Headlamp assembly having an adjustable light beam direction

• US 7,810,972 B2
• Filed: 10/13/2006
• Issued: 10/12/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 10/13/2006
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Visteon Global Technologies Incorporated (Visteon Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Visteon Global Technologies Incorporated (Visteon Corporation)
• Inventors: Popelek, Jan
• Primary Examiner(s): TON, ANABEL
• Application Number:
  US11/581,050
• Publication Number:
  US 20080089085A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,460 Days
• Field of Search: 362/514, 362/515, 362/530, 362/531, 362/532, 362/39, 362/508, 362/529, 362/523
• 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;

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 both the housing and the light source so as to adjust the beam direction; and

a first adjustment component adjustably supporting the reflector within the housing and extending to a position outside of the housing, the reflector being adjustably mounted for movement with respect to the housing and with respect to the light source by manipulation of the first adjustment component from outside of the housing.

2. A headlamp assembly as in claim 1, 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.

3. A headlamp assembly as in claim 2, 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.

4. A headlamp assembly as in claim 2, 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.

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

13. A headlamp assembly as in claim 12, 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.

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

5. 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 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;

a first adjustment component adjustably supporting the reflector within the housing and extending to a position outside of the housing, the reflector being adjustably supported for movement with respect to the housing and for movement with respect to the light source by manipulation of the first adjustment component from outside of the housing; and

a second adjustment component adjustably supporting the reflector within the housing and extending to a position outside of the housing, the reflector being adjustably supported for movement with respect to the housing by manipulation of the second adjustment component from outside of the housing.

6. A headlamp assembly as in claim 5, 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.

7. A headlamp assembly as in claim 6, 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.

8. A headlamp assembly as in claim 7, 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.

9. A headlamp assembly as in claim 8, 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.

10. A headlamp assembly as in claim 9, the first end portion of the adjustment member including a rotating means for facilitating rotation of the adjustment member.

11. A headlamp assembly as in claim 10, the adjustment member further including a locking means for selectively preventing rotation of the adjustment member.

15. 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 both the housing and the light source so as to adjust the beam direction, and

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.

16. A headlamp assembly as in claim 15, 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.

17. A headlamp assembly as in claim 15, 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.

18. A headlamp assembly as in claim 17, 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.