VEHICLE INTERIOR LIGHT ASSEMBLY

• US 20090316421A1
• Filed: 06/24/2008
• Published: 12/24/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 06/24/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd. (Honda Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd. (Honda Motor Company)
• Inventors: Kracker, Thomas G.
• Granted Patent: US 7,775,693 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 362/488
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 2500/30 Arrangements for illuminating different zones in the vehicle, e.g. front/rear, different seats
• 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: B60Q 3/76 for spotlighting, e.g. reading lamps spotlighting on or for specific fittings B60Q3/20; spotlighting in mass transit vehicles B60Q3/44
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 3/04 characterised by materials, surface treatments or coatings
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2115/10 Light-emitting diodes [LED]

Abstract

An interior light assembly for providing lighting in a vehicle includes a light housing mounted in the vehicle interior. The light housing has an open side. At least one main light source is received in the light housing for providing diffuse lighting in the vehicle interior. An outer diffuser lens closes the open side of the light housing and is disposed over the at least one main light source for diffusing light from the at least one main light source throughout the vehicle interior. The outer diffuser lens has at least one opening defined therein. At least one secondary light source is received in the light housing and is directed toward the at least one opening for providing spot lighting in the vehicle interior. At least one focusing lens is disposed over the at least one opening and the at least one secondary light source for focusing light from the at least one secondary light source to a specific limited location of the vehicle interior. The at least one focusing lens has a textured outer surface to reduce color separation from the at least one secondary light source.

Claims

1. An interior light assembly for providing lighting in a vehicle interior, said interior light assembly comprising:

a light housing mounted in the vehicle interior, said light housing having an open side;

at least one main light source received in said light housing for providing diffuse lighting in the vehicle interior;

an outer diffuser lens closing said open side of said light housing and being disposed over said at least one main light source for diffusing light from said at least one main light source throughout the vehicle interior, said outer diffuser lens having at least one opening defined therein;

at least one secondary light source received in said light housing and directed toward said at least one opening for providing spot lighting in the vehicle interior; and

at least one focusing lens disposed over said at least one opening and said at least one secondary light source for focusing light from said at least one secondary light source to a specific limited location of the vehicle interior, said at least one focusing lens having a textured outer surface to reduce color separation from said at least one secondary light source.

2. The interior light assembly of claim 1 wherein said at least one focusing lens closes said at least one opening defined in said outer diffuser lens.

3. The interior light assembly of claim 1 wherein said at least one opening includes a first opening and a second opening spaced apart from said first opening, said at least one secondary light source including a first secondary light source directed toward said first opening and a second secondary light source directed toward said second opening, said at least one focusing lens including a first focusing lens disposed over said first opening and said first secondary light source and a second focusing lens disposed over said second opening and said second secondary light source.

4. The interior light assembly of claim 3 wherein said first and said second secondary light sources are each LED light sources.

5. The interior light assembly of claim 1 wherein said at least one secondary light source is an LED light source.

6. The interior light assembly of claim 1 wherein said outer diffuser lens is primarily disposed in a first plane and said outer surface of said at least one focusing lens is primarily disposed in at least a second plane that is angularly disposed relative to said first plane.

7. The interior light assembly of claim 6 wherein said first plane is spaced apart from said outer surface.

8. The interior light assembly of claim 1 wherein said main light source is mounted at a first angle and said at least one secondary light source is mounted at least a second angle that is angularly disposed relative to said first angle.

9. The interior light assembly of claim 1 wherein said outer diffuser lens is opaque.

10. The interior light assembly of claim 9 wherein said outer diffuser lens is milky white.

11. The interior light assembly of claim 9 wherein said outer diffuser lens has a light transmittance percentage of 85% or higher and has a haze percentage of 50% or higher.

12. The interior light assembly of claim 11 wherein said outer diffuser lens has a haze percentage of 83% or higher.

13. The interior light assembly of claim 1 wherein said textured outer surface is formed by sandblasting with 36 grit particles.

14. An interior light assembly for a vehicle, comprising:

a main light source disposed in a light housing for providing diffuse lighting;

a first secondary light source disposed in said light housing for providing spot lighting to a first specific limited location of the vehicle;

a second secondary light source disposed in said light housing for providing spot lighting to a second specific limited location of the vehicle;

an outer diffuser cover mounted to said housing over said main light source to diffuse light only from said main light source;

a first focus lens mounted to said housing over said first secondary light source to focus light from said first secondary light source; and

a second focus lens mounted to said housing over said second secondary light source to focus light from said second secondary light source, wherein said first and said second focus lenses each have a textured outer surface for limiting color separation from said first and said second secondary light sources.

15. The interior light assembly of claim 14 wherein said outer diffuser cover closes an open side of said light housing and defines first and second openings therein that are spaced apart from one another, said first secondary light source oriented to direct spot lighting through said first opening and said first focus lens received in said first opening toward said first specific limited location, said second secondary light source oriented to direct spot lighting through said second opening and said second focus lens received in said second opening toward said second specific limited location.

16. The interior light assembly of claim 14 wherein said first and said second secondary light sources are LED light sources and said first and said second focusing lenses are LED focusing lenses.

17. The interior light assembly of claim 14 wherein said outer diffuser lens is smooth milky white in appearance.

18. The interior light assembly of claim 17 wherein said outer diffuser lens has a light transmittance percentage of 85% or higher and has a haze percentage of 50% or higher.

19. An interior light assembly, comprising:

a light housing having an open side;

a main light source received in said light housing for providing diffuse lighting;

an outer diffuser lens closing said open side of said light housing and being disposed over said main light source for diffusing light from said main light source, said outer diffuser lens having at least one opening defined therein;

at least one secondary light source received in said light housing and directed toward said at least one opening for providing spot lighting; and

at least one textured focusing lens disposed over said at least one opening and said at least one secondary light source for focusing light from said at least one secondary light source and reducing color separation.

20. The interior light assembly of claim 19 wherein said at least one secondary light source is an LED light source and said at least one textured focusing lens is positioned substantially adjacent said at least one light source thereby reducing color separation.