VEHICLE LIGHT AND MULTI-FOCAL LENS

• US 20110205748A1
• Filed: 02/24/2011
• Published: 08/25/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 02/24/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Stanley Electric Company Limited
• Original Assignee: Stanley Electric Company Limited
• Inventors: YATSUDA, YASUSHI
• Granted Patent: US 8,469,565 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 362/517
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 41/147 the main emission direction of the LED being angled to the optical axis of the illuminating device
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 41/265 Composite lenses; Lenses with a patch-like shape
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 41/333 with discontinuity at the junction between adjacent areas
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 41/338 the reflector having surface portions added to its general concavity
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 41/60 characterised by a variable light distribution
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 41/663 by switching light sources by switching incandescent light sources F21S41/162
• CPC Class Codes: F21W 2102/18 for overhead signs

Abstract

A headlight can form a light distribution pattern that prevents uneven brightness when the headlight is set to a high beam mode, and also minimizes power consumption when the headlight is set to the high beam mode. The vehicle light can include a multi-focal lens that has a mid-level lens portion, an upper-level lens portion, and lower-level lens portion. A separator plate can have a front edge positioned at or near the focal point of the mid-level lens portion. Light emitting elements can be mounted on top and bottom of the separator plate, respectively. A first elliptical reflecting surface whose first focal point is set at or near the first light emitting element and whose second focal point is set at or near the focal point of the mid-level lens portion can be provided. A second elliptical reflecting surface can also be provided whose first focal point is set at or near the second light emitting element and whose second focal point is set at or near the focal point of the upper-level lens portion. A hyperbolic reflecting surface can be located adjacent the second elliptical reflecting surface and can have an inner focal point set at or near the second light emitting element and an outer focal point set at or near the focal point of the lower-level lens portion. The vehicle light can be configured such that the first light emitting element and the second light emitting element can selectively emit light beams.

Claims

1. A vehicle light comprising:

a multi-focal lens that has, a mid-level lens portion whose focal point is located on an optical axis extending in a front-to-rear direction, and an upper-level lens portion located above the mid-level lens portion and whose focal point is located diagonally frontward and above the focal point of the mid-level lens portion;

a separator plate configured in a face-down state with respect to a horizontal plane and located at a rear of the multi-focal lens, the separator plate having a front edge positioned substantially at the focal point of the mid-level lens portion;

a first light emitting element mounted on a top of the separator plate at a rear portion located a substantial distance from the front edge of the separator plate, the first light emitting element facing upwards;

a second light emitting element mounted on a bottom of the separator plate and spaced from the front edge of the separator plate, the second light emitting element facing downwards;

a first elliptical reflecting surface located on the top of the separator plate, the first elliptical reflecting surface having a first focal point located substantially at the first light emitting element and a second focal point located substantially at the focal point of the mid-level lens portion; and

a second elliptical reflecting surface located on the bottom of the separator plate, the second elliptical reflecting surface having a first focal point located substantially at the second light emitting element and a second focal point located substantially at the focal point of the upper-level lens portion, wherein

the vehicle light is configured such that the first light emitting element and the second light emitting element selectively emit light beams.

2. The vehicle light according to claim 1, wherein the multi-focal lens further comprises a lower-level lens portion located below the mid-level lens portion, the lower-level lens portion having a focal point located diagonally rearward and below the focal point of the mid-level lens portion, and wherein

the vehicle light further comprises a hyperbolic reflecting surface located diagonally frontward and below the second elliptical reflecting surface and having an inner focal point located substantially at the second light emitting element and having an outer focal point located substantially at the focal point of the lower-level lens portion.

3. The vehicle light according to claim 2, wherein, when viewing the multi-focal lens from the front direction, a surface area of a region occupied by the mid-level lens portion is approximately a sum of a surface area of a region occupied by the upper-level lens portion and a surface area of a region occupied by the lower-level lens portion.

4. The vehicle light according to claim 1, further comprising a flat reflecting surface located between the front edge of the upper surface of the separator plate and the first light emitting element and configured to be parallel with the horizontal plane.

5. The vehicle light according to claim 2, further comprising a flat reflecting surface located between the front edge of the upper surface of the separator plate and the first light emitting element and configured to be parallel with the horizontal plane.

6. The vehicle light according to claim 3, further comprising a flat reflecting surface located between the front edge of the upper surface of the separator plate and the first light emitting element and configured to be parallel with the horizontal plane.

7. The vehicle light according to claim 1, wherein the multi-focal lens further comprises an overhead lens configured to distribute light towards an overhead sign, the overhead lens being located on an upper left or an upper right of the upper-level lens portion, and the overhead lens having a focal point located above and in front of the focal point of the upper-level lens portion, and wherein

the vehicle light further comprises a third elliptical reflecting surface located diagonally frontward and above the first elliptical reflecting surface, third elliptical reflecting surface having a first focal point located substantially at the first light emitting element and a second focal point located substantially at the focal point of the overhead lens.

8. The vehicle light according to claim 2, wherein the multi-focal lens further comprises an overhead lens configured to distribute light towards an overhead sign, the overhead lens being located on an upper left or an upper right of the upper-level lens portion and the overhead lens having a focal point located above and in front of the focal point of the upper-level lens portion, and wherein

the vehicle light further comprises a third elliptical reflecting surface located diagonally frontward and above the first elliptical reflecting surface, third elliptical reflecting surface having a first focal point located substantially at the first light emitting element and a second focal point located substantially at the focal point of the overhead lens.

9. The vehicle light according to claim 3, wherein the multi-focal lens further comprises an overhead lens configured to distribute light towards an overhead sign, the overhead lens being located on an upper left or an upper right of the upper-level lens portion and the overhead lens having a focal point located above and in front of the focal point of the upper-level lens portion, and wherein

the vehicle light further comprises a third elliptical reflecting surface located diagonally frontward and above the first elliptical reflecting surface, third elliptical reflecting surface having a first focal point located substantially at the first light emitting element and a second focal point located substantially at the focal point of the overhead lens.

10. The vehicle light according to claim 4, wherein the multi-focal lens further an overhead lens configured to distribute light towards an overhead sign, the overhead lens being located on an upper left or an upper right of the upper-level lens portion and the overhead lens having a focal point located above and in front of the focal point of the upper-level lens portion, and wherein

the vehicle light further comprises a third elliptical reflecting surface located diagonally frontward and above the first elliptical reflecting surface, third elliptical reflecting surface having a first focal point located substantially at the first light emitting element and a second focal point located substantially at the focal point of the overhead lens.

11. The vehicle light according to claim 5, wherein the multi-focal lens further an overhead lens configured to distribute light towards an overhead sign, the overhead lens being located on an upper left or an upper right of the upper-level lens portion and the overhead lens having a focal point located above and in front of the focal point of the upper-level lens portion, and wherein

the vehicle light further comprises a third elliptical reflecting surface located diagonally frontward and above the first elliptical reflecting surface, third elliptical reflecting surface having a first focal point located substantially at the first light emitting element and a second focal point located substantially at the focal point of the overhead lens.

12. The vehicle light according to claim 6, wherein the multi-focal lens further an overhead lens configured to distribute light towards an overhead sign, the overhead lens being located on an upper left or an upper right of the upper-level lens portion and the overhead lens having a focal point located above and in front of the focal point of the upper-level lens portion, and wherein

the vehicle light further comprises a third elliptical reflecting surface located diagonally frontward and above the first elliptical reflecting surface, third elliptical reflecting surface having a first focal point located substantially at the first light emitting element and a second focal point located substantially at the focal point of the overhead lens.

13. The vehicle light according to claim 1, wherein the first light emitting element has an optical axis oriented upward in a state inclining rearward 0°

to 20°

with respect to a vertical direction.

14. The vehicle light according to claim 2, wherein the first light emitting element has an optical axis oriented upward in a state inclining rearward 0°

to 20°

with respect to a vertical direction.

15. The vehicle light according to claim 3, wherein the first light emitting element has an optical axis oriented upward in a state inclining rearward 0°

to 20°

with respect to a vertical direction.

16. The vehicle light according to claim 4, wherein the first light emitting element has an optical axis oriented upward in a state inclining rearward 0°

to 20°

with respect to a vertical direction.

17. The vehicle light according to claim 5, wherein the first light emitting element has an optical axis oriented upward in a state inclining rearward 0°

to 20°

with respect to a vertical direction.

18. The vehicle light according to claim 7, wherein the first light emitting element has an optical axis oriented upward in a state inclining rearward 0°

to 20°

with respect to a vertical direction.

19. The vehicle light according to claim 1, wherein the second light emitting element has an optical axis oriented downward in a state inclining forward 10°

to 20°

with respect to a vertical direction.

20. The vehicle light according to claim 2, wherein the second light emitting element has an optical axis oriented downward in a state inclining forward 10°

to 20°

with respect to a vertical direction.

21. A multi-focal lens comprising:

a mid-level lens portion having a focal point located on an optical axis extending in a front-to-rear direction; and

an upper-level lens portion that is located above the mid-level lens portion and having a focal point located diagonally frontward and above the focal point of the mid-level lens portion.

22. The multi-focal lens according to claim 21, further comprising a lower-level lens portion located below a bottom of the mid-level lens portion, the lower level lens portion having a focal point located diagonally rearward and below the focal point of the mid-level lens portion.

23. The multi-focal lens according to claim 21, further comprising an overhead lens configured to distribute light towards an overhead sign, the overhead lens located on an upper left or an upper right of the upper-level lens portion, and the overhead lens having a focal point located further above and in front of the focal point of the upper-level lens portion.

24. The multi-focal lens according to claim 22, further comprising an overhead lens configured to distribute light towards an overhead sign, the overhead lens located on an upper left or an upper right of the upper-level lens portion, and the overhead lens having a focal point located further above and in front of the focal point of the upper-level lens portion.