Lamp masking method and apparatus
First Claim
1. A headlamp assembly comprising:
- a light source for emitting light from the headlamp assembly;
a light source enclosure having a first light transmissive portion which permits light to be transmitted from the light source to a first illumination zone located to the front of the assembly and a second light transmissive portion which permits light to be transmitted from the light source to a second illumination zone located to the side of the assembly, wherein a portion of said enclosure comprising a material which covers selected regions of the first light transmissive portion and the second light transmissive portion of the enclosure and which when electrically energized alters the amount of light transmitted from the light source to the first illumination zone and second illumination zone; and
a drive circuit electrically coupled to the material for selectively energizing the material and thereby controlling a light output from the headlamp assembly.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A motor vehicle lamp assembly having a light source for emitting light and an enclosure having a two light transmissive portions for transmitting light from the light source to the illumination zones. The enclosure is affixed with a material which covers selected regions of the light transmissive portion. The material is electrically energized to alter an amount of light transmitted from the source to the illumination zones. A drive circuit electrically coupled to the material energizes the material to control a light output from the lamp assembly. The lamp assembly can simultaneously provide light in the direction of travel of the vehicle along with cornering lighting and turn signal function. The lamp assembly also includes a rear-projection lamp incorporating an optic lens. In addition, the assembly is configured to provide for various head-lamp functions including an advanced front lighting system.
48 Citations
37 Claims
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1. A headlamp assembly comprising:
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a light source for emitting light from the headlamp assembly; a light source enclosure having a first light transmissive portion which permits light to be transmitted from the light source to a first illumination zone located to the front of the assembly and a second light transmissive portion which permits light to be transmitted from the light source to a second illumination zone located to the side of the assembly, wherein a portion of said enclosure comprising a material which covers selected regions of the first light transmissive portion and the second light transmissive portion of the enclosure and which when electrically energized alters the amount of light transmitted from the light source to the first illumination zone and second illumination zone; and a drive circuit electrically coupled to the material for selectively energizing the material and thereby controlling a light output from the headlamp assembly. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A process for constructing a headlamp assembly comprising:
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positioning a light source that emits light within an enclosure for transmitting light from the light source to a first illumination zone and to a second illumination zone, coupling a lens to the enclosure to intercept light and focus light toward the first and the second illumination zones; and coupling the lens to a drive circuit for selectively energizing the lens which when electrically energized focuses an amount of light transmitted to the first illumination zone and the second illumination zone. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
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25. A method of constructing a rear-projection light assembly comprising:
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positioning a light source that emits light and an optical lens within an enclosure having a reflective portion and a light transmissive portion for transmitting light from the light source to an illumination zone, affixing a material to the enclosure to cover multiple sections across a surface of the light transmissive portion, and coupling the material to a drive circuit for selectively energizing each section of the material which when electrically energized controls a light transmitting characteristic of that section to control the amount of light emitted from the light source to the illumination zone. - View Dependent Claims (26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33)
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34. A lamp assembly comprising:
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a light source for emitting light from the assembly; a light source enclosure having a light transmissive portion for transmitting light from the light source to an illumination zone, wherein a portion of said enclosure includes a material which covers selected regions of the light transmissive portion of the enclosure and which when electrically energized alters an amount of light transmitted from the light source to the illumination zone, wherein said material steers or bends light beams emitted from the light source to the illumination zone; and a drive circuit electrically coupled to the material for selectively energizing the material and thereby controlling a light output from the assembly. - View Dependent Claims (35, 36)
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37. A process for constructing a headlamp assembly comprising:
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positioning a light source that emits light within an enclosure having a first light transmissive portion for transmitting light from the light source to a first illumination zone and a second light transmissive portion for transmitting light from the light source to a second illumination zone, affixing a material to the enclosure to cover selected regions of the first light transmissive portion and the second light transmissive portion; and coupling the material to a drive circuit for selectively energizing the material which when electrically energized alters the light transmitted to the first illumination zone and the second illumination zone; wherein energizing of the material adjusts a level of light transmission used for cornering light from the light source through a region of said material on the second light transmissive portion to a high light transmissive state, a low light transmissive state, or one or more intermediate light transmissive states.
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Specification