Illumination – Supported by vehicle structure – Adjustable lamp or lamp support
Reexamination Certificate
1999-07-28
2001-06-19
O'Shea, Sandra (Department: 2875)
Illumination
Supported by vehicle structure
Adjustable lamp or lamp support
C362S508000, C362S526000, C362S286000, C362S467000, C362S288000, C362S274000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06247835
ABSTRACT:
This invention claims the benefit of Japanese Patent Application No. 10-214090, filed on Jul. 29, 1998, which is hereby incorporated by reference.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a headlight or lamp used in an automobile or other vehicle, and more particularly to a configuration of the headlight in which a single light source, such as a discharge lamp, is incorporated. The single light source headlight is capable of changing light distribution patterns between a by-passing mode when the automobile is passing another vehicle and a traveling mode when the automobile is traveling straight ahead. Light distribution patterns are changed by changing a position of a part in the headlight affecting formation of light distribution patterns, such as a light source or a reflector, in accordance with the driver's operations.
2. Discussion of the Related Art
FIG. 6
illustrates a conventional automobile headlight
90
. The headlight
90
includes a light source
91
, a reflector
94
having an aperture, a light source mounting plate
92
having a fixed end and a movable end, a solenoid
93
connected to the movable end portion and capable of moving the light source mounting plate
92
to traverse a circular arc with the center located at the fixed end, and a return spring
95
which is also connected to the movable end portion to return the light source mounting plate
92
to a previous position when the solenoid
93
is turned off. Light distribution patterns of the headlight
90
can be repeatedly switched between a by-passing mode and a traveling mode by changing the position of light source
91
relative to the reflector
94
in accordance with the movement of the light source mounting plate
92
driven by solenoid
93
.
Solenoid
93
and the return spring
95
produce predetermined forces in opposite directions to each other in order to pull the light source mounting plate
92
toward themselves, respectively. Since in current traffic environments there are more situations which require a headlight to be in by-passing mode, the standard position of the light source
91
is in the by-passing mode. Solenoid
93
is activated only during the traveling mode. When the headlight is switched from the traveling mode to the by-passing mode, the solenoid
93
is turned off, and the light source mounting plate
92
returns to its standard, original position by force of the return spring
95
.
FIG. 7
illustrates a construction of another conventional automobile headlight
90
. The headlight
90
includes a light source
91
, a reflector
94
, a light source mounting plate
92
, a nut
96
connected to the light source mounting plate
92
, a bolt
98
which screws through the nut
96
, and a motor
97
corresponding to a head of the bolt
98
and connected to the bolt
98
. In this configuration, the light source supporting plate
92
is not required to have a fixed end acting as a center for partial rotation thereabout. A return spring
95
is also not required if the motor
97
is capable of repeatedly screwing in or out a predetermined portion of the bolt
98
through the nut
98
.
The conventional automobile headlight
90
as shown in
FIG. 6
has the following problems. First, when the light source mounting plate
92
is moved from its by-passing position to its traveling position, the solenoid
93
requires high power because the light source mounting plate
92
is driven against the fairly strong bias of the return spring
95
. The return spring
95
must maintain the light source mounting plate
92
in its original position while surviving the shock and vibration caused by travel of the car. Accordingly, the return spring
95
must deliver a fairly strong pulling force toward the reflector
94
even when the light source
91
is in its original position. Second, the solenoid
93
must be relatively large in size to produce the continuous power supply necessary when the light source mounting plate
92
is in the traveling position. The continuous power supply can cause a rapid temperature rise in the solenoid
92
and requires the solenoid
92
to be sized to withstand such a temperature rise.
The automobile headlight
90
as shown in
FIG. 7
enables reduction of size and power consumption as compared to the headlight
90
shown in
FIG. 6
since the driving force of the motor
97
is transmitted to the bolt
98
and the nut
96
and because the motor
97
can be turned off after the light source mounting plate
92
reaches a desired position. The light source mounting plate
92
is not required to have a fixed end acting as a center for partial rotation thereabout. Additionally, if the motor
97
can perform reverse rotation, a return spring
95
is not required. However, the automobile headlight
90
still has at least the following problems. If the motor
97
malfunctions, the light source mounting plate
92
may become fixed and unmovable in a position at which the malfunction of the motor
97
occurred. Accordingly, the headlight
90
may operate in an incorrect mode and/or incorrectly operate in between the traveling and by-pass modes.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The invention is directed to a vehicle lamp that substantially obviates one or more of the above problems due to the limitations and disadvantages of the related art.
An object of the invention is to provide a vehicle headlight in which lower power consumption and a reduction in size are accomplished.
Another object of the invention is to provide a more reliable vehicle headlight in which the light source is switched to the by-passing mode in the event a malfunction occurs in the motor or driving unit of the headlight.
The above objects are achieved by providing an automobile lamp capable of repeatedly switching its light distribution pattern between a by-passing mode and a traveling mode and including a drive unit including a positioning element committed to the formation of light distribution patterns, a first biasing member which maintains the positioning element in a by-passing mode via biasing force, a meshing gear for moving the positioning element to a traveling mode position against the biasing force of the first biasing member and being selectively engageable with the positioning element, a motor located on the drive unit and which supplies power to drive the meshing gear, a second biasing member which forces the meshing gear in an engaging direction, and a solenoid located on the drive unit and which applies force to the meshing gear against the bias of the second biasing member.
Additional objects and advantages of the invention will be set forth in part in the description which follows, and in part will be obvious from the description, or may be learned by practice of the invention. The objects and advantages of the invention will be realized and attained by means of the elements and combinations particularly pointed out in the appended claims.
It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description and the following detailed description are exemplary and explanatory and are intended to provide further explanation of the invention as claimed.
REFERENCES:
patent: 5911502 (1999-06-01), Zillgitt et al.
patent: 4435 507A1 (1996-04-01), None
patent: 10-92208 (1998-04-01), None
patent: 10-283804 (1998-10-01), None
Alavi Ali
Morgan & Lewis & Bockius, LLP
O'Shea Sandra
Stanley Electric Co. Ltd.
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