Vehicle headlamp with daytime running light

• US 7,290,907 B2
• Filed: 02/24/2006
• Issued: 11/06/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 02/24/2006
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd. (Honda Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd. (Honda Motor Company)
• Inventors: Kovach, Steven
• Primary Examiner(s): MAY, ROBERT J
• Application Number:
  US11/361,555
• Publication Number:
  US 20070201240A1
• Time in Patent Office: 620 Days
• Field of Search: 362512-513, 362277-279, 362282-284, 362465-469, 362538-539, 362/281
• US Class Current: 362/512
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 2400/30 Daytime running lights [DRL], e.g. circuits or arrangements therefor
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 41/435 Hoods or cap-shaped
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 41/692 Shields, i.e. screens not creating an image meant to be projected
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 17/02 with provision for adjustment F21V17/04 - F21V17/08 take precedence

Abstract

A vehicle headlamp. The headlamp comprises a light source and a reflector to direct light received from the light source out of the headlamp. A movable shade is positionable to control the light received by the reflector. A shade driver is coupled to the movable shade to position the shade. A first shade position configures the headlamp for high beam lighting. A second shade position configures the headlamp for low beam lighting. A third shade position configures the headlamp for daytime running lights.

Claims

1. A vehicle headlamp, comprising:

a light source;

a reflector to direct light received from the light source out of the headlamp;

a pair of generally concentric movable shades comprising an inner shade and an outer shade, the shades being independently positionable to control the light received by the reflector; and

a shade driver to position the movable shades, the shade driver comprising;

a first drive member coupled to a first motor and the inner shade, and

a second drive member coupled to a second motor and the outer shade,

wherein;

a first position of the inner and outer shades configures the headlamp for high beam lighting,

a second position of the inner and outer shades configures the headlamp for low beam lighting, and

a third position of the inner and outer shades configures the headlamp for daytime running lights.

2. The vehicle headlamp of claim 1 wherein the outer shade further includes a slot through which a shade leg of the inner shade extends.

3. The vehicle headlight of claim 1 wherein the outer shade further includes an aperture disposed in a closed end through which at least one of a shade leg of the inner shade and the first drive member extends.

4. The vehicle headlamp of claim 1, further comprising at least one stop to position at least one movable shade.

5. The vehicle headlamp of claim 1 wherein the first and second drive members are one of a ball screw, lead screw, belt drive, rack-and-pinion and four-bar linkage mechanism.

6. The vehicle headlamp of claim 1, further comprising a controller having position-tracking capability, said controller being coupled to the shade driver through a motor driver.