Illumination – Supported by vehicle structure – Light modifier
Reexamination Certificate
1999-01-29
2002-12-03
Sember, Thomas M. (Department: 2875)
Illumination
Supported by vehicle structure
Light modifier
C362S521000, C362S297000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06488395
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The invention relates to low profile lighting for use, for example, as a vehicle headlamp.
In general, as shown in
FIG. 23
, a headlamp
900
may have a reflector
905
, a lens
910
, and a light source
915
. The light source
915
may be located at a primary focal point
920
of the reflector
905
. If the reflector
905
is parabolic in shape and the light source
915
is located at the primary focal point
920
, then the light rays
925
reflected from the reflector
905
will be parallel. Therefore, the size of the lens
910
will need to be approximately equal to the cross-sectional area of the reflector
905
.
FIG. 24
shows a side cross-section view of an elliptical reflector
950
. The elliptical reflector
950
provides some narrowing of the beam spread in the vertical plane as indicated by the converging paths of the reflected light rays
925
. The top cross-section view of
FIG. 25
shows that the elliptical reflector
950
provides an even greater reduction in beam spread in the horizontal plane. Therefore, the elliptical reflector
950
allows the size of the lens
955
to be reduced in the vertical and horizontal planes.
Projection headlamp systems have been used to reduce headlamp lens size. A projection headlamp generally includes a light source, a reflector, and a single condensing lens. A light shield is positioned between the light source and the lens or between the light source and the reflector to help shape the desired far field beam pattern. Due to the high temperatures associated with projection headlamps, resulting from the concentration of all of the light in the center of a single lens, the lens generally is made of glass. Projection headlamps tend to be expensive and incompatible with conventional headlamp manufacturing techniques.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
A low profile light, such as a vehicle headlamp, has a lens that is smaller in area than the lens of a conventional light and is significantly smaller in area than the reflector of the light. These configurations allow automobile and other designers to achieve aesthetic styling and improved aerodynamics. The low profile light increases design flexibility by employing a multi-section reflector for which each section can be directed individually. The low profile design techniques also may be applied to turn signals and other vehicle lights, as well as to other general lighting applications.
A low profile vehicle headlamp includes a reflector, a source and a lens. The headlamp is configured so that light from the source reflects from the reflector and is output from the headlamp through the lens. Concave reflector sections are formed by dividing the reflector. Each reflector section has a primary focal point and primary axis. The primary focal points of the reflector sections are coincident and the primary axes of the reflector sections are angled with respect to one another.
Other features and advantages will be apparent from the following description, including the drawings, and from the claims.
REFERENCES:
patent: 4208704 (1980-06-01), Draper
patent: 4704661 (1987-11-01), Kosmatka
patent: 4755918 (1988-07-01), Pristash et al.
patent: 4885669 (1989-12-01), Nino
patent: 4918580 (1990-04-01), Nino
patent: 5055981 (1991-10-01), Nino
patent: 5574328 (1996-11-01), Okuchi
patent: 5755503 (1998-05-01), Chen et al.
patent: 5971568 (1999-10-01), Kabuki
patent: 6007223 (1999-12-01), Futami
Federal-Mogul World Wide Inc.
Reising Ethington, Barnes, Kisselle, Learman & McCulloch, P.C.
Sember Thomas M.
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