Multi-colored vehicle rear lamp

• US 10,378,721 B2
• Filed: 03/17/2017
• Issued: 08/13/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 03/12/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Grote Industries Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Grote Industries Incorporated
• Inventors: Norris, Brian K., Staggs, Randall, Anand, Nakul, Smith, Shawn S., Riley, Christopher C., Noe, Mark D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Peerce, Matthew J.
• Application Number:
  US15/461,700
• Publication Number:
  US 20170191635A1
• Time in Patent Office: 879 Days
• Field of Search: 362545
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/0088 Details of electrical connections B60Q1/305 takes precedence; electrical connection of the light source itself F21S41/192, F21S43/195
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/22 for reverse drive
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/2607 comprising at least two indicating lamps
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/30 for indicating rear of vehicle, e.g. by means of reflecting surfaces
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/34 for indicating change of drive direction B60Q1/22 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/44 for indicating braking action or preparation for braking, e.g. by detection of the foot approaching the brake pedal
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 2400/20 Multi-color single source or LED matrix, e.g. yellow blinker and red brake lamp generated by single lamp
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 43/14 Light emitting diodes [LED]
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 43/15 Strips of light sources
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 43/20 characterised by refractors, transparent cover plates, light guides or filters
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 43/255 Filters
• 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: F21Y 2113/13 comprising an assembly of point-like light sources
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2115/10 Light-emitting diodes [LED]

Abstract

A lamp for the rear of a vehicle is disclosed with a light transmissive cover having a red first illuminated surface area and a clear second illuminated surface area. It has a first LED light emitter located directly beneath the red first area, a second LED light emitter located directly beneath the clear second area, and a third LED light emitter, also located directly beneath said clear second area. The third red LED light emitter is for emitting red light through the clear second area simultaneously with light transmitted through the red first area, whereby the first and second areas are adapted to collectively form a contiguous red illuminated surface area.

Claims

1. A method of using a lamp for the rear of a vehicle in at least a brake mode and a reverse mode, comprising:

emitting light from a first light emitter of said lamp, said first light emitter emitting light from a first illuminated surface area of a light transmissive cover of said lamp, said first illuminated surface area being red in color;

emitting light from a second light emitter of said lamp, said second light emitter separate from said first light emitter, said second light emitting white light from a second illuminated surface area of said light transmissive cover, said second illuminated surface area being clear in color;

emitting light from a third light emitter of said lamp, said third light emitter separate from said first and said second light emitters, said third light emitter emitting red light through said clear second area;

wherein said first and third light emitters of said lamp emit light at a first intensity when said vehicle is in said brake mode, and at a second intensity when not in said brake mode, said first intensity being higher than said second intensity;

wherein said first light emitter comprises a plurality of LEDs, and wherein said plurality of LEDs surround said second light emitter and said third light emitter; and

wherein said second light emitter of said lamp emits light in said reverse mode.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said third light emitter is deactivated in said reverse mode.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein said first and third emitters are deactivated when not in said brake mode.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein said first and third emitters activate and deactivate independent of said second light emitter.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein:

said first light emitter is powered by a first power source P1 during at least said tail lamp mode;

said second light emitter is powered by a second power source P2 during said reverse mode; and

said third light emitter is powered by a third power source P3 during at least said brake mode.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein said power source P1 is provided by a first power conductor mounted in a housing, and wherein said second power source P2 is provided by a separate second power conductor mounted in said housing.

7. The method of claim 5, wherein power sources P1 and P3 supply a first power level in said brake mode, and a second power level when not in said brake mode, said first power level being higher than said second power level.

8. The method of claim 5, wherein power sources P1 and P3 supply power to said first and third light emitters when in said brake mode, and wherein said power source P3 ceases supplying power to said third light emitter when not in said brake mode.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein said lamp is free of a reflector.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein said lamp defines multiple separate internal compartments.

11. The method of claim 1 wherein there is no parabolic reflector and no barrier wall between said first light emitter and said third light emitter.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein said lamp defines a single internal compartment.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein said lamp includes one or more barrier walls positioned between any of said first, second, and third light emitters.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein said first light emitter of said lamp emits red light.

15. The method of claim 1, wherein said first light emitter of said lamp emits white light.

16. The method of claim 1, wherein said second clear area of said cover of said lamp is completely surrounded by said first red area of said cover.

17. The method of claim 1, wherein said light transmissive cover has in brake mode an illuminated surface area at least 75 square centimeters and less than 100 square centimeters.

18. The method of claim 1, wherein said light transmissive cover is circular and about 4 to 4½

inches in diameter.

19. The method of claim 1, wherein said light transmissive cover is oval and about 2½

inches tall and about 6¾

inches wide.

20. The method of claim 1, wherein said light transmissive cover has in brake mode an illuminated surface areas that is at least 5000 square millimeters.

21. The method of claim 1, wherein said lamp is shaped from a group consisting of:

(a) a circle with a diameter of about 10 centimeters; and

, (b) an oval.

22. The method of claim 1, wherein said first light emitter is located directly beneath said first illuminated surface area.

23. The method of claim 1, wherein said second light emitter is located directly beneath said second illuminated surface area.

24. The method of claim 1, wherein the first light emitter is activated upon activation of head lamps of said vehicle.