Light, especially tail light, for a motor vehicle

• US 6,196,704 B1
• Filed: 04/26/1999
• Issued: 03/06/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 04/25/1998
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Reitter & Schefenacker GmbH & Co. KG
• Original Assignee: Reitter & Schefenacker GmbH
• Inventors: Robel, Wolfgang, Gauch, Winfried Hardy
• Primary Examiner(s): LEE, Y MY QUACH
• Application Number:
  US09/299,819
• Time in Patent Office: 680 Days
• Field of Search: 362/96, 362/464, 362/276, 362/31, 362/503, 239/284.1, 239/284.2, 250/341.8, 152/500.02
• US Class Current: 362/276
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/0023 the element being a sensor, e.g. distance sensor, camera
• CPC Class Codes: B60S 1/0822 characterized by the arrangement or type of detection means
• CPC Class Codes: B60S 1/0837 with a particular arrangement of the optical elements

Abstract

A light arrangement for a vehicle has a light source mounted in a reflector. A light disc is connected to the front end of the reflector in front of the light source. At least one emitter emitting a light signal and at least one receiver receiving the light signal are provided for detecting the degree of soiling of the light arrangement. The light signal travels through the light disc by total reflection to be then received by the receiver.

Claims

1. A light arrangement for a vehicle, said light arrangement comprising:

a light source (1) mounted in a reflector (2);

a light disk (3) connected to a front end of said reflector (2) in front of said light source (1),

at least one emitter (5) emitting a light signal (6) disposed on a first edge of said light disc (3) and at least one receiver (8) for receiving said light signal (6) for detecting a degree of soiling of said light arrangement disposed on a second edge of said light disc (3), wherein said at least one emitter (5) and said at least one receiver (8) are located at oppositely arranged edges (4, 7) of said light disk (3);

wherein said light signal (6) travels through said light disk (3) by total reflection to be received by said at least one receiver (8).

2. A light arrangement according to claim 1, wherein said at least one emitter (5) emits light beams (6) within visible range of light or within the infrared range of light.

3. A light arrangement according to claim 1, wherein said at least one emitter (5) is a light-emitting diode.

4. A light arrangement according to claim 1, wherein said at least one receiver (8) is a light-emitting diode or a phototransistor.

5. A light arrangement according to claim 1, wherein said at least one receiver (8) is in communication with a cleaning device for actuating of said cleaning device upon detection of said degree of soiling by said receiver.

6. A light arrangement according to claim 5, wherein an output signal of said at least one receiver (8) is compared to a reference value.

7. A light arrangement according to claim 1, wherein said at least one receiver (8) is in communication with a signaling device for alerting a driver of said vehicle when said degree of soiling is detected by said receiver (8).