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A Product of the Cooperative Engineering Program
SAE J387 NOV87
SAE Information Report
Revised November 1987
No part of this publication may be reproduced in any form, in an electronic retrieval system or otherwise, without the prior written permission of the publisher.
Copyright 1988 Society of Automotive Engineers, Inc.
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HIGHWAY VEHICLE REPORT
SAE J387
Issued March 1969
Revised Nov. 1987
Superseding J387 JUL83
TERMINOLOGY - MOTOR VEHICLE LIGHTING
1. SCOPE: The following are definitions of common terms used in SAE Standards and Recommended Practices pertaining to motor vehicle lighting.
2. ACCURATE RATED BULB: A seasoned bulb operated at design mean spherical candlepower and having its filament (s) positioned within ±0.25 mm, and with its pins oriented within ±5 deg, of nominal design positions. Rated bulbs shall be seasoned at rated voltage for 1% of their design life or 10h maximum.
3. BULB: An indivisible assembly which contains a source of light and which is normally used in a lamp.
4. CENTROID OF A LENS AREA: The geometric centroid of a plane area which is perpendicular to the axis of reference of the vehicle and upon which the projection of the functional lighted lens area falls. As an example: The axis of reference for lamps mounted on the front and rear of a vehicle is the longitudinal axis of the vehicle.
5. DEVICE: Any piece of equipment or mechanism designed to serve a special purpose or perform a special function.
6. LAMP: A divisible assembly which contains a bulb or other light source and sometimes an optical system such as a lens and/or a reflector, and which provides a lighting function.
7. LIGHT: Visible radiant energy.
8. MULTIPLE COMPARTMENT LAMP: A device which gives its indication by two or more separately lighted areas which are joined by one or more common parts, such as a housing or lens.
SAE Technical Board Rules provide that: "This report is published by SAE to advance the state of technical and engineering sciences. The use of this report is entirely voluntary, and its applicability and suitability for any particular use, including any patent infringement arising therefrom, is the sole responsibility of the user."
SAE reviews each technical report at least every five years at which time it may be reaffirmed, revised, or cancelled. SAE invites your written comments and suggestions.
Copyright 1987 Society of Automotive Engineers Inc.
All rights reserved
Printed in U.S.A
1Ø 9. OPTICALLY COMBINED: A lamp shall be deemed to be “optically combined” if both of the following conditions exist:
Ø 9.1 It has two or more separate light sources, or a single light source that operates in different ways (for example, a two filament bulb).
Ø 9.2 Its optically functional lens area is wholly or partially common to two or more lamp functions.
10. MULTIPLE LAMP ARRANGEMENT: An array of two or more separate lamps on each side of the vehicle which operate together to give a signal.
11. UNIT: An indivisible assembly which provides a mechanical, electrical, or lighting function, for example, sealed beam unit or flasher.
The phi (Ø) symbol is for the convenience of the user in locating areas where technical revisions have been made to the previous issue of the report. If the symbol is next to the report title, it indicates a complete revision of the report.
2J387 NOV87
RATIONALE:
In FMVSS 108, paragraph S4.4.1, it is stated that "…no clearance lamp may be combined optically with any tail lamp or identification lamp…" Similar wording occurs in subsection 14 of CMVSS 108.
For lack of this definition, lamps are being manufactured and installed on trailers that combine the clearance lamp functions under one lens, with two closely-spaced bulbs. This clearly violates the spirit and intent of these safety standards.
This definition harmonizes well with ECE Regulation 48, page 2, paragraph 2.6.5, "Reciprocally Incorporated Lamps."
RELATIONSHIP OF SAE STANDARD TO ISO STANDARD:
Not applicable.
REFERENCE SECTION:
Not applicable.
APPLICATION:
The following are definitions of common terms used in SAE Standards and Recommended Practices pertaining to motor vehicle lighting.
COMMITTEE COMPOSITION:
DEVELOPED BY THE SAE SIGNALLING & MARKING DEVICES SUBCOMMITTEE:
G. P. Wright, General Motors Corp., Anderson, IN - Chairman
J. E. Bennett, Lawrenceville, IL - Vice Chairman
T. Anjos, St. Augustine, FL
T. C. Baloga, Daimler-Benz AG, Montvale, NJ
V. D. Bhise, Ford Motor Co., Dearborn, MI
L. K. Bucher, North American Philips, Richmond, KY
A. L. Burgett, Alexandria, VA
S. A. Darby, Sate-Lite Manufacturing Co., Niles, IL
T. Dawson, Weldon Inc., Columbus, OH
C. J. Devonshire, Chrysler Corp., Detroit, MI
R. N. Faulhaber, Cooper Ind., Whippany, NJ
E. K. Hirst, California Highway Patrol, Sacramento, CA
G. A. Knapp, Dewitt, NY
M. McKale, General Motors Corp., Troy, MI
W. A. McKinney, GMC, Anderson, IN
B. C. Muccioli, Livonia, MI
C. J. Newman, Sedona, AZ
R. W. Olyer, Anderson, IN
H. Peters, General Electric Co., Richmond Heights, OH
E. L. Poirier, C. H. Raches Inc., Troy, MI
W. J. Ross, J. W. Speaker Corporation, Milwaukee, WI
W. F. Sand, K-D Lamp Co., Cincinnati, OH
3P. G. Scully, Peterson Manufacturing Co., Grandview, MO
G. E. Swierb, Chrysler Corp., Detroit, MI
D. W. Vescio, Sr., Fulton, NY
R. L. Vile, Lyndhurst, NJ
R. W. Watson, Wixon, MI
R. G. Yorks, Truck Lite Co. Inc., Falconer, NY
J. Yoshimoto, Koito Manufacturing Co. Ltd., Shizuokaken, Japan
SPONSORED BY THE SAE LIGHTING COMMITTEE:
D. W. Moore, GMC, Anderson, IN – Chairman
R. A. Nixon, JR., Cooper Industries, Boyertown, PA – Vice Chairman
A. J. Burgess, Orchard Lake, MI – Sponsor
K. E. Alexander, Keeler Automotive, Kentwood, MI
J. E. Bair, Hopkins Mfg. Corp., Emporia, KS
J. E. Bennett, Lawrenceville, IL
V. D. Bhise, Ford Motor Co., Dearborn, MI
G. G. Bonvallet, ETL Testing Laboratories, Cortland, NY
A. L. Burgett, Alexandria, VA
L. Carbary, Chrysler Corp., Detroit, MI
S. A. Darby, Sate–Lite Manufacturing Co., Niles, IL
T. Dawson, Weldon Inc., Columbus, OH
C. J. Devonshire, Chrysler Corp., Detroit, MI
J. A. Erion, Ford Motor Co., Dearborn, MI
E. G. Hitzemeyer, Volkswagenwerk AG, Wolfsburg, Germany, Federal Republic
M. Iwase, Koito Manufacturing Co. Ltd., Shizuoka–Ken, Japan
S. F. Kimball III, GTE Products Corp., Salem, MA
G. A. Knapp, Dewitt, NY
P. Lawrenz, Franklin, MI
A. T. Lawry, Ford Motor Co., Dearborn, MI
R. J. Love, Waterford, OH
M. McKale, General Motors, Corp., Troy, MI
W. A. McKinney, GMC, Anderson, IN
G. E. Meese, Lyndhurst, OH
H. Miyazawa, Stanley Elec, Co. Ltd., Tokyo, Japan
B. C. Muccioli, Livonia, MI
C. J. Newman, Sedona, AZ
J. L. Purpura, American Motors Corp., Detroit, MI
D. Richards, Chrysler Corp., Detroit, MI
W. F. Sand, K–D Lamp Co., Cincinnati, OH
P. G. Scully, Peterson Manufacturing Co., Grandview, MO
Z. S. Subotich, Canadian Standards Association, Rexdale, Ontario, Canada
F. Takata, Ichikoh Industries Ltd., Washington, DC
D. W. Vescio, Sr., R. E. Dietz Co., Syracuse, NY
R. L. Vile, Lyndhurst NJ
R. W. Watson, Wixom, MI
J. G. White, Govt. of Canada, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
G. P. Wright, General Motors Corp., Anderson, IN
R. G. Yorks, Truck Lite Co. Inc., Falconer, NY
4This report is published by SAE to advance the state of technical and engineering sciences. The use of this report is entirely voluntary, and its applicability and suitability for any particular use, including any patent infringement arising there from, is the sole responsibility of the user.
PRINTED IN U.S.A
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