Star Headlight & Lantern Co., Inc.

Star Headlight & Lantern., Inc.

Stephen T Vukosic

R Michael Datz

J Douglas Richardson

Christopher D Jacobs

Tracy L Andrew

Andrew T Mack

Steven W Neufeglise

Michael F Mastin

Robert J Gross

James J Cronmiller

Oriana J Starr

James H Karlin

Jack Douglas Richardson

Michael A Barbato

Elvis Pacavar

Daniel T McCann

Corey Weterrings

J Andrew Howard

Orinna J Starr

Backup alarm

A system is provided having a controller for controlling operation of warning devices mounted on a vehicle for providing warning signals directed external of the vehicle. The controller receives one or more vehicle event signals, each indicative of occurrence of a different vehicle event. The controller responsive to receiving each vehicle event signal overrides operation of one or more of the warning devices from a normal operating mode into an override operating mode in accordance with the vehicle event associated with the vehicle event signal being received. In an override operating mode, warning device(s) may provide visual signals to supplement pre-existing vehicular light indicators of vehicle events, while other warning device(s) may be disabled to avoid confusion with such vehicular light indicators. To facilitate ease of connection, each warning device couples to the controller at an output port for receiving power and ground, and control signals from the controller.

System for controlling multiple warning devices mounted on a vehicle to provide warning signals

Optical lens for projecting light from LED light emitters

Light bar

An interior lens is provided for a light bar mountable onto the roof of a vehicle. The interior lens has a plurality of fluted lenses or lens segments forming a ribbon shaped to receive illumination prior to exiting the light bar outer dome. The fluted lenses extend vertically parallel to each other and are each shaped to increase the horizontal viewing angle of light from the light bar. The ribbon of fluted lenses may continuously extend within the light bar around the optical assembly to improve performance of light projected from different sides of the light bar, thereby providing an improved optical assembly for a light bar.

Interior lens for a light bar

Railroaders lantern

An LED beacon has a plurality of LEDs for emitting light of the same or different colors mounting along an upright member within an optical system. To provide a beacon illuminating selectively in one or more colors, the plurality of LEDs are in different groups of two or more LEDs, at least one LED in each group being of a different color. Each group of LEDs are mounted together circumferentially spaced from each other around a central axis. Each of the LEDs when activated projects light there from through the optical system provided by a collimating lens and a condensing, coupling lens. The optical system provides enhanced illumination distributed in a cylindrical beam emanating from the collimating lens. By selectively activating LEDs of the same colors or different color at different times different sequences or patterns may be generated.

Multicolor LED beacon

An LED beacon has a plurality of LED's mounted on opposite sides of a square post in the same horizontal plane. Each LED projects the light there from through an optical system. The optical system is provided by a collimating lens, preferably a cylindrical fresnel lens and a condensing, coupling lens for each LED also mounted on the post. The optical system provides enhanced illumination distributed in a cylindrical beam emanating from the fresnel collimating lens. The illumination is enhanced in that the condensing lens shifts the focus of the collimating lens to the location of the LEDs. Nominally, the fresnel collimating lens is focused at the center of the array of LEDs (the middle of the post). The condensing lens shifts the focus radially outward to the light emitting area of the LED, and the condensing lens captures the light from the LEDs and distributes the light uniformly on the fresnel collimating lens, thus efficiently utilizing the LED light and providing an intense beacon suitable for use as a warning light on vehicles and stationary applications. The coupling lens constitutes adapter optics which may be used in other warning light applications to condense and redirect focus of LEDs, such as for example, where the cylindrical fresnel lens is replaced by a rotating or stationary reflector to form an LED beam beacon.

LED beacon

Vehicle lamp

Interior optics for a light bar

A light bar has several modular light source heads which may contain different types of light sources as well as different technologies mounted in cages by shock absorbing grommets. The cages are mounted on a bottom member so that the heads can be arranged along opposite sides and the ends of the bottom members. The heads are captured, and assembled with the bottom member, by a top member which also captures translucent or transparent members or lenses along the sides of the light bar and, transparent or translucent end caps which may also provide lenses for the light source heads at the ends of the bar. The end caps are removably connected to the top and bottom members at the ends of the bar by screws extending through the end caps. The light source modules have the same wiring connected thereto by connectors from a connector board to connectors along the back ends of the light source heads. The top member is attached to posts extending from the bottom member by screws so as to enable removal of the top member to expose the light source modules. The modules at the end of the light bar are exposed upon removal of the end caps thereby permitting the light source modules to be installed, removed for servicing, and the interchange of different modular heads to obtain a desired compliment of light sources, which may be of different types and technologies, or may not be installed if desired to meet customers' orders.

A sub-assembly for a light-projecting module has an array of LEDs mounted on a circuit board potted in a tray at the bottom thereof by a solidified body of potting material. The body of potting material and the tray are heat-conductive and serve to dissipate heat generated by the LEDs. A light-emitting module includes the sub-assembly and a reflector. The reflector has a base which is assembled in heat-conductive relationship with the tray, so as to facilitate dissipation of heat generated by the LEDs. The reflector is a parabolic reflector which collects light from the LEDs and projects the light as a beam. The reflector contains an optical element for concentrating or diffusing the light projected from the module. The module may be assembled in a housing having an opening through which the light projects so as to provide a light bar suitable for mounting on the dash or windshield of a vehicle. A plurality of modules may be assembled around the edge of a frame which is contained in a cover of translucent material, whereby light, which may be of different colors depending upon the LEDs, is projected omni-directionally through the cover.

Light emitter sub-assemblies especially containing an array of light emitting devices (LEDs) and modules containing such sub-assemblies which provide lighting apparatuses, especially light bars for mounting on a vehicle

Growing community of inventors

West Henrietta, NY, United States of America

Stephen T Vukosic