Motor vehicle lighting/indicating apparatus using luminescent discharge
First Claim
1. A lighting or indicating apparatus for a vehicle comprising a light transmitting element and a base element disposed behind said light transmitting element, wherein the light transmitting element constitutes an outer wall having at least one surface which is at least partly curved, the base element constitutes an inner wall, said outer and inner walls together define a thin envelope defining at least one closed cavity within the outer and inner walls, said at least one closed cavity being gastight for containing gas under low pressure, and the apparatus further includes at least two electrodes situated in the at least one closed cavity, and means connected with the electrodes for applying a voltage for starting and maintaining a luminescent gas discharge in said cavity, said apparatus defining at least one zone having at least two superimposed cavities each containing a gas under low pressure.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A lighting and/or indicating apparatus for a motor vehicle, of the type comprising an external light transmitting element and a base arranged behind the latter, typically consists of a lighting and indicating cluster. The light transmitting element comprises an outer panel, the base comprises an inner wall, and the two walls together constitute a thin gas-tight envelope and define at least one closed cavity. This cavity, or each cavity, contains two electrodes and a suitable gas under low pressure, the apparatus having means for applying voltage for starting and maintaining a luminescent gas discharge in the cavity, so that the envelope itself constitutes at least one light of the gas discharge type. The appearance and light output are improved, and the light beams emitted are highly homogeneous.
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Citations
23 Claims
- 1. A lighting or indicating apparatus for a vehicle comprising a light transmitting element and a base element disposed behind said light transmitting element, wherein the light transmitting element constitutes an outer wall having at least one surface which is at least partly curved, the base element constitutes an inner wall, said outer and inner walls together define a thin envelope defining at least one closed cavity within the outer and inner walls, said at least one closed cavity being gastight for containing gas under low pressure, and the apparatus further includes at least two electrodes situated in the at least one closed cavity, and means connected with the electrodes for applying a voltage for starting and maintaining a luminescent gas discharge in said cavity, said apparatus defining at least one zone having at least two superimposed cavities each containing a gas under low pressure.
Specification