Headlamp assembly having an adjustable light beam direction

• US 20080089085A1
• Filed: 10/13/2006
• Published: 04/17/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 10/13/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Visteon Global Technologies Incorporated (Visteon Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Visteon Global Technologies Incorporated (Visteon Corporation)
• Inventors: Popelek, Jan
• Granted Patent: US 7,810,972 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 362/514
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 41/675 by moving reflectors

Abstract

A headlamp assembly for a motor vehicle, including a housing coupling the headlamp assembly to a frame of the motor vehicle, a light source positioned within the housing for emitting light rays, and a reflector positioned within the housing and configured to direct the light rays into a beam. The reflector is movable with respect to the housing and the light source so as to adjust the beam direction.

Claims

1. A headlamp assembly for a motor vehicle, comprising:

a housing coupling the headlamp assembly to a frame of the motor vehicle;

a light source positioned within the housing and configured to emit light rays; and

a reflector positioned within the housing and configured to direct the light rays into a beam extending in a beam direction, wherein the reflector is movable with respect to the housing and the light source so as to adjust the beam direction.

2. A headlamp assembly as in claim 1, further comprising a first adjustment component adjustably supporting the reflector such that the reflector is adjustable with respect to the housing and the light source from outside of the housing.

3. A headlamp assembly as in claim 2, further comprising a motor assembly positioned within the housing, the motor assembly including a motor adjustment portion coupled with the reflector such that movement of the motor adjustment portion adjusts the reflector along a first axis.

4. A headlamp assembly as in claim 3, wherein the first adjustment component includes a flexible adjustment member extending through the housing and coupled with the motor adjustment portion such that rotation of the flexible adjustment member moves the motor adjustment portion.

5. A headlamp assembly as in claim 3, the motor assembly further including a connector arm coupling the motor adjustment portion with the reflector such that movement of the motor adjustment portion adjusts the reflector along the first axis.

6. A headlamp assembly as in claim 2, further comprising a second adjustment component adjustably supporting the reflector such that the reflector is adjustable with respect to the housing from outside of the housing.

7. A headlamp assembly as in claim 6, the first adjustment component configured to adjust the reflector along a first axis and the second adjustment component configured to adjust the reflector along a second axis.

8. A headlamp assembly as in claim 7, wherein the second adjustment component includes an adjustment member having a first end portion extending through the housing and a second end portion coupled with the reflector.

9. A headlamp assembly as in claim 8, further comprising a heatsink connected to the reflector, the heatsink movably connected to the housing such that the heatsink and the reflector are movable with respect to the housing.

10. A headlamp assembly as in claim 9, the second end portion of the adjustment member connected to the heatsink such that rotation of the adjustment member adjusts a position of the heatsink and the reflector with respect to the housing.

11. A headlamp assembly as in claim 10, the first end portion of the adjustment member including a rotating means for facilitating rotation of the adjustment member.

12. A headlamp assembly as in claim 11, the adjustment member further including a locking means for selectively preventing rotation of the adjustment member.

13. A headlamp assembly as in claim 1, further comprising a heatsink positioned within the housing and configured to support the reflector within the housing.

14. A headlamp assembly as in claim 13, further comprising a hinge mechanism coupling the reflector to the heatsink such that the reflector is adjustable along an axis extending through the hinge mechanism.

15. A headlamp assembly as in claim 1, wherein the light source is a light emitting diode.

16. A headlamp assembly for a motor vehicle, comprising:

a housing coupling the headlamp assembly to a frame of the motor vehicle;

a light source positioned within the housing and configured to emit light rays;

a heatsink positioned within the housing and movably coupled to the housing; and

a reflector connected to the heatsink and configured to direct the light rays into a beam extending in a beam direction, wherein the heatsink and the reflector are movable with respect to the housing and the light source so as to adjust the beam direction.

17. A headlamp assembly as in claim 16, further comprising a hinge mechanism coupling the reflector to the heatsink such that the reflector is adjustable along an axis extending through the hinge mechanism.

18. A headlamp assembly as in claim 16, further comprising a first adjustment component adjustably supporting the reflector such that the reflector is adjustable with respect to the housing and the light source from outside of the housing.

19. A headlamp assembly as in claim 18, further comprising a second adjustment component adjustably supporting the reflector such that the reflector is adjustable with respect to the housing from outside of the housing.

20. A headlamp assembly as in claim 19, the first adjustment component configured to adjust the reflector along a first axis and the second adjustment component configured to adjust the reflector along a second axis.