TAIL LIGHT ASSEMBLY FOR A MOTOR VEHICLE

• US 20080123357A1
• Filed: 02/14/2007
• Published: 05/29/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 02/14/2006
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Schefenacker Vision Systems Germany GmbH
• Original Assignee: Schefenacker Vision Systems Germany GmbH
• Inventors: Steffel, Hans-Clemens, Mack, Bernd, Rosenstein, Filip
• Application Number:
  US11/674,939
• Publication Number:
  US 20080123357A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 362/487
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/2603 Attenuation of the light according to ambient luminiosity, e.g. for braking or direction indicating lamps
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/2607 comprising at least two indicating lamps

Abstract

A tail light assembly for a motor vehicle includes a plurality of signal lights to signal various operations. Each of the plurality of signal lights includes segments of lights that are independently operable. A sensor system is electrically connected to the segments of lights for measuring an event and for creating a control signal in response to the occurrence of an event. The tail light assembly also includes a control module electrically connected between the segments of lights and the sensor system. The control module receives the control signal and operates each of the plurality of segments of lights to ensure each of the plurality of signal lights can operate to maximize visibility through a plurality of positions with respect to the motor vehicle. Brightness of the signal lights is seen in varying degrees of brightness, depending on the angle at which the viewer sees the tail light

Claims

1-19. -19. (canceled)

20. A tail light assembly for a motor vehicle, said tail light assembly comprising:

a plurality of signal lights to signal various operations of the motor vehicle;

each of said plurality of signal lights including a plurality of segments of lights independently operable;

a sensor system electrically connected to each of said plurality of segments of lights for measuring an event and for creating a control signal in response to the event occurring; and

a control module electrically connected between each of said plurality of segments of lights and said sensor system, said control module receiving the control signal and operating each of said plurality of segments of lights to ensure each of said plurality of signal lights can operate to maximize visibility through a plurality of positions with respect to the motor vehicle.

21. A tail light assembly as set forth in claim 20 wherein each of said plurality of segments of lights includes a plurality of individual lighting units.

22. A tail light assembly as set forth in claim 21 including a plurality of switches electrically connected between said control module and each of said plurality of segments of lights, each of said plurality of switches being controlled by said control module to operate each of said plurality of segments of lights.

23. A tail light assembly as set forth in claim 22 including a tail light lens disposed over said plurality of segments of lights to focus light emitted thereby.

24. A tail light assembly as set forth in claim 23 wherein said tail light lens moves with respect to said plurality of segments of lights to direct the light emitted thereby.

25. A tail light assembly as set forth in claim 23 wherein each of said plurality of segments of lights moves with respect to said tail light lens to direct the light emitted thereby.