EP0678703B1 - Light for motor vehicles comprising a reflector including a plurality of reflecting areas - Google Patents
Light for motor vehicles comprising a reflector including a plurality of reflecting areas Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- EP0678703B1 EP0678703B1 EP95104631A EP95104631A EP0678703B1 EP 0678703 B1 EP0678703 B1 EP 0678703B1 EP 95104631 A EP95104631 A EP 95104631A EP 95104631 A EP95104631 A EP 95104631A EP 0678703 B1 EP0678703 B1 EP 0678703B1
- Authority
- EP
- European Patent Office
- Prior art keywords
- light
- reflector
- motor vehicles
- reflecting elements
- reflecting
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Revoked
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Classifications
-
- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F21—LIGHTING
- F21V—FUNCTIONAL FEATURES OR DETAILS OF LIGHTING DEVICES OR SYSTEMS THEREOF; STRUCTURAL COMBINATIONS OF LIGHTING DEVICES WITH OTHER ARTICLES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- F21V7/00—Reflectors for light sources
- F21V7/04—Optical design
- F21V7/09—Optical design with a combination of different curvatures
-
- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F21—LIGHTING
- F21S—NON-PORTABLE LIGHTING DEVICES; SYSTEMS THEREOF; VEHICLE LIGHTING DEVICES SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR VEHICLE EXTERIORS
- F21S41/00—Illuminating devices specially adapted for vehicle exteriors, e.g. headlamps
- F21S41/30—Illuminating devices specially adapted for vehicle exteriors, e.g. headlamps characterised by reflectors
- F21S41/32—Optical layout thereof
- F21S41/33—Multi-surface reflectors, e.g. reflectors with facets or reflectors with portions of different curvature
- F21S41/337—Multi-surface reflectors, e.g. reflectors with facets or reflectors with portions of different curvature the reflector having a structured surface, e.g. with facets or corrugations
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- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F21—LIGHTING
- F21S—NON-PORTABLE LIGHTING DEVICES; SYSTEMS THEREOF; VEHICLE LIGHTING DEVICES SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR VEHICLE EXTERIORS
- F21S43/00—Signalling devices specially adapted for vehicle exteriors, e.g. brake lamps, direction indicator lights or reversing lights
- F21S43/10—Signalling devices specially adapted for vehicle exteriors, e.g. brake lamps, direction indicator lights or reversing lights characterised by the light source
- F21S43/19—Attachment of light sources or lamp holders
-
- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F21—LIGHTING
- F21S—NON-PORTABLE LIGHTING DEVICES; SYSTEMS THEREOF; VEHICLE LIGHTING DEVICES SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR VEHICLE EXTERIORS
- F21S43/00—Signalling devices specially adapted for vehicle exteriors, e.g. brake lamps, direction indicator lights or reversing lights
- F21S43/30—Signalling devices specially adapted for vehicle exteriors, e.g. brake lamps, direction indicator lights or reversing lights characterised by reflectors
-
- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F21—LIGHTING
- F21V—FUNCTIONAL FEATURES OR DETAILS OF LIGHTING DEVICES OR SYSTEMS THEREOF; STRUCTURAL COMBINATIONS OF LIGHTING DEVICES WITH OTHER ARTICLES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- F21V7/00—Reflectors for light sources
- F21V7/0091—Reflectors for light sources using total internal reflection
Definitions
- This invention concerns a light with lens-bearing reflector for motor vehicles, as set forth in the main claim.
- the light according to the invention forms part of the signalling devices and employs as its luminous sources common lamps of a type with an incandescent filament which cooperate with a reflector associated with an outer transparent element.
- the state of the art commonly employs lighting devices and luminous signalling devices, which include a plurality of specific compartments for the individual functions and which employ concentrated luminous sources consisting of incandescent lamps.
- These devices differ from each other by the specific functions which they are called upon to perform on the motor vehicle, so that they can be divided at least into lighting devices, which can be identified as front headlights, and signalling devices, which are substantially grouped together in the tail lights.
- the lighting devices or front headlights have the purpose of concentrating their light in well defined areas on the road in front of the vehicle, and their main purpose is to illuminate but not to be looked at since the light which they emit is, by definition, dazzling or at least very strong.
- headlights have to illuminate in a homogeneous manner a desired surface at a desired distance and deliver a luminous beam of many hundreds or thousands of "cd" .
- the signalling devices instead, are normally grouped in the tail lights and have the purpose of providing specific information for other users of the road who are normally in a rear position.
- the lighting devices have to meet parameters relating to a minimum value of emitted luminous intensity
- the signalling devices have to meet parameters relating to minimum and maximum values of emitted luminous intensity since their individual signalling functions have to be able to be observed even for long periods by a user who is in a rear position without that user becoming disturbed.
- the lights which perform the same function differ from each other only as regards their shapes, which are specific for each vehicle, and as regards the distribution of the functions and therefore of the specific colours within alight.
- One embodiment has already been applied which provides for the use of a light equipped with a plurality of continuous parallel cylindrical lenses positioned on the reflector, the luminous beam of which is defined in cooperation with a plurality of continuous cylindrical lenses positioned at a right angle to those on the reflector but provided on the outer transparent element.
- This embodiment has given satisfactory results to the extent that it is considered as a reference point by stylists from the point of view of the transparency, even if it involves an evident lack of homogeneity when the lamp is lit.
- Some embodiments are also known, such as that shown in WO 92/17733 for instance, which are provided above all on the mini floodlights equipped with halogen lamps and employed to light up show cases, displays, shop windows, etc., in which flat or curved facets have been provided on the reflecting surface of the parabolic reflector and have the main purpose of creating a wide and homogeneous enough beam of a great luminous intensity which illuminates the objects or environment in a homogeneous manner (see Fig.9 of Wo 92/17733).
- the reflector uses a long narrow filament coaxial with the axis of the reflector and suitable for a relatively high supply voltage.
- the filament of Wo 92/17733 has a length:diameter ratio of about 6:1; moreover, the reflecting part includes a multiplicity of facets arranged in concentric rings and aligned radially.
- An analogous embodiment has also been applied to the front headlights of motor vehicles by providing on the inner surface of the reflector zones or strips which are directed in such a way as to reflect the light coming from the lamp in very precise directions.
- a rear signalling function requires instead that the whole surface of the specific compartment should be illuminated in a homogeneous enough manner in every direction of observation within the horizontal and vertical angles of visibility laid down by the regulations, while providing at the same time the photometric services distributed according to a determined curve within the same field of visibility.
- one of the characteristics which differentiate a front headlight substantially from a tail light is the solid angle which delimits the field of visibility of the emitted light and which, especially on the horizontal plane, is aligned on the reference axis and forms a total angle of about 20° for the front headlight, whereas it forms an angle of about 90° or more for a rear signalling function.
- These luminous sources provide the ability of making signalling devices which, while ensuring the performance required by the regulations, provide the capability of obtaining new aesthetic effects with more homogeneous and brilliant illuminated surfaces by means of a plurality of punctiform luminous sources distributed, for instance, on a plurality of longitudinal and/or transverse lines.
- the luminous sources provide a luminous flow which is about one quarter to one fifth of that of a traditional incandescent lamp.
- EP-A-0.341.996 too discloses a parabolic reflector using a reflecting surface with circular micro-grooves of a Fresnel type, the axis of which coincides with the axis of the incandescent lamp.
- This type of headlight requires that in the front part of the reflector there should be a system of lenses extending along an axis of the frontal plane of the reflector and arranged parallel to each other.
- This type of reflector delivers the light according to circular lines in various directions, and the light is then picked up and sent in further various directions by the system of frontal lenses, so that an organised discordant combination of light is obtained without any particular aesthetic effect.
- US-A-4,994,947 too discloses a signalling device having an offset luminous source and a plurality of reflecting surfaces arranged on the concave part of the reflector and cooperating with lenses arranged in the front part of the device.
- This device therefore includes two optical systems, one on the outer transparent element and one on the reflector, and this situation has the effect that there is an intersection of lines of light due to the repetition of the first optical system with the second optical system.
- US-A-4,277,821 also discloses an illumination lamp in which on a smooth parabolic surface are provided protuberances of very small sizes to improve the capacity of diffusion and thus to control better the luminous beam, which is strongly directed.
- FR-A-2.639.285 describes a method for manufacturing lights for vehicles wherein a single light, of thermoplastic material, is formed by two semi-lights coupled together and each realised by means of a mould wherein the hot thermoplastic material is inserted by extrusion or blowing.
- a plurality of facets, of substantially parallelogram shape and having surfaces apparently plane, are provided in the inner part of the reflector to reflect the light emitted by a central lamp.
- the present applicants have therefore tackled the problem of embodying a luminous signalling device for motor vehicles which meets the aesthetic requirements of stylists and which provides, when switched off, an image of transparency and richness and, when switched on, a brilliant and homogeneous image over the whole field of visibility laid down by the regulations, and which uses traditional incandescent lamps as a luminous source.
- the invention concerns a tail light for motor vehicles which has a modest cost and is characterised by an optical and aesthetic effect which can be likened to that achieved by using a plurality of punctiform or almost punctiform luminous sources of a light-emitting diode type or miniaturised type, for instance.
- the tail light according to the invention has a luminous source consisting of an incandescent filament lamp positioned in cooperation with a reflector.
- the reflecting part of the reflector for each single function included in the tail light is defined by a plurality of reflecting surfaces of reflecting elements of lenticular shape having very various forms and dimensions and defined here, for the sake of simplicity and brevity, as lenses suitable to combine in a figure the presence of a mated plurality of luminous sources, thus achieving the desired optical effect.
- These lenses may be concave or convex and their geometry has been planned so that every apparent luminous image has a desired luminous intensity, as regards quantity and distribution, in the specific working area.
- these lenses may be provided on the inner or front surface of the reflector or on the outer or rear surface of the reflector.
- the reflector will therefore be made of a transparent material.
- the concave shape of the reflector may be of a parabolic type but can also take on any different shape, seeing that it acts only as a support for the single reflecting surfaces or lenses, which are calculated individually as regards shapes and sizes.
- This reflector is associated with an outer transparent element, which either has the normal specific colours, or a component of those colours, for the individual functions, such as red for the position light, the stop light and the rear fog light, or else orange for the direction indicator lights, or colourless for the reversing lights, or is of an obscured type, in which case the colours of its particular signalling function can be seen only when the light is switched on.
- the outer transparent element is advantageously smooth and without any optical prismatic facets so as to heighten the transparency, richness and depth provided by the inner reflector.
- Lines or other decorations may also be included to personalise and/or give a special finish but do not modify the transparency or photometric performance.
- the lenses are arranged on the reflecting surface of the reflector and are aligned in parallel and/or radial rows in relation to the longitudinal axis of the light.
- the lenses occupy determined circular sectors on circumferences or parts of circumferences concentric with the lamp.
- the lenses can be aligned according to the outer profiles of the individual compartments or specialised sectors for the specific functions included in the tail light.
- the individual lenses can take up the whole sector individually allotted to them and provided by dividing the reflector into a plurality of determined sectors or can have a configuration delineated within their specific sector.
- These lenses can be embodied on the reflecting surface of the reflector with a radially constant distance between centres or, according to a variant, with a distance between centres which is variable progressively from the centre towards the periphery for the purpose of achieving a desired image for each single lens.
- the variability of the distance between centres of the lenses can affect only one axis of the reflector or both axes thereof.
- the variability of the distance between centres of the lenses can be continuous and progressive along the axis or axes of the reflector or can concern groups of lenses placed side by side, each group including within itself two or more lenses arranged with a constant distance between centres.
- the ability to vary the distance between centres can be defined in a radial direction.
- the lens can be spherical, toroidal, toroidal-elliptic or embodied according to a complex curve.
- Spherical lenses made with substantially equal generating radii measured on the planes containing the axes "x" and “y” of the specific sector are used when it is desired that the distribution of the luminous rays performed by the individual lens should be uniform on the plane of the axis "x” and on the plane of the axis "y” .
- Toroidal lenses which are made with the two generating radii measured respectively on the planes of the axes "x" and “y” of the specific sector and having different values are used when it is desired to obtain a uniform but differentiated distribution between the two containing planes "x" and “y” .
- Toroidal-elliptic lenses which are made with elliptic generating lines on the plane of the axis "x" and on the plane of the axis "y” are used when it is desired to obtain a gaussian luminous distribution concentrated at about the reference axis of the lens but with also the sides of the lens affected at the same time according to desired values.
- the ellipses may have radii at the sides, relating respectively to the plane "x" and plane “y” , which are equal to each other, while the central radius relating to those planes will be equal or different according to the desired distribution of the light on the two planes.
- the radii too at the sides of the lens may be different from each other according to the desired optical effect.
- Lenses having complex surfaces determined with a computer by means of specific calculation and simulation programs are used when it is desired to achieve special effects or when the lenses are placed in a particular position in relation to the luminous source.
- the reflecting surfaces are suitably treated with varnishes based on aluminium or are metallised under vacuum for the purpose of increasing the reflecting power and of providing the tail light with a rich and brilliant appearance.
- a tail light 10 for motor vehicles shown as regards one of its functions comprises a container body 11 with a reflector 12 closed at its front by an outer transparent element 13.
- the outer transparent element 13 is made of a plastic material of the colour, or of a component of that colour, laid down in the regulations for the function which it has to perform or else is of an obscured type.
- the outer transparent element 13 is advantageously smooth so as to enhance the transparency, richness and depth provided by the inner reflector 12.
- the container body 11 has undergone an inner surface metallisation treatment to enhance the reflecting power of the reflector 12.
- An incandescent lamp 14 cooperates within the reflector 12 and is fitted to a lamp-holder 15, which normally holds also the lamps employed for other functions of the tail light 10.
- the lamp-holder 15 is solidly fixed to a part of the reflector 12, and this part possesses the same characteristics as the remaining part of the reflector 12 so that the normal dark halo is not generated about the lamp 14, but there is a clear continuity.
- the lamp-holder 15 which may hold one lamp or a plurality of lamps, has a reflecting part 212, which is a continuation of the reflector 12 and itself too includes lenses 16. This has the result that there is no lack of optical continuity.
- a plurality of reflecting elements or facets 16 of lenticular shape and therefore called lenses are included on the reflector 12 and are suitable to ensure a distribution of the luminous beam emitted by the filament of the incandescent lamp 14 according to the angles of visibility laid down in the regulations for the specific function to be performed.
- These lenses 16 may cover the whole surface of the reflector 12 without a break in continuity.
- These lenses 16 may provided on the inner or front part of the reflector 12 as in the case shown in Fig.2 or in the case of the righthand part of Fig.4.
- the lenses 16 are provided on the outer or rear part of the reflector 12, which in this case is made of a transparent material.
- the metallisation treatment if included, is applied to the outer surface, referenced with 12a, of the reflector 12, and this metallisation, owing to its transparency, increases the reflecting capability of the reflector 12 towards the inside of the tail light 10.
- the transparent material of which the reflector 12 consists may be colourless or may have the specific colour of the individual function of the specific sector.
- this transparent material of the reflector 12 is made of a colour which is a component of the colour of the specific function, the other component thereof being present on the outer transparent element 13.
- the defined plurality of lenses 16 brings about the formation of a defined identical plurality of substantially punctiform apparent images, or luminous zones 19, thus providing the optical effect of a defined identical plurality of independent luminous sources distributed over the whole surface of the specific function performed by that specific sector of the tail light 10.
- the geometry of the lenses 16, which may be concave or convex lenses 16 according to the optical effect desired, is such as to achieve a substantially constant luminous intensity for all the individual luminous zone 19 subtended by the respective lenses 16.
- the lenses 16 are distributed on longitudinal and transverse lines on the reflector 12.
- the lenses 16 have a variable pitch "p" , which increases from the centre towards the periphery of the reflector 12; this configuration enables the presence of luminous images 19 distributed lengthwise with a substantially constant distance between centres "k" to be obtained on the outer transparent element 13.
- the lenses 16 are distributed on the surface of the reflector 12 with a constant pitch "p" on the horizontal plane, whereas they are distributed with a variable pitch "p" on the vertical plane.
- the pitch "p" can be made variable also along the vertical plane of the device according to the form of the individual compartment or specialised sector of the tail light 10.
- each lens 16 has a section of an elliptic-toroidal conformation.
- the lenses 16 Owing to their elliptic conformation the lenses 16 have a big radius "R" at the central part of the lens 16 and small radii "r" at their sides. This arrangement enables more light to be sent in the direction of the reference axis 20a and less light towards the limits of the field of visibility.
- the radii relating to the vertical plane are greater than, and/or, in any event, different from those relating to the horizontal plane.
- the outermost lenses 16 positioned at the periphery of the reflector 12, such as the lens 16b for instance, can be rotated towards the centre of the reflector 12, thus obtaining a reference axis 20b as shown with a line of dashes in the figure, so as to prevent the reflected rays remaining unused owing to the closeness of the containing walls 11 of the reflector 12.
- Fig.5 shows a three-dimensional view of a portion of the parabolic reflector 12, on which are convex lenses 16 formed in such a way that the intersection between one lens 16 and the adjacent lenses produces a form of the luminous image 19 which, when seen from the front, can be likened to a square or rectangle.
- the form of the lenses 16 can be changed and made like other polygonal geometric shapes such as, for instance, a lozenge, hexagon, etc., as shown in Fig.6 for example.
- the lenses 16 are distributed on circumferences or parts of circumferences concentric with the lamp 14.
- the single lenses 16 always possess that specific conformation (spherical, toroidal, toroidal-elliptic, complex curve) required for the desired distribution of light.
- the lenses 16 therefore have at their horizontal and vertical sections specific radii such that they deflect the luminous rays according to pre-arranged angles.
- the conformation of the lenses 16 according to the invention has to comply with not only the regulations but also an energy requirement and an aesthetic requirement.
- the light reflected by the lenses 16 in the immediate vicinity of the lamp 14 is greater than that reflected by the more distant lenses 16; because of this, the curves of the lenses 16 in the horizontal and vertical directions are altered from the centre of the light towards the periphery of the same.
- the lenses 16 can also be embodied on the reflecting surface of the reflector 12 in such a way that there are no points of contact between them as in the case of Fig.8 for instance; in this case the lenses 16 take up only part of the parabolic reflecting surface.
- Fig.9 shows an embodiment in which the reflector 112 is of a stepped type and/or of a type having a reduced bulk as compared to the classic parabolic reflector, which is indicated with lines of dashes in the figure.
- the inner surface of the reflector 112 is divided into a plurality of sectors or steps, each substantially parabolic, each of which is made to cooperate with a plurality of lenses 116 or with one single lens 116 affecting the whole step, so as to obtain the desired optical effect.
- the individual lenses 116 are embodied advantageously according to complex curves, which differ from the lenses which would be formed -if they were embodied directly on the allotted parabola portion of the surface of the reflector 112.
- the incandescent lamp 14 is associated advantageously with a cap 117 (Fig.9) or frontal screen 17 (Fig.2 but not included in Fig.4 for convenience) placed in front of the lamp 14 itself so that from the normal positions of observation the filament cannot be seen.
- the cap 117 or screen 17, if moulded of a transparent material, can also act as a possible filter for the orange/green/red etc. colours linked to the specific function of the specialised sector, if the latter covers the whole lamp 14.
- the screen 17 or cap 117 may include a component of the colour of the specific function of the specialised sector, while the other component is provided on the outer transparent element 13.
- frontal refraction lenses 18 can be embodied on the cap 117 or screen 17 so as to create in turn brilliant luminous zones, thus providing aesthetic continuity and homogeneity for the whole compartment.
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Abstract
Description
- This invention concerns a light with lens-bearing reflector for motor vehicles, as set forth in the main claim.
- The light according to the invention forms part of the signalling devices and employs as its luminous sources common lamps of a type with an incandescent filament which cooperate with a reflector associated with an outer transparent element.
- The state of the art commonly employs lighting devices and luminous signalling devices, which include a plurality of specific compartments for the individual functions and which employ concentrated luminous sources consisting of incandescent lamps.
- These devices differ from each other by the specific functions which they are called upon to perform on the motor vehicle, so that they can be divided at least into lighting devices, which can be identified as front headlights, and signalling devices, which are substantially grouped together in the tail lights.
- The lighting devices or front headlights have the purpose of concentrating their light in well defined areas on the road in front of the vehicle, and their main purpose is to illuminate but not to be looked at since the light which they emit is, by definition, dazzling or at least very strong.
- These headlights have to illuminate in a homogeneous manner a desired surface at a desired distance and deliver a luminous beam of many hundreds or thousands of "cd".
- The signalling devices, instead, are normally grouped in the tail lights and have the purpose of providing specific information for other users of the road who are normally in a rear position.
- Whereas the lighting devices have to meet parameters relating to a minimum value of emitted luminous intensity, the signalling devices have to meet parameters relating to minimum and maximum values of emitted luminous intensity since their individual signalling functions have to be able to be observed even for long periods by a user who is in a rear position without that user becoming disturbed.
- The above shows that each function installed on the vehicle has to meet very precise regulations as regards colours and intensity of the light emitted, and therefore it could even be stated that the lights performing the same functions are all the same as each other.
- In fact, the lights which perform the same function differ from each other only as regards their shapes, which are specific for each vehicle, and as regards the distribution of the functions and therefore of the specific colours within alight.
- All the above represents a restriction unwelcome to stylists, who instead would prefer to introduce on each new model of a motor vehicle something new, different and innovatory, etc., even on the tail lights or signalling devices.
- One embodiment has already been applied which provides for the use of a light equipped with a plurality of continuous parallel cylindrical lenses positioned on the reflector, the luminous beam of which is defined in cooperation with a plurality of continuous cylindrical lenses positioned at a right angle to those on the reflector but provided on the outer transparent element.
- This embodiment has given satisfactory results to the extent that it is considered as a reference point by stylists from the point of view of the transparency, even if it involves an evident lack of homogeneity when the lamp is lit.
- Some embodiments are also known, such as that shown in WO 92/17733 for instance, which are provided above all on the mini floodlights equipped with halogen lamps and employed to light up show cases, displays, shop windows, etc., in which flat or curved facets have been provided on the reflecting surface of the parabolic reflector and have the main purpose of creating a wide and homogeneous enough beam of a great luminous intensity which illuminates the objects or environment in a homogeneous manner (see Fig.9 of Wo 92/17733).
- In this case the reflector uses a long narrow filament coaxial with the axis of the reflector and suitable for a relatively high supply voltage.
- The filament of Wo 92/17733 has a length:diameter ratio of about 6:1; moreover, the reflecting part includes a multiplicity of facets arranged in concentric rings and aligned radially.
- On this subject please see also US-A-5,160,199 and US-A-4,994,947.
- An analogous embodiment has also been applied to the front headlights of motor vehicles by providing on the inner surface of the reflector zones or strips which are directed in such a way as to reflect the light coming from the lamp in very precise directions.
- Such embodiments, even though they are satisfactory for front headlights intended to provide illumination, are not satisfactory for signalling devices which are intended instead to be seen and clearly perceived and therefore have to be homogeneous.
- In fact it has been demonstrated that by observing one of these front headlights from a certain direction it is possible to see illuminated only a small portion of the reflector, this portion being that calculated to send the light in that direction.
- A rear signalling function requires instead that the whole surface of the specific compartment should be illuminated in a homogeneous enough manner in every direction of observation within the horizontal and vertical angles of visibility laid down by the regulations, while providing at the same time the photometric services distributed according to a determined curve within the same field of visibility.
- It is also possible to note that one of the characteristics which differentiate a front headlight substantially from a tail light is the solid angle which delimits the field of visibility of the emitted light and which, especially on the horizontal plane, is aligned on the reference axis and forms a total angle of about 20° for the front headlight, whereas it forms an angle of about 90° or more for a rear signalling function.
- Recent times have seen the beginning of the use of miniaturised lamps, discharge lamps or neon lamps or even light emitting diodes as luminous sources for the signalling devices.
- These luminous sources provide the ability of making signalling devices which, while ensuring the performance required by the regulations, provide the capability of obtaining new aesthetic effects with more homogeneous and brilliant illuminated surfaces by means of a plurality of punctiform luminous sources distributed, for instance, on a plurality of longitudinal and/or transverse lines.
- These embodiments, however, entails some drawbacks.
- In the case of the light-emitting diodes, for instance, the luminous sources provide a luminous flow which is about one quarter to one fifth of that of a traditional incandescent lamp.
- In order to achieve an overall luminosity comparable to that of incandescent lamps and to comply with the specific regulations regarding luminosity, it is necessary, therefore, to install a great number of the light-emitting diodes. This makes that embodiment uncompetitive from an economical point of view, and moreover it is necessary to take account of the fact that, if some of these light-emitting diode are broken, it is necessary to replace the plate to which all the light-emitting diodes are soldered, with the resulting increase of cost for the user.
- EP-A-0.341.996 too discloses a parabolic reflector using a reflecting surface with circular micro-grooves of a Fresnel type, the axis of which coincides with the axis of the incandescent lamp.
- This type of headlight requires that in the front part of the reflector there should be a system of lenses extending along an axis of the frontal plane of the reflector and arranged parallel to each other.
- This type of reflector delivers the light according to circular lines in various directions, and the light is then picked up and sent in further various directions by the system of frontal lenses, so that an organised discordant combination of light is obtained without any particular aesthetic effect.
- US-A-4,994,947 too discloses a signalling device having an offset luminous source and a plurality of reflecting surfaces arranged on the concave part of the reflector and cooperating with lenses arranged in the front part of the device.
- This device therefore includes two optical systems, one on the outer transparent element and one on the reflector, and this situation has the effect that there is an intersection of lines of light due to the repetition of the first optical system with the second optical system.
- This defect is even worse when the source is central, for this situation has the effect that the first optical system has to be defined by continuous circular reflecting surfaces with their axis on the axis of the reflector.
- US-A-4,277,821 also discloses an illumination lamp in which on a smooth parabolic surface are provided protuberances of very small sizes to improve the capacity of diffusion and thus to control better the luminous beam, which is strongly directed.
- FR-A-2.639.285 describes a method for manufacturing lights for vehicles wherein a single light, of thermoplastic material, is formed by two semi-lights coupled together and each realised by means of a mould wherein the hot thermoplastic material is inserted by extrusion or blowing. According to a variant shown in Fig.5, a plurality of facets, of substantially parallelogram shape and having surfaces apparently plane, are provided in the inner part of the reflector to reflect the light emitted by a central lamp. Using such a method, it is quite difficult to obtain a light having the quality level required by the international regulations, because the reflecting surfaces are not perfectly plane and the two semi-lights, coupled together, define a joint line in the middle zone thereof, which deviates and distorts the light emitted by the lamp.
- The present applicants have therefore tackled the problem of embodying a luminous signalling device for motor vehicles which meets the aesthetic requirements of stylists and which provides, when switched off, an image of transparency and richness and, when switched on, a brilliant and homogeneous image over the whole field of visibility laid down by the regulations, and which uses traditional incandescent lamps as a luminous source.
- At the same time the applicants have set themselves the task of embodying a tail light which provides the photometric performance required by the laws in force for every function included in the light, and, in this connection, have designed, tested and embodied this invention.
- This invention is set forth and characterised in the main claim, while the dependent claims describe variants of the idea of the main embodiment.
- The invention concerns a tail light for motor vehicles which has a modest cost and is characterised by an optical and aesthetic effect which can be likened to that achieved by using a plurality of punctiform or almost punctiform luminous sources of a light-emitting diode type or miniaturised type, for instance.
- The tail light according to the invention has a luminous source consisting of an incandescent filament lamp positioned in cooperation with a reflector.
- According to the invention the reflecting part of the reflector for each single function included in the tail light is defined by a plurality of reflecting surfaces of reflecting elements of lenticular shape having very various forms and dimensions and defined here, for the sake of simplicity and brevity, as lenses suitable to combine in a figure the presence of a mated plurality of luminous sources, thus achieving the desired optical effect.
- These lenses may be concave or convex and their geometry has been planned so that every apparent luminous image has a desired luminous intensity, as regards quantity and distribution, in the specific working area.
- According to the invention these lenses may be provided on the inner or front surface of the reflector or on the outer or rear surface of the reflector.
- In the latter case the reflector will therefore be made of a transparent material.
- The concave shape of the reflector may be of a parabolic type but can also take on any different shape, seeing that it acts only as a support for the single reflecting surfaces or lenses, which are calculated individually as regards shapes and sizes.
- This reflector is associated with an outer transparent element, which either has the normal specific colours, or a component of those colours, for the individual functions, such as red for the position light, the stop light and the rear fog light, or else orange for the direction indicator lights, or colourless for the reversing lights, or is of an obscured type, in which case the colours of its particular signalling function can be seen only when the light is switched on.
- According to the invention the outer transparent element is advantageously smooth and without any optical prismatic facets so as to heighten the transparency, richness and depth provided by the inner reflector. Lines or other decorations may also be included to personalise and/or give a special finish but do not modify the transparency or photometric performance.
- According to the invention the lenses are arranged on the reflecting surface of the reflector and are aligned in parallel and/or radial rows in relation to the longitudinal axis of the light.
- According to a variant the lenses occupy determined circular sectors on circumferences or parts of circumferences concentric with the lamp.
- According to other possible variants the lenses can be aligned according to the outer profiles of the individual compartments or specialised sectors for the specific functions included in the tail light.
- According to the invention the individual lenses can take up the whole sector individually allotted to them and provided by dividing the reflector into a plurality of determined sectors or can have a configuration delineated within their specific sector.
- These lenses can be embodied on the reflecting surface of the reflector with a radially constant distance between centres or, according to a variant, with a distance between centres which is variable progressively from the centre towards the periphery for the purpose of achieving a desired image for each single lens.
- The variability of the distance between centres of the lenses can affect only one axis of the reflector or both axes thereof.
- The variability of the distance between centres of the lenses can be continuous and progressive along the axis or axes of the reflector or can concern groups of lenses placed side by side, each group including within itself two or more lenses arranged with a constant distance between centres.
- Moreover, the ability to vary the distance between centres can be defined in a radial direction.
- Depending on the type of image desired of each single lens, the lens can be spherical, toroidal, toroidal-elliptic or embodied according to a complex curve.
- Spherical lenses made with substantially equal generating radii measured on the planes containing the axes "x" and "y" of the specific sector are used when it is desired that the distribution of the luminous rays performed by the individual lens should be uniform on the plane of the axis "x" and on the plane of the axis "y".
- Toroidal lenses which are made with the two generating radii measured respectively on the planes of the axes "x" and "y" of the specific sector and having different values are used when it is desired to obtain a uniform but differentiated distribution between the two containing planes "x" and "y".
- Toroidal-elliptic lenses which are made with elliptic generating lines on the plane of the axis "x" and on the plane of the axis "y" are used when it is desired to obtain a gaussian luminous distribution concentrated at about the reference axis of the lens but with also the sides of the lens affected at the same time according to desired values.
- In this case the ellipses may have radii at the sides, relating respectively to the plane "x" and plane "y", which are equal to each other, while the central radius relating to those planes will be equal or different according to the desired distribution of the light on the two planes.
- Likewise the radii too at the sides of the lens may be different from each other according to the desired optical effect.
- Lenses having complex surfaces determined with a computer by means of specific calculation and simulation programs are used when it is desired to achieve special effects or when the lenses are placed in a particular position in relation to the luminous source.
- According to the invention the reflecting surfaces are suitably treated with varnishes based on aluminium or are metallised under vacuum for the purpose of increasing the reflecting power and of providing the tail light with a rich and brilliant appearance.
- The attached figures are given as a non-restrictive example and show some preferred embodiments of the invention as follows:-
- Fig.1
- shows a configuration of the lenses embodied on the reflector of a function associated with the tail light according to the invention;
- Fig.2
- is a lengthwise section of a first embodiment of a tail light for motor vehicles according to the invention in which, for the purpose of giving an example, the righthand half has convex lenses, while the lefthand half has concave lenses;
- Fig.3
- show a variant of Fig.1;
- Fig.4
- show a variant of Fig.2 in which, as an example, the lenses on the righthand half are provided on the inner or front part of the reflector, whereas on the lefthand half the lenses are provided on the outer or rear part of the reflector;
- Fig.5
- shows a partial three-dimensional view of a reflector according to the invention;
- Fig.6
- shows two variants of the tail light of Figs.1 and 3;
- Fig.7
- shows another variant of the tail light of Fig.1;
- Fig.8
- shows another embodiment of the invention, in which the lenses embodied on the reflector are separated from each other;
- Fig.9
- shows a further variant of Figs.2 and 4, in which the reflector is not of a parabolic type and has a reduced depth;
- Fig.10
- shows an integral application of the invention in which a part of the lens-bearing reflector is integrated in the lamp-holder.
- A
tail light 10 for motor vehicles shown as regards one of its functions comprises acontainer body 11 with areflector 12 closed at its front by an outertransparent element 13. - The outer
transparent element 13 is made of a plastic material of the colour, or of a component of that colour, laid down in the regulations for the function which it has to perform or else is of an obscured type. - The outer
transparent element 13 is advantageously smooth so as to enhance the transparency, richness and depth provided by theinner reflector 12. - According to the invention the
container body 11 has undergone an inner surface metallisation treatment to enhance the reflecting power of thereflector 12. - An
incandescent lamp 14 cooperates within thereflector 12 and is fitted to a lamp-holder 15, which normally holds also the lamps employed for other functions of thetail light 10. - According to the variant shown in Fig.10 the lamp-
holder 15 is solidly fixed to a part of thereflector 12, and this part possesses the same characteristics as the remaining part of thereflector 12 so that the normal dark halo is not generated about thelamp 14, but there is a clear continuity. - In this case the lamp-
holder 15, which may hold one lamp or a plurality of lamps, has a reflectingpart 212, which is a continuation of thereflector 12 and itself too includeslenses 16. This has the result that there is no lack of optical continuity. - According to the invention a plurality of reflecting elements or
facets 16 of lenticular shape and therefore called lenses are included on thereflector 12 and are suitable to ensure a distribution of the luminous beam emitted by the filament of theincandescent lamp 14 according to the angles of visibility laid down in the regulations for the specific function to be performed. - These
lenses 16 may cover the whole surface of thereflector 12 without a break in continuity. - These
lenses 16 may provided on the inner or front part of thereflector 12 as in the case shown in Fig.2 or in the case of the righthand part of Fig.4. - According to a variant shown in the lefthand part of Fig.4 the
lenses 16 are provided on the outer or rear part of thereflector 12, which in this case is made of a transparent material. - In this case the metallisation treatment, if included, is applied to the outer surface, referenced with 12a, of the
reflector 12, and this metallisation, owing to its transparency, increases the reflecting capability of thereflector 12 towards the inside of thetail light 10. - The transparent material of which the
reflector 12 consists may be colourless or may have the specific colour of the individual function of the specific sector. - According to a variant this transparent material of the
reflector 12 is made of a colour which is a component of the colour of the specific function, the other component thereof being present on the outertransparent element 13. - The defined plurality of
lenses 16 brings about the formation of a defined identical plurality of substantially punctiform apparent images, orluminous zones 19, thus providing the optical effect of a defined identical plurality of independent luminous sources distributed over the whole surface of the specific function performed by that specific sector of thetail light 10. - The geometry of the
lenses 16, which may be concave orconvex lenses 16 according to the optical effect desired, is such as to achieve a substantially constant luminous intensity for all the individualluminous zone 19 subtended by therespective lenses 16. - In a preferred embodiment of the invention the
lenses 16 are distributed on longitudinal and transverse lines on thereflector 12. - In the embodiments of Figs.1 and 2, which show a
reflector 12 of a parabolic type, thelenses 16 have a variable pitch "p", which increases from the centre towards the periphery of thereflector 12; this configuration enables the presence ofluminous images 19 distributed lengthwise with a substantially constant distance between centres "k" to be obtained on the outertransparent element 13. - In the variant of Figs.3 and 4 the
lenses 16 are distributed on the surface of thereflector 12 with a constant pitch "p" on the horizontal plane, whereas they are distributed with a variable pitch "p" on the vertical plane. - This enables a defined plurality of
luminous images 19 to be configured on the outertransparent element 13, theseluminous images 19 having a distance between centres "k1" progressively decreasing substantially continuously along the horizontal plane of thetail light 10 from the centre towards the periphery of thattail light 10, whereas the distance between centres "k" on the vertical plane remains substantially constant. - With the configuration of Figs.3 and 4 the image of the
tail light 10, whether switched on or off, is more homogeneous, even when the direction of observation "X" is inclined in relation to thereference axis 20 of thetail light 10. - The pitch "p" can be made variable also along the vertical plane of the device according to the form of the individual compartment or specialised sector of the
tail light 10. - According to the embodiment of Fig.4 each
lens 16 has a section of an elliptic-toroidal conformation. - Owing to their elliptic conformation the
lenses 16 have a big radius "R" at the central part of thelens 16 and small radii "r" at their sides. This arrangement enables more light to be sent in the direction of thereference axis 20a and less light towards the limits of the field of visibility. - Owing to the toroidal conformation of the
lenses 16 according to the invention the radii relating to the vertical plane are greater than, and/or, in any event, different from those relating to the horizontal plane. - Between the
lens 16a nearest to theluminous source 14 and thelens 16b farthest from theluminous source 14 the respective radii "R" and "r" become progressively greater. - This makes possible the reduction of the aperture of the reflected luminous beam "α", which changes in the case shown from 40° (plus 20° to minus 20°) to 10° (0 to minus 10°) to obtain a homogeneous distribution from the point of view of the luminous intensity.
- The
outermost lenses 16 positioned at the periphery of thereflector 12, such as thelens 16b for instance, can be rotated towards the centre of thereflector 12, thus obtaining areference axis 20b as shown with a line of dashes in the figure, so as to prevent the reflected rays remaining unused owing to the closeness of the containingwalls 11 of thereflector 12. - Fig.5 shows a three-dimensional view of a portion of the
parabolic reflector 12, on which areconvex lenses 16 formed in such a way that the intersection between onelens 16 and the adjacent lenses produces a form of theluminous image 19 which, when seen from the front, can be likened to a square or rectangle. - According to the invention, when the compartments of the
tail light 10 have special forms, the form of thelenses 16 can be changed and made like other polygonal geometric shapes such as, for instance, a lozenge, hexagon, etc., as shown in Fig.6 for example. - According to the variant of Fig.7 the
lenses 16 are distributed on circumferences or parts of circumferences concentric with thelamp 14. - The
single lenses 16 always possess that specific conformation (spherical, toroidal, toroidal-elliptic, complex curve) required for the desired distribution of light. - The
lenses 16 therefore have at their horizontal and vertical sections specific radii such that they deflect the luminous rays according to pre-arranged angles. - The conformation of the
lenses 16 according to the invention has to comply with not only the regulations but also an energy requirement and an aesthetic requirement. - The light reflected by the
lenses 16 in the immediate vicinity of thelamp 14 is greater than that reflected by the moredistant lenses 16; because of this, the curves of thelenses 16 in the horizontal and vertical directions are altered from the centre of the light towards the periphery of the same. - This enables the luminous flow emitted by the luminous source to be distributed rationally and makes possible the creation of a homogeneous aesthetic image, when seen from the front, of the specific function which that specialised sector has to perform.
- The
lenses 16 can also be embodied on the reflecting surface of thereflector 12 in such a way that there are no points of contact between them as in the case of Fig.8 for instance; in this case thelenses 16 take up only part of the parabolic reflecting surface. - The variant of Fig.9 shows an embodiment in which the
reflector 112 is of a stepped type and/or of a type having a reduced bulk as compared to the classic parabolic reflector, which is indicated with lines of dashes in the figure. - In this case the inner surface of the
reflector 112 is divided into a plurality of sectors or steps, each substantially parabolic, each of which is made to cooperate with a plurality oflenses 116 or with onesingle lens 116 affecting the whole step, so as to obtain the desired optical effect. - The
individual lenses 116 are embodied advantageously according to complex curves, which differ from the lenses which would be formed -if they were embodied directly on the allotted parabola portion of the surface of thereflector 112. - According to the invention the
incandescent lamp 14 is associated advantageously with a cap 117 (Fig.9) or frontal screen 17 (Fig.2 but not included in Fig.4 for convenience) placed in front of thelamp 14 itself so that from the normal positions of observation the filament cannot be seen. - The cap 117 or
screen 17, if moulded of a transparent material, can also act as a possible filter for the orange/green/red etc. colours linked to the specific function of the specialised sector, if the latter covers thewhole lamp 14. - As an alternative, the
screen 17 or cap 117 may include a component of the colour of the specific function of the specialised sector, while the other component is provided on the outertransparent element 13. - Moreover, frontal refraction lenses 18 (Fig.9) can be embodied on the cap 117 or
screen 17 so as to create in turn brilliant luminous zones, thus providing aesthetic continuity and homogeneity for the whole compartment.
Claims (22)
- Light (10) for motor vehicles comprising a container body (11) containing at least one reflector (12-112) having a plurality of specialised sectors with specific functions, at least one incandescent lamp (14) connected to a lamp holder (15) and associated to said reflector (12, 112), and an outer smooth transparent element (13) cooperating with said reflector (12, 112), characterised in that said reflector (12-112) comprises a plurality reflecting elements of lenticular shape (16-116) each having a concave or convex reflecting surface distributed substantially evenly on the surface thereof, each of said reflecting elements being positioned with respect to said lamp (14) in such a manner that substantially the entire reflecting surface thereof receives the light of said lamp and reflects said light towards said outer smooth transparent element (13), whereby said reflecting elements (16-116) are visible through the outer smooth transparent element (13) as a mated plurality of apparent luminous images (19).
- Light (10) for motor vehicles as in Claim 1, wherein said reflector (12, 112) comprises an inner or front surface and an outer or rear surface (12a), wherein said reflecting elements (16-116) are provided on said inner surface, and wherein said inner surface is metallised.
- Light (10) for motor vehicles as in Claim 1, wherein said reflector (12, 112) comprises an inner or front surface and an outer or rear surface (12a), wherein said reflecting elements (16-116) are provided on said outer surface (12a), and wherein said outer surface (12a) is metallised.
- Light (10) for motor vehicles as in Claim 1, wherein the reflecting material of said reflector (12-112) possesses at least one component of the specific colour of the specialised function thereof.
- Light (10) for motor vehicles as in any claim hereinbefore, wherein said reflecting elements (16-116) are distributed along longitudinal and transverse rows in relation to the axis of the light (10) and/or of said reflector (12-112).
- Light (10) for motor vehicles as in any claim hereinbefore, wherein said reflecting elements (16-116) are distributed on circumferences or parts of circumferences concentric with said lamp (14).
- Light (10) for motor vehicles as in any claim hereinbefore, wherein said reflecting elements (16-116) have a constant pitch "p" along the horizontal plane of said reflector (12-112).
- Light (10) for motor vehicles as in any of Claims 1 to 6 inclusive, wherein said reflecting elements (16-116) have a progressively increasing pitch "p" along the horizontal plane of said reflector (12-112).
- Light (10) for motor vehicles as in any of Claims 1 to 6 inclusive or as in Claim 8, wherein said reflecting elements (16-116) have a constant pitch "p" along the vertical plane of said reflector (12-112).
- Light (10) for motor vehicles as in any of Claims 1 to 8 inclusive, wherein said reflecting elements (16-116) have a progressively increasing pitch "p" along the vertical plane of said reflector (12-112).
- Light (10) for motor vehicles as in any claim hereinbefore, wherein said reflector (112) is formed with steps and wherein said reflecting elements (116) are embodied on parabolic portions of said step reflector (112).
- Light (10) for motor vehicles as in any claim hereinbefore, wherein said reflecting elements (16-116) have a spherical conformation.
- Light (10) for motor vehicles as in any of Claims 1 to 11 inclusive, wherein said reflecting elements (16-116) have a toroidal conformation.
- Light (10) for motor vehicles as in any of Claims 1 to 11 inclusive, wherein said reflecting elements (16-116) have a toroidal-elliptic conformation.
- Light (10) for motor vehicles as in any of Claims 1 to 11 inclusive, wherein said reflecting elements (16-116) have a conformation embodied according to a complex curve.
- Light (10) for motor vehicles as in Claim 13, wherein at least one of the horizontal and vertical radii of said toroidal reflecting elements (16-116) increases progressively, element by element, from the centre to the periphery of said reflector (12-112).
- Light (10) for motor vehicles as in any of Claims 1 to 16 inclusive, wherein said outer smooth transparent element (13) contains personalising and/or special finishing lines.
- Light (10) for motor vehicles as in any claim hereinbefore, wherein said outer smooth transparent element (13) possesses at least one component of the specific colour of the specialised function of the light (10).
- Light (10) for motor vehicles as in any claim hereinbefore, wherein said lamp holder (15) comprises a central portion (212) of said reflector (12).
- Light (10) for motor vehicles as in any claim hereinbefore, wherein said lamp (14) cooperates at its front with a screen (17) or cap (117).
- Light (10) for motor vehicles as in Claim 20, wherein said screen (17) or cap (117) includes frontal refraction lenses (18).
- Light (10) for motor vehicles as in Claim 20 or 21, wherein said screen (17) or cap (117) is made at least partly of a transparent material coloured with at least one component of the colour of the specific function of the specialised sector.
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
ITUD940064 | 1994-04-20 | ||
IT94UD000064A IT1267221B1 (en) | 1994-04-20 | 1994-04-20 | HEADLIGHT FOR MOTOR VEHICLES WITH LENS REFLECTOR |
Publications (2)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
EP0678703A1 EP0678703A1 (en) | 1995-10-25 |
EP0678703B1 true EP0678703B1 (en) | 1999-10-06 |
Family
ID=11421565
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
EP95104631A Revoked EP0678703B1 (en) | 1994-04-20 | 1995-03-29 | Light for motor vehicles comprising a reflector including a plurality of reflecting areas |
Country Status (4)
Country | Link |
---|---|
EP (1) | EP0678703B1 (en) |
AT (1) | ATE185412T1 (en) |
DE (1) | DE69512556D1 (en) |
IT (1) | IT1267221B1 (en) |
Cited By (10)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
EP0780626A2 (en) * | 1995-12-22 | 1997-06-25 | ZUMTOBEL LICHT GmbH | lighting fixture comprising at least a lamp and at least a reflector and method of making a reflector |
GB2326931B (en) * | 1997-06-18 | 1999-04-14 | Koito Mfg Co Ltd | Vehicle lamp |
US5980067A (en) * | 1996-09-18 | 1999-11-09 | Valeo Vision | Indicator light for a motor vehicle, having a faceted reflector |
US6000816A (en) * | 1996-08-02 | 1999-12-14 | Koito Manufacturing Co., Ltd. | Vehicle head lamp |
GB2362455A (en) * | 2000-05-17 | 2001-11-21 | Koito Mfg Co Ltd | Vehicular signal lamp |
DE10156973A1 (en) * | 2001-11-20 | 2003-05-28 | Hella Kg Hueck & Co | Vehicle light has reflector divided into number of segments in housing and central light source; individual segments are computed as decentralized optics and form segment reflectors |
WO2005026610A1 (en) * | 2003-09-16 | 2005-03-24 | Vega Industries Limited | Improvements in and relating to sectored lights |
DE102010027028A1 (en) * | 2010-07-14 | 2012-01-19 | Automotive Lighting Reutlingen Gmbh | Motor car illumination device, has reflector comprising front surface coated with transparent smooth material, where surface elements are arranged in form of reflecting mirror segments on back surface of reflector |
US9285531B2 (en) | 2008-08-08 | 2016-03-15 | 3M Innovative Properties Company | Lightguide having a viscoelastic layer for managing light |
US10228507B2 (en) | 2008-07-10 | 2019-03-12 | 3M Innovative Properties Company | Light source and optical article including viscoelastic lightguide disposed on a substrate |
Families Citing this family (22)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
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FR2753521B1 (en) * | 1996-09-18 | 1998-12-04 | Valeo Vision | SIGNALING LIGHT WITH IMPROVED LAMP COVER FOR A MOTOR VEHICLE |
FR2753522B1 (en) * | 1996-09-19 | 1998-12-04 | Valeo Vision | MOTOR VEHICLE SIGNALING LIGHT COMPRISING A MIRROR WITH IMPROVED DEVIATOR PAVES |
FR2753776B1 (en) * | 1996-09-20 | 1998-12-11 | STRIES SURFACE MIRROR SIGNAL LIGHT | |
GB9703712D0 (en) * | 1997-02-22 | 1997-04-09 | Britax Vega Ltd | Vehicle signal lamp |
CZ290349B6 (en) * | 1997-05-19 | 2002-07-17 | Autopal S. R. O. | Headlamp for motor vehicles |
JPH11176211A (en) * | 1997-12-11 | 1999-07-02 | Stanley Electric Co Ltd | Vehicle light |
DE19820656A1 (en) * | 1998-05-08 | 1999-11-11 | Hella Kg Hueck & Co | Multi-chamber light for vehicles |
DE69935328T2 (en) * | 1999-09-30 | 2007-11-22 | Automotive Lighting Italia S.P.A., Venaria Reale | Headlamp with a complex surface for the illumination device of a motor vehicle |
JP2001167614A (en) * | 1999-12-08 | 2001-06-22 | Koito Mfg Co Ltd | Indicating lamp for vehicle |
JP2003059313A (en) * | 2001-08-15 | 2003-02-28 | Koito Mfg Co Ltd | Vehicule lighting device |
ATE527639T1 (en) * | 2004-10-21 | 2011-10-15 | Saxa Prec Inc | SIGNALING METHOD AND WARNING DEVICE |
FR2896203B1 (en) * | 2006-01-18 | 2009-08-21 | Peugeot Citroen Automobiles Sa | SIGNALING LIGHT WITH CATADIOPTRIC PATTERNS FOR MOTOR VEHICLE. |
DE102006041293A1 (en) * | 2006-09-01 | 2008-03-06 | Hella Kgaa Hueck & Co. | Interior light for vehicles |
EP1947382A1 (en) | 2007-01-19 | 2008-07-23 | Valeo Vision | Lighting or signalling module with improved appearance |
FR2916831B1 (en) * | 2007-05-29 | 2016-03-25 | Valeo Vision | IMPROVED ASPECT LIGHTING OR SIGNALING MODULE |
FR2934031B1 (en) | 2008-07-21 | 2020-01-31 | Valeo Vision S.A.S | IMPROVED THREE-DIMENSIONAL LIGHTING OR SIGNALING MODULE |
CN102213395A (en) * | 2010-04-09 | 2011-10-12 | 王立义 | Optical reflecting cover |
CN102305385B (en) * | 2011-09-27 | 2013-09-18 | 赵恒谦 | Light-reflecting device and reflector for street lamps |
JP5772542B2 (en) * | 2011-11-24 | 2015-09-02 | 市光工業株式会社 | Vehicle headlamp |
DE102012223584B4 (en) | 2012-12-18 | 2018-08-02 | Automotive Lighting Reutlingen Gmbh | Motor vehicle light |
EP3212994B1 (en) | 2014-10-27 | 2021-05-05 | SMR Patents S.à.r.l. | A lamp assembly for a vehicle |
EP3472936B1 (en) | 2016-06-21 | 2020-07-08 | Dr. Schneider Kunststoffwerke GmbH | Device having at least one region that can be illuminated |
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US4277821A (en) * | 1976-06-24 | 1981-07-07 | Sassmannshausen Knut | Lamp |
US4859043A (en) * | 1987-05-07 | 1989-08-22 | Cibie Projecteurs | High efficiency signal light, in particular for a motor vehicle |
US4989125A (en) * | 1988-05-10 | 1991-01-29 | Minnesota Mining And Manufacturing Company | Reflector using fresnel-type structures having a plurality of active faces |
IT1223926B (en) * | 1988-11-22 | 1990-09-29 | Carello Spa | PROCEDURE FOR THE PRODUCTION OF VEHICLE LIGHTS |
US4994947A (en) * | 1989-11-20 | 1991-02-19 | Ford Motor Company | Reflector and lighting fixture comprising same |
CA2106984C (en) * | 1991-04-03 | 2001-12-18 | Robert E. Levin | Lamp and reflector assembly |
-
1994
- 1994-04-20 IT IT94UD000064A patent/IT1267221B1/en active IP Right Grant
-
1995
- 1995-03-29 AT AT95104631T patent/ATE185412T1/en not_active IP Right Cessation
- 1995-03-29 DE DE69512556T patent/DE69512556D1/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
- 1995-03-29 EP EP95104631A patent/EP0678703B1/en not_active Revoked
Cited By (13)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
EP0780626A2 (en) * | 1995-12-22 | 1997-06-25 | ZUMTOBEL LICHT GmbH | lighting fixture comprising at least a lamp and at least a reflector and method of making a reflector |
US6000816A (en) * | 1996-08-02 | 1999-12-14 | Koito Manufacturing Co., Ltd. | Vehicle head lamp |
US5980067A (en) * | 1996-09-18 | 1999-11-09 | Valeo Vision | Indicator light for a motor vehicle, having a faceted reflector |
GB2326931B (en) * | 1997-06-18 | 1999-04-14 | Koito Mfg Co Ltd | Vehicle lamp |
US6070993A (en) * | 1997-06-18 | 2000-06-06 | Koito Manufacturing Co., Ltd. | Vehicle lamp |
GB2362455B (en) * | 2000-05-17 | 2002-04-17 | Koito Mfg Co Ltd | Vehicular signal lamp |
GB2362455A (en) * | 2000-05-17 | 2001-11-21 | Koito Mfg Co Ltd | Vehicular signal lamp |
DE10156973A1 (en) * | 2001-11-20 | 2003-05-28 | Hella Kg Hueck & Co | Vehicle light has reflector divided into number of segments in housing and central light source; individual segments are computed as decentralized optics and form segment reflectors |
WO2005026610A1 (en) * | 2003-09-16 | 2005-03-24 | Vega Industries Limited | Improvements in and relating to sectored lights |
US10228507B2 (en) | 2008-07-10 | 2019-03-12 | 3M Innovative Properties Company | Light source and optical article including viscoelastic lightguide disposed on a substrate |
US9285531B2 (en) | 2008-08-08 | 2016-03-15 | 3M Innovative Properties Company | Lightguide having a viscoelastic layer for managing light |
DE102010027028A1 (en) * | 2010-07-14 | 2012-01-19 | Automotive Lighting Reutlingen Gmbh | Motor car illumination device, has reflector comprising front surface coated with transparent smooth material, where surface elements are arranged in form of reflecting mirror segments on back surface of reflector |
DE102010027028B4 (en) * | 2010-07-14 | 2016-06-02 | Automotive Lighting Reutlingen Gmbh | Automotive lighting device with a reflector homogeneously distributing light |
Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
---|---|
ATE185412T1 (en) | 1999-10-15 |
ITUD940064A0 (en) | 1994-04-20 |
DE69512556D1 (en) | 1999-11-11 |
IT1267221B1 (en) | 1997-01-28 |
EP0678703A1 (en) | 1995-10-25 |
ITUD940064A1 (en) | 1995-10-20 |
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