Including Mask Or Screen Patents (Class 362/539)
  • Patent number: 9316374
    Abstract: A vehicle headlight utilizes a rotationally asymmetric projection lens with its light emitting surface inclined with respect to the optical axis thereof, whereby the light emitted from the light source and projected forward through the light emitting surface of the projection lens is diffused substantially uniformly with respect to the optical axis of the projection lens, for example, uniform substantially in the right and left directions and/or the upper and lower directions. This can be achieved by designing the reflecting surface to have its optical axis inclined with respect to the optical axis of the projection lens by a predetermined angle so that light emitted from the light source and projected forward through the light emitting surface of the projection lens is made uniform with respect to the optical axis of the projection lens (for example, uniform substantially in the right and left directions and/or the upper and lower directions).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2016
    Assignee: STANLEY ELECTRIC CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Ryotaro Owada, Tatsuya Sekiguchi
  • Patent number: 9302724
    Abstract: A headlamp assembly for a saddle-type vehicle ensures a generous light-emitting area of an upper lamp, and can make a gap formed between upper and lower lamps hard to see. The headlamp assembly includes upper and lower lamps, each including a light source and a reflector, with the lower lamp arranged below the upper lamp. The headlamp assembly also includes extension members, which extend in a substantially horizontal direction and approach front ends of the reflectors from a front side thereof, where flange portions are attached to and extend downwardly from the lower edges of the reflectors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2016
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroshi Hayashi, Nobuyuki Takenaka, Daisuke Kuriki
  • Patent number: 9240530
    Abstract: Light emitter devices having improved chemical and physical resistance and related methods are disclosed herein. In one embodiment, the light emitter device includes a light emission area with a cavity with one or more light emitting chips disposed within the cavity. The device can further include a filling material at least partially disposed over the one or more light emitting chips. The filling material can include a first discrete layer of phosphor containing material and a second discrete clear barrier layer. The clear barrier layer can include a layer of glass.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 19, 2016
    Assignee: Cree, Inc.
    Inventor: Jesse Colin Reiherzer
  • Patent number: 9227553
    Abstract: Method and device for adjusting lighting for a vehicle in consideration of the visibility of a curve, light having a glare effect (high beam light) being deactivated before negotiating a curve, if the curve is not visible, or optionally the illumination being increased if the curve is visible. Adjusting the lighting, in particular of headlights, for a vehicle having a first step, in which an upcoming curve is recognized, its visibility is ascertained, the visibility representing the possibility of glare, in particular to other road users, in particular to oncoming traffic, and a second step, of adjusting the lighting between the least possible glare and the best possible illumination, characterized in that the adjustment is carried out as a function of the visibility.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2016
    Assignee: ROBERT BOSCH GMBH
    Inventor: Stefan Nordbruch
  • Patent number: 9199573
    Abstract: When occurrence of a failure associated with light distribution control has been detected during high beam irradiation, a low beam irradiation direction is changed upward and then the high beam irradiation is stopped, and subsequently the low beam irradiation direction is gradually returned downward. The time during high beam irradiation includes the time during which variable high beam light distribution control in which part of high beam light is shielded by a shade is being executed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2015
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Sho Masuda, Kazuhiko Nakashima
  • Patent number: 9156397
    Abstract: A lighting apparatus for a vehicle includes headlamps configured to be switchable between high beam and low beam, wherein a direction of an optical axis of each of the headlamps is variable in a substantially horizontal plane by use of a swivel actuator and a controller configured to control the headlamps, wherein if the controller detects a forward vehicle in projection areas of the headlamps, the controller temporarily switches from the high beam to the low beam, then drives the swivel actuator toward a target swivel angle according to a position of the detected forward vehicle and, after finishing driving toward the target swivel angle or during driving toward the target swivel angle, starts projection by the high beam.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2015
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Satoshi Fujiyoshi, Takatoshi Nakagawa
  • Patent number: 9150144
    Abstract: The present invention provides a semiconductor-type light source 2, a lens 35, a heat sink member 4, a light control member 6, a driving member 7, and a cover member 8. The cover member 8 is fixed to a fixing surface of the heat sink member 4 such a manner as to be integrated with the semiconductor-type light source 2. The light control member 6 is mounted to the cover member 8 in such a manner as to be changeably movable between a first location and a second location. As a result, the present invention is capable of reducing dispersion in relative position between the semiconductor-type light source 2 and the light control member 6, and reducing dispersion between a light distribution pattern for low beam LP and a light distribution pattern for high beam HP.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2015
    Assignee: ICHIKOH INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventor: Toshiya Abe
  • Patent number: 9120420
    Abstract: The present invention provides a lamp unit for low beam and a lamp unit for high beam. A respective one of the lamp units is made of a semiconductor-type light source and a reflector that has reflection surfaces configured to emit light from the semiconductor-type light source forward of a vehicle, as a predetermined light distribution pattern. As a result, the present invention is capable of fully utilizing the light from the semiconductor-type light source and facilitating a light distribution design for forming the light in a predetermined light distribution pattern.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 1, 2015
    Assignee: ICHIKOH INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventor: Yasufumi Suzuki
  • Patent number: 9108566
    Abstract: A vehicle headlamp system includes a headlamp assembly having a light source and a beam pattern panel. The beam pattern panel includes one or more regions capable of changing between opaque and transparent light-transmission states to selectively allow light from the light source to pass through the panel. The panel may be an LCD panel with a plurality of liquid crystal elements arranged in an array with the ability to provide a plurality of different beam patterns. The beam pattern may be determined and changed in real time based on information received at a system processor about one or more vehicle and/or road conditions. The headlamp system can direct a projected light beam into a curve in the road ahead and/or automatically change the direction of the projected beam to avoid shining light directly at oncoming drivers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2015
    Assignee: Federal-Mogul Corporation
    Inventors: Jeffrey Simchak, Xiaolu Chen, John Dominick
  • Patent number: 9086202
    Abstract: A projection light module having a light source, primary optics, secondary optics and a movable aperture, which is arranged in such a way that the primary optics transfer lighting current emanating from the light source in a first light distribution which is situated in a focal plane of the secondary optics so that the secondary optics transfer the first light distribution in a second light distribution situated in the front end of the light module, which is equipped to displace an optically effective edge of the aperture by actuating the aperture between a first control position and a second control position, wherein at least the second control position is defined by a mechanical limit stop. The aperture includes at least a resilient stop element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 21, 2015
    Assignee: AUTOMOTIVE LIGHTING REUTLINGEN GMBH
    Inventor: Olaf Rottstaedt
  • Patent number: 9074747
    Abstract: The present invention provides a semiconductor-type light source 2, a lens 35, a light control member 6, and a driving member 7. The lens 35 is made of a main lens portion 3 and an auxiliary lens portion 5. The light control member 6 is made of a light shading portion 60 and a light transmission portion 61. The driving member 7 is configured to position the light control member 6 in such a manner as to be changeably movable between a first location and a second location. As a result, the present invention is capable of obtaining an optimal light distribution pattern for low beam LP and an optimal light distribution pattern for high beam HP.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2015
    Assignee: ICHIKOH INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventor: Toshiya Abe
  • Patent number: 9039261
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides a vehicular lamp including a low-beam lamp and a daytime running lamp. The low-beam lamp includes a low-beam LED, a low-beam reflector, and a projection lens. The daytime running lamp includes a DRL LED, and a DRL reflector. The DRL LED is disposed at the rear side of the low-beam reflector to emit a light in a direction which intersects with the optical axis of the vehicular lamp. The DRL reflector includes an extension area that extends to at least the outer side of the projection lens when viewed from the front, and reflects the light from the DRL LED in the extension area to emit the light to the front side of the lamp through the outer side of the projection lens.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2015
    Assignee: Koito Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hideko Fujiu, Asami Nakada, Kazuhisa Sakashita, Ryujiro Ikuta, Kazunori Natsume
  • 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: 9033562
    Abstract: The present invention provides a semiconductor-type light source 2, a lens 35, a light control member 6, and a driving member 7. The lens 35 is made of a main lens portion 3 and an auxiliary lens portion 5. The light control member 6 is made of a light shading portion 60 and a light transmission portion 61. The driving member 7 is configured to position the light control member 6 in such a manner as to be changeably movable between a first location and a second location. As a result, the present invention is capable of obtaining a light distribution pattern for low beam LP and a light distribution pattern for high beam HP in a lamp unit of a lens direct emission and light distribution type.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2015
    Assignee: ICHIKOH INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventors: Yasuhiro Okubo, Toshiya Abe
  • Patent number: 9033560
    Abstract: A lighting and/or signaling device and method comprising an opaque element that can move between at least two positions, one of the positions interposing the opaque element between the main light source and the optical focusing device, in which the opaque element is arranged so that when it is interposed between the main light source and the optical focusing device it prevents rays originating from outside the lighting and/or signaling device from being focused, especially in a line or spot, by the optical focusing device, in order to prevent degradation of the lighting and/or signaling device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2015
    Assignee: Valeo Vision
    Inventors: Jean-Claude Puente, Pierre Albou, Benoit Reiss
  • Patent number: 9028118
    Abstract: A vehicular headlamp has a projection lens, a light source disposed behind a rear focal point of the projection lens, and a reflector that reflects light from the light source forward. The vehicular headlamp forms a forward light distribution pattern. The vehicular headlamp includes a plate-like shade having a front-end portion positioned in the vicinity of the rear focal point of the projection lens to form a cut-off line of the forward light distribution pattern. The shade extends rearward and obliquely downward from the front-end portion. An overhead sign reflective surface is provided on a lower surface of the shade. The overhead sign reflective surface reflects light from the reflector toward the projection lens to form a part of an overhead sign distribution pattern. A dark portion forming portion is formed on the overhead sign reflective surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2015
    Assignee: Koito Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Takehiko Tajima, Akinori Matsumoto
  • Patent number: 9004732
    Abstract: The present invention provides a lamp for a vehicle including: a lamp module including: a lens having a first focal point; a shield formed behind the lens; a first reflector formed above the shield and having a second focal point; and a second reflector formed below the shield and having a third focal point, in which an edge of the shield and the second focal point are formed to be positioned on the first focal point, and the third focal point is formed behind and below the first focal point, thereby implementing a low beam and a high beam using a single optical module and greatly reducing a size, a weight, and the number of components.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2015
    Assignee: Hyundai Mobis Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Hyun Soo Lee
  • Publication number: 20150085515
    Abstract: A head lamp for a vehicle may include a light source emitting a light, a reflective mirror reflecting the light emitted from the light source, a shield implementing a low beam by transmitting a part of the light that is emitted from the light source and/or reflected by the reflective mirror and projected toward a front of the vehicle and shielding other part of the light that is emitted from the light source and/or reflected by the reflective mirror and projected toward the front of the vehicle, a main hole formed at the shield to allow the part of the light pass through, a main lens transmitting the part of the light that has passed through the main hole of the shield toward the front of the vehicle, a reflective surface reflecting the other part of the light, and a sub lens transmitting the light reflected by the reflective surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 17, 2014
    Publication date: March 26, 2015
    Applicant: Hyundai Motor Company
    Inventor: Seonghoon Lee
  • 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: 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: 8950904
    Abstract: A shaping assembly for shaping a light beam extending along an optical axis is equipped with: a support frame extending about a longitudinal axis; a plurality of screen elements supported by the support frame and arranged transversally with respect to the axis; a plurality of pairs of actuators, each of which is coupled with a respective screen element; each actuator comprising at least a moving device and transmission means, which are configured to transmit the movement of the moving device to the respective screen element and comprise at least one rod-crank type mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2015
    Assignee: Clay Paky S.p.A.
    Inventors: Angelo Cavenati, Pasquale Quadri
  • Patent number: 8944653
    Abstract: A vehicle lamp is provided with: a projection lens; a light source; a reflector that reflects light from the light source to the projection lens; and a shade member. A shade member includes an opening, and a portion of an inner peripheral edge of the opening is defined by an upper edge of a shading part for shielding a portion of the light reflected on the reflector. A side end portion of a reflection surface of the reflector penetrates the opening of the shade member and extends forward beyond the shading part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2015
    Assignee: Koito Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Takehiko Tajima, Akinori Matsumoto
  • Patent number: 8939624
    Abstract: A lighting unit includes a first light source, a second light source, a projection lens, a first reflector that reflects light from the first light source, a second reflector that reflects light from the second light source, a shade section, and a reflecting section. The shade section is movable between a first position at which at least a part of the light from the second reflector is shielded and a second position which is spaced apart from the first position. The reflecting section reflects a part of the light reflected from the second reflector when the shade section is at the first position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 27, 2015
    Assignee: Koito Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Ippei Yamamoto, Hiroki Matsumoto, Ryuho Sato
  • Patent number: 8905587
    Abstract: Described in this application for patent is a novel method and apparatus for modifying a searchlight from a visible-light source to an infrared source. This selective filtering is accomplished by means of a partially filtered cover about the light source which may be moved between first and second positions. In a first position, light projected by the light source passes through an unfiltered section of the lamp cover. In a second position, light projected by the light source passes through a filtered section of the lamp cover.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2014
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventor: Anton M. Bouckaert
  • Patent number: 8905609
    Abstract: A lighting system (10) comprising a primary light engine (20); a secondary light engine (22); and a projection apparatus (14, 14a-b) comprising a reflector (28) configured to reflect electromagnetic radiation emitted from the primary light engine (20); a projector lens (28) configured to project at least a portion of the reflected electromagnetic radiation from the reflector (28); and a shutter (24, 24a-c) disposed between the secondary light engine (22) and the reflector (28). The shutter (24, 24a-c) is configured to selectively obscure a portion of the projector lens (28) from the reflected electromagnetic radiation and is further configured to selectively emit at least a portion of electromagnetic radiation from the secondary light engine (22) through at least a portion of the projector lens (28).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2014
    Assignee: OSRAM SYLVANIA Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas Tessnow, Michael D. Tucker
  • Patent number: 8858049
    Abstract: A vehicle lighting unit can be configured to allow the brightnesses of light observed through vertically arranged lenses to substantially match when the lenses are viewed from a certain viewpoint in front of the vehicle. The vehicle lighting unit can include: a first lens on a first upper optical axis; a second lens on a second lower optical axis; a semiconductor light-emitting device; a first revolved ellipsoidal reflector; a shade; a second revolved ellipsoidal reflector; and a third reflector. The third reflector is inclined at an inclination angle with respect to the horizontal plane adjusted such that light emitted from the semiconductor light-emitting device, reflected by the second reflector, focused at a second focal point of the second reflector, reflected by the third reflector, and passing through the second lens is directed in a direction at a predetermined upward angle with respect to the horizontal plane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2014
    Assignee: Stanley Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tatsuya Sekiguchi, Kazuyuki Shimada
  • Patent number: 8858048
    Abstract: A vehicle lighting unit that utilizes a semiconductor laser light source can suppress color unevenness of a light distribution pattern while ensuring the usefulness of the semiconductor laser light source. The vehicle lighting unit can include a semiconductor laser light source, a phosphor configured to receive blue light emitted from the semiconductor laser light source and emit white light by excitation, and a reflector configured to reflect the light emitted from the phosphor so that the light can be diffused wider in a right-to-left direction than in a vertical direction on the basis of a posture when the lighting unit is mounted on a vehicle body. Part of the blue light that is emitted from the semiconductor laser light source and reflected off a surface of the phosphor can be incident on the reflector with an elongated area in the right-to-left direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2014
    Assignee: Stanley Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Yoshiaki Nakazato
  • Patent number: 8862335
    Abstract: Device for the control of vertical cut-off lines for headlamps of a motor vehicle within a swivel range, wherein the control device (10) has a first input (12) for a first signal, which indicates the direction referring to a longitudinal axis (1) of the motor vehicle, in which the motor vehicle (F1) meets the oncoming light source of a motor vehicle (F2) or in which it moves in front of the motor vehicle (F1) in the same direction of travel, wherein the control device is suitable and equipped for the generation of a control signal for the right-hand headlamp (50) and a control signal for the left-hand headlamp (40) of the motor vehicle (F1) for the adjustment of a vertical cut-off line depending on the first signal, with which a right-hand vertical cut-off line and a left-hand vertical cut-off line can be adjusted to eliminate the dazzling effect on an oncoming motor vehicle (F2) or a motor vehicle (F2) driving ahead, wherein the control device (10) is suitable and equipped for the adjustment of the right
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2014
    Assignee: Hella KGAA
    Inventors: Christian Schmidt, Tobias Irmscher, Sergej Schwarz, Georg Florissen, Christian Hüster, Carsten Wilks
  • Patent number: 8851726
    Abstract: A vehicle lighting apparatus is provided with: a light source device including a first light source and a second light source; a reflector adapted to reflect forwardly light emitted from the light sources; a main shade adapted to shade a portion of light emitted from the first light source and reflected by the reflector; and a sub shade adapted to shade at least a portion of light emitted from the second light source and reflected by the reflector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 7, 2014
    Assignee: Koito Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Akinori Matsumoto
  • Patent number: 8851724
    Abstract: A headlight for a motor vehicle, in order to provide a cut-off light beam, comprising: a collector mirror of an ellipsoidal type with an optical axis; a source of light (S) placed in the vicinity of the inner focal point of the collector mirror; a substantially flat bender, the reflective surface of which is oriented towards the interior of the collector mirror, and has an edge which is situated in the vicinity of the other focal point of the collector mirror, and a lens, situated to the front of the collector mirror and the bender, in order to provide an image of the edge of the bender.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 7, 2014
    Assignee: Valeo Vision
    Inventor: Pierre Albou
  • Patent number: 8833992
    Abstract: An automotive headlamp is provided with: a light-emitting module; a control circuit unit configured to control the lighting of the light-emitting module; a support substrate configured to support both the light-emitting module and the control circuit unit; and a reflector configured to reflect, through an inner surface of the reflector, light emitted by the light-emitting module and collect the reflected light. The support substrate is arranged in a manner such that the control circuit unit is positioned in a region outside the reflector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 16, 2014
    Assignee: Koito Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Akihiro Matsumoto, Tetsuya Suzuki, Tomoyuki Nakagawa
  • Patent number: 8827520
    Abstract: There is provided a vehicle headlight. The vehicle headlight includes: a light source configured to emit light; a reflector reflecting the light; a projection lens projecting the light; a stationary shade blocking a part of the light emitted from the light source; a movable shade supported by the stationary shade as to move between a shielding position and a non-shielding position and configured to block a part of the light emitted from the light source; a drive mechanism including: a yoke; a coil disposed in the yoke; and an output shaft configured to move in an axial direction thereof in response to current supplied to the coil, and a transmission mechanism transmitting a driving force of the drive mechanism to the movable shade. At least a part of the yoke of the drive mechanism is formed in a single piece with the stationary shade.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2014
    Assignee: Koito Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroki Shibata, Kazutami Oishi
  • Patent number: 8820993
    Abstract: Projection headlights for vehicles with a reflector, with a light source assigned to the reflector, with a lens arranged in the main direction of the beam in front of the reflector and with a screen arranged in the region of the focal point of the lens, said screen being arranged between the light source and the lens and comprising an elongated screen edge surface having a contour on an upper edge in order to form a light/dark boundary of a light distribution arrangement, wherein the elongated screen edge surface comprises a light beam reduction section in a middle area, so that at least part of the light beam emitted from the light source and hitting the light beam reduction section is not further reflected in the main direction of the beam, wherein the light beam reduction section is designed as a recess.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2014
    Assignee: Hella KGAA Hueck & Co.
    Inventor: Gerhard Kloos
  • Patent number: 8803728
    Abstract: A millimeter wave radar-equipped headlamp includes a millimeter wave radar that detects an object ahead of a vehicle, and a lighting device unit that irradiates an area ahead of the vehicle. The lighting device unit incorporates an antenna module of the millimeter wave radar. The lighting device unit includes a projection lens, a light source, a reflector, and a shade. The antenna module includes a millimeter wave waveguide, and a millimeter wave reflection mirror. A reflection surface of the millimeter wave reflection mirror is formed by a spheroidal surface having a first focal point located in the vicinity of the opening of the millimeter wave waveguide, and a second focal point located forward of the rear focal point.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 12, 2014
    Assignees: Koito Manufacturing Co., Ltd., Electronic Navigation Research Institute, Independent Administrative Institution
    Inventors: Naruto Yonemoto, Akiko Kohmura, Yoshiki Kurosawa, Takao Watanabe, Satoshi Yamamura
  • Patent number: 8801250
    Abstract: A vehicle lighting device can include a bulb or a light source, a projector lens, a first reflection surface which reflects light toward the projector lens and collects the reflected light, a shade including an upper rim, the upper rim being movable between a light blocking position and a retracting position. The lighting device can also include a second reflection surface which reflects light downward when the shade is in the light blocking position, and a third reflection surface which reflects light forward to allow the reflected light to be emitted forward, when the shade is in the light blocking position. The device can also include a pair of left and right fourth reflection surfaces which reflect light in diagonally forward right and left directions, respectively, to allow the reflected light to be emitted in the diagonally forward right and left directions, when the shade is in the light blocking position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 12, 2014
    Assignee: Stanley Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Mitsuhiro Uchida
  • Patent number: 8801252
    Abstract: Featured is a multi-functional light shielding plate to establish a desired light distribution pattern to light traveling in an illumination direction that is received from at least one of a light source or a reflector. Such a light shielding plate includes a light shielding portion that is selectively configurable to be one of light transmissive or a light blocker and also includes a support mechanism that supports the light shielding portion so as to maintain the light shielding portion in fixed relation with respect to the light source. When configured as a light blocker, the light shielding portion is configured so that light traveling in the illumination direction is substantially blocked from passing through the light shielding portion and when configured so as to be transmissive, the light shielding portion is configured so that said light traveling in the illumination direction passes substantially through the light shielding plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 12, 2014
    Assignees: Hyundai America Technical Center, Inc., Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Motors Corporation
    Inventor: Michael Gava
  • Patent number: 8789990
    Abstract: A vehicular headlamp includes: a light-emitting module; a movement mechanism that moves the light-emitting module; and a reflector having a reflecting surface configured to reflect, toward the front of the lamp, light emitted from the light-emitting module and form a plurality of light distribution patterns in accordance with a position of the moved light-emitting module. The movement mechanism is configured to be capable of translating the light-emitting module to a plurality of positions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2014
    Assignee: Koito Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Naoki Uchida
  • Patent number: 8777469
    Abstract: A light source module includes a substrate made with a recess portion formed on one face and an unformed portion not having the recess portion formed therein; a light emitting diode disposed on the recess portion of the substrate; a pair of power supply members disposed on the unformed portion of the substrate; and a connecting portion formed on the substrate and connecting the light emitting diode and the pair of power supply members. A part of an end edge of the recess portion conforms to a part of a side edge of the substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2014
    Assignee: Koito Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Osamu Masuda, Takeshi Ohmi, Kiyoshi Sazuka
  • Patent number: 8746919
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, a luminaire is provided which can enhance the feeling of brightness of a space and can reduce glare. The luminaire includes an equipment mounted on a ceiling surface. The equipment includes a light source and a light control unit. When an amount of light emitted outside from the equipment is an equipment luminous flux, and a direction right under the equipment has a luminous intensity distribution angle of 0°, the light control unit controls to cause a luminous flux falling within a range of a luminous intensity distribution angle of 90° to 120° to be 20% or more of the equipment luminous flux and to cause a luminous flux falling within a range of a luminous intensity distribution angle of 60° to 90° to be 20% or less of the equipment luminous flux.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2014
    Assignee: Toshiba Lighting & Technology Corporation
    Inventors: Yoko Noguchi, Tomoko Ishiwata, Kazunori Yashiro, Masaru Inoue, Makoto Kawagoe, Fumie Iwata, Hitoshi Kawano, Shigehisa Kawatsuru
  • Patent number: 8746941
    Abstract: A vehicle headlamp includes a light source, a reflector, a projection lens, and a shade. The shade has an upper end edge portion and a raised portion. The upper end edge portion has a projection. The reflector reflects light output from the light source in the front direction. The projection lens in front of the light source projects the light. The shade between the reflector and the projection shields a portion of the light. The upper end edge portion contributes to form the upper end line of the low beam as a cut-off line. The projection contributes to form a recession of the cut-off line recessed below a specific point in the low beam. The raised portion reflects the light having passed above the projection to illuminate an inner region of the recession.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2014
    Assignee: Stanley Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shinji Yamagata, Takashi Akutagawa
  • Patent number: 8740431
    Abstract: Provided are a head lamp system including a pair of head lamps and a method for controlling the same. A head lamp assembly according to the present disclosure includes: a rotation control unit for rotating a head lamp to determine an irradiating direction of the head lamp; a lighting unit provided in the head unit to generate light; a shield unit located at the front of the lighting unit and having a cylindrical shape to be rotatable on a rotary shaft, the shield unit having a plurality of shield protrusions provided on the circumference thereof to partially intercept the light; and a shield operating unit for activating a selected shield protrusion, wherein the plurality of shield protrusions have different shapes from each other, wherein the plurality of shield protrusions include shield protrusion A and shield protrusion B having the same height and having steps which protrude upward and whose starting locations are different from each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2014
    Assignees: GM Global Technology Operations, LLC, SL Corporation
    Inventor: Chang Seob Jeong
  • Patent number: 8733994
    Abstract: A head lamp structure of the vehicle may include a reflector including a light source, and a shield part rotatably provided at a front of the reflector and including a shield protrusion formed at an outer peripheral surface thereof and having a cutting surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2014
    Assignee: Hyundai Motor Company
    Inventors: Jin Ho Na, Jun Mo Ku, Young Ho Son
  • Patent number: 8727590
    Abstract: A vehicle headlamp includes a light source; a projection optical system that includes a projection lens projecting an image, formed by a light beam emitted from the light, source, forward of the vehicle; and a reflection optical system including a parabolic reflector that is provided at a position offset from the projection lens as viewed from the front of the vehicle, and that reflects the light beam emitted from the light source and irradiates the same in front of the vehicle, wherein the reflector has a light distribution pattern irradiating a region including a cut line, and the projection optical system has a light distribution pattern irradiating downward with respect to the reflector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2014
    Assignee: Fuji Jukogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Makoto Kinoshita
  • Patent number: 8721144
    Abstract: A method and a device for illuminating an edge region of a roadway by headlights of a vehicle are disclosed. The vehicle includes a camera. Activating takes place of at least one additional illuminating device or a masking of an headlight that is present on the vehicle. An additional illuminated region is generated which extends in the vertical and the lateral direction with respect to the vehicle. Activating the at least one additional illuminating device or headlight masking at least one headlight present in the vehicle takes place by a navigation system of the vehicle or in response to a decrease in the speed of the vehicle and/or by an object/traffic sign detection using the camera.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 13, 2014
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventor: Andreas Schmack
  • Patent number: 8721130
    Abstract: A lighting apparatus including a light source having a light emitting surface, and a reflector configured to reflect light from the light source to form a light distribution pattern having a first cutoff line and a second cutoff line such that the first cutoff line and the second cutoff line form an angle with each other. The reflector is configured to form the first cutoff line and the second cutoff line by reflection images of the same edge of the light emitting surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 13, 2014
    Assignee: Koito Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Naoki Uchida
  • Patent number: 8690405
    Abstract: A vehicle lighting unit is capable of improving the design freedom (such as that for forming a high-beam light distribution pattern) and to allow an observer to visually recognize the employed projection lens even when including a plurality of lens portions (including a plurality of rear-side focal points) as a single lens with high aesthetic feature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2014
    Assignee: Stanley Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Tatsuya Sekiguchi
  • Patent number: 8690406
    Abstract: The invention relates to a lighting device for generating output illumination having at least one directional characteristic. The lighting device includes at least one light-emitting device and at least one optical element disposed in an optical path of the light-emitting device. The lighting device also includes a screen-like member for changing at least one physical property of light passing therethrough and an optical device for generating an intermediate image on the screen-like member. The screen-like member and the optical device are located in the optical path between the light-emitting device and the optical element projecting the intermediate image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 11, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2014
    Assignee: Koninklijke Philips N.V.
    Inventors: Ronald R. Drenten, Josef A. Schug, Adriaan Valster
  • Patent number: 8684573
    Abstract: A light beam adjusting device includes a housing having a reflector, a light device disposed within the reflector for generating light which may be reflected partially upwardly and partially downwardly by the reflector. The light reflected downwardly by the reflector is allowed to emit out through the housing. A shielding panel is disposed in the housing, and an actuating device may rotate the shielding panel to open and block the lower portion of the housing, and to selectively open and block the light reflected upwardly by the reflector. The light reflected upwardly by the reflector may form a high beam together with the downwardly reflected light when the housing has not been blocked by the shielding panel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2014
    Assignees: Fu An Industrial Co., Ltd., Get Auto Accessories Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Jihn Shium Lee, Jen Mao Wang
  • Patent number: RE45618
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a head lamp. The head lamp includes a light source emitting light, a reflection plate reflecting the emitted light toward a lens, and a shield integrally formed with the reflection plate to intercept a portion of the light illuminated toward the lens. The head lamp can accurately adjust an illumination pattern of light through a reduction of assembly tolerance between components.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 21, 2015
    Assignee: Hyundai Mobis Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: You Kun An