Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 16
Claim 1
Independent Claim
171 words
A rear combination lamp assembly for a vehicle, characterized by comprising: a first printed circuit board (13) having mounted thereon a plurality of LEDs (16) capable of being turned on and off independently of each other, said LEDs (16) cooperating with each other to form a matrix display (18); a plate-like lens element (12) arranged substantially in parallel relation to said first printed circuit board (13) and in front of the same to cover said LEDs (16); a second printed circuit board (14) arranged on the opposite side of said first printed circuit board (13) from said lens element (12) and substantially in parallel relation to said first printed circuit board (13), said second printed circuit board (14) having mounted thereon control circuit means (17) for selectively turning on and off said LEDs (16) to display various patterns on said matrix display (18); and holding means (11, 15) for holding said first printed circuit board (13), said lens element (12) and said second printed circuit board (14) in a united fashion.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
171 words
A rear combination lamp assembly for a vehicle, characterized by comprising: a first printed circuit board (13) having mounted thereon a plurality of LEDs (16) capable of being turned on and off independently of each other, said LEDs (16) cooperating with each other to form a matrix display (18); a plate-like lens element (12) arranged substantially in parallel relation to said first printed circuit board (13) and in front of the same to cover said LEDs (16); a second printed circuit board (14) arranged on the opposite side of said first printed circuit board (13) from said lens element (12) and substantially in parallel relation to said first printed circuit board (13), said second printed circuit board (14) having mounted thereon control circuit means (17) for selectively turning on and off said LEDs (16) to display various patterns on said matrix display (18); and holding means (11, 15) for holding said first printed circuit board (13), said lens element (12) and said second printed circuit board (14) in a united fashion.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
50 words
A rear combination lamp assembly according to claim 1, characterized in that said lens element (12) has a plurality of lens sections (12a) corresponding respectively to said LEDs (16), each of said lens sections (12a) being adapted to disperse light from a corresponding one of said LEDs (16) substantially uniformly.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
76 words
A rear combination lamp assembly according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that said holding means comprises a rear cover (15) and a front cover (11) through which lights from the respective LEDs (16) can be transmitted, said rear cover (15) and said front cover (11) cooperating with each other to form a housing in which said first printed circuit board (13), said lens element (12) and said second printed circuit board (14) are accommodated.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
83 words
A rear combination lamp assembly according to one of the claims1 to 3, characterized in that said first printed circuit board (13) has mounted thereto a plurality of tubular reflectors (16a), each of said tubular reflectors (16a) being arranged to surround a corresponding one of said LEDs (16) to direct the light from the corresponding LED toward said lens element (12) substantially perpendicularly thereto and to prevent the light from the corresponding LED from interfering with the lights from the adjacent respective LEDs.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
46 words
A rear combination lamp assembly according to claim 4, characterized in that each of said tubular reflectors (16a) has a rectangular cross-sectional shape, said tubular reflectors (16a) being arranged in close relation to each other without a substantial gap left between each pair of adjacent reflectors.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
24 words
A rear combination lamp assembly according to claim 5, characterized in that each of said tubular reflectors (16a) has a generally square cross-sectional shape.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
30 words
A rear combination lamp assembly according to one of the claims 1 to 6, characterized in that said LEDs (16) are arranged regularly on said first printed circuit board (13).
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
56 words
A rear combination lamp assembly according to one of the claims 1 to 7, characterized in that said control circuit means (17) comprises a memory means (26) having stored therein said various patterns and means (25) for reading out a selected one of said various patterns to display the selected pattern on said matrix display (18).
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
20 words
A rear combination lamp assembly according to claim 8, characterized in that said memory means comprises a pattern generator (26).
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
37 words
A rear combination lamp assembly according to one of the claims 1 to 9, characterized in that said various patterns include a pattern in which a light-emitting region on said matrix display (18) continuously varies in area.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
40 words
A rear combination lamp assembly according to one of the claims 1 to 10, characterized in that said various patterns include a sequential pattern in which a light-emitting region on said matrix display (18) moves with the lapse of time.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
26 words
A rear combination lamp assembly according to one of the claims 1 to 11, characterized in that said various patterns include a pattern formed by characters.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
26 words
A rear combination lamp assembly according to one of the claims 1 to 12, characterized in that said various patterns include a pattern formed by symbols.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
35 words
A rear combination lamp assembly according to one of the claims 1 to 13, characterized in that said various patterns include a positive pattern formed by ones of said LEDs (16) which are turned on.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
35 words
A rear combination lamp assembly according to one of the claims 1 to 14, characterized in that said various patterns include a negative pattern formed by ones of said LEDs (16) which are turned off.