Light assembly, especially signal light, for motor vehicles

• US 6,851,843 B2
• Filed: 01/16/2002
• Issued: 02/08/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 01/18/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Reitter & Schefenacker GmbH & Co. KG
• Original Assignee: Reitter & Schefenacker GmbH & Co. KG
• Inventors: Schmitt, Friedbert, Berlitz, Stephan, Müller, Otto Rolf
• Primary Examiner(s): O'Shea, Sandra
• Assistant Examiner(s): TSIDULKO, MARK
• Application Number:
  US10/050,683
• Publication Number:
  US 20020114166A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,119 Days
• Field of Search: 362/555, 362/545, 362/511, 362/310, 362/343, 362/247, 362/541
• US Class Current: 362/555
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/2696 Mounting of devices using LEDs
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 43/14 Light emitting diodes [LED]
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 43/15 Strips of light sources
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 43/237 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 light assembly for a motor vehicle has a housing having a housing opening covered by a lens. At least one reflector is arranged in the housing, and at least one light guide is arranged in the housing between the at least one reflector and the lens. One or more LEDs as a light source are arranged hidden in the housing such that rays emitted by the LEDs are partially reflected on the at least one reflector toward the light guide. The light guide gives the impression of a fluorescent lamp being mounted in the light assembly.

Claims

1. A light assembly for a motor vehicle, the light assembly comprising:

a housing having a housing opening;

a lens covering the housing opening;

at least one reflector arranged in the housing;

at least one light guide arranged in the housing between the at least one reflector and the lens;

one or more LEDs as a light source arranged hidden from view in the housing such that rays emitted by the one or more LEDs are partially reflected on the at least one reflector directly toward the at least one light guide and partially reflected on the reflector so as to pass through the light guide before impinging on the lens so that the rays passing through the light guide provide a band-shaped or rod-shaped light area to a person looking at the light assembly.

2. The light assembly according to claim 1, wherein the housing has a receiving space and wherein the one or more LEDs are arranged in the receiving space.

3. The light assembly according to claim 2, further comprising a printed circuit board arranged in the housing, wherein several of the one or more LEDs are mounted on the printed circuit board sequentially in a row.

4. The light assembly according to claim 1, wherein the one or more LEDs are SMD (surface mounted device) LEDs.

5. The light assembly according to claim 1, wherein the at least one light guide is rod-shaped.

6. The light assembly according to claim 1, wherein the light assembly has a length and wherein the at least one light guide extends substantially across the entire length of the light assembly.

7. The light assembly according to claim 1, wherein the at least one light guide has a rod-shaped contour.

8. The light assembly according to claim 1, wherein the at least one light guide has a back side facing the at least one reflector and wherein the back side is straight when viewing the at least one light guide in cross-section.

9. The light assembly according to claim 1, wherein the at least one light guide has a back side facing the at least one reflector and wherein the back side is curved when viewing the at least one light guide in cross-section.

10. The light assembly according to claim 1, wherein the at least one light guide has a front side facing the lens and wherein the front side is convexly curved when viewing the at least one light guide in cross-section.

11. The light assembly according to claim 1, wherein the at least one light guide has two ends and wherein light is introduced into at least one of the two ends.

12. A light assembly for a motor vehicle, the light assembly comprising:

a housing having a housing opening;

a lens covering the housing opening;

at least one reflector arranged in the housing;

at least one light guide arranged in the housing between the at least one reflector and the lens;

one or more LEDs as a light source arranged hidden from view in the housing such that rays emitted by the one or mores LED are partially reflected on the at least one reflector toward the at least one light guide;

wherein the at least one light guide has a first spacing relative to the at least one reflector and a second spacing relative to the lens, wherein the first spacing is smaller than the second spacing.

13. A light assembly for a motor vehicle, the light assembly comprising:

a housing having a housing opening;

a lens covering the housing opening;

at least one reflector arranged in the housing;

at least one light guide arranged in the housing between the at least one reflector and the lens;

one or more LEDs as a light source arranged hidden from view in the housing such that rays emitted by the one or mores LED are partially reflected on the at least one reflector toward the at least one light guide;

wherein the at least one light guide has a front side and a back side, wherein at least one of the front and back sides has optical elements.

14. The light assembly according to claim 13, wherein the optical elements are lenses or profilings.