Lights for motor vehicles

• US 7,252,418 B2
• Filed: 01/24/2005
• Issued: 08/07/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 07/24/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Bayerische Motoren Werke AG
• Original Assignee: Bayerische Motoren Werke AG
• Inventors: Enders, Martin
• Primary Examiner(s): Luebke; Renee
• Assistant Examiner(s): Lee; Gunyoung T.
• Application Number:
  US11/039,992
• Publication Number:
  US 20050128764A1
• Time in Patent Office: 925 Days
• Field of Search: 362/307, 362/311, 362/464, 362/465, 362/466, 362/267, 362/318, 362/512, 362/539, 362/467, 315/82, 315/83, 427/106
• US Class Current: 362/464
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 3/74 for overall compartment lighting; for overall compartment lighting in combination with specific lighting, e.g. room lamps with reading lamps general lighting mounted on specific fittings B60Q3/20; general lighting for mass transit vehicles B60Q3/43
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 41/645 by electro-optic means, e.g. liquid crystal or electrochromic devices

Abstract

Lights, in particular for motor vehicles, comprising at least one light source and a cover that is arranged in front of the light source in the direction of radiation, wherein the cover includes an electric diffuser which may change the optical properties thereof to generate multi-functionality.

Claims

1. A motor vehicle light, comprising:

at least one light source;

a cover arranged in front of said at least one light source in a direction of radiation, wherein said cover includes an electrical diffuser having optical properties that change to provide variable light distribution modes between an opaque diffuse mode and a transparent mode; and

a light housing, said light housing being covered with said cover including the electrical diffuser to form an indicator lamp having at least one luminous component arranged inside the light housing, wherein the indicator light is a rear light, in which the diffuser is switched to a random translucent mode when a tail light is switched on, and in which the diffuser assumes an opaque state when the tail light is switched off, and in which the diffuser is switched into a transparent mode when a brake light radiates.