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US 7,118,256 B2Granted
Lighting device incorporating plasma lamp for vehicles
AssigneeMitsubishi Jidosha Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
InventorsMichael Desmond, Richard Plavetich
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A lighting device for a vehicle has at least two light sources, a primary light source for general illuminating or marking purposes and a secondary light source, namely a plasma lamp, for creating exciting and appealing lighting effects.
Claims19
A lighting device for a vehicle, comprising:
- a housing;
- and
- first and second light sources provided in the housing,
- wherein the second light source comprises a plasma lamp filled with gas containing charged particles,
- wherein the plasma lamp comprises first and second electrodes, and
- wherein the second electrode is substantially annular and spaced from the first electrode, and the first electrode is positioned substantially centrally of the second electrode so that streamers from the plasma lamp bridge the spacing between the first electrode and the second electrode.
3 more elements
A lighting device for a vehicle, comprising:
- a housing;
- and
- first and second light sources provided in the housing,
- wherein the second light source comprises a plasma lamp filled with gas containing charged particles,
- wherein the housing includes a light transmitting member through which the light from the first and second light sources transmits,
- wherein the plasma lamp comprises first and second electrodes positioned in the housing,
- wherein the plasma lamp has a central portion extending toward the light transmitting member and an outer portion surrounding the central portion, and
- wherein the first electrode is positioned in the central portion and the second electrode is coaxially positioned at an end of the outer portion positioned farther away from the light transmitting member so that the streamers travel through the central portion toward the light transmitting member and arc back to the end of the outer portion surrounding the central portion.
5 more elements
A lighting device for a vehicle, comprising;
- a housing;
- and
- first and second light sources provided in the housing,
- wherein the second light source comprises a plasma lamp filled with gas containing charged particles,
- wherein the housing includes a light transmitting member through which the light from the first and second light sources transmits,
- wherein the plasma lamp comprises first and second electrodes,
- wherein the second electrode is composed of at least one of wires integrated into the light transmitting member or an electrically conductive coating on the light transmitting member so that the streamers travel from the first electrode to the light transmitting member.
4 more elements
A lighting device for a vehicle, comprising:
- a housing;
- first and second light sources provided in the housing, wherein the second light source comprises a plasma lamp comprising a first electrode, a second electrode spaced from the first electrode, and gas containing charged particles;
- a sensor for detecting a predetermined condition;
- and
- a control unit for controlling lighting effect of the plasma lamp based on an output of the sensor,
- wherein the control unit in one mode charges the first electrode to disperse the streamers and in another mode charges the first electrode and grounds the second electrode to generate more focused streamers.
3 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.