EP0794382B1 - Projector-type headlight for applications in the field of motor-cycles and/or motor cars - Google Patents

Projector-type headlight for applications in the field of motor-cycles and/or motor cars Download PDF

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Publication number
EP0794382B1
EP0794382B1 EP97102497A EP97102497A EP0794382B1 EP 0794382 B1 EP0794382 B1 EP 0794382B1 EP 97102497 A EP97102497 A EP 97102497A EP 97102497 A EP97102497 A EP 97102497A EP 0794382 B1 EP0794382 B1 EP 0794382B1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
dimmer
headlight
screen
light source
motor
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
Application number
EP97102497A
Other languages
German (de)
French (fr)
Other versions
EP0794382A3 (en
EP0794382A2 (en
Inventor
Roberto Cella
Davide Lorenzi
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Fratelli Pagani SpA
Original Assignee
Fratelli Pagani SpA
Priority date (The priority date 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 date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
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Application filed by Fratelli Pagani SpA filed Critical Fratelli Pagani SpA
Publication of EP0794382A2 publication Critical patent/EP0794382A2/en
Publication of EP0794382A3 publication Critical patent/EP0794382A3/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of EP0794382B1 publication Critical patent/EP0794382B1/en
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Revoked legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • 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
    • F21S41/60—Illuminating devices specially adapted for vehicle exteriors, e.g. headlamps characterised by a variable light distribution
    • F21S41/68—Illuminating devices specially adapted for vehicle exteriors, e.g. headlamps characterised by a variable light distribution by acting on screens
    • F21S41/683—Illuminating devices specially adapted for vehicle exteriors, e.g. headlamps characterised by a variable light distribution by acting on screens by moving screens
    • F21S41/686—Blades, i.e. screens moving in a vertical plane

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to a headlight for applications in the motoring field and particularly in the field of motor-cycles.
  • the known drawbacks of headlights of this type lie basically in the fact that they make it possible to obtain only the high beam function or the lower beam function, which are obtained by dimming or not dimming part of the light rays coming from the reflector.
  • this type of headlight therefore, it is necessary to add another (of the same type or different) that produces the beam not produced by the first, with a resulting increase in costs and size.
  • the known drawback in providing a single projector-type headlight with two functions lies in the fact that, in the case of the lower beam function, the optical axis of the headlight must be rotated downwards through a certain angle such as to ensure that the road surface is perfectly illuminated. Consequently, when the headlight is switched to its high beam function, it is rotated downwards through the same angle as the lower beam, as foreseen by the technical solutions adopted up to now, impairing its efficiency. Therefore, when switching from one function to the other, a system for correcting the beam must be introduced so that the two beams are always optimal depending upon the function chosen. Whatever the beam correction system, it introduces not only design and application problems, but also an inevitable increase in costs.
  • DE 3806658 discloses a headlight which allows to obtain a lowering of the high beam, by rotating a screen interposed between a light source and a lens. The upper edge of the screen arrives at most at the level of the optical axis of the headlight, thus producing a lower beam with not all rays directed downwards.
  • the aim of the present invention is to create a projector-type headlight that provides both high beam and lower beam functions, overcoming the above disadvantages and in particular avoiding the use of costly systems for correcting the beam when passing from one function to the other.
  • a further aim of the invention is to create a headlight for use both on motor-cycles and on motor-cars that is of reduced weight and size.
  • Other advantages of the invention consist in the fact that it has two basic functions (high beam and lower beam), with a very small illuminating surface, or it has a dual headlight that is small in size and has a high performance for both functions.
  • a projector-type headlight according to the invention having the characteristics listed in appended claim 1.
  • the headlight according to the invention produces a high beam, which is partially dimmed by means of a dimmer screen to produce a low beam, without any need for the two beams to be corrected by corrective, optical or other types of systems.
  • a headlight 3 is made up by a light source 5, a lens 8, a reflector 6 that reflects the light emitted by the light source towards the lens and a lens holder cap 7.
  • an electromagnet 1 which serves to operate a dimmer 2 is housed in a seat 4.
  • the case illustrated is that of the lower beam function, in which the electromagnet is de-energized, in compliance with current safety regulations.
  • the dimmer 2 reaches above the optical axis 9 of the headlight, so as to block all the rays which, striking the half plane below the optical axis 9 in which the dimmer 2 is situated, would be refracted upward by the lens 8.
  • the lens 8 With the dimmer situated above the optical axis 9, therefore, all rays reaching the lens 8 pass though it and in so doing are refracted downwards by an angle with respect to the optical axis 9 that depends on the angle of incidence on the lens.
  • the high beam function is illustrated in Figure 2.
  • the energized electromagnet 1 lowers the dimmer 2 beneath the optical axis, so that all the rays reach the lens 8. By so doing the unlit area of the field of vision is illuminated and a deep forward lighting beam is thus obtained.
  • the particular surface of the reflector 6 makes it possible to keep the two beams aligned, without any need for correction systems, whilst maintaining the same excellent performance and excellent lighting of the road surface that are obtained with projector-type headlights with a single function (lower beam or high beam). It therefore makes it possible to switch from one function to the other simply by moving the dimmer screen 2 from one position to the other.
  • the power necessary for a single headlight will be the sum of the power of the lamp and that of the electromagnet.
  • the latter must be sufficient to ensure a steady and rapid movement of the dimmer, so as not to generate troublesome vibrations during switching from one function to the other.
  • shock absorbers could also be provided at the end of the stroke.
  • Operation of the dimmer itself can also be carried out manually, by means of an electric stepper motor etc..
  • the preferred embodiment of the invention uses an electromagnet since this has the necessary power, restricts the overall size of the device and enables it to be of simple construction.

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  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Lighting Device Outwards From Vehicle And Optical Signal (AREA)
  • Non-Portable Lighting Devices Or Systems Thereof (AREA)

Abstract

A projector-type headlight for applications in the field of motor-cycles and/or motor cars which produces a high beam and a low beam comprising a light source (5), a lens (8), a reflector (3) that reflects the light produced by the light source towards the lens and a dimmer screen (2) that can be moved between two positions in a plane lying between the light source and the lens; in a first position the dimmer screen blocks part of the rays to obtain a lower beam, whilst in a second position all the light rays are allowed past in order to obtain a high beam. <IMAGE>

Description

  • The present invention relates to a headlight for applications in the motoring field and particularly in the field of motor-cycles.
  • In the motor-cycling field, in which the problem of size is of considerable importance, an optical assembly called the "projector type" has been introduced, consisting in a projector-type headlight.
  • The known drawbacks of headlights of this type lie basically in the fact that they make it possible to obtain only the high beam function or the lower beam function, which are obtained by dimming or not dimming part of the light rays coming from the reflector. When using this type of headlight, therefore, it is necessary to add another (of the same type or different) that produces the beam not produced by the first, with a resulting increase in costs and size.
  • The known drawback in providing a single projector-type headlight with two functions (lower beam and high beam) lies in the fact that, in the case of the lower beam function, the optical axis of the headlight must be rotated downwards through a certain angle such as to ensure that the road surface is perfectly illuminated. Consequently, when the headlight is switched to its high beam function, it is rotated downwards through the same angle as the lower beam, as foreseen by the technical solutions adopted up to now, impairing its efficiency. Therefore, when switching from one function to the other, a system for correcting the beam must be introduced so that the two beams are always optimal depending upon the function chosen. Whatever the beam correction system, it introduces not only design and application problems, but also an inevitable increase in costs.
  • DE 3806658 discloses a headlight which allows to obtain a lowering of the high beam, by rotating a screen interposed between a light source and a lens. The upper edge of the screen arrives at most at the level of the optical axis of the headlight, thus producing a lower beam with not all rays directed downwards.
  • The aim of the present invention is to create a projector-type headlight that provides both high beam and lower beam functions, overcoming the above disadvantages and in particular avoiding the use of costly systems for correcting the beam when passing from one function to the other. A further aim of the invention is to create a headlight for use both on motor-cycles and on motor-cars that is of reduced weight and size. Other advantages of the invention consist in the fact that it has two basic functions (high beam and lower beam), with a very small illuminating surface, or it has a dual headlight that is small in size and has a high performance for both functions.
  • These aims are achieved by a projector-type headlight according to the invention, having the characteristics listed in appended claim 1. The headlight according to the invention produces a high beam, which is partially dimmed by means of a dimmer screen to produce a low beam, without any need for the two beams to be corrected by corrective, optical or other types of systems.
  • Further characteristics of the invention will be made clearer by the detailed description that follows, referring to a purely exemplary and therefore non-limiting embodiment thereof, illustrated in the appended drawings, in which:
    • Figure 1 is a sectional side view of a headlight according to the invention, with a dimmer screen in the dimming position (lower beam);
    • Figure 2 is a sectional side view of a headlight according to the invention with the same dimmer screen in the non-dimming position (high beam).
  • With reference in particular to Figure 1, a headlight 3 is made up by a light source 5, a lens 8, a reflector 6 that reflects the light emitted by the light source towards the lens and a lens holder cap 7. As can be seen in the figure, an electromagnet 1 which serves to operate a dimmer 2 is housed in a seat 4.
  • The case illustrated is that of the lower beam function, in which the electromagnet is de-energized, in compliance with current safety regulations. In this position the dimmer 2 reaches above the optical axis 9 of the headlight, so as to block all the rays which, striking the half plane below the optical axis 9 in which the dimmer 2 is situated, would be refracted upward by the lens 8. With the dimmer situated above the optical axis 9, therefore, all rays reaching the lens 8 pass though it and in so doing are refracted downwards by an angle with respect to the optical axis 9 that depends on the angle of incidence on the lens.
  • The high beam function is illustrated in Figure 2. The energized electromagnet 1 lowers the dimmer 2 beneath the optical axis, so that all the rays reach the lens 8. By so doing the unlit area of the field of vision is illuminated and a deep forward lighting beam is thus obtained.
  • The particular surface of the reflector 6 makes it possible to keep the two beams aligned, without any need for correction systems, whilst maintaining the same excellent performance and excellent lighting of the road surface that are obtained with projector-type headlights with a single function (lower beam or high beam). It therefore makes it possible to switch from one function to the other simply by moving the dimmer screen 2 from one position to the other.
  • The power necessary for a single headlight will be the sum of the power of the lamp and that of the electromagnet. The latter must be sufficient to ensure a steady and rapid movement of the dimmer, so as not to generate troublesome vibrations during switching from one function to the other. For this purpose shock absorbers could also be provided at the end of the stroke.
  • Operation of the dimmer itself can also be carried out manually, by means of an electric stepper motor etc.. Obviously the preferred embodiment of the invention uses an electromagnet since this has the necessary power, restricts the overall size of the device and enables it to be of simple construction.

Claims (6)

  1. A projector-type headlight (3) for applications in the field of motor-cycles and/or motor cars, comprising a light source (5) and a dimmer screen (2) interposed between said light source and a lens (8), said dimmer screen (2) being movable between at least two positions: a first upper position, in which it blocks part of the rays coming from the light source (5), to obtain a lower beam, and a second lower position in which said dimmer screen (2) allows all the light rays coming from the light source (5) to pass, in order to obtain a high beam, switching between high beam and lower beam taking place solely through movement of the dimmer screen (2) without using optical correction systems characterized in that in said first upper position corresponding to a lower beam, the dimmer screen (2) is positioned so that its upper edge is situated above the optical axis (9) of the headlight (3), and in that the movement of said dimmer screen (2) takes place vertically in a plane perpendicular to the optical axis (9) of the headlight.
  2. A headlight according to claim 1, characterized in that said dimmer screen (2) is operated by means of an electromagnet (1) to which the dimmer screen (2) is fixed.
  3. A headlight according to claim 1, characterized in that said dimmer screen (2) is operated manually, or by means of an electric stepper motor.
  4. A headlight according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said light source (5) is a single-filament, double-filament or gaseous discharge incandescent lamp.
  5. A headlight according to claim 2, characterized in that the position of said dimmer screen (2) corresponding to the lower beam function is the position with the electromagnet (1) de-energized.
  6. A headlight according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that shock absorbing means are provided at the end of the stroke of said dimmer screen (2).
EP97102497A 1996-03-05 1997-02-17 Projector-type headlight for applications in the field of motor-cycles and/or motor cars Revoked EP0794382B1 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
ITMI960429 1996-03-05
IT96MI000429A IT1283192B1 (en) 1996-03-05 1996-03-05 PROJECTION TYPE HEADLIGHT FOR MOTORCYCLE AND/OR AUTOMOTIVE APPLICATIONS

Publications (3)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP0794382A2 EP0794382A2 (en) 1997-09-10
EP0794382A3 EP0794382A3 (en) 1998-08-12
EP0794382B1 true EP0794382B1 (en) 2001-06-06

Family

ID=11373509

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP97102497A Revoked EP0794382B1 (en) 1996-03-05 1997-02-17 Projector-type headlight for applications in the field of motor-cycles and/or motor cars

Country Status (9)

Country Link
EP (1) EP0794382B1 (en)
JP (1) JPH09330603A (en)
AT (1) ATE201925T1 (en)
DE (1) DE69705082T2 (en)
DK (1) DK0794382T3 (en)
ES (1) ES2159781T3 (en)
GR (1) GR3036555T3 (en)
IT (1) IT1283192B1 (en)
PT (1) PT794382E (en)

Families Citing this family (17)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
JPH11185506A (en) * 1997-12-24 1999-07-09 Koito Mfg Co Ltd Head lamp for vehicle
AT3450U1 (en) 1998-09-28 2000-03-27 Zizala Lichtsysteme Gmbh CAR HEADLIGHTS
JP4285716B2 (en) * 1999-03-26 2009-06-24 株式会社小糸製作所 Vehicle headlamp device
FR2796448B1 (en) * 1999-07-13 2001-12-21 Valeo Vision PROJECTOR FOR A MOTOR VEHICLE WITH A MULTI-POSITION COVER
FR2815310B1 (en) 2000-10-12 2003-02-21 Valeo Vision PROJECTOR FOR MOTOR VEHICLE WITH MOBILE OCCULTATION SCREEN
ATA18292000A (en) * 2000-10-25 2005-09-15 Zizala Lichtsysteme Gmbh VEHICLE HEADLIGHTS
US6981790B2 (en) 2001-08-10 2006-01-03 Ichikoh Industries, Ltd. Two-light headlamp
JP2003123520A (en) * 2001-10-18 2003-04-25 Koito Mfg Co Ltd Projection type headlamp used for infrared light irradiating lamp
FR2845330B1 (en) 2002-10-04 2005-07-08 Valeo Vision LIGHTING DEVICE AND / OR SIGNALING OF THE PROJECTOR TYPE FOR A MOTOR VEHICLE
JP4144381B2 (en) 2003-03-07 2008-09-03 市光工業株式会社 head lamp
JP4321450B2 (en) * 2004-07-26 2009-08-26 株式会社デンソー Visual recognition support device
JP4400884B2 (en) 2005-06-08 2010-01-20 株式会社小糸製作所 Vehicle lamp
JP4518496B2 (en) * 2005-06-23 2010-08-04 株式会社小糸製作所 Vehicle lamp
JP4614347B2 (en) 2005-06-23 2011-01-19 株式会社小糸製作所 Vehicle lamp
JP4492637B2 (en) 2007-04-25 2010-06-30 市光工業株式会社 Vehicle headlamp
JP5226985B2 (en) * 2007-08-22 2013-07-03 株式会社小糸製作所 Vehicle headlamp
JP5828278B2 (en) * 2011-12-27 2015-12-02 市光工業株式会社 Vehicle headlamp

Family Cites Families (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US1389291A (en) * 1920-01-08 1921-08-30 Evan P Bone Headlamp
DE3528820C2 (en) * 1985-08-10 1994-02-24 Bosch Gmbh Robert Low beam or fog lights for motor vehicles
DE3806658A1 (en) * 1988-03-02 1989-09-14 Huppertz & Schneider Gmbh & Co Headlamp (headlight, searchlight), in particular for use in vehicles below ground
DE4002576C5 (en) * 1990-01-30 2005-06-02 Automotive Lighting Reutlingen Gmbh Headlamp with dipped and main beam for motor vehicles

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
IT1283192B1 (en) 1998-04-16
EP0794382A3 (en) 1998-08-12
ES2159781T3 (en) 2001-10-16
ITMI960429A1 (en) 1997-09-05
EP0794382A2 (en) 1997-09-10
DE69705082T2 (en) 2002-02-07
PT794382E (en) 2001-11-30
DK0794382T3 (en) 2001-09-24
DE69705082D1 (en) 2001-07-12
ATE201925T1 (en) 2001-06-15
ITMI960429A0 (en) 1996-03-05
JPH09330603A (en) 1997-12-22
GR3036555T3 (en) 2001-12-31

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