Vehicle lamp and its marking method

• US 6,555,184 B1
• Filed: 10/06/2000
• Issued: 04/29/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 10/07/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Koito Manufacturing Company Limited
• Original Assignee: Koito Manufacturing Company Limited
• Inventors: Aikawa, Shinji, Nakamura, Koichi
• Primary Examiner(s): DAVIS, CASSANDRA HOPE
• Application Number:
  US09/684,586
• Time in Patent Office: 935 Days
• Field of Search: 427/596, 427/162, 427/164, 427/271, 427/555, 427/216, 427/385.5, 427/258, 427/261, 427/264, 427/270, 427/412.1
• US Class Current: 427/555
• CPC Class Codes: B41M 5/24 Ablative recording, e.g. by burning marks; Spark recording marking by high energetic means, e.g. by laser otherwise than burning or ablative removal B41M5/26; materials or methods for recording or reproduction by optical means G11B7/00
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 41/28 Cover glass
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 43/50 characterised by aesthetic components not otherwise provided for, e.g. decorative trim, partition walls or covers
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 45/10 Protection of lighting devices cooling of lighting devices F21S45/40; waterproofing of lighting devices F21S45/50
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 3/04 characterised by materials, surface treatments or coatings
• CPC Class Codes: F21W 2102/00 Exterior vehicle lighting devices for illuminating purposes
• CPC Class Codes: F21W 2103/00 Exterior vehicle lighting devices for signalling purposes
• CPC Class Codes: F21W 2104/00 Exterior vehicle lighting devices for decorative purposes
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 1/126 by photographic or thermographic registration recording apparatus for measuring instruments G01D15/00

Abstract

A vehicle lamp having a front lens with marks formed by irradiating a laser beam on a surface of the lens is disclosed. The laser beam forms the shapes of a mark, and the mark includes recess grooves. Thus, even in cases where the mark is different in displayed content according to the destination of the lamp, for example, and a lamp certification mark must be formed at the same position of the front lens, the mark can be readily formed by suitably performing irradiation control of the laser beam. The method prevents formation of an outline due to a removable mold insert that appears on the inner surface of the front lens and marks formed in a conventional manner in which the removable insert is used to accommodate the changes of the mark displayed content.

Claims

1. A method for forming a mark on a lens of a vehicle lamp comprising:

forming a hard coating film on an outer surface of the lens; and

irradiating a laser beam on an inner surface of the lens to create the mark after hard coat processing is completed.

2. The method for forming a mark according to claim 1, wherein the lens is made of polycarbonate resin and arranged so that the inner surface thereof faces downward.

3. The method according to claim 2, wherein an antifogging coating film is formed on the inner surface of the lens before the mark is created.

4. The method for forming a mark according to claim 1, further comprising:

coating an inner surface of the lens with an antifogging coating film,

wherein the laser beam irradiation is performed after the antifogging coating film has been applied.

5. The marking method according to claim 4, further comprising conducting hard coat processing on the outer surface of the lens before applying the antifogging coating.