The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Aug. 28, 2001
Filed:
Oct. 27, 1999
Darin D. Tuttle, Wyoming, MI (US);
Marc R. Cogswell, Grand Rapids, MI (US);
Meridian Automotive Systems, Inc., Dearborn, MI (US);
Abstract
A taillamp assembly for a vehicle is provided which comprises a housing having a first reflector and a second reflector and a lens mounted to the housing juxtaposed to the first and second reflectors. The lens preferably has first and second optic regions in register with the first and second reflectors. A lamp carrier is mounted to one of the housing and the lens and between the housing and the lens and has first and second sets of interconnected light-emitting semiconductor devices. The sets of light-emitting semiconductor devices are directed at a corresponding reflector and are electrically independent from one another. The first and second sets of light-emitting semiconductor devices can thereby be independently actuated to emit light toward the corresponding first and second reflectors and, in turn, outwardly through the lens. In another aspect, the taillamp assembly includes an optical unit for focusing the light from the light-emitting semiconductor devices to an area within the outer periphery of a reflector.