Patent · US Expired

Centralized lighting system for a vehicle having a central light source automatically exchangable in the event of failure

US5178446A · kind A · utility

11Cited by
5References
16Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateNov 14, 1991
Grant dateJan 12, 1993
Priority date
Expiry dateNov 14, 2011

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
  • CPC primaryY10S362/802
  • WIPO fieldElectrical machinery, apparatus, energy
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

The lighting device has a central reflector (10), in which a first light source (11) is located in the operating position. A light guide (11) extends from the light source in the operating position and conducts light issuing directly from the light source and reflected light from the reflector (10) to vehicle light units. The first light source (11) is located in a supporting member (21) on which an additional second light source (22) is mounted. The supporting member (21) is movable relative to the reflector (10), so that on failure of the first light source located in the operating position the second light source (22) is moved in the operating position by a shifting device (26). The shifting device can have a control unit (36) and a sensor (37) connected to the control unit (36), which detects light issuing from the light source (11) in the operating position. On failure of the light source (11) the shifting device (26) is activated by the control unit (36).

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