Projector optic assembly

• US 6,850,095 B2
• Filed: 04/25/2003
• Issued: 02/01/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 04/25/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Varroc Lighting Systems S.R.O. (Varroc Engineering Limited)
• Original Assignee: Visteon Global Technologies Incorporated (Visteon Corporation)
• Inventors: Sayers, Edwin Mitchell, Chinniah, Jeyachandrabose
• Primary Examiner(s): Sember, Thomas M.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Sawhney, Hargobind S.
• Application Number:
  US10/424,044
• Publication Number:
  US 20040213001A1
• Time in Patent Office: 648 Days
• Field of Search: 362/551, 362/555, 362/558, 362/800, 362/326, 362/327, 362/347, 362/305, 362/304, 385/133, 385/901, 359/726, 359/727, 359/708, 359/712, 359/641, 359/718, 359/719
• US Class Current: 362/551
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 41/143 the main emission direction of the LED being parallel to the optical axis of the illuminating device
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 41/24 Light guides
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 41/28 Cover glass
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 5/045 the lens having discontinuous faces, e.g. Fresnel lenses
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2115/10 Light-emitting diodes [LED]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 362/80 Light emitting diode

Abstract

A projector optic assembly is disclosed for use with various light emitting sources to collect direct the rays of light into a high gradient beam pattern. The projector optic assembly includes a light pipe and a projector lens. The light pipe is segregated into several regions including a reflecting region, a funneling region and a transition plane separating the two regions. At the first end of the reflecting region, closest to the light emitting source, is a connecting lens. At the second end of the funneling region is an emitting aperture that is designed to refract light into the high gradient beam pattern.

Claims

1. A projector optic assembly for defining and projecting a high gradient beam pattern, the projector optic assembly comprising;

a light emitting source, said light emitting source defining an optical axis;

a light pipe positioned along the optical axis and including a reflecting region, a transition plane, a funneling region, and emitting aperture;

said reflecting region having a first end and a second end with said first end having a smaller effective diameter than said second end diameter, wherein at least a portion of said first end defines a coupling region;

said funneling region having a first end and a second end with said first end having an effective diameter greater than said second end, wherein at least a portion of said second end defines said emitting aperture; and

said transition plane being defined by said second end of said reflecting region and said first end of said funneling region; and

a projector lens positioned along the optical axis, said projector lens being spaced apart from the outer wall of said light pipe and located generally opposite of said emitting aperture.

2. The projector optic assembly of claim 1 wherein said reflecting region has a generally conical exterior shape.

3. The projector optic assembly of claim 1 wherein said coupling region includes a central section radially centered on said optical axis and an cuter section radially spaced from said optical axle and surrounding said central section.

4. The projector optic assembly of claim 3 wherein said central section is generally hemispherical in shape having a surface concaved toward said light source.

5. The projector optic assembly of claim 4 wherein said outer section defines a wall extending generally outward from an outer circumference of said central section, said wall being a surface concaved toward said optical axis.

6. The projector optic assembly of claim 1 wherein said reflecting region is generally a paraboloid shape.

7. The projector optic assembly of claim 1 wherein said reflecting region is generally an ellipsoidal shape.

8. The projector optic assembly of claim 1 wherein said funneling region is generally conical in shape.

9. The projector optic assembly of claim 1 wherein said projector lens is a Fresnel lens.

10. The projector optic assembly of claim 1 wherein said projector lens has a cross sectional area appropriately one square inch.

11. The projector optic assembly of claim 1 wherein said light pipe is coupled to said light emitting source.

12. The projector optic assembly of claim 1 wherein said light emitting source is a light emitting diode.

13. The projector optic assembly of claim 1 wherein said light pipe is solid.

14. The projector optic assembly of claim 13 wherein said light pipe is made from a material having an index of reaction in a range of 1.4 to 1.8.

15. The projector optic assembly of claim 1 wherein said light transition plane has a diameter measuring approximately 20 to 30 millimeters.

16. The projector optic assembly of claim 1 wherein said light pipe has a length measuring in the range of 50 to 70 millimeters.

17. The projector optic assembly of claim 1 wherein said projector lens is axially spaced approximately 25 to 35 millimeters from said emitting.

18. A projector optic assembly for defining and projecting a high gradient beam pattern, the projector optic assembly comprising:

a light emitting source, said light emitting source defining an optical axis;

a light pipe positioned along the optical axis and including a reflecting region, a transition plane a funneling region, and emitting aperture;

said reflecting region having a first end and a second end, wherein at least a portion of said first end defines a coupling region, said coupling region including a central section radially centered on said optical axis and an outer section radially spaced from said optical axis and surrounding said central section, said outer section defining a wall extending generally outward from an outer circumference of said central section and said wall being a surface concaved toward, said optical axis;

said funneling region having a first end and a second end, wherein at least a portion of said second end defines said emitting aperture; and

said transition plane being defined by said second end of said reflecting region and said first end of said funneling region; and

a projector lens positioned along the optical axis, said projector lens being spaced apart from said light pipe and located generally opposite of said emitting aperture.

19. A projector optic assembly for defining and projecting a high gradient beam pattern, the projector optic assembly comprising:

a light emitting source, said light emitting source defining an optical axis;

a light pipe positioned along the optical axis and including a reflecting region, a transition plane, a funneling region and emitting aperture;

said reflecting region having a first end and a second end;

wherein at least a portion of said first end defines a coupling region;

said funneling region having a first end and a second end, wherein at least a portion of said second end defines said emitting aperture; and

said transition plane being defined by said second end of said reflecting region and said first end of said funneling region and further defining a diameter being the largest diameter in said light pipe; and

a projector lens positioned along the optical axis, said projector lens being spaced apart from said light pipe and located generally opposite of said emitting aperture.

20. A projector optic assembly for defining and projecting a high gradient beam pattern, the projector optic assembly comprising:

a light emitting source, said light emitting source defining an optical axis;

a light pipe positioned along the optical axis and including a reflecting region, a transition plane, a funneling region, and emitting aperture;

said reflecting region having a first end and a second end, wherein at least a portion of said first end defines a coupling region;

said funneling region having a first end and a second end, wherein at least a portion of said second end defines said emitting aperture, said emitting aperture being generally rectangular in shape; and

said transition plane being defined by said second end of said reflecting region and said first end of said funneling region; and

a projector lens positioned along the optical axis, said projector lens being shaped apart from said light pipe and located generally opposite of said emitting aperture.

21. The projector optic assembly of claim 20 wherein sold emitting aperture includes an upper edge, a lower edge, a left edge, and a right edge.

22. The projector optic assembly of claim 21 wherein said emitting aperture upper edge is stepped.

23. The projector optic assembly of claim 22 wherein said upper edge includes first and second parallel surfaces, and an angled surface extending between said first and second parallel surfaces aperture.