Vehicle lamp assembly

• US 7,946,743 B2
• Filed: 12/12/2008
• Issued: 05/24/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 12/14/2007
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Koito Manufacturing Company Limited
• Original Assignee: Koito Manufacturing Company Limited
• Inventors: Nobuhara, Kenji, Natsume, Kazunori
• Primary Examiner(s): Lee; Jong-Suk (James)
• Assistant Examiner(s): Makiya; David J
• Application Number:
  US12/334,128
• Publication Number:
  US 20090154186A1
• Time in Patent Office: 893 Days
• Field of Search: 362/509, 362/511, 362/516
• US Class Current: 362/516
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/0041 of several lamps in relation to each other
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/0058 Stacked, i.e. one lamp located behind the other in the optical axis direction
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/2696 Mounting of devices using LEDs
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 2400/30 Daytime running lights [DRL], e.g. circuits or arrangements therefor
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 41/148 the main emission direction of the LED being perpendicular to the optical axis
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 41/151 arranged in one or more lines
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 41/24 Light guides
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 43/14 Light emitting diodes [LED]
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 43/235 Light guides
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 43/237 rod-shaped
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 43/245 emitting light from one or more of its major surfaces
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 43/247 with a single light source being coupled into the light guide
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 43/26 Refractors, transparent cover plates, light guides or filters not provided in groups F21S43/235 - F21S43/255
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 43/30 characterised by reflectors
• CPC Class Codes: F21W 2103/10 Position lights
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2115/10 Light-emitting diodes [LED]

Abstract

A vehicle lamp assembly includes a first lamp section and a second lamp section, which are disposed inside a lamp chamber defined by a lamp body and a front cover. The first lamp section includes a light source and a reflector which reflects light from the light source. The second lamp section includes a first light emitting device, a second light emitting device, a light guide member, and an optical component. The light guide member includes a base end face from which the light guide member extends in a strip shape along the front cover, a functional portion having a diffusing front surface which emits light from a first light emitting device, and a decorative portion having an internally reflecting rear surface which reflects light from a second light emitting device. A light emitting area of the decorative portion is larger than that of the functional portion. The optical component is disposed on a rear side of the functional portion to guide the light from the first light emitting device toward the diffusing front surface. The light emitted from the second light emitting device is incident on the base end face.

Claims

1. A vehicle lamp assembly comprising:

a lamp body;

a front cover which forms a lamp chamber together with the lamp body;

a first lamp section comprising a light source and a reflector which reflects light from the light source; and

a second lamp section comprising a first light emitting device, a second light emitting device, a light guide member, and an optical component,

wherein the first lamp section and the second lamp section are disposed inside the lamp chamber,

wherein the light guide member comprises;

a base end face from which the light guide member extends in a strip shape along the front cover;

a functional portion comprising a diffusing front surface which diffusely emits light from the first light emitting device; and

a decorative portion comprising an internally reflecting rear surface which reflects light from the second light emitting device toward the front cover,

wherein a light emitting area of the decorative portion is larger than a light emitting area of the functional portion,

wherein the optical component is disposed on a rear side of the functional portion to guide the light from the first light emitting device toward the diffusing front surface, and

wherein the second light emitting device is disposed such that the light emitted therefrom is incident on the base end face of the light guide member.

2. The vehicle lamp assembly according to claim 1, wherein the light guide member is closer to the front cover than the first lamp section.

3. The vehicle lamp assembly according to claim 1, wherein the first and second light emitting devices are oriented in a same direction.

4. The vehicle lamp assembly according to claim 1, wherein the light guide member and the optical component are formed in a one-piece structure.

5. The vehicle lamp assembly according to claim 1, wherein the optical component collimates the light from the first light emitting device.

6. The vehicle lamp assembly according to claim 1, wherein the optical component comprises a parabolic reflector.

7. The vehicle lamp assembly according to claim 1, wherein the diffusing front surface comprises cylindrical steps.

8. The vehicle lamp assembly according to claim 1, wherein the internally reflecting rear surface comprises stippled dots.

9. The vehicle lamp assembly according to claim 1, wherein the second lamp section further comprises a circuit board shared by the first and second light emitting devices.

10. The vehicle lamp assembly according to claim 1, wherein a cross sectional area of the decorative portion is gradually decreased as a distance from the second light emitting device becomes longer.

11. The vehicle lamp assembly according to claim 1, further comprising:

an aiming mechanism which tiltably supports the first lamp section on the lamp body; and

an extension disposed inside the lamp chamber to surround the first lamp section, and

the light guide member is attached to a circumferential portion of the extension.

12. The vehicle lamp assembly according to claim 11, wherein the extension is formed with an opening inside which the light guide member is disposed.

13. The vehicle lamp assembly according to claim 1, further comprising an inner lens disposed inside the lamp chamber to diffuse the light reflected by the reflector of the first lamp, wherein the light guide member is attached to the inner lens.

14. The vehicle lamp assembly according to claim 13, wherein the inner lens is formed with an opening inside which the light guide member is disposed.

15. A vehicle lamp assembly comprising:

a lamp body;

a front cover which forms a lamp chamber together with the lamp body;

a first lamp section comprising;

a light source; and

a reflector which reflects light from the light source;

a second lamp section comprising;

a first light emitting device;

a second light emitting device oriented in a same direction as the first light emitting device;

a circuit board shared by the first and second light emitting devices;

a light guide member comprising;

a base end face from which the light guide member extends in a strip shape along the front cover;

a functional portion comprising a diffusing front surface which diffusely emits light from the first light emitting device, wherein the diffusing front surface comprises cylindrical steps; and

a decorative portion comprising an internally reflecting rear surface which reflects light from the second light emitting device toward the front cover, wherein the internally reflecting rear surface comprises stippled dots,

wherein a light emitting area of the decorative portion is larger than a light emitting area of the functional portion,

wherein a cross sectional area of the decorative portion is gradually decreased as a distance from the second light emitting device becomes longer; and

an optical component, which collimates the light from the first light emitting device, disposed on a rear side of the functional portion to guide the light from the first light emitting device toward the diffusing front surface, the optical component comprising a parabolic reflector,

wherein the light guide member and the optical component are formed in a one-piece structure, and

wherein the second light emitting device is disposed such that the light emitted therefrom is incident on the base end face of the light guide member,

wherein the first lamp section and the second lamp section are disposed inside the lamp chamber, and

wherein the light guide member is closer to the front cover than the first lamp section.

16. The vehicle lamp assembly according to claim 15, further comprising:

an aiming mechanism which tiltably supports the first lamp section on the lamp body; and

an extension disposed inside the lamp chamber to surround the first lamp section, and

the light guide member is attached to a circumferential portion of the extension.

17. The vehicle lamp assembly according to claim 16, wherein the extension is formed with an opening inside which the light guide member is disposed.

18. The vehicle lamp assembly according to claim 15, further comprising an inner lens disposed inside the lamp chamber to diffuse the light reflected by the reflector of the first lamp, wherein the light guide member is attached to the inner lens.

19. The vehicle lamp assembly according to claim 18, wherein the inner lens is formed with an opening inside which the light guide member is disposed.