Projection headlamp lighting system using different diameter optical light conductors

• US 5,184,882 A
• Filed: 09/09/1991
• Issued: 02/09/1993
• Est. Priority Date: 09/09/1991
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: General Electric Company
• Original Assignee: General Electric Company
• Inventors: Barnes, Lee E. Jr., Davenport, John M., Hansler, Richard L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Dority, Carroll B.
• Application Number:
  US07/756,663
• Time in Patent Office: 519 Days
• Field of Search: 362/32, 385/901, 385/115, 385/119
• US Class Current: 362/554
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 41/24 Light guides
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/0001 specially adapted for lighting devices or systems lighting or signalling on vehicles using light guides B60Q1/00; lighting devices for vehicle dashboards B60Q3/10; lighting devices for vehicle interior using light guides B60Q3/62; lighting devices mounted on the vehicle rear part using light guides F21S43/235; measuring arrangements having light conducting pointers G01D13/265; illumination of liquid crystal displays G02F1/1336; illuminated signs G09F13/00
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 385/901 Illuminating or display apparatus

Abstract

A projection headlamp lighting system includes a light source to generate light, a light distributing arrangement to distribute the light to a preselected lighting position, and a light projecting arrangement at the lighting position to project the light in the desired pattern. The light distributing arrangement includes a plurality of elongated optical light conductors being of different diameter sizes and having respective input and output ends. The light projecting arrangement includes a housing for holding the output ends of the optical light conductors in an array to project a desired light pattern that is substantially tailored to optimally fit a vehicle'"'"'s field of illumination with minimal obstruction of the projected light.

Claims

1. A projection lighting system, comprising:

(a) means for generating light;

(b) means for receiving the light from said generating means and for distributing the light to a preselected lighting position, said light distributing means including a plurality of elongated optical light conductors being of different diameter sizes and having respective input and output ends;

(c) second means for receiving the light at said preselected lighting position from said light distributing means and for projecting the light from said output ends of said optical light conductors in a desired light pattern;

(d) wherein at least one of said optical light conductors has a diameter size larger than the diameter sizes of the remainder of said conductors;

(e) wherein said output end of said one conductor is disposed in a manner so as to have a group of said remainder of conductors arranged on at least one side thereof; and

(f) wherein said light projecting means includes means for receiving and focussing the light in said desired light pattern.

2. The system as recited in claim 1, wherein said light projecting means includes means for holding said output ends of said optical light conductors in an array to project said desired light pattern.

3. The system as recited in claim 2, wherein said holding means is a housing.

4. The system as recited in claim 1, wherein said input ends of said optical light conductors are positioned adjacent said light generating means to receive light generated by said light generating means.

5. The system as recited in claim 1, wherein said focussing means is a lens disposed adjacent to said output ends of said optical light conductors.

6. The system as recited in claim 1, wherein said holding means is a housing having a hollow extension disposed between said focussing means and said output ends of said light conductors.

7. The system as recited in claim 1, wherein said output ends of said one conductor and said remainder of said conductors have end faces being generally aligned with one another in a common plane.

8. The system as recited in claim 1, wherein said output ends of said remainder of said conductors have end faces being generally aligned with one another in a common plane, said output end of said one conductor has an end face being disposed in a plane displaced from said end faces of said remainder of conductors.

9. The system as recited in claim 1, wherein said one conductor terminates near the focal point of said focussing means so as to provide intense light near the center of said light pattern.

10. The system as recited in claim 1, wherein said one conductor is disposed in a middle position and said remainder of said conductors are arranged in two groups disposed on opposite sides of said one conductor and extending in horizontal rows in opposite directions from the conductor output end.

11. A projection headlamp lighting system, comprising:

(a) means for generating light;

(b) means for receiving the light from said generating means and for distributing the light to a preselected lighting position, said light distributing means including a plurality of elongated optical light conductors being of different diameter sizes and having respective input and output ends;

(c) means for receiving the light at said preselected lighting position from said light distributing means and for projecting the light from said output ends of said optical light conductors in a desired light pattern substantially tailored to satisfy highway illumination standards with minimal obstruction of the projected light; and

(d) said light projecting means including means for holding said output ends of said optical light conductors in an array to project said desired light pattern, and means for receiving and focussing the light in said desired light pattern.

12. The system as recited in claim 11, wherein said holding means is a housing.

13. The system as recited in claim 11, wherein said input ends of said optical light conductors are positioned adjacent said light generating means to receive light generated by said light generating means.

14. The system as recited in claim 12, wherein said focussing means is a lens disposed adjacent to said output ends of said optical light conductors.

15. The system as recited in claim 14 wherein said housing having a hollow extension disposed between said lens and said output ends of said light conductors.

16. The system as recited in claim 11, wherein at least one of said optical light conductors has a diameter size larger than the diameter sizes of the remainder of said conductors.

17. The system as recited in claim 16, wherein said output ends of said one conductor and said remainder of said conductors have end faces being generally aligned with one another in a common plane.

18. The system as recited in claim 16, wherein said output ends of said remainder of said conductors have end faces being generally aligned with one another in a common plane, said output end of said one conductor has an end face being disposed in a plane displaced from said end faces of said remainder of conductors.

19. The system as recited in claim 18, wherein said one conductor terminates near the focal point of said focussing means so as to provide intense light near the center of said light pattern.

20. The system as recited in claim 16, wherein said output end of said one conductor is disposed at a middle location and said output ends of said remainder of said conductors are arranged in two groups disposed on a pair of opposite sides of said one conductor and extending in rows in opposite directions from the central conductor output end.

21. The system as recited in claim 16, wherein said at least one larger diameter optical light conductor has a cladding surface disposed thereon.