The present invention generally relates to a blinker assembly for a vehicle, and particularly to a blinker assembly having a non-uniform shaped collimator to enable uniform illumination of light thereon.
Background
Generally, vehicles are provided with blinker assemblies to indicate or intimate other motorists about the change of direction of the vehicle. The blinker assembly is generally provided at both sides of the vehicle, i.e., at an anterior position and a posterior position. For example, in case the vehicle is turning/directing into a left turn, the blinker in the left side of the vehicle blinks. Hence, it is necessary that the illumination from the blinker is visible enough to notify other motorists. Conventional blinkers are provided with bulbs or LED as a light source. In case the blinkers are using bulbs as a light source, multiple bulbs may be required to illuminate the whole blinker. As a result, size of the blinker is increased and it also requires more space in the vehicle due to the bigger sized blinker. In LED based blinkers, single or multiple LEDs are used to illuminate the light thereon. In case single LED is used as a light source, the light illumination on the blinker is non-uniform. In case multiple LEDs are used as a light source in the blinker, the LEDs occupy more space in the blinkers. As a result, size of the blinkers needs to be increased.
Accordingly, there remains a need for a blinker assembly having a collimator with single LED to uniformly illuminate the whole blinker assembly.
SUMMARY

This summary is provided to introduce a selection of concepts, in a simplified format, that are further described in the detailed description of the invention. This summary is neither intended to identify key or essential inventive concepts of the invention nor intended to determine the scope of the invention.
In an embodiment of the present disclosure, a vehicle blinker assembly is disclosed. The blinker assembly includes a housing, a light unit, and a collimator. The light unit is adapted to be received in the housing, wherein the light unit comprises a light source disposed at a first end of the light unit. Further, the collimator is disposed in the housing at an anterior portion with respect to the light unit, and a cross-section of the collimator is gradually reducing from a first end of the collimator to a second end of the collimator. Further, the collimator includes an illuminating portion and an optic entry formed on the first end of the collimator and in-line to the light source to receive a light beam from the light source. Further, an inner surface of the collimator and the gradually reducing cross-section of the collimator are configured to uniformly distribute the light beam received from the optics entry towards the illuminating portion of the collimator.
To further clarify the advantages and features of the present invention, a more particular description of the invention will be rendered by reference to specific embodiments thereof, which is illustrated in the appended drawings. It is appreciated that these drawings depict only typical embodiments of the invention and are therefore not to be considered limiting of its scope. The invention will be described and explained with additional specificity and detail with the accompanying drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
These and other features, aspects, and advantages of the present invention will become better understood when the following detailed description is read with

reference to the accompanying drawings in which like characters represent like parts throughout the drawings, wherein:
Fig. 1 illustrates an exploded view of a blinker assembly for a vehicle, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;
Fig. 2 illustrates sectional view of the blinker assembly of Fig. 1 along a longitudinal axis depicting a cross-section of a collimator;
Fig. 3 A illustrates a front view of the collimator of Fig. 2;
Fig. 3B illustrates an isometric view of the collimator of Fig. 2; and
Fig. 4A-E illustrates various schematic views depicting assembling steps of the blinker assembly of Fig. 1.
Further, skilled artisans will appreciate that elements in the drawings are illustrated for simplicity and may not have necessarily been drawn to scale. For example, the flow charts illustrate the method in terms of the most prominent steps involved to help to improve understanding of aspects of the present invention. Furthermore, in terms of the construction of the device, one or more components of the device may have been represented in the drawings by conventional symbols, and the drawings may show only those specific details that are pertinent to understanding the embodiments of the present invention so as not to obscure the drawings with details that will be readily apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art having benefit of the description herein.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF FIGURES
For the purpose of promoting an understanding of the principles of the invention, reference will now be made to the embodiment illustrated in the drawings

and specific language will be used to describe the same. It will nevertheless be understood that no limitation of the scope of the invention is thereby intended, such alterations and further modifications in the illustrated system, and such further applications of the principles of the invention as illustrated therein being contemplated as would normally occur to one skilled in the art to which the invention relates. Unless otherwise defined, all technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skilled in the art to which this invention belongs. The system, methods, and examples provided herein are illustrative only and not intended to be limiting.
The term "some" as used herein is defined as "none, or one, or more than one, or all." Accordingly, the terms "none," "one," "more than one," "more than one, but not all" or "all" would all fall under the definition of "some." The term "some embodiments" may refer to no embodiments or to one embodiment or to several embodiments or to all embodiments. Accordingly, the term "some embodiments" is defined as meaning "no embodiment, or one embodiment, or more than one embodiment, or all embodiments."
The terminology and structure employed herein is for describing, teaching and illuminating some embodiments and their specific features and elements and does not limit, restrict or reduce the spirit and scope of the claims or their equivalents.
More specifically, any terms used herein such as but not limited to "includes," "comprises," "has," "consists," and grammatical variants thereof do NOT specify an exact limitation or restriction and certainly do NOT exclude the possible addition of one or more features or elements, unless otherwise stated, and furthermore must NOT be taken to exclude the possible removal of one or more of the listed features and elements, unless otherwise stated with the limiting language "MUST comprise" or "NEEDS TO include."

Whether or not a certain feature or element was limited to being used only once, either way it may still be referred to as "one or more features" or "one or more elements" or "at least one feature" or "at least one element." Furthermore, the use of the terms "one or more" or "at least one" feature or element do NOT preclude there being none of that feature or element, unless otherwise specified by limiting language such as "there NEEDS to be one or more ..." or "one or more element is REQUIRED."
Unless otherwise defined, all terms, and especially any technical and/or scientific terms, used herein may be taken to have the same meaning as commonly understood by one having an ordinary skill in the art.
Reference is made herein to some "embodiments." It should be understood that an embodiment is an example of a possible implementation of any features and/or elements presented in the attached claims. Some embodiments have been described for the purpose of illuminating one or more of the potential ways in which the specific features and/or elements of the attached claims fulfil the requirements of uniqueness, utility, and non-obviousness.
Use of the phrases and/or terms such as but not limited to "a first embodiment," "a further embodiment," "an alternate embodiment," "one embodiment," "an embodiment," "multiple embodiments," "some embodiments," "other embodiments," "further embodiment", "furthermore embodiment", "additional embodiment" or variants thereof do NOT necessarily refer to the same embodiments. Unless otherwise specified, one or more particular features and/or elements described in connection with one or more embodiments may be found in one embodiment, or may be found in more than one embodiment, or may be found in all embodiments, or may be found in no embodiments. Although one or more features and/or elements may be described herein in the context of only a single embodiment, or alternatively in the context of more than one embodiment, or further alternatively in the context of all embodiments, the features and/or elements

may instead be provided separately or in any appropriate combination or not at all. Conversely, any feature and/or element described in the context of separate embodiments may alternatively be realized as existing together in the context of a single embodiment.
Any particular and all details set forth herein are used in the context of some embodiments and therefore should NOT be necessarily taken as limiting factors to the attached claims. The attached claims and their legal equivalents can be realized in the context of embodiments other than the ones used as illustrative examples in the description below.
Embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.
As explained above, the conventional blinker assemblies are either provided with single LED/bulb or multiple LEDs/bulbs. In case single LED or bulb is used as a light source, it may not uniformly illuminate light on the blinker. In case multiple LEDs or bulbs are used as a light source, the light source may occupy more space thereby increasing size of the blinker. To alleviate such problem, a collimator with a single LED is provided in the proposed blinker assembly. In proposed blinker assembly, the collimator is shaped in such a way the LED uniformly distribute the light on the blinker assembly. Further, construction of the collimator and the placement the LED are explained with respect to the forthcoming figures.
Fig. 1 illustrates an exploded view of a blinker assembly 100 for a vehicle, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. The blinker assembly 100 can be used in vehicles, particularly, motorbikes. The blinker assembly 100, hereinafter referred to as blinker, may be placed at both sides of the vehicle, i.e., at an anterior position and a posterior position of the vehicle. Particularly, the blinker 100 may blink when the vehicle intends to change a route. The blinker 100 may include a housing 102, a light unit 104, and a collimator 106. In this example, the

housing 102 may be semi enclosed elliptical shaped component adapted to receive the light unit 104. In other words, the housing 102 may have an empty space to receive the light unit 104 and an opening 102A. In another example, the housing 102 is a semi-spherical shaped housing.
The light unit 104 may be a printed circuit board adapted to be received in the housing 102. The light unit 104 further includes a light source 108 disposed at an end of the light unit 104. Particularly, the light source 108 is disposed at a first end of the light unit 104 which is an end of the light unit 104. Further, the light source 108 is a light emitting diode (LED) provided with a driving circuit 110 in the light unit 104. As explained, the light unit 104 is a PCB and the driving circuit 110 is configured on the PCB to drive the LED/light source 108. Here, the driving circuit 110 may be powered by a battery of the vehicle and may be provided with electrical connectors 112. The electrical connectors 112 may pass through the opening 102A formed in the housing 102 when the light unit 104 is assembled in the housing 102. The driving circuit 110 is configured to control the light source 108 and enable blinking function of the light source 108. Here, a single PCB is used to host the light source 108 and receive the driving circuit 110, thereby the blinker 100 can be compact.
Further, the collimator 106 is disposed in the housing 102 at an anterior position with respect to the light unit 104. Here, the anterior position means that the light unit 104 is positioned behind the collimator 106 when the collimator 106 is received in the housing 102. Generally, the collimator 106 is a device that is configured to distribute light beams generated by the light source 108. To enable uniform distribution of the light beams across the blinker 100, a design of the collimator 106 is changed. Particularly, the design of the collimator 106 is changed in such a way that a cross-section of the collimator 106 is gradually reducing from a first end to second end of the collimator 106.

Fig. 2 illustrates sectional view of the blinker 100 of Fig. 1 along a longitudinal axis depicting a cross-section of the collimator 106. It is evident from the Fig. 2 that the cross-section of the collimator 106 is gradually decreasing from the first end 106A of the collimator 106 to the second end 106B of the collimator 106. Particularly, the cross-section of the collimator 106 at a proximity to the light source 108 is more than of another end of the collimator 106.
The collimator 106 includes an illuminating portion 202 and an optics entry 204. The optics entry 204 is formed on the first end 106A of the collimator 106 and inline to the light source 108 to receive the light beams from the light source 108. In this example, an inner surface of the collimator 106 and the gradually reducing cross-section of the collimator 106 are configured to uniformly distribute the light beam received from the optics entry 204 towards the illuminating portion 202 of the collimator 106. Further, the collimator 106 includes a first longitudinal side 206 extending along a length of the collimator 106 and a second longitudinal side 208 spaced apart from the first longitudinal side 206. Here, the illuminating portion 202 is formed on the first longitudinal side 206 facing the open side of the housing 102.
In this example, the collimator 106 is positioned in the housing 102 in such a way that the second longitudinal side 208 is facing the light unit 104 as shown in Fig. 2. Further, a distance between the first longitudinal side 206 and the second longitudinal side 208 is gradually decreasing from the first end 106A of the collimator 106 to the second end 106B of the collimator 106. As explained above, the cross-section of the collimator 106 is non-uniform across the collimator 106. Here, the cross-section of the collimator 106 means a distance between the first longitudinal side 206 and the second longitudinal side 208 of the collimator 106.
As the light beam enters from the first end 106 A of the collimator 106, the cross-section of the collimator 106 at the first end 106A is more than of the second end 106B, thereby uniformly distributing the light beam on the illuminating portion 202. In case the light beam enters from the second end 106B of the collimator 106,

the cross-section of the collimator 106 at the second side 106B will be more than of the cross-section of the collimator 106 at the first side 106A.
Further, the optics entry 204 is configured to direct the light beam towards to an inner surface of the second longitudinal side 208, and the inner surface of the second longitudinal side 208 is configured to uniformly distribute the light beam on the illuminating portion 202 of the collimator 106. In this example, the optics entry 204 is formed on the first end 106A of the collimator 106. In another example, the optics entry 204 may be formed on the second end 106B of the collimator 106. Generally, the inner surface of the collimator 106 is provided with reflective materials. Particularly, the inner surface of the optics entry 204 and the second longitudinal side 208 are coated with the reflective materials.
Further, the optics entry 204 includes a pair of angled portions 210 adapted to be connected to the first and second longitudinal sides 206,208. Particularly, one angled portion 210 is connected to the first longitudinal side 206 and another angled portion 210 is connected to the second longitudinal side 208. Further, the angled portions 210 may extend to a distance proximal of the light source 108 so that the optics entry 204 may receive the light beams from the light source 108. Further, the angled portions 210 are adapted to direct the light beam to the inner surface of the second longitudinal side 208 of the collimator 106. As explained above, the inner surface of the angled portion 210 is coated with the reflective materials. Here, the reflective materials can be any material having reflective properties.
The advantage of collimator 106 is that it collects the light from light source 108 and transfers to illuminating portion 202 of the blinker 100. Hence, a single light source or LED placed at a corner portion of light unit 104 may be optimum to illuminate whole blinker. Also, there is one single light source 108 is provided in the light unit 104, hence it can be accommodated in minimum area in the light unit 104.

Figs. 3A-B illustrate different views of the collimator 106 of Fig. 2. In this example, Fig. 3 A is a front view of the collimator 106 and Fig. 3B is an isometric view of the collimator 106. The collimator 106 further includes a frame 212 disposed on the first longitudinal side 206 and the second longitudinal side 208 to couple the collimator 106 in the housing 102. Here, the frame 212 being a hollow frame adapted to receive the first longitudinal side 206 and the second longitudinal side 208 and the frame 212 provides support to the first longitudinal side 206 and the second longitudinal side 208. Further, the illuminating portion 202 formed on the first longitudinal side 206 of the collimator 106 includes a grid pattern to uniformly illuminate the reflected light beam from the inner surface of the second longitudinal side 208. Although, in present example, the illuminating portion 202 is provided with the grid pattern, it is possible to provide any other partem on the illuminating portion 202.
Referring to Fig. 1, the blinker 100 further includes a mask 114 complementary to the housing 102 and disposed at an anterior portion with respect to the collimator 106. The mask 114 is adapted to restrict leakage of the light from the illuminating portion 202 of the collimator 106. Here, the mask 114 can be coupled to the frame 212 of the collimator 106. Thereafter, collimator 106 along with the mask 114 are received in the housing 102. Here, the mask 114 is non-transparent materials so that it can block leakage of the light. Further, the blinker 100 includes a lens 116 received in an opening 114A formed in the mask 114 and complementary to the collimator 106. The lens 116 being a clear transparent lens adapted to illuminate the light beam received at the collimator 106.
Fig. 4A-E illustrates various schematic views depicting assembling steps of the blinker 100 of Fig. 1. Referring to Fig. 4A, the schematic view of the housing 102 adapted to receive the light unit 104. Here, the housing 102 may be a load carrying member and made of ABS material) to hold the light unit 104, the collimator 106 and the lens 114. The housing 102 may has a coupling aperture 402 to receive a screw or any other connecting member once the light unit 104 and the

collimator 106 are received in the housing 102. Referring to Fig. 4B, the light unit 104 is provided with a complementary hole complementary to the coupling aperture 402 in the housing 102. As shown in Fig. 4B, the light unit 104 is received in the housing 102. Here, the complementary hole of the light unit 104 is in-line to the coupling aperture 402. Upon receiving the light unit 104 in the housing 102, the screw or any other connecting member 404 is passed through the complementary hole to the coupling aperture 402, thereby forming a rigid connection between the light unit 104 and the housing 102 as shown in Fig. 4C.
Thereafter, as shown in Fig. 4D, the collimator 106 is assembled into the housing 102. In one example, the collimator 106 may be snap-fitted into the housing 102. Here, the housing 102 may have a receiving portion and the frame 212 of the collimator 106 may be a coupling portion. The coupling portion may couple with the receiving portion of the housing 102 to mount the collimator 106 in the housing 102. Thereafter, as shown in Fig. 4E, the mask 114 with the lens 116 is further coupled to the housing 102. Particularly, the mark 114 is coupled on the collimator 106 received in the housing 102 in such a way the illuminating portion 202 is complementary to the lens 116. As a result, the light beams are illuminated on the lens.
As explained above, the gradually reducing cross-section of the collimator 106 enables uniform distribution of light beam on the lens 116. Also, such design enables the light source to be placed in a corner of the blinker 100, thereby making it as a compact design. As the blinker 100 is provided with the LED as the light source 108, the power consumed of the blinker 100 can be reduced. The blinker 100 also can be directly connected to the vehicle's battery (12v DC power source) without any other elements.
The figures and the foregoing description give examples of embodiments. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that one or more of the described elements may well be combined into a single functional element. Alternatively, certain

elements may be split into multiple functional elements. Elements from one embodiment may be added to another embodiment. For example, orders of processes described herein may be changed and are not limited to the manner described herein. Moreover, the actions of any flow diagram need not be implemented in the order shown; nor do all of the acts necessarily need to be performed. Also, those acts that are not dependent on other acts may be performed in parallel with the other acts. The scope of embodiments is by no means limited by these specific examples. Numerous variations, whether explicitly given in the specification or not, such as differences in structure, dimension, and use of material, are possible.

We Claim;

1. A vehicle blinker assembly (100), comprising:
a housing (102);
a light unit (104) adapted to be received in the housing (102), wherein the light unit (104) comprises a light source (108) disposed at a first end (106A) of the light unit (104); and
a collimator (106) disposed in the housing (102) at an anterior portion with respect to the light unit (104), wherein a cross-section of the collimator (106) is gradually reducing from a first end (106A) of the collimator (106) to a second end (106A) of the collimator (106), wherein the collimator (106) comprises:
an illuminating portion (202); and
an optics entry (204) formed on the first end (106A) of the collimator (106) and in-line to the light source (108) to receive a light beam from the light source (108), wherein an inner surface of the collimator (106) and the gradually reducing cross-section of the collimator (106) are configured to uniformly distribute the light beam received from the optics entry (204) towards the illuminating portion (202) of the collimator (106).
2. The vehicle blinker assembly (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the
collimator (106) comprising:
a first longitudinal side (206) extending along a length of the collimator (106), wherein the illuminating portion (202) is disposed in the first longitudinal side (206); and
a second longitudinal side (208) spaced apart from the first longitudinal side (206), wherein a distance between the first longitudinal side and the second longitudinal side (208) is gradually decreasing from the first end (106A) of the collimator (106) to the second end (106A) of the collimator (106).

3. The vehicle blinker assembly (100) as claimed in claim 2, wherein the optics entry (204) is configured to direct the light beam towards to an inner surface of the second longitudinal side (208), and the inner surface of the second longitudinal side (208) is configured to uniformly distribute the light beam received from the optics entry (204) on the illuminating portion (202).
4. The vehicle blinker assembly (100) as claimed in claim 3, wherein the optics entry (204) comprises a pair of angled portions (210) adapted to connected to the first and second longitudinal sides (206, 208) and adapted to extend to a proximity of the light source (108), wherein the angled portions (210) are adapted to direct the light beam to the inner surface of the second longitudinal side (208).
5. The vehicle blinker assembly (100) as claimed in claim 4, wherein the inner surface of the angled portions (210) and the inner surface the second longitudinal side (208) are provided with reflective materials.
6. The vehicle blinker assembly (100) as claimed in claim 3, wherein the illuminating portion (202) having a grid pattern to uniformly illuminate the reflected light beam from the inner surface of the second longitudinal side (208).
7. The vehicle blinker assembly (100) as claimed in claim 2, the collimator (106) comprising a frame (212) disposed on the first and second longitudinal sides (206, 208) to couple the collimator (106) in the housing (102).
8. The vehicle blinker assembly (100) as claimed in claim 2, wherein the housing (102) is a semi-spherical shaped housing.

9. The vehicle blinker assembly (100) as claimed in claim 7, comprising a mask (114) complementary to the housing (102) and disposed at an anterior portion with respect to the collimator (106), wherein the mask (114) is adapted to encapsulate at least a portion of the frame (212) of the collimator (106).
10. The vehicle blinker assembly (100) as claimed in claim 9, comprising a lens (116) received in an opening (114A) formed in the mask (114) and complementary to the collimator (106).
11. The vehicle blinker assembly (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the light source (108) is a light emitting diode.
12. The vehicle blinker assembly (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the light unit (104) comprising a driving circuit (110) configured to drive the light emitting diode.