Optical Waveguide (e.g., Fiber Optic, Edge-lit) Patents (Class 362/511)
  • Patent number: 11971151
    Abstract: A signal lighting device or lighting device, for a motor vehicle headlight, including light sources for emitting light rays and a light guiding body (LGB) with two light-emitting surfaces (LESs). The LGB includes a beam splitting device with a total internal reflection surface (TIRS), which totally reflects part of the incident light rays and deflects them from the light guide main propagation direction to one of the LESs. The TIRS has individual optical structures (OS), which allow incident light rays to pass through to the other LES. Each OS is designed as a recess in the TIRS, the recess, starting from an opening in the LGB, being delimited by lateral surfaces extending into the LGB. One lateral surface (the base surface) is oriented such that light rays pass through it toward the first LES.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2023
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2024
    Assignee: ZKW Group GmbH
    Inventor: Petr Mahel
  • Patent number: 11959605
    Abstract: The invention relates to a lighting device, for a motor vehicle, including a plurality of light sources, which have a plurality of primary lenses dedicated to each of the respective light sources for focusing the light emitted by the respective light sources. The lighting device also has a secondary optics element which has a plurality of light entry surfaces dedicated to each respective light source and one light exit surface. A grid is located downstream of the light exit surface on the secondary optics element in the exit direction of the light, for segmenting the light exiting the light exit surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2024
    Assignee: Marelli Automotive Lighting Reutlingen (Germany) GmbH
    Inventors: Michael Ritter, Daniel Ruelke
  • Patent number: 11953173
    Abstract: An illumination apparatus for vehicles having a light source, a support plate for receiving the light source, and an optical unit arranged in front of the light source in the main emission direction to deflect light emitted by the light source onto a roadway in front of the vehicle in accordance with a predetermined light distribution. The light source has a light-emitting surface and a light source frame surrounding the same. The light source is surrounded by a shielding frame with a wall that is raised in the main emission direction and encloses an intermediate space between the light source and the optical unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2023
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2024
    Assignee: Hella GmbH & CO. KGAA
    Inventors: Herbert Cramer, Florian Herold, Christian Schimon, Alexander Schwan, Dirk Schwemin
  • Patent number: 11953713
    Abstract: A laminated glazing having a first glass substrate (104) and a second glass substrate (108) and a polymer interlayer (106) laminated between the first glass substrate and the second glass substrate, being formed with a light path (120) formed in any one or combination of the first and second glass substrates and the polymer interlayer for guiding light emitted from a light source (112), a light introduction surface (110) for introducing the light emitted from the light source into the light path, and a light extraction surface (130,150) for extracting, from the light path, the light to either one or both of an interior and an exterior of the first and second glass substrates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2024
    Assignee: ACR II GLASS AMERICA INC.
    Inventor: Markus Walter Pohlen
  • Patent number: 11953174
    Abstract: To radiate light with uniform color and illuminance in a longitudinal direction, this vehicle light guide is rod-shaped and is disposed at a front portion of a vehicle. The vehicle light guide includes a base portion having a curved portion curved rearward from a front toward a side of the vehicle and guiding light from a light source so as to be emitted from an emission face at a front side of the vehicle, a plurality of prism portions arrayed in a longitudinal direction along a back face of the base portion and that reflect light forward, and a diffusing portion positioned in at least the curved portion in the longitudinal direction of the base portion and provided in a strip form on a bottom face side of the prism portions, and that diffuses light.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2024
    Assignee: Ichikoh Industries, Ltd.
    Inventor: Hiroaki Oku
  • Patent number: 11953797
    Abstract: A trim element having a first aspect layer, a lighting device emitting light to the first aspect layer, and a first obturation layer extending between the lighting device and the first aspect layer. The first obturation layer includes at least two first optical obturation areas, configurable between an open position, in which a first optical obturation area lets light pass through, and a closed position, in which a first optical obturation area prevents the passage of light. The trim element includes a second aspect layer and a second obturation layer having at least two second optical obturation areas that are configurable between an open position and a closed position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2024
    Assignee: FAURECIA INTERIEUR INDUSTRIE
    Inventor: Christophe Cuvillier
  • Patent number: 11933471
    Abstract: A vehicle lighting assembly includes a primary lens and a light source on a first side of the primary lens. The light source is configured to emit light through the primary lens. A light blade is on an opposite, second side of the primary lens. A secondary lens covers a portion of the light blade. A vehicle lighting method includes emitting light from a light source, directing the light through a primary lens, directing the light from the primary lens through a light blade, and directing the light from the light blade through a secondary lens.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2023
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2024
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Omar Benjamin Lara Monarrez, Mark Kaski, Derek English, Dean Carbis, Robert Todd Laster, Brandon Schwandt, Linsheng Chen
  • Patent number: 11892137
    Abstract: A vehicle lamp includes a first optical unit that irradiates light for forming a first beam pattern; a second optical unit that irradiates light for forming a second beam pattern and is disposed on one side of the first optical unit in a left-right direction; and a lens unit disposed in front of the first optical unit and the second optical unit to allow the light irradiated from at least one of the first optical unit or the second optical unit to pass through the lens unit to form at least one of the first beam pattern or the second beam pattern. The lens unit includes a first lens module corresponding to the first optical unit and a second lens module corresponding to the second optical unit, and the first lens module and the second lens module are integrally formed with one another.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2023
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2024
    Assignee: SL Corporation
    Inventors: Hee Min Lee, Hyo Jin Han
  • Patent number: 11885469
    Abstract: A light guide is provided having an elongate body extending in a longitudinal direction having a light transmission portion with a forward light exit surface and a reflective track extending opposite the light exit surface. A plurality of reflective elements are formed along the reflective track and spaced apart in the longitudinal direction. Each reflective element has a center segment and a pair of edge segments each oriented at a spread angle from the center segment toward the light transmission portion, thereby increasing a spread of light output in a horizontal direction from the light transmission portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2023
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2024
    Assignee: NORTH AMERICAN LIGHTING, INC.
    Inventor: Matthew Hancak
  • Patent number: 11879611
    Abstract: A light module is provided with a bulb shield. The light module includes a light generation unit for emitting light and an optic for shaping the light emitted by the light generation unit. The light generation unit includes a light-emitting surface. A bulb shield is arranged between the optic and the light generation unit for covering the light generation unit. The bulb shield includes a passage for the light emitted by the light-emitting surface. The light module includes a bearing structure for the bulb shield. The bulb shield is glued to the bearing structure by a first adhesive bond and the bulb shield is glued to the bearing structure by a second adhesive bond. A first adhesive used to produce the first adhesive bond and a second adhesive used to produce the second adhesive bond are different.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2023
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2024
    Assignee: Hella GmbH & Co. KGaA
    Inventors: Herbert Cramer, Simone Rohrberg, Christian Schimon, Alexander Schwan, Dirk Schwemin, Frank Sohrweide, Christian Wieck
  • Patent number: 11858415
    Abstract: Disclosed are a lamp for a vehicle and a vehicle including the same. A lamp for a vehicle includes a lamp housing, a light source unit mounted on the lamp housing and that irradiates light, a bezel installed in the lamp housing, an optical fiber fixed to the bezel, coupled to the light source part, and that outputs the light irradiated from the light source part, and a tension unit provided in the bezel, and that applies a tension to the optical fiber in a state, in which the optical fiber is fixed to the bezel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2024
    Assignee: HYUNDAI MOBIS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Ki Ryong Song, Seok Huyn Kim
  • Patent number: 11835194
    Abstract: A lighting device for a motor vehicle includes a lighting apparatus which has one or more light sources and one or more transparent bodies which each have a surface made of a plurality of flat facets. The lighting device is configured such that light which comes from a light source at least in part passes through a transparent body and is refracted at facets of the transparent body. The light which passes through the transparent body at least in part exits from the lighting device in order to create a light distribution. An associated transparent body is a molded component having one or more recesses which are integrally molded in the molded component, the molded component being clamped in the lighting device by the engagement of one or more projections into the one or more recesses.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2023
    Assignee: Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Thomas Binder, Sebastien Casenave, Dominik Hart, Katharina Santner, Chunyue Zhai
  • Patent number: 11794633
    Abstract: A light-emitting device includes a plurality of first light-emitting regions contiguously arranged in a first direction. Each of the first light-emitting regions includes at least one light-emitting cell. A plurality of second light-emitting regions are contiguously arranged in the first direction. Each of the second light-emitting regions includes at least one light-emitting cell. The plurality of second light-emitting regions are adjacent to the plurality of first light-emitting regions in a second direction that intersects the first direction. A first driver controller controls emission of the plurality of first light-emitting regions. Each of the first light-emitting regions has a greater dimension than each of the second light-emitting regions in the second direction. The first driver controller simultaneously turns on or off an entirety of each of the first light-emitting regions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2023
    Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yongmin Kwon, Geunwoo Ko, Jaeyoon Kim, Jungwook Lee, Jonghyun Lee
  • Patent number: 11754251
    Abstract: A vehicular lamp is provided capable of enabling an observer to visually recognize the first and the second light-emitting areas as if they are integrated (connected) with each other when emitting light regardless of viewpoint positions. The vehicular lamp includes: a first light-emitting area and a second light-emitting area adjacent to each other in a horizontal direction with a gap; a third light-emitting area observed through the gap; a gap light-emitting unit disposed behind the gap; and a light control unit disposed between the gap and the gap light-emitting unit. The gap light-emitting unit includes a front and upper view light-emitting units disposed therebelow. The upper view light-emitting unit and the light control unit each have a lower portion extending downward. The light control unit includes an optical element controlling light from the upper view light-emitting unit by a predetermined angle upward so that the light passes through the gap.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2022
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2023
    Assignee: STANLEY ELECTRIC CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Takuya Nakamoto, Koichi Sasaki
  • Patent number: 11754250
    Abstract: A second light source, a second incidence section and a second reflecting section in a vehicle lamp are disposed closer to a light guide section than a first light source, a first incidence section and a first reflecting section, a stepped section is provided between the first reflecting section and the second reflecting section, and the first reflecting section is disposed at above the stepped section and the second reflecting section is disposed at below the stepped section when seen from a side of the first incidence section and a side of the second incidence section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2023
    Assignee: STANLEY ELECTRIC CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Keita Saito
  • Patent number: 11754253
    Abstract: The present disclosure discloses a heat dissipating structure for automotive LED headlight, which comprises a radiator formed integrally, wherein the radiator comprises one or more heat radiating arms. The heat radiating arm is provided with an embedded groove used for accommodating an assembly of a lamp bead board and a heat pipe. The beneficial effect of the present disclosure is that: the heat of the lamp bead board is transferred to the radiator, thus the heat dissipation efficiency has been greatly improved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2023
    Assignee: SHENZHEN AURORA TECHNOLOGY LIMITED
    Inventor: Qingbo Xie
  • Patent number: 11738819
    Abstract: An illumination device for a motorcycle headlamp, which device is configured to create a segmented light pattern and includes: (i) a plurality of light sources, at least some of which are configured to be activated independently from each other, (ii) a segmented light guide unit, including a plurality of light guide elements and a light homogenization body, and (iii) a projection lens, which is configured to receive the light emitted from the collective light exit surface of the light homogenization body and to project the segmented light pattern, wherein at least some of the light guide elements are part of a first group of light guide elements, said first group having a defined geometric shape of the light entry surface, which is limited by four corners connected by four side edges (left, right, lower, and upper) wherein three of the side edges are straight, and the fourth edge has a rounded protrusion, which increases the light entrance surface, and is either the left or the right edge of the respective li
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2022
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2023
    Assignee: ZKW Group GmbH
    Inventors: Matej Marti{hacek over (s)}ka, Anton Koko{hacek over (s)}ka
  • Patent number: 11654826
    Abstract: In an interior member for a vehicle, a lens extends along a light guide member, and is provided with a groove receiving the light guide member therein, a first engaging portion provided on a wall that defines the groove, and a second engaging portion provided on a wall that defines the groove, and the interior member main body is provided with a first engaged portion engaged by the first engaging portion, and a second engaged portion engaged by the second engaging portion, the lens being resiliently deformable so as to bring the walls defining the groove toward each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2023
    Assignee: TS TECH CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Manabu Mihira, Yuji Nakano
  • Patent number: 11644174
    Abstract: To improve design characteristics when the light fixture is turned on in a vehicle light fixture including a plate-shaped light guide. The plate-shaped light guide (32) is configured such that light from five light sources (40A1, 40A2, 40A3, 40A4 and 40A5) is totally reflected by a plurality of reflective elements (32s) formed on a first plate surface (32a) on a rear surface side of the plate-shaped light guide, and then emitted forward of a light fixture unit from a second plate surface (32b) of the plate-shaped light guide. At that time, five light emitting regions (32A1, 32A2, 32A3, 32A4 and 32A5) are arranged at intervals in a horizontal direction in the plate-shaped light guide (32), and then the reflective elements (32s) are arranged in a state of being continuously side by side along a line L extending in a direction intersecting the horizontal direction in each of the light emitting regions (32A1 to 32A5). Each reflective element (32s) is formed in a substantially concave spherical surface shape.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2023
    Assignee: KOITO MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Akihito Horikawa
  • Patent number: 11566766
    Abstract: A vehicle lamp includes a light source provided on one surface of a board and a light guide body that guides light emitted from the light source, the light guide body has an incidence section located on a side of the light guide body facing the one surface of the board, an emitting section located on a side opposite to the side facing the one surface of the board, and a light guide section located between the incidence section and the emitting section, and the light guide section has a portion that extends across inside and outside a region where the light guide body overlaps with the board when seen in a plan view, that extends at an outer side of the region, and that extends from one side toward the other side of the board in at least a thickness direction of the board.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2023
    Assignee: STANLEY ELECTRIC CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Kazuki Abe
  • Patent number: 11549655
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a headlamp lens for a vehicle headlamp, wherein the headlamp lens comprises a precision-molded body made of a transparent material, wherein the body comprises at least one light tunnel and a light-conducting part with at least one optically active light exit surface. The light tunnel comprises at least one light entry surface and merges with a bend in the light-conducting part to depict the sharp bend as a light/dark boundary by means of light coupled or radiated into the light entry surface. The surface of the light tunnel is at least partially convexly curved in the region of the bend.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2023
    Assignee: DOCTER OPTICS SE
    Inventors: Manuel Tessmer, Mohsen Mozaffari-Afshar, Siemen Kühl, Wolfram Wintzer
  • Patent number: 11505119
    Abstract: Lighting may be provided using light sources such as lighting systems with arrays of light-emitting diodes. A lighting system may be integrated into a seat, a door panel, a dashboard, or other interior portions of a system such as a vehicle. The interior portions of the vehicle may be illuminated using lighting systems to provide ambient light, to provide custom surface textures and other decorative patterns, to provide icons, text, and other information, and to provide custom gauges and other illuminated regions. Illuminated regions may overlap sensors such as capacitive touch sensors, force sensors, and other sensors. The light-emitting diodes in a lighting system may supply light that passes through openings in a cover layer. The layer may be formed from fabric, leather, or other materials. Lens structures may guide light through the openings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2022
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Clarisse Mazuir, Arthur Y. Zhang, Matthew E. Last
  • Patent number: 11467333
    Abstract: A backlight unit for blind spot warning lighting includes a printed circuit board (PCB) mounted with a light-emitting diode (LED), a bottom case having the PCB embedded on a lower portion thereof, and having an opened front surface, and a top case comprising a front plate covering a the front surface of the bottom case, and a guide protrusion formed to protrude backward from a rear surface of the front plate to guide the light from the LED to the front plate, and an object of the present disclosure is to provide a backlight unit, which can uniformly emit light while unifying the number of reflection and diffusion layers, and be advantageous for applying a hot wire, thereby improving visibility.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2022
    Assignees: HYUNDAI MOTOR COMPANY, KIA CORPORATION
    Inventors: Seon-Yong An, Chan-Hee Kang, Kyoung-Chun Kweon, Seok-Jun Kim
  • Patent number: 11454365
    Abstract: A vehicle luminous module intended to generate a light beam along an optical axis includes primary light guides each including an entrance dioptric interface and an exit, and a light source arranged facing an entrance dioptric interface. A projecting assembly includes a focal region and an exit member, the projecting assembly being arranged so that the light rays passing through said focal region and reaching the exit member are imaged in a projection field downstream of said projecting assembly. The exits of the guides are arranged level with the focal region. The luminous module includes at least one secondary light guide distinct from the primary light guides, and arranged so as to deviate light rays generated by the light source so that they do not reach the exit member, and/or so as to spread said light rays in said projection field.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2022
    Assignee: VALEO VISION
    Inventor: Orane Marchal
  • Patent number: 11415286
    Abstract: A vehicle lamp includes a plurality of light sources, and a light guide that guides light from the light sources incident from a light incident portion and emits the light from a light emitting portion. The light guide includes a light deflecting portion that deflects a guide direction of the light between the light incident portion and the light emitting portion. The light deflecting portion deflects each light from the plurality of light sources toward the same area of the light emitting portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2022
    Inventor: Kohei Takenaga
  • Patent number: 11383856
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides a lampshade structure, an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) arm, a UAV, and a movable platform. The lampshade structure may comprise a first light-transmitting surface of a lampshade body close to a light-emitting element and a second light-transmitting surface of the lampshade body away from the light-emitting element; wherein the first light-transmitting surface may include a scattering structure to outwardly refract light emitted by the light-emitting element to expand a light-emitting angle and an irradiation direction of the light-emitting element, thereby obtaining sufficient light in a desired direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2022
    Assignee: SZ DJI TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Chaorui Wang, Li Qiu, Xuegui Feng
  • Patent number: 11365860
    Abstract: An optical lens includes a first lens, a light guide and a second lens arranged in order in a direction of an optical axis of the optical lens. The light guide has a first end and a second end opposite the first end, and an inner surface of the light guide touches at least a part of an outer edge of the second lens.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2022
    Assignee: YOUNG OPTICS INC.
    Inventors: S-Wei Chen, Chen-An Chiang, Hung-Ying Lin, Chia-Chang Lee
  • Patent number: 11293621
    Abstract: A lamp assembly for a motor vehicle comprises a light source and a light guide, which includes a diffuser body having a diffuser inlet and a light emission portion. The diffuser body is configured to conduct light rays from the diffuser inlet to the light emission portion, so as to be visible to an observer. The light guide also includes an extension with a light collector configured to collect rays emitted by the light source, a coupling portion, and a guide body configured to conduct light rays between the light collector and the coupling portion. The coupling portion is optically coupled to the light inlet portion of the diffuser body for transmitting the light rays from the extension into the diffuser body. The diffuser body is made of a material with high light diffusion properties and the extension is made of material with relatively poor light diffusion properties.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2022
    Assignee: OLSA S.p.A.
    Inventors: Fabio Lach, Alessandro Romanelli, Antonio Poianella, Frank Hallitschke
  • Patent number: 11267499
    Abstract: Wraps for a steering wheel and methods of wrapping a steering wheel with an integrated light bar assembly are disclosed. The light bar assembly is configured to be mounted to a rim of a steering wheel of a vehicle. The light bar assemblies can include components of a driver monitoring system. The light bar assembly includes two shells defining or surrounding the rim and a wrapping surrounding the two shells. A portion of the wrapping is tucked into a slot disposed between the two shells forming a slit. A lens is disposed within the slit and pinched by the wrapping to prevent leakage of light around the lens.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2022
    Assignee: Autoliv ASP, Inc.
    Inventors: Richard L. Matsu, Brian Tebelman Shellabarger, Julien Tudor, Werner Eckardt, Stephen Camm
  • Patent number: 11249239
    Abstract: A waveguide includes a light coupling portion has an interior surface and an exterior surface. The exterior surface includes light coupling features. LEDs emit light into the light coupling features. A light emitting portion has an interior surface and an exterior surface where the exterior surface defines a light emitting surface. The light emitting portion is disposed adjacent the light coupling portion. A light transmission portion optically couples the light coupling portion to the light emitting portion. A footprint of the light coupling portion is substantially the same or less than a footprint of the light emitting portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2022
    Assignee: IDEAL Industries Lighting LLC
    Inventors: Kurt Wilcox, Rick Rothenberger
  • Patent number: 11215336
    Abstract: A device comprising a flexible printed circuit strip is disclosed. The flexible printed circuit strip comprises a plurality of first sections connected to a plurality of second sections. The plurality of first sections are bendable in at least a first axis relative to the plurality of second sections. The plurality of first sections comprise a connector to house at least one light emitting element. The plurality of second sections comprises a protrusion with an opening between two adjacent second sections such that the protrusion is bendable in at least two axes. The plurality of second sections comprise a connector to connect an electrical power supply.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2022
    Assignee: Lumileds LLC
    Inventors: Coon Chow Tan, Su Ping Tan, Tomonari Ishikawa, Selvakumar Palaniandy
  • Patent number: 11193641
    Abstract: The invention relates to a motor vehicle headlight (1) having a lamp unit (2), which has at least one light source (3) and an optical attachment (4) having a light emission surface (5), and having a projection lens (7) downstream of the lamp unit, wherein the optical attachment has a plurality of waveguide elements (6), each having a light coupling surface (8) for feeding in light from the at least one light source and having light decoupling surfaces (9) arranged in the light emission surface of the optical attachment and projects a light pattern forward in the traffic space, the waveguide elements extend between the light coupling surface and the light decoupling surface, wherein the light decoupling surface has a greater area than the light coupling surface, and each waveguide element is laterally delimited by two lateral surfaces (10), from above by a roof surface (11) and below by a floor surface (12) and tapers between the light decoupling surface and the light coupling surface, wherein the width of the
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 7, 2021
    Assignee: ZKW Group GmbH
    Inventors: Lukas Taudt, Nina Brauner, Josef Hechenberger, Matthias Kern, Christoph Längauer, Mathias Schragl
  • Patent number: 11193642
    Abstract: A light guide includes first and second input portions, first and second light emitting portions and a mixing portion. The mixing portion extends between the first input portion and the first light emitting portion, and between the second input portion and the second light emitting portion. Light generated by a first light source is guided from the first input portion toward the first light emitting portion, and light generated by a second light source is guided from the second input portion toward the second light emitting portion. The mixing portion is configured to receive light guided from the first input portion toward the first light emitting portion and configured to receive light guided from the second input portion toward the second light emitting portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 7, 2021
    Assignee: MAGNA EXTERIORS INC.
    Inventors: Rajat Dey, Kevin Polzin, Jose A. Bonequi, Steven Kowalski
  • Patent number: 11187392
    Abstract: A headlamp includes a first semiconductor chip and a second semiconductor chip for generating light. The first and second semiconductor chips each include several pixels. A first optics is arranged to direct light from the first semiconductor chip with a first magnification into a base region. Via a second optics, light of the second semiconductor chip is directed into a bright region with a second magnification. The second magnification is between 0.3 times and 0.7 times the first magnification inclusive, so that the bright region is smaller than the base region. The bright region is within the base region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 30, 2021
    Assignee: OSRAM OLED GmbH
    Inventors: Stefan Grötsch, Joachim Reill
  • Patent number: 11173829
    Abstract: A lighting system of a vehicle may include light units and controllers for operating the light units. Each light unit is multifunctional in that the light unit may operate in various modes, which may be invoked at different times under varying circumstances. A light unit on the first end of a vehicle may operate as a headlight if the first end is the front end of the vehicle. On the other hand, the light unit may operate as a tail light if the first end is the rear end of the vehicle. Furthermore, the light unit may operate as a turn signal in either direction or brake light while the first end is the rear end of the vehicle. The light unit includes a lens array positioned to receive light from various light sources. The lighting system may operate in a fashion that allows for lighting redundancy on each end of the vehicle in the event of a lighting controller failure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 16, 2021
    Assignee: Zoox, Inc.
    Inventors: Moritz Boecker, Chang Gi Samuel Hong, Collin MacGregor
  • Patent number: 11149913
    Abstract: A headlamp includes a first semiconductor chip and a second semiconductor chip for generating light. The first and second semiconductor chips each include several pixels. A first optics is arranged to direct light from the first semiconductor chip with a first magnification into a base region. Via a second optics, light of the second semiconductor chip is directed into a bright region with a second magnification. The second magnification is between 0.3 times and 0.7 times the first magnification inclusive, so that the bright region is smaller than the base region. The bright region is within the base region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 19, 2021
    Assignee: OSRAM OLED GmbH
    Inventors: Stefan Grötsch, Joachim Reill
  • Patent number: 11105487
    Abstract: A light entry part (2) for receiving light from at least one light emitting element (13) and having a central axis (6a) —a light exit part (3) for outputting light having a central axis (6b) —a longitudinally extending light transmitting part (5) having a longitudinal axis (6c), wherein the light transmitting part extends between the light entry part and the light exit part, such that the central axes of the light entry part and of the light exit part coincide with the longitudinal axis of the light transmitting part; wherein the light transmitting part is at one side configured for optical connection with the light entry part and at an opposite side configured to be in optical connection with the light exit part. The light exit part comprises a central lens (7a) and two side reflectors (a, 8b).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2021
    Assignee: ORGA HOLDING B.V.
    Inventor: Thomas Leeuwangh
  • Patent number: 11098869
    Abstract: An object is to provide a lamp device which can be used as vehicle use headlight, and can form light distribution pattern capable of suppressing generation of dark grids in the field of view. A lamp device is provided which comprises a light source in which a plurality of light emitting elements are regularly arranged in a plane, and the light emitting elements are distributed along a first direction and along a second direction crossing the first direction in the plane, a projecting optic system capable of forming images of the respective light emitting elements of the light source on an image plane located on an optic axis of light beam emitted from the light source, and an image shifter capable of forming basic image of the plurality of light emitting elements on an image plane, and simultaneously forming first moved image which is formed by moving the basic image along the first direction and along the second direction simultaneously on the image plane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 24, 2021
    Assignee: STANLEY ELECTRIC CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Ryosuke Kawai
  • Patent number: 11091091
    Abstract: A lighting device for a vehicle includes a light source and a linear light emission element for emitting light, which is supplied by the light source via a coupling surface of the light emission element in the light emission element. A light conductor element is provided for distributing and/or directing light, which is supplied by the light emission element in the light conductor element. The lighting device is characterized in that the light source is linear and is arranged so as to extend parallel to the light emission element so that light from the light source can be coupled to a longitudinal side of the light-emitting element in an in-coupling surface in the light emission element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2021
    Assignee: Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesekkschaft
    Inventor: Peter Schreier
  • Patent number: 11079087
    Abstract: Provided is a vehicle lamp configured such that light emitted from a light emitting element (30) and incident from an incident portion (22e) formed on a top surface (22c) of a plate-like light guide (22B) is reflected toward a front end surface (22a) of the plate-like light guide (22B) by a first reflecting portion (22f) formed on a bottom surface (22d) of the plate-like light guide (22B). At that time, the incident portion (22e) is positioned on a step-up surface (22c1) formed to protrude from a general portion (22c0) of the top surface (22c). Further, the first reflecting portion (22f) is formed such that its upper end edge (22f1) is located closer to the step-up surface (22c1) than the general portion (22c0) of the top surface (22c). In this way, a wide reflecting area of the first reflecting portion (22f) can be secured.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 3, 2021
    Assignee: KOITO MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Fumitaka Ichinohe
  • Patent number: 11052816
    Abstract: A lighting apparatus for a vehicle, having a number of light sources which are arranged spaced apart from one another in a row along a distribution direction, having an elongate light guiding element arranged upstream of the light sources in the main emission direction. The elongate light guiding element extending in integral fashion along a longitudinal direction that runs parallel to the distribution direction, wherein the light guiding element has a light input face on a side facing the light sources and a light output face on a side facing away from the light sources. The light output face has a lens-shaped contour, wherein the light guiding element is embodied as an elongate lens. At least one base side of the light output face extends continuously from a first end face of the elongate lens to a second end face of the same.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 6, 2021
    Assignee: Hella GmbH & Co. KGaA
    Inventor: Martin Muegge
  • Patent number: 11041601
    Abstract: A first light guide lens includes a first entering section and a first emitting section located on opposite side to the first entering section, the first emitting section has a shape inclined or curved so that an outer side thereof retreats further than an inner side thereof, a plurality of light emitting elements include a first light emitting element disposed at a position overlapping the first entering section at the inner side when seen in a front view, and a second light emitting element disposed at a position that does not overlap the first entering section at the outer side when seen in the front view, and a light guide section that guides light emitted from the second light emitting element to a position corresponding to the outer side of the first entering section is provided between the second light emitting element and the first entering section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 22, 2021
    Assignee: STANLEY ELECTRIC CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Miyoko Nagaike, Hiroyuki Chikama, Shun Sato
  • Patent number: 11041603
    Abstract: An illumination device and a method for producing an illumination device are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 22, 2021
    Assignee: OSRAM OLED GMBH
    Inventors: Peter Brick, Henning Rehn
  • Patent number: 11022742
    Abstract: A light guide device includes a light guide plate that induces a light emission of a light source. The light guide plate includes an incident portion that is incident light emitted from a light source, a reflecting portion that reflects the light from the incident portion to an inside of the light guide plate, and an emitting portion that emits the light from the reflecting portion to an outside of the light guide plate. The emitting portion is provided in a thin elongated shape on a first portion of a circumferential surface of the light guide plate. The reflecting portion includes an expansion surface that expands the light from the incident portion to a circumferential direction of the light guide plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2021
    Assignee: KOITO MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Katsuaki Ohtawa, Kimiaki Yoshino
  • Patent number: 11021202
    Abstract: A position light-integrated blinker apparatus for a saddle riding vehicle with improved visibility a blinker-light light source; position-light light sources; and a housing which houses both the blinker-light light source and the position-light light sources. A position light light-emitting region formed by illumination of the position-light light sources surrounds a blinker light light-emitting region formed by illumination of the blinker-light light source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2021
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Takuro Tanaka, Yuki Kanemura, Yuta Hosoda
  • Patent number: 11002420
    Abstract: A light guide includes first and second input portions, first and second light emitting portions and a mixing portion. The mixing portion extends between the first input portion and the first light emitting portion, and between the second input portion and the second light emitting portion. Light generated by a first light source is guided from the first input portion toward the first light emitting portion, and light generated by a second light source is guided from the second input portion toward the second light emitting portion. The mixing portion is configured to receive light guided from the first input portion toward the first light emitting portion and configured to receive light guided from the second input portion toward the second light emitting portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2021
    Assignee: MAGNA EXTERIORS INC.
    Inventors: Rajat Dey, Kevin Polzin, Jose A. Bonequi, Steve Kowalski
  • Patent number: 10969533
    Abstract: A vehicular lamp fitting, comprising: a lamp case having an opening edge; a light guide that is disposed in the lamp case; and a light source that emits light which is guided inside the light guide, wherein the light guide includes a bar light-guiding unit and a plate light-guiding unit, the bar light-guiding unit includes a front face disposed on the front side and a rear face disposed on the rear side, the plate light-guiding unit includes a front face disposed on the front side and a rear face disposed on the rear side, and includes one edge connected to an outer peripheral surface of the bar light-guiding unit, and the other edge which is on the opposite side of the one edge, the other edge of the plate light-guiding unit extends along the opening edge in the front view.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2021
    Assignee: STANLEY ELECTRIC CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Kazuteru Matsushita, Yuki Takamoto
  • Patent number: 10969081
    Abstract: Disclosed are: a multi-sided luminous lighting member which is mounted to a structure having a complex three-dimensional shape, such as an automobile, so as to be used for the purpose of lighting, signaling, decoration, and the like; and a three-dimensional lighting device using the same.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2021
    Assignees: EXAOPTONIX INC., UTRONIX INC.
    Inventors: Ho Jun Jo, Keun Young Yang, Woo Seok Choi
  • Patent number: 10962194
    Abstract: The subject inventive arrangement extends the width of a light-reflective coupler to be offset behind a successive coupler that creates an additional angled reflective surface that apportions light towards an outboard side rather than towards the primary optical axis direction and controls to redirect light at specific angles or enhances light distribution spread so as to improve lighting effects and enhance vehicle appearance. The present invention relates to automotive lighting modules that include multiple light sources a light guide, light-reflective couplers, optical facets, a light-exit face and a light-guiding portion. Coupler profiles are formed by a curved facet and a joined angled facet where associated couplers are juxtaposed and offset from adjoining couplers. Angled surfaces include multiple light reflecting facets adapted to receive collimated light, which are directed towards a vehicle's outboard side.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2021
    Assignee: Valeo North America, Inc.
    Inventors: Julien Hemon, Alan Gonzalo Silva
  • Patent number: 10908345
    Abstract: A lighting device for vehicles is provided, having a flat light guide containing two flat sides facing each other, one light input coupling surface for the entry of light at a light input coupling side of the flat light guide, one light output coupling surface for the output of light input at the light input coupling surface with the light output coupling surface arranged at one light output coupling side of the flat light guide. A specified light distribution (L) is thereby generated. The flat light guide further includes one narrow lateral surface connecting the flat sides with each other and extending from one lateral border of the light output coupling side, one collection surface adjacent to the light input coupling surface shaped in such a manner that a partial light beam of the entering light striking the collection surface is reflected in total towards the light output coupling surface without the partial light beam striking the narrow lateral surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2021
    Assignee: Hella GmbH & Co. KGaA
    Inventor: Martin Vollmer