Lens component, indicator unit for signal indicating light, and signal indicating light

• US 7,445,360 B2
• Filed: 08/12/2005
• Issued: 11/04/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 09/02/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: PATLITE Corporation. (Inaba Denkisangyo Company Limited)
• Original Assignee: PATLITE Corporation. (Inaba Denkisangyo Company Limited)
• Inventors: Ikeda, Akito
• Primary Examiner(s): Ton; Anabel
• Assistant Examiner(s): HAN, JASON
• Application Number:
  US11/204,265
• Publication Number:
  US 20060044814A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,180 Days
• Field of Search: 362/27, 362/237, 362/244, 362/268, 362/332, 362/338, 362/511, 362/521, 362/555, 340/815.4, 340/815.45, 340/815.49, 340/815.5, 340/815.74
• US Class Current: 362/332
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 10/06 flashing, e.g. with rotating reflector or light source signalling lighting devices mounted on vehicles B60Q1/26
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 8/083 of bollard type, i.e. with lighting fixture integrated into the standard or mounted on top of it and having substantially the same diameter
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 5/04 of lens shape
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 7/0091 using total internal reflection
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 7/041 with conical or pyramidal surface
• CPC Class Codes: F21W 2111/00 Use or application of lighting devices or systems for signalling, marking or indicating, not provided for in codes F21W2102/00 – F21W2107/00
• CPC Class Codes: F21W 2111/02 for roads, paths or the like
• CPC Class Codes: F21W 2111/04 for waterways
• CPC Class Codes: F21W 2131/403 for machines
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2115/10 Light-emitting diodes [LED]
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/0001 specially adapted for lighting devices or systems lighting or signalling on vehicles using light guides B60Q1/00; lighting devices for vehicle dashboards B60Q3/10; lighting devices for vehicle interior using light guides B60Q3/62; lighting devices mounted on the vehicle rear part using light guides F21S43/235; measuring arrangements having light conducting pointers G01D13/265; illumination of liquid crystal displays G02F1/1336; illuminated signs G09F13/00
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/0021 for housing at least a part of the light source, e.g. by forming holes or recesses
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/003 Lens or lenticular sheet or layer
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/0033 Means for improving the coupling-out of light from the light guide

Abstract

A lens component includes: a light incident portion (16) having an incident face (14) upon which light from a light source (6) is incident, the light source (6) being disposed at a light source position (15); and a plurality of plate-like light guiding portions (17, 32) disposed radially around an axis (S0) passing through the light source position (15) or a position in the vicinity thereof, and arranged to guide light incident from the incident face (14) of the light incident portion (16), in emission directions (F, F1-F3) at right angles to the axis (S0). Each of the plate-like light guiding portions (17, 32) is provided on an end face (27) thereof with a radial reflecting face (29, 29A, 29B) for internally reflecting, in the emission directions (F, F1-F3), the light incident from the incident face (14) of the light incident portion (16). Further, each of the plate-like light guiding portions (17, 32) has a pair of main surfaces (25) forming a pair of light guiding and reflecting surfaces which extend substantially in parallel to the predetermined axis (S0) and which guide, as internally reflecting, the light incident from the incident face (14) in the emission directions (F, F1-F3).

Claims

1. A signal indicating light indicator unit (3A-3C, 42) comprising:

a lens component (7, 7A-7C, 7F) comprising;

a light incident portion (16) having an incident face (14) upon which light from a light source (6) is incident, the light source (6) being disposed at a single predetermined light source position (15); and

a plurality of plate-like light guiding portions (17, 32) extending radially outward from a predetermined axis (SO) passing through the single light source position (15) or a position in the vicinity thereof and arranged to guide light incident from the incident face (14) of the light incident portion (16), in radial emission directions (F, F1-F3) intersecting the predetermined axis (SO), and wherein

each of the plate-like light guiding portions (17, 32) is provided on an end face (27) with a radial reflecting face (29, 29A, 29B) for internally reflecting in the radial emission directions (F, F1-F3), the light incident from the incident face (14) of the light incident portion (16),

each of the plate-like light guiding portions (17, 32) has a pair of main surfaces (25) serving as a pair of light guiding and reflecting surfaces which extend substantially and parallel to the predetermined axis (SO) and for guiding, as internally reflecting the light incident from the incident face (14) in the radial emission directions (F, F1-F3),

light from an outer periphery (13) of said plurality of plate-like guiding portions is radially emitted in said radial emission direction,

a single light source (6) is disposed at the single light source position (15) of the lens component (7, 7A-7F), and

said light incident face (14) comprises a concave portion and said single predetermined light source position (15) is provided in said concave portion.

2. The signal indicating light indicator unit (3A-3C, 42) according to claim 1, wherein each radial reflecting face (29) includes a plurality of radial reflecting faces (29) made in a form of stairs and forming total-reflection surfaces.

3. The signal indicating light indicator unit (3A-3C, 42) according to claim 1, further comprising a plurality of joint portions (18) each of which connects radial outer edges of adjacent two plate-like light guiding portions (17, 32) to each other to form a three dimensional geometric surface.

4. The signal indicating light indicator unit (3A-3C, 42) according to claim 1, wherein said outer periphery (13) of said plurality of plate-like guiding portions (17, 32) is provided in a cylindrical shape.