Optical Waveguide (e.g., Fiber Optic, Edge-lit) Patents (Class 362/511)
  • 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: 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: 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: 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
  • Patent number: 10883689
    Abstract: The left headlamp (100L) includes first light source modules (13L, 14L, and 15L) and a light guide member (16L). The first light source modules (13L, 14L, and 15L) corresponds to partial light distributing patterns (P1L, P2L, and P3L) and have light projection directions parallel to each other. The light guide member (16L) has: first incident surfaces (17L, 18L, and 19L), arranged so as to face the first light source modules (13L, 14L, and 15L) and corresponding to the first light source modules (13L, 14L, and 15L); and an emitting surface (20L), arranged so as to face the first incident surfaces (17L, 18L, and 19L) and shared by the first light source modules (13L, 14L, and 15L). The light guide member (16L) forms a light distributing pattern (PL) by deflecting light projected by the first light source modules (13L, 14L, and 15L).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2021
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Muneharu Kuwata, Masashige Suwa, Naoki Sawai, Ryoto Adachi, Naoto Inoue
  • Patent number: 10864850
    Abstract: A light pipe assembly including an interior panel of a vehicle and a light pipe. The interior panel includes a channel integrally formed within the interior panel, where the channel has an engagement face, and a plurality of integrated retaining hooks are arranged along the channel. The plurality of integrated retaining hooks are spaced apart from one another and extend over the channel such that an engagement face of the plurality of integrated retaining hooks is arranged opposite the engagement face of the channel. The light pipe is arranged within the channel, where the light pipe is in direct contact with the engagement face of the plurality of integrated retaining hooks and the engagement face of the channel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2020
    Assignee: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.
    Inventor: Samuel L. Sowles
  • Patent number: 10859230
    Abstract: Automotive lighting unit comprising a first lighting assembly able to backlight a transparent or semi-transparent portion of the front half-shell; the lighting assembly comprising: at least one light-guide plate made of photoconductive material, which is arranged inside the rear casing with a front sidewall of the plate facing the transparent or semi-transparent portion, and with a rear sidewall of the plate facing the rear casing; a first oblong light source which is located inside the rear casing at a first segment of the rear sidewall, and is capable of directing the light produced inside the light-guide plate so that the light travels inside the body of the light-guide plate towards the front sidewall; and a second light source which is located inside the rear casing at a second segment of the rear sidewall complementary to the first segment, and is capable of directing the light produced inside the light-guide plate, so that this light travels inside the body of the light-guide plate towards a first late
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2020
    Assignee: Automotive Lighting Italia S.p.A.
    Inventors: Sara Paroni, Alessandro Sacca′, Marco Svettini
  • Patent number: 10823364
    Abstract: A vehicular lamp includes: light sources; a first condensing optical system that condenses light beams from the light sources; and a second condensing optical system including an incident portion into which the condensed light beams by the first condensing optical system are incident, and an emission portion through which the incident light beams are outputted forward and which has a line-shaped emission surface. The incident portion has a refractive surface that refracts the light beams condensed by the first condensing optical system in a direction in which the light beams are condensed, and the refractive surface refracts the light beams so that condensing points of the light beams condensed by the first condensing optical system fall within a condensing range in which the light beams are outputted from the emission surface even when there is a positional deviation between the first and second condensing optical systems within a set tolerance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2020
    Assignee: STANLEY ELECTRIC CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Kotaro Kumagai, Hidetaka Okada
  • Patent number: 10816156
    Abstract: Provided are a light guiding element (100), a light guiding device (500), and a lighting module (800). The light guiding element (100) includes a light incident portion (1) and a light exit portion (2), where the light incident portion (1) includes a plurality of light guiding columns (11), each of which includes a first end surface (A) connected to the light exit portion (2), a second end surface (B) facing away from the light exit portion, and a side surface formed between the first end surface (A) and the second end surface (B), where the first end surface (A) has an area larger than that of the second end surface (B). Also provided are a light guiding device (500) including the light guiding element (100), and a lighting module (800) including the light guiding device (500). The light guiding element (100) enables, for a generated light type pattern, the shape to be complete, the color to be even, and the phenomena of vignette effect and dark lines to be reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2020
    Assignee: Everlight Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yi-Hui Liao, Chung-Wei Wang
  • Patent number: 10816157
    Abstract: Provided is a vehicular illumination device including a light emitting portion mounted on a headlight, and capable of outputting light from the light emitting portion forwardly of a vehicle with enhanced design and enhanced visibility. An illumination device is provided on a front portion of a vehicle, and includes a headlight, a light guide, and an outer glass. The outer glass is configured such that a perimeter portion and a front surface portion are integrally formed. The perimeter portion includes an incident portion on a middle portion in a length direction of the light guide, the incident portion allowing incidence of light output from the light guide. The light guide is disposed in proximate to the incident portion. Light incident from the light guide to the perimeter portion is guided forwardly, while repeating reflection on inner and outer circumferential surfaces of the perimeter portion, and output forwardly from an output portion formed on the front side.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2020
    Assignee: MAZDA MOTOR CORPORATION
    Inventor: Yoshiaki Nakaya
  • Patent number: 10816159
    Abstract: A vehicle lamp includes a light emitting element; and a plate-shaped light guide arranged such that a longitudinal direction thereof crosses an optical axis of the light emitting element. The plate-shaped light guide includes an introducing portion, a reflecting portion, and an emitting portion. The reflecting portion is arranged in front of the optical axis, and includes a front side reflective surface that reflects the light from the introducing portion toward the emitting portion. The front side reflective surface includes a plurality of diffusing steps that diffuses the light from the introducing portion in an extending direction of the plate-shaped light guide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2020
    Assignee: KOITO MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Tatsunari Enomoto, Tomoyuki Watanabe
  • Patent number: 10808908
    Abstract: A lighting device for a visual display in a rearview device of a vehicle includes at least one light element, at least one reflecting element which is included on or in a support element of the lighting device and is adapted to reflect incident light from the light element, at least one absorption element which is included on or in the support element of the lighting device and is adapted to absorb incident light from the light element, and at least one light guide element which is included on or in the support element of the lighting device and is adapted to collect and guide incident light from the light element, where the support element, the reflecting element, the absorption element or the light guide element are at least partially curved away from the light element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2020
    Assignee: SMR Patents S.à.r.l.
    Inventors: Daniel Fritz, Eugen Meier, Oliver Schmidt, Raimund Negel
  • Patent number: 10788703
    Abstract: A frame includes a resin frame which surrounds at least a part of the side faces of a light guide plate; a reflection diffusion material which is added in the resin frame and reflects and diffuses light; and an absorption material which is added in the resin frame and absorbs light. The reflectance of the resin frame is equal to or greater than 30% and equal to or smaller than 80%.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 29, 2020
    Assignee: Omron Corporation
    Inventors: Shinji Miyazaki, Masakazu Komano, Kazuhide Hirota, Koichi Takemura, Kazunori Harada
  • Patent number: 10775015
    Abstract: A lamp for a vehicle includes a cover lens, a housing that is coupled to the cover lens and that defines a lamp space with the cover lens, a light output unit including a plurality of light generation groups that are arranged in the lamp space in a first direction, and a light guide including a plurality of optical guides that are located inside of the lamp space and that extend in a second direction that defines an angle with respect to the first direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 15, 2020
    Assignee: ZKW Group GmbH
    Inventors: Naram Jun, Yunhee Kim, Yoomin Choi
  • Patent number: 10767821
    Abstract: Systems are provided for a fairlead, and in particular to fairlead including an integrated lighting system. In one example, a fairlead may comprise a frame, the frame including a central, first opening and a second opening disposed above the first opening. The second opening may house an integrated lighting system, the integrated lighting system including a plurality of lights.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2020
    Assignee: WARN INDUSTRIES, INC.
    Inventors: Darren G. Fretz, Craig A. Clark, Bryan Averill
  • Patent number: 10759331
    Abstract: A travel direction indicator module for an exterior rearview mirror arrangement for a motor vehicle has at least one light source. A first light conductor associated with the at least one light source includes a multiplicity of light decoupling points. The travel direction indicator further includes a second light conductor. The light source couples a first beam part into the first light conductor at a first end and a second beam part into the second light conductor at a first end. A module housing is formed as one injection molded part in common with the first light conductor and the second light conductor. The at least one light source emits light into a single light decoupling area, which is arranged in an area of the second end of the first light conductor situated opposite the first end of the first light conductor. An exterior rearview mirror arrangement having such a travel direction indicator module is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 1, 2020
    Assignee: SMR Patents S.à.r.l.
    Inventors: Daniel Fritz, Volker Erhart, Dénes Marosvoelgyi
  • Patent number: 10746369
    Abstract: A headlamp for a motor vehicle has a multi-aperture projection display, which has a lighting device and a planar image generator and an array of projection lenses, wherein each projection lens is associated with a segment of the planar image generator such that, when the array is illuminated by the lighting device, at least some of the segments are projected in front of the headlamp by the associated projection lenses in order to produce at least one light distribution. Predetermined segments from the segments of the planar image generator in one or more partial areas of the planar image generator are designed and arranged in relation to each other in such a way that, when the illuminant is switched off, a symbol arrangement perceptible to an observer is presented on the planar image generator at a viewing angle of the observer in a predetermined viewing angle range toward the headlamp.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2020
    Assignee: Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Tina Gehb, Thomas Hausmann, Marcel Sieler
  • Patent number: 10738962
    Abstract: A multi-segment turning light lamp includes a lamp housing assembly and a lighting assembly. The lamp housing assembly includes a substrate, a lens having a concave inner surface, and a light divider arrangement disposed between the substrate and the lens. The light divider arrangement includes a plurality of partitions angularly arranged with respect to a center of curvature of the concave inner surface of the lens, and extending radially to the lens. The partitions, the substrate and the lens cooperate to define a plurality of light-exit channels. The lighting assembly includes a plurality of light-emitting elements, each of which is disposed for emitting light through a respective one of the light-exit channels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 11, 2020
    Assignee: T.Y.C. BROTHER INDUSTRIAL CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Ming-Chih Shih
  • Patent number: 10731821
    Abstract: A vehicle lamp includes a light source and a plate-shaped light guide body. The plate-shaped light guide body is configured to totally reflect light from the light source that is incident on the plate-shaped light guide body by a plurality of reflective elements formed on a first plate surface of the plate-shaped light guide body, and then, to emit the light from a second plate surface of the plate-shaped light guide body toward the front side of the vehicle lamp. The plurality of reflective elements are disposed in a state of being continuously arranged along a line extending in a required direction. Each of the reflective elements has a substantially concave spherical surface shape or a substantially convex spherical surface shape.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2020
    Assignee: KOITO MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Akihito Horikawa
  • Patent number: 10731817
    Abstract: A luminous motor-vehicle module, comprising an array of light sources and a bifocal imaging device that is designed to project an image of each light source, wherein the luminous module comprises at least one primary optical element, which at its exit does not modify in a vertical direction V the angle of the incident rays, and which allows secondary sources to be formed the lateral dimension of which is larger than a lateral dimension of the light sources and the angular aperture of the emitted secondary light beams of which is smaller than an angular aperture of the light beams emitted by the light sources.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2020
    Assignee: Valeo Vision
    Inventors: Marie Pellarin, Vanesa Sanchez, Sebastien Roels, Jerome Le Corre, Marine Courcier
  • Patent number: 10716180
    Abstract: A lamp for a headlamp is provided. The lamp includes at least two light source groups each including at least one controllable light source. The light sources of one light source group are set up for emitting yellow light. The light sources of another light source group are set up for emitting at least one of white or blue light. At least the light sources of the at least two light source groups are arranged for producing light that is collectively emittable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2020
    Assignee: OSRAM Beteiligungsverwaltung GmbH
    Inventors: Thomas Feil, Daniel Weissenberger, Martin Petzold