Glare prevention feature

Abstract

The subject invention relates to an automotive front lamp assembly with a reflector and a light source and relates to a manufacturing defect that causes a substantial amount of glare when light from the light source strikes it. The subject invention utilizes at least one glare prevention to cover or prevent the formation of the sink. In an exemplary embodiment, the glare prevention feature comprises a rib or half-sphere with a convex surface that has a sharp radius. The convex surface spreads out the light that reflects off it over a large area in order to prevent glare. In another embodiment of the subject invention, the glare prevention feature comprises a rib with a substantially perpendicular surface and an angled or curved surface. This embodiment prevents glare by redirecting most of the light that strikes its surfaces so that it is not emitted out of the front lamp assembly.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION [0001] The present application is a divisional application of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10 / 633,900 filed Aug. 4, 2003.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0002] Automotive forward lamp assemblies have been modified over the years to decrease the overall mass of the assemblies in order to increase the safety and the gas mileage of automobiles. Most conventional automotive forward lamp assemblies require a large amount of mass concentration at the front of the vehicle. For example, a typical headlamp and fog lamp assembly will comprise a housing with a reflector, at least one filament bulb, a plurality of electrical wires and a lens. This construction results in a large mass concentration located at the front of the vehicle. In the event of a vehicular accident, a large mass concentration at the front of the vehicle is undesirable because it can result in increased damage and increased injuries. This is especially problematic in the event an autom...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

Effectively reduces glare emissions by spreading light over a larger area or redirecting it, enhancing the optical performance and safety of automotive lamp assemblies.

Problems solved by technology

Most conventional automotive forward lamp assemblies require a large amount of mass concentration at the front of the vehicle.

This construction results in a large mass concentration located at the front of the vehicle.

In the event of a vehicular accident, a large mass concentration at the front of the vehicle is undesirable because it can result in increased damage and increased injuries.

This is especially problematic in the event an automobile collides with a pedestrian.

Unfortunately, thermoplastic materials have the drawback of creating manufacturing defects in the form of sinks.

A sink causes a large amount of glare to be emitted from the lamp assembly because the defect reflects light in such a manner that a large amount of light is concentrated over a small angle when light reflects from the sink.

Concentration of light over a small angle can result in unwanted glare or bright spots in the beam pattern.

Thus, sinks are detrimental to the optical performance of an automotive lamp assembly because they cause the lamp assembly to emit a large amount of glare.

Sinks occur frequently in the manufacturing of headlamp reflectors because of the thick sections required to form the reflector.

While this is an example of a normal location of a sink, sinks of all shapes and sizes are also prone to appear in other portions of the reflector.

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