Patent ID: 8801252

Claim:
A multi-functional light shielding plate to establish a desired light distribution pattern to light traveling in an illumination direction that is received from at least one of a light source or a reflector, said multi-functional light shielding plate comprising: a light shielding portion that is selectively configurable so as to be one of transmissive to said light traveling in the illumination direction or a light blocker; a support mechanism that supports the light shielding portion so as to maintain the light shielding portion in fixed relation with respect to the light source; wherein when configured as a light blocker, the light shielding portion is configured so that said light traveling in the illumination direction is substantially blocked from passing through the light shielding portion and thus forms a first light distribution pattern; and wherein when configured so as to be transmissive, the light shielding portion is configured so that said light traveling in the illumination direction passes substantially through the light shielding plate and thus forms a second light distribution pattern, wherein the light shielding portion is further configurable so one segment of the light shielding portion is configured as being transmissive and so a second segment of the light shielding portion is configured as a light blocker, thereby forming a third light distribution pattern.