Light assembly with concurrently rotating masks

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9903556-B2
Application number	US-201514866019-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 25, 2015
Priority date	Sep 25, 2015
Publication date	Feb 27, 2018
Grant date	Feb 27, 2018

Abstract

A light assembly includes a plurality of light modules attached to a carrier, a stationary bezel attached to the carrier and defining an opening through which light from the light modules passes, first and second masks attached to the carrier for rotation about an axis, and a drive system coupled to and interconnecting the first and second rotating masks, the drive system having a drive gear coupled to the first and second rotating masks, to simultaneously rotate the masks between respective open positions, and closed positions where the masks block light from the light modules from passing through the opening.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A headlamp assembly comprising:
a carrier;
at least one light module attached to the carrier and operable to emit light;
a stationary bezel attached to the carrier, wherein the stationary bezel defines an opening through which light from the at least one light module passes;
a first rotating mask rotatably supported for rotation about a rotation axis, relative to the stationary bezel;
a second rotating mask rotatably supported for rotation about the rotation axis, relative to the stationary bezel;
a drive system coupled to the first rotating mask and the second rotating mask, wherein the drive system is operable to rotate the first rotating mask between an open position and a closed position, and the second rotating mask between an open position and a closed position;
wherein the first rotating mask and the second rotating mask are positioned clear of the opening in the stationary bezel when disposed in their respective open positions to allow light from the at least one light module through the opening, and wherein the first rotating mask and the second rotating mask are positioned in the opening of the stationary bezel to conceal the at least one light module when disposed in their respective closed positions.

2. The headlamp assembly set forth in claim 1 wherein the at least one light module includes a plurality of light modules stacked relative to each other along the rotation axis.

3. The headlamp assembly set forth in claim 1 further comprising a lower pin concentric with the rotation axis, and interconnecting the first rotating mask and the second rotating mask with the stationary bezel.

4. The headlamp assembly set forth in claim 3 further comprising an upper pin concentric with the rotation axis, and interconnecting the first rotating mask and the second rotating mask with the stationary bezel.

5. The headlamp assembly set forth in claim 1 further comprising a housing configured for attachment to a body of a vehicle, wherein the carrier is attached to and supported by the housing.

6. The headlamp assembly set forth in claim 5 further comprising a lens attached to and supported by the housing, and cooperating with the housing to define an interior region therebetween, with the stationary bezel, the first rotating mask and the second rotating mask disposed within the interior region.

7. The headlamp assembly set forth in claim 1 wherein the drive system includes a motor having an output rotatable about a drive axis, wherein the drive axis is substantially perpendicular to the rotation axis.

8. The headlamp assembly set forth in claim 7 wherein the drive system includes a drive gear attached to the output of the motor, and rotatably driven by the output of the motor for rotation about the drive axis.

9. The headlamp assembly set forth in claim 8 wherein the first rotating mask includes a lower gear rack disposed in meshing engagement with the drive gear.

10. The headlamp assembly set forth in claim 9 wherein the second rotating mask includes an upper gear rack disposed in meshing engagement with the drive gear.

11. The headlamp assembly set forth in claim 10 wherein the upper gear rack and the lower gear rack are disposed opposite each other, with the drive gear disposed between the upper gear rack and the lower gear rack.

12. The headlamp assembly set forth in claim 11 wherein the lower gear rack and the upper gear rack are each radially spaced from the rotation axis, and are each disposed in an arcuate configuration perpendicular to the rotation axis.

13. The headlamp assembly set forth in claim 11 wherein rotation of the drive gear about the drive axis in an opening rotational direction rotates the first rotating mask about the rotation axis in a first rotational direction, and rotates the second rotating mask about the rotation axis in a second rotational direction, wherein the second rotational direction is opposite the first rotational direction, to move the first rotating mask and the second rotating mask into their respective open positions, and wherein rotation of the drive gear bout the drive axis in a closing rotational direction, opposite the opening rotational direction, rotates the first rotating mask about the rotation axis in the second rotational direction, and the second rotating mask about the rotation axis in the first rotational direction to move the first rotating mask and the second rotating mask into their respective closed positions.

14. A light assembly comprising:
a carrier;
a plurality of light modules attached to the carrier and operable to emit light, wherein the plurality of light modules are stacked relative to each other along a rotation axis;
a stationary bezel attached to the carrier, wherein the stationary bezel defines an opening through which light from the plurality of light modules passes;
a first rotating mask rotatably attached to the stationary bezel for rotation about the rotation axis, relative to the stationary bezel;
a second rotating mask rotatably attached to the stationary bezel for rotation about the rotation axis, relative to the stationary bezel;
a drive system coupled to and interconnecting the first rotating mask and the second rotating mask, wherein the drive system includes a drive gear in meshing engagement with each of the first rotating mask and the second rotating mask, and operable to simultaneously rotate the first rotating mask between an open position and a closed position, and the second rotating mask between an open position and a closed position.

15. The light assembly set forth in claim 14 further comprising:
a housing configured for attachment to a body of a vehicle, wherein the carrier is attached to and supported by the housing; and
a lens attached to and supported by the housing, and cooperating with the housing to define an interior region therebetween, with the stationary bezel, the first rotating mask and the second rotating mask disposed within the interior region defined between the lens and the housing.

16. The light assembly set forth in claim 14 wherein the drive system includes a motor having an output rotatable about a drive axis, wherein the drive axis is substantially perpendicular to the rotation axis.

17. The light assembly set forth in claim 16 wherein the drive gear is attached to the output of the motor, and rotatably driven by the output of the motor for rotation about the drive axis.

18. The light assembly set forth in claim 17 wherein the first rotating mask includes a lower gear rack disposed in meshing engagement with the drive gear, and wherein the second rotating mask includes an upper gear rack disposed in meshing engagement with the drive gear.

19. The light assembly set forth in claim 18 wherein the upper gear rack and the lower gear rack are disposed opposite each other, with the drive gear disposed between the upper gear rack and the lower gear rack.

20. The light assembly set forth in claim 19 wherein:
the lower gear rack and the upper gear rack are each radially spaced from the rotation axis, and are each disposed in an arcuate configuration perpendicular to the rotation axis;
wherein the first rotating mask includes a wall portion that is radially spaced from the rotation axis a distance that is greater than the radial spacing between the rotation axis and the lower gear rack of the first rotating mask; and
wherein the second rotating mask includes a wall portion that is radially spaced from the rotation axis a distance that is greater than the radial

Assignees

• Gm Global Tech Operations Llc

Inventors

• Wasilewski Andrzej
• Zawacki Jeffrey T

Classifications

• F21S41/141

  Light emitting diodes [LED] · CPC title

• B60Q1/1438 Primary

  Actuating means for dimming masks or screens · CPC title

• F21S41/255

  Lenses with a front view of circular or truncated circular outline · CPC title

• F21S48/115

  Mechanical Engineering · mapped topic

• F21S48/155

  Mechanical Engineering · mapped topic