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US4771372A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Head lamp for dimming light or fog light of motor vehicles

Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
•
Filing: 1986-02-18
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Granted: 1988-09-13
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Expires: 2006-02-18
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Abstract

Abstract A head lamp for motor vehicle dimming and fog lights having a reflector reflecting beams of a light source to form a light beam directed along a path, a diaphragm with an edge arrangable in the path, an achromatic lens arrangable in the path to portray an image of the edge as a light-dark border of the light beam on a roadway and a correction element arrangable in the path to at least reduce a color fringe otherwise present on the light-dark border of the light beam from chromatic aberration.

Inventors

  • 👤 Christian Litetar
  • 👤 Jean-Francois Longchamp

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-10-26 04:43
CPC Classifications
F; F21; F21S; F21S41/00; F21S41/20; F21S41/25; F21S41/255; F21S41/28

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 32
Claim 1
Independent Claim 252 words
A head lamp for dimming lights or fog lights for motor vehicles, the head lamp comprising: means for reflecting beams of a light source to form a light beam directed along a pat and including a reflector; a diaphragm having an edge arranged in the path of the light beam; means for projecting an image of said diaphragm edge as a light-dark border of the light beam on a roadway and including an achromatic lens arranged int he path after the light beam passes said diaphragm edge, said reflecting means being formed so that the light beam has a light area after passing through said achromatic lens and has color fringe beams which form a color fringe due to chromatic aberration; and means for at least reducing said color fringe otherwise present on the light-dark border of the light beam due to said chromatic aberration by directing said color fringe beams into the light area of the light beam and including a correction element arranged in the path of the light beam and associated with said achromatic lens, said correction element having upper and lower cylindrical semilenses, said semilenses being formed and arranged to refract the light beams downwardly, said upper semilens having a power of refraction different from that of said lower semilens, sid semilenses having a common junction and surface directrixes parallel to each other and meeting at said common junction, all of said projecting means, said reflecting means, and said semilenses having an optical axis common to each other.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 252 words
A head lamp for dimming lights or fog lights for motor vehicles, the head lamp comprising: means for reflecting beams of a light source to form a light beam directed along a pat and including a reflector; a diaphragm having an edge arranged in the path of the light beam; means for projecting an image of said diaphragm edge as a light-dark border of the light beam on a roadway and including an achromatic lens arranged int he path after the light beam passes said diaphragm edge, said reflecting means being formed so that the light beam has a light area after passing through said achromatic lens and has color fringe beams which form a color fringe due to chromatic aberration; and means for at least reducing said color fringe otherwise present on the light-dark border of the light beam due to said chromatic aberration by directing said color fringe beams into the light area of the light beam and including a correction element arranged in the path of the light beam and associated with said achromatic lens, said correction element having upper and lower cylindrical semilenses, said semilenses being formed and arranged to refract the light beams downwardly, said upper semilens having a power of refraction different from that of said lower semilens, sid semilenses having a common junction and surface directrixes parallel to each other and meeting at said common junction, all of said projecting means, said reflecting means, and said semilenses having an optical axis common to each other.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 26 words
A head lamp as defined in claim 1 wherein said means for at least reducing a color fringe is formed to eliminate said color fringe completely.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 25 words
A head lamp as defined in claim 1, wherein said refraction power of said upper semilens is more positive than that of said lower semilens.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 20 words
A head lamp as defined in claim 1, wherein said upper and lower semilenses are axially symmetric to each other.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 39 words
A head lamp as defined in claim 4, wherein said reflecting means, said projecting means and said at least reducing means each have a common optical axis, said achromatic lens and said upper and lower semilenses being axially symmetric.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 42 words
A head lamp as defined in claim 6, wherein said common junction is arranged to lie in said optical axis so that a plane perpendicular to said optical axis passes through said common junction and said surface directrixes touch said plane tangentially.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 35 words
A head lamp as defined in claim 1, wherein said correction element is formed to refract emerging light beams from said achromatic lens into differential light beams that combine to form an achromatic light beam.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 28 words
A head lamp as defined in claim 1, wherein said correction element has an effective area and a plurality of lenses at least artially covering said effective area.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim 24 words
A head lamp as defined in claim 1, wherein said achromatic lens and said correction element are each formed as a one piece member.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim 18 words
A head lamp as defined in claim 1, wherein said achromatic lens is formed as a molded element.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim 249 words
A head lamp for dimming lights or fog lights for motor vehicles, the head lamp comprising: means for reflecting beams of a light source to form a light beam along a path and including a reflector; a diaphragm having an edge arranged in the path of the light beam; means for projecting an image of said diaphragm edge as a light-dark border of the light beam on a roadway and including an achromatic lens arranged in the path after the light beam passes said diaphragm edge; and means for at least reducing a color fringe otherwise present on the light-dark border of the light beam from chromatic aberration and including a correction element arranged in the path of the light beam and associated with said achromatic lens, said correction element having upper and lower cylindrical semilenses, said semilneses being formed and arranged to refract the light beams downwardly, said upper semilens having a power of refraction different from that of said lowr semilens, said semilenses having a common junction and surface directrixes parallel to each other and meeting at said common junction, all of said projecting means, said reflecting means, and said semilenses having an optical axis common to each other, said common junction being arranged to lie in said optical axis so that a plane perpendicular to said optical axis passes through said common junction and said surface directrixes touch said plane tangentially, said upper and lower semilenses being parallel in a horizontal direction relative to each other.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim 249 words
A head lamp for dimming lights or fog lights for motor vehicles, the head lamp comprising: means for reflecting beams of a light source to form a light beam along a path and including a reflector; a diaphragm having an edge arranged in the path of the light beam; means for projecting an image of said diaphragm edge as a light-dark border of the light beam on a roadway and including an achromatic lens arranged in the path after the light beam passes said diaphragm edge; and means for at least reducing a color fringe otherwise present on the light-dark border of the light beam from chromatic aberration and including a correction element arranged in the path of the light beam and associated with said achromatic lens, said correction element having upper and lower cylindrical semilenses, said semilneses being formed and arranged to refract the light beams downwardly, said upper semilens having a power of refraction different from that of said lowr semilens, said semilenses having a common junction and surface directrixes parallel to each other and meeting at said common junction, all of said projecting means, said reflecting means, and said semilenses having an optical axis common to each other, said common junction being arranged to lie in said optical axis so that a plane perpendicular to said optical axis passes through said common junction and said surface directrixes touch said plane tangentially, said upper and lower semilenses being parallel in a horizontal direction relative to each other.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim 299 words
A head lamp for dimming lights or fog lights for motor vehicles, the head lamp comprising: means for reflecting beams of a light source to form a light beam directed along a path and including a reflector; a diaphragm having an edge arranged in the path of the light beam; means for projecting an image of said diaphragm edge as a light-dark border of the light beam on a roadway and including an achromatic lens arranged in the path after the light beam passes said diaphragm edge; and means for at least reducing a color fringe otherwise present on the light-dark border of the light beam from chromatic aberration and including a correction element arranged in the path of light beam and associated with said achromatic lens, said correction element having upper and lower cylindrical semilenses, said semilenses being formed and arranged to refract the light beams downwardly, said upper semilens having a power of refraction different from that of said lower semilens, said semilenses having a common junction and surface directrixes parallel to each other and meeting at said common junction, all of said projecting means, said reflecting means, and said semilenses having an optical axis common to each other, said common junction being arranged to lie in sai doptical axis so that a plane perpendicular to sai doptical axis passes through said common junction and said surface directrixes touch said plane tangentially, said portraying means being formed so that said light-dark border has an upper edge with a center arranged in said optical axis and with an edge portion arranged horizontal from said center, said surface directrixes angling upward another edge portion of said upper edge about fifteen degrees relative to said horizontally arranged edge portion from said center whent helight beam passes through said correction element.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim 299 words
A head lamp for dimming lights or fog lights for motor vehicles, the head lamp comprising: means for reflecting beams of a light source to form a light beam directed along a path and including a reflector; a diaphragm having an edge arranged in the path of the light beam; means for projecting an image of said diaphragm edge as a light-dark border of the light beam on a roadway and including an achromatic lens arranged in the path after the light beam passes said diaphragm edge; and means for at least reducing a color fringe otherwise present on the light-dark border of the light beam from chromatic aberration and including a correction element arranged in the path of light beam and associated with said achromatic lens, said correction element having upper and lower cylindrical semilenses, said semilenses being formed and arranged to refract the light beams downwardly, said upper semilens having a power of refraction different from that of said lower semilens, said semilenses having a common junction and surface directrixes parallel to each other and meeting at said common junction, all of said projecting means, said reflecting means, and said semilenses having an optical axis common to each other, said common junction being arranged to lie in sai doptical axis so that a plane perpendicular to sai doptical axis passes through said common junction and said surface directrixes touch said plane tangentially, said portraying means being formed so that said light-dark border has an upper edge with a center arranged in said optical axis and with an edge portion arranged horizontal from said center, said surface directrixes angling upward another edge portion of said upper edge about fifteen degrees relative to said horizontally arranged edge portion from said center whent helight beam passes through said correction element.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim 158 words
A head lamp for dimming lights or fog lights for motor vehicles, the head lamp comprising: means for reflecting beams of a light source to form a light beam directed along a path and including a reflector; a diaphragm having an edge arranged in the path of the light beam; means for projecting an image of said diaphragm edge as a light-dark border of the light beam on a roadway and including an achromatic lens arranged in the path after the light beam passes said diaphragm edge; and means for at least reducing said color fringe otherwise present on the light-dark border of the light beam from chromatic aberration and including a correction element arranged in the path of the light beam and associated with said achromatic lens, said correction element having a side composed of a plurality of cylinder lenses adjacent to and in contact with each other and having surface directrixes arranged parallel to each other.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim 158 words
A head lamp for dimming lights or fog lights for motor vehicles, the head lamp comprising: means for reflecting beams of a light source to form a light beam directed along a path and including a reflector; a diaphragm having an edge arranged in the path of the light beam; means for projecting an image of said diaphragm edge as a light-dark border of the light beam on a roadway and including an achromatic lens arranged in the path after the light beam passes said diaphragm edge; and means for at least reducing said color fringe otherwise present on the light-dark border of the light beam from chromatic aberration and including a correction element arranged in the path of the light beam and associated with said achromatic lens, said correction element having a side composed of a plurality of cylinder lenses adjacent to and in contact with each other and having surface directrixes arranged parallel to each other.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim 22 words
A head lamp as defined in claim 13, wherein said surface directrixes of said cylinder lenses are horizontally parallel to each other.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim 20 words
A head lamp as defined in claim 13, wherein each of said cylinder lenses has a different power of refraction.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim 18 words
A head lamp as defined in claim 15, wherein each of said cylinder lenses has a different width.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim 26 words
A head lamp as defined in claim 15, wherein said cylinder lenses are formed as lenses selected from a group consisting of diverging and converging lenses.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim 159 words
A head lamp for dimming lights or fog lights for motor vehicles, the head lamp comprising: means for reflecting beams of a light source to form a light beam directed along a path and including a reflector; a diaphragm having an edge arranged in the path of the light beam; means for projecting an image of said diaphragm edge as a light-dark border of the light beam on a roadway and including an achromatic lens arranged in the path after the light beam passes said diaphragm edge; and means for at least reducing said color fringe otherwise present on the light-dark border of the light beam from chromatic aberration and including a correction element arranged in the path of the light beam and associated with said achromatic lens, said achromatic lens having an optical axis, said correction element having a side composed of a plurality of ring lenses adjacent to each other and axially symmetric with said optical axis.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim 159 words
A head lamp for dimming lights or fog lights for motor vehicles, the head lamp comprising: means for reflecting beams of a light source to form a light beam directed along a path and including a reflector; a diaphragm having an edge arranged in the path of the light beam; means for projecting an image of said diaphragm edge as a light-dark border of the light beam on a roadway and including an achromatic lens arranged in the path after the light beam passes said diaphragm edge; and means for at least reducing said color fringe otherwise present on the light-dark border of the light beam from chromatic aberration and including a correction element arranged in the path of the light beam and associated with said achromatic lens, said achromatic lens having an optical axis, said correction element having a side composed of a plurality of ring lenses adjacent to each other and axially symmetric with said optical axis.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim 20 words
A head lamp as defined in claim 18, wherein each of said ring lenses has a different power of refraction.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim 18 words
A head lamp as defined in claim 19, wherein each of said ring lenses has a different width.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim 160 words
A head lamp for dimming lights or fog lights for motor vehicles, the head lamp comprising: means for reflecting beams of a light source to form a light beam directed along a path and including a reflector; a diaphragm having an edge arranged in the path of the light beam; means for projecting an image of said diaphragm edge as a light-dark border of the light beam on a roadway and including an achromatic lens arranged in the path after the light beam passes said diaphragm edge; and means for at least reducing said color fringe otherwise present on the light-dark border of the light beam from chromatic aberraton and including a correction element arranged in the path of thelight beam and associated with said achromatic lens, said achromatic lens having an optical axis, said correction element having a side composed of a plurality of lenses of different shapes adjacent to each other and axially symmetric with said optical axis.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim 160 words
A head lamp for dimming lights or fog lights for motor vehicles, the head lamp comprising: means for reflecting beams of a light source to form a light beam directed along a path and including a reflector; a diaphragm having an edge arranged in the path of the light beam; means for projecting an image of said diaphragm edge as a light-dark border of the light beam on a roadway and including an achromatic lens arranged in the path after the light beam passes said diaphragm edge; and means for at least reducing said color fringe otherwise present on the light-dark border of the light beam from chromatic aberraton and including a correction element arranged in the path of thelight beam and associated with said achromatic lens, said achromatic lens having an optical axis, said correction element having a side composed of a plurality of lenses of different shapes adjacent to each other and axially symmetric with said optical axis.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim 25 words
A head lamp as defined in claim 21, wherein said lenses are formed as lenses selected from a group consisting of converging and diverging lenses.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim 34 words
A head lamp as defined in claim 30, wherein said correction element is formed as a combination of a plurality of lenses selected from a group consisting of cylinder, ring, diverging, converging, and semi-lenses.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim 192 words
A head lamp for dimming lights or fog lights for motor vehicles, the head lamp comprising: means for reflecting beams of a light source to form a light beam directed along a path and including a reflector; a diaphragm having an edge arranged in the path of the light beam; means for projecting an image of said diaphragm edge as a light-dark border of the light beam on a roadway and including an achromatic lens arranged in the path after the light beam passes said diaphragm edge; and means for at least reducing said color fringe otherwise present on the light-dark border of the light beam from chromatic aberration and including a correction element arranged in the path of the light beam and associated with said achromatic lens, said correction element having upper and lower cylindrical semilenses, said semilenses having a common junction and surface directrixes meeting at said common junction, said semilenses also having a common optical axis, said common junction being arranged to lie in said optical axis so that a plane perpendicular to said optical axis passes through said common junction and said surface directrixes touch said plane tangentially.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim 192 words
A head lamp for dimming lights or fog lights for motor vehicles, the head lamp comprising: means for reflecting beams of a light source to form a light beam directed along a path and including a reflector; a diaphragm having an edge arranged in the path of the light beam; means for projecting an image of said diaphragm edge as a light-dark border of the light beam on a roadway and including an achromatic lens arranged in the path after the light beam passes said diaphragm edge; and means for at least reducing said color fringe otherwise present on the light-dark border of the light beam from chromatic aberration and including a correction element arranged in the path of the light beam and associated with said achromatic lens, said correction element having upper and lower cylindrical semilenses, said semilenses having a common junction and surface directrixes meeting at said common junction, said semilenses also having a common optical axis, said common junction being arranged to lie in said optical axis so that a plane perpendicular to said optical axis passes through said common junction and said surface directrixes touch said plane tangentially.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim 19 words
A head lamp as defined in claim 24, wherein said semilenses are formed to have different powers of refraction.

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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1991-09-13 1992-03-14 1992-09-13 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 1995-09-13 1996-03-14 1996-09-13 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 1999-09-13 2000-03-14 2000-09-13 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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