Vehicle lamp

• US 6,619,825 B2
• Filed: 09/18/2001
• Issued: 09/16/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 09/18/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Koito Manufacturing Company Limited
• Original Assignee: Koito Manufacturing Company Limited
• Inventors: Natsume, Kazunori
• Primary Examiner(s): O'Shea, Sandra
• Assistant Examiner(s): Choi, Jacob Y.
• Application Number:
  US09/953,878
• Publication Number:
  US 20020034078A1
• Time in Patent Office: 728 Days
• Field of Search: 362/509, 362/517, 362/326, 362/328, 362/545, 362/540, 362/521, 362/518, 362/494, 359/839
• US Class Current: 362/509
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 43/14 Light emitting diodes [LED]
• 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 43/40 characterised by the combination of reflectors and refractors
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 43/50 characterised by aesthetic components not otherwise provided for, e.g. decorative trim, partition walls or covers
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2115/10 Light-emitting diodes [LED]

Abstract

A lamp unit having a dome-shaped translucent panel disposed in front of several light sources is provided. Opening portions corresponding to certain light sources are formed crosswise in the translucent panel. A condenser lens is provided in the rear of each opening portion in the translucent panel. The dome-shaped portion of the translucent panel is formed as a half-mirror portion, whereby five small cross-shaped translucent domes are visible when the vehicle lamp is in an off state. The light sources positioned to the rear of the opening portions and the light sources positioned to the rear of the half-mirror portions provide an unexpected luminous intensity distribution.

Claims

1. A vehicle lamp comprising a light source and a translucent panel provided in front of said light source, wherein:

said translucent panel comprises half-mirror portions subjected to half-mirror processing and non-half-mirror portions or opening portions; and

a plurality of light sources are provided so that said light sources are positioned to the rear of said half-mirror portions and said non-half-mirror portions or said opening portions

said vehicle lamp further comprising a plurality of condenser lenses provided between said non-half-mirror portions or said opening portions and said plurality of light sources positioned to the rear of said non-half-mirror portions or said opening portions.

2. The vehicle lamp as claimed in claim 1, wherein said translucent panel is dome-shaped.

3. The vehicle lamp as claimed in claim 1, wherein a diffusion lens is provided between said plurality of condenser lenses and said plurality of light sources.

4. The vehicle lamp as claimed in claim 2, wherein said non-half-mirror portions or said opening portions are provided in the central position of said translucent panel and in a plurality of positions peripherally surrounding said central position.

5. The vehicle lamp as claimed in claim 1, wherein said non-half-mirror portions or said opening portions are provided in the central position of said translucent panel and in a plurality of positions peripherally surrounding said central position.

6. The vehicle lamp as claimed in claim 4, wherein said light sources positioned to the rear of said half-mirror portions are disposed between adjacent said light sources positioned to the rear of said non-half-mirror portions or said opening portions.

7. The vehicle lamp as claimed in claim 1, wherein each of said light sources comprises a plurality of LEDs.

8. The vehicle lamp as claimed in claim 3, wherein said diffusion lens comprises a plurality of fish-eye lenses.

9. A vehicle lamp as claimed in claim 3, wherein each of said plurality of condenser lenses is a planoconvex lens having a convex surface on a side facing away from said diffusion lens.