ILLUMINATION APPARATUS

• US 20180022270A1
• Filed: 07/14/2017
• Published: 01/25/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 07/25/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Toyoda Gosei Company Limited (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Toyoda Gosei Company Limited (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Inventors: MATSUOKA, Yoichi
• Granted Patent: US 10,144,344 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/33 Illumination features
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/332 Light emitting diodes
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/60 Instruments characterised by their location or relative disposition in or on vehicles arrangements of lighting devices on dashboards B60Q3/10
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/02 the devices being primarily intended to illuminate the way ahead or to illuminate other areas of way or environments
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/2661 mounted on parts having other functions on wheels B60Q1/326
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/2696 Mounting of devices using LEDs
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 3/12 lighting onto the surface to be illuminated
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 3/51 for mounting lighting devices onto vehicle interior, e.g. onto ceiling or floor
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 3/60 characterised by optical aspects
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 15/01 Housings, e.g. material or assembling of housing parts F21V15/02 takes precedence housings forming signs or letters G09F13/04
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 5/04 of lens shape

Abstract

An illumination apparatus includes: a light source including an LED and a lens; an illuminated body; and a cover, wherein: the light source is arranged inside the cover; the light from the light source passes between the edge of the cover and the illuminated body; the front edge of the cover defines the illumination range of the light from the light source with respect to the illuminated body; and the light transmittance of such portion of the lens as is near to the illuminated body is higher than that of the remaining portions.

Claims

1. An illumination apparatus comprising:

a light source including an LED and a lens;

an illuminated body; and

a cover, wherein;

the light source is arranged inside the cover;

the light from the light source passes between the edge of the cover and the illuminated body;

the front edge of the cover defines the illumination range of the light from the light source with respect to the illuminated body; and

the light transmittance of such portion of the lens as is near to the illuminated body is higher than that of the remaining portions.

2. The illumination apparatus according to claim 1, wherein particles for light transmittance adjustment are dispersed in the lens.

3. The illumination apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the light transmittance of the lens is controlled by the thickness of the lens.

4. The illumination apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the surface of the lens is formed in multiple stages.

5. The illumination apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the surface of the lens is formed in an inclined manner.