Indicating display for a motor vehicle, in particular a raised stop light unit

• US 6,380,864 B1
• Filed: 12/12/1996
• Issued: 04/30/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 12/15/1995
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Valeo Vision (Valeo SE)
• Original Assignee: Valeo Vision (Valeo SE)
• Inventors: Richard, Hervé
• Primary Examiner(s): Lefkowitz, Edward
• Assistant Examiner(s): GOINS, DAVETTA WOODS
• Application Number:
  US08/766,230
• Time in Patent Office: 1,965 Days
• Field of Search: 340/815.45, 340/815.56, 340/815.76, 340/464, 340/467, 340/463, 340/461, 340/525, 340/980, 345/7, 359/853, 359/858, 359/860, 362/300, 362/61
• US Class Current: 340/815.45
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/302 mounted in the vicinity, e.g. in the middle, of a rear window
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 43/14 Light emitting diodes [LED]
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 43/15 Strips of light sources
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 43/40 characterised by the combination of reflectors and refractors
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 7/0008 providing for indirect lighting
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2115/10 Light-emitting diodes [LED]

Abstract

An indicating display for a motor vehicle, for example a raised stop light unit, includes a plurality of aligned light sources, optical means for concentrating the luminous flux emitted by the light sources in a general emission direction, and a lens which is provided with optical means for diffusing the light. The optical concentrating means consist of a parabolic mirror which is bounded by two planes both of which lie on the same side of its optical axis, and which are in line with the lens, while the light sources are offset vertically from the lens.

Claims

1. A vehicle indicating display comprising:

a plurality of aligned light sources for emitting a luminous flux;

optical means, in the path of said luminous flux, for concentrating said luminous flux into a general emission direction; and

a lens, interposed in said general emission direction, for diffusing the light,

wherein said optical means comprises a mirror having a parabolic cross section and defining an optical axis of the mirror, the mirror further defining, and being delimited by two planes both of which lie on the same side of the optical axis and extend in line with the lens, the light sources being offset vertically from the lens.

2. The indicating display according to claim 1, being a unit comprising a housing which includes a housing portion that defines the mirror, the light sources and the lens being contained within the housing.

3. The indicating display according to claim 2, wherein the housing includes housing portions which project downwardly from the remainder of the housing and which define a cavity, the light sources being disposed within the cavity substantially below the lens.

4. The indicating display according to claim 1, wherein the mirror comprises a plurality of portions each defining a paraboloid of revolution with a focus lying substantially on a corresponding one of the light sources.

5. The indicating display according to claim 1, wherein the light sources comprise emitting diodes.

6. The indicating display according to claim 1, being a unit comprising a housing which includes a housing portion that defines the mirror, the light sources and the lens being contained within the housing,

wherein the indicating display is an elevated stop light unit for a vehicle rear window, the lens having an upper edge and a lower edge, the housing including two extensions of unequal length extending from the upper and lower edges of the lens respectively, each extension having a free end, the unit further including a smooth, inclined, transparent cover plate fitted between the free ends of the extensions.

7. The indicating display according to claim 1, defining an exit direction for the light from the display, the light sources being generally oriented in a direction away from the exit direction.

8. A stop light unit for a vehicle, comprising the indicating display of claim 1.

9. A vehicle including the indicating display of claim 1.

10. The indicating display according to claim 1, further comprising a housing containing the plurality of aligned light sources, the mirror and the lens.

11. The indicating display according to claim 10, wherein the housing includes housing portions which project downwardly from the remainder of the housing and which define a cavity, the light sources being disposed within the cavity substantially below the lens.

12. The indicating display according to claim 10, further comprising a transparent cover plate, wherein the lens has an upper edge and a lower edge, the housing including two extensions of unequal length extending from the upper and lower edges of the lens respectively, each extension having a free end, the transparent cover plate being adapted to fit between the free ends of the extensions.

13. The indicating display according to claim 1, wherein the mirror comprises a portion of the housing.

15. The indicating display according to claim 1, wherein the light sources are aligned along a direction generally perpendicular to the general emission direction.

16. The indicating display according to claim 1, wherein the light sources, mirror and lens are arranged successive order.

17. The indicating display according to claim 1, wherein the indicating display is a stop light unit.

14. An indicating display for a vehicle, comprising:

a plurality of light sources for emitting a luminous flux;

means, arranged in a path of said luminous flux, for concentrating said luminous flux in a general emission direction; and

means, interposed in said general emission direction, for diffusing said concentrated luminous flux,

wherein said means for concentrating comprises a mirror having a parabolic cross section and defining an optical axis of the mirror, the mirror further defining, and being delimited by, two planes both of which lie on the same side of the optical axis and extend in line with the lens, the light sources being offset vertically from said means for diffusing.

18. The indicating display according to claim 14, wherein the light sources are aligned along a direction generally perpendicular to the general emission direction.

19. The indicating display according to claim 14, wherein the light sources, mirror and lens are arranged successive order.

20. The indicating display according to claim 14, wherein the indicating display is a stop light unit.