Illumination – Light source and modifier – Including selected wavelength modifier
Patent
1995-02-28
1996-09-10
Gromada, Denise L.
Illumination
Light source and modifier
Including selected wavelength modifier
362268, 362309, F21Q 100, B60Q 126
Patent
active
055554920
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
TECHNICAL FIELD
The present invention relates to signal lamps, and in particular, signal lamps used with automotive vehicles.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
A signal lamp of the afore-mentioned type is disclosed by DE 33 26 199 A1. This prior art signal lamp as used with automotive vehicles is provided with a pink-colored closure plate and, in the interior thereof, includes another colored filter, it being possible to generate, by selecting a predetermined color for the said filter, a red, yellow or even white signal light. In order to cause the closure plate, in the turned-off condition of the light source of the signal lamp, to appear despite its pink color in bright red not or only negligibly affected by the color of the internal filter, red-colored strips are provided in the lamp between the inner filter and the closure plate. However, all of the prior known strip arrangements involve certain disadvantages. Either only a small quantity of the amount of light emitted by the light source or only part of the surface of the closure plate can be used for the generation of the signal. Moreover, some arrangements are only marginally suitable to minimize in the turned-off condition, the influence of the inner filter on the color of the closure plate. Finally, even large-scale technical efforts cannot entirely prevent an influence of the red-colored strips on the color of the signal light from occurring.
EP 0 211 742 A1 discloses a signal lamp foregoing the use of color-impermeable webs. In this prior art signal lamp the closure plate is provided, in strips, with a color filter imparting a certain color to the light rays passing through this area. Coupled ahead of the areas of the closure plate clear of filters, in a protruding plane, is a filter, thereby imparting a certain color also to the light rays passing through that area. At a certain distance from the closure plate, the whole light passing through the closure plate is of a homogenous color. In that signal lamp it is considered to be disadvantageous that the closure plate comprises alternately colored and transparent strips so that the outward appearance is not very attractive. Moreover, due to the plurality of series-arranged color filters the light yield is reduced, especially as regards the generation of white light; in this respect the red color of the colored closure plate has to be filtered out by a subtractive color mixture. Another disadvantage resides in that the closure plate can be designed only in a very light red or pink as a more intensive red would result in relatively high light losses.
It is, therefore, an object of the invention to provide a signal lamp which, in turned-off condition, conveys the impression of an intensive red, involving low light losses.
This problem, in the practice of the invention, is solved in that the closure plate has a continuous coloring, the closure plate is subdivided into segments of varying thicknesses and that the light filter is provided with a recess.
Due to the continuous coloring of the closure plate, the latter appears in a uniform, for example, red color which can be an intensive red. The subdivision of the closure plate into segments of varying thickness and the recesses provided in the light filter involve the advantage that the light emitted by the light source, in the areas in which the segments are of a high plate thickness, passes through the recesses of the light filter and is, therefore, not additionally attenuated by the light filter.
Provided in the areas of the segments of low plate thickness are the sections of the light filter located between the recesses where the light is colored. Although the color of the light weakens the intensity thereof, the light will only have to pass through the segments of the closure plate having a low plate thickness. In view of this design, the signal lamp, in the turned-off condition, has an intensive red coloring and, in the turned-on condition, a high light intensity as only the part of the light required to pass through the segments of a low plate thi
REFERENCES:
patent: 4656567 (1987-04-01), Morris
patent: 4835666 (1989-05-01), Feger et al.
International Search Report for Application PCT/EP93/02220 filed 19 Aug. 1993.
Gromada Denise L.
ITT Automotive Europe GmbH
Lewis J. Gordon
Raab Sara Sachie
Twomey Thomas N.
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