Jewelry
Reexamination Certificate
1999-10-27
2001-08-28
Cariaso, Alan (Department: 2875)
Jewelry
C362S545000, C362S241000, C362S245000, C362S800000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06280480
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a taillamp assembly for a vehicle and, more particularly, to a taillamp assembly for a vehicle whereby illumination is first directed inwardly toward a reflector before being directed outwardly of the lamp housing. In another aspect, the invention also relates to a taillamp assembly for a vehicle whereby light-emitting diodes (LEDs) are employed.
2. Description of the Related Art
It is common in vehicle taillamp assemblies to include a single housing which includes one or more red-colored tail and stop lamps, an amber-colored turn signal lamp, and a white reverse or back-up lamp. A cross section of one of these typical vehicle taillamp assemblies
110
is shown in
FIG. 12
comprising a housing
112
having a reflector
114
, a lens
16
disposed over an open end of the reflector housing
112
and a conventional bulb-type lamp
118
. The bulb
118
is typically mounted in concentric relationship with respect to a parabolic portion
120
of the reflector
114
to direct illumination emitted from the lamp
118
outwardly of the housing
112
through the lens
116
. Because conventional lamps
118
are typically white (i.e., transparent, crystal, colorless or clear) to emit the greatest amount of illumination therefrom, it is typical of the lens
116
to be provided with one or more colored portions corresponding to the type lamp signal required, i.e., red, amber, or white/transparent. Because the illumination from the lamp
118
must be directed outwardly from the housing
112
, the parabolic portion
120
of the reflector
114
is typically placed rearwardly of the lamp
118
so that the parabolic portion
120
acts as a collection surface for direction of illumination outwardly of the housing
112
through the lens
116
.
It has also been found that light-emitting diodes (LEDs) can be used in taillamp assemblies for vehicles. These types of vehicle taillamp assemblies typically must be arranged so that an axis of the LED is directed out of the housing for the taillamp assembly as well to ensure the maximum emission of light through the lens
116
of the taillamp assembly housing. Examples of vehicle taillamps including LED light sources are taught by U.S. Pat. No. 5,373,280 (issued Dec. 13, 1994), U.S. Pat. No. 5,570,951 (issued Nov. 5, 1996) and U.S. Pat. No. 5,765,940 (issued Jun. 16, 1998).
Unfortunately, the requirements that either the parabolic collecting surface be concentric with and behind the lamp
118
and the axis of the lamp
118
be directed in an uninterrupted fashion outwardly through the lens of the housing requires a wider profile for such lamps, increased servicing due to bulb burnout and breakage, and increased power consumption if conventional bulbs are used.
Other taillamp configurations have attempted to reduce the profile needed for the taillamp housing. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 1,680,168, issued Jan. 6, 1927, discloses a first, smaller reflector for a light bulb disposed within an upper portion of a taillamp housing. Light from the bulb is directed rearwardly at a second, larger reflector for “indirect” routing of the light from the taillamp housing. In the '
168
patent, the light is reflected from the first reflector toward the rear of the taillamp housing, is redirected twice against the surface of the second reflector and outwardly through a lens mounted on the housing. A more recent example showing the indirect routing of light from an LED light source off of a reflective surface prior to the light exiting the housing through a lens is taught by U.S. Pat. No. 5,471,371, issued Nov. 28, 1995.
However, the prior art taillamp housings typically only house lamps of a single color requiring multiple housings to accommodate braking systems which include typical amber, red and white indicators. Further, the prior art taillamps typically require many manufacturing steps to make, specifically relating to the installation of light sources such as LEDs.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The invention relates to a taillamp assembly for a vehicle comprising a housing having a first reflector and a second reflector and a lens mounted to the housing juxtaposed to the first and second reflectors. The lens can have first and second optic regions in register with the first and second reflectors. A lamp carrier is preferably mounted to one of the housing and the lens and between the housing and the lens and has first and second sets of interconnected light-emitting semiconductor devices. The first set of light-emitting semiconductor devices are directed at the first reflector and the second set of light-emitting semiconductor devices are directed at the second reflector, and wherein the first and second sets of interconnected light-emitting semiconductor devices are electrically independent from one another. The first and second sets of light-emitting semiconductor devices can thereby be independently actuated to emit light toward the corresponding first and second reflectors and, in turn, outwardly through the lens.
The lamp carrier can be positioned between the first and second reflectors. The lamp carrier can comprise an elongated member with a Y-shaped cross section having a first leg mounting the first set of light-emitting semiconductor devices and a second leg mounting the second set of light-emitting semiconductor devices. At least one of the first and second reflectors can have a serrated surface shaped to redirect the light received from the corresponding set of light-emitting semiconductor devices in a direction generally normal to the plane of the lens. The serrated surface of the at least one of the first and second reflectors comprises a plurality of serrations, each of the serrations preferably comprising a leading surface and a trailing surface disposed at an obtuse angle with respect to one another whereby light received on the leading and trailing surfaces is reflected toward the lens. A focusing lens can be disposed between at least one of the first and second light-emitting semiconductor devices and the corresponding reflector for focusing light from the first and second light emitting semiconductor devices in a generally narrow band toward the corresponding reflector. The focusing lens can comprise a fresnel lens.
In another embodiment, the invention relates to a taillamp assembly for a vehicle comprising a housing having at least one reflector with an outer periphery, a lens mounted to the housing juxtaposed to the at least one reflector and having at least one optic region in register with the at least one reflector, and a lamp carrier mounted to one of the housing and the lens and between the housing and the lens and having at least one set of interconnected light-emitting semiconductor devices. The at least one set of light-emitting semiconductor devices is directed at the at least one reflector. In addition, an optical unit is preferably mounted between the at least one set of light-emitting semiconductor devices and the at least one reflector to focus light from the at least one set of light-emitting semiconductor devices generally within the outer periphery of the at least one reflector.
The optical unit can comprise a focusing lens and, more specifically, a fresnel lens. The optical unit can comprise a plurality of focusing lenses, each focusing lens in register with one of the light-emitting semi-conductor devices of the at least one set thereof, wherein each focusing lens focuses the light from the light-emitting semiconductor device within the outer periphery of the at least one reflector. Each focusing lens can focus the light from each of the light-emitting semi-conductor device into a relatively narrow band. The reflector can comprise a plurality of reflective surfaces offset with respect to each other, each reflective surface preferably being in register with a light-emitting semiconductor device. Light emitted from each of the light-emitting semiconductor devices is thereby focused by the optical unit onto an aligned reflective surface and, in turn, em
Cogswell Marc R.
Tuttle Darin D.
Cariaso Alan
DelGizzi Ronald E.
Meridian Automotive Systems, Inc.
Rader, Fishman, Grauer & McGarry
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