Illumination – Light modifier – Refractor
Reexamination Certificate
1999-08-13
2001-07-24
O'Shea, Sandra (Department: 2875)
Illumination
Light modifier
Refractor
C362S332000, C362S328000, C362S521000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06264347
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to indicating lights of the kinds which are generally fitted to the rear of motor vehicles, for emitting light in essentially a single direction.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Until recent years, the majority of indicating lights had the disadvantage that they provided a field of illumination which was not at all homogeneous, despite various devices for spreading the light which are in use at the present time, and which generally consist of billets or toroids incorporated in the cover glass or in an optical plate, or screen, of the indicating light. This disadvantage, which is in general tolerable from the point of view of conforming with the law, is a definite drawback from the aesthetic point of view, while homogeneity of the fields of illumination of the indicating lights is a matter which is now considered to be of increasing importance.
It is known from the French published patent document No. FR 2 614 969A to provide an indicating light with a homogeneous field of illumination. This indicating light includes, within a housing, an optical screen which is transparent or translucent and which is referred to as a “bonnet”, being interposed between a light source and an essentially flat optical screen or plate which is set at right angles to the optical axis of the indicating light. The particular geometrical configuration of the bonnet ensures that the surface density of the light flux arriving on the flat optical plate is substantially constant over the whole surface of the optical plate. Finally, the surface of the optical plate is provided with striations which align the light rays received from the bonnet, in order to transmit outside the indicating light a beam consisting of rays parallel to the optical axis of the light itself.
The homogeneity of lighting provided by such an indicating light thus provides an aesthetic advantage by comparison with previous arrangements. However, the striations which are carried by the flat optical plate do not enable light to penetrate into the indicating light, and consequently an observer looking at the light from outside will only see an opaque surface. Now, a current tendency in matters of styling for automobile indicating lights lies in the design of such lights so that they have a so-called “glassy” appearance, smooth and transparent, such that what an outside observer is able to perceive (whether it be what he really sees or whether it be an illusion) is a certain amount of depth in the hollow interior or cavity of the indicating light.
DISCUSSION OF THE INVENTION
An object of the present invention is to improve the aesthetic appearance of existing indicating lights, by proposing an indicating light which not only has a field of illumination of homogeneous intensity, but which also gives an impression of depth when extinguished and observed from outside.
According to the invention, an indicating light comprising a light source, a bonnet and an optical plate, the bonnet having means for distributing, essentially uniformly, radiation (which has been received from the light source) over at least part of the surface of the optical plate, the optical plate having striations for aligning the radiation in the direction of the optical axis of the indicating light, is characterised in that the striations an the said optical plate are arranged in at least one discrete zone of the surface of the optical plate, with the remainder of the surface of the latter consisting of at least one optically neutral zone, and in that the distributing means are adapted to direct at least part of the radiation issued from the light source towards the said discrete striated zones.
According to a preferred feature of the invention, the distributing means are adapted to pass essentially all of the radiation issued from the light source only towards the discrete striated zone or zones of the optical plate.
A reflector may also be provided, for reflecting part of the radiation from the light source directly towards the optical plate. This reflector is adapted to pass essentially all of the radiation from the light source towards the optically neutral zone or zones of the optical plate.
The optical plate may constitute a closure glass for the indicating light.
The optically neutral zones of the optical plate are preferably smooth.
The optically neutral zones of the optical plate may include surfaces having a reduced curvature, chosen in such a way as to enable the depth of the indicating light behind the optical plate to be perceived visually from outside.
The optical plate preferably includes a plurality of optically neutral zones arranged alternately with striated zones.
Further features and advantages of the invention will appear more clearly on a reading of the following detailed description of some preferred embodiments of the invention, which is given by way of non-limiting example only and with reference to the accompanying drawings.
REFERENCES:
patent: 4814950 (1989-03-01), Nakata
patent: 4859043 (1989-08-01), Carel et al.
patent: 5081564 (1992-01-01), Mizoguchi et al.
patent: 5158350 (1992-10-01), Sato
patent: 5580165 (1996-12-01), Natsume et al.
patent: 5603561 (1997-02-01), Ohishi
patent: 91 11 339 (1991-10-01), None
patent: 2 614 969 (1988-11-01), None
Gasquet Jean Claude
Godbillon Vincent
Montelymard Christian
Morgan & Finnegan , LLP
O'Shea Sandra
Valeo Vision
Ward John Anthony
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