Light assembly with bending light

• US 20050047151A1
• Filed: 08/29/2003
• Published: 03/03/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 08/29/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC (General Motors Company)
• Original Assignee: Guide Corporation (Vehicle Lighting Incorporated)
• Inventors: Van Duyn, Paul D.
• Granted Patent: US 7,018,078 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 362/464
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/122 with electrical actuating means details of the electric drive components, e.g. motors, shafts, ball joints B60Q1/076
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 41/683 by moving screens

Abstract

The present invention comprises a light assembly which provides additional light adjacent the main beam of a light. A shield within the light assembly is moved in response to a sensed condition so as to provide a first area of additional illumination at the edge of the light'"'"'s main beam. In response to a second sensed condition, the shield is moved such that a second area of additional illumination is illuminated in addition to the first area.

Claims

1. A light assembly comprising,

a light source, and

a shield movable between a first position wherein the light assembly is capable of emitting a first beam, a second position wherein the light assembly is capable of emitting a first additional beam, and a third position wherein the light assembly is capable of emitting a second additional beam.

2. The light assembly of claim 1 wherein the shield is responsive to a first sensed condition such that the shield is moved to the second position when the first condition is sensed.

3. The light assembly of claim 2 wherein the shield is further responsive to a second sensed condition such that the shield is moved to the third position when the second condition is sensed.

4. The light assembly of claim 3, wherein the first sensed condition is a turn condition, and the second sensed condition is a turn condition more severe than the first sensed condition, such that as the turn condition becomes more severe, progressively more illumination is provided.

5. The light assembly of claim 1 wherein the light assembly further comprises,

a reflector having a first area, a second area, and a third area, the first area associated with the first position of the shield, the second area associated with the second position of the shield, and the third area associated with the third position of the shield, such that when the shield is in the first position, the first area is optically exposed to the light source, but the second and third areas are not, and such that when the shield is in the second position, the first and second areas are optically exposed to the light source, but the third areas is not, and when the shield is in the third position, the first, second and third areas are optically exposed to the light source.

6. The light assembly of claim 5, further comprising,

a lens, and wherein the distance between the first position and the second position, the distance between the second position and the third position, the lens and the reflector are designed such that when the light source is energized and the second area is optically exposed to the light source, a first additional area is illuminated, and when the light source is energized and the third area is optically exposed to the light source, a second additional area is illuminated, the second additional area larger than the first additional area,

7. The light assembly of claim 6 wherein the distance between the first position and the second position is the same as the distance between the second position and the third position.

8. A light fixture comprising,

a reflector,

a light source capable of illuminating the first and second reflecting zones, and

at least one incrementally movable shield adjacent the light source and capable of being placed in a first, a second and a third position.

9. The light fixture of claim 8, wherein the incrementally movable shield is capable of being placed in a plurality of positions intermediate the first and the third positions.

10. The light fixture of claim 8, further comprising,

an actuator, the actuator responsive to input from a sensor and capable of moving the movable shield from the first position to the second and third position.

11. The light fixture of claim 10, further comprising,

a spring operatively connected to the shield for biasing the shield toward the first position.

12. The light fixture of claim 8, wherein the reflector further comprises,

a first zone associated with the first position, such that when the at least one incrementally movable shield is in the first position, the first zone is in optical communication with the light source,

a second zone associated with the second position, such that when the at least one incrementally movable shield is in the second position, the second zone is in optical communication with the light source, and

a third zone associated with the third position, such that when the at least one incrementally movable shield is in the third position, the third zone is in optical communication with the light source.

13. The light fixture of claim 12, wherein the second zone and the third zone have prescriptions, and the prescription of the second zone is different from the prescription of the third zone.

14. A method of providing bending light comprising the steps of,

providing a light fixture with a light source,

providing a movable shield in a first position, adjacent the light source,

sensing a first condition,

moving the movable shield from the first position to a second position in response to the sensed first condition,

sensing a second condition, and

moving the movable shield from the second position to a third position in response to the sensed second condition.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the first sensed condition is a turn condition and wherein the second sensed condition is a turn condition.

16. A light fixture comprising,

a reflector having a first reflecting zone and a second reflecting zone,

a light source capable of illuminating the first and second reflecting zones,

a first movable shield adjacent the light source and capable of being placed in a first, a second and a third position, and

a second movable shield adjacent the light source and generally opposite the first movable shield, capable of being placed in a first, a second and a third position.

17. The light fixture of claim 16, wherein the first and second movable shields are capable of being placed in a plurality of positions intermediate the first and the third positions.

18. The light fixture of claim 16, further comprising,

at least one actuator, the actuator responsive to input from a sensor and capable of moving the first movable shield from the first position to the second and third position.

19. The light fixture of claim 18, further comprising,

a spring operatively connected to the first movable shield for biasing the shield toward the first position.

20. The light fixture of claim 16, wherein the first movable shield and the second movable shield are movable about the same pivot axis.

21. The light fixture of claim 20, wherein the first movable shield is rotationally connected to the second movable shield.

22. A headlamp shield drive assembly comprising;

a first shield;

a disc operably connected to the first shield; and

a motor operably connected to the disc, such that when the motor moves, the disc is forced to move which in turn forces the shield to move.

23. The drive assembly of claim 22, wherein the disc and the first shield are operably connected by a pin and slot mechanism, the pin located within the slot, the slot having an end.

24. The drive assembly of claim 23, wherein the shield comprises the slot, and the disc comprises the pin, such that when the disc moves, the pin is forced against the end, causing the first shield to move.

25. The drive assembly of claim 22, wherein the disc comprises,

a first and a second slot, the first and second slot having an end, and wherein the first shield comprises,

a protuberance protruding into the first slot, the drive assembly further comprising,

a second shield, the second shield having a protuberance protruding into the second slot.

26. The drive assembly of claim 25, further comprising,

a first mechanical stop located adjacent the protuberance of the first shield such that the protuberance of the first shield is not allowed to move beyond the first mechanical stop but is allowed to move away from the first mechanical stop, and

a second mechanical stop located adjacent the protuberance of the second shield such that the protuberance of the second shield is not allowed to move beyond the second mechanical stop but is allowed to move away from the second mechanical stop.

27. The drive assembly of claim 26, further comprising,

a biasing member operably connected to the protuberance of the first shield such that the protuberance of the first shield is biased toward the first mechanical stop.

28. The drive assembly of claim 27, wherein the biasing member is operably connected to the protuberance of the second shield such that the protuberance of the second shield is biased toward the second mechanical stop.