EP0066438A1 - Lampes de véhicule - Google Patents

Lampes de véhicule Download PDF

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Publication number
EP0066438A1
EP0066438A1 EP82302654A EP82302654A EP0066438A1 EP 0066438 A1 EP0066438 A1 EP 0066438A1 EP 82302654 A EP82302654 A EP 82302654A EP 82302654 A EP82302654 A EP 82302654A EP 0066438 A1 EP0066438 A1 EP 0066438A1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
light
vehicle lamp
grid
lamp
filter
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Withdrawn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
EP82302654A
Other languages
German (de)
English (en)
Inventor
Charles Arthur Boughtflower
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.)
MAGNATEX HOLDINGS Ltd
Original Assignee
MAGNATEX HOLDINGS 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 MAGNATEX HOLDINGS Ltd filed Critical MAGNATEX HOLDINGS Ltd
Publication of EP0066438A1 publication Critical patent/EP0066438A1/fr
Withdrawn legal-status Critical Current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
    • 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
    • F21S43/26—Refractors, transparent cover plates, light guides or filters not provided in groups F21S43/235 - F21S43/255

Definitions

  • vehicle lamps primarily direction indicator lamps although it is also applicable to lamps which it is desired to present an appearance or colour effect different from the colour which the lamp must show when it is operating.
  • the lamp when operating as a signal lamp, must show an amber light complying with current regulations.
  • the present invention has for an object to provide a lamp of the kind above referred to which complies with legal requirements and which controls external white light which may enter the lamp and be reflected out again in such a manner that the normal eye responses are unable to detect any appreciable colour within the lamp.
  • the present invention consists in a vehicle lamp which is capable of producing a coloured light when the lamp is operating and having a light transmitting cover, a light source, a grid member incorporated between the cover and the light source, a filter disposed between the grid member and the light source and provided with an optical pattern to concentrate the coloured light through the openings in the grid member, characterized in that the elements of the grid member are shaped and present surfaces which are out of line with the direction of the light before it passes, during operation of the lamp, through the filter, whereby external light entering the lamp is reflected from more than one of the surfaces of at least some of said grid elements thereby to reflect such external light to a large degree and impede it from impinging on the filter or the light source.
  • the lamp shown comprises a white light source 1, light from which is focussed by a reflecting surface 2 and passes out of the lamp through a light-transmitting cover 3 which in this embodiment constitutes an external lens having an optical pattern which distributes the reflected light as required.
  • the white light source has its colour converted by being made to pass through an amber filter 4 constituting a lens member.
  • an amber filter 4 constituting a lens member.
  • a grid member 5 is located and which comprises a plurality of shaped elements 6.
  • An optical pattern consisting of a plurality of concentrically arranged lens elements on the amber filter 4 concentrates light through the (openings) gaps 7 in the grid. This amber light is then distributed as required through the external lens.
  • the grid member 5 is so designed that the majority of external light A entering into the lamp through the lens 3 is reflected out again as indicated by B, by the surfaces 6a, 6b,6c and 6d of the shaped elements 6 of the grid.
  • the grid elements 6 of the grid member are shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3 as having a diamond-shaped cross-section and being of circular form in plan and are concentrically arranged.
  • the grid elements 6 are held together by means of radially extending webs 9 which are integral therewith and with a surround 10. It should be appreciated that the inner side of the surround presents two surfaces corresponding to and similarly shaped and positioned to the surfaces 6b and 6c of the grid elements 6.
  • the filter 4 is mounted to the grid member 5 by means of a central projection 11 thereon fitting in a central aperture 12, the filter engaging with an abutment 13 to hold the filter at the correct optical distance from the gaps 7 in the grid member.
  • a central projection 11 thereon fitting in a central aperture 12, the filter engaging with an abutment 13 to hold the filter at the correct optical distance from the gaps 7 in the grid member.
  • the front and rear edges of the grid elements 6 are ir line with the direction 8 of the light and the side edges of the adjacent grid elements face each other across the gaps.
  • the surfaces 6a, 6b, 6c and 6d are out of line with the direction of the light from source 1 as shown by the arrow heads 8 before it passes through the amber filter 4.
  • This arrangement enables external light A entering the lamp to be reflected from more than one of at least some of the surfaces 6a, 6b, 6c and 6d and out again as indicated at B.
  • some external light must pass through the gaps in the grid and can be reflected out again through these gaps.
  • the surface area of the grid member can be made at least twice that of the gaps, less than 50% of the light entering at normal to the lamps will reach the amber filter. This ratio will reduce proportionally as the direction of entry deviates from the normal and at about 45° angle of entry reduces to zero and remains at zero beyond this angle.
  • the ratio of total external light entering the lamp to the light reaching the amber filter will be very low. Further, that external light which does reach the amber filter and is reflected back has to pass through the gaps in the grid. As there is a loss of light at any reflection stage, and some of this light must be reflected several times before "escaping" through the gaps, and this also includes any light which may pass through the filter onto the reflector and out again, the proportion of external light entering the lamp, being converted to yellow light , and being reflected out again through the external lens as yellow light, could, by careful design of the optical-grid system, be of such low value compared with the bright reflected light, that this yellow light is virtually undetectable by the normal eye responses.
  • the optics on the filter and the pattern of the grid member may be of annular, linear or other desired form provided that the reflecting surfaces of the grid member are out of line with the direction of the light before it passes through the filter.
  • the light source 1 may have an amber colour, in which case the filter 4 may be of clear or white opaque glass.
  • the reflector may be coloured.
  • the filter 4 may be replaced by a Fresnel lens which concentrates the transmitted light in bright and dark rings, the grid elements being positioned in front of the dark areas.
  • cover 3 need not constitute an external lens but may be just light transmitting.
  • the grid member may have a bright metallized, black or other coloured surface to provide a neutral or coloured look.
  • the filter could be red in the case of a rear lamp; such as a brake lamp.
  • Grid elements may be of different shapes and sizes and arranged in any suitable way to obtain the desired result.
  • Grid elements may have more than four reflecting surfaces when considered in cross-section and one or more of the reflecting surfaces may be curved. For example, in Fig. 5 two adjacent surfaces 6a, 6b of the grid elements 6 are inwardly curved whereas the remaining surfaces 6c and 6d are planar.
  • the concentric arrangement of the grid elements can be in line or out of line with the focal axis of the light source and reflector.
  • the grid elements may be of other closed form such as rectangular, symmetrically or otherwise arrangedone inside the other.

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Non-Portable Lighting Devices Or Systems Thereof (AREA)
  • Lighting Device Outwards From Vehicle And Optical Signal (AREA)
EP82302654A 1981-05-22 1982-05-24 Lampes de véhicule Withdrawn EP0066438A1 (fr)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB8115844 1981-05-22
GB8115844 1981-05-22

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP0066438A1 true EP0066438A1 (fr) 1982-12-08

Family

ID=10522014

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP82302654A Withdrawn EP0066438A1 (fr) 1981-05-22 1982-05-24 Lampes de véhicule

Country Status (1)

Country Link
EP (1) EP0066438A1 (fr)

Cited By (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
FR2695362A1 (fr) * 1992-09-09 1994-03-11 Valeo Vision Feu de signalisation à visibilité latérale améliorée pour véhicule automobile.
EP1624244A1 (fr) * 2004-08-04 2006-02-08 Seat, S.A. Lampe de signalisation pour véhicules
EP2230446A1 (fr) * 2009-03-17 2010-09-22 Valeo Vision Dispositif d'éclairage ou de signalisation pour véhicule automobile

Citations (13)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2286201A (en) * 1939-04-05 1942-06-16 Clair L Farrand Opaque apertured signal lens
DE956566C (de) * 1955-05-13 1957-01-17 Westfaelische Metall Ind G M B Mit einem Leerflaechen aufweisenden Rueckstrahler vereinigte Fahrzeugrueckleuchte
US3487206A (en) * 1967-04-10 1969-12-30 Ford Motor Co Concealed vehicle running light assembly
DE1655784A1 (de) * 1967-04-18 1971-08-05 Westfaelische Metall Industrie Mehrkammersignalleuchte fuer Kraftfahrzeuge
DE2062472A1 (de) * 1970-12-18 1972-06-22 Westfaelische Metall Industrie Signalleuchte für Kraftfahrzeuge
US3779629A (en) * 1971-06-23 1973-12-18 Lucas Industries Ltd Combined lens and reflector for a vehicle lamp
GB2005003A (en) * 1977-09-29 1979-04-11 Rau Swf Autozubehoer Signal lamp
FR2409455A1 (fr) * 1977-11-21 1979-06-15 Frankani Sa Vitre pour lanterne de signalisation pour vehicules automobiles et lanterne equipee de cette vitre
GB2016671A (en) * 1978-03-17 1979-09-26 Westfaelische Metall Industrie Vehicle Coloured Light Units
FR2427549A1 (fr) * 1978-05-30 1979-12-28 Lucas Industries Ltd Lampe notamment a reflecteur
DE2908098A1 (de) * 1979-03-02 1980-09-11 Bosch Gmbh Robert Leuchte fuer kraftfahrzeuge
DE2935410A1 (de) * 1979-09-01 1981-04-02 Robert Bosch Gmbh, 7000 Stuttgart Signalleuchte, insbesondere blinkleuchte fuer fahrzeuge
DE2939329A1 (de) * 1979-09-28 1981-04-16 Robert Bosch Gmbh, 7000 Stuttgart Signalleuchte, insbesondere blinkleuchte fuer kraftfahrzeuge

Patent Citations (13)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2286201A (en) * 1939-04-05 1942-06-16 Clair L Farrand Opaque apertured signal lens
DE956566C (de) * 1955-05-13 1957-01-17 Westfaelische Metall Ind G M B Mit einem Leerflaechen aufweisenden Rueckstrahler vereinigte Fahrzeugrueckleuchte
US3487206A (en) * 1967-04-10 1969-12-30 Ford Motor Co Concealed vehicle running light assembly
DE1655784A1 (de) * 1967-04-18 1971-08-05 Westfaelische Metall Industrie Mehrkammersignalleuchte fuer Kraftfahrzeuge
DE2062472A1 (de) * 1970-12-18 1972-06-22 Westfaelische Metall Industrie Signalleuchte für Kraftfahrzeuge
US3779629A (en) * 1971-06-23 1973-12-18 Lucas Industries Ltd Combined lens and reflector for a vehicle lamp
GB2005003A (en) * 1977-09-29 1979-04-11 Rau Swf Autozubehoer Signal lamp
FR2409455A1 (fr) * 1977-11-21 1979-06-15 Frankani Sa Vitre pour lanterne de signalisation pour vehicules automobiles et lanterne equipee de cette vitre
GB2016671A (en) * 1978-03-17 1979-09-26 Westfaelische Metall Industrie Vehicle Coloured Light Units
FR2427549A1 (fr) * 1978-05-30 1979-12-28 Lucas Industries Ltd Lampe notamment a reflecteur
DE2908098A1 (de) * 1979-03-02 1980-09-11 Bosch Gmbh Robert Leuchte fuer kraftfahrzeuge
DE2935410A1 (de) * 1979-09-01 1981-04-02 Robert Bosch Gmbh, 7000 Stuttgart Signalleuchte, insbesondere blinkleuchte fuer fahrzeuge
DE2939329A1 (de) * 1979-09-28 1981-04-16 Robert Bosch Gmbh, 7000 Stuttgart Signalleuchte, insbesondere blinkleuchte fuer kraftfahrzeuge

Cited By (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
FR2695362A1 (fr) * 1992-09-09 1994-03-11 Valeo Vision Feu de signalisation à visibilité latérale améliorée pour véhicule automobile.
EP0587501A3 (en) * 1992-09-09 1994-05-18 Valeo Vision Signal light having an improved lateral visibility
EP1624244A1 (fr) * 2004-08-04 2006-02-08 Seat, S.A. Lampe de signalisation pour véhicules
EP2230446A1 (fr) * 2009-03-17 2010-09-22 Valeo Vision Dispositif d'éclairage ou de signalisation pour véhicule automobile
FR2943400A1 (fr) * 2009-03-17 2010-09-24 Valeo Vision Sas Dispositif d'eclairage ou de signalisation pour vehicule automobile

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PUAI Public reference made under article 153(3) epc to a published international application that has entered the european phase

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: 0009012

AK Designated contracting states

Designated state(s): BE DE FR GB IT NL SE

STAA Information on the status of an ep patent application or granted ep patent

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18D Application deemed to be withdrawn

Effective date: 19831114

RIN1 Information on inventor provided before grant (corrected)

Inventor name: BOUGHTFLOWER, CHARLES ARTHUR