Source: http://www.google.com/patents/US6380864?dq=5631832
Timestamp: 2015-02-01 05:38:35
Document Index: 586658734

Matched Legal Cases: ['art 11', 'art 11', 'art 11', 'art 11', 'art 11', 'art 11', 'art 12', 'art 12', 'art 11', 'art 11']

Patent US6380864 - Indicating display for a motor vehicle, in particular a raised stop light unit - Google PatentsSearch Images Maps Play YouTube News Gmail Drive More »Sign inAdvanced Patent SearchPatentsAn indicating display for a motor vehicle, for example a raised stop light unit, includes a plurality of aligned light sources, optical means for concentrating the luminous flux emitted by the light sources in a general emission direction, and a lens which is provided with optical means for diffusing...http://www.google.com/patents/US6380864?utm_source=gb-gplus-sharePatent US6380864 - Indicating display for a motor vehicle, in particular a raised stop light unitAdvanced Patent SearchPublication numberUS6380864 B1Publication typeGrantApplication numberUS 08/766,230Publication dateApr 30, 2002Filing dateDec 12, 1996Priority dateDec 15, 1995Fee statusPaidAlso published asDE19647094A1Publication number08766230, 766230, US 6380864 B1, US 6380864B1, US-B1-6380864, US6380864 B1, US6380864B1InventorsHerv� RichardOriginal AssigneeValeo VisionExport CitationBiBTeX, EndNote, RefManPatent Citations (28), Non-Patent Citations (3), Referenced by (6), Classifications (20), Legal Events (4) External Links: USPTO, USPTO Assignment, EspacenetIndicating display for a motor vehicle, in particular a raised stop light unitUS 6380864 B1Abstract An indicating display for a motor vehicle, for example a raised stop light unit, includes a plurality of aligned light sources, optical means for concentrating the luminous flux emitted by the light sources in a general emission direction, and a lens which is provided with optical means for diffusing the light. The optical concentrating means consist of a parabolic mirror which is bounded by two planes both of which lie on the same side of its optical axis, and which are in line with the lens, while the light sources are offset vertically from the lens.
What is claimed is: 1. A vehicle indicating display comprising:
a plurality of aligned light sources for emitting a luminous flux; optical means, in the path of said luminous flux, for concentrating said luminous flux into a general emission direction; and a lens, interposed in said general emission direction, for diffusing the light, wherein said optical means comprises a mirror having a parabolic cross section and defining an optical axis of the mirror, the mirror further defining, and being delimited by two planes both of which lie on the same side of the optical axis and extend in line with the lens, the light sources being offset vertically from the lens. 2. The indicating display according to claim 1, being a unit comprising a housing which includes a housing portion that defines the mirror, the light sources and the lens being contained within the housing.
3. The indicating display according to claim 2, wherein the housing includes housing portions which project downwardly from the remainder of the housing and which define a cavity, the light sources being disposed within the cavity substantially below the lens.
4. The indicating display according to claim 1, wherein the mirror comprises a plurality of portions each defining a paraboloid of revolution with a focus lying substantially on a corresponding one of the light sources.
5. The indicating display according to claim 1, wherein the light sources comprise emitting diodes.
6. The indicating display according to claim 1, being a unit comprising a housing which includes a housing portion that defines the mirror, the light sources and the lens being contained within the housing,
wherein the indicating display is an elevated stop light unit for a vehicle rear window, the lens having an upper edge and a lower edge, the housing including two extensions of unequal length extending from the upper and lower edges of the lens respectively, each extension having a free end, the unit further including a smooth, inclined, transparent cover plate fitted between the free ends of the extensions. 7. The indicating display according to claim 1, defining an exit direction for the light from the display, the light sources being generally oriented in a direction away from the exit direction.
8. A stop light unit for a vehicle, comprising the indicating display of claim 1.
9. A vehicle including the indicating display of claim 1.
10. The indicating display according to claim 1, further comprising a housing containing the plurality of aligned light sources, the mirror and the lens.
11. The indicating display according to claim 10, wherein the housing includes housing portions which project downwardly from the remainder of the housing and which define a cavity, the light sources being disposed within the cavity substantially below the lens.
12. The indicating display according to claim 10, further comprising a transparent cover plate, wherein the lens has an upper edge and a lower edge, the housing including two extensions of unequal length extending from the upper and lower edges of the lens respectively, each extension having a free end, the transparent cover plate being adapted to fit between the free ends of the extensions.
13. The indicating display according to claim 1, wherein the mirror comprises a portion of the housing.
14. An indicating display for a vehicle, comprising:
a plurality of light sources for emitting a luminous flux; means, arranged in a path of said luminous flux, for concentrating said luminous flux in a general emission direction; and means, interposed in said general emission direction, for diffusing said concentrated luminous flux, wherein said means for concentrating comprises a mirror having a parabolic cross section and defining an optical axis of the mirror, the mirror further defining, and being delimited by, two planes both of which lie on the same side of the optical axis and extend in line with the lens, the light sources being offset vertically from said means for diffusing. 15. The indicating display according to claim 1, wherein the light sources are aligned along a direction generally perpendicular to the general emission direction.
16. The indicating display according to claim 1, wherein the light sources, mirror and lens are arranged successive order.
17. The indicating display according to claim 1, wherein the indicating display is a stop light unit.
18. The indicating display according to claim 14, wherein the light sources are aligned along a direction generally perpendicular to the general emission direction.
19. The indicating display according to claim 14, wherein the light sources, mirror and lens are arranged successive order.
20. The indicating display according to claim 14, wherein the indicating display is a stop light unit.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates in general terms to indicating displays for motor vehicles, and more particularly to an indicating display which is equipped with a plurality of light sources which are aligned with each other, and all of which take part in a common indicating function.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION An indicating display of the above general type, known in the current state of the art, comprises for example a plurality of light emitting diodes. This may for example consist of a raised stop lamp for fitting in a rear window or in a rearwardly facing part of a motor vehicle.
In order that such a display shall satisfy the photometric requirements imposed by current regulations, it includes, arranged in line with the light emitting diodes, an intermediate screen which is provided with Fresnel lenses, each of which is associated with a corresponding one of the diodes in order to concentrate the light in the axis of the vehicle, and a lens which receives light from the intermediate screen and which is provided with contoured elements for the horizontal and vertical distribution of the light. One drawback of this known solution lies in the fact that, because of the presence of the light sources, the intermediate screen and the lens, arranged one after another in a straight path, the indicating light unit has a substantial length in the direction of the optical axis.
This disadvantage is even more inconvenient in the case of raised stop lights which are fitted within the cabin of the vehicle. For a unit fitted in such a position, it is desirable that its size should be as small as possible.
DISCUSSION OF THE INVENTION A main object of the present invention is therefore to provide an indicating display having a shortened axial length.
According to the invention, an indicating display for a motor vehicle, of the type comprising a plurality of light sources aligned with each other, optical means for concentrating the light flux emitted by the sources into a general emission direction, and a lens which is provided with optical means for diffusing the light, is characterised in that the optical concentrating means consist of a mirror having a parabolic cross section delimited by two planes, both of which lie on the same side of its optical axis, and which extend in line with the lens, and in that the light sources are offset vertically with respect to the lens.
According to a preferred feature of the invention, the mirror is defined by a part of the housing.
Preferably, the light sources are situated substantially below the lens, in a cavity which is delimited by portions of the housing which extend the latter downwardly.
According to another preferred feature of the invention, the mirror consists of a plurality of portions of paraboloids of revolution, the foci of which lie substantially on the corresponding respective light sources.
According to a further preferred feature of the invention, the housing includes two extensions having unequal lengths and extending from the upper and lower edges of the lens, the said extensions receiving at their free end a smooth transparent inclined cover plate.
Preferably, the light sources are oriented generally in a direction opposed to the exit direction of the light from the indicating display.
Further features, objects and advantages of the present invention will appear more clearly on a reading of the following detailed description of a preferred embodiment of the invention, which is given by way of example and with reference to the accompanying drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is an elevation in cross section of a raised stop light of the prior art, for the rear window of a motor vehicle.
FIG. 2 is an elevation in vertical axial cross section of an indicating display in accordance with the present invention.
DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION Before reference is made to FIG. 2 showing the preferred embodiment of the invention, reference is briefly made to the prior art indicating display, in the form of a raised stop light, which is shown in FIG. 1. This includes a row of light emitting diodes D. In front of the light emitting diodes D, an intermediate screen F, having Fresnel lenses each of which is associated with a respective one of the diodes D, is mounted within the housing of the raised stop light unit. The purpose of the intermediate screen F is to concentrate the light along the axis of the vehicle. In front of the screen F, is a lens V which includes elements for the horizontal and vertical distribution of the light. The unit shown in FIG. 1 is an example of the units described above under the heading �Background of the Invention�.
Reference is now made to FIG. 2, which shows an indicating display which in this example is a raised stop lamp adapted to be fitted in an opening in the bodywork of the motor vehicle, so as to be visible from behind the vehicle.
The raised stop lamp unit shown in FIG. 2 comprises: a housing generally indicated by the reference numeral 10; a printed circuit 20 which is mounted within the housing, and which supports a set of light emitting diodes 30; a lens 40; and a transparent external cover plate 50.
The housing 10 comprises a first part 11 which is closed by the lens 40 and which encloses the printed circuit 20 and the light emitting diodes 30. This part 11 has two oblique base walls 11 a and 11 b, which define a right angle between them. The part 11 also includes a posterior wall 11 c, together with a further wall 11 d. The posterior wall 11 c is essentially vertical, and extends the oblique base wall 11 b upwards.
The internal surface of the wall 11 d consists of a plurality of portions in the form of a paraboloids of revolution, the foci of which are spaced apart at regular intervals on a line which lies at a level lower than the wall 11 d. In this example, this line lies at approximately the same height as the other end of the oblique base wall 11 a, this level intersecting the middle of the posterior wall 11 c. At least the wall 11 d of the housing part 11 a is provided with an internal reflective coating, which is formed for example by vacumetallisation.
The part 11 of the housing also has another wall 11 e which extends forwards (i.e. towards the right in FIG. 2) from the upper end of the wall 11 d, and a further wall 11 f which extends rearwardly from the upper end of the wall 11 e. The lens 40 is formed on its inner face with balls, toroids or spheres 41 for diffusing the light. It is mounted generally vertically in the aperture which is defined between the front end of the wall 11 e and the rear end of the wall 11 f, and is secured in position by adhesive bonding or ultrasonic welding, for example.
The printed circuit 20 is mounted in the cavity defined by the housing part 11. The printed circuit is of elongate form and follows the line of the foci of the parabolic reflective portions, or mirrors, that constitute the housing wall 11 d. The printed circuit 20 is oriented obliquely, essentially parallel with the base wall 11 a, in a plane which defines an angle α with the general direction of emission of light by the stop lamp unit, this direction being generally horizontal.
The light emitting diodes 30 are of any suitable standard kind, and they are soldered on the printed circuit 20. Each light emitting diode emits light at the level of the focus of one of the respective parabolic mirrors of the wall 11 d, mainly towards the said mirror. In this way, a substantial proportion of the light emitted by the light emitting diodes 30 is directed towards their respective mirrors 11 d. These mirrors concentrate the light through the lens 40, which provides the diffusion which is necessary in order to satisfy the regulation photometric grid.
The various parameters which play a part in the design of the mirror, namely its upper and lower overall dimensions, and, most particularly, the focal length of each parabolic portion, are defined in particular by the available depth and by the distance between each light source and the next.
It will be observed here that the light emitting diodes 30 lie substantially below the lens 40, and that the limiting planes P1 and P2 of the housing portion which defines the mirror 11 d, both lie above the line which passes through the light emitting diodes 30. It will also be observed that the diodes 30 are oriented in a direction which is generally opposed to the exit direction of the light.
The housing 10 of the stop light unit also includes a second part 12 which defines a visor that provides the transition with an inclined opening in the bodywork of the vehicle (not shown), and which also provides the necessary optical seal. The housing part 12 has a first wall 12 a which is generally horizontal and which extends the wall 11 f of the first housing part 11 outwardly, together with a second wall 12 b which is substantially shorter than the wall 12 a. The second wall 12 b also extends outwardly, in this case from the wall 11 e of the housing part 11. The protective transparent cover plate 50 is fitted between the free edges of the two walls 12 a and 12 b. By virtue of the use of mirrors of the parabolic type which form part of the housing of the unit, and by virtue also of the disposition of the light emitting diodes 30, the resulting stop light unit is extremely compact in length, without its selling cost being increased by any significant amount.
Although a mirror has been described above which consists of a plurality of portions of paraboloids of revolution, it will of course be understood that other embodiments could be envisaged for the mirror. In particular, it may consist of a parabolic cylinder, the focal line of which passes through the various light sources, or through surfaces which have a profile that may for example be defined mathematically, being such as to provide all the required light distribution upstream of the lens 40.
In another embodiment, the invention may be applied to a raised stop light for an inclined rear window.
Patent CitationsCited PatentFiling datePublication dateApplicantTitleUS3710095 *Sep 23, 1970Jan 9, 1973Gen Motors CorpMethod of making a faceted reflector for a lighting unitUS3848974 *Jan 29, 1973Nov 19, 1974J HoskingHead-up display apparatusUS3849642 *Jul 10, 1973Nov 19, 1974Cibie ProjecteursMotor vehicle headlampsUS4075471 *Oct 8, 1975Feb 21, 1978Lucas Electrical Company LimitedLamp assemblyUS4211955Mar 2, 1978Jul 8, 1980Ray Stephen WSolid state lampUS4271408 *Oct 12, 1979Jun 2, 1981Stanley Electric Co., Ltd.Colored-light emitting displayUS4456948 *Apr 12, 1982Jun 26, 1984Cibie ProjecteursMotor vehicle headlamp with a narrow outlet windowUS4477160 *Aug 26, 1982Oct 16, 1984Showscan Film CorporationMotion picture systemUS4972303Feb 5, 1990Nov 20, 1990Koito Manufacturing Co., Ltd.Automobile LampUS5047747 *Jul 25, 1990Sep 10, 1991Designtech International, IncCombination back-up light and sound emitting device for trucks and other automotive vehiclesUS5089805 *May 7, 1990Feb 18, 1992Salsman Robert KBrake light system to indicate intensity of slow downUS5101193Apr 16, 1990Mar 31, 1992Hughes Aircraft CompanyUniversal stand-alone holographic center high mounted stoplightUS5148146 *Jun 17, 1991Sep 15, 1992Delco Electronics CorporationHigh brightness telltale for a head-up displayUS5287101 *Dec 18, 1992Feb 15, 1994Koito Manufacturing Co., Ltd.Vehicular turn signal lampUS5471371 *Jan 8, 1993Nov 28, 1995Ford Motor CompanyFor use with a vehicleUS5475512 *Feb 8, 1994Dec 12, 1995Asahi Glass Company Ltd.Head-up display and a combiner used to control diffraction of light including a hologram with a half width between 200-400 nmUS5624176 *Oct 25, 1995Apr 29, 1997Donnelly CorporationIlluminated power tilt exterior mirror for vehicleUS5765940 *Oct 21, 1996Jun 16, 1998Dialight CorporationLED-illuminated stop/tail lamp assemblyDE3239754A1Oct 27, 1982May 3, 1984Bosch Gmbh RobertSignalling lamp, in particular front flashing lamp, for motor vehiclesDE4002520A1Jan 29, 1990Aug 2, 1990Koito Mfg Co LtdSignal lamp for vehicle rear window - has snap fastening assembly and clip fastening to vehicle trimDE4003569A1Feb 6, 1990Aug 9, 1990Koito Mfg Co LtdKraftfahrzeugleuchteDE4129094A1Sep 2, 1991Mar 4, 1993Hella Kg Hueck & CoSignal lamp with extended light guides for motor vehicle - emits light from grouped multi-prismatic surfaces of parallel light guides into which light is coupled from LEDsDE4411440A1Mar 31, 1994Oct 6, 1994Koito Mfg Co LtdHolographic stop light (brake light), mounted high, for vehiclesDE9114246U1Nov 15, 1991Jan 9, 1992Hella Kg Hueck & Co, 4780 Lippstadt, DeTitle not availableEP0495685A1Jan 20, 1992Jul 22, 1992Nippon Sheet Glass Co. Ltd.Rear window stop lamp for motor vehiclesEP0650865A2Oct 29, 1994May 3, 1995Hughes Aircraft CompanyHolographic center high mounted stoplightGB2261497A Title not availableJPH072014A Title not available* Cited by examinerNon-Patent CitationsReference1French Search Report dated Aug. 9, 1996.2Patent Abstracts of Japan 61-193738, Feb. 10, 1985 & JP 07002014 A, Jun. 17, 1993.3Patent Abstracts of Japan 61-193738, Feb. 10, 1985; 07002014, Jun. 17, 1993.Referenced byCiting PatentFiling datePublication dateApplicantTitleUS7281833Oct 16, 2003Oct 16, 2007Ichikoh Industries, Ltd.LED vehicle lamp including reflector with paraboloidal sectionsUS7387402May 10, 2005Jun 17, 2008Lui Phillip Chun WaiMultiple light LED flashlightUS7744246May 7, 2001Jun 29, 2010Farlight, LlcPortable luminaireUS8220959May 14, 2010Jul 17, 2012Farlight LlcHighly efficient luminaire having optical transformer providing precalculated angular intensity distribution and method thereforeUS8360615Oct 31, 2007Jan 29, 2013Farlight, LlcLED light module for omnidirectional luminaireWO2005108857A1 *Apr 26, 2005Nov 17, 2005Daimler Chrysler AgLamp* Cited by examinerClassifications U.S. Classification340/815.45, 362/240, 340/461, 362/555, 340/815.76, 362/300International ClassificationF21S8/10, F21V7/00, B60Q1/30, F21V13/04Cooperative ClassificationF21S48/24, F21S48/215, F21V7/0008, F21S48/218, F21Y2101/02, B60Q1/302European ClassificationF21S48/21T2, F21S48/21T12, F21S48/24, B60Q1/30ALegal EventsDateCodeEventDescriptionSep 25, 2013FPAYFee paymentYear of fee payment: 12Sep 26, 2009FPAYFee paymentYear of fee payment: 8Sep 25, 2005FPAYFee paymentYear of fee payment: 4Dec 12, 1996ASAssignmentOwner name: VALEO VISION, FRANCEFree format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST;ASSIGNOR:RICHARD, HERVE;REEL/FRAME:008343/0256Effective date: 19961104RotateOriginal ImageGoogle Home - Sitemap - USPTO Bulk Downloads - Privacy Policy - Terms of Service - About Google Patents - Send FeedbackData provided by IFI CLAIMS Patent Services