Multi-functional projector lamp shield and multi-functional projector embodying such a shield

• US 8,801,252 B2
• Filed: 10/28/2011
• Issued: 08/12/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 10/28/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hyundai America Technical Center, Inc. (Hyundai Mobis Co., Ltd.), Hyundai Motor Company (Hyundai Motor Group), Kia Motors Corporation (Kia Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Hyundai America Technical Center, Inc. (Hyundai Mobis Co., Ltd.), Hyundai Motor Company (Hyundai Motor Group), Kia Motors Corporation (Kia Corp.)
• Inventors: Gava, Michael
• Primary Examiner(s): Ward, John A
• Application Number:
  US13/284,407
• Publication Number:
  US 20130107559A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,019 Days
• Field of Search: 362/538, 362/539, 362/346, 362/332, 362/309, 362/509, 362/516, 362464-466
• US Class Current: 362/539
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 41/645 by electro-optic means, e.g. liquid crystal or electrochromic devices

Abstract

Featured is a multi-functional light shielding plate to establish a desired light distribution pattern to light traveling in an illumination direction that is received from at least one of a light source or a reflector. Such a light shielding plate includes a light shielding portion that is selectively configurable to be one of light transmissive or a light blocker and also includes a support mechanism that supports the light shielding portion so as to maintain the light shielding portion in fixed relation with respect to the light source. When configured as a light blocker, the light shielding portion is configured so that light traveling in the illumination direction is substantially blocked from passing through the light shielding portion and when configured so as to be transmissive, the light shielding portion is configured so that said light traveling in the illumination direction passes substantially through the light shielding plate.

Claims

1. A multi-functional light shielding plate to establish a desired light distribution pattern to light traveling in an illumination direction that is received from at least one of a light source or a reflector, said multi-functional light shielding plate comprising:

a light shielding portion that is selectively configurable so as to be one of transmissive to said light traveling in the illumination direction or a light blocker;

a support mechanism that supports the light shielding portion so as to maintain the light shielding portion in fixed relation with respect to the light source;

wherein when configured as a light blocker, the light shielding portion is configured so that said light traveling in the illumination direction is substantially blocked from passing through the light shielding portion and thus forms a first light distribution pattern; and

wherein when configured so as to be transmissive, the light shielding portion is configured so that said light traveling in the illumination direction passes substantially through the light shielding plate and thus forms a second light distribution pattern,

wherein the light shielding portion is further configurable so one segment of the light shielding portion is configured as being transmissive and so a second segment of the light shielding portion is configured as a light blocker, thereby forming a third light distribution pattern.

2. The multi-functional light shielding plate of claim 1, wherein:

the light shielding portion is configured with a main segment and two auxiliary segments, the main segment and each of the auxiliary segments being selectively configurable so as to be one of transmissive or a light blocker,

wherein when the light shield portion main segment is configured as a light blocker, the main segment is configured so that said light traveling in the illumination direction is substantially blocked from passing through the main segment; and

wherein the two side segments are configured so one side segment is a light blocker and the other side segment is transmissive when the main segment is configured as a light blocker, whereby the main and two auxiliary segments form a fourth light distribution pattern.

3. The multi-functional light shielding plate of claim 2, wherein the side segments are respectively configured as being a light blocker and light transmissive so that the fourth light distribution pattern is compatible with traffic directionality requirements for the country in which the vehicle is traveling on a permanent or semi-permanent basis.

4. The multi-functional light shielding plate of claim 1, wherein the light shielding portion includes an electrically switchable material whose light transmission properties change when voltage is applied to the electrically switchable material.

5. The multi-functional light shielding plate of claim 4, wherein the electrically switchable material is selected from the group consisting of a suspended particle device, a polymer dispersed liquid crystal, an electrochromic device and a reflective hydride.

6. The multi-functional light shielding plate of claim 4, wherein the electrically switchable material includes an electrically switchable glass or glazing.

7. The multi-functional plate of claim 1 further comprising:

a controller that is operably coupled to light shielding portion, the controller being configured and arranged so as to control the operational configuration of the light shielding portion, wherein the controller is configured so as to cause the light shielding portion to be selectively configured as one of transmissive or a light blocker.

8. A multi-functional light shielding plate to establish a desired light distribution pattern to light traveling in an illumination direction that is received from at least one of a light source or a reflector, said multi-functional light shielding plate comprising:

a light shielding portion that is selectively configurable so as to be one of transmissive to said light traveling in the illumination direction or a light blocker;

a support mechanism that supports the light shielding portion so as to maintain the light shielding portion in fixed relation with respect to the light source;

wherein when configured as a light blocker, the light shielding portion is configured so that said light traveling in the illumination direction is substantially blocked from passing through the light shielding portion and thus forms a first light distribution pattern; and

wherein when configured so as to be transmissive, the light shielding portion is configured so that said light traveling in the illumination direction passes substantially through the light shielding plate and thus forms a second light distribution pattern,

wherein the light shielding portion is configured with a main segment and two auxiliary segments, the main segment and each of the auxiliary segments being selectively configurable so as to be one of transmissive or a light blocker,

wherein when the light shield portion main segment is configured as a light blocker, the main segment is configured so that said light traveling in the illumination direction is substantially blocked from passing through the main segment; and

wherein the two side segments are configured so one side segment is a light blocker and the other side segment is transmissive when the main segment is configured as a light blocker, whereby the main and two auxiliary segments form another light distribution pattern.

9. The multi-functional light shielding plate of claim 8, wherein the side segments are respectively configured as being a light blocker and light transmissive so that the formed another light distribution pattern is compatible with traffic directionality requirements for the country in which the vehicle is traveling on a permanent or semi-permanent basis.

10. A multi-functional projection type lighting device comprising:

a light source; and

a multi-functional light shielding plate to establish a desired light distribution pattern to light traveling in an illumination direction that is received from at least the light source or a reflector, said multi-functional light shielding plate including;

a light shielding portion that is selectively configurable so as to be one of transmissive to said light traveling in the illumination direction or a light blocker;

a support mechanism that supports the light shielding portion so as to maintain the light shielding portion in fixed relation with respect to the light source;

wherein when configured as a light blocker, the light shielding portion is configured so that said light traveling in the illumination direction is substantially blocked from passing through the light shielding portion and thus forms a first light distribution pattern; and

wherein when configured so as to be transmissive, the light shielding portion is configured so that said light traveling in the illumination direction passes substantially through the light shielding plate and thus forms a second light distribution pattern,

wherein the light shielding portion is further configurable so one segment of the light shielding portion is configured as being transmissive and so a second segment of the light shielding portion is configured as a light blocker, thereby forming a third light distribution pattern.

11. The multi-functional projection type lighting device of claim 10, further comprising a reflector that is arranged so it reflects light from the light source in the illumination direction and wherein the multi-functional light shielding plate is configured so as to establish a desired light distribution pattern to light traveling in an illumination direction that is received from at least one of the light source or the reflector.

12. The multi-functional projection type lighting device of claim 11, further comprising a lens that is arranged so that a beam of light in the illumination direction passes through the lens and so the lens gives the light beam its final shape.

13. The multi-functional projection type lighting device of claim 10, wherein:

the light shielding portion is configured with a main segment and two auxiliary segments, the main segment and each of the auxiliary segments being selectively configurable so as to be one of transmissive or a light blocker,

wherein when the light shield portion main segment is configured as a light blocker, the main segment is configured so that said light traveling in the illumination direction is substantially blocked from passing through the main segment; and

wherein the two side segments are configured so one side segment is a light blocker and the other side segment is transmissive when the main segment is configured as a light blocker, whereby the main and two auxiliary segments form a fourth light distribution pattern.

14. The multi-functional projection type lighting device of claim 13, wherein the side segments are respectively configured as being a light blocker and light transmissive so that the fourth light distribution pattern is compatible with traffic directionality requirements for the country in which the vehicle is traveling on a permanent or semi-permanent basis.

15. The multi-functional projection type lighting device of claim 10, wherein the light shielding portion includes an electrically switchable material whose light transmission properties change when voltage is applied to the electrically switchable material.

16. The multi-functional projection type lighting device of claim 15, wherein the electrically switchable material is selected from the group consisting of a suspended particle device, a polymer dispersed liquid crystal, an electrochromic device and a reflective hydride.

17. The multi-functional projection type lighting device of claim 15, wherein the electrically switchable material includes an electrically switchable glass or glazing.

18. The multi-functional projection type lighting device of claim 10, further comprising a housing;

wherein the light source is mechanically coupled to the housing so as to secure the light source in fixed relation to the housing; and

wherein the support mechanism is mechanically coupled to the housing, whereby the light shielding portion is maintained in fixed relation to the housing and thus also with respect to light source.

19. The multi-functional projection type lighting device of claim 10 further comprising:

a controller that is operably coupled to light shielding portion, the controller being configured and arranged so as to control the operational configuration of the light shielding portion, wherein the controller is configured so as to cause the light shielding portion to be selectively configured as one of transmissive or a light blocker.

20. A multi-functional projection type lighting device comprising:

a light source; and

a multi-functional light shielding plate to establish a desired light distribution pattern to light traveling in an illumination direction that is received from at least the light source or a reflector, said multi-functional light shielding plate including;

a light shielding portion that is selectively configurable so as to be one of transmissive to said light traveling in the illumination direction or a light blocker;

a support mechanism that supports the light shielding portion so as to maintain the light shielding portion in fixed relation with respect to the light source;

wherein when configured as a light blocker, the light shielding portion is configured so that said light traveling in the illumination direction is substantially blocked from passing through the light shielding portion and thus forms a first light distribution pattern; and

wherein when configured so as to be transmissive, the light shielding portion is configured so that said light traveling in the illumination direction passes substantially through the light shielding plate and thus forms a second light distribution pattern,

wherein the light shielding portion is configured with a main segment and two auxiliary segments, the main segment and each of the auxiliary segments being selectively configurable so as to be one of transmissive or a light blocker;

wherein when the light shield portion main segment is configured as a light blocker, the main segment is configured so that said light traveling in the illumination direction is substantially blocked from passing through the main segment; and

wherein the two side segments are configured so one side segment is a light blocker and the other side segment is transmissive when the main segment is configured as a light blocker, whereby the main and two auxiliary segments form another light distribution pattern.

21. The multi-functional projection type lighting device of claim 20, wherein the side segments are respectively configured as being a light blocker and light transmissive so that the formed another light distribution pattern is compatible with traffic directionality requirements for the country in which the vehicle is traveling on a permanent or semi-permanent basis.

22. A vehicle lighting device comprising:

a light source;

a reflector that is arranged so it reflects light from the light source in the illumination direction;

a multi-functional light shielding plate configured so as to establish a desired light distribution pattern to light traveling in an illumination direction that is received from at least the light source or a reflector, said multi-functional light shielding plate including;

a light shielding portion that is selectively configurable so as to be one of transmissive to said light traveling in the illumination direction or a light blocker;

a support mechanism that supports the light shielding portion so as to maintain the light shielding portion in fixed relation with respect to the light source;

wherein when configured as a light blocker, the light shielding portion is configured so that said light traveling in the illumination direction is substantially blocked from passing through the light shielding portion and thus forms a first light distribution pattern;

wherein when configured so as to be transmissive, the light shielding portion is configured so that said light traveling in the illumination direction passes substantially through the light shielding plate and thus forms a second light distribution pattern,

wherein the light shielding portion is further configurable so one segment of the light shielding portion is configured as being transmissive and so a second segment of the light shielding portion is configured as a light blocker, thereby forming a third light distribution pattern.

23. The vehicle lighting device of claim 22, wherein the light shielding portion includes an electrically switchable material whose light transmission properties change when voltage is applied to the electrically switchable material.

24. The vehicle lighting device of claim 23, wherein the electrically switchable material is selected from the group consisting of a suspended particle device, a polymer dispersed liquid crystal, an electrochromic device and a reflective hydride.

25. The vehicle lighting device of claim 23, wherein the electrically switchable material includes an electrically switchable glass or glazing.

26. The vehicle lighting device of claim 22, further comprising a housing;

wherein the light source is mechanically coupled to the housing so as to secure the light source in fixed relation to the housing; and

wherein the support mechanism is mechanically coupled to the housing, whereby the light shielding portion is maintained in fixed relation to the housing and thus also with respect to light source.

27. The vehicle light device of claim 22, wherein the light source comprises a high intensity discharge type of light source.

28. The vehicle light device of claim 22, further comprising a lens that is arranged so that a beam of light in the illumination direction passes through the lens and configured so the lens gives the light beam its final shape.

29. The vehicle lighting device of claim 22, further comprising:

a controller that is operably coupled to light shielding portion, the controller being configured and arranged so as to control the operational configuration of the light shielding portion, wherein the controller is configured so as to cause the light shielding portion to be selectively configured as one of transmissive or a light blocker.