Light assembly comprising integrated passive and active illumination sources

• US 20060028815A1
• Filed: 08/03/2004
• Published: 02/09/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 08/03/2004
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Triplex Manufacturing Co.
• Original Assignee: Triplex Manufacturing Co.
• Inventors: Robin, Gary I.
• Application Number:
  US10/911,081
• Publication Number:
  US 20060028815A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 362/231
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/30 for indicating rear of vehicle, e.g. by means of reflecting surfaces
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/3015 combined with a lamp
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 43/14 Light emitting diodes [LED]
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2115/10 Light-emitting diodes [LED]

Abstract

A light assembly, suitable for use on a motorized vehicle, provides both active and passive illumination via optical elements carried by a single platform/structure. Active illumination and passive illumination elements provide illumination from separate and distinct, yet intermingled, surface areas of the single platform/structure of an assembly. The active illumination elements are interspersed/interleaved with the passive illumination source(s). Furthermore, the passive illumination is provided by “retro reflective” material that reflects light back at its source within a wide range of angles of incidence. In an embodiment of the invention, the active illumination is carried out by light emitting diodes mounted upon a platform of the light assembly that also holds the retro reflective passive illumination source.

Claims

1. A light assembly including both active and passive illumination sources and having a viewable surface from which the active and passive illumination sources provide light, and wherein the viewable surface comprises:

a first part comprising the passive illumination source; and

a second part, distinct from the first part, comprising the active illumination source, wherein the first part and the second part are intermingled over the viewable surface.

2. The light assembly of claim 1 wherein the first and second parts of the viewable surface are arranged as a set of interleaved striped regions.

3. The light assembly of claim 1 wherein the active illumination source comprises LEDs.

4. The light assembly of claim 1 wherein the active illumination source comprises incandescent light sources.

5. The light assembly of claim 1 wherein the active illumination source comprises fluorescent light sources.

6. The light assembly of claim 1 wherein the passive illumination source comprises retro reflective film.

7. The light assembly of claim 1 wherein the passive illumination source comprises retro reflective molded plastic.

8. The light assembly of claim 1 further comprising a protective covering of the viewable surface.

9. The light assembly of claim 8 wherein the protective covering is substantially colorless.

10. The light assembly of claim 1 wherein the active and passive illumination sources discharge differing colors of light.

11. The light assembly of claim 1 wherein the active illumination source emits light in a non-visible range.

12. The light assembly of claim 111 wherein the active illumination source primarily emits light within an infrared range.