstract: The disclosed subject matter provides a reflecting cover above and between a light-emitting chip and a projection lens. The diffused light from the light-emitting chip is led toward the projection lens via the reflecting cover such that it transmits through the projection lens at a certain angle. This makes it possible to increase the amount of controllable light, and to improve the amount of light beams radiated from the lamp, thereby realizing a brighter lamp and an improved light distribution shape.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2013
    Assignee: Stanley Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Toshiyuki Kondo, Daisuke Uchida, Yoshifumi Kawaguchi
  • Publication number: 20130033886
    Abstract: A combination headlamp and flashlight assembly includes a headlamp base; a headlamp head including a light source; a battery case, and a battery. The combination headlamp and flashlight assembly is changeable between a headlamp configuration and a handheld flashlight configuration. In the headlamp configuration, the headlamp head is mechanically and electrically coupled to the headlamp base to form a headlamp, the battery case carries the battery, and the battery case is electrically coupled to the headlamp base for powering the light source with the battery to provide illumination. In the handheld flashlight configuration, the headlamp head is mechanically and electrically coupled to the battery to form a handheld flashlight where the battery forms a handle and body of the handheld flashlight and powers the light source to provide illumination.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 28, 2012
    Publication date: February 7, 2013
    Applicant: XGLOW P/T, LLC
    Inventors: Richard S. Popper, Jensen Jorgensen
  • Publication number: 20130027962
    Abstract: A headlight system in accordance with the present invention includes: a semiconductor laser element that emits laser light; a light-emitting section that upon receipt of the laser light emitted from the semiconductor laser element, emits illumination light which is both the laser light and fluorescence obtained by wavelength conversion of a portion of the laser light; and a diffusion plate that mixes the laser light and fluorescence which are contained in the illumination light emitted by the light-emitting section.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 24, 2012
    Publication date: January 31, 2013
    Applicant: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Koji TAKAHASHI, Yoshiyuki TAKAHIRA
  • Publication number: 20130027961
    Abstract: A vehicular lamp is provided with a light source and a projector lens. An incidence plane of the projector lens includes a first light distribution control surface configured to form a first light distribution pattern and a second light distribution control surface configured to form a second light distribution pattern which is formed above the first light distribution pattern.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 24, 2012
    Publication date: January 31, 2013
    Applicant: KOITO MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Yuta Ugajin
  • Patent number: 8348486
    Abstract: A vehicular lamp unit includes a projection lens disposed on an optical axis extending in a vehicular longitudinal direction; a light source disposed rearward of a rear side focal point of the projection lens; a reflector reflecting direct light from the light source forward towards the optical axis; a shade disposed between the projection lens and the light source such that the shade blocks a part of reflected light from the reflector and a part of the direct light from the light source to form a cut-off line of a light distribution pattern; a first reflective surface formed on a tip portion of the reflector such that the first reflective surface reflects a part of the direct light from the light source downward to the front of the shade; and a second reflective surface formed on the front of the shade and below the rear side focal point of the projection lens such that the second reflective surface reflects reflected light from the first reflective surface towards the projection lens.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2013
    Assignee: Koito Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Yusuke Nakada
  • Patent number: 8348485
    Abstract: A headlamp for a motor vehicle, this headlamp comprising at least one optical module capable of emitting a plurality of light beams, including a low beam and at least one additional light beam. The optical module is equipped with a cover plate which can be moved between at least two positions, this movable cover plate being configured along a shaft mounted so as to rotate in the optical module and driven in rotation at least by a motor. The shaft comprises at least one first cut-off member configured as a double-edged cover plate providing an oblique cut-off for emission of the low beam, and at least one second cut-off member configured as a wall of substantially constant height, angularly offset relative to the first cut-off member and providing at least one substantially vertical cut-off line for emission of a high beam.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2013
    Assignee: Valeo Vision
    Inventors: Pierre Albou, Jonathan Blandin, David Bourdin, Jean-François Le Bars, Boris Wiegand
  • Patent number: 8348487
    Abstract: A headlamp is disclosed. The headlamp includes a light source, at least one light shade, and a linear slide. The light source emits at least one light beam. The linear slide moves the light shade to shade at least one part of the light beam.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2013
    Assignee: Maxzone Auto Parts Corp.
    Inventor: Hui-Chuam Chen
  • Publication number: 20130003403
    Abstract: A light-projecting device according to the present invention includes a plurality of light source units including (i) a light emitting section that emits light upon receiving a laser beam and (ii) a reflector. Each of the light source units project light to a corresponding one of light-projected spots which is a region to which light is projected in an illuminated region in a partitioning manner, and the illuminated region is formed by combining a plurality of the light-projected spot.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 26, 2012
    Publication date: January 3, 2013
    Applicant: SHARP KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yoshiyuki TAKAHIRA, Yosuke MAEMURA, Koji TAKAHASHI, Kensei TOYOTA
  • Publication number: 20120327679
    Abstract: A head lamp 1 includes a light emitting section 4 for emitting light upon receipt of laser light emitted from a laser element 2. A position on the light emitting section 4 which position is irradiated with the laser light can be changed by changing a location or an angle where the light emitting section 4 is provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 31, 2012
    Publication date: December 27, 2012
    Applicant: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Koji TAKAHASHI
  • Publication number: 20120320619
    Abstract: The invention relates to a thermal-expansion compensator for holding a light module in a housing of a headlamp for a motor vehicle, comprising a compensation pin extending along a pin axis with a stop element, wherein the compensation pin can be connected to the housing by means of a connecting means, a compensation element with a compensation body extending along a compensation axis and at least two stop receptacles that are each formed for holding the stop element of the compensation pin, and a holder that is arranged rigidly on the light module.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 14, 2012
    Publication date: December 20, 2012
    Applicant: Hella KGaA
    Inventors: Lars Tillmann, Dirk Schulte
  • Publication number: 20120314442
    Abstract: A light projection apparatus that can produce an elongate light projection pattern is provided. The light projection apparatus includes a fluorescent member which is excited with exciting light and a light projecting member which reflects or transmits the light emanating from the fluorescent member to project it outside. The fluorescent member includes an irradiated region which is irradiated with the exciting light, and the length of the irradiated region in a first direction is greater than its length in a second direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 8, 2012
    Publication date: December 13, 2012
    Applicant: SHARP KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Koji TAKAHASHI, Yoshiyuki Takahira
  • Patent number: 8328401
    Abstract: A vehicle lamp is provided with: a light source unit containing a light source, a feeder socket having a male terminal conductively connected to the light source, and a feeder connector containing a female terminal conductively connected to the male terminal when inserted into the feeder socket and connected to an end of an electric wire; and a light source unit attaching section on which the light source unit is attached. The vehicle lamp further includes a holding member that is attached at a rear end of the feeder connector, bends the electric wire against a direction for inserting the feeder connector and can be grasped in inserting the feeder connector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2012
    Assignee: Koito Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Takashi Matsunaga
  • Publication number: 20120309241
    Abstract: An underwater propulsion device includes a number of modules allowing it to be used in a range of configurations including a tow/pull type scooter 300, a thigh strap configuration 700, a calf strap configuration 1100, a push configuration 1200, a tank mount configuration 1300. The device may include an underwater changeable battery canister 1600, a hand controller 216 that senses movement about the radius bone to generate direction and speed control signals and/or a front mounted headlight 224.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 22, 2011
    Publication date: December 6, 2012
    Applicant: OPCON PTE LTD
    Inventor: Chee Hui Yeo
  • Publication number: 20120275175
    Abstract: Illumination device for a dazzle-free high beam function with a plurality of LED light sources and an optical unit, with a sensor appliance to detect approaching road users and/or road users travelling in front, with a control mechanism which activates the LED light sources by means of dimming or turning them on and off depending on the sensor data supplied by the sensor assembly in such a way that an anti-dazzling area of the high beam function corresponding to the approaching road user and/or the road user travelling in front is created to prevent the road user from being dazzled, wherein at least the optical unit assigned to the high beam function includes optical elements assigned to the same LED light source, thereby producing least two light spots for every LED light source with the capability to superimpose the light spots on each other to create a combined light spot.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 5, 2012
    Publication date: November 1, 2012
    Applicant: HELLA KGAA
    Inventor: Dirk Kliebisch
  • Patent number: 8297814
    Abstract: A vehicle headlamp includes a first light source configured to emit first light that is projected to form a first irradiation region, a second light source configured to emit second light that is projected to form a second irradiation region joined to the first irradiation region to extend in a transverse direction with respect to an optical axis, a movable shade configured to move between a position at which light irradiation to a joined region of the first irradiation region and the second irradiation region is shielded, and a position at which the light irradiation to the joined region is permitted, and a controller configured to select one of light distribution patterns that are determined by combinations of turning on and off of the first light source, turning on and off of the second light source, and the positions of the movable shade.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2012
    Assignee: Koito Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hidetada Tanaka, Satoshi Yamamura, Motohiro Komatsu
  • Patent number: 8297816
    Abstract: A vehicle headlamp includes: a light-emitting module; a control circuit section for controlling a lighting of the light-emitting module; and a reflector including a reflecting face configured to reflect and collect light emitted from the light-emitting module. The control circuit section includes an opposing portion that is opposed to the reflecting face. The opposing portion is disposed at a position away from an optical path of light to be collected by the reflector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2012
    Assignee: Koito Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Akihiro Matsumoto, Tetsuya Suzuki, Tomoyuki Nakagawa