Including Mask Or Screen Patents (Class 362/539)
  • Patent number: 6623149
    Abstract: A headlamp for a vehicle, including a framework and at least one shading screen mounted for rotation about a rotational axis with respect to the framework. The rotational axis is inclined with respect to a principal axis of illumination of the headlamp.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 23, 2003
    Assignee: Valeo Vision
    Inventor: Joël Leleve
  • Publication number: 20030174510
    Abstract: A vehicle lamp including a reflector, which has a light source and is housed in a lamp chamber defined by a lamp body and a front lens, and a shade, which is attached at its first and second legs to the reflector so as to be in front of the light source. The first leg is fastened to the reflector by a screw; and the second leg is connected to the reflector by an engaging piece of substantially an L-shape that is formed at an end of the second leg and is engaged with an engaging hole formed in the reflector. The engaging piece extends from shoulder portions of the second leg, and the length between the shoulder portions to a head portion at the tip end of the engaging piece is set to be substantially equal to the longitudinal length of the engaging hole of the reflector.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 28, 2003
    Publication date: September 18, 2003
    Applicant: Koito Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Tomokazu Murakami
  • Patent number: 6619828
    Abstract: A motor vehicle headlight comprises a light source, a reflector and an occulting mask. The mask comprises a set of elements which in pairs define, respectively, mutually facing faces which define between them passages extending through the mask in directions passing away from the light source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 16, 2003
    Assignee: Valeo Vision
    Inventors: Maurice Montet, Jean Luc Meyrenaud
  • Patent number: 6619827
    Abstract: A headlamp arrangement designed and configured to slow light-and-shade changes in a light-and-shade boundary portion of a light distribution. A vehicle headlamp 1 includes a reflector 2 having a substantially spheroidal reflective surface 2a, a light source 3 disposed at a first focal position F1 of the reflector, a projection lens 4 that forwardly projects the light reflected from the reflector 2 and that is disposed in front of the light source, a cutline-forming shade 5 whose upper edge 5a is disposed substantially at the focal position f of the projection lens, and a dimmer shade 6 whose front end portion 6a is positioned closer to the reflective surface than it is to the second focal point F2 of the reflector. The dimmer shade is disposed above the optical axis x—x of the reflector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 16, 2003
    Assignee: Koito Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Naoki Uchida
  • Publication number: 20030165066
    Abstract: In a projector-type lamp unit, a shade is pivotally supported on a holder provided between a reflector and a projection lens. This support is provided at a plurality of regions disposed on an axis Ax1 of pivotal movement of the shade. This support at the plurality of regions is effected through a single shaft extending in a direction of the pivotal movement axis.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 21, 2003
    Publication date: September 4, 2003
    Inventors: Shigeyuki Watanabe, Shoichiro Yokoi
  • Publication number: 20030156420
    Abstract: A first lamp unit and a second lamp unit are arranged in two vertically-spaced stages within a lamp chamber, which is formed by a lamp body and a light-transmitting cover, in such a manner that the second lamp unit is disposed over the first lamp unit. The second lamp unit is so constructed that at least part of reflected light from a reflector can pass through the light-transmitting cover disposed forwardly of the first lamp unit. The direction of radiation of the beam from the second lamp unit can point downward, so that the light can be directed toward a zone of the road near and ahead of the vehicle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 14, 2003
    Publication date: August 21, 2003
    Inventor: Masashi Tatsukawa
  • Patent number: 6607295
    Abstract: A first auxiliary reflector 36 is provided above the optical axis Ax between a reflector of a lamp unit 20 and projection lens 28, and under the optical axis Ax, a second auxiliary reflector 44 is formed. An auxiliary luminous distribution pattern is formed at center area of a high-beam luminous distribution pattern additionally by reflecting forward at the second auxiliary reflector 44 after direct light directing to forward and obliquely upward from a light source 22a is reflected downward at the first auxiliary reflector 36 at the time of high-beam emission. Because of that, at the low-beam emission, an area close cut-off line at opposite lane side of the low-beam luminous distribution pattern does not brighten more than necessity, further, luminous intensity of a part of the area at the hot zone of the high-beam luminous distribution pattern is obtained enough.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2003
    Assignee: Koito Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Michihiko Hayakawa
  • Patent number: 6601981
    Abstract: The present invention is generally directed towards a headlight assembly installed in a motor vehicle. The headlight assembly includes a reflector member, a light source and a light shield. In order to give the appearance during daytime that the reflector member is colored, the headlight assembly is provided with a colored ring around the reflector member. Additionally, the light shield is also coated with the same color.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2003
    Assignee: Visteon Global Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Lawrence F. Wilski
  • Patent number: 6578997
    Abstract: A multi-ocular light composed by using a multi-ocular lens integrating a plurality of lenses and comprising one illumination light source for said multi-ocular lens, and a reflector mirror for distributing light from this single illumination light source to said respective lenses, wherein a signal light source is provided at the back of said multi-ocular lens to correspond to at least one lens of this multi-ocular lens, in order to assure the illumination function when said illumination light source is turned on, and the signal function when said signal light source is turned on.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 17, 2003
    Assignee: Stanley Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Takashi Futami
  • Publication number: 20030107901
    Abstract: A conventional projector headlamp has low efficiency because an amount of light is shaded almost half by a shutter for a low-beam light distribution. In addition, only a projection lens is seen in the installed condition, inviting old-fashioned designs disadvantageously. In a projector headlamp (1) of the invention, a vertical section passing through the center of a projection lens (5) includes a convex front surface and a flat rear surface (5a). A line connecting the upper end to the lower end on the rear surface (5a) is tilted to the vertical. Thus, the projection lens (5) has a prismatic action for directing the entire light downward. This is effective to reduce an amount of light to be shaded by a shutter (4) and provide improved brightness and novel designed appearances.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 9, 2002
    Publication date: June 12, 2003
    Applicants: HONDA GIKEN KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA, STANLEY ELECTRIC CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yosuke Tokoro, Hitoshi Taniuchi, Takashi Akutagawa
  • Publication number: 20030103358
    Abstract: A lighting unit for a low beam is provided with a movable shade constituted to take a shielding position in which a part of light incident on a reflector from a light source is shielded and a shielding release position in which the shielding is released. When a vehicle speed exceeds a predetermined set vehicle speed, or when a vehicle turns toward the opposite lane side, the movable shade is moved to the shielding release position, thereby adding auxiliary light distribution patterns P(B) and P(C) having cutoff lines CLb and CLc above cutoff lines CL1 and CL2 of a low beam distribution pattern P(L) to the low beam distribution pattern P(L) to carry out beam irradiation. Thus, the visibility of a distant road is enhanced.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 3, 2002
    Publication date: June 5, 2003
    Inventors: Masashi Tatsukawa, Toshiyuki Kinouchi
  • Publication number: 20030099112
    Abstract: The present invention is generally directed towards a headlight assembly installed in a motor vehicle. The headlight assembly includes a reflector member, a light source and a light shield. In order to give the appearance during daytime that the reflector member is colored, the headlight assembly is provided with a colored ring around the reflector member. Additionally, the light shield is also coated with the same color.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 26, 2001
    Publication date: May 29, 2003
    Inventor: Lawrence F. Wilski
  • Patent number: 6565245
    Abstract: A movable shade includes a shade main body in a cylindrical shape extending in a front and rear direction and a shade leg portion extending to a lower side from a lower end portion of the shade main body. Further, a strip extending in a peripheral direction of the shade main body is disposed at an upper end portion of a peripheral face of the shade main body to which the largest inertia load is carried. Thereby, rigidity of the shade main body is increased to achieve a thin-walled construction of the shade main body. Further, the movable shade is effectively restrained from being shifted to deteriorate its light blocking function by vibration while the vehicle is running.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2003
    Assignee: Koito Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Syouichirou Yokoi
  • Publication number: 20030090908
    Abstract: A vehicle lamp mounted on a vehicle body which can lean to one side at the time of turning, i.e., going around a curve, moving circularly, or the like. The lamp can include a first ellipse group reflecting surface having a movable part and an opening part, and a second ellipse group reflecting surface corresponding to an area covering a moving range of the opening part. The movable part of the first ellipse group reflecting surface can move by a drive unit to form a main light distribution that is kept in a substantially horizontal position. Light rays that pass through the opening part reach the second ellipse group reflecting surface and are reflected and illuminate an area ahead of the vehicle body when it leans to one side.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 23, 2002
    Publication date: May 15, 2003
    Applicant: Stanley Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hitoshi Taniuchi, Kouichi Nagano
  • Patent number: 6561688
    Abstract: An elliptical projector for a motor vehicle comprises an ellipsoidal reflector co-operating with a light source mounted in a first focal region of the reflector, which forms, in a second focal region, a concentrated patch of light after reflection. The headlight also has a convergent lens which is focused in the vicinity of the second focal region so as to project this light patch on the road. The headlight further includes a mask in the path of the light between the light source and the lens. The mask is adapted to occult part of the light flowing between the reflector and the lens, and is disposed entirely above the second focal region of the reflector; the mask defines at least two occulting regions which are spaced apart in the direction of the optical axis; and each occulting region is arranged to mask a specific portion of the light.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 5, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 13, 2003
    Assignee: Valeo Vision
    Inventor: Pierre Albou
  • Publication number: 20030086277
    Abstract: A vehicle headlamp having a projector-type lamp unit that enhances a luminous intensity of a hot zone at the time of high beam irradiation is described. A first additional reflector is provided obliquely left-upward of an optical axis Ax, and a second additional reflector is provided obliquely right-downward of the optical axis Ax, between a reflector and a projection lens. An additional light distribution pattern is formed in a center area of a high beam distribution pattern by reflecting direct light, which has entered the first additional reflector from a light source, obliquely right-downward and then forward by the second additional reflector, at the time of high beam irradiation. A reflective surface of the first additional reflector is formed like an ellipsoid spherical surface having the second focus on the right side with respect to the optical axis A (the second reflector side).
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 1, 2002
    Publication date: May 8, 2003
    Inventors: Michihiko Hayakawa, Michio Tsukamoto
  • Publication number: 20030081425
    Abstract: A light shield is adapted to be mounted within a headlamp assembly and includes a shield portion having an inner surface and an outer surface and a support portion which is adapted to mount the shield portion within a headlamp assembly. The outer surface of the shield portion has a decorative finish and the inner surface of the shield portion has a reflective finish, which is adapted to reflect light back within the headlamp assembly into which the light shield is mounted.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 31, 2001
    Publication date: May 1, 2003
    Inventors: Arun Kumar, Jeyachandrabose Chinniah
  • Publication number: 20030081424
    Abstract: The present invention concerns a lighting device for an automobile, comprising a light source situated at the first focus of a reflector of the elliptical type, a convergent lens being disposed in front of the light source so that the second focus of the elliptical reflector is contained in the object focal plane of the convergent lens, the first and second foci of the elliptical reflector defining an optical axis of the lighting device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 30, 2002
    Publication date: May 1, 2003
    Inventors: Pierre Albou, Eric Blusseau, Laurent Jeannot
  • Patent number: 6554460
    Abstract: A motor vehicle headlight of the elliptical type, giving both a dipped beam and a main beam, has a light source which cooperates with a reflector to produce a patch of light, with a lens projecting the patch of light on the road, and a movable mask being arranged so that, in a working position, it masks a part of the light patch so that the lens produces a cut-off beam, while in an inactive or retracted position of the mask, the lens projects essentially the whole of the light patch so as to produce a beam without any cut-off. The reflector comprises a first zone which produces a first part of the light patch, not significantly masked by the mask in its working position, and a second zone which produces a second part of the light patch. This second part is cut off by the mask in its working position to a much greater extent. The two parts of the light patch have different distributions of the light in a direction transversely to the direction of projection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2003
    Assignee: Valeo Vision
    Inventor: Denis Saladin
  • Publication number: 20030076688
    Abstract: A projection-type headlamp serving also as an infrared light-emitting lamp assuring a sufficient intensity of infrared light irradiation ahead of a vehicle while preventing glare to oncoming vehicles in the adjacent lane. The headlamp is provided with an ellipsoidal reflector, a light source, a shade in the form of an infrared light-transmitting film for reflecting visible light and while allowing infrared light to pass through, and a projection lens for forming simultaneously a predetermined visible light beam pattern and a predetermined infrared light beam pattern, in which an upper edge portion of the shade is positioned above the optical axis of the reflector. A cut line and a hot zone of the visible light beam pattern are set beneath the horizontal line on a light distribution screen so that the visible light beam cannot cause glare for drivers of oncoming vehicles in the opposite lane, and a hot zone of the infrared light beam pattern is set on the horizontal line on the light distribution screen.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 17, 2002
    Publication date: April 24, 2003
    Applicant: KOITO MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Shoji Kobayashi
  • Publication number: 20030076686
    Abstract: A method for designing a projection-type headlamp, and a projection-type headlamp produced thereby, that allows the position of a shade member and a light source to be set so that the luminous utilization efficiency is optimized for a given allowable height of the headlamp. Design values of the lens diameter and focal distance of the projection lens are set, and characteristics of the luminous utilization efficiency obtained in a case where the first focal point F1 and second focal point F2 of the reflector are changed are determined, and characteristics of the diffusion angle in the vertical light direction obtained in a case where the first focal point F1 and the second focal point F2 are changed are also determined.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 18, 2002
    Publication date: April 24, 2003
    Applicant: KOITO MANUFACTURING CO., LTD
    Inventor: Hiroyuki Ishida
  • Publication number: 20030067785
    Abstract: A bulb shield for use in an automotive headlamp assembly, and a method for making same. The bulb shield includes a cup portion and a portion which extends from the cup portion and is configured for mounting to a reflector of the automotive headlamp assembly or to another, proximate structure. When the bulb shield is mounted, the cup portion is generally horizontally aligned with a headlamp bulb in the automotive headlamp assembly, thereby eliminating a “hot spot” which would otherwise be viewable when looking into the headlamp beam. The bulb shield includes a part made of a glass and polymer blend, and at least a portion of the part includes a vacuum aluminized coating. Such a bulb shield is relatively inexpensive and easy to make, yet can withstand the high temperatures which are typically experienced in an automotive headlamp assembly. Additionally, the bulb shield may include a complex cup shape.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 1, 2002
    Publication date: April 10, 2003
    Inventor: Karl R. Schmitt
  • Patent number: 6543922
    Abstract: A lane mark irradiation lamp forming a pair of light distribution patterns on left and right sides of the road surface ahead of a vehicle. The light distribution patterns are formed so as to extend along the lane marks provided on the road, and the luminous intensity distribution of the light distribution patterns in lateral direction in a first angle position that is in a downward direction at a predetermined angle with respect to a longitudinal axis of the lamp is set so as to have peaks on both sides of such a longitudinal axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2003
    Assignee: Koito Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Motohiro Komatsu, Shoji Kobayashi, Hiroyuki Ishida
  • Patent number: 6540387
    Abstract: Each of a pair of left and right lamp chambers (3) disposed at a front of a body of a vehicle (2) is constituted with an enclosing housing (4) and a transparent front cover (5) fixed to the housing (4), and accommodates therein a high-beam forming front lamp unit as a reflecting lamp (7) disposed in a front half region of the lamp chamber (3) and a low-beam forming rear lamp unit as a projecting lamp (6) disposed in a rear half region of the lamp chamber (3), the front and rear lamp units (6, 7) overlapping each other in a longitudinal direction of the vehicle (2).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2003
    Assignee: Ichikoh Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Katsumi Hashiyama, Noboru Matsubara, Koji Futakawa
  • Patent number: 6533443
    Abstract: At least one of diagonal cut lines CL1 and CL2, and horizontal cut lines CL3 and CL4 among a spatial distribution pattern PL of luminous intensity for a low beam can be changed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2000
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2003
    Assignee: Ichikoh Industries Ltd.
    Inventors: Takayuki Kawamura, Kinya Iwamoto, Kiyotaka Ozaki, Kenjo Umezaki
  • Publication number: 20030031027
    Abstract: A headlight for a motor vehicle includes a clear, front cover plate (12), at least one light source (14), and at least one reflector (16) associated with the light source (14). A beam shield (14) for avoidance of glare produced by headlights of oncoming vehicles is provided, with the beam shield (18) being disposed between the light source (14) and the cover plate (12). The beam shield (18) has a structured surface (26) with an arbitrary or selected geometric pattern on an inner side facing said light source (14).
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 6, 2002
    Publication date: February 13, 2003
    Inventors: Gerhard Weihing, Karl Ruoff, Hans-Joachim Schmidt, Michael Scholl, Guenter Steinert, Duane Schliebe
  • Patent number: 6517228
    Abstract: A motor vehicle headlamp comprises a source, a mirror possessing first and second focal regions, and a converging lens. The source is located in the first focal region and the lens possesses a focus situated in the second focal region. The mirror and the lens have axes which are essentially coincident defining an optical axis of the headlamp, and the headlamp further includes a mask located in the region of the focus of the lens, in order to project a beam an upper cut-off of which is defined by said mask. Finally, the mirror concentrates the light, in the vertical direction, towards a vertical focusing baseline extending substantially horizontally and transversely to the optical axis and passing close to the focus of the lens.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2000
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2003
    Assignee: Valeo Vision
    Inventor: Pierre Albou
  • Patent number: 6494603
    Abstract: A projection 24 is integrally formed at a front surface 22b of a light shielding plate 22. The light shielding plate 22 is interposed between a reflector 14 and a focusing lens 18. As the reflected light from the reflector 14 is deflected or reflected upward by the projection 24, light B1 for illuminating overhead-signs is made to propagate from the focusing lens 18. A front-end portion 24b of the projection 24 is has a curved surface such that the portion 24b and an upper inclined surface 24a of the projection 24 are smoothly connected to each other. The front-end portion 24b is prevented from being seen as dark relative to the surface 24a, which can be seen as being brightly lit by external light.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2000
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2002
    Assignee: Koito Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Kenichi Takada
  • Publication number: 20020186568
    Abstract: A headlamp assembly having a headlamp bulb for emitting light and a bulb housing having a light transmissive portion for transmitting light from the headlamp bulb to an illumination zone. The housing is coated with a coating material which covers a selected region of the light transmissive portion of the housing. The coating material is electrically energized to alter an amount of light transmitted from the bulb to the illumination zone. A drive circuit electrically coupled to the coating material energizes the coating material to control a light output from the headlamp assembly.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 25, 2001
    Publication date: December 12, 2002
    Applicant: IIIUME, L.L.C.
    Inventor: Michael Strazzanti
  • Patent number: 6491419
    Abstract: A beam switching device 24 is provided for switching between a low beam and a high beam by rotating a shade 22 for screening part of incident light given off from a discharge illuminant portion 18a to a reflecting surface 20a of a reflector 20. The shade 22 rotates about a rotational axis A extending in a direction which inclines a predetermined angle &THgr; relative to a horizontal plane. A rotational locus of the shade 22 can be inclined relative to a vertical plane. The beam switching device 24 can also be inclined relative to the vertical plane. Thus, a vertical dimension h from an optical axis Ax to a lower end f the beam switching device 24 is made short.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2000
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2002
    Assignee: Koito Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Hirohiko Ohshio
  • Publication number: 20020181246
    Abstract: A vehicular headlamp having enhanced long-distance visibility in right and left diffused-beam areas without dazzling drivers of oncoming vehicles. A vehicular headlamp of the invention includes a light source, a reflector for radiating light emitted from the light source forwards, and a cover lens for covering an area in front of the reflector and the light source, wherein the light distribution pattern of the low beam emitted by the vehicular headlamp has a horizontal cut line at least on the side of the opposite lane and wherein a long-distance visibility enhancing portion extending above the horizontal cut line of the light distribution pattern is formed at an end portion of the horizontal cut line.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 29, 2002
    Publication date: December 5, 2002
    Applicant: KOITO MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Kenichi Takada, Naoki Uchida, Hiroyuki Ishida
  • Publication number: 20020181245
    Abstract: A lamp unit for a motor vehicle includes a light source, a substantially plano-convex projection lens, and an identification symbol. The projection lens has the configuration of a spherical segment and a central region, and the identification symbol is disposed in the central region of the planar side of the projection lens. The planar side of the lens faces the light source. A method of making a lamp unit for a motor vehicle includes disposing an identification symbol in a central region of a planar side of a substantially plano-convex projection lens of the lamp unit, wherein the planar side of the lens faces a light source.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 1, 2002
    Publication date: December 5, 2002
    Applicant: DaimlerChrysler AG
    Inventors: Hans-Dieter Futschik, Norbert Weber, Walter Nuber
  • Patent number: 6488396
    Abstract: A movable shade 22 capable of shading part of light incident on a reflector 20 from a discharge bulb 18 is pivoted longitudinally by a shade driving unit 24 to switch beams. A shade body portion 22A surrounding the discharge bulb 18 is colored blue. Thus, the blue color of the shade body portion 22A appears to be reflected on the reflector 20 when a lamp is viewed from the front while the movable shade 22 stays in a low-beam position. When a reflective area C reflecting the blue color varies in shape and size as the movable shade 22 moves to a high-beam position, beam switching can be visually confirmed easily.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2000
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2002
    Assignee: Koito Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Michihiko Hayakawa, Mitsuyuki Mochizuki
  • Publication number: 20020167819
    Abstract: In a headlamp assembly, a reflector unit includes a bearing surface for supporting a lighting control circuit. The lighting control circuit is mounted to the backside of the reflector unit across a holder, and directly connected to a discharge bulb. The reflector unit further includes a mounting portion to which a lampshade unit is mounted. In the reflector unit, the backside of the mounting portion is offset from the bearing surface in both of the axial direction and the radial direction. That is, the lampshade unit and the holder are fixed to the reflector unit so as to be distanced from each other. Thus the holder is thermally disconnected from the lampshade unit, and thereby the heat transfer from the lampshade unit to the lighting control circuit is reduced.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 10, 2002
    Publication date: November 14, 2002
    Inventors: Hironao Yamaguchi, Kenji Yoneima
  • Patent number: 6478459
    Abstract: A head light system for a vehicle using a discharge lamp together with glare stop structure provides a low beam mode and a high beam mode. The head light system includes a discharge lamp (4) mounted on a base plate (1), a shade (7) for selectively and partially shading light source (5) of the discharge lamp (4), and a moving means (K) for sliding said shade (7) relative to the discharge lamp (4) along an arrow (X) in a longitudinal direction of the discharge lamp (4). The shade (7) has a leg (7b) which penetrates the base plate (1), and the leg (7b) is coupled with an iron piece (9) in a solenoid (8) which is fixed to a rod (6) fixed under the base plate (1). The iron piece (9) is urged by a spring (10) so that shade plane (7a) of the shade (7) partially covers the light source (5) of the discharge lamp (4) when the solenoid is not energized so that low beam mode is provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 2000
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2002
    Assignee: Asahi Electric Works Ltd.
    Inventor: Takahiro Ui
  • Patent number: 6474854
    Abstract: A shade driving unit is provided below a discharge bulb, and a fixed shade for covering a movable shade is provided close to the front side of the movable shade to conceal substantially the shade moving mechanism of the shade driving unit. Moreover, the shade leg portion of the fixed shade is fitted to a fixed shade-leg fitting projection formed below a reflector from its rear side to conceal substantially the mounting structure. Further, a pair of lateral upright walls extending from the fixed shade-leg fitting projection is formed below the reflector. The shade moving mechanism can thus be substantially concealed from either side of the fixed shade, even from a laterally shifted viewpoint from the front of the lamp.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2002
    Assignee: Koito Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Hirohiko Ohshio
  • Patent number: 6471384
    Abstract: A vehicle headlamp with a shade whose vibration resistance strength can be sufficiently secured on keeping the appearance of lamp fixture from being deteriorated. A fitting-stay fixing portion (28) for fixing a fitting stay (26) of a shade (22) is provided at the back of a reflective surface (20a) of a reflector (20). Thus, the structure of the fitting-stay fixing portion (28) is prevented from being seen when the lamp fixture is seen from its front side. A reflective region (20a1) positioned at the front of the fitting-stay fixing portion (28) of the reflective surface (20a) is so formed as to project forward relative to reflective regions (20a2) adjacent to the reflective region (20a1) at the front of the fitting-stay fixing portion, whereby the position of arranging the fitting-stay fixing portion (28) can be set close to the center of gravity of the shade (22). Therefore, the inertia of moment of the shade (22) can be lowered by decreasing the length of the lever of the fitting stay (26).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 1999
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2002
    Assignee: Koito Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Takaya Ito
  • Publication number: 20020154515
    Abstract: An infrared light irradiation lamp comprises a lighting chamber S formed by a lamp body 12 and a front lens 14, a reflector 16 provided in the lamp body 12, a light source 20 provided ahead of the reflector 16 in the lighting chamber S, and a cylindrical globe 30 for infrared light formation which is provided to cover the light source 20 and serves to shield a visible light and to transmit only an infrared light, wherein diffusion steps 17 and 15 are provided in a peripheral region 16a of the light source in the reflector 16 and/or a region 14a in the front lens 14 corresponding to the peripheral region 16a of the light source in the reflector.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 23, 2002
    Publication date: October 24, 2002
    Applicant: KOITO MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Seiichiro Yagi, Takashi Inoue, Takashi Hori
  • Publication number: 20020154514
    Abstract: An infrared irradiation lamp comprises a lamp housing S formed by a lamp body 12 and a front lens 14, a reflector 16 provided in the lamp body 12, a bulb 20 inserted and attached into a bulb insertion attachment hole 13 of the reflector 16 and provided ahead of the reflector 16, and a cylindrical globe 30 for infrared light formation which is provided to cover the bulb 20 and serves to shield a visible light and to transmit only an infrared light, wherein a metallic bulb holder 60 having a radiation fin 68 extended to the back of the reflector 16 is provided between the bulb insertion attachment hole 13 and a mouth piece 21 of the bulb 20. Heat generated by turning on the bulb 20 is transferred to the bulb holder 60 and is radiated from the radiation fin 68 provided on the back of the reflector 16 to a space provided on the back of the reflector 16 so that the inside of the globe 30 is not filled with the heat.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 23, 2002
    Publication date: October 24, 2002
    Applicant: KOITO MANUFACTURING CO., LTD
    Inventors: Seiichiro Yagi, Takashi Inoue, Takashi Hori
  • Patent number: 6467940
    Abstract: A headlight for a vehicle operating in accordance with projection principle has a light source, a reflector which reflects a light emitted by the light source as a light bundle, a screening device arranged in a path of rays of the light bundle reflected by the reflector and producing a bright-dark limit of the light exiting the headlight in visible wavelength region, a lens arranged after the screening direction in a light outlet direction so that the light reflected by the reflector passes through the lens, the screening device at least locally being at least partially permeable for light in infrared wavelength region, and light which passes through the screening device in infrared wavelength region has a greater range than light passing over the screening device in visible wavelength region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2002
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Johannes Eschler, Reinhold Fiess
  • Patent number: 6457849
    Abstract: A vehicle head lamp for irradiating a light from a light source, the vehicle head lamp includes: a main reflector for reflecting the light from the light source; a sub-reflector movable in a first position and a second position, wherein the sub-reflector forwardly reflects the light from the light source when the sub-reflector is in the first position, and the sub-reflector is inhibited from forwardly reflecting the light from the light source when the sub-reflector is in the second position; and a driving unit connecting to the sub-reflector to make the sub-reflector move between the first position and the second position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2002
    Assignee: Koito Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Michio Tsukamoto
  • Patent number: 6454448
    Abstract: There has been a problem that in a head lamp with a prior constitution, an utilization factor of luminous flux with respect to a light source is low and the head lamp with brightness commensurate with power consumption can be obtained.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2002
    Assignee: Stanley Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hitoshi Taniuchi, Teruo Koike
  • Patent number: 6450670
    Abstract: A lamp assembly having a lamp housing defining an internal cavity with at least one side. The at least one side has an opening. The lamp assembly further includes a heat transfer plate attached to the at least one side, positioned outside of the internal cavity, and at least partially aligned with the opening to transfer heat away from the lamp housing. The lamp assembly may also have a sealing gasket positioned between the heat transfer plate and the at least one side of the lamp housing. In addition, the lamp assembly may further include a bulb shield with an arm connected to the heat transfer plate, and a shell connected to the arm opposite the heat transfer plate. The shell may be adapted to at least partially cover a bulb of the lamp assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 1999
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2002
    Assignee: North American Lighting, Inc.
    Inventors: Benjamin R. Strauss, John D. Koehler
  • Publication number: 20020122310
    Abstract: A vehicle lamp unit is disclosed that utilizes a high intensity discharge bulb for high beam, low beam and fog/driving lamps. The lamp uses reflectors and shields to selectively block light emitted from the HID bulb and to direct the light into a desired pattern. A control device is utilized to move the shields into various desired light blocking positions. Lamps of various shapes can be fabricated using the shield system by using optics to direct light into diverse preferred patterns.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 18, 2001
    Publication date: September 5, 2002
    Inventors: Timothy DiPenti, Philip C. Roller
  • Patent number: 6443606
    Abstract: A shade driving unit 24 provided in a vehicle headlamp is a solenoid for displacing a movable iron core 36 that pivots a movable shade to a high beam or a low beam position. An inverted diode parallel to the coil is connected to a solenoid driving circuit. A current is kept flowing through the coil by the induced electromotive force generated across the coil after the supply of power to the coil is cut off to gradually de-excite the movable iron core 36. Thus, the movable shade 22 is prevented from strongly butting against a positioning projected portion 26b.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2002
    Assignee: Koito Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Mitsuyuki Mochizuki
  • Patent number: 6439745
    Abstract: A light, wherein the light distribution formation is executed by a first reflection surface made of one of right and left, or upper and lower halves to the optical path of the same direction as the light front direction, a light source disposed near the focus of said first reflection surface and mounted with it's bulb central axis inclined to the first reflection surface side in respect to the light front direction, a second reflection surface made of one of right and left, or upper and lower halves opposed in the closing direction to said first reflection surface in the form of partly open bivalve across this light source and having the focus near said light source, and a third reflection surface disposed outside said first reflection surface and reflecting the light reflected from said second reflection surface to the light front direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2002
    Assignee: Stanley Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Takashi Futami
  • Patent number: 6435703
    Abstract: A projector-type headlamp having an improved external appearance when viewed from the front of the lamp, even when the projector-type headlamp is incorporated in a substantially vertically rectangular lamp body. The headlamp includes a pair of auxiliary reflectors 34A and 34B for reflecting light, from a light source 22, forward without passing the light therefrom through a focusing lens 28. The auxiliary reflectors are respectively provided on both vertical sides of a reflector 24 in such a way that, on the whole, the contour of the pair of auxiliary reflectors, when viewed from the front of the lamp, looks vertically rectangular. Consequently, a lamp unit 20 observed in a turned-on condition appears brighter in design than simply dimly lit as before, and when incorporated in the whole lamp, there is no feeling of wrongness between the reflector and the focusing lens.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2002
    Assignee: Koito Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Kenichi Takada
  • Patent number: 6435704
    Abstract: A motor vehicle headlight has a light source, a reflector and a mask. The mask has one or more sets of masking elements, such as fins or annular rings, that face each other to form a passage. The passage extends through the mask in a direction away from the light source, thereby allowing heat to escape from the light source without optical leakage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2002
    Assignee: Valeo Vision
    Inventors: Maurice Montet, Jean Luc Meyrenaud
  • Publication number: 20020109998
    Abstract: A motor vehicle headlight comprises a support, a lamp with two light sources, and a reflector with a first reflective surface and a second reflective surface. These surfaces reflect light from the lamp to give a first light beam and a second light beam. The first reflective surface is rotatable about an axis with respect to the support, in such a way as to direct the first beam towards the inside of the bend being followed by the vehicle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 17, 2001
    Publication date: August 15, 2002
    Inventors: Regis Nouet, Philippe Hidden
  • Patent number: 6428194
    Abstract: A headlight for a vehicle operating in accordance with a projection principle has a light source, a reflector, a shield arranged in a beam path of a light reflected by the reflector for producing a bright-dark limit of a light bundle exiting the headlight, a lens through which the light passing on the shield passes, a light-permeable cover member arranged after the lens in a light outlet direction, the cover member having a region which deviates the passing light upwardly, and a screening device arranged between the shield and the cover member and formed so that at least a part of the light passing on the screen which would pass through the region of the cover member is screened.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 1999
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2002
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Horst Oschmann, Hartmut Stephan