EP0074727A1 - Vehicle lamp assembly - Google Patents

Vehicle lamp assembly Download PDF

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Publication number
EP0074727A1
EP0074727A1 EP82304400A EP82304400A EP0074727A1 EP 0074727 A1 EP0074727 A1 EP 0074727A1 EP 82304400 A EP82304400 A EP 82304400A EP 82304400 A EP82304400 A EP 82304400A EP 0074727 A1 EP0074727 A1 EP 0074727A1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
zones
light
outer element
lamp assembly
vehicle lamp
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Withdrawn
Application number
EP82304400A
Other languages
German (de)
French (fr)
Inventor
Nicholas William Tysoe
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Koito Europe Ltd
Original Assignee
Britax Vega Ltd
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Britax Vega Ltd filed Critical Britax Vega Ltd
Publication of EP0074727A1 publication Critical patent/EP0074727A1/en
Withdrawn legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F21—LIGHTING
    • F21S—NON-PORTABLE LIGHTING DEVICES; SYSTEMS THEREOF; VEHICLE LIGHTING DEVICES SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR VEHICLE EXTERIORS
    • F21S43/00—Signalling devices specially adapted for vehicle exteriors, e.g. brake lamps, direction indicator lights or reversing lights
    • F21S43/20—Signalling devices specially adapted for vehicle exteriors, e.g. brake lamps, direction indicator lights or reversing lights characterised by refractors, transparent cover plates, light guides or filters
    • F21S43/255—Filters

Definitions

  • This invention relates to vehicle lamp assemblies of the type in which the colour of the light to be produced by the lamp cannot be readily perceived when the lamp is not illuminated. This reduces the risk that, in bright sunlight for example, the lamp assembly may appear to be illuminated, when in fact it is not.
  • a vehicle lamp assembly comprises a light source, an outer element having alternate zones of light transmission and light absorption and a lens element between the light source and the outer element having a respective lens formation for each zone of light transmission arranged to concentrate light from said source, thereon, wherein the outer element is formed of a partial-light transmissing material, so zones of light transmission comprise zones of reduced thickness compared to the zones of light absorption.
  • FIG. 1 shows a vehicle signalling lamp comprising a bulb 10 located at the focus of a parabolic reflector 12.
  • Parallel light, such as the rays 14, from the reflector 12 is directed on to a distributor plate 16 which is made of a plastics material coloured in accordance with the required colour of the light from the lamp.
  • a cover plate 18 of neutral grey plastics material.
  • the plate 18 has alternate thick zones such as the zone 20 and thin zones such as the zone 22.
  • the nature of.' the material of the cover plate 18 is such that the proportion of incident light which is transmitted by the. thin zones 22 is greater than 25% while the proportion transmitted through the thicker zones 20 is less than 15%.
  • the distributor plate 16 has lens elements such as the element 24 formed thereon and arranged to direct the collimated light from the deflector 12 on to the thin zones 22 so that when the bulb 10 is illuminated the perceived colour from the cover 18 is that of the distributor plate 16.
  • the only way in which the colour of the distributor plate 16 can be perceived is if incident light from outside -the lamp passes through the distributor plate 16 and is thence reflected out again. Only that part of the incident light which falls on the thinner zones 22 will reach the reflector at any significant level and since such light when reflected from the reflector 12 is essentially uncollimated, only about half of this light will fall on the thinner zones 22 so as to be perceivable from the outside.
  • Figure 2 illustrates a modification of the embodiment shown in figure 1 in which the cover plate 18 is replaced by a composite cover plate 30, the thicker zones 32 of which are formed of neutral grey material while the thinner zones 34 are formed of a clear plastics material.
  • the cover plate 36 comprises a layer 38 of clear plastics material with projections 40 of neutral grey material secured to one surface thereof.
  • Figure 4 illustrates another embodiment of the invention, which is similar to that of the embodiment illustrated in Figure 1 except that the projections 46 forming the thicker zones of the cover plate 48 extend outwardly and are of generally triangular cross-section. Since the neutral grey plastics material is at its thickest at the apices of the triangles, the inner surface of the cover plate is relieved at 50 so as to save material.
  • Figure 5 illustrates a modification of the embodiment shown in Figure 6 having a cover plate 52 of clear plastic material with triangular cross-section projections 54 of neutral grey plastic material on the outer thereof.
  • the cover plate 56,. is predominently of neutral grey plastics material in the interstices between the projections.
  • FIG 7 illustrates a lamp which is basically similar to the lamp illustrated in Figure 1 except that its cover plate 60 has the zones of increased thickness extended to form baffles 62 projecting almost as far as the distributor plate 16.. As before the collimated light is concentrated by the lens formations 24 on to the thinner zones 64 between the baffles 62.
  • FIGs 8 and 9 illustrate modifications to the embodiment shown in Figure 7.
  • the cover plate 70 comprises a layer 72 of clear plastics material with baffles 74 of grey plastics material mounted on the inner surface thereof.
  • the cover plate 76 is basically of grey plastics material but has clear plastic inserts 78 in the zones between the baffles 80.
  • the cover plates are of uniform cross-section, the alternate zones of differing cross-section being in the form of parallel strips.
  • the cover plates also have a similar cross-section to that illustrated in a plane perpendicular to that of the drawings, either the thicker zones or the thinner zones constituting isolated squares.
  • the parabolic reflector 12 may be replaced or supplemented by a Fresnel collimator.

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Non-Portable Lighting Devices Or Systems Thereof (AREA)
  • Securing Globes, Refractors, Reflectors Or The Like (AREA)

Abstract

A vehicle lamp assembly comprises a light source (10) an outer element (18) formed of partially light transmitting material and a lens element (16) between the light source and the outer element. The outer element has alternate zones (20 and 22) of increased and reduced light transmission and the lens element (16) is arranged to concentrate light from the source 10 on to the zones of high light transmission.

Description

  • This invention relates to vehicle lamp assemblies of the type in which the colour of the light to be produced by the lamp cannot be readily perceived when the lamp is not illuminated. This reduces the risk that, in bright sunlight for example, the lamp assembly may appear to be illuminated, when in fact it is not.
  • According to the invention, a vehicle lamp assembly comprises a light source, an outer element having alternate zones of light transmission and light absorption and a lens element between the light source and the outer element having a respective lens formation for each zone of light transmission arranged to concentrate light from said source, thereon, wherein the outer element is formed of a partial-light transmissing material, so zones of light transmission comprise zones of reduced thickness compared to the zones of light absorption.
  • Embodiments of the invention will now be described by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:
    • Figure 1 is a schematic cross sectional view of a first embodiment of the invention,
    • Figures 2 and 3 are fragmentary schematic cross sectional views of the modifications to the embodiment shown in Figure 1,
    • Figure 4 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a second embodiment of the invention,
    • Figures 5 and 6 are schematic cross-sectional views of the modifications to the embodiment shown in Figure 4,
    • Figure 7 is a schematic cross sectional view of a third embodiment of the invention, and
    • Figures 8 and 9 are fragmentary schematic cross-sectional views of modifications to the embodiment shown in Figure 7.
  • Figure 1 shows a vehicle signalling lamp comprising a bulb 10 located at the focus of a parabolic reflector 12. Parallel light, such as the rays 14, from the reflector 12 is directed on to a distributor plate 16 which is made of a plastics material coloured in accordance with the required colour of the light from the lamp. Outside the distributor plate 16 is a cover plate 18 of neutral grey plastics material. The plate 18 has alternate thick zones such as the zone 20 and thin zones such as the zone 22. The nature of.' the material of the cover plate 18 is such that the proportion of incident light which is transmitted by the. thin zones 22 is greater than 25% while the proportion transmitted through the thicker zones 20 is less than 15%.
  • The distributor plate 16 has lens elements such as the element 24 formed thereon and arranged to direct the collimated light from the deflector 12 on to the thin zones 22 so that when the bulb 10 is illuminated the perceived colour from the cover 18 is that of the distributor plate 16.
  • On the other hand, when the bulb 10 is not illuminated, the only way in which the colour of the distributor plate 16 can be perceived is if incident light from outside -the lamp passes through the distributor plate 16 and is thence reflected out again. Only that part of the incident light which falls on the thinner zones 22 will reach the reflector at any significant level and since such light when reflected from the reflector 12 is essentially uncollimated, only about half of this light will fall on the thinner zones 22 so as to be perceivable from the outside.
  • Figure 2 illustrates a modification of the embodiment shown in figure 1 in which the cover plate 18 is replaced by a composite cover plate 30, the thicker zones 32 of which are formed of neutral grey material while the thinner zones 34 are formed of a clear plastics material. Similarly, in Figure 3, the cover plate 36; comprises a layer 38 of clear plastics material with projections 40 of neutral grey material secured to one surface thereof. With both of these modifications, a greater portion of light is transmitted but there is greater likelihood of the colour of the distributor plate 16 being perceived when the bulb 10 is off.
  • Figure 4 illustrates another embodiment of the invention, which is similar to that of the embodiment illustrated in Figure 1 except that the projections 46 forming the thicker zones of the cover plate 48 extend outwardly and are of generally triangular cross-section. Since the neutral grey plastics material is at its thickest at the apices of the triangles, the inner surface of the cover plate is relieved at 50 so as to save material.
  • Figure 5 illustrates a modification of the embodiment shown in Figure 6 having a cover plate 52 of clear plastic material with triangular cross-section projections 54 of neutral grey plastic material on the outer thereof. In Figure 6 the cover plate 56,. is predominently of neutral grey plastics material in the interstices between the projections.
  • It will be apparent that the embodiments illustrated in Figures 1 and 3 may have the thicker zones of the cover plate facing outwardly while the embodiment shown in Figures 4 to 6 may be modified by having such thickened zones facing inwardly.
  • Figure 7 illustrates a lamp which is basically similar to the lamp illustrated in Figure 1 except that its cover plate 60 has the zones of increased thickness extended to form baffles 62 projecting almost as far as the distributor plate 16.. As before the collimated light is concentrated by the lens formations 24 on to the thinner zones 64 between the baffles 62.
  • Figures 8 and 9 illustrate modifications to the embodiment shown in Figure 7. In Figure 8 the cover plate 70 comprises a layer 72 of clear plastics material with baffles 74 of grey plastics material mounted on the inner surface thereof. In Figure 9 the cover plate 76 is basically of grey plastics material but has clear plastic inserts 78 in the zones between the baffles 80.
  • In all the foregoing embodiments of the invention, the cover plates are of uniform cross-section, the alternate zones of differing cross-section being in the form of parallel strips. In alternative embodiments, the cover plates also have a similar cross-section to that illustrated in a plane perpendicular to that of the drawings, either the thicker zones or the thinner zones constituting isolated squares.
  • In any of the embodiments of the invention, the parabolic reflector 12 may be replaced or supplemented by a Fresnel collimator.

Claims (7)

1. A vehicle lamp assembly comprising a light source, an outer element having alternate zones of light transmission and light absorption and a lens element between the light source and the outer element having a respective lens formation for each zone of light transmission and the range to concentrate light from said source thereon, characterized in that the outer element 18 is formed of partially light transmitting material.
2. A vehicle lamp assembly according to Claim 1, characterized in that the light material of the outer element (18) is of uniform transmissivity and the thickness of the outer element(18) is greater in the zones of light absorption (20) than in the zones of light transmission (22).
3. A vehicle lamp assembly according to Claim 2, characterized in that the transmissivity of the outer element (18) is such that the proportion of incident light which is transmitted by the thin zones (22) is greater than 25% whilst the proportion transmitted through the thicker zones (20) is less than 15%.
4. A vehicle lamp assembly according to Claim 1, characterized in that the material of the outer element (30, 36) has a higher transmissivity in the zones (34) of light transmission than in the zones (32, 40) of light absorption.
5. A vehicle lamp assembly according to Claim 4, characterized in that the outer element (30) is formed of a material of relatively high transmissivity with an interstices filled with material of lower transmissivity.
6. A vehicle lamp assembly according to Claim 4, characterized in that the outer element (36) comprises a layer of (38) of material of high transmissivity with projection (40) of a material of lower transmissivity secured to one surface thereof.
7. A vehicle lamp assembly according to any preceding claim, characterized in that the zones of low transmissivity of the outer element (60, 70, 76) are provided with baffles extending perpendicular thereto towards the lens element (16).
EP82304400A 1981-08-29 1982-08-20 Vehicle lamp assembly Withdrawn EP0074727A1 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB8126422 1981-08-29
GB8126422 1981-08-29

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP0074727A1 true EP0074727A1 (en) 1983-03-23

Family

ID=10524242

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP82304400A Withdrawn EP0074727A1 (en) 1981-08-29 1982-08-20 Vehicle lamp assembly

Country Status (2)

Country Link
EP (1) EP0074727A1 (en)
JP (1) JPS5853103A (en)

Cited By (8)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4835666A (en) * 1986-10-25 1989-05-30 Swf Auto-Electric Gmbh Signal lamp, especially for motor vehicles
WO1994005949A1 (en) * 1992-08-31 1994-03-17 Itt Automotive Europe Gmbh Signal lamp
DE4324036A1 (en) * 1993-07-17 1995-01-19 Teves Gmbh Alfred Signal luminaire, in particular for motor vehicles
EP0677696A1 (en) * 1994-04-14 1995-10-18 Valeo Vision Vehicle signal light with a cover of a colour different from the one of an emitted beam
EP0746477A4 (en) * 1992-11-25 1996-04-04 Tenebraex Corp Improved illumination apparatus and reflection control techniques
EP0732534A1 (en) * 1995-03-13 1996-09-18 Valeo Vision Signal light, especially for motor vehicle, emitting a beam of a given colour while being of another colour when not in use, and manufacturing method for its light cover
FR2759652A1 (en) * 1997-02-20 1998-08-21 Axo Scintex Cie Equip Automobi Signalling lamp unit for motor vehicle
EP1279890A1 (en) * 2001-07-26 2003-01-29 Compagnie d'Equipements Automobiles Axo Scintex Motor vehicle signal lamp

Families Citing this family (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
JPS6123110U (en) * 1984-07-12 1986-02-10 市光工業株式会社 Vehicle signal light

Citations (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE602366C (en) * 1934-09-06 Arnold Loebl Housing for traffic signs, especially for motor vehicles
US2380691A (en) * 1941-11-25 1945-07-31 Evans Prod Co Black-out marker light
DE846733C (en) * 1949-08-20 1952-08-18 Lumalampan Ab Screen for electric light tubes
GB1266129A (en) * 1969-10-01 1972-03-08
DE2647090A1 (en) * 1976-10-19 1978-04-20 Westfaelische Metall Industrie Motor vehicle compact rear light fitting - has lights in combined chamber with reflector ensuring legal light intensity
GB2005003A (en) * 1977-09-29 1979-04-11 Rau Swf Autozubehoer Signal lamp

Patent Citations (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE602366C (en) * 1934-09-06 Arnold Loebl Housing for traffic signs, especially for motor vehicles
US2380691A (en) * 1941-11-25 1945-07-31 Evans Prod Co Black-out marker light
DE846733C (en) * 1949-08-20 1952-08-18 Lumalampan Ab Screen for electric light tubes
GB1266129A (en) * 1969-10-01 1972-03-08
DE2647090A1 (en) * 1976-10-19 1978-04-20 Westfaelische Metall Industrie Motor vehicle compact rear light fitting - has lights in combined chamber with reflector ensuring legal light intensity
GB2005003A (en) * 1977-09-29 1979-04-11 Rau Swf Autozubehoer Signal lamp

Cited By (13)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4835666A (en) * 1986-10-25 1989-05-30 Swf Auto-Electric Gmbh Signal lamp, especially for motor vehicles
WO1994005949A1 (en) * 1992-08-31 1994-03-17 Itt Automotive Europe Gmbh Signal lamp
EP0746477A1 (en) * 1992-11-25 1996-12-11 Tenebraex Corporation Improved illumination apparatus and reflection control techniques
EP0746477A4 (en) * 1992-11-25 1996-04-04 Tenebraex Corp Improved illumination apparatus and reflection control techniques
DE4324036A1 (en) * 1993-07-17 1995-01-19 Teves Gmbh Alfred Signal luminaire, in particular for motor vehicles
DE4324036C2 (en) * 1993-07-17 2003-03-27 Teves Gmbh Alfred Motor vehicle rear light with improved appearance
EP0677696A1 (en) * 1994-04-14 1995-10-18 Valeo Vision Vehicle signal light with a cover of a colour different from the one of an emitted beam
FR2718824A1 (en) * 1994-04-14 1995-10-20 Valeo Vision Signaling light for a motor vehicle, comprising a light of general color different from the color of an emitted beam.
EP0732534A1 (en) * 1995-03-13 1996-09-18 Valeo Vision Signal light, especially for motor vehicle, emitting a beam of a given colour while being of another colour when not in use, and manufacturing method for its light cover
FR2731771A1 (en) * 1995-03-13 1996-09-20 Valeo Vision SIGNALING LIGHT, ESPECIALLY FOR MOTOR VEHICLES, PRODUCING A BEAM OF A GIVEN TINT AND PRESENTING ANOTHER TINT WHEN IT IS OFF, AND METHOD OF MANUFACTURING THE LIGHT OF SUCH A LIGHT
FR2759652A1 (en) * 1997-02-20 1998-08-21 Axo Scintex Cie Equip Automobi Signalling lamp unit for motor vehicle
EP1279890A1 (en) * 2001-07-26 2003-01-29 Compagnie d'Equipements Automobiles Axo Scintex Motor vehicle signal lamp
FR2827944A1 (en) * 2001-07-26 2003-01-31 Axo Scintex Cie Equip Automobi MOTOR VEHICLE SIGNAL LIGHT

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
JPS5853103A (en) 1983-03-29

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Effective date: 19840304

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Inventor name: TYSOE, NICHOLAS WILLIAM