Adaptive head light and lens assemblies

• US 7,275,846 B2
• Filed: 03/11/2005
• Issued: 10/02/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 03/12/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC (General Motors Company)
• Original Assignee: General Motors Corporation (Motors Liquidation Co. GUC Trust)
• Inventors: Aase, Jan H., Browne, Alan L., Johnson, Nancy L., Keefe, Andrew C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Ward; John Anthony
• Assistant Examiner(s): MAKIYA, DAVID J
• Application Number:
  US11/078,643
• Publication Number:
  US 20050201116A1
• Time in Patent Office: 935 Days
• Field of Search: 362/286, 362/518, 362/539, 362/517, 362/467, 362/512, 362/526
• US Class Current: 362/512
• CPC Class Codes: C08L 2201/12 Shape memory
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 41/333 with discontinuity at the junction between adjacent areas
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 41/657 by moving light sources
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 41/675 by moving reflectors
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 41/689 Flaps, i.e. screens pivoting around one of their edges

Abstract

Disclosed herein is an adaptive head light assembly, comprising a parabolic reflector for housing a filament assembly; a lever arm having one end pivotably affixed to a bearing point of the parabolic reflector; an actuator in operative communication with the other end of the lever arm to actuate motion of the lever arm, wherein the actuator comprises a shape memory material adapted to change a shape orientation or modulus property upon receipt of an activation signal; and a spring in operative communication with the other end of the lever arm and adapted to provide a restoring force.

Claims

1. An adaptive head light assembly, comprising:

a parabolic reflector for housing a filament assembly;

wherein the parabolic reflector comprises one or more discrete sections that are in slideable and/or rotary communication with one another;

an actuator in operative communication with one or more discrete sections, wherein the actuator comprises a shape memory material that changes the orientation of the discrete section upon receipt of an activation signal; and

a spring in operative communication with one or more discrete sections, wherein the spring provides a restoring force to the discrete section.

2. The head light assembly of claim 1, wherein the parabolic reflector comprises a first discrete section and a second discrete section, and wherein the first discrete section and the second discrete section are in slideable and/or rotary communication with each other.

3. The head light assembly of claim 2, wherein the first discrete section comprises a flange that is in operative communication with a circumferential edge of the second discrete section.

4. The head light assembly of claim 2, wherein the first discrete section is comprises the rear of the parabolic reflector, while the second discrete section is fixedly attached to a housing.

5. The head light assembly of claim 2, wherein a guide facilitates the motion of the first discrete section.

6. An adaptive head light assembly, comprising:

a parabolic reflector for housing a filament assembly;

wherein the parabolic reflector comprises one or more discrete sections;

an actuator in operative communication with one or more discrete sections, wherein the actuator comprises a shape memory material that changes the orientation of the discrete section upon receipt of an activation signal; and

a hinge in operative communication with one or more discrete sections, wherein the hinge provides a restoring force to the discrete section.

7. The adaptive head light assembly of claim 6, wherein the shape memory material is a shape memory alloy.

8. The adaptive head light assembly of claim 6, wherein the hinge comprises an electrically conducting elastomer that transmits the activation signal to one or more discrete sections.

9. The adaptive head light assembly of claim 6, wherein the discrete section is the actuator.

10. The adaptive head light assembly of claim 6, wherein the filament assembly is fixedly attached to a housing externaJ to the adaptive head light assembly.

11. An adaptive head light assembly, comprising:

a parabolic reflector for housing a filament assembly;

a single shade in operative communication with the parabolic reflector and an actuator, wherein the actuator comprises a shape memory material that changes the orientation of the shade upon receipt of an activation signal, wherein the orientation of the single shade is adjacent to and does not obstruct an opening of the parabolic reflector in an absence of the activation signal and is positioned to obstruct at least a portion of the opening defined by the parabolic reflector upon receipt of the activation signal; and

a spring in operative communication with the single shade, wherein the spring provides a restoring force to the shade to position the shade adjacent to the parabolic reflector in the absence of the activation signal.

12. The adaptive head light assembly of claim 11, wherein the spring is a torsion spring.

13. The adaptive head light assembly of claim 11, wherein the shade is disposed about a pivot, wherein the pivot is adjacent to the parabolic reflector.