Vehicle lamp

• US 8,851,730 B2
• Filed: 04/15/2013
• Issued: 10/07/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 04/17/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Koito Manufacturing Company Limited
• Original Assignee: Koito Manufacturing Company Limited
• Inventors: Tatara, Naohisa, Hayakawa, Michihiko
• Primary Examiner(s): BRUCE, DAVID VERNON
• Application Number:
  US13/862,864
• Publication Number:
  US 20130272013A1
• Time in Patent Office: 540 Days
• Field of Search: 362/464, 362/465, 362/466, 362/546
• US Class Current: 362/546
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/0005 Devices preventing the lights from becoming dirty or damaged, e.g. protection grids or cleaning by air flow windshield wipers for cleaning optical devices of vehicles B60S1/04
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/0023 the element being a sensor, e.g. distance sensor, camera
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/143 combined with another condition, e.g. using vehicle recognition from camera images or activation of wipers
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 11/04 Mounting of cameras operative during drive; Arrangement of controls thereof relative to the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 41/28 Cover glass

Abstract

A transparent member 2 defines part of a lamp compartment 4. A light source 5a is accommodated within the lamp compartment 4 and shines light to the front through the transparent member 2. A detection device 6 is accommodated within the lamp compartment 4 and obtains information on what exists ahead. A stepped portion 7 is formed on an external surface of the transparent member 2 and guides drops of water which adhere to the external surface so as to avoid a detection enabled area of the detection device 6.

Claims

1. A vehicle lamp comprising:

a transparent member which defines part of a lamp compartment;

a light source that is accommodated in the lamp compartment and which shines light to the front through the transparent member;

a detection device that is accommodated in the lamp compartment and which obtains information on what exists ahead through the transparent member; and

a stepped portion that is formed on an external surface of the transparent member and which guides drops of water adhering to the external surface so as to avoid a detection enabled area if the detection device.

2. The vehicle lamp according to claim 1, wherein the stepped portion comprises at least either of a portion which guides drops of water from top to bottom and a portion which guides drops of water from bottom to top.

3. The vehicle lamp according to claim 1, the stepped portion is formed by causing part of the external surface of the transparent member to project outwards.

4. The vehicle lamp according to claim 1, the detection device comprises an imaging device, and the detection enabled area corresponds to an angle of view of the imaging device.

5. The vehicle lamp according to claim 4, the imaging device is disposed above the light source.