Variable progressive beam headlamp
AssigneeGuide Corporation
InventorPaul D. Van Duyn
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A vehicular headlamp in which the radial beam of radiated light is continuously adjustable between a first position and a second position. Semi-cylindrical lamp shields surround a lamp. The lamp shields are attached to gears which operate to rotate the lamp shields radially about the lamp. An actuator is attached to the gears, such the actuator can turn the gears in order to rotate the lamp shields. The actuator is controlled by a circuit which prevents over-rotation. The actuator may move in very small increments, such that the lamp shields may be continuously adjustable between the first position and the second position. The lamp shields are thus continuously adjustable to vary the projected radial beam of the headlamp.
Claims25
A variable beam headlamp comprising:
- a. a housing;
- b. a lamp positioned within the housing;
- c. a first lamp shield partially surrounding the lamp;
- d. a second lamp shield partially surrounding the lamp;
- and
- e. at least one actuator in communication with the first lamp shield and the second lamp shield and operable to rotate the first lamp shield and the second lamp shield radially about the lamp.
A variable beam headlamp comprising:
- a. a housing;
- b. a support structure attached to the housing;
- c. a lamp arranged and disposed within the housing;
- d. a first lamp shield partially surrounding the lamp;
- e. a second lamp shield partially surrounding the lamp;
- f. a first drive gear in communication with the first lamp shield, such that movement of the first drive gear imparts movement to the first lamp shield;
- g. a second drive gear in communication with the second lamp shield and the first drive gear, such that movement of the second drive gear imparts movement to the second lamp shield;
- and
- h. an electric motor attached to the support structure, the electric motor having a motor drive shaft in communication with the first drive gear.
A method of varying the amount of light emitted from a headlamp comprising the steps of:
- a. providing a housing, a lamp positioned within the housing, at least one lamp shield surrounding the lamp, and an actuator used to rotate the at least one lamp shield;
- b. energizing the lamp such that a beam of light is emitted from the housing, the beam of light having a first radial arc of illumination;
- and
- c. moving the at least one lamp shield about the lamp such that the first radial arc of illumination changes to a second radial arc of illumination.
A variable beam headlamp comprising:
- a. a housing;
- b. a lamp positioned within the housing;
- c. a shield arranged and disposed about the lamp to partially shield light emitted from the lamp;
- and
- d. means for moving the shield to provide a variable radial arc of illumination.
A headlamp comprising:
- a. a lamp for emitting light;
- b. a reflector positioned to reflect light emitted from the lamp into a beam of light having a radial arc of illumination;
- and
- c. a moveable shield arranged and disposed to block light emitted from the lamp and change the radial arc of illumination.
A headlamp comprising:
- a. a lamp for emitting light;
- b. a reflector positioned to reflect light emitted from the lamp into a beam of light;
- c. a moveable shield arranged and disposed to block light emitted from the lamp and adjust the beam of light between a high beam and a low beam;
- and
- d. a light sensor in communication with the moveable shield, the light sensor operable to produce an output, wherein the moveable shield adjusts the beam of light between the high beam and the low beam based on the output from the light sensor.
A method of varying the amount of light emitted from a headlamp comprising the steps of:
- a. providing a housing, a lamp positioned within the housing, at least one lamp shield surrounding the lamp, an actuator used to rotate the at least one lamp shield, and a light sensor operable to produce an output;
- b. energizing the lamp such that a beam of light is emitted from the housing;
- and
- c. moving the at least one lamp shield about the lamp to adjust the beam of light between a high beam and a low beam, based on the output from the light sensor.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.