The present invention relates to an automotive light.
More specifically, the present invention relates to a rear light for cars, use to which the following description refers purely by way of example without implying any loss of generality.
As is known, the car rear lights are usually made up of a substantially basin-shaped, rigid rear casing which is structured so as to be permanently recessed into a compartment specifically made in the rear portion of the vehicle body; of at least one cup-shaped body of substantially parabolic profile, which is located inside the rear casing with the concave side facing the mouth of the rear casing, and has a mirror-finished inner surface so as to reflect the incident light towards the mouth; of a light source which is placed close to the bottom of the cup-shaped body, and is structured so as to emit light when electricity powered; and of a front lenticular half-shell which is at least partially made of a transparent or semi-transparent, also possibly colored, plastic material and is arranged to close the mouth of the casing so as to emerge to the outside of the vehicle body and be crossed by the light emitted from the light source underneath.
More specifically, the front lenticular half-shell is provided with at least one transparent or semi-transparent, usually colored, portion, and is positioned immediately over the body of the reflecting cup and, according to the features of the light beam that the light must emit, may be shaped so as to have clear surfaces which do not significantly modify the propagation of light and/or optical surfaces having the function of either scattering or concentrating the light produced by the light source underneath.
Over the past years, after having integrated the rear light in the outer profile of the vehicle body, some car manufacturers have decided to fit, on some new car models, rear lights which have, either on the inner face of the lenticular half-shell or on the inner surface of the reflecting cup-shaped body, relief decorative patterns which are shaped so as to produce, when the light is turned on, certain special light effects having the function of creating a unique and immediately recognizable light beam emitted by the light. In this way, the model of car that adopts this particular type of light can be easily recognized/ identified among all vehicles in circulation.
In other words, the light effects produced by the rear light are used to give greater visibility and distinctive capacity to the car having said light installed.
Aim of the present invention is to make a rear light for cars, motor vehicles and the like, which is capable of producing new aesthetically engaging and innovative light effects greater than those currently known.
In compliance with the above aims, according to the present invention there is provided an automotive light comprising at least one main cup-shaped body which has the inner surface structured so as to direct the incident light towards the mouth of the main cup-shaped body itself, and at least one light source which is located within the main cup-shaped body, and is structured so as to emit light when electricity-powered; the automotive light being characterized by comprising at least two additional optical filters, which are made of a transparent or semi-transparent material, and are arranged so as to be crossed in rapid sequence by the light produced by the light source; the two additional optical filters being both provided with a respective optical surface structured so as to have a decorative optical pattern which is cyclically repeated with a predetermined spatial periodicity; the shape and/or spatial periodicity of the decorative optical pattern on the first optical filter being different from the shape and/or spatial periodicity of the decorative optical pattern on the second optical filter, and such to cause, in the light coming out from the main cup-shaped body, an inferometric effect with Moiré deterioration which generates a virtual decorative optical pattern different from the decorative optical patterns on the two additional optical filters.
A non-limiting embodiment of the present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:
- Figure 1 shows in a partially exploded isometric view, and with parts removed for clarity, a car rear light realized in accordance with the teachings of the present invention;
- Figure 2 is a sectional view of the rear light shown in Figure 1; whereas
- Figures 3 to 8 schematically show corresponding variants of the Figure 1 rear light.
With reference to Figures 1 and 2, referral numeral 1 indicates as a whole an automotive light specially structured to be fixed on the front or rear part of the vehicle body of a car or other vehicle.
More specifically, in the example shown the automotive light 1 is preferably, though not necessarily, structured to be fixed on the rear part of the car body, and comprises:
- a substantially basin-shaped, rigid rear casing 2 which is structured so as to be recessed into a compartment specifically made in the vehicle body (not shown);
- at least one main cup-shaped body 3 preferably, though not necessarily, having a parabolic profile and which is located in the rear casing 2 with the concave side facing the mouth 2a of the rear casing 2, and has the inner surface 3i structured so to direct the incident light towards the mouth 3i of the cup-shaped body 3 and, therefore, towards the mouth 2a of the rear casing 2; and
- at least one light source 4 which is arranged close to the bottom of the cup-shaped body 3, roughly in the center thereof, and is structured so as to emit light when electricity powered.
In the example shown, in particular, the inner surface 3i of cup-shaped body 3 is preferably, though not necessarily, metalized or otherwise mirror-finished, so as to reflect the incident light towards the mouth 3a of cup-shaped body 3 and, therefore, towards the mouth 2a of rear casing 2.
Automatic light 1 is further provided with a front lenticular half-shell 5 at least partially made of a transparent or semi-transparent material, and which is arranged to close the mouth 2a of the rear casing 2 so as to surface from the outside of the vehicle body (not shown) and be crossed by the light emitted by the light source 4. The cup-shaped body 3 is thus positioned in the rear casing 2 with the mouth 3a facing the lenticular half-shell 5.
More specifically, the lenticular half-shell 5 is provided with at least one transparent or semi-transparent, and optionally also colored, portion, and is arranged to close the mouth 2a of rear casing 2, so that its transparent or semi-transparent portion is crossed by at least part of the light that is emitted by the light source 4 and is reflected towards the mouth 2a of the casing 2a of the cup-shaped body 3.
In the example shown, in particular, automotive light 1 is preferably, though not necessarily, provided with only one cup-shaped body 3 completely recessed inside the rear casing 2; while the lenticular half-shell 5 is preferably, though not necessarily, made entirely of a transparent or semi-transparent plastic material, optionally also colored, such as polycarbonate or polymethyl methacrylate.
More specifically, in the example shown the cup-shaped body 3 is preferably, though not necessarily, made of an opaque plastic material via an injection molding process, and has the inner surface 3i mirror-metalized so as to reflect the incident light. The bottom of cup-shaped body 3 is furthermore rigidly anchored to the bottom of rear casing 2 by means of pass-through screws that pass in sequence both elements.
Similarly, the rear casing 2 is preferably, though not necessarily, made of an opaque plastic material via an injection molding process, and is provided with a number of protruding fixing appendixes in plastic and/or metal material.
Obviously, in a different embodiment the cup-shaped body 3 can be made in one piece with the rear casing 2 preferably, though not necessarily, via an injection molding process.
With reference to Figure 2, light source 4 instead preferably, though not necessarily, consists in a incandescent light bulb 4 or similar which is fitted in removable manner into a light socket 6 which, in turn, is structured so as to be inserted and then locked in a rigid and stable, though easily releasable, manner within a pass-through hole 6a specifically realized on the bottom of cup-shaped body 3, so as to allow the light bulb 4 to protrude into the cup-shaped body 3 while keeping said bulb substantially coaxial to the longitudinal axis A of the cup-shaped body 3.
With reference to Figures 1 and 2, unlike the currently known automotive lights, the automotive light 1 is also provided with two substantially lenticular-shaped, neutral optical filters 7 and 8 which are made of transparent or semi-transparent material and are arranged one on top of the other, immediately underneath the lenticular half-shell 5, so as to be parallel and faced one other and to either partially or completely cover the mouth 3a of the cup-shaped body 3 for being crossed by the light coming out from the latter.
In the example shown, in particular, the optical filters 7 and 8 are made of transparent or semi-transparent, optionally also colored, plastic material; lay on reference planes locally and substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis A of cup-shaped body 3; and are dimensioned so as to completely cover the mouth 3a of the cup-shaped body 3, so as to be crossed by the whole of the light which is produced by the light bulb 4 and comes out from cup-shaped body 3.
Each optical filter 7, 8 is furthermore structured so as to have, on one of the two faces, a decorative preferably, though not necessarily, bas-relief optical pattern which is cyclically repeated on surface of the optical filter 7 or 8 with a predetermined spatial periodicity. The decorative optical pattern on the optical filter 7 has, in all cases, a shape/design and/or spatial periodicity which is slightly different from that of the decorated optical pattern present on optical filter 8, so as to cause, in the light coming out from of the main cup-shaped body 3, an inferometric effect with Moiré deterioration that generates a virtual decorative optical pattern different from the decorative optical patterns on the two additional optical filters 7 and 8.
The automotive light 1 is furthermore provided with an electrically-actuated moving device 9 which is structured so as to be able to move, on command, the two optical filters 7 and 8 one with respect to the other so as to be able to control the arising of the interferometric effect with Moiré deterioration, and/or adjust/vary on command the intensity of the interferometric effect with Moiré deterioration.
By movement of the two optical filters 7 and 8 to one another, it is also intended even a temporary elastic deformation of one of the two optical filters 7, 8, while the other filter remains preferably, though not necessarily, always of the same shape.
With reference to Figure 2, in the example shown, in particular, the optical filter 7 consists of a discshaped body made of a transparent or semi-transparent plastic material, optionally also colored, which has a shape complementary to that of the mouth 3a of cup-shaped body 3, and is rigidly fixed to the cup-shaped body 3, so as to lie on a reference plane locally perpendicular to the axis A of the cup-shaped body 3 and be crossed by the whole light coming out of cup-shaped body 3; whereas the optical filter 8 consists of a discshaped body made of a transparent or semi-transparent plastic material, optionally also colored, which is fixed in axially rotational manner on an annular fifth wheel 10 which, in turn, is rigidly fixed to the mouth 3a of the cup-shaped body 3, so as to lay on a reference plane locally orthogonal to the axis A of the cup-shaped body 3, and so as to be coaxial to axis A of the cup-shaped body 3.
Alternatively, the annular fifth wheel 10 may also be fixed directly onto the rear casing 2 or to the front half-shell 5, obviously always over the mouth 3a of the cup-shaped body 3.
Thus the optical filter 8 can freely rotate around the axis A of cup-shaped body 3, immediately over the optical filter 7, and the optical-filter moving device 9 consists of a small, permanent-magnets electric motor 9 or similar which is preferably, though not necessarily, located in the gap formed by the cup-shaped body 3 within the rear casing 2, so that its motor shaft overhangingly protrudes beyond the mouth 3a of the cup-shaped body 3, and may mesh on a toothed annular crown 9a specifically realized on the periphery of the optical filter 8, so as to be able to rotate the optical filter 8 about axis A within the fifth wheel 10, and consequently vary, on command, the angular position of the optical filter 8 with respect to the optical filter 7.
Obviously, the rotation axis of optical filter 8 may also be parallel and distanced from axis A of cup-shaped body 3. Similarly, the electric motor 9 may be replaced by another type of electro-mechanical or piezoelectric actuator capable of varying, on command, the angular position of the optical filter 8 with respect to the optical filter 7.
As regards instead the decorative optical pattern present on the optical filters 7 and 8, the outer face of optical filter 7 is preferably, though not necessarily, provided with a number of radially-oriented longitudinal recesses, which are angularly equally spaced about the axis of the optical filter, i.e. about the axis A of cup-shaped body 3, and which extend along the periphery of the optical filter 7 so as to form a regular undulated profile with radial development.
The outer face of the optical filter 8, i.e. the face facing the front half-shell 5, is instead provided with a second series of transversal recesses which are locally inclined and staggered with respect to the transversal recesses of the optical filter 7 underneath, and are angularly spaced about the reference axis of the optical filters, i.e. about the axis A of cup-shaped body 3, so as to form, along the periphery of the optical filter 8, a second regular undulated annular profile, the shape of which slightly differs from that of the annular crown on the optical filter 7.
The functioning of rear light 1 is easily inferable from that description above and needs no further explanations. Except to point out that the interferometric effect with Moiré deterioration occurs when the decorative optical patterns present, respectively, on the surfaces of the two optical filters 7 and 8 have a well-defined spatial distribution with respect to each other, and that the interferometric effect with Moiré deterioration allows the external observer to visualize a virtual decorative pattern having a shape and a spatial periodicity completely different from that of the two decorative optical patterns present on the optical filters 7 and 8.
In this particular context, the moving device 9 has the function of arranging, on command, the optical filters 7 and 8 in the spatial configuration which causes the manifesting of the inferometric effect with Moiré deterioration.
The mathematical treatise of the conditions leading to the onset of the interferometric effect with Moiré deterioration has already been exposed in detail in numerous scientific publications, such as the treatise entitled "Analysis of the Superposition of Periodic Layers and Their Moiré Effects through the Algebraic Structure of Their Fourier Spectrum" which was published in 8th Volume of the Journal of Mathematical Imaging and Vision 1998, whose content is incorporated in the present patent application for the sake of completeness.
In addition to the above, experimental tests have shown that the interferometric effect with Moiré deterioration may occur even when the two decorative patterns or optical designs that are superimposed, are of identical shape but are slightly offset and/or rotated one relative to the other so as to slightly change the spatial periodicity thereof.
The advantages deriving from the particular structure of the automotive light 1 are numerous. First, the use of the interferometric effect with Moiré deterioration allows the automotive light 1 to produce virtual three-dimensional developed light effects, i.e. virtually provided with depth, which are radically different, and much more visually engaging, than those offered by the currently-installed rear lights on cars.
There are many advantages deriving from the particular structure of the automotive light 1. Firstly, the use of the inferometric effect with Moiré deterioration allows the automotive light 1 to produce light effects with virtual three-dimensional development, i.e. virtually provided with depth, which are radically different, and aesthetically much more pleasing, than those offered by the rear lights currently fitted on cars.
Furthermore, the considerable distance between the two optical filters 7 and 8 allows to exploit the parallax effects to make more realistic the "depth" and three-dimensionality of the light effects produced by the light.
And moreover, this particular structure allows the automotive light 1 to change appearance when the light source 4 is turned on. If lighted from the outside, in fact, the automotive light 1 shows to the viewer only the optical filter 8, with its relative ornamental pattern.
Finally, the automotive light 1 has production costs that are only slightly higher than those of a traditional automobile light, with all the commercial advantages that this implies.
Clearly, changes may be made to the car automotive light 1 as described and illustrated above without, however, departing from the scope of the present invention.
For example, in a non-shown, more sophisticated embodiment of the automotive light, the automotive light 1 may be provided with a third optical filter arranged so as to be crossed by the light produced by the light source 4, either upstream or downstream of the optical filters 7 and 8. This third optical filter will be provided with an optical surface structured so as to display a third decorated optical pattern which is cyclically repeated with a predetermined special periodicity; the shape and/or spatial periodicity will be different from the shape and/or the spatial periodicity of the decorative optical patterns present on the optical filters 7 and 8, so that the light coming out from the cup-shaped body 3 produces, again for inferometric effect with Moiré deterioration, a virtual decorative optical pattern different from the decorative optical patterns present on the three optical filters mentioned above.
The mathematical treatise of the conditions leading to the onset of the interferometric effect with Moiré deterioration in the presence of three or more decorative optical patterns is described in detail in the volume "Periodic Layers" of the treatise entitled "The Theory of the Moiré Phenomenon" written by Isaac AMIDROR and published by SPRINGER publishing house in 2009, whose content is incorporated in this patent application.
Furthermore, in a second, non-shown and more sophisticated embodiment of the automotive light, the light source 4 may be replaced by a series of light-emitting diodes which are distributed on a supporting and power-supplying board which, in turn, is arranged in the cup-shaped body 3 with the diodes facing the mouth 3a of the cup-shaped body 3. In this case, the inner surface 3i of the cup-shaped body 3 may also not be mirror-finished.
Furthermore, the optical-filters moving device 9 may also be structured so as to be able to rotate, on command and in continuous manner, any one of the two optical filters 7, 8 about the axis A of cup-shaped body 3, so as to seamlessly move in space and/or to modify the virtual decorative optical pattern generated by inferometric effect with Moiré deterioration over time.
With reference to figure 3, in a first alternative embodiment, the optical filter 7 consists of a lenticular body 7 made of transparent or semi-transparent, optionally also colored, material which is directly fixed on the lenticular half-shell 5, over the mouth 3a of the cup-shaped body 3; the optical filter 8 instead remains fixed in axially rotating manner on the annular fifth wheel 10, so as to be rotated about axis A of cup-shaped body 3 by the moving device 9.
With reference to Figure 4, in a second alternative embodiment, the optical filter 7 consists of a cup-shaped body 7 made of transparent or semi-transparent, possibly also colored, material, which is arranged directly on the bottom of the cup-shaped body 3, so as to be crossed by the light emitted by the light bulb 4 and reflected towards the mouth 3a of the cup-shaped body 3; the optical filter 8 instead remains fixed in axially rotational manner on the annular fifth wheel 10, so as to be rotated, on command, about the axis A of the cup-shaped body by the moving device 9. The cup-shaped body 7 may possibly be made also in one piece with the cup-shaped body 3.
With reference to Figure 5, in a third alternative embodiment, the optical filter 7 instead consists of a cap 7 of transparent or semi-transparent, possibly also colored, material, which has the shape of a substantially cylindrical bell, extends coaxially to the axis A of cup-shaped body 3 within said cup-shaped body 3, and is fitted directly on the light bulb 4 so as to be first crossed by the light emitted by the light bulb 4. The cap 7 in transparent or semi-transparent material is furthermore rigidly fixed on the light socket 6, and has, on its inner or outer cylindrical lateral surface, a preferably, though not necessarily made, bas-relief, decorative optical pattern having a predetermined spatial periodicity.
In the example shown, in particular, the outer cylindrical lateral surface of cap 7 has a regular undulated profile, wherein the crests of the waves are parallel to each other and slightly inclined with respect to the longitudinal axis of the cap 7, i.e. slightly inclined with respect to the axis A of the cup-shaped body 3.
The light that crosses the cap 7 is reflected by the inner surface 3i of the cup-shape body 3 and comes out of the mouth 3a of cup-shaped body 3 generating, due to the interferometric effect with Moiré deterioration, a virtual decorative optical pattern which has a shape/design and a spatial periodicity completely different from those of the two decorative optical patterns present on the optical filters 7 and 8.
In this third alternative embodiment, the optical filter 8 remains preferably, though not necessarily, fixed in axially rotational manner on the annular fifth wheel 10 so as to be able to rotate about the axis A of cup-shaped body 3 under the bias of the moving device 9.
With reference to figure 6, in a fourth alternative embodiment the lenticular-shaped optical filter 7 is fixed to the mouth 3a of the cup-shaped body 3, closing the latter; the optical filter 8 instead consists of a cap 8 in transparent or semi-transparent, possibly also colored, material, which has the shape of a substantially cylindrical bell, extends coaxially to the axis A of cup-shaped body 3 within said cup-shaped body 3, and is fitted directly on the light bulb 4 so as to be first crossed by the light emitted by the light bulb 4. The cap 8 in transparent or semi-transparent material has, on its inner or outer cylindrical lateral surface, a preferably, though not necessarily, bas-relief, decorative optical pattern having a predetermined spatial periodicity; and is fixed in axially rotational manner on an annular fifth wheel 11 which in turn is rigidly fixed on the light socket 6, coaxial to the axis A of cup-shaped body 3.
Thus the cap 8 is therefore crossed by the light emitted from the light bulb 4 and can rotate around the axis A of cup-shaped body 3.
In this fourth variant embodiment, the optical-filters moving device 9 consists of a small permanent-magnets electric motor 9 or similar, which is fixed to the light socket 6 next to the light bulb 4, so that its drive shaft protrudes inside the cup-shaped body 3, and can mesh on a toothed annular crown specifically realized on the periphery of cap 8, so as to be able to rotate cap 8 within the fifth wheel 11 about axis A, and consequently vary, on command, the angular position of cap 8 with respect to the optical filter 7.
Also in this case, the cylindrical outer or inner surface of cap 8 in transparent or semi-transparent material is provided with a decorative optical pattern preferably, though not necessarily, in bas-relief which is provided with a predetermined spatial periodicity. More specifically, in the example shown the outer cylindrical surface of the cap 8 has a regular undulated profile, in which the crests of the waves are parallel to one another and slightly inclined with respect to the longitudinal axis of the cap 8, i.e. slightly inclined with respect to the axis A of cup-shaped body 3.
The light which crosses the cap 8 is reflected by the inner surface 3i of the cup-shape body 3 and comes out of the mouth 3a of cup-shaped body 3 generating, due to the interferometric effect with Moiré deterioration, a virtual decorative optical pattern which has a shape/ design and a spatial periodicity completely different from those of the two decorative optical patterns present on the optical filters 7 and 8.
With reference to figure 7, in a first simplified embodiment, the optical filter 8 consists of a cup-shaped body 8 made of transparent or semi-transparent, possibly colored, material, which is arranged directly on the bottom of the cup-shaped body 3, so as to be crossed by the light emitted by the light bulb 4 and reflected towards the mouth 3a of the cup-shaped body 3; the optical filter 7 instead remains to close the mouth 3a of the cup-shaped body 3.
In this simplified embodiment, obviously, the automotive light 1 lacks the moving device 9.
With reference to Figure 8, in a second simplified embodiment, the optical filter 7 consists of a cup-shaped body 7 made of transparent or semi-transparent, possibly also colored, material, which is arranged directly on the bottom of the cup-shaped body 3, so as to be crossed by the light emitted by the light bulb 4 and reflected towards the mouth 3a of the cup-shaped body 3; the optical filter 8 instead consists of a lenticular body 8 made of transparent or semi-transparent, possibly also colored, plastic material, which is fixed directly onto the lenticular half-shell 5, over the mouth 3a of the cup-shaped body 3.
Once again, in this simplified embodiment, obviously, the automotive light 1 lacks the moving device 9.