Headlamp for motor vehicles

• US 5,609,406 A
• Filed: 11/17/1994
• Issued: 03/11/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 01/25/1993
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Autopal SRO
• Original Assignee: Autopal SRO NOVY Jicin
• Inventors: Cejnek, Milan
• Primary Examiner(s): Lazarus, Ira S.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Sember, Thomas M.
• Application Number:
  US08/313,066
• Time in Patent Office: 845 Days
• Field of Search: 362/61, 362/268, 362/298, 362/299, 362/346, 362/301, 362/308, 362/302, 362/352, 362/328, 362/329, 362/300, 362/80
• US Class Current: 362/538
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 41/162 Incandescent light sources, e.g. filament or halogen lamps
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 41/17 Discharge light sources
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 41/255 Lenses with a front view of circular or truncated circular outline
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 41/28 Cover glass
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 41/321 the reflector being a surface of revolution or a planar surface, e.g. truncated
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 41/323 the reflector having two perpendicular cross sections having regular geometrical curves of a distinct nature
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 41/337 the reflector having a structured surface, e.g. with facets or corrugations
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 41/365 successively reflecting the light
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 41/43 characterised by the shape thereof
• CPC Class Codes: F21W 2102/18 for overhead signs

Abstract

The headlamp is of the projection design and comprises a reflector (1), a light source (2), a screen (3) and a lens (4). An aperture reflector (5) is situated below the headlamp axis (12) between the lens (4) and the refractor (6). The aperture reflector (5) has a reflective surface (51) which is inclined in a vertical plane to the headlamp axis (12) at an angle α, which together with the length (L), determines the intensity and geometry of the light beam above the horizontal axis in the vertical direction. The transverse dimension of the light beam above the horizontal is determined by the radial cambering of the reflective surface (51) of the aperture reflector (5) of radius (R_x) and width (S) and/or by reflexive elements (52) on this reflective surface (51). The refractor (6) is provided with optical means with transverse and/or vertical deviation in a zone (61) which covers the aperture reflector (5) and the bottom part of the lens (4).

Claims

1. A projection type headlamp for a motor vehicle comprising

a concave reflector;

a light source within said concave reflector, said light source and said concave reflector providing a beam of light projected outwardly along an axis from said light source;

a screen spaced from said concave reflector and below said axis and preventing passage of a portion of the light provided by said light source and said concave reflector;

a lens having a diameter (D) spaced at a distance X_F from said screen;

an aperture reflector spaced from a front of a lower portion of said lens and extending outwardly from said lens, said aperture reflector having a reflective surface,

said reflective surface being spaced from said axis by a distance (H) wherein

space="preserve" listing-type="equation">H=(0.15 to 0.6) * D,

said reflective surface being inclined with respect to said axis at an angle (α

) wherein

space="preserve" listing-type="equation">α

=0±

7°

, and

said reflective surface having a length (L) wherein

space="preserve" listing-type="equation">L=(0.2 to 0.7) * X.sub.F ; and

a refractor spaced forwardly from said lens to receive light reflected upwardly from said reflective surface,

said refractor defining a zone encompassing said aperture reflector and said lower portion of said lens, said zone being spaced from said axis by a distance (H₆) wherein

space="preserve" listing-type="equation">H.sub.6 =(0.1 to 0.9) * H,

said zone providing at least one of lateral and vertical deviation of the beam of light provided by said light source and said concave reflector.

2. Headlamp according to claim 1, characterized in that the reflective surface (51) of the aperture reflector (5) is planar.

3. Headlamp according to claim 2, characterized in that the reflective surface (51) of the aperture reflector (5) is provided with reflective strip elements (52) of a width (T) and radius (R), where ##EQU2##

4. Headlamp according to claim 1, characterized in that the reflective surface (51) has a width (S)

5. Headlamp according to claim 4, characterized in that the reflective surface (51) of the aperture reflector (5) is provided with reflective strip elements (52) of a width (T) and radius (R), where ##EQU3##

6. Headlamp according to claim 1, characterized in that the reflective surface (51) of the aperture reflector (5) is provided with reflective strip elements (52) of a width (T) and radius (R), where ##EQU4##

7. A projection type headlamp for a motor vehicle comprising

a concave reflector,

a light source within said concave reflector, said light source and said concave reflector providing a beam of light projected outwardly along an axis from said light source,

a screen spaced from said concave reflector and below said axis and preventing passage of a portion of the light emitted by said light source and said concave reflector,

a lens having a diameter (D) spaced at a distance X_F from said screen,

an aperture reflector spaced from a front of a lower portion of said lens and extending outwardly from said lens, said aperture reflector having a reflective surface,

said reflective surface being spaced from said axis by a distance (H) wherein

View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10)

8. Headlamp according to claim 7, characterized in that the reflective surface (51) of the aperture reflector (5) is planar.

9. Headlamp according to claim 7, characterized in that the reflective surface (51) has a width (S)

10. Headlamp according to claim 7, characterized in that the reflective surface (51) of the aperture reflector (5) is provided with reflective strip elements (52) of a width (T) and radius (R), where ##EQU5##