Optical fiber illumination device

• US 5,465,194 A
• Filed: 11/03/1994
• Issued: 11/07/1995
• Est. Priority Date: 10/06/1993
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Joseph E. Currie
• Original Assignee: Joseph E. Currie
• Inventors: Currie, Joseph E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Lazarus, Ira S.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Sember, Thomas M.
• Application Number:
  US08/335,368
• Time in Patent Office: 369 Days
• Field of Search: 362/61, 362/80, 362/32, 362/78, 362/293, 362/237, 362/240, 362/246, 362/251, 340/479, 340/468, 340/475, 340/478, 340/472
• US Class Current: 362/464
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/0011 with light guides for distributing the light between several lighting or signalling devices
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/302 mounted in the vicinity, e.g. in the middle, of a rear window
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/32 for indicating vehicle sides , e.g. clearance lights
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/326 on or for wheels
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 43/247 with a single light source being coupled into the light guide
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 43/251 the light guides being used to transmit light from remote light sources
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/0005 the light guides being of the fibre type G02B6/0003 takes precedence

Abstract

An optical fiber illumination device is disclosed. The optical fiber illumination device includes at least one optical fiber cable, one or more light sources for introducing light into the optical fiber cable, a lens through which light from each light source passes prior to entering the optical fiber cable for producing a colored light, electrical circuitry for energizing the light source, and a housing for containing the circuitry and the light source. A first light source is energized by a first power source. Light emitted from the first light source passes through a first lens which possesses a desired filtering characteristic. Upon application of the second power source, a first control device disable the first light source. Moreover, the second power source may energize a second light source which passes through a second lens having a filtering characteristic distinct from that of the first lens. Upon application of a third power source, a second control device disables the first control device. The device can be used to illuminate auto body parts, such as the wheels, tires and surrounding area. The device operates in cooperation with the brake lights, the parking lights, and the turn signals of a motor vehicle to increase the visibility of the vehicle.

Claims

1. An optical fiber illumination device having at least one illumination assembly, said assembly comprising:

at least one optical fiber cable, said optical fiber cable having at least one input and at least one output;

at least a first light source and a second light source arranged adjacent to said at least one input, said first light source being energized by a first electric circuit, said second light source being energized by a second electric circuit;

a first lens interposed between said first light source and said at least one input;

a second lens interposed between said second light source and said at least one input, said second lens possessing a filtering characteristic distinguishable from a distinguishing characteristic of said first lens;

a first control means for disabling said first light source, said first control means being responsive to said second electric circuit;

a light source box surrounding said at least one input of said at least one optical fiber cable, said first and second light sources, and said first and second lenses; and

wherein said at least one output of said at least one optical fiber cable is positioned adjacent to a tire of a motor vehicle;

whereby light from said first and second light sources is transmitted through said at least one optical fiber cable to illuminate the tire of the motor vehicle.

2. The optical fiber illumination device according to claim 1, wherein said first electric circuit is a parking light circuit of a motor vehicle;

and

said first light source is energized when the parking light circuit of the motor vehicle is activated.

3. The optical fiber illumination device according to claim 2, wherein said second electric circuit is a brake light circuit of a motor vehicle;

and

said second light source is energized when the brake light circuit of the motor vehicle is activated, and said first control means disables said first light source when the brake light circuit of the motor vehicle is activated.

4. The optical fiber illumination device according to claim 3, further comprising a second control means for disabling said first light source, said second control means being responsive to a third electric circuit.

5. The optical fiber illumination device according to claim 4, wherein said third electric circuit is a directional signal circuit of a motor vehicle;

and

said second control means disables said first light source when the directional signal circuit of the motor vehicle is activated;

whereby said first light source is disabled when a directional signal light of the motor vehicle is activated, and said first light source is not disabled when a directional signal light of the motor vehicle is deactivated.

6. The optical fiber illumination device according to claim 5, wherein said first and second light sources are halogen lamps.

7. The optical fiber illumination device according to claim 5, wherein said first and second lenses are dichroic lenses.

8. The optical fiber illumination device according to claim 4, further comprising a second illumination assembly housed within said light source box;

said second illumination assembly having at least one optical fiber cable having at least one input, at least one output, a first and second light source energized by said first and said second electric circuits respectively, a first and second lens; and

having a configuration substantially identical to said first illumination assembly;

wherein each of said at least one optical cables of said first and second illumination assemblies has a first and a second output;

said first output of said at least one optical cable of said first illumination assembly positioned adjacent to a right-front tire of a motor vehicle, said second output of said at least one optical cable of said first illumination assembly positioned adjacent to a right-rear tire of the motor vehicle;

said first output of said at least one optical cable of said second illumination assembly positioned adjacent to a left-front tire of the motor vehicle, said second output of said at least one optical cable of said second illumination assembly positioned adjacent to a left-rear tire of the motor vehicle.

9. The optical fiber illumination device according to claim 8, wherein said third electric circuit is a directional signal circuit of a motor vehicle;

and

said first light source of said first and second illumination assemblies is energized when the parking light circuit of the motor vehicle is activated;

said second light source of said first and second illumination assemblies is energized when the brake light circuit of the motor vehicle is activated; and

said first control means disables said first light source of said first and second illumination assemblies when the brake light circuit of the motor vehicle is activated; and

said second control means disables said first light source of each of said first and second illumination assemblies when the directional signal circuit of the motor vehicle is activated;

whereby said first light source of each of said first and second illumination assemblies is disabled when a directional signal light of the motor vehicle is activated, and said first light source of each of said first and second illumination assemblies is not disabled when a directional signal light of the motor vehicle is deactivated.

10. The optical fiber illumination device according to claim 9, wherein the directional signal circuit of the motor vehicle has a right-turn-indicating means and a left-turn-indicating means;

said first illumination assembly being responsive to the right-turn indicating means, and said second illumination assembly being responsive to the left-turn-indicating means.

11. The motor vehicle illumination device according to claim 10, wherein said first and said second control means cooperate such that when the brake light circuit of the motor vehicle is activated simultaneously with either the right-turn indicating means or the left-turn indicating means, in each of said first and second illumination assemblies said first light source is activated and said second light source is disabled when a directional signal of the motor vehicle is activated, and said first light source is disabled and said second light source not disabled when the directional signal of the motor vehicle is deactivated;

said first illumination assembly being responsive to the right-turn indicating means, said second illumination assemblies being responsive to the left-turn indicating means, each of said illumination assemblies responding in an identical fashion.

12. The motor vehicle illumination device according to claim 11, wherein said first and second light sources are halogen lamps.

13. The motor vehicle illumination device according to claim 12, wherein said first and second lenses are dichroic lenses.