Patent · US Expired

Optical systems permitting controlled shifting of the beam pattern in headlamps, especially for vehicles

US4345303A · kind A · utility

16Cited by
4References
13Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateSep 29, 1980
Grant dateAug 17, 1982
Priority date
Expiry dateSep 29, 2000

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC F)Mechanical Engineering; Lighting; Heating
  • CPC primaryF21S41/28
  • WIPO fieldElectrical machinery, apparatus, energy
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

A vehicle headlamp is constructed with its reflector and front lens adapted to be fixedly mounted in the bodywork of the vehicle, but incorporates a beam deflecting system, in order that the direction of the beam may nonetheless be adjusted. In one form, the beam deflecting system comprises two Fresnel lenses, mounted face to face in a position to intercept the whole of the headlamp beam, one being equivalent to a diverging lens with cylindrical surfaces, and one being equivalent to a converging lens with cylindrical surfaces. In a neutral position, the effects of the two lenses cancel out, so that no deflection of the beam occurs. One of the lenses is movable in translation away from the neutral position, so that a deflection of the beam occurs, without any other change in the beam pattern. In modified embodiments, the stationary Fresnel lens is not used; instead, its effect is produced by using a reflector of modified shape.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.