Faceted reflector for lighting unit

Claim 2

A reflector for projecting light from a source in a predetermined illumination pattern, said reflector comprising: a plurality of discrete reflecting facets; light focusing reflecting surfaces on said reflecting facets, each of said reflecting surfaces having curvatures individually focused with respect to the source to project an undistorted image of the source, said reflecting surfaces having reflecting areas projecting individual images with a given horizontal and vertical image spread and intensity, said reflecting surfaces further being spacially located with respect to the source to direct said images toward select portions of the desired illumination pattern such that the superposition of said individual images synthesizes the pattern within said prescribed limits, a portion of said reflecting surfaces being in the form of right circular cylinders having curvatures approximating parabolic cylinders which are focused with respect to the source.

Claim 3

A faceted reflector for projecting light from a source in a predetermined horizontal and vertical illumination pattern, said reflector comprising: a plurality of discrete and contiguous reflecting facets; light focusing reflecting surfaces on the facets having uncontrolled light diffusing surfaces between contiguous facets, said reflecting surfaces having reflecting areas for projecting images with desired horizontal and vertical spreads and projected intensities, said reflecting surfaces further being focused with respect to the source for projecting glare free undistorted images of the latter and being spacially located with respect to the source to direct said undistorted images toward select portions of said illumination pattern such that the superposition of the projected undistorted images synthesizes the pattern, the facets being further positioned with respect to adjacent facets so as to shade said uncontrolled light diffusing surfaces from said source thereby further reducing glare due to scattered reflection.

Claim 4

A faceted reflector for projecting light from a source in a predetermined horizontal and vertical illumination pattern, said reflector comprising: a plurality of discrete and contiguous reflecting facets; light focusing reflecting surfaces on the facets having uncontrolled light diffusing surfaces between contiguous facets, said reflecting surfaces having reflecting areas for projecting images with desired horizontal and vertical spreads and projected intensities, said reflecting surfaces further being focused with respect to the source for projecting glare free undistorted images of the latter and being spacially located with respect to the source to direct said undistorted images toward select portions of said illumination pattern such that the superposition of the projected undistorted images synthesizes the pattern, the facets being further positioned with respect to adjacent facets so as to shade said uncontrolled light diffusing surfaces from said source thereby further reducing glare due to scattered reflection.

Claim 5

A lighting unit having optics entirely on a reflecting surface for distributing light in a desired illumination pattern, comprising: an optically passive lens; a reflector, said lens and said reflector having facing interior surfaces defining a lamp envelope; a light source positioned in the envelope; a plurality of facets on said reflector; cylindrical light focusing reflecting surfaces on said facets, said reflecting surfaces being interconnected by uncontrolled reflecting surfaces, said light focusing reflecting surfaces having a shape and curvature for intercepting illumination from the source and reflecting the latter with a given image spread and intensity outwardly through said optically passive lens toward select portions of said illumination pattern, the position and shape of the individual facets being interrelated so as to focus the facets with respect to the source to project glare free undistorted images thereof and being additionally positioned such that the image spreads and intensities provide a composite pattern synthesizing said desired pattern, the individual facets being further positioned relative to adjacent facets and the light source so as to shade said uncontrolled reflecting surfaces from the light source thereby reducing glare from scattered illumination.

Claim 6

A lighting unit having optics entirely on a reflecting surface for distributing light in a desired illumination pattern, comprising: an optically passive lens; a reflector, said lens and said reflector having facing interior surfaces defining a lamp envelope; a light source positioned in the envelope; a plurality of facets on said reflector; cylindrical light focusing reflecting surfaces on said facets, said reflecting surfaces being interconnected by uncontrolled reflecting surfaces, said light focusing reflecting surfaces having a shape and curvature for intercepting illumination from the source and reflecting the latter with a given image spread and intensity outwardly through said optically passive lens toward select portions of said illumination pattern, the position and shape of the individual facets being interrelated so as to focus the facets with respect to the source to project glare free undistorted images thereof and being additionally positioned such that the image spreads and intensities provide a composite pattern synthesizing said desired pattern, the individual facets being further positioned relative to adjacent facets and the light source so as to shade said uncontrolled reflecting surfaces from the light source thereby reducing glare from scattered illumination.

Claim 7

A motor vehicle lamp having optics placed entirely on a reflecting surface for projecting a light beam in a desired horizontal and vertical illumination pattern, comprising: a lens having an optically passive light transmitting region; a reflector adapted to be mounted on the motor vehicle and cooperating with the lens to form a lamp envelope; a light source positioned within said lamp envelope; a faceted surface on said reflector including horizontal rows and vertical columns of discrete facets, said faceted surface having sufficient area to project illumination of requisite intensity throughout the contemplated pattern, said facets being interconnected by uncontrolled glare producing reflecting surfaces, said faceTs having right cylindrical reflecting surfaces approximating parabolic cylinders focused with respect to the source so as to project undistorted images through said light transmitting region, each of said facets having a width, height, and curvature and being positioned relative to the source to distribute illumination with a given spread and intensity toward a select portion of the desired illumination pattern, the facets being interrelated so as to match the overall spread and intensity of the illumination pattern within prescribed limits, the facets being positioned relative to adjacent facets so as to shade said glare producing reflecting surfaces from the light source thereby reducing glare from uncontrolled reflection.

Claim 8

A motor vehicle lamp having optics placed entirely on a reflecting surface for projecting a light beam in a desired horizontal and vertical illumination pattern, comprising: a lens having an optically passive light transmitting region; a reflector adapted to be mounted on the motor vehicle and cooperating with the lens to form a lamp envelope; a light source positioned within said lamp envelope; a faceted surface on said reflector including horizontal rows and vertical columns of discrete facets, said faceted surface having sufficient area to project illumination of requisite intensity throughout the contemplated pattern, said facets being interconnected by uncontrolled glare producing reflecting surfaces, said faceTs having right cylindrical reflecting surfaces approximating parabolic cylinders focused with respect to the source so as to project undistorted images through said light transmitting region, each of said facets having a width, height, and curvature and being positioned relative to the source to distribute illumination with a given spread and intensity toward a select portion of the desired illumination pattern, the facets being interrelated so as to match the overall spread and intensity of the illumination pattern within prescribed limits, the facets being positioned relative to adjacent facets so as to shade said glare producing reflecting surfaces from the light source thereby reducing glare from uncontrolled reflection.