Vehicular warning light having a dichroic element

• US 6,461,022 B1
• Filed: 11/02/1999
• Issued: 10/08/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 11/02/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Code 3 Incorporated (Halliburton Company)
• Original Assignee: Code 3 Incorporated (Halliburton Company)
• Inventors: Kreutzer, Robert E., Stein, Paul L., Dohogne, Dennis A.
• Primary Examiner(s): O'Shea, Sandra
• Assistant Examiner(s): WARD, JOHN A
• Application Number:
  US09/431,327
• Time in Patent Office: 1,071 Days
• Field of Search: 362/293, 362/493, 362/510, 362/540, 362/542, 340/463, 340/468, 359/630, 359/634
• US Class Current: 362/293
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/2611 Indicating devices mounted on the roof of the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 43/255 Filters
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 43/27 Attachment thereof
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 43/31 Optical layout thereof
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 43/37 Attachment thereof
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 9/08 for producing coloured light, e.g. monochromatic; for reducing intensity of light with provision for controlling the colour F21V9/40
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 9/20 Dichroic filters, i.e. devices operating on the principle of wave interference to pass specific ranges of wavelengths while cancelling others
• CPC Class Codes: F21W 2107/10 for land vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: F21W 2111/00 Use or application of lighting devices or systems for signalling, marking or indicating, not provided for in codes F21W2102/00 – F21W2107/00

Abstract

A visible light source adapted to be mounted on the vehicle for generating visible light to be used to create warning signals which are viewed by observers remote from the vehicle. A dichroic element adapted to be mounted on the vehicle and adjacent to the visible light source transmits at least some of the visible light generated by the light source and reflects at least some of the visible light generated by the light source. The transmitted and reflected light provides warning light signals within different wavelength ranges when viewed by an observer remote from the vehicle.

Claims

1. An apparatus for use with a vehicle, said apparatus for providing warning light signals for alerting an observer of the vehicle'"'"'s position, said apparatus comprising:

a first dichroic element;

a second dichroic element;

a visible light source positioned between the first dichroic element and the second dichroic element, said visible light source adapted to be mounted on the vehicle for generating visible light to be used to create the warning light signals which are viewed by observers remote from the vehicle;

said first dichroic element adapted to be mounted on the vehicle and positioned adjacent to the visible light source, said first dichroic element reflecting at least some of the visible light generated by the light source, wherein the light reflected by the first element is adapted to provide a first warning light signal within a first wavelength range when viewed by an observer remote from the vehicle, said first dichroic element transmitting at least some of the visible light generated by the light source; and

said second dichroic element adapted to be mounted on the vehicle and positioned adjacent to the visible light source, said second dichroic element reflecting at least some of the visible light generated by the light source, wherein the light reflected by the second element is adapted to provide a second warning light signal within a second wavelength range when viewed by an observer remote from the vehicle, said second dichroic element transmitting at least some of the visible light generated by the light source, wherein the first dichroic element comprises a first beam forming element having a first focal point coincident with the light source and wherein the second dichroic element comprises a second beam forming element having a second focal point coincident with the light source and coincident with the first focal point of the first beam forming element.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the first and second beam forming elements are in opposed relation to each other and wherein the first and second beam forming elements are in registry with each other.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a third beam forming dichroic element having a third focal point coincident with the light source and the first and second focal points and wherein the first, second and third beam forming elements are contiguous to each other.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a third beam forming dichroic element having a third focal point coincident with the light source and the first and second focal points, a fourth beam forming dichroic element having a fourth focal point coincident with the light source and the first, second and third focal points and wherein the first and third elements are in opposed relation to each other and the second and fourth elements are in opposed relation to each other.

5. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein the first element is contiguous to the second and fourth elements and the third element is contiguous to the second and fourth elements and wherein the first and third elements are in registry with each other and the second and fourth elements are in registry with each other.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the first wavelength range is different as compared to the second wavelength range.

7. An apparatus for use with a vehicle, said apparatus for providing warning light signals for alerting an observer of the vehicle'"'"'s position, said apparatus comprising:

a first dichroic element;

a second dichroic element;

a visible light source positioned between the first dichroic element and the second dichroic element, said visible light source adapted to be mounted on the vehicle for generating visible light to be used to create the warning light signals which are viewed by observers remote from the vehicle;

said first dichroic element adapted to be mounted on the vehicle and positioned adjacent to the visible light source, said first dichroic element reflecting at least some of the visible light generated by the light source;

the light reflected by the first element for providing a first warning light signal within a first wavelength range when viewed by an observer remote from the vehicle;

said second dichroic element adapted to be mounted on the vehicle and positioned adjacent to the visible light source, said second dichroic element reflecting at least come of the visible light generated by the light source; and

the light reflected by the second element for providing a second warning light signal within a second wavelength range when viewed by and observer remote from the vehicle wherein the first dichroic element comprises a first beam forming element, wherein the second dichroic element comprises a second beam forming element, wherein the first and second beam forming elements are in opposed relation to each other and wherein the first and second beam forming elements are in registry with each other.

8. The apparatus of claim 7 further comprising a coating at least partially surrounding the light source, said coating having a first portion reflecting light toward the first beam forming element and having a second portion reflecting light toward the second beam forming element.

9. An apparatus for a vehicle comprising:

a visible light source adapted to be mounted on the vehicle for generating visible light to be used to create warning light signals which are viewed by observers remote from the vehicle;

a first dichroic element adapted to be mounted on the vehicle and positioned adjacent to the visible light source, said first dichroic element reflecting at least some of the visible light generated by the light source;

the light reflected by the first element for providing a first warning light signal within a first wavelength range when viewed by an observer remote from the vehicle;

a second dichroic element adapted to be mounted on the vehicle and positioned adjacent to the visible light source such that the visible light source is between the first dichroic element and the second dichroic element, said second dichroic element reflecting at least some of the visible light generated by the light source; and

the light reflected by the second element for providing a second warning light signal within a second wavelength range when viewed by an observer remote from the vehicle wherein the first dichroic element comprises a first beam forming element, wherein the second dichroic element comprises a second beam forming element, further comprising a third beam forming dichroic element and a fourth beam forming dichroic element and wherein the first and second elements are in opposed relation to the third and fourth elements.

10. An apparatus for a vehicle comprising:

a base adapted to be mounted on the vehicle;

a visible light source on the base for generating visible light to be used to create warning signals which are viewed by observers remote from the vehicle;

a first dichroic element adjacent to the visible light source, said first element positioned on the base and adapted to reflect at least some of the visible light generated by the light source, wherein the light reflected by the first element forms a first reflected light signal;

a second dichroic element adjacent to the visible light source, said second element positioned on the base and adapted to reflect at least some of the visible light generated by the light source;

wherein the light reflected by the second element is different than the light reflected by the first element;

wherein the light reflected by the second element forms a second reflected light signal;

wherein the first dichroic element and the second dichroic element are in opposed relation to each other;

wherein the first dichroic element is positioned to transmit the second reflected light signal; and

wherein the second dichroic element is positioned to transmit the first reflected light signals;

whereby the first reflected light signal provides a first warning light signal when viewed by observers remote from the vehicle and whereby the second reflected light signal provides a second warning light signal when viewed by observers remote from the vehicle.

11. The apparatus of claim 10 further comprising means for rotating the base.

12. The apparatus of claim 10 wherein the first dichroic element comprises a first beam forming element having a first focal point coincident with the light source, wherein the first reflected light signal comprises a first reflected light beam, wherein the second dichroic element comprises a second beam forming element having a second focal point coincident with the light source and coincident with the first focal point of the first beam forming element and wherein the second reflected light signal comprises a second reflected light beam whereby the first reflected light beam provides a first warning light signal when viewed by observers remote from the vehicle and whereby the second reflected light beam provides a second warning light signal when viewed by observers remote from the vehicle.

13. The apparatus of claim 12 further comprising a third beam forming dichroic element having a third focal point coincident with the light source and the first and second focal points, a fourth beam forming dichroic element having a fourth focal point coincident with the light source and the first, second and third focal points and wherein the first and third elements are in opposed relation to each other and the second and fourth elements are in opposed relation to each other.

14. The apparatus of claim 13 wherein the first element is contiguous to the second and fourth elements and the third element is contiguous to the second and fourth elements and wherein the first and third elements are in registry with each other and the second and fourth elements are in registry with each other.

15. The apparatus of claim 12 wherein the first and second beam forming elements are in registry with each other.

16. The apparatus of claim 12 further comprising a coating at least partially surrounding the light source, said coating having a first portion reflecting light toward the first beam forming element and having a second portion reflecting light toward the second beam forming element.

17. The apparatus of claim 12 further comprising a third beam forming dichroic element having a third focal point coincident with the light source and the first and second focal points and wherein the first, second and third beam forming elements are contiguous to each other.