Dynamic three dimensional effect lamp assembly

• US 8,985,814 B2
• Filed: 10/17/2008
• Issued: 03/24/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 12/13/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Valeo North America Incorporated (Valeo SE)
• Original Assignee: Valeo North America Incorporated (Valeo SE)
• Inventors: King, Robert L., Potter, Brant J., Egly, David D.
• Primary Examiner(s): BANNAN, JULIE A
• Application Number:
  US12/288,239
• Publication Number:
  US 20090154184A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,349 Days
• Field of Search: 362/187, 362277-279, 362/285, 362/286, 362/297, 362/503, 362/508, 362/512, 362520-523, 362543-545
• US Class Current: 362/286
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 43/14 Light emitting diodes [LED]
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 43/31 Optical layout thereof
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 43/33 characterised by their material, surface treatment or coatings
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 43/40 characterised by the combination of reflectors and refractors
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 13/04 the elements being reflectors and refractors for vehicle rear lights F21S43/40
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 14/04 by movement of reflectors in vehicle head lamps F21S41/675
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 14/06 by movement of refractors in vehicle head lamps F21S41/635
• CPC Class Codes: F21W 2107/00 Use or application of lighting devices on or in particular types of vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2115/10 Light-emitting diodes [LED]

Abstract

A lamp assembly providing a three dimensional lamp image may be animated by driving the mirror portion with an electromechanical device responsive to a varying input signal. The three dimensional image can then be reshaped in response according to a preferred input signal.

Claims

1. A dynamic lamp assembly comprising:

a reflector having a mirrored surface oriented axially to face a field to be illuminated, the reflector including a perimeter;

a partially light reflective and partially light transmissive lens having a first surface facing the reflector, the lens further being offset from the mirrored surface, thereby defining a cavity intermediate the reflector and the lens,

at least one light emitting diode light source capable of emitting visible light, positioned near the cavity and oriented to direct light into the cavity intermediate the reflector and the lens;

the lens having a second surface facing the field to be illuminated, the first surface reflecting more than four percent of incident visible light directly from the at least one light emitting diode light source and transmitting more than four percent of incident directly from the at least one light emitting diode light source; and

an electro-mechanical transformer providing a mechanical output in response to an electrical input signal, the transformer being mechanically attached to the reflector.

2. The lamp assembly in claim 1, wherein the mechanical transformer is a piezo-electric element.

3. The lamp assembly in claim 1, wherein the mechanical transformer is an electric motor.

4. The lamp assembly in claim 1, wherein the mechanical transformer is a solenoid.

5. The lamp assembly in claim 1, wherein the mechanical transformer is a speaker driver with a coil surrounding a magnet.

6. The lamp assembly in claim 1, wherein the reflector is a flat mirror.

7. The lamp assembly in claim 1, wherein the reflector is bowed outwards.

8. The lamp assembly in claim 1, wherein the reflector is bowed inwards.

9. The lamp assembly in claim 1, wherein the lens is a flat lens.

10. The lamp assembly in claim 1, wherein the lens is bowed outwards.

11. The lamp assembly in claim 1, wherein the lens is bowed inwards.

12. The lamp assembly in claim 1, wherein the lens substantially transaxially spans the entire reflector.

13. The lamp assembly in claim 1, wherein the reflective surface of the lens is offset from the reflector by at least the least diameter of the axially projected image of the at least one light emitting diode light source.

14. The lamp assembly in claim 1, wherein the lens reflects half of the incident light from the at least one light emitting diode light source.

15. The lamp assembly in claim 1, wherein the lens transmits approximately half of light incident at 90 degrees, and reflects approximately half of light incident at 90 degrees.

16. The lamp assembly in claim 1, wherein the at least one light emitting diode light source is positioned intermediate the reflector and the lens.

17. The lamp assembly in claim 1, wherein the reflector includes a recess and the at least one light emitting diode light source is positioned in the recess and oriented to direct light toward the lens.

18. The lamp assembly in claim 1, wherein the reflector includes a through passage and the at least one light emitting diode light source is positioned in the through passage and oriented to direct light toward the lens.

19. The lamp assembly in claim 1, wherein the reflector includes a light transmissive passage and the light source is positioned to direct light through the light transmissive passage towards the lens.

20. The lamp in claim 1, wherein the half silvered lens provides a mirrored surface facing the exterior when the light source is in an off state, and transmits illuminating light having multiple images of the light source when the light source is in an on state.

25. The lamp assembly in claim 1, wherein a mirror (130) is positioned axially forward of the reflector (120) and axially rearward of the lens (140), the lens (140) having the first surface (142) facing in optical alignment the mirror (130).

21. A vehicle lamp comprising:

an electric light source directing light to an optical projection assembly having a light pattern forming element comprising a refracting element and at least one light path altering element comprising a mirror, the at least one light path altering element having a passive positional relation with the light pattern forming element, whereby light projected passively from the optical projection assembly forms a stable light beam with a pattern, and an electromechanical device receiving a signal input and generating a mechanical motion in a mechanically driven element in response to said input signal, the driven element being fixed to the optical projection assembly to alter the passive positional relation between the light pattern forming element and the light path altering element by moving the light path altering element along the optical path, wherein the change in positional relation is reciprocal and wherein the mirror (130) has through passages (134).

22. The lamp in claim 21, wherein the change in positional relation is axial with the optical path.

23. The lamp in claim 21, wherein the change in positional relation is at least partly rotational around the axis to the optical path.

24. The lamp in claim 21, wherein the refracting element is a lens (140).

26. A method of dynamically driving a vehicle lamp to generate a dynamic image having a virtual depth, comprising:

providing an optical projection assembly having a light pattern forming element comprising a refracting element and a light path altering element comprising a mirror;

providing an electric light source directing light to the optical projection assembly;

disposing the light path altering element in the optical projection assembly selectively moveable, relative the light pattern forming element, between an initial position and a displaced position;

positioning the light path altering element in the initial position relative the light pattern forming element;

directing light from the light source to the light pattern forming element and passing the light pattern formed by the light pattern forming element to the light path altering element, whereby in said initial position the optical projection assembly defines a stable light beam;

coupling an electromechanical device to an input signal to drive the light path altering element in response to the input signal;

continuously driving the light path altering element reciprocally between the initial position and the displaced position, whereby the optical projection assembly defines a dynamically varying light pattern.

27. The method of claim 26, wherein the light path altering element moves axially.

28. The method of claim 26, wherein the light path altering element moves rotationally.