Motor vehicle headlight reflector having laterally juxtaposed zones, a headlight constructed therefrom and a method of making the reflector
AssigneeValeo Vision
InventorKamislav Fadel
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A motor vehicle headlight reflector and a headlight constructed therefrom, wherein the reflector comprises a plurality of laterally juxtaposed zones bounding transition lines with a break of slope. Each zone has a smooth reflective surface and is adapted to spread light horizontally between two limits obtained in the immediate vicinity of the transition lines. The limits of horizontal spread in each zone varies progressively with displacement along the transition line concerned. The invention also includes a method of making the motor vehicle headlight reflector.
Claims16
A motor vehicle headlight reflector for reflecting light from a light source comprising:
- a center,
- a plurality of zones with smooth reflective surfaces,
- the zones being juxtaposed laterally to each other and defining transition lines with a break of slope joining each zone to the next,
- the zones being delimited by the transition lines,
- each zone being adapted to spread light from the light source between two limits of horizontal spread,
- each limit of horizontal spread in each zone varying progressively with displacement along the transition line concerned,
- wherein the smooth reflective surface of each of the zones close to the center of the reflector is defined by a non-parabolic horizontal generatrix and a vertical cross section giving progressive controlled upward and downward defocalization, the defocalization being adjusted to allow for progressive variation in the limits of horizontal spread.
A method of making a motor vehicle headlight reflector comprising the steps of:
- defining a plurality of reflective surfaces, each reflective surface having a non-parabolic horizontal generatrix and a vertical cross section giving progressive upward and downward defocalization;
- adjusting the position of the horizontal generatrices and adjusting the defocalization of each reflective surface such that the reflective surfaces intersect along transition lines, and each reflective surface gives a horizontal spread which may be progressively varied;
- machining a mold in which to mold the horizontally juxtaposed zones comprising the respective portions of the reflective surfaces bounded by the transition lines;
- and
- molding the reflector in the mold.
A motor vehicle headlight comprising:
- a light source, a reflector, and a cover lens,
- said reflector comprising a center and a plurality of laterally juxtaposed zones bounded by transition lines,
- said laterally juxtaposed zones having smooth reflective surfaces,
- said transition lines having a break of slope, and
- said smooth reflective surface of each of the zones close to the center of the reflector being defined by a non-parabolic horizontal generatrix.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.