Vehicle lighting device using led light source

• US 6,530,683 B1
• Filed: 07/19/2000
• Issued: 03/11/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 08/23/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Ichikoh Industries Limited (Valeo SE)
• Original Assignee: Ichikoh Industries Limited (Valeo SE)
• Inventors: Tsunoda, Kouji, Murahashi, Katuhiro, Ohkohdo, Masaya
• Primary Examiner(s): Quach-Lee, Y. My
• Assistant Examiner(s): Neils, Peggy A
• Application Number:
  US09/619,393
• Time in Patent Office: 965 Days
• Field of Search: 362/500, 362/555, 362/511, 362/540, 362/541, 362/543, 362/544, 362/545
• US Class Current: 362/511
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/0041 of several lamps in relation to each other
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/0052 concentric
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/44 for indicating braking action or preparation for braking, e.g. by detection of the foot approaching the brake pedal
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 43/14 Light emitting diodes [LED]
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 43/237 rod-shaped
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 43/245 emitting light from one or more of its major surfaces
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 43/247 with a single light source being coupled into the light guide

Abstract

A vehicle lighting device has a housing, a plurality of light guides extending in radial fashion from the substantially center part of the housing, a reflector within the housing, and a plurality of LED light sources. The surface of each light guide has a reflective region with a reflecting means along the longitudinal direction thereof and an transmissive region in which the reflecting means is not provided. The transmissive region faces forward, and the reflective region faces rearward. The reflector is disposed further to the rear than the light guides, and in opposition to the reflective regions. Each LED light source is in proximity to one end of a light guide.

Claims

1. A vehicle lighting device, comprising:

a housing;

a plurality of light guides extending in radial fashion from substantially a center part of the housing, each light guide extending along a respective longitudinal direction, a surface of each of which has a reflective region with a reflecting means along its respective longitudinal direction, and a transmissive region in which the reflecting means is not provided, the transmissive region facing in a forward direction and the reflective region facing in a rearward direction opposite to the forward direction;

a reflector within the housing, disposed to the rear of the light guides and in opposition to the reflective regions; and

a plurality of LED light sources, one end of each LED light source in proximity to a respective light guide of the plurality of light guides;

wherein the light guides include a plurality of first and second light guides disposed alternately, and each of the first light guides is mutually adjacent to a respective second light guide, and

wherein the reflecting means provided on one of the first light guides has a width providing a light-emission range corresponding to the mutual distance between two second light guides adjacent to the one first light guide.

2. The vehicle lighting device according to claim 1, wherein the light guides are substantially fan-shaped, having a width that increases toward a distal end of each of the light guides away from the center part of the housing.

3. The vehicle lighting device according to claim 2, wherein a plurality of LED light sources are in proximity to the distal end of each of the light guides.

4. The vehicle lighting device according to claim 1, wherein a proximal end of each of the first light guides is disposed further to the rear than a proximal end of each of the second light guides.

5. The vehicle lighting device according to claim 1, wherein a distal end of each of the first light guides is disposed further to the rear than a distal end of each of the second light guides.

6. The vehicle lighting device according to claim 1, wherein each of the light guides is a solid element with a substantially circular cross-section.

7. The vehicle lighting device according to claim 1, wherein each of the light guides is a solid element with a substantially rectangular cross-section.