MOTORCYCLE TAIL LIGHT ASSEMBLY

• US 20080285292A1
• Filed: 05/16/2007
• Published: 11/20/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 05/16/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Harley-Davidson Motor Company Group Incorporated (Harley-Davidson Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Harley-Davidson Motor Company Group Incorporated (Harley-Davidson Incorporated)
• Inventors: Medina, Michael R.
• Granted Patent: US 7,500,770 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 362/473
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/2607 comprising at least two indicating lamps
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 2400/20 Multi-color single source or LED matrix, e.g. yellow blinker and red brake lamp generated by single lamp
• CPC Class Codes: B62J 6/045 indicating braking

Abstract

A tail light assembly for a motorcycle includes a first array of at least one LED in illuminated in at least a first color. The first group of LEDs operates in a non-operating condition, a running condition where each LED of the first array is illuminated at first intensity, and a braking condition where each LED is illuminated at a second, brighter intensity. A second array of at least one LED is illuminated in at least a second color. The second array operates in a non-operating condition, and a flashing condition where each LED of the second array alternates between being illuminated and not illuminated. Each LED of the first array is illuminated at the first or the second intensity while each LED of the second array alternates between being illuminated and not illuminated in the flashing condition.

Claims

1. A tail light assembly for a motorcycle, the tail light assembly comprising:

left and right lamps, coupled to the motorcycle, each lamp including both

a first array of at least one light-emitting diode coupled to the tail light housing, the first array operable to illuminate in at least a first color, the first array operable in a non-operating condition where each light-emitting diode of the first array is not illuminated, a running condition where each light-emitting diode of the first array is illuminated at first intensity, and a braking condition where each light-emitting diode is illuminated at a second intensity greater than the first intensity; and

a second array of at least one light-emitting diode coupled to the tail light housing, the second array operable to illuminate in at least a second color, the second array operable in a non-operating condition where each light-emitting diode of the second array is not illuminated and a flashing condition where each light-emitting diode of the second array alternates between being illuminated and not illuminated,

wherein each light-emitting diode of the first array of one of the left and right lamps is illuminated at one of the first intensity and the second intensity while each light-emitting diode of the second array of the one of the left and right lamps alternates between being illuminated and not illuminated in the flashing condition.

2. The tail light assembly of claim 1, wherein the first color is red.

3. The tail light assembly of claim 1, wherein the second color is amber.

4. The tail light assembly of claim 1, wherein the first and second arrays are intermixed.

5. The tail light assembly of claim 1, wherein the first array and second array are substantially evenly distributed on both the left and right lamps.

6. The tail light assembly of claim 5, wherein the number of light-emitting diodes in the first array is approximately equal to the number of light-emitting diodes in the second array.

7. The tail light assembly of claim 1, wherein the first array encircles the second array.

8. The tail light assembly of claim 7, wherein the second array includes fewer than five light-emitting diodes.

9. The tail light assembly of claim 7, wherein the second array includes a single light-emitting diode.

10. The tail light assembly of claim 1, wherein each light-emitting diode of the first array of the one of the left and right lamps is illuminated at the first intensity in the running condition while each light-emitting diode of the second array of the one of the left and right lamps alternates between being illuminated and not illuminated in the flashing condition, and wherein each light-emitting diode of the first array of the one of the left and right lamps is illuminated at the second intensity in the braking condition while each light-emitting diode of the second array of the one of the left and right lamps alternates between being illuminated and not illuminated in the flashing condition.

11. A motorcycle comprising:

a frame;

a brake actuator coupled to the frame and operable to generate a brake signal;

a turn signal switch coupled to the frame and operable to generate a turn signal;

an ignition switch coupled to the frame and operable to generate an ignition signal;

a tail light assembly coupled to a rear portion of the frame, the tail light assembly comprising;

first and second lamps configured to be coupled to the motorcycle, each lamp comprising;

a first array of at least one light-emitting diode coupled to the tail light housing, the first array operable in a non-operating condition where each light-emitting diode of the first array is not illuminated, a running condition in response to the ignition signal where each light-emitting diode of the first array is illuminated at first intensity, and a braking condition in response to the brake signal where each light-emitting diode is illuminated at a second intensity greater than the first intensity; and

a second array of at least one light-emitting diode coupled to the tail light housing, the second array operable in a non-operating condition where each light-emitting diode of the second array is not illuminated and a flashing condition in response to the turn signal where each light-emitting diode of the second array alternates between being illuminated and not illuminated,

wherein each light-emitting diode of the first array of one of the first and second lamps is illuminated at one of the first intensity and the second intensity while each light-emitting diode of the second array of the one of the first and second lamps alternates between being illuminated and not illuminated in the flashing condition and wherein the first array is operable to illuminate in at least a first color, and the second array is operable to illuminate in at least a second color.

12. The motorcycle of claim 11, wherein the first color is red.

13. The motorcycle of claim 11, wherein the second color is amber.

14. The motorcycle of claim 11, wherein the first array encircles the second array.

15. The motorcycle of claim 14, wherein the second array includes fewer than five light-emitting diodes.

16. The motorcycle of claim 14, wherein the second array includes a single light-emitting diode.

17. The motorcycle of claim 11, further comprising a plate, such that the light-emitting diodes are arranged on the plate so that the first array and the second array are intermixed over an entire surface of the plate.

18. The tail light assembly of claim 11, wherein each light-emitting diode of the first array of the one of the first and second lamps is illuminated at the first intensity in the running condition while each light-emitting diode of the second array of the one of the first and second lamps alternates between being illuminated and not illuminated in the flashing condition, and wherein each light-emitting diode of the first array of the one of the first and second lamps is illuminated at the second intensity in the braking condition while each light-emitting diode of the second array of the one of the first and second lamps alternates between being illuminated and not illuminated in the flashing condition.

19. A method of illuminating a tail light assembly on a vehicle, the method comprising:

providing a left lamp and a right lamp;

illuminating a first array of at least one light-emitting diode of one of the left and right lamps at a first intensity in a running condition;

alternating a second array of at least one light-emitting diode of the one of the left and right lamps between being illuminated and not illuminated in a flashing condition;

illuminating the first array of at least one light-emitting diode of the one of the left and right lamps at a second intensity greater than the first intensity in a braking condition; and

illuminating the first array of at least one light-emitting diode of the one of the left and right lamps at one of the first intensity and the second intensity while the second array of at least one light-emitting diode of the one of the left and right lamps alternates between being illuminated and not illuminated in the flashing condition.

20. The method of claim 19, further comprising illuminating the first array of at least one light-emitting diode of the one of the left and right lamps at the first intensity in the running condition while the second array of at least one light-emitting diode of the one of the left and right lamps alternates between being illuminated and not illuminated in the flashing condition, and illuminating the first array of at least one light-emitting diode of the one of the left and right lamps at the second intensity in the braking condition while the second array of at least one light-emitting diode of the one of the left and right lamps alternates between being illuminated and not illuminated in the flashing condition.

21. The method of claim 19, further comprising intermixing the first array of light-emitting diodes of the one of the left and right lamps and the second array of light-emitting diodes of the one of the left and right lamps.

22. The method of claim 19, further comprising encircling the at least one light-emitting diode of the first array of the one of the left and right lamps with a plurality of light-emitting diodes of the second array of the one of the left and right lamps.