With Common Housing Patents (Class 362/544)
  • Patent number: 6953273
    Abstract: A vehicle lamp has first and second lamp chamber portions each including: a light source; a casing having opening and portion for reflecting light emitted from the light source; and lens portion for closing the opening of the casing; the first and second lamp chamber portions each forming lamp chamber partitioned with the casing and the lens portion, wherein the lens portion of the first lamp chamber portion passes light through substantially forward or backward from a vehicle; at least a part of the second lamp chamber portion is disposed within the lamp chamber of the first lamp chamber portion; and the second lamp chamber portion overlaps with the light source of the first lamp chamber portion in the substantially longitudinal direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2005
    Assignee: Fuji Jukogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Tetsuya Nakajima, Atsushi Kochi
  • Patent number: 6945683
    Abstract: The subject invention comprises a thin lamp assembly having a lens and a lamp housing heat staked and sealed together. The subject invention further comprises the method of assembling the thin lamp assembly. In one embodiment, the lens has a plurality of plastic stakes and a lens rib located around the lens' periphery. Further, the lamp housing has a plurality of receiving holes around its outer periphery and a lamp housing rib around its inner periphery. In this embodiment, a sealant is placed on the lamp housing and the plastic stakes are inserted into the receiving holes so that the lens rib and lamp housing rib form a seal channel to contain the sealant and the lens is flush with the lamp housing. A heat source is then used to heat treat the plastic stakes to form a plurality of mushroom caps that act to attach the lens to the lamp housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2005
    Assignee: Guide Corporation
    Inventors: Robert D. Gross, Larry R. Bennett
  • Patent number: 6909376
    Abstract: A light and sensor assembly (22) for use with a land craft, watercraft or aircraft. The assembly includes a shell (28) for mounting to, or that is a part of the body (24) of, the vehicle. Internal to the enclosed space defined by the shell is a socket and bulb assembly (30, 32) for providing light and heat. Also disposed in the shell is a transducer (36) that emits or receives energy as part of a proximity sensing assembly. The transducer is encased in a transducer housing (38). The transducer housing is positioned relatively close to the bulb so that the heat emitted by the bulb warms the transducer housing. This heat fosters the evaporation of water off the exposed face of the transducer housing so as to minimize the extent to which this water can inhibit the utility of the transducer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2005
    Inventor: Mark Rennick
  • Patent number: 6896397
    Abstract: A vehicular marker lamp such as a tail and stop lamp, including a translucent member extending substantially along a translucent cover which is red and transparent with first light-emitting diodes in the back and second light-emitting diodes near the side end of the cover. The translucent member has a direct light-emitting region that transmits light, which is incident to the translucent member from the first light-emitting diodes, toward the front, and indirect light-emitting regions that internally reflect light, which is incident to the translucent member from the second light-emitting diodes, so as to emit such light toward the front. The direct light-emitting region is a red transparent region, and the indirect light-emitting regions are colorless transparent regions, thus allowing the appearances of the direct and indirect light-emitting regions to be significantly different from each other when the lamp is lit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2005
    Assignee: Koito Maufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kenji Yamada, Yasuo Teranishi
  • Patent number: 6891333
    Abstract: A vehicle headlamp is constituted to have a plurality of lamp units having light-emitting diodes as light sources. At that time, three types of lamp units of different radiation modes; that is, a projector-type lamp unit, direct-projection-type lamp units, and a reflection-type lamp unit, are used as the plurality of lamp units. As a result, a low-beam light distribution pattern obtained as a merged light distribution pattern formed from the light rays output from these three types of lamp units can be readily formed in a desired pattern geometry and a desired distribution of luminous intensity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2005
    Assignee: Koito Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Masashi Tatsukawa, Hiroyuki Ishida, Kiyoshi Sazuka
  • Patent number: 6882110
    Abstract: A headlamp having a plurality of lighting units using light emitting diodes as light sources. A cutoff line forming unit, hot zone forming units, and a diffusion region forming unit are used as these lighting units. Consequently, a light distribution pattern for a low beam having a desirable pattern shape and light intensity distribution can be obtained as the synthetic light distribution pattern of light distribution patterns formed by the irradiation of a light from these three kinds of lighting units.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2005
    Assignee: Koito Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Ishida, Kiyoshi Sazuka, Masashi Tatsukawa
  • Patent number: 6851839
    Abstract: A lamp assembly comprising a transparent body having a front surface and a back surface, the back surface having at least one convex curved portion, each such convex curved portion having at least one axis perpendicular to the front surface, and an internally reflective curved surface facing the front surface of the transparent body, a cavity in each convex curved portion, having sidewalls and a bottom, adapted to receive a light emitting source, and a reflective surface at the bottom of each cavity oriented so that light emitted by the light emitting source is reflected by the reflective surface onto the internally reflective curved surface of the convex curved portion. In some embodiments, the internally reflective curved surface also provides one or more electrical circuits for one or more light emitting sources.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 8, 2005
    Assignee: Meridian Automotive Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Brian J. Malone, Todd M. Nykerk, Timothy J. Kelly
  • Patent number: 6848821
    Abstract: A back cover of a motor vehicle lamp includes a plurality of types of blocks provided with joints that join the blocks together; terminals fixed to a connector of the plurality of types of blocks, and bulb holders; and a cord wired between the terminals. The blocks are selected to match with a structure of a motor vehicle lamp, and the selected blocks are joined together via the joints. As a result, it is possible to structure the back cover to match with a variety of structures of the motor vehicle lamp. Further, it is possible to have in common a plurality of types of blocks that constitute the back cover. Therefore, it is possible to manufacture the back cover at low cost.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2005
    Assignees: Ichikoh Industries, Ltd., Sumitomo Wiring Systems, Ltd.
    Inventors: Yosikazu Machida, Kazuhiro Asao
  • Patent number: 6837602
    Abstract: A cover for a shell of a vehicle tail-light has a disk portion, and separating plates secured to an inward side of the disk portion; the disk portion is formed with such a surface as to be capable of focusing light; the cover is disposed over a rear opening of the tail-light shell with the separating plates being in close contact with the inner side of the shell such that the disk portion is divided into four sector shaped areas, an X shaped area, and a ringed area by the separating plates as well as the shell; the tail-light has light emitting element sets, which oppose respective ones of the above areas, and can be separately powered. Therefore, the tail-light can function with selected ones of the light emitting element sets being activated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2005
    Assignee: Fu An Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Jihn-Shiun Lee
  • Publication number: 20040257826
    Abstract: A lamp unit has a light source 24 formed from a light-emitting diode and a translucent member 22 which subjects incident light from the light source 24 to be reflected on a front surface 22a and further on a rear surface 22b so as to exit from the front surface 22a. At that time, the light source 24 is arranged to face forward such that the one side crosses an optical axis Ax of the lamp unit 20 at right angles with the one side of the light-emitting chip 24a situated at a lower end section of the light-emitting chip 24a. A front surface 22a of the translucent member 22 is formed from a plane orthogonal to the optical axis Ax, and an optical axis region 22a1 of the front surface is subjected to mirror surface treatment.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 18, 2004
    Publication date: December 23, 2004
    Applicant: KOITO MANUFACTURING CO., LTD
    Inventor: Masashi Tatsukawa
  • Patent number: 6832848
    Abstract: A vehicular exterior rearview mirror system for a vehicle includes an exterior mirror assembly that is adapted for mounting to a side of a vehicle. The exterior mirror assembly includes a reflectance element that is moveably mounted on an actuator for providing remote positioning of the reflectance element. The mirror system further includes a turn signal light assembly, which is fixedly mounted in the exterior mirror assembly separate from the reflectance element whereby movement of the reflectance element is independent of the turn signal light assembly. The turn signal light assembly comprises a light source and radiates light from the light source at least along a light-radiating axis that extends generally rearwardly away from the passenger compartment of the vehicle when operated on the vehicle. In one form, the turn signal assembly includes at least one louver, which is configured to shield the driver from light radiated by the light source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 21, 2004
    Assignee: Donnelly Corporation
    Inventor: Todd W. Pastrick
  • Publication number: 20040246741
    Abstract: An LED light, such as used as a vehicle backup light, includes an LED board having first and second sides. At least one LED is mounted on the first side. A lens is positioned at a distance from the LED board to face the first side of the LED board. A potting compound is provided on the second side of the LED board. The potting compound can completely fill the second side of the LED board. The lens can include a first surface facing an external side of the LED light that is substantially smooth, to prevent collecting dust therein, and a second surface facing the LED board. That second surface can be contoured to include an upper region to refract light in a first direction, a lower region to reflect light in a second direction opposite to the first direction, and a middle region including horizontal grooves. That middle region may diverge light in a horizontal direction and converge light in a vertical direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 6, 2003
    Publication date: December 9, 2004
    Applicant: DIALIGHT CORPORATION
    Inventors: Chenhua You, Mohamed Abdelhafez
  • Publication number: 20040240226
    Abstract: The subject invention comprises a thin lamp assembly having a lens and a lamp housing heat staked and sealed together. The subject invention further comprises the method of assembling the thin lamp assembly. In one embodiment, the lens has a plurality of plastic stakes and a lens rib located around the lens' periphery. Further, the lamp housing has a plurality of receiving holes around its outer periphery and a lamp housing rib around its inner periphery. In this embodiment, a sealant is placed on the lamp housing and the plastic stakes are inserted into the receiving holes so that the lens rib and lamp housing rib form a seal channel to contain the sealant and the lens is flush with the lamp housing. A heat source is then used to heat treat the plastic stakes to form a plurality of mushroom caps that act to attach the lens to the lamp housing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 30, 2003
    Publication date: December 2, 2004
    Applicant: Guide Corporation
    Inventors: Robert D. Gross, Larry R. Bennett
  • Publication number: 20040233678
    Abstract: A vehicular lamp used in a vehicle includes a semiconductor light emitting element for producing light, a sealing member formed of a material, through which the light passes, for sealing the semiconductor light emitting element, a fixing member for fixing the semiconductor light emitting element by fitting an apparent position of one side of the semiconductor light emitting element when viewed through the sealing member into a reference position to which the semiconductor light emitting element is to be attached, and an optical member for forming at least a part of a cut line, which determines a boundary between bright and dark of a light distribution pattern of the vehicular lamp, by projecting a shape of the one side of the semiconductor light emitting element out of the vehicular lamp.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 21, 2004
    Publication date: November 25, 2004
    Applicant: KOITO MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Ishida, Kiyoshi Sazuka
  • Patent number: 6821005
    Abstract: In a headlamp comprising low beam irradiating, there are provided main beam irradiating means, light distribution switching means for switching a low beam and a main beam, abnormality detecting means for detecting an abnormal situation in which a proper low beam cannot be formed, and optical axis tilting means for vertically tilting an optical axis of at least a main beam, and the abnormality detecting means detects an abnormality, a light distribution is switched into a main beam by the light distribution switching and the optical axis of the main beam is turned downward by the optical axis tilting means. When a proper low beam cannot be formed, a main beam having a larger light amount is generally turned on to maintain a visibility in of a vehicle and the optical axis of the main beam is turned downward such that glare light is not generated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 23, 2004
    Assignee: Koito Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hideki Uchida, Makoto Izawa
  • Patent number: 6817744
    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: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 16, 2004
    Assignee: Koito Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Masashi Tatsukawa
  • Publication number: 20040208018
    Abstract: An LED headlamp array comprising discrete LED light source modules, where each light source module has an LED light source, optics dedicated to each LED light source, and a faceted reflector.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 17, 2003
    Publication date: October 21, 2004
    Inventors: Edwin Mitchell Sayers, Jeffrey Erion, Rainer Neumann, Jeyachandrabose Chinniah, Leonard Livschitz, Scott West
  • Publication number: 20040202006
    Abstract: A taillight mainly includes a pan for the taillight, a plurality of LED lamp bases separately connected to a conductor, and a plurality of LED lamps separately plugged into the LED lamp bases. The pan is provided with insertion holes in the same number as that of the LED lamp bases, so that the LED lamp bases are individually plugged into the insertion holes in a one-to-one correspondence. The LED lamps may be individually replaced to enable easy maintenance and repair at reduced cost.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 10, 2003
    Publication date: October 14, 2004
    Inventor: Shou-Wei Pien
  • Patent number: 6793384
    Abstract: A tail lamp unit is disposed inside a rear end portion of a rear cowl of a motorcycle. The rear end portion has a shape whose lateral width narrows or tapers toward an upper end of the rear cowl. A tail lamp is disposed on an upper portion of the tail lamp structure and a brake lamp is disposed beneath the tail lamp, thereby ensuring a sufficient lighting area of the brake lamp.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 21, 2004
    Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Tetsuo Ban, Yumio Shibata
  • Patent number: 6789929
    Abstract: A lamp structure is constructed to include a transparent opencell housing with a predetermined wall thickness, the housing comprising an inner mirror layer and an outer mirror layer respectively coated on the inner and outer surfaces thereof, a light admitting face in the outside peripheral rim thereof neighboring the mirror layers, and a light source installed in a lamp socket formed integral with the housing and controlled to emit light into the predetermined wall thickness, for enabling light rays to be mutually reflected between the mirror layers and guided toward the light admitting face in the outside peripheral rim of the housing to form a light ring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2004
    Assignee: DJ Auto Components Corp.
    Inventors: Tair Jiuh Doong, Cheng Ping Hsieh
  • Patent number: 6789925
    Abstract: A new and improved apparatus which lights up portions of a pair of bicycle tires on a bicycle when the bicycle is in motion is disclosed. The present invention would comprise a generator and two aluminum disks that light up light emitting diodes (LED's) on both tires of a bicycle while the bicycle is being ridden by a user. The aluminum disks would be located in the center of each bicycle tire, while the LED's would be located on two spokes on each tire. On each tire, the spokes that the LED's would be located would be opposite one another, with the spokes being wide enough the entire length of each spoke to accommodate the placement of a plurality of LED's. Each spoke that has LED's attached would have LED's attached to both sides of that particular spoke. The present invention would be configured such that the forward motion of the bicycle would energize the generator, which in turn, would provide energy to the aluminum discs and the LED's.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2004
    Inventor: Kevin DeGregorio
  • Patent number: 6786618
    Abstract: An aircraft position light for an aircraft is provided with a luminous device for emitting light and a reflector arrangement. The luminous device comprises a first and a second light source, which emit light within a light radiation solid angle, the two light sources being arranged symmetrically to the preferential axis and central axes of the light radiation solid angles being inclined so as to face each other. The reflector arrangement comprises a first and a second reflection surface allocated to the first and second light source, respectively. The first reflection surface is arranged opposite to the first light source and the second reflection surface is arranged opposite to the second light source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2004
    Assignee: Goodrich Hella Aerospace Lighting Systems GmbH
    Inventors: Rico Schulz, Sascha Lueder, Bernd Ganzer
  • Patent number: 6786623
    Abstract: A vehicle combination light for use in a vehicle having a compartment includes a housing and a combination light unit arranged in the housing and directed to at least a front or a rear of the vehicle. An accessory light unit is arranged in the housing and directed to an interior of the compartment, such that the accessory light unit is aligned with an opening in a wall of the vehicle that faces toward the interior of the compartment in order to illuminate the interior of the compartment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 3, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2004
    Assignee: Nissan Technical Center North America, Inc.
    Inventors: Mark D. Snyder, William G. Bowes, David Plentis
  • Patent number: 6783268
    Abstract: An indicator lamp for a motor vehicle includes a plurality of light sources, and a plurality of linking elements. The lamp includes components that straighten out the light emitted by the light sources so that the light is propagated in a direction essentially parallel to a general direction of emisssion. These components include multiple first elements and a second element. East first element corresponds to one of the plurality of light sources. The first elements are able to distribute the light in a plane essentially perpendicular to the general direction of emission, in an essentially uniform way onto the second element. The second element is able to straighten out the incident light towards the general direction of emission.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2004
    Assignee: Valeo Vision
    Inventors: Jean Pierre Aynie, Jean Dera, Jean Claude Gasquet, Ghislain Lefevre, Filipe Videira
  • Patent number: 6776513
    Abstract: The invention proposes a motor-vehicle headlamp (10), of the type including a main optical system (23) which comprises, arranged from back to front overall along a main optical axis (A—A), a main light source (16), a main reflector (14) of the elliptical type, and a converging main lens (18), characterised in that it includes a secondary optical system (36) comprising: a secondary light source (48) which is arranged behind the main lens (18) and off the path of the light rays emitted by the main light source (16); and an optical distribution element (42) which is interposed between the secondary light source (48) and the exit surface (19) of the main lens (18), in such a way as to form, at the exit from the main lens (18), a secondary regulatory beam for indicating.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2004
    Assignee: Valeo Vision
    Inventor: Pierre Albou
  • Publication number: 20040156187
    Abstract: A transparent outer tube for a vehicular exhaust pipe comprises an inner tube, a first outer tube, a second outer tube, a socket and illumination devices. The inner tube is secured within the first outer tube to form a space between the inner tube and the first outer tube. The space receives the socket and the illumination devices therein. The first outer tube is axially secured with the second outer tube. Either the first outer tuber or the second outer tubes, or both of them are made of heat-resistant and transparent material. The second outer tube further comprises a ring. Thus light from the illumination devices emits direct or indirect to the tail of the exhaust pipe or reflects through the first outer tube, the second outer tube or the ring.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 11, 2003
    Publication date: August 12, 2004
    Inventor: Kuo-Tai Chen
  • Publication number: 20040145902
    Abstract: A heated mirror assembly is disclosed and which includes a mirror which is operable to both reflect and pass visibly discernible electromagnetic radiation; a first substrate bearing a heater is juxtaposed relative to the mirror, and wherein the heater, when energized, imparts heat energy to the mirror; an electrically conductive pathway is made integral with the first substrate; and an electrical device is electrically coupled to the conductive pathway, and wherein the heater and the electrical device are each energized from electrical terminals which are supported at least in part by the mirror.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 28, 2003
    Publication date: July 29, 2004
    Inventors: Daniel R. Todd, Allen A. Bukosky, Daniel J. Mathieu
  • Publication number: 20040136197
    Abstract: A vehicular headlamp employing a semiconductor light-emitting device having a plurality of light-emitting elements such as LEDs and for which light distribution design is made easy. Separate ones of the light-emitting elements within the light-emitting device are employed for forming high and low headlamp beams. The light-emitting device also includes a reflector and a lens. The beams are switched by selectively activating predetermined ones of the light-emitting elements.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 3, 2003
    Publication date: July 15, 2004
    Applicant: KOITO MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Hiroyuki Ishida
  • Patent number: 6758589
    Abstract: A headlamp and method for illumination of the headlamp in which during low beam irradiation, a light distribution pattern P(L) for a low beam is formed by turning on a lighting unit for a low beam and during high beam irradiation, a lighting unit for a high beam is also turned on at the same time to superpose an additional light distribution pattern P(H1) for a high beam thereon, thereby forming a light distribution pattern P(H) for a high beam. During the high beam irradiation, furthermore, a tilting unit of the headlamp is tilted upward by approximately 1.5 degrees and a hot zone HZ(L) of the light distribution pattern P(L) for a low beam is moved to a long distance region in a road placed ahead of a vehicle, thereby enhancing a distance visibility.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 6, 2004
    Assignee: Koito Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Michihiko Hayakawa, Naoki Uchida
  • Publication number: 20040120160
    Abstract: A vehicular lamp including a first LED light source that faces the back of the lamp so that its light is reflected forward of the lamp by a reflector, thus providing soft lighting due to an indirect lighting effect, the lamp further including a second LED light source that is disposed, so as to face the front of the lamp, on the front side of a circuit board that supports the first LED light source. A cover member that covers the circuit board is disposed on the front side of the second LED light source, and the cover member is formed with diffusion lens elements, thus allowing light from the second LED light source to be diffused and transmitted forward of the lamp and letting a portion of the lamp, which corresponds to the second LED light source, to appear brilliantly.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 23, 2003
    Publication date: June 24, 2004
    Applicant: Koito Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Kazunori Natsume
  • Publication number: 20040120019
    Abstract: A light conduction structure that generates short range projection for an object to create aesthetic sense of vision by emitting dazzling, fantastic and colorful lights; includes an inner layer provided with a reflective outer side in while; a middle layer made of color, translucent material in dazzling colors and making light passing through it to become gender, wraps up the outer side of the inner layer; an outer layer made of see-through material wraps up the outer side of the middle layer; and a light conduction holder wrapping up the outer peripheries of the inner, the middle and the outer layers contains an insertion channel to accommodate a plurality of light emission devices.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 24, 2002
    Publication date: June 24, 2004
    Inventor: Chin-Hsing Chou
  • Publication number: 20040114392
    Abstract: A vehicle lamp comprising a casing seat, a substrate with a plurality of LEDs; a reflecting panel and a lampshade. One surface of the reflecting panel is formed with a plurality of receiving chambers; and each receiving chamber is capable of receiving an LED. Light from the LEDs is collected effectively and then emitted out. An inner edge of each receiving chamber of the reflecting panel is a smoother surface or a textured surface. Moreover, the reflecting panel is integral formed with a casing seat for being assembled to a vehicle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 12, 2002
    Publication date: June 17, 2004
    Inventor: Wen-Jui Hou
  • Patent number: 6749325
    Abstract: A signaling assembly is disclosed and which includes a reflective substrate having opposite first and second surfaces, and wherein the reflective substrate simultaneously reflects visibly discernible electromagnetic radiation, and passes visibly discernible electromagnetic radiation; a plurality of electromagnetic radiation emitters which are borne by the second surface and which, when energized, emit electromagnetic radiation; and a reflector is borne by the second surface and which directs the electromagnetic radiation emitted by some of the electromagnetic radiation emitters in a direction so that it may pass through the reflective substrate and be viewed from a location forward of the first surface, and the electromagnetic radiation emitted by a remainder of the electromagnetic radiation emitters in a direction so that it may be viewed from a location forward of the second surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2004
    Assignee: K.W. Muth Company
    Inventors: Allen A. Bukosky, Daniel J. Mathieu, Daniel R. Todd
  • Patent number: 6746139
    Abstract: A room lamp fixing structure fixes a room lamp to an automobile roof panel. The room lamp fixing structure most preferably includes a trim piece and a room lamp cover to cover the room lamp. A first room lamp fixing structure is attached to the cover of the room lamp. A second room lamp fixing structure fixes the room lamp to said trim. The first and second room lamp fixing structures therefore cooperate to fix the room lamp to the roof panel together with the trim. Most preferably, the first room lamp fixing structure includes a magenetic member and/or a hook-and-loop fastener.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2004
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha T AN T
    Inventors: Kouichi Sinzawa, Hirofumi Okano
  • Patent number: 6736524
    Abstract: The invention proposes a headlight producing a principal lighting beam with cutoff, comprising a principal light source which is arranged in the vicinity of a first focus of the reflector, a shield which comprises a cutoff edge arranged in the vicinity of a second focus of the reflector, so as to form the cutoff in the principal lighting beam, and a convergent lens, a focal plane of which passes close to the second focus of the reflector, a secondary light source being arranged between the shield and the lens; comprising an optical distribution element arranged in front of the shield, so as to distribute the light rays emitted by the secondary source on the input surface of the principal lens, with a view of producing a secondary lighting beam, the secondary source being arranged outside the path of the light rays coming from the principal source and directed towards the input surface of the principal lens.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 18, 2004
    Assignee: Valeo Vision
    Inventor: Pierre Albou
  • Patent number: 6733163
    Abstract: A vehicle auxiliary light assembly (10) having a housing (12) that houses a conventional, central incandescent light bulb (56) and an electro-luminescent panel (ELP) (60) that is located around the inner perimeter of the housing (12). The ELP (60), depending on the luminescent material used, can be made to illuminate in various colors. The assembly (10) can be operated by either a first cable assembly (84) or a second cable assembly (85). The first cable assembly (84) allows the incandescent light bulb (56) and the ELP (60) to be operated independently of each other. The second cable assembly (85) allows the light (56) and the ELP (60) to be operated simultaneously.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2004
    Inventor: Calvin S. Wang
  • Publication number: 20040080958
    Abstract: A signaling assembly is disclosed and which includes a reflective substrate having opposite first and second surfaces, and wherein the reflective substrate simultaneously reflects visibly discernible electromagnetic radiation, and passes visibly discernible electromagnetic radiation; a plurality of electromagnetic radiation emitters which are borne by the second surface and which, when energized, emit electromagnetic radiation; and a reflector is borne by the second surface and which directs the electromagnetic radiation emitted by some of the electromagnetic radiation emitters in a direction so that it may pass through the reflective substrate and be viewed from a location forward of the first surface, and the electromagnetic radiation emitted by a remainder of the electromagnetic radiation emitters in a direction so that it may be viewed from a location forward of the second surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 29, 2002
    Publication date: April 29, 2004
    Inventors: Allen A. Bukosky, Daniel J. Mathieu, Daniel R. Todd
  • Patent number: 6722776
    Abstract: A light bar incorporates an extruded base and top panel where the top panel is supported above the base by two ruggedly constructed electronics enclosures. The base top panel and electronics enclosures form a structure to which various light units, lenses and covers are attached to form the finished light bar. The top panel is one of the last components to be installed, leaving the internal components of the light bar accessible during assembly. Each electronics enclosure may surround a power supply that includes a heat-generating component, such as a power transistor. Each enclosure is provided with an opening through which the heat-generating component protrudes to form a heat transfer interface with a heat sink plate mounted to the outside of the enclosure. A further heat transfer interface is formed between the heat sink plate and the top panel in the assembled light bar.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2004
    Assignee: Whelen Engineering Company, Inc.
    Inventors: Jon H. Lyons, William F. Grote, Peter J. Tiezzi, III
  • Patent number: 6719445
    Abstract: A structure that ensures air tightness and waterproof performance of a cord insertion hole in a back cover of a lamp body. The arrangement allows a reduction of man hours for fixing a power supply cord to the back cover. In an implementation, a cylindrical outer wall 702 is provided that surrounds cord insertion holes 704a, 704b through which power supply cords 6a, 6b are inserted for sending current to light source bulbs 1a, 1b. A resin mold portion filled inside the outer wall fixes and integrates the power supply cords 6a, 6b in the cord insertion holes 704a, 704b. The resin mold portion includes a lower mold layer 9a on the side of the cord insertion holes 704a, 704b that adheres well to the back cover 7, and an upper mold layer 9b laminated over the lower mold layer 9a and having good heat resistance properties. The upper mold layer 9b prevents creep in the lower mold layer 9a, and the lower mold layer maintains air tightness and waterproof performance at the cord insertion hole.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2004
    Assignee: Koito Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Akira Nagakura
  • Patent number: 6715909
    Abstract: A vehicle lamp including a light-emitting diode and a lighting circuit for the light-emitting diode, a lamp chamber defined by a lamp body and a lens that covers the front of the lamp body, an LED circuit board which is disposed in the lamp chamber and on which the light-emitting diode and the lighting circuit are provided, and a cord for connecting the LED circuit board to an electric power supply; and in addition a limiting resistor for limiting a supply current for the light-emitting diode being provided on a part of the cord that is located outside the lamp chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2004
    Assignee: Koito Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Tomoaki Serizawa
  • Patent number: 6709136
    Abstract: An exterior rearview mirror system for a vehicle includes an exterior mirror assembly, which includes a fixed portion and a movable portion that is movable about the fixed portion for breakaway motion, and a turn signal indicator module. The turn signal indicator module includes a plurality of light emitting diodes. At least a portion of the light pattern projected from the module projects rearwardly of the vehicle, but does not directly intercept the driver of the vehicle. The turn signal indicator module is fixedly included in the exterior mirror assembly separate from the mirror assembly's reflective element, which is adjustable within the movable portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2004
    Assignee: Donnelly Corporation
    Inventors: Todd W. Pastrick, Mark R. Litke, David K. Willmore, Rick Mousseau
  • Patent number: 6688753
    Abstract: The lighting unit comprises a first lighting element (10) and a second lighting element (11). In operation, the first lighting element (10) has a comparatively high light output. The second lighting element (20, 20′) has a light output, in operation, which is relatively low in comparison with that of the first lighting element (10). The lighting unit comprises a control mechanism (40) including a switching means with a toggle function that is responsive to sequential switches in the power applied to the lighting unit. By selecting the proper switching sequence, either the first lighting element or the second lighting element or both lighting elements are switched on. Preferably, the first lighting element is a compact fluorescent discharge vessel (10), and the second lighting element comprises a plurality of LEDs (20, 20′). The lighting unit enables remote-controlled switching between orientation light (night lamp) and normal light, using the toggle function in the lighting unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2004
    Assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V.
    Inventors: Georges Marie Calon, Josephus Theodorus Van Der Eyden, Annemarie Paulien Buddemeijer-Lock
  • Publication number: 20040008521
    Abstract: A vehicle lamp has first and second lamp chamber portions each including: a light source; a casing having opening and portion for reflecting light emitted from the light source; and lens portion for closing the opening of the casing; the first and second lamp chamber portions each forming lamp chamber partitioned with the casing and the lens portion, wherein the lens portion of the first lamp chamber portion passes light through substantially forward or backward from a vehicle; at least a part of the second lamp chamber portion is disposed within the lamp chamber of the first lamp chamber portion; and the second lamp chamber portion overlaps with the light source of the first lamp chamber portion in the substantially longitudinal direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 11, 2003
    Publication date: January 15, 2004
    Applicant: Fuji Jukogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Tetsuya Nakajima, Atsushi Kochi
  • Patent number: 6676282
    Abstract: A headlamp (2; 3) of a vehicle (1) has a light source (4; 5) comprising a plurality of opto-electronic elements (11; 12; 13; 14), preferably light-emitting diodes (LED's). At least one of these opto-electronic elements (11; 12; 13; 14) has, in operation, a luminous flux of 5 lm or higher. According to the invention, the spectral characteristic of the light beam (6, 6′; 7, 7′) generated by the light source (4; 5) depends upon the position in the light beam (6, 6′; 7, 7′). Preferably, the light source (4; 5) comprises opto-electronic elements (11; 12; 13; 14) only. The light beam comprises at least two light beam segments (6, 6′; 7, 7′) having essentially different spectral characteristics. Preferably, one of the light beam segments (6′; 7′) is mesotopically tuned.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 13, 2004
    Assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V.
    Inventors: Simon H. A. Begemann, Gerard Harbers
  • Publication number: 20030227781
    Abstract: A vehicular lamp including a first lamp component having a first light source and a first reflector, and a second lamp component disposed behind the first lamp component and having a second light source and a second reflector, and front sides of the first and second lamp components being covered by an outer lens; and in this vehicular lamp, the first reflector having an overlapping area that covers the front of the second reflector so that the second reflector appears to be segmented in two or more portions; and light transmission holes through which light from the second lamp component passes being formed in the overlapping area of the first reflector.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 30, 2003
    Publication date: December 11, 2003
    Applicant: Koito Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Katsumi Mochizuki
  • Patent number: 6652129
    Abstract: A vehicle headlamp including a body having a rounded portion which may be, for example, rounded sideways. The headlamp includes a light source and a reflector disposed in the body with its opening being substantially directed forward. A dummy portion extends from the opening of the reflector up to the rounded portion, and a light guide is disposed along the front of the dummy portion. A cutout portion of the dummy portion is formed close to the opening of the reflector. An incident edge portion of the light guide is so positioned as to correspond to the cutout portion, and by making light from the light source incident upon the incident edge portion of the light guide, the light is made to spread throughout the light guide so that the whole light guide is caused to illuminate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2003
    Assignee: Koito Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Takasumi Aoki
  • Publication number: 20030210537
    Abstract: The arrangement for illuminating at least one switch surface (3) provided on a transparent panel (1) has at least one light source (9) and a touch sensor switch (5) arranged behind the at least one switch surface (3). The illumination should not interfere with the switching function and a touch sensor switch (5) does not need its own light source (9). The light source (9) is spaced from the at least one switch surface (3) so that the at least one light source (9) radiates light into the transparent panel (1) or into an optical waveguide (15, 16, 17. 19. 20) arranged on the transparent panel (1). The light of the at least one light source (9) is guided into the transparent panel or the optical waveguide toward the at least one switch surface (3) and conducted into a region between the at least one switch surface (3) and a sensor element (7) of the touch sensor switch (5).
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 2, 2003
    Publication date: November 13, 2003
    Inventor: Harry Engelmann
  • Patent number: 6641295
    Abstract: A fog light device has a base casing, a lampholder, a transparent lampshade, a photoconduction plate, an outer casing, a main bulb, and at least an auxiliary bulb. The base casing has a hollow interior to receive at least a positioning seat. The auxiliary bulb is connected to the positioning seat. The main bulb is inserted in the center through hole of the lampholder. The transparent lampshade is inserted in the annular recess of the lampholder. The photoconduction plate is inserted in the annular channel of the lampholder. The photoconduction plate has a first taper end and a second taper end to receive a light emitted by the auxiliary bulb.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2003
    Assignee: Wendell Ng-Sell-Quan
    Inventor: Wen-Sung Hu
  • Patent number: 6641294
    Abstract: A lighting assembly for illuminating a vehicle interior has an elongated housing which supports a printed circuit board that has an electrically conductive pattern. A plurality of electrical terminals are connected to the electrically conductive pattern for coupling the lighting assembly to a source of electricity. A plurality of light emitting diodes are arranged in a plurality of rows on the printed circuit board. The light emitting diodes in each row being electrically connected in series between two of the electrical terminals. The light emitting diodes are so connected that application of electricity to selected ones of the electrical terminals causes illumination of different combinations of the rows of light emitting diodes which results in the lighting assembly producing different light intensity levels in the vehicle interior.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2003
    Assignee: EMTEQ, Inc.
    Inventor: Phillip Lefebvre
  • Patent number: 6641288
    Abstract: A removable rear warning light system for attachment to a vehicle, such as a boat or snowmobile, carried on a trailer pulled by a motor vehicle to provide warning to the drivers of motor vehicles approaching from the rear. The warning light system includes a pod removably mountable on a rear portion of the trailered vehicle attachable to the electrical system of the motor vehicle to work in unison with one or more light functions of the motor vehicle. The pod fits within a boat cover having a flexible, water repellant sheet of such configuration as to cover the upper portion of a trailered vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2000
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2003
    Inventor: Dee Wade Olsen