Actuator system for a lighting system

• US 8,011,813 B2
• Filed: 02/03/2009
• Issued: 09/06/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 02/03/2009
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Varroc Lighting Systems S.R.O. (Varroc Engineering Limited)
• Original Assignee: Visteon Global Technologies Incorporated (Visteon Corporation)
• Inventors: Schickel, Dylan, Hashemi, Masoud
• Primary Examiner(s): TSO, LAURA K
• Application Number:
  US12/364,680
• Publication Number:
  US 20100195336A1
• Time in Patent Office: 945 Days
• Field of Search: 362/359, 362/358
• US Class Current: 362/359
• CPC Class Codes: C08L 2201/12 Shape memory
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 41/141 Light emitting diodes [LED]
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 41/635 by moving refractors, filters or transparent cover plates
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 41/657 by moving light sources
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 41/675 by moving reflectors
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 41/686 Blades, i.e. screens moving in a vertical plane
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 17/02 with provision for adjustment F21V17/04 - F21V17/08 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 9/40 with provision for controlling spectral properties, e.g. colour, or intensity
• CPC Class Codes: F21W 2102/00 Exterior vehicle lighting devices for illuminating purposes
• CPC Class Codes: F21W 2102/135 the light having cut-off lines, i.e. clear borderlines between emitted regions and dark regions
• CPC Class Codes: F21W 2107/10 for land vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2115/10 Light-emitting diodes [LED]

Abstract

An actuator system for a lighting system includes a shape memory alloy coupled to a component of the lighting system to control an actuation of the component and thereby produce a plurality of light patterns and an electrical control circuit in electrical communication with the shape memory alloy to selectively provide an electrical current to the shape memory alloy for controlling a physical property of the shape memory alloy and thereby the motion of the component of the lighting system.

Claims

1. An actuator system for a lighting system comprising:

a shape memory alloy coupled to a component of the lighting system to control an actuation of the component and thereby produce a plurality of light patterns; and

an electrical control circuit in electrical communication with the shape memory alloy to selectively provide an electrical current to the shape memory alloy for controlling a physical property of the shape memory alloy and thereby the motion of the component of the lighting system.

2. The actuator system according to claim 1, further comprising a biasing device adapted to direct the component of the lighting system into a default position.

3. The actuator system according to claim 1, wherein the electrical control circuit includes a programmable function for controlling the transmission of electrical current.

4. The actuator system according to claim 1, wherein the shape memory alloy is coupled to a beam modifier of the lighting system for controlling a position of the beam modifier relative to a light source, thereby modifying a light pattern created by the beam modifier.

5. The actuator system according to claim 4, wherein the beam modifier includes at least one of a shield to block portions of a light beam emitted from the light source, a reflector to reflect a portion of the light beam, a lens to direct light rays to form a specific beam pattern, and a filter to modify spectral characteristics of the light beam.

6. The actuator system according to claim 1, wherein the shape memory alloy is coupled to a rotational element and the rotational element is coupled to a beam modifier of the lighting system for controlling a position of the beam modifier relative to a light source, thereby modifying a light pattern created by the beam modifier.

7. The actuator system according to claim 1, wherein the shape memory alloy is coupled to a light source for controlling a position of the light source relative to a beam modifier of the lighting system, thereby modifying a light pattern created by the beam modifier.

8. A light control system comprising:

a light source for emitting a plurality of light rays;

a beam modifier disposed in a path of the light rays for creating a light pattern;

a shape memory alloy coupled to at least one of the light source, the beam modifier, and a static surface, wherein the shape memory alloy controls the motion of at least one of the light source and the beam modifier; and

an electrical control circuit in electrical communication with the shape memory alloy to selectively provide an electrical current to the shape memory alloy to cause a motion of the shape memory alloy and thereby the motion of at least one of the light source and the beam modifier to modify the light pattern created by the beam modifier.

9. The actuator system according to claim 8, wherein the beam modifier includes at least one of a shield to block portions of a light beam emitted from the light source, a reflector to reflect a portion of the light beam, a lens to direct light rays to form a specific beam pattern, and a filter to modify spectral characteristics of the light beam.

10. The light control system according to claim 8, wherein the electrical control circuit includes a programmable function for controlling the transmission of electrical current.

11. The light control system according to claim 8, wherein the shape memory alloy is coupled to the beam modifier for rotating the beam modifier about an axis to modify the light pattern created by the beam modifier.

12. The light control system according to claim 8, wherein the shape memory alloy is coupled to a rotational element and the rotational element is coupled to the beam modifier for rotating the beam modifier about an axis to modify the light pattern created by the beam modifier.

13. The light control system according to claim 8, wherein the shape memory alloy is coupled to a rotational element and the rotational element is coupled to the beam modifier for guiding the beam modifier along a pre-determined motion path to modify the light pattern created by the beam modifier.

14. A light control system comprising:

a light source for emitting a plurality of light rays;

a beam modifier disposed is path of the light rays for creating a light pattern; and

an actuator system including;

a main body having an attachment portion and a guide portion, wherein the attachment portion is coupled to the beam modifier;

an actuator guide having a cavity formed therein for receiving the guide portion of the main body to direct a motion of the main body;

a biasing device disposed between the main body and the actuator guide;

a shape memory alloy coupled to the main body and at least one of the actuator guide and static surface, wherein the shape memory alloy controls the motion of the main body and thereby a motion of the beam modifier; and

an electrical control circuit in electrical communication with the shape memory alloy to selectively provide an electrical current to the shape memory alloy for controlling a physical property of the shape memory alloy and thereby the motion of the main body.

15. The actuator system according to claim 14, wherein the actuator guide is disposed in at least one of a housing, a bracket, and a reflector of a headlamp system for a vehicle.

16. The actuator system according to claim 14, wherein the beam modifier includes at least one of a shield to block portions of a light beam emitted from the light source, a reflector to reflect a portion of the light beam, a lens to direct light rays to form a specific beam pattern, and a filter to modify spectral characteristics of the light beam.

17. The light control system according to claim 14, wherein the electrical control circuit includes a programmable function for controlling the transmission of electrical current.

18. The light control system according to claim 14, wherein the attachment portion of the main body is coupled to the beam modifier for rotating the beam modifier about an axis to modify the light pattern created by the beam modifier.

19. The light control system according to claim 14, wherein the attachment portion of the main body is coupled to a rotational element and the rotational element is coupled to the beam modifier for rotating the beam modifier about an axis to modify the light pattern created by the beam modifier.

20. The light control system according to claim 14, wherein the attachment portion of the main body is coupled to a rotational element and the rotational element is coupled to the beam modifier for guiding the beam modifier along a pre-determined motion path to modify the light pattern created by the beam modifier.