Lights for motor vehicles

• US 20050128764A1
• Filed: 01/24/2005
• Published: 06/16/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 07/24/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Bayerische Motoren Werke AG
• Original Assignee: Bayerische Motoren Werke AG
• Inventors: Enders, Martin
• Granted Patent: US 7,252,418 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 362/509
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 3/74 for overall compartment lighting; for overall compartment lighting in combination with specific lighting, e.g. room lamps with reading lamps general lighting mounted on specific fittings B60Q3/20; general lighting for mass transit vehicles B60Q3/43
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 41/645 by electro-optic means, e.g. liquid crystal or electrochromic devices

Abstract

Lights, in particular for motor vehicles, comprising at least one light source and a cover that is arranged in front of the light source in the direction of radiation, wherein the cover includes an electric diffuser which may change the optical properties thereof to generate multi-functionality.

Claims

1. A motor vehicle light, comprising:

at least one light source;

a cover arranged in front of said at least one light source in a direction of radiation; and

wherein said cover includes an electrical diffuser that may change its optical properties to provide a multi-functional light.

2. The motor vehicle light according to claim 1, wherein in a first functional state, the diffuser is switched to an opaque state in order to form a view protection preventing a view in a direction of the light source.

3. The motor vehicle light according to claim 2, wherein in a second functional state, the diffuser is variable between a randomly translucent mode and a transparent mode when the light source is turned on to generate an application-specific light distribution.

4. The motor vehicle light according to claim 1, wherein in a second functional state, the diffuser is variable between a randomly translucent mode and a transparent mode when the light source is turned on to generate an application-specific light distribution.

5. The motor vehicle light according to claim 1, further comprising:

a light housing, said light housing being covered with said cover including the electrical diffuser to form a motor vehicle headlight having at least one luminous component arranged inside the light housing.

6. The motor vehicle light according to claim 2, further comprising:

a light housing, said light housing being covered with said cover including the electrical diffuser to form a motor vehicle headlight having at least one luminous component arranged inside the light housing.

7. The motor vehicle light according to claim 3, further comprising:

a light housing, said light housing being covered with said cover including the electrical diffuser to form a motor vehicle headlight having at least one luminous component arranged inside the light housing.

8. The motor vehicle light according to claim 5, wherein, when the motor vehicle light is turned on, radiation from the headlight is switchable between a daytime driving light, when the diffuser is switched to a randomly translucent mode, and a high beam when the diffuser is switched to a transparent mode, and further wherein the diffuser assumes an opaque state when the motor vehicle light is turned off.

9. The motor vehicle light according to claim 6, wherein, when the motor vehicle light is turned on, radiation from the headlight is switchable between a daytime driving light, when the diffuser is switched to a randomly translucent mode, and a high beam when the diffuser is switched to a transparent mode, and further wherein the diffuser assumes an opaque state when the motor vehicle light is turned off.

10. The motor vehicle light according to claim 7, wherein, when the motor vehicle light is turned on, radiation from the headlight is switchable between a daytime driving light, when the diffuser is switched to a randomly translucent mode, and a high beam when the diffuser is switched to a transparent mode, and further wherein the diffuser assumes an opaque state when the motor vehicle light is turned off.

11. The motor vehicle light according to claim 1, further comprising:

a light housing, said light housing being covered with said cover including the electrical diffuser to form an indicator lamp having at least one luminous component arranged inside the light housing.

12. The motor vehicle light according to claim 2, further comprising:

a light housing, said light housing being covered with said cover including the electrical diffuser to form an indicator lamp having at least one luminous component arranged inside the light housing.

13. The motor vehicle light according to claim 3, further comprising:

a light housing, said light housing being covered with said cover including the electrical diffuser to form an indicator lamp having at least one luminous component arranged inside the light housing.

14. The motor vehicle light according to claim 11, wherein the indicator light is a rear light, in which the diffuser is switched to a random translucent mode when a tail light is switched on, and in which the diffuser assumes an opaque state when the tail light is switched off, and further in which the diffuser is switched into a transparent mode when a brake light radiates.

15. The motor vehicle light according to claim 12, wherein the indicator light is a rear light, in which the diffuser is switched to a random translucent mode when a tail light is switched on, and in which the diffuser assumes an opaque state when the tail light is switched off, and further in which the diffuser is switched into a transparent mode when a brake light radiates.

16. The motor vehicle light according to claim 13, wherein the indicator light is a rear light, in which the diffuser is switched to a random translucent mode when a tail light is switched on, and in which the diffuser assumes an opaque state when the tail light is switched off, and further in which the diffuser is switched into a transparent mode when a brake light radiates.

17. The motor vehicle light according to claim 11, wherein the indicator light is a flashing light, in which the diffuser is switched to a transparent mode when a flashing signal is switched on and in which the diffuser assumes an opaque state when the flashing signal is switched off.

18. The motor vehicle light according to claim 14, wherein the indicator light is a flashing light, in which the diffuser is switched to a transparent mode when a flashing signal is switched on and in which the diffuser assumes an opaque state when the flashing signal is switched off.

19. The motor vehicle light according to claim 1, further comprising:

a light housing, the light housing being covered with the cover including the diffuser in order to form an interior light together with at least one luminous component arranged in the light housing; and

wherein radiation from said interior light is variable between an area interior light when the diffuser is switched to a random translucent mode and a focused reading light when the diffuser is switched to a transparent mode.

20. The motor vehicle light according to claim 2, further comprising:

a light housing, the light housing being covered with the cover including the diffuser in order to form an interior light together with at least one luminous component arranged in the light housing; and

wherein radiation from said interior light is variable between an area interior light when the diffuser is switched to a random translucent mode and a focused reading light when the diffuser is switched to a transparent mode.

21. The motor vehicle light according to claim 1, wherein said at least one light source is one of a bulb, a gas discharge lamp, and a light emitting diode.

22. The motor vehicle light according to claim 5, wherein said at least one luminous component is formed by one of said at least one light source and an application-specific combination of said at least one light source and at least one reflector.

23. The motor vehicle light according to claim 11, wherein said at least one luminous component is formed by one of said at least one light source and an application-specific combination of said at least one light source and at least one reflector.

24. The motor vehicle light according to claim 19, wherein said at least one luminous component is formed by one of said at least one light source and an application-specific combination of said at least one light source and at least one reflector.