SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR EXTERIOR LIGHTING OF VEHICLES
First Claim
1. A vehicular projection lamp comprising:
- a projection lens having a back focal point and an optical axis passing therethrough;
a generally ellipsoidal reflector disposed on a rear side of the projection lens and having first and second reflector focal points;
a light source disposed on a rear side of the back focal point of the projection lens facing generally away from the projection lens and toward the reflector, the light source being disposed near the first reflector focal point and having an axis normal to a primary light emitting surface disposed at an acute angle relative to the projection lens optical axis; and
a shade disposed between the projection lens and the light source and having at least a portion of a top edge disposed near the second focal point of the ellipsoidal reflector, the shade blocking a portion of reflected light from the reflector.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A system and method for exterior projection lighting of a vehicle include a generally ellipsoidal faceted reflector disposed on a rear side of a projection lens. First and second focal points of each facet define corresponding reflector focal regions. A semi-conducting light source positioned at an acute angle, such as a single light emitting diode (LED) without a primary optic, emits light toward the reflector from within the first reflector focal region. Reflected light passes through the projection lens to illuminate a desired beam pattern. A curved shade disposed between the projection lens and the light source has at least a portion of a top edge disposed within the second reflector focal region. The shade blocks a portion of reflected light from extending below the optical axis.
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Citations
27 Claims
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1. A vehicular projection lamp comprising:
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a projection lens having a back focal point and an optical axis passing therethrough; a generally ellipsoidal reflector disposed on a rear side of the projection lens and having first and second reflector focal points; a light source disposed on a rear side of the back focal point of the projection lens facing generally away from the projection lens and toward the reflector, the light source being disposed near the first reflector focal point and having an axis normal to a primary light emitting surface disposed at an acute angle relative to the projection lens optical axis; and a shade disposed between the projection lens and the light source and having at least a portion of a top edge disposed near the second focal point of the ellipsoidal reflector, the shade blocking a portion of reflected light from the reflector. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A method for forward projection lighting of a vehicle, the method comprising:
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directing light from a generally flat emitting surface of a semi-conducting light source disposed near a first focal point of a generally ellipsoidal reflector along an optical axis at an acute angle relative to the optical axis generally rearward toward the generally ellipsoidal reflector; reflecting light from the generally ellipsoidal reflector toward a second focal point of the reflector and through a projection lens to generate a beam pattern extending generally horizontally in front of the vehicle, wherein the projection lens includes a back focal point positioned generally near the second focal point of the reflector. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
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24. A vehicle fog lamp comprising:
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an aspheric projection lens having a back focal point and an optical axis passing therethrough; a reflector having a plurality of ellipsoidal facets, the reflector disposed on a back side of the projection lens above a plane containing the optical axis, each facet having corresponding first and second focal points, the plurality of first focal points contained within a first focal region of the reflector and the plurality of second focal points contained within a second focal region of the reflector; a semi-conducting light source, the light source disposed on a reflector side of the back focal point of the projection lens and facing generally away from the projection lens and toward the reflector, the light source being disposed at an acute angle relative to the optical axis within the first focal region of the plurality of reflector facets; and a shade curving away from the projection lens and having an apex with an upper edge of the apex disposed within the second focal region of the reflector, the shade disposed between the projection lens and the light source and blocking a portion of light reflected from the reflector to create a beam pattern cutline. - View Dependent Claims (25, 26, 27)
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Specification