Taillight apparatus and method of making
First Claim
1. A taillight assembly comprising:
- a light source for emitting light from said assembly;
a light source enclosure having a light transmissive portion for transmitting light from the light source to an illumination zone, a portion of said enclosure including a material which is fixed in relation to selected regions of the light transmissive portion of the enclosure and which when electrically energized to alter the light transmitting properties of the material for performing different taillight functions, and, a drive circuit electrically coupled to the material in each region for selectively energizing the material and thereby controlling the functional light output of each region.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The present invention relates to a taillight assembly that includes a light source for emitting light and a light source enclosure having a light transmissive portion for transmitting light from the light source to an illumination zone. A portion of the enclosure includes a material that is affixed to selected regions of the light transmissive portion. By electrically energizing the material the light transmitting properties of the material can be altered for performing different taillight functions. A drive circuit is electrically coupled to the material in each region for selectively energizing the material and thereby controlling the functional light output of each region. All taillight functions can be accomplished by activating the bands on the light transmissive portion, including running light, brake light, reverse light, parking light and turning signal.
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Citations
33 Claims
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1. A taillight assembly comprising:
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a light source for emitting light from said assembly;
a light source enclosure having a light transmissive portion for transmitting light from the light source to an illumination zone, a portion of said enclosure including a material which is fixed in relation to selected regions of the light transmissive portion of the enclosure and which when electrically energized to alter the light transmitting properties of the material for performing different taillight functions, and, a drive circuit electrically coupled to the material in each region for selectively energizing the material and thereby controlling the functional light output of each region. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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22. A taillight assembly comprising:
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a light source for emitting light from said assembly, said light source comprising a first filament and a second filament, wherein said first filament emits low-level light output for low level light functions and said second filament emits high-level light output for high level light functions;
a light source enclosure having a light transmissive portion for transmitting light from the light source to an illumination zone, a portion of said enclosure including a material which fixed in relation to selected regions of the light transmissive portion of the enclosure and which when electrically energized alters the light transmissive properties of the material for performing different taillight functions; and
,a drive circuit electrically coupled to the material in each region for selectively energizing the material and thereby controlling the functional light output of each region. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24, 25, 26, 27)
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28. A process for constructing a taillight assembly comprising:
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positioning a light source that emits light within an enclosure having a light transmissive portion for transmitting light from the light source to an illumination zone;
fixing a material in relation to the enclosure and selected regions of the light transmissive portion, and coupling the material to a drive circuit for selectively energizing the material which when electrically energized alters the light transmitting properties of the material for performing different taillight functions. - View Dependent Claims (29, 30, 31, 32, 33)
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Specification