Light assembly for vehicle and method of using the same
A light assembly for a motor vehicle according to an exemplary aspect of the present disclosure includes, among other things, a light source and a lens arrangement. The lens arrangement includes a collimator having an inner surface adjacent the light source and a flat, planar outer surface. This disclosure also relates to a motor vehicle including the subject light assembly, and a method of using the light assembly.
1. A light assembly for a motor vehicle, comprising:
a light source;
a lens arrangement including a collimator having an inner surface adjacent the light source and a flat, planar outer surface; and
a housing, the light source and lens arrangement mounted within the housing, wherein the light source includes a light emitting diode and a printed circuit board, wherein at least a portion of the printed circuit board is received in a recess of the housing, wherein the recess is spaced-apart relative to a surface of the housing adjacent the light source, and wherein the surface of the housing adjacent the light source is parallel to a surface of the housing in contact with the printed circuit board.
2. The light assembly as recited in claim 1 , wherein the lens arrangement comprises a lens, and wherein the collimator is located between the lens and the light source.
3. The light assembly as recited in claim 2 , wherein the outer surface of the collimator is substantially parallel to the lens.
4. The light assembly as recited in claim 1 , wherein the inner surface of the collimator includes a convex surface and first and second walls inclined away from the convex surface.
5. The light assembly as recited in claim 4 , wherein the collimator includes first and second exterior surfaces connecting the first and second walls to the outer surface.
6. The light assembly as recited in claim 1 , wherein, when viewed in cross-section, the collimator is substantially symmetrical about a centerline.
7. The light assembly as recited in claim 1 , wherein the light assembly includes a plurality of light emitting diodes.
8. The light assembly as recited in claim 1 , wherein the collimator is about 12 inches (about 30.48 cm) in length.
9. The light assembly as recited in claim 8 , wherein the collimator is one of a plurality of collimators included in the lens arrangement.
10. A motor vehicle, comprising:
a running board; and
a light assembly including a light source and a lens arrangement configured to direct light from the light source toward the running board, the lens arrangement including a collimator having an inner surface adjacent the light source and a flat, planar outer surface, the light assembly further including a housing, the light source and lens arrangement mounted within the housing, wherein the light source includes a light emitting diode and a printed circuit board, wherein at least a portion of the printed circuit board is received in a recess of the housing, wherein the recess is spaced-apart relative to a surface of the housing adjacent the light source, and wherein the surface of the housing adjacent the light source is parallel to a surface of the housing in contact with the printed circuit board.
11. The motor vehicle as recited in claim 10 , wherein the lens arrangement comprises a lens, and wherein the collimator is located between the lens and the light source.
12. The motor vehicle as recited in claim 11 , wherein the outer surface of the collimator is substantially parallel to the lens.
13. The motor vehicle as recited in claim 10 , wherein the inner surface of the collimator includes a convex surface and first and second walls inclined away from the convex surface.
14. The motor vehicle as recited in claim 13 , wherein the collimator includes first and second exterior surfaces connecting the first and second walls to the outer surface.
15. The motor vehicle as recited in claim 10 , wherein, when viewed in cross-section, the collimator is substantially symmetrical about a centerline.
16. The motor vehicle as recited in claim 10 , wherein the running board is a powered running board moveable between a deployed position and a stowed position.
17. A method, comprising:
directing light from a light source to a running board using a lens arrangement, the lens arrangement including a collimator having an inner surface adjacent the light source and a flat, planar outer surface, wherein the light source includes a light emitting diode and a printed circuit board, wherein at least a portion of the printed circuit board is arranged in a recess spaced-inwardly relative to a surface of a housing adjacent the light source, and wherein the surface of the housing adjacent the light source is parallel to a surface of the recess in contact with the printed circuit board.
18. The method as recited in claim 17 , wherein the running board is a powered running board moveable between a deployed position and a stowed position, and wherein the directing step is only performed when the powered running board is in the deployed position.