Side emitting near field lens

• US 20070109791A1
• Filed: 11/15/2005
• Published: 05/17/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 11/15/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Varroc Lighting Systems S.R.O. (Varroc Engineering Limited)
• Original Assignee: Visteon Global Technologies Incorporated (Visteon Corporation)
• Inventors: Jones, Thomas, Chinniah, Jeyachandrabose, Erion, Jeffrey, Sayers, Edwin, Fallahi, Amir
• Granted Patent: US 7,489,453 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 362/334
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 41/24 Light guides
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 41/28 Cover glass
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 41/322 the reflector using total internal reflection
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 43/14 Light emitting diodes [LED]
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 43/235 Light guides
• 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: F21S 43/315 using total internal reflection
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 5/04 of lens shape
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 7/0091 using total internal reflection
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2115/10 Light-emitting diodes [LED]

Abstract

A near field lens for an automotive light assembly which has a reduced thickness. Generally, the near field lens includes a main body of light transmitting material. A pocket is formed in the main body for receiving light from a light source. The pocket is defined by an inner radially facing surface and an inner axially facing surface. The inner radially facing surface is structured to reduce the thickness of the lens.

Claims

1. A near field lens for an automotive light assembly having a light source, the light source aligned along a longitudinal axis, the lens extending along a lateral axis perpendicular to the longitudinal axis, the lens comprising:

a main body of light transmitting material;

the main body defining an outer longitudinally facing surface and an outer laterally facing surface, the outer longitudinally facing surface structured to redirect light along the lateral axis towards the outer laterally facing surface; and

a pocket formed in the main body for receiving light from the light source, the pocket being defined by an inner longitudinally facing surface and an inner laterally facing surface, the inner longitudinally facing surface being curved towards the pocket.

2. The near field lens of claim 1, wherein the lens collimates light longitudinally relative to the longitudinal axis.

3. The near field lens of claim 1, wherein the lens collimates light vertically relative to a vertical axis, the longitudinal, lateral and vertical axes being mutually perpendicular.

4. The near field lens of claim 1, wherein the inner longitudinally facing surface is structured to refract light towards the outer longitudinally facing surface.

5. The near field lens of claim 1, wherein the inner longitudinally facing surface is curved between an upstream point and a downstream point, and wherein a tangent of the curve at the downstream point is generally parallel to the lateral axis.

6. The near field lens of claim 1, wherein the entire inner longitudinally facing surface is curved and follows a circular arc.

7. The near field lens of claim 1, wherein the inner laterally facing surface is curved towards the pocket.

8. The near field lens of claim 1, wherein the inner laterally facing surface is structured as a lens to longitudinally collimate light from the pocket.

9. The near field lens of claim 1, wherein the outer laterally facing surface is generally parallel to the longitudinal axis.

10. The near field lens of claim 1, wherein the main body includes a central hub permitting light to pass longitudinally therethrough.

11. The near field lens of claim 1, wherein the main body includes a first body portion and a second body portion, the first and second body portions directing light along the lateral axis in opposite directions.

12. The near field lens of claim 11, wherein the first and second body portions mirror each other about the longitudinal axis.

13. The near field lens of claim 11, wherein the first body portion and second body portion define inner longitudinally facing surface portions which in combination form the inner longitudinally facing surface.

14. The near field lens of claim 11, wherein the first body portion and second body portion define inner laterally facing surface portions which in combination form the inner laterally facing surface.

15. The near field lens of claim 1, wherein the inner longitudinally facing surface has a compound curvature.

16. The near field lens of claim 1, wherein the inner laterally facing surface has a compound curvature.

17. The near field lens of claim 1, wherein the main body is disc shaped.

18. The near field lens of claim 17, wherein the main body represents a revolution about the longitudinal axis.

19. The near field lens of claim 17, wherein the main body defines a vertical axis mutually perpendicular to the longitudinal and lateral axes, and wherein the main body emits light in both the lateral and vertical directions.

20. The near field lens of claim 17, wherein the outer laterally facing surface is annular.