Patent ID: 7136784
Filing Date: 2006-11-14
Classification: G01M

Abstract:
1. A method of evaluating the reflection performance of a reflecting mirror designed for a vehicle lamp, comprising: a) entering design information and position information, the design information representing a plurality of reflecting basic surfaces which constitute the reflecting mirror, and the position information containing a light source position in the vehicle lamp; and b) displaying attribute information concerning an attribute indicative of whether imaginary light from the light source position can effectively reach each of a first plurality of areas into which a first reflecting basic surface, selected from among the plurality of reflecting basic surfaces, is divided on the basis of the design information; wherein the plurality of reflecting basic surfaces are discrete surfaces, d) generating divided area information so as to be associated with the design information, the divided area information being indicative of the first plurality of areas of the first reflecting basic surface selected from among the plurality of reflecting basic surfaces and divided into the first plurality of areas on the basis of the design information; e) making a determination, on the basis of the divided area information and the design information, as to whether the imaginary light from the light source position can effectively reach each of the first plurality of areas of the first reflecting basic surface; and f) generating the attribute information for each of the first plurality of areas on the basis of the determination, the attribute information being associated with at least one of the design information and the divided area information; wherein (b) further includes: providing an evaluation point within each of the first plurality of areas; generating a straight line, the straight line connecting the evaluation point to the light source position; and determining whether the straight line intersects another reflecting basic surface other than the first reflecting basic surface which is associated with the first plurality of areas.