CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001] This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent

Application Serial No. 62/565,378 entitled Reflector Lamp and filed September 29, 2017, and U.S. Non-Provisional Patent Application Serial No. 16/142,628 entitled Reflector Lamp and filed September 26, 2018, the disclosures of which are herein incorporated by reference in their entirety.

BACKGROUND

1. Field of the Disclosure

[0002] Embodiments of this disclosure relate generally to vehicle lamps. More specifically, embodiments of this disclosure include lamps configured to provide a homogenous illumination from a light source when lit and a reflective surface when unlit.

2. Description of the Related Art

[0003] None.

SUMMARY

[0004] In an embodiment, a vehicle reflector lamp is provided. The vehicle reflector lamp includes a curved reflector having a reflective front side and a non- reflective back side opposite the front side. The curved reflector has a light-permeable slot. A light source is positioned behind the non-reflective back side such that light emanates from the light source through the light-permeable slot for reflecting off the reflective front side. An optical sheet is positioned adjacent the front side of the reflector for homogenizing light reflected from the reflector, and a clear outer lens protects the optical sheet, the light source, and the curved reflector from an outdoor environment.

[0005] In another embodiment, a reflector lamp for external use on a vehicle having a lit mode and an unlit mode is provided. The reflector lamp includes an array of light-emitting diodes (LEDs) for producing light in the lit mode. A reflector is provided for reflecting ambient light when in the unlit mode. The reflector has a slot for receiving light from the light source when operated in the lit mode, such that light passes through the slot and illuminates at least a portion of the reflector. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0006] Illustrative embodiments of the present disclosure are described in detail below with reference to the attached drawing figures, which are incorporated by reference herein and wherein:

[0007] FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional side view of a reflector lamp, in an embodiment;

[0008] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a reflector lamp when operated in a lit mode, in an embodiment; and

[0009] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the reflector lamp of FIG. 2 when operated in an unlit mode.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0010] FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional side view of an exemplary reflector lamp 100. Reflector lamp 100 includes a reflector 110, an optical sheet 120, a light source 130 and a clear outer lens 140. Reflector 110 faces away from light source 130 and towards optical sheet 120. In other words, reflector 110 has a non-reflective back side 112 that faces light source 130 and a reflective front side 111 that faces optical sheet 120. In certain embodiments, curved reflector 110 has a curvature such that back side 112 is convex and front side 111 is concave. In some embodiments, the curvature of curved reflector 110 is asymmetrical. For example, as depicted in FIG. 1, curved reflector 110 has an increased curvature (e.g., a shorter radius of curvature) near a first end 116. In some embodiments, the curvature near first end 116 is greater than a curvature near a second end 117.

[0011] A reflective surface of reflector 110 is for example a chrome reflector with front side 111 having a chrome appearance (e.g., a chrome plating, a chrome finish, or an imitation chrome finish). In other words, front side 111 has the appearance of a shiny metal surface.

[0012] Light source 130 is, for example, one or more light-emitting diodes (LEDs). In some embodiments, light source 130 is an array of LEDs such as a linear single-string array; however, light source 130 may include multiple arrays of LEDs (e.g., aligned in parallel) without departing from the scope hereof.

[0013] A light-permeable slot 115 allows light from light source 130 to emanate through reflector 110 and reflect off its reflective front side 111. In certain embodiments, light-permeable slot 115 is positioned near one end of curved reflector 110, as opposed to a position near the middle of curved reflector 110. For example, as depicted in FIG. 1, light-permeable slot 115 is positioned near a first end 116 of curved reflector 110.

[0014] In certain embodiments, an optical cover 114 is positioned over light- permeable slot 115 for smoothing light from light source 130. As depicted in FIG. 1, optical cover 114 may be positioned on a front side 111 of curved reflector 110; however, optical cover may alternatively be positioned on a back side 112. Examples of optical cover 114 include one or more transparent films or one or more optical sheets configured to cover light-permeable slot 115. Alternatively, optical cover 114 may include nonimaging optics such as one or more lenses capable of manipulating light from light source 130. In some embodiments, optical cover 114 includes two lenses between light source 130 and light-permeable slot 115.

[0015] Optical sheet 120 is for example a transparent and flexible lens or film used to homogenize or smooth light from reflector 110 so that it appears more uniform and homogenous and provides a desired light emission profile. In certain embodiments, optical sheet 120 is a lenticular sheet having a desired number of lines per inch for providing a desired viewing angle. Alternatively, optical sheet 120 is a diffusion sheet or light shaping diffuser. In some embodiments, optical sheet 120 is treated (e.g., thermally and/or chemically) to increase its transparency.

[0016] Clear outer lens 140 encloses components of reflector lamp 100 for protection from conditions of an outdoor environment. Clear outer lens 140 may be aligned parallel with optical sheet 120 or at a non-parallel angle (e.g., as depicted in FIG. 1) without departing from the scope hereof.

[0017] In operation, reflector lamp 100 uses two modes. In a first mode, light source 130 is turned on such that the reflector lamp 100 is actively lit (e.g., a "lit mode"). In a second mode, light source 130 is turned off (e.g., an "unlit mode").

[0018] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of an exemplary reflector lamp 100 when operated in the lit mode. In the lit mode, reflector 110 reflects light from light source 130 through optical sheet 120 and clear outer lens 140 to provide a homogeneous

illumination. The lit mode may be used to provide daytime running lamp (DRL) functionality, for example. As depicted in FIG. 2, a portion of reflector 110 is illuminated to provide homogenous illumination in an illumination area 150. The portion illuminated is towards the opposite end of curved reflector 110 from light-permeable slot 115. In other embodiments, reflector 110 is configured such that illumination area 150 is expanded. For example, illumination area 150 may include the entire front-side surface area of reflector 110.

[0019] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of reflector lamp 100 when operated in the unlit mode. In the unlit mode, light source 130 is off such that curved reflector 110 is unilluminated. Instead, reflector 110 appears as a uniform chrome reflector that reflects ambient light entering lamp 100 via clear outer lens 140. In other words, lamp 100 is configured to appear as a uniform chrome surface under clear outer lens 140 when operated in the unlit mode. Reflector 110 and optical sheet 120 are configured to provide a desired color, flatness, and reflectivity in the unlit mode.

[0020] In certain embodiments, light source 130 is not visible from a view of reflector 110 through clear outer lens 140. When viewing reflector 110, light source 130 is not directly visible due to the position of light source 130 behind reflector 110 combined with the position of light-permeable slot 115 and possibly, but not necessarily, the curvature of reflector 110. As depicted in FIG. 1, light source 130 is aligned with a lower edge of optical cover 114; however, optical sheet 120 elongates the illuminated image of optical cover 114 making it appear to block a direct view of light source 130.

[0021] Features described above as well as those claimed below may be combined in various ways without departing from the scope hereof. The following examples illustrate some possible, non-limiting combinations:

[0022] (Al) A vehicle reflector lamp includes a curved reflector that has a reflective front side and a non-reflective back side opposite the front side. The curved reflector also includes a light-permeable slot. A light source is positioned behind the non- reflective back side such that light emanates from the light source through the light- permeable slot for reflecting off the reflective front side. An optical sheet is positioned adjacent the front side of the reflector for homogenizing light reflected from the reflector, and a clear outer lens is provided for protecting the optical sheet, the light source, and the curved reflector from an outdoor environment.

[0023] (A2) For the vehicle reflector lamp denoted as (Al), the curved reflector may present a reflective surface having a chrome appearance.

[0024] (A3) For the vehicle reflector lamp denoted as (Al) or (A2), the reflective front side may have a concave curvature. [0025] (A4) For the vehicle reflector lamp denoted as any of (Al) through (A3), the light source may include a plurality of light-emitting diodes (LEDs).

[0026] (A5) For the vehicle reflector lamp denoted as any of (Al) through (A4), the light source may include a linear single-string array of LEDs.

[0027] (A6) For the vehicle reflector lamp denoted as any of (Al) through (A5), an optical cover may be positioned over the light-permeable slot for smoothing light from the light source.

[0028] (A7) For the vehicle reflector lamp denoted as any of (Al) through (A6), the light-permeable slot may be positioned near a first end of the curved reflector that has a greater curvature compared to a second end of the curved reflector, opposite the first end.

[0029] (A8) For the vehicle reflector lamp denoted as any of (Al) through (A7), a homogenous illumination may emanate from at least a portion of the vehicle reflector lamp when operated in a lit mode.

[0030] (A9) For the vehicle reflector lamp denoted as any of (Al) through (A8), a uniform chrome reflective appearance may occur when operated in an unlit mode.

[0031] (A10) For the vehicle reflector lamp denoted as any of (Al) through (A9), the light source may not be directly visible through the clear outer lens from outside.

[0032] (Bl) A reflector lamp for external use on a vehicle has a lit mode and an unlit mode that includes an array of light-emitting diodes (LEDs) for producing light in the lit mode. A reflector is provided for reflecting ambient light when in the unlit mode. The reflector has a slot for receiving light from the light source when operated in the lit mode, such that light passes through the slot and illuminates at least a portion of the reflector.

[0033] (B2) For the reflector lamp denoted as (Bl), an optical sheet may be adapted to homogenize light reflected from the reflector in both the lit mode and the unlit mode.

[0034] (B3) For the reflector lamp denoted as (Bl) or (B2), a clear outer lens may be provided for protecting components of the reflector lamp from an outdoor environment. [0035] (B4) For the reflector lamp denoted as any of (Bl) through (B3), the reflector may have a curvature such that a portion of the reflector opposite the slot is illuminated when operated in the lit mode.

[0036] (B5) For the reflector lamp denoted as any of (B 1) through (B4), the curvature of the reflector is asymmetrical.

[0037] (B6) For the reflector lamp denoted as any of (B 1) through (B5), an optical cover adjacent the slot is provided for smoothing light from the array of LEDs.

[0038] Many different arrangements of the various components depicted, as well as components not shown, are possible without departing from the spirit and scope of the present disclosure. Embodiments of the present disclosure have been described with the intent to be illustrative rather than restrictive. Alternative embodiments will become apparent to those skilled in the art that do not depart from its scope. A skilled artisan may develop alternative means of implementing the aforementioned

improvements without departing from the scope of the present disclosure.

[0039] It will be understood that certain features and subcombinations are of utility and may be employed without reference to other features and subcombinations and are contemplated within the scope of the claims. Not all operations listed in the various figures need be carried out in the specific order described.