Vehicular lighting system

• US 20060232987A1
• Filed: 04/17/2006
• Published: 10/19/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 04/18/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd. (Honda Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd. (Honda Motor Company)
• Inventors: Matsumoto, Yoshiyuki, Kushida, Kazumitsu, Murata, Yutaka
• Granted Patent: US 7,537,362 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 362/459
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/0035 relative to the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/0052 concentric
• CPC Class Codes: B62J 6/026 characterised by the structure, e.g. casings
• CPC Class Codes: B62J 6/055 Electrical means, e.g. lamps

Abstract

A vehicular lighting system that enhances motorcycle visibility is provided. Vehicle front headlights, arranged so as to be laterally symmetrical, are formed in a shape of eyes capable of evoking a face. A headlight includes a circular main light forming a pupil portion, an annular ring forming an iris portion, plates each forming a sclera portion (white of eye), an upper frame forming the contour of an upper eyelid portion, and a lower frame forming the contour of a lower eyelid portion. When the main light and the plates are made to emit light, and the ring is non-light emitting, the pupil portion and the sclera portion are clearly discriminated from each other, thus enabling recognition as “eyes” not only in the daytime but also in the nighttime. The light emitting portions may be set as the main light, the upper frame and the lower frame, and the like.

Claims

1. A vehicular lighting system comprising plural laterally symmetrical lighting devices arranged on a front portion of a vehicle, wherein each of the lighting devices includes:

a first portion having a circular shape;

a second portion surrounding a periphery of the first portion;

a third portion at least partially in contact with an outer side of the second portion, the third portion having a shape that is elongated in a direction away from the second portion;

a fourth portion arranged above the first, second and third portions, the fourth portion forming an upper contour member; and

a fifth portion arranged below the first, second, and third portions, the fifth portion forming a lower contour member,

wherein the first, second and third portions are surrounded by the upper contour member and the lower contour member respectively formed by the fourth portion and the fifth portion, and

at least one of the first, second, third, fourth, and fifth portions emits light and functions as a vehicle headlight.

2. The vehicular lighting system according to claim 1, wherein the first portion and the third portion each emit light.

3. The vehicular lighting system according to claim 2, wherein:

the first portion is a convex lens of a projector type light; and

the third portion emits light by means of leakage light of the projector type light guided by a light guide plate.

4. The vehicular lighting system according to claim 2, wherein:

the first portion is a convex lens of a projector type light; and

the third portion emits light by means of a light emitting diode.

5. The vehicular lighting system according to claim 4, wherein:

the third portion has a white light emitting diode and a yellow light emitting diode arranged thereon; and

the yellow light emitting diode is adapted to function as a turn signal.

6. The vehicular lighting system according to claim 2, wherein:

the first portion functions as a headlight; and

the third portion functions as a position light.

7. The vehicular lighting system according to claim 6, wherein:

the first portion is a convex lens of a projector type light; and

the third portion emits light by means of leakage light of the projector type light guided by a light guide plate.

8. The vehicular lighting system according to claim 6, wherein:

the first portion is a convex lens of a projector type light; and

the third portion emits light by means of a light emitting diode.

9. The vehicular lighting system according to claim 8, wherein:

the third portion has a white light emitting diode and a yellow light emitting diode arranged thereon; and

the yellow light emitting diode is adapted to function as a turn signal.

10. The vehicular lighting system according to claim 1, wherein the first portion, the fourth portion, and the fifth portion each emit light and function as a vehicle headlight.

11. The vehicular lighting system according to claim 1, wherein:

the second portion and the third portion each emit light and function as a vehicle headlight; and

the vehicular lighting system further comprises a second lighting device provided below the lighting devices.

12. The vehicular lighting system according to claim 11, wherein the second lighting device comprises opposed ends which are each tapered to a point.

13. The vehicular lighting system according to claim 12, wherein:

the second lighting device functions as a headlight; and

the second portion and the third portion each function as a position light.

14. The vehicular lighting system according to claim 1, wherein

the fourth portion comprises opposed ends, and one of the opposed ends is disposed in a center direction of the vehicle, the other of the opposed ends is disposed in an outer direction of the vehicle, and

the fourth portion is connected to the fifth portion at each of the opposed ends.

15. The vehicular lighting system according to claim 14, wherein the vehicular lighting system comprises two lighting devices arranged laterally symmetrically about a bisecting line, and

wherein an angle α

formed between the bisecting line and a line segment connecting the opposed ends lies in the range of 45 degrees<

α

<

90 degrees.

16. The vehicular lighting system according to claim 14, wherein a center of each of the first portion and the second portion is arranged at one of

a position on a line segment connecting the opposed ends, and

a position shifted toward the fourth portion with respect to the line segment connecting the opposed ends.