Osram Sylvania Inc.

Daniel D Devir

Charles M Coushaine

Thomas Tessnow

Michael D Tucker

Robert J Schmitt, Jr

Richard Holland

Craig Landcastle

Joseph C Swadel

Stuart K Denham

Edward P Otto

John B Hoover

Joseph L Wegman

Brad Ernest

Doreen R Audette

Andreas Osten

Paul Okerholm

Bradlay Ernest

Douglas Bottom

Craigh Landcastle

Thomas Teenow

Traditional methods of making headlamp coils have left a portion of the coils with slightly irregular forms. These irregularities can result in defects in the ultimate beam pattern. Accommodating these defects in robust lamp and headlamp optical systems can reduce the performance that might otherwise be available. The preferred coil is therefore continuously coiled as a straight body, and carefully cut into segments. Subsequently, legs are welded to the coil segment ends. The coil is then left substantially undistorted by the manufacturing process that would otherwise normally leave a portion of the coils distorted. The method particularly enables a functional center leg coil.

Method of making a lamp coil

An advanced forward lighting system may be made with a lamp having a first filament and a second filament extending perpendicular to the first filament. The second filament is partially hidden rearward and above the first filament. A reflector forms a main beam from the first filament light and a right or left cast supplemental beam from the second filament light. The second filament's position minimizes glare, and enables a simple advanced forward lighting system from a single standard lamp fitting both right and left side reflectors.

Automotive lamp and reflector for low beam and advanced forward lighting system

An automotive headlamp bulb provides the two light or three filament sources in a single bulb. One source may be used to generate a standard headlamp beam, while the second source may be used to generate an augmenting side beam in response to a turning signal. A similar third filament may provide an augmenting beam to the opposite side, or farther to the same side. The single bulb eliminates the need for a second bulb, or a second reflector in an advanced headlamp system with turning light augmentation.

Bending beam headlamp with multi-filament bulb

A vehicle headlamp () has a first light source () for illuminating an area forward of the light source (). The first light source () is preferably a filamented tungsten halogen capsule. The first light source () is arrayed along a longitudinal axis () and emits substantially white light. A second light source () in the form of a plurality of light emitting diodes is arrayed about the first light source (), and the second light source () emits light in directions substantially normal to the longitudinal axis (), for example, along an axis () for providing essentially aesthetic illumination. The aesthetic illumination can be used with or without the first light source being illuminated.

Colored headlamp

A sealing electrode for discharge lamp having electrically conductive cup, and an emitter pellet is disclosed. The cup seals a passage into the discharge lamp, and additionally supports the electrode pellet or tip for the discharge. The design enables the emitter, electrode and seal structure to be made separately off line, while also enabling the emitter to be protected from contaminants during subsequent assembly.

Edge sealing electrode for discharge lamp

Method of forming a discharge lamp

A flexible lamp tube support having lamp support end a coupling to hold a lamp tube on one end and a latching portion to couple into a through hole is disclosed. The flexible, soft body coupler is inexpensive, has low heat conduction, can securely hold the lamp and cushion the lamp. The simple construction is adaptable to differing lamp, housing, and through hole configurations.

Flexible lamp tube support

A lamp capsule with lug connectors, having a lamp bulb, a holder, and a lug is disclosed. The lamp capsule lead extends through the holder passage to fit closely with the lug foot. The lug foot is then rotary swaged to the lamp lead. The swaging mechanically and electrically seals the lead and the lug. An interference coupling is exactly formed along the lead by the swaging, so the lead and lug are precisely located and cannot move with reference to one another. The lug and lead are then tightly held and located with reference to the holder. The mechanical interference fit also forms an electrical connection that cannot separate like a cold weld. The swaging may additionally remove any excess exterior extension of the lead. As a result, the lug is quickly, accurately, and permanently coupled to the lamp lead, and holder preventing subsequent loosening or displacement that may effect lamp positioning or connection durability.

Lamp capsule with rotary swaged lug connectors

A mechanical electrical connector for an electric lamp lead is disclosed. The connector is formed as a single piece from sheet metal and includes an electrical contact against which the lamp lead is pinched by an approximately perpendicularly extending clamp arm. The clamp arm may be further latched to lock the lead hard against the connector. The single piece connector yields an inexpensive, quickly attached, strong, and permanent mechanical support providing a secure electrical connection for an electric lamp lead.

Growing community of inventors

South Sutton, NH, United States of America

Daniel D Devir