Vehicle lamp

Details Vehicle lamp Vehicle lamp

2001-05-31

2003-06-10

Sember, Thomas M. (Department: 2875)

Illumination

Supported by vehicle structure

Light modifier

C362S518000, C362S346000, C362S297000

Reexamination Certificate

active

06575608

ABSTRACT:

This invention claims the benefit of Japanese Patent Application No. 2000-166000, filed on Jun. 2, 2000, which is hereby incorporated by reference.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a vehicle lamp for use in the illumination of a headlamp, fog lamp, etc., and more particularly relates to a vehicle lamp design which allows for flexibility in the design of the overall shape of the vehicle lamp such that it can comply with vehicle body design requirements while providing high utilization efficiency of light emitted from the light source.
2. Description of the Related Art
FIGS. 7-9
show conventional vehicle lights
90
and
80
.
FIG. 7
illustrates a first conventional vehicle light
90
which includes a light source
91
, a parabolic group reflecting surface
92
having a rotated parabolic surface with light source
91
as its focus, and a lens
93
. Light emitted from the light source
91
is reflected by the parabolic group reflecting surface
92
such that it is parallel to an optical axis of the vehicle light
90
. The light travels through a lens
93
having prismatic cuts
93
a
on its inner surface. The prismatic cuts
93
a
determine the light distribution pattern of the vehicle light
90
. Although not illustrated, the parabolic group reflecting surface
92
can be a complex surface including parabolic cylinder elements. In such a case, the lens cuts
93
a
are not always necessary, and light distribution patterns of the vehicle light
90
can be determined solely by the parabolic group reflecting surface
92
.
FIG. 8
illustrates a second conventional vehicle light
80
which includes a light source
81
, an ellipse group reflecting surface
82
such as a rotated elliptic surface having the light source
81
as its first focus, a shading plate
83
located in the vicinity of the second focus of the ellipse group reflecting surface
82
, and an aspherical projection lens
84
. Light rays emitted from the light source
81
are reflected by the ellipse group reflecting surface
82
and converge at the second focus. The shading plate
83
blocks unnecessary light rays to form a light distribution pattern such that luminous flux at the second focus can have a cross sectional image which is appropriate for being projected by the aspherical projection lens
84
. The aspherical projection lens
84
projects the cross-sectional image of luminous flux at the second focus towards an illumination direction of the vehicle light
80
. The second conventional vehicle light
80
can be referred to as a projection-type vehicle light based upon its optical principles.
FIG. 9
illustrates a third conventional vehicle light
80
, which is a projection-type vehicle light. The third conventional vehicle light
80
includes a light source
81
, a plurality of, e.g., two, ellipse group reflecting surfaces
85
and
86
whose longitudinal axes are inclined to the outside relative to an optical axis of the third conventional vehicle light
80
, and a plurality of, e.g., two, aspherical projection lenses
87
and
88
, each corresponding to the ellipse group reflecting surfaces
85
and
86
, respectively.
Conventional vehicle lights
90
and
80
have at least the following problems. The overall shape of the conventional vehicle lights
90
and
80
is limited to being substantially circular, substantially elliptic, or substantially rectangular. Therefore, if it is required for the vehicle light
90
and
80
to have unique overall shapes, such as substantially L-shaped or T-shaped, from a viewpoint of automobile body design, it is impossible to achieve sufficient light amount and sufficient light distribution characteristics. Accordingly, the conventional vehicle lights
90
and
80
are not able to meet with market demands for design flexibility.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In order to resolve the aforementioned problems in the related art, in the present invention, there is provided a vehicle light that can include a light source, a first reflecting surface system and a second reflecting surface system. The first reflecting surface system can include an ellipse group reflecting surface, a parabolic group reflecting surface, or combination thereof. The second reflecting surface system can include an ellipse group reflecting surface having a first focus on the light source and a second focus located away from and either above or below the first reflecting surface system for collecting light rays emitted from the light source that are directed to the second focus. The vehicle light can also include a parabolic group reflecting surface having its focus in the vicinity of the second focus of the elliptic group reflecting surface of the second reflecting surface system for directing light rays towards an illumination direction of the vehicle light, and can include an adjusting reflecting plate located in the vicinity of the second focus of the ellipse group reflecting surface of the second reflecting surface system for adjusting the directions of light rays traveling from the ellipse group reflecting surface to the parabolic group reflecting surface of the second reflecting surface system.


REFERENCES:
patent: 6062714 (2000-05-01), Serizawa et al.
patent: 6270241 (2001-08-01), Collot et al.
patent: 6334702 (2002-01-01), Albou
patent: 6419380 (2002-07-01), Oyama et al.
patent: 6431737 (2002-08-01), Oyama et al.
patent: 2001/0026457 (2001-10-01), Oyama et al.
patent: 2001/0046138 (2001-11-01), Oyama et al.
patent: 2000-76907 (2000-03-01), None
patent: 2000-182411 (2000-06-01), None
patent: 2001-283618 (2001-12-01), None

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