Lighting system for vehicles

• US 20050174792A1
• Filed: 10/06/2004
• Published: 08/11/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 02/10/2004
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Murakami Corporation
• Original Assignee: Murakami Corporation
• Inventors: Matsuura, Masaaki
• Application Number:
  US10/958,290
• Publication Number:
  US 20050174792A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 362/511
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/0011 with light guides for distributing the light between several lighting or signalling devices
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/2665 on rear-view mirrors lighting devices for vehicle interior on or for rear-view mirrors B60Q3/258
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/324 for signalling that a door is open or intended to be opened
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 3/217 Doors, e.g. door sills; Steps
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/1207 with lamps; with turn indicators

Abstract

Disclosed is a lighting system for vehicles which is able to be easily installed in an extremely small space, to be easily maintained, and to conserve its power consumption. The lighting system includes a light source placed inside a vehicle, and an optical fiber. This optical fiber has two ends, and light from the light source enters one end, whereas the light is sent out from the other end to irradiate any given area. Thanks to the optical fiber, the light source can be placed away from an area to be irradiated.

Claims

1. A lighting system used in a vehicle, the lighting system comprising,

a light source being placed inside the vehicle;

and

a light guiding member having two ends, one end of which light from the light source enters, and from the other end of which the light is sent out, the other end being placed in one of an interior and an exterior of the vehicle.

2. A lighting system according to claim 1, further comprising a floodlight for allowing light from the light source to pass therethrough, the floodlight being placed on an inner side of the vehicle relative to the light source.

3. A lighting system according to claim 1, further comprising:

a floodlight for allowing light from the light source to pass therethrough, the floodlight being placed adjacent to the light source; and

a pair of shutters, one of which is located between the light source and the floodlight, and the other of which is located between the light source and the one end of the light guiding member, the shutters capable of being opened and closed, wherein one of the shutters is opened when the other is closed.

4. A lighting system according to claim 3,

wherein the floodlight and the one end of the light guiding member are positioned facing each other across the light source, and

wherein each of the shutters has two surfaces, one of which is made of a reflecting plate, which faces the light source.

5. A lighting system according to claim 3,

wherein open and close movements of each of the shutters are related to open and close movements of a door of the vehicle.

6. A lighting system according to claim 1,

wherein the other end of the light guiding member is routed to an interior of a door mirror of the vehicle.

7. A lighting system according to claim 1, further comprising a floodlight for allowing light from the light source to pass therethrough, the floodlight being placed inside the vehicle so as to face a door of the vehicle when the door is closed,

wherein the one end of the light guiding member is positioned on an inner side of the door so as to face the floodlight when the door is closed.