Solid-state vehicle headlamp having spherodial reflector optic and clamshell reflector

A solid-state automotive vehicle headlamp (10) comprising:

• a solid-state light source (16);
• a clamshell reflector (12) having a reflective surface (20) defining a clamshell cavity (18) with an open end (22) facing a field to be illuminated (26);
• and
• a reflector optic (14) being defined by a portion of a substantially spherical surface (40, 42) in surrounding relation to the solid-state light source (16), the reflector optic (14) defining a light-transmissive window (36) permitting a direct line-of-sight transmission of light generated by the solid-state light source (16) to the reflective surface (20) of the clamshell reflector (12);
• the reflector optic (14) further including a reflective region (34) at least partially surrounding the light-transmissive window (36) and configured to reflect light (52) generated by the solid-state light source (16) and directed at the reflector optic (14) back towards the solid-state light source (16),
• wherein at least a portion of the reflector optic (14) includes a substantially hemispherical shape.

A method of emitting light from an automotive vehicle headlamp (10) comprising:

• forming a reflector optic (14) having a reflective region (34) formed on a portion of a substantially spherical surface (40);
• positioning the reflector optic (14) in surrounding relation to a solid-state light source (16);
• transmitting, via direct line-of-sight through a light-transmissive window (36) defined in the reflector optic (14), a first portion of light (50) generated from the solid-state light source (16) to a reflective surface (20) of a clamshell reflector (12), the reflective surface (20) defining a clamshell cavity (18) with an open end (22) facing a field to be illuminated (26);
• reflecting a second portion of light (52) generated from the solid-state light source (16) and directed at the reflective region (34) of the reflector optic (14) back towards the solid-state light source (16) and subsequently directing this reflected second portion of light (52) towards the reflective surface (20) of the clamshell reflector (12);
• and
• occluding, via the reflector optic (14), emission of light (50, 52) generated by the solid-state light source (16) that is not first reflected off the clamshell reflector (12) from exiting the vehicle headlamp (10).

A solid-state automotive vehicle headlamp (10) comprising:

• a solid-state light source (16);
• a clamshell reflector (12) having a reflective surface (20) defining a clamshell cavity (18) with an open end (22) facing a field to be illuminated (26);
• and
• a reflector optic (14) being defined by a portion of a substantially spherical surface (40, 42) in surrounding relation to the solid-state light source (16), the reflector optic (14) defining a light-transmissive window (36) permitting a direct line-of-sight transmission of light generated by the solid-state light source (16) to the reflective surface (20) of the clamshell reflector (12);
• the reflector optic (14) further including a reflective region (34) at least partially surrounding the light-transmissive window (36) and configured to reflect light (52) generated by the solid-state light source (16) and directed at the reflector optic (14) back towards the solid-state light source (16),
• wherein the solid-state light source (16) is coupled to a bottom surface (30, 32), the bottom surface (30, 32) comprising a bottom reflective region (24) proximate to and within the reflector optic (14), the bottom reflective region (24) configured to reflect light towards the reflective region (34).