Optical Waveguide (e.g., Fiber Optic, Edge-lit) Patents (Class 362/511)
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Patent number: 10266039Abstract: A rear part structure of a vehicle includes a lift gate; a light source device to be covered by the lift gate when the lift gate is closed; a lens member mounted in such a manner as to cover an opening portion in the lift gate, and configured to transmit light from the light source device when the lift gate is closed; at least one of a light source mounting portion for movably mounting the light source device with respect to a vehicle body, and a lens mounting portion for movably mounting the lens member with respect to the lift gate; and a positioning portion which causes, when the light source device and the lens member do not have a predetermined positional relationship therebetween, at least one of the light source device and the lens member to move into the predetermined positional relationship when the lift gate is closed.Type: GrantFiled: February 24, 2015Date of Patent: April 23, 2019Assignee: MAZDA MOTOR CORPORATIONInventors: Kenji Kinnou, Motoharu Sato, Hiroshi Sakai, Yusuke Nakamura
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Patent number: 10261353Abstract: A display device includes a supporting frame, a display panel, an optical film assembly, and a light-penetrated adhesive member. The supporting frame includes a first supporting portion, and the display panel is disposed on the supporting frame. The display panel includes a pixel region and a non-pixel region, and the non-pixel region is disposed outside of the pixel region. The optical film assembly is partially disposed between the first supporting portion and the display panel. The light-penetrated adhesive member is disposed between the first supporting portion of the supporting frame and the optical film assembly. The light-penetrated adhesive member includes a first portion disposed corresponding to the non-pixel region and a second portion disposed corresponding to the pixel region. The configuration can achieve the narrow border design, provide a sufficient structural strength, or improve the light leakage or shadow issue at the edge of the active area.Type: GrantFiled: October 18, 2017Date of Patent: April 16, 2019Assignee: INNOLUX CORPORATIONInventors: Yin-Lin Chen, Tsu-Chi Kuo, Yu-Kai Hsu, Jen-Hsiang Yen
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Patent number: 10259376Abstract: A vehicle exterior lighting system includes, among other things, a lens assembly, a light diffusing fiber enclosed within the lens assembly, a light source connected to a first portion of the light diffusing fiber, and a prismatic device connected to a second portion of the light diffusing fiber.Type: GrantFiled: May 4, 2017Date of Patent: April 16, 2019Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Arun Kumar, Edward R. Golden, Bruce Preston Williams
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Patent number: 10254555Abstract: Disclosed herein are devices, methods and systems for producing hologram-based indicia for a vehicle dashboard/cockpit. By employing the aspects disclosed herein, indicia (electronically coupled to the vehicle's microprocessor), is lighted and projected in a three-dimensional virtual manner. The aspects disclosed herein may be embedded in various portions in the vehicle and thus, not consume extra space or area required to create virtual images through other techniques.Type: GrantFiled: July 26, 2017Date of Patent: April 9, 2019Assignee: Visteon Global Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Patrick Nebout, Benoit Chauveau, Remi Sigrist
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Patent number: 10240745Abstract: A lighting device for a vehicle includes a lighting module for a vehicle having a light source and a panel optically coupled to the light source. The panel includes a plurality of fibers, and a first illumination region of first light output for a first vehicle lighting function and a second illumination region of second light output for a second vehicle lighting function.Type: GrantFiled: November 22, 2016Date of Patent: March 26, 2019Assignee: Valeo North America, Inc.Inventors: Brant Potter, John Orisich, Kayla Greene, P. Davis Baker, Christophe Dubosc
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Patent number: 10239441Abstract: An illumination device for a motor vehicle includes a light source constructed of a number of semiconductor diodes, and an optical device for generating a predefined light distribution from the light of the light source. The optical device is arranged in a housing. The illumination device is characterized in that the light source is rigidly connected to the housing. At least one optical waveguide is provided for guiding the light of the light source to the optical device.Type: GrantFiled: October 2, 2014Date of Patent: March 26, 2019Assignee: Bayerische Motoren Werke AktiengesellschaftInventors: Helmut Erdl, Abdelmalek Hanafi
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Patent number: 10222530Abstract: An automotive light is provided that includes a light-guide plate extending inside the rear body of the light remaining substantially parallel to the light reference optical axis close up to the front lenticular hemi-shell of the light with its front side edge facing the strip-shaped transparent or semi-transparent portion of the front lenticular hemi-shell, and a linear-extending light source directing emitted light towards the inside of the light-guide plate through the rear side edge of the same light-guide plate. The rear side edge of the light-guide plate includes a serrated profile with teeth substantially triangular in shape oriented so that a first inclined edge of the tooth is arranged locally substantially perpendicular to the optical reference axis. The light source includes a row of spaced LEDs facing the rear side edge, each LED facing a respective tooth of the rear side edge so as to direct/project emitted light through the first inclined edge of the tooth.Type: GrantFiled: November 20, 2014Date of Patent: March 5, 2019Assignee: Automotive Lighting Italia S.p.A.Inventors: Nicola Schiccheri, Alessandro Buzzurro
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Patent number: 10215360Abstract: A vehicle lamp can include first and second lamp units or portions that each have a light emission portion that extends across a gap between two vehicle body portions, such as a door panel, quarter panel, trunk lid, etc. The first and second lamp units/portions can be configured such that it appears that the vehicle lamp extends seamlessly and without detectable lighting variation across the gap between vehicle body portions.Type: GrantFiled: May 18, 2018Date of Patent: February 26, 2019Assignee: STANLEY ELECTRIC CO., LTD.Inventors: Teerawan Grogan, Aaron M Eberle, Takuya Matsumaru
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Patent number: 10207633Abstract: A door handle includes a casing inside which an accommodation space is provided, and a lamp unit disposed in the accommodation space. The lamp unit includes a light member, and a light guide that guides light emitted from the light member in a first predetermined direction and emits the guided light from a light output surface. In the door handle, the light output surface is positioned inside an outer surface of the casing.Type: GrantFiled: November 18, 2014Date of Patent: February 19, 2019Assignees: KOITO MANUFACTURING CO., LTD., AISIN SEIKI KABUSHIKI KAISHA, TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Haruhito Takahashi, Shigehiko Kazaoka, Masashi Tateishi, Masaki Yoshino, Yoshiki Ishikawa
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Patent number: 10202073Abstract: A shading arrangement of a transparent roof section of a passenger car, having a flat shading element displaceable between a shading position and an uncovering position and having a lower side facing towards a vehicle interior and an upper side facing towards a vehicle environment. An indirect illuminating device can be provided which illuminates the shading element from the upper side and/or the lower side. The shading element can have a lighting effect material that interacts with the illuminating device.Type: GrantFiled: June 9, 2015Date of Patent: February 12, 2019Assignee: WEBASTO SEInventors: Thomas Schuett, Andreas Rockelmann, Hubert Boehm, Thorsten Richthofen, Johannes Thannheimer, Steffen Lorenz
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Patent number: 10184632Abstract: The invention relates to a lighting module for a headlight for lighting in light segments of a motor vehicle, as well as to a headlight comprising modules in accordance with the invention. The modules according to the invention are characterized in that they allow the creation of headlights that have a continuous external projection surface and implement a lighting function in segments, such as in strips, through the juxtaposition of identical modules.Type: GrantFiled: October 2, 2015Date of Patent: January 22, 2019Assignee: VALEO VISIONInventors: Marine Courcier, Vanesa Sanchez
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Patent number: 10168020Abstract: An embodiment may include a complex lighting for a vehicle. The complex lighting may include a first lighting unit configured to include a first light source module, and a first reflection module having an inlet portion of an incidence light of the first light source module, a light transfer path through which the incidence light transfers and an outlet portion of the incidence light. The complex lighting may also include a second lighting unit configured to be disposed adjacently to the first lighting unit, and to receive the light of the outlet portion of the first lighting unit and then control the amount of light emission. A bottom inside of the first reflection module may include a curvature area.Type: GrantFiled: January 27, 2015Date of Patent: January 1, 2019Assignee: LG INNOTEK CO., LTD.Inventor: Jung Ho Lee
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Patent number: 10168017Abstract: A vehicle combination lamp including lamp units of high use efficiency can be provided. Among a plurality of lamp units constituting the combination lamp, a first lamp unit can be configured to include two types of light sources, namely, white light sources and orange light sources and a light guide bar that takes in light from the light sources and emits the light in a predetermined direction. White light and orange light that are emitted from the white light sources and the orange light sources, respectively, and guided through and emitted from the light guide bar can contribute to a DRL function and a turn signal lamp function, respectively.Type: GrantFiled: June 21, 2016Date of Patent: January 1, 2019Assignee: STANLEY ELECTRIC CO., LTD.Inventors: Yuki Tokieda, Kazuya Furubayashi
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Patent number: 10132988Abstract: A variety of luminaire modules are disclosed that are configured to output light provided by multiple light-emitting elements (LEEs). In general, embodiments of the luminaire modules feature at least two LEEs disposed on at least one substrate, at least two light guides that receive light from corresponding LEEs of the at least two LEEs, and at least one optical extractor that receives light from corresponding light guides from the at least two light guides.Type: GrantFiled: May 9, 2016Date of Patent: November 20, 2018Assignee: Quarkstar LLCInventor: Allan Brent York
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Patent number: 10126481Abstract: The light device for motor vehicles comprises a carrier case, a translucent cover, and an inner chamber where the light source and a linear light guide are mounted. A part of the light guide's outer casing forms the output surface for exiting light rays. Light guide's body comprises an active part for output of light rays from the light device, and an inactive part not visible in viewing inner chamber through translucent cover. Light guide includes a case comprising two arms, either one having at least one contact area on its inner surface to attach light guide in its mounting position therebetween. The distance between the contact areas can be increased during introduction of the light guide into its mounting position, and subsequently reduced after mounting of light guide to a distance at which the light guide surface is in contact with the arm contact areas.Type: GrantFiled: June 1, 2017Date of Patent: November 13, 2018Assignee: Varroc Lighting Systems, s.r.o.Inventors: Pavel Gold, Jan Martoch
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Patent number: 10119674Abstract: A vehicle lighting fixture can eliminate the use of a phosphor member that causes the reduced color rendering properties and the occurrence of color separation, specifically, can enhance the color rendering properties and suppress the occurrence of color separation more than a conventional white light source that use a semiconductor light emitting element such as an LD and a phosphor member (wavelength converting member). The vehicle lighting fixture includes: a supercontinuum light source configured to output supercontinuum light containing light in a visible wavelength region, and an optical system configured to control the supercontinuum light output from the supercontinuum light source.Type: GrantFiled: February 16, 2016Date of Patent: November 6, 2018Assignee: STANLEY ELECTRIC CO., LTD.Inventors: Yoshiaki Nakazato, Tatsuma Saito, Philip Rackow, Naochika Horio
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Patent number: 10088706Abstract: A surface light source device includes a laser beam source, a laser beam guide rod for converting a laser beam into first linear light, an LED light source, an LED light guide rod for converting LED light into second linear light extended in the same direction as the first linear light, a reflecting bar for reflecting the first linear light and the second linear light, and a light reflecting portion formed in a box shape and having an opening portion with an emission side opened and a reflecting surface on an inside of the box shape. The first linear light and the second linear light are reflected by the reflecting bar and the reflecting surface, and are emitted from the opening portion.Type: GrantFiled: August 10, 2015Date of Patent: October 2, 2018Assignee: MITSUBISHI ELECTRIC CORPORATIONInventors: Nami Okimoto, Saki Maeda, Eiji Niikura, Tomohiko Sawanaka, Masaaki Takeshima, Ikuo Nagashima
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Patent number: 10078168Abstract: A vehicle lighting unit can distribute light in a wider area than the conventional lighting unit without increasing the number of parts. The vehicle lighting unit can include: a light source; a light guiding member configured to have a side portion to receive light from the light source from the side portion and guide the light, and have an inclined face formed obliquely rearward in a light guiding path of the light; and a reflection face inclined forward and disposed to face to the inclined face with a gap between the reflection face and the inclined face of the light guiding member.Type: GrantFiled: October 22, 2015Date of Patent: September 18, 2018Assignee: STANLEY ELECTRIC CO., LTD.Inventors: Daisuke Nakashima, Norifumi Imazeki, Manabu Yatabe
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Patent number: 10066804Abstract: An integrated lighting element assembly includes a transparent light-transmitting portion and an opaque or translucent optical diffuser. The light-transmitting portion has a light-transmitting surface. The optical diffuser is integrated or co-molded with the light-transmitting element to form a boundary of the light-transmitting surface. A light source is configured to direct incident light into the light-transmitting portion in response to a lighting control signal. A controller may generate the lighting control signal in response to activation of a user input device such as a turn signal lever or transmission mode selection lever. The optical diffuser may be parallel to and contiguous with the longitudinal surfaces of the light-transmitting element. A headlight assembly includes first and second headlights having respective low- and high-beam functions, and the lighting element assembly, which is positioned with respect to one of the headlights.Type: GrantFiled: May 31, 2016Date of Patent: September 4, 2018Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLCInventor: Jeffrey T. Zawacki
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Patent number: 10047924Abstract: A motor vehicle light system (2) comprising at least two light sources (12a through 12d), at least two optical waveguides (11a through 11d), at least one downstream transparent emission element (10), and at least one controller (5) for time-offset actuation of the at least two light sources (12a through 12d), the at least two light sources (12a through 12d) being set up to couple light into one optical waveguide each (11a through 11d), the optical waveguides (11a through 11d) each having at least one light out-coupling section (14a through 14c) that is set up to couple light into a light coupling section (19) of the emission element (10), wherein the light coupling section (19) of the emission element (10) is step-shaped.Type: GrantFiled: October 29, 2015Date of Patent: August 14, 2018Assignee: ZKW GROUP GMBHInventors: Anton Faffelberger, Laura Danner
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Patent number: 10018317Abstract: The invention relates to a lighting device (1) for a headlamp, in particular a motor-vehicle headlamp, comprising a plurality of light sources (100), a light-guiding device (10) with a plurality of light-guiding elements (11, 12, 13), and a downstream imaging optical element (200), wherein each light-guiding element (11, 12, 13) has a light infeed face and a light exit face, wherein the light-guiding elements (11, 12, 13) are arranged in at least one row, wherein the light-guiding elements of at least one row are configured as main beam light-guiding elements (11) and form a main beam row, wherein each main beam light-guiding element (11) comprises a lower light-guiding face (24), wherein the lower light-guiding face (24) has, at least in the region in which the light beams (52) are reflected, structures (25) at least in regions.Type: GrantFiled: July 18, 2016Date of Patent: July 10, 2018Assignee: ZKW GROUP GMBHInventors: Lukas Taudt, Josef Plank
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Patent number: 10012359Abstract: A light guide for a lighting and/or signaling device of an automobile vehicle comprising an entry face, a coupler, a main reflection face, and an exit face. The light guide is arranged in such a manner that, when a light source is disposed at a predetermined point with respect to the light guide, the entry face transmits the light from the light source to the coupler and the coupler transmits a part of this light to the main reflection face which directs it, in the form of a beam of parallel rays, directly or indirectly, toward the exit face in a direction forming an angle of 5° at the most with respect to the optical axis of the light guide.Type: GrantFiled: September 26, 2013Date of Patent: July 3, 2018Assignee: Valeo VisionInventors: Jean-Francois Doha, Francois Germon, Maxime Laminette
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Patent number: 9995451Abstract: The invention relates to a lighting device (10) according to the invention for a motor vehicle external light having a light conductor (12), which extends along a longitudinal extension direction (14) and has two end faces (16, 18), at least one first light source (20) for coupling light into one of the two end faces (16, 18) of the light conductor (12), a plurality of second light sources (22) for coupling light into the light conductor (12) vertically with respect to the longitudinal extension direction (14) of the light conductor (12), and a control unit for separate actuation of the at least one first light source (20) and of the plurality of second light sources (22).Type: GrantFiled: December 10, 2014Date of Patent: June 12, 2018Assignees: AUDI AG, Hella KGaA Hueck & Co.Inventors: Manuel Brosinger, Linda Alpmann, Sebastian Stumpe, Christoph Geister, Heinrich Schäfer, Carmen Bungenstock, Martin Mügge
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Patent number: 9983343Abstract: A decorative lighting apparatus includes: a light source; an elongated outer lens; and a housing, wherein: the outer lens includes: a surface protrusion having a surface that is the light emitting surface and both sides; a back protrusion having a back and both sides; a first connection part, one end thereof in a short-side direction being connected to one side of the protrusions; and a second connection part, one end thereof in a short-side direction being connected to the other side of the protrusion; the housing is fixedly attached to the other end in the short-side direction of each of the first and second connection parts; the light source is arranged to be opposite to one section of the back protrusion; and a width of both sides of the surface protrusion is greater than a width of a surface of the surface protrusion.Type: GrantFiled: July 22, 2016Date of Patent: May 29, 2018Assignee: TOYODA GOSEI CO., LTD.Inventors: Yoshiharu Tanaka, Yuki Kuramitsu, Shinichi Ogawa
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Patent number: 9951923Abstract: An optical device comprising at least one first light guide having an exit face. The first guide is configured to propagate the light rays emitted by a first light source toward its exit face. The exit face is placed facing a coupling zone that forms part of the lateral surface of a generally tubular second light guide of the optical device. The optical device allows the transmission of the light emitted via the exit face of the first guide through the second guide to be improved. The optical device especially proposes the implementation of a luminous device for an automotive vehicle integrating two luminous functions.Type: GrantFiled: September 28, 2016Date of Patent: April 24, 2018Assignee: VALEO ILUMINACIONInventors: Boubacar Sagna, Antoine de Lamberterie, Juan Manuel Martinez, Maria-Del-Carmen Montano, Jesus Romo
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Patent number: 9915405Abstract: The invention relates to a lighting device (500) for a motor vehicle headlight, wherein the lighting device comprises at least one optical body (1) and at least one mounting device (100) for the at least one optical body (1), wherein the at least one optical body (1) has a number of adjacently arranged ancillary optics (11, 12, 13, 14, 15), wherein each ancillary optics (11-15) is formed from a light-guiding material and each ancillary optics (11-15) has a light-coupling face (11a-15a) and a light-decoupling face (11b-15b), wherein the at least one mounting device (100) has at least one receptacle (111, 112, 113, 114, 115) for each ancillary optics (11-15), and wherein receptacles (111-115) are delimited by delimiting walls (111?, 112?, 113?, 114?, 115?), wherein the delimiting walls (111?, 112?, 113?, 114?, 115?) have boundary edges (111a?, 112a?, 113a?, 114a?, 115a?) on the light exit side, which boundary edges (111a?, 112a?, 113a?, 114a?, 115a?) are imaged, in a light distribution produced by means of theType: GrantFiled: October 27, 2014Date of Patent: March 13, 2018Assignee: ZKW GROUP GMBHInventors: Udo Maier, Lukas Taudt, Oliver Reittegger
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Patent number: 9903557Abstract: A vehicle lighting fixture can form a predetermined light distribution pattern at a position horizontally or vertically shifted with respect to a reference position. The vehicle lighting fixture include: a light source; an optical deflector configured to include a mirror part; a rotary reflecting member configured to reflect light having been reflected by the mirror part of the optical deflector; a screen member configured to form a luminance distribution by the light reflected by the rotary reflecting member; an optical system configured to project the luminance distribution formed in the screen member to form the predetermined light distribution pattern; and a rotary control unit configured to control the rotary reflecting member to form the luminance distribution at a reference position or a position shifted with respect to the reference position. The rotary control unit can control any of the rotational direction and the rotational amount of the rotary reflecting member.Type: GrantFiled: January 21, 2016Date of Patent: February 27, 2018Assignee: STANLEY ELECTRIC CO., LTD.Inventor: Kiichi Matsuno
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Patent number: 9897287Abstract: A finisher for a vehicle console assembly includes a body having an upper surface, a lower surface, and an opening defined therethrough, the opening having a forward end, a rear end, and opposing sides extending therebetween, and a lower light shield extending from the lower surface. The lower light shield includes a canopy having a hood formed at the rear end of the opening, the hood extending away from the lower surface and toward the forward end of the opening. The hood is configured to cover at least a portion of the opening.Type: GrantFiled: September 27, 2016Date of Patent: February 20, 2018Assignee: CALSONIC KANSEI NORTH AMERICA, INC.Inventors: Shermanita Yavette Cotton, Lauren Nicole Cotton, Bryan Trythall, Francisco Medina
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Patent number: 9863596Abstract: An optical element including a light entering surface and a light exiting surface is provided. The light exiting surface is opposite to the light entering surface, and includes a first portion, a second portion, and a third portion. The first portion is a curved surface. The second portion is a curved surface and spaced from the first portion by a step difference. The third portion extends from the first portion to the second portion along a first extending direction, wherein the first portion extends along a second extending direction, and the first extending direction is inclined with respect to the second extending direction. An optical module and a lens carrier are also provided.Type: GrantFiled: January 29, 2016Date of Patent: January 9, 2018Inventor: Chun-Te Wu
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Patent number: 9823403Abstract: A light guiding body includes, an introducing portion including a plane of incidence and a plane of reflection opposite to the plane of incidence, a diffusion portion including a first plane provided on a side of the plane of reflection and a second plane provided on the side of the plane of incidence and opposite to the first plane, a first point positioned on a border between the plane of reflection and the first plane, and a second point on the plane of incidence, wherein when a center of curvature of the first plane at the first point is a third point, an index of refraction of the light guiding body is n, the curvature of the first plane at the first point is K, and a distance between the second point and the third point is D, Formula (4) is satisfied.Type: GrantFiled: February 20, 2015Date of Patent: November 21, 2017Assignee: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBAInventors: Hiroshi Ohno, Mitsuaki Kato, Tomonao Takamatsu
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Patent number: 9815399Abstract: The present invention relates to a vehicle (1), particularly a motor vehicle, with at least one illuminating device having a longitudinally shaped illuminating fixture for creating a light strip along a defined line of the illuminating fixture, wherein a first section (2, 2?) of the illuminating fixture is arranged on the interior (3) of the vehicle (1) and a second section (4, 4?) of the illuminating fixture is arranged on the exterior (5) of the vehicle, the illuminating device is set up so as to create a similar light strip along a line of the first (2, 2?) and of the second section (4, 4?) of the illuminating fixture, and the light of the light strip created by the first section (2, 2?) of the illuminating fixture is radiated such that it is visible for an occupant located at a definable position on the interior of the vehicle (1), and the light of the light strip created by the second section (4, 4?) of the illuminating fixture is radiated such that it is visible from a definable position relative to andType: GrantFiled: October 25, 2014Date of Patent: November 14, 2017Assignee: Audi AGInventors: Jens Dietmar Reuschel, Johannes Tovar
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Patent number: 9797568Abstract: A vehicle lighting unit, such as a rear combination lamp, can include an LED serving as a light source and a light guiding lens housed within a lighting chamber defined by a housing and an outer lens covering an opening of the housing. The light guiding lens can have a light incident surface configured to receive light from the LED and an attachment portion provided near the light incident surface and extending in a direction perpendicular to a direction in which the light is incident on the light incident surface. The light guiding lens is configured to guide and deflect the light to be illuminated with the light, and such that the thickness of a portion after the attachment portion is greater than that of a portion before the attachment portion.Type: GrantFiled: August 10, 2015Date of Patent: October 24, 2017Assignee: STANLEY ELECTRIC CO., LTD.Inventor: Tomoya Akutsu
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Patent number: 9752758Abstract: An illumination apparatus includes a light-emitting element, a first lens, and a second lens. A first incident surface of the first lens faces the light-emitting element, and guides a light beam from the light-emitting element to a radiation port. A second incident surface of the first lens guides a light beam not passing through the first incident surface to a direction toward the outer periphery of the first lens. A first reflection surface of the first lens reflects a light beam from the second incident surface to guide the light beam to the radiation port.Type: GrantFiled: May 25, 2015Date of Patent: September 5, 2017Assignee: Panasonic Intellectual Property Management Co., Ltd.Inventors: Shinji Kadoriku, Ryoma Murase, Takashi Matsuda, Masaru Fujita
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Patent number: 9746150Abstract: The invention relates to a lamp unit (1) for a headlight, in particular a motor vehicle headlight, the lamp unit (1) comprising multiple light sources (2), a light guide unit (3), and a downstream projector lens (4), the light guide unit (3) having multiple light guides (30), each light guide (30) having one light decoupling surface (30a) and one light coupling surface (30b), and each light source (2) coupling light exactly into a light guide (30) assigned to it through a light coupling surface (30b).Type: GrantFiled: December 10, 2013Date of Patent: August 29, 2017Assignee: ZKW GROUP GMBHInventors: Friedrich Bauer, Erik Pirringer, Udo Maier
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Patent number: 9732928Abstract: A vehicle lighting unit can increase the light emission region of a light guiding lens to improve the aesthetic feature as the lighting unit when emitting light. The vehicle lighting unit can include an LED serving as a light source and a light guiding lens configured to guide the light from the light emitting element while totally reflect the light which are housed within a lighting chamber defined by a housing and an outer lens that can cover an opening of the housing. The light guiding lens has an aesthetic portion having a rear surface in part of which cuts are formed to cause the light to exit thereby. The aesthetic portion can further have a cut formed in a front surface where no cut is formed in the rear surface thereof.Type: GrantFiled: August 11, 2015Date of Patent: August 15, 2017Assignee: STANLEY ELECTRIC CO., LTD.Inventor: Tomoya Akutsu
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Patent number: 9719648Abstract: An automobile lamp having a lighting pattern with a light-and-shade contrast comprises a light guiding pipe, a projecting lens, and a lightening body. Two ends of the light guiding pipe are respectively arranged a light input surface and a light output portion. A light refracting groove is arranged at a bottom surface formed in front of the light output portion and includes a long inclined surface and a short inclined surface. The projecting lens has a light input surface and an arc light output surface. The lightening body projects an original light source opposite to the light input surface of the light guiding pipe. One part of lights of the lightening body is guided to the projecting lens for projecting a lighting pattern with a light-and-shade cut-off line, and the other part of lights is guided toward the lighting pattern to partially overlap the lighting pattern.Type: GrantFiled: September 9, 2015Date of Patent: August 1, 2017Assignee: Witslight Technology Corporation LimitedInventors: Yi-Chien Lo, Chien-Jung Tseng, Kuo-Pin Wu, Cheng-Chien Chen
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Patent number: 9694749Abstract: A tow hitching aid system for a vehicle having a hitching ball for connecting to a hitching receiver of a trailer includes a camera disposed at the vehicle and having a field of view that encompasses the hitching ball of the vehicle. The system also includes a plurality of distance measuring sensors disposed at the vehicle. A display screen is disposed in the vehicle and is viewable by a driver of the vehicle when the driver is normally operating the vehicle. A control receives input from the camera and input from the distance measuring sensors. During a tow hitching maneuver, the display screen displays video images captured by the camera, and at least one graphic overlay is superimposed over the displayed video images to assist the driver during the tow hitching maneuver to connect the hitching ball of the vehicle with the hitching receiver of the trailer.Type: GrantFiled: May 23, 2016Date of Patent: July 4, 2017Assignee: MAGNA ELECTRONICS INC.Inventors: Niall R. Lynam, John O. Lindahl
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Patent number: 9671545Abstract: A cover, a portable electronic device using the same and a method for manufacturing the same are provided. The cover comprises a transparent layer one surface of which is a textured surface. The cover also comprises a light guide formed in the transparent layer, one of interior surfaces of the light guide being the textured surface, wherein the light guide is for light guiding such that at least one beam of colored light is guided through the transparent layer and dispersed out of the transparent layer at a surface opposite to the textured surface as a result of being incident on the texture. With the cover according to embodiments of the present invention, a portable electronic device to which the cover is attached could be illuminated with different colored lights.Type: GrantFiled: January 30, 2013Date of Patent: June 6, 2017Assignee: Nokia Technologies OyInventors: Wuyang Huang, Xiaoyu Liu
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Patent number: 9645304Abstract: A directional front illumination device includes a film-based lightguide, a plurality of strips of the film extended from a lightguide region of the film along one side of the film with the strips folded and stacked such that they are parallel to each other with their ends forming a light input surface, and light extraction features defining a light emitting region of the film where the light emitting region has a high optical clarity and greater than 90% of the flux is emitted in a first direction toward an object. In one embodiment, the optical clarity of the light emitting region is greater than 70%. In another embodiment, the light extraction features have a fill-factor area percentage less than 20%.Type: GrantFiled: March 9, 2012Date of Patent: May 9, 2017Assignee: Flex Lighting II LLCInventors: Anthony J. Nichol, Zane A. Coleman, Shawn Pucylowski
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Patent number: 9638383Abstract: The present invention provides a lamp device for a vehicle including a light source and an inner lens through which light which is emitted from the light source passes, in which the inner lens includes a lens unit which diffuses light which is emitted from the light source, and a light guiding unit which protrudes toward the light source from the lens unit to guide the light which is emitted from the light source to the lens unit. Light emitted from the light source is guided by the light guiding unit to be incident onto the lens unit and then is irradiated to be diffused to the outside of the vehicle so that the light distribution performance is improved.Type: GrantFiled: September 2, 2014Date of Patent: May 2, 2017Assignee: HYUNDAI MOBIS CO., LTD.Inventor: Jeong Yun Kim
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Patent number: 9611995Abstract: In various embodiments, a lighting apparatus is provided. The lighting apparatus includes at least one light generating device configured to generate at least one polarized primary light beam; and at least one luminescent body, separated from the at least one light generating device, which can be illuminated by the polarized primary light beam. The at least one polarized primary light beam strikes a surface of the luminescent body at a Brewster angle, and is p-polarized in relation to this surface.Type: GrantFiled: April 2, 2015Date of Patent: April 4, 2017Assignee: Osram GmbHInventor: Martin Daniels
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Patent number: 9597998Abstract: A light assembly includes a housing defining separate first and second cavities, an illuminable outer lens constructed from a homogenous multi-polymer material, and a first lighting source within the first cavity. A second lighting source may be positioned in the second cavity. An opaque portion of the housing separates the first and second cavities and prevents an influx into the second cavity of light emitted by the first lighting source. The multi-polymer material, when irradiated by the first lighting source, illuminates with a light transmittance level of about 50% or more and a haze level of less than about 30%. A vehicle includes a body having a front end, a hood positioned at the front end, and the light assembly positioned adjacent to the hood. A controller may transmit a lighting control signal to the first lighting source to command a turn signal, daytime running light, park, or position function.Type: GrantFiled: June 15, 2015Date of Patent: March 21, 2017Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLCInventors: Jay H. Ovenshire, Daniel E. Schmeckpeper
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Patent number: 9562661Abstract: A headlight of the present invention includes: a fluorescent material light-emitting section; a reflector that reflects light emitted from the fluorescent material light-emitting section so as to emit reflected light out of the headlight; and a mini-mirror that reflects, toward a predetermined surface of the fluorescent material light-emitting section provided substantially at a focal point of the reflector, at least part of light that has not been directed toward the reflector. The mini-mirror has its optical axis inclined with respect to a normal line of the predetermined surface.Type: GrantFiled: June 4, 2012Date of Patent: February 7, 2017Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Hiroshi Kijima, Kensei Toyota, Koji Takahashi
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Patent number: 9541248Abstract: An automotive lightguide includes a main guide portion with a light entrance surface and a reflective rear edge surface; and an exit lens joined to the main guide portion, the exit lens having an exit surface with an arcuate exit profile. In use, light rays from a light source enter the main guide portion through an entrance surface, travel through the main guide portion and reflect off the rear edge surface to the exit lens which images the reflected light rays as a light beam pattern having a predetermined sharp horizontal cutoff and a predetermined horizontal spread, the arcuate profile of the rear edge surface determining the horizontal cutoff and vertical spread of the light beam pattern with respect to the horizontal optical axis H-H, and the exit profile of the exit lens determining the horizontal spread of the light beam pattern.Type: GrantFiled: December 1, 2015Date of Patent: January 10, 2017Assignee: Valeo North America, Inc.Inventor: Brant James Potter
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Patent number: 9511707Abstract: A lamp that is mounted on a vehicle has a transparent substrate including a conductive layer, a light-emitting element supported by the transparent substrate and electrically connected to the conductive layer, a connection portion electrically connected to the conductive layer at an end of the transparent substrate, and a connector electrically connected to the connection portion.Type: GrantFiled: April 6, 2015Date of Patent: December 6, 2016Assignee: KOITO MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.Inventor: Hiromi Nakamura
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Patent number: 9452707Abstract: A vehicle light apparatus includes a light housing unit having a first outer surface and a second outer surface facing laterally, a light-emitting module having a plurality of main lighting elements and a side market lighting element, and a side light guide member. The side light guide member includes a light-receiving segment, and a light-transmitting segment extending from the light-receiving segment toward the second outer surface, and having a light-reflecting surface capable of reflecting light emitted from the side marker lighting element toward the second outer surface such that the light is transmitted via the light-receiving segment and the light-transmitting segment.Type: GrantFiled: June 29, 2015Date of Patent: September 27, 2016Assignee: LUCIDITY ENTERPRISE CO., LTD.Inventor: Hsi-Hsien Tsai
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Patent number: 9435531Abstract: A display apparatus provides a display region to display information, and a peripheral light luminous region to output light. The display apparatus includes an indicator light source and a coloring transmissive member made of light transmissive material. The coloring transmissive member includes a light input face where the light emitted from the indicator light source enters; a light output face with a belt-like shape in an extended direction to form the light luminous region by outputting light inputted from the light input face; and an attenuation portion attenuating light transmitting from the light input face to the light output face. The attenuation portion has a thickness between the light input face and the light output face. The thickness changes to increase in the extended direction of the light output face as going from a central portion towards each of both end portions.Type: GrantFiled: May 14, 2014Date of Patent: September 6, 2016Assignee: DENSO CORPORATIONInventors: Yasuhiro Kobayashi, Masahiro Kuno, Shinji Kamon
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Patent number: 9423101Abstract: A lighting device (1) comprises a light source (2) and a lens (3, 23, 33, 43, 53, 63) positioned in front of the light source (2). The lens (3, 23, 33, 43, 53, 63) is provided with a light entrance surface on a side facing the light source (2) and a light exit surface (14, 38) on a side remote from the light source (2). The lens (3, 23, 33, 43, 53, 63) comprises a number of strip-shaped interconnected elongated light guiding elements (4, 24, 34, 54, 64), of which first ends (7, 27, 37, 57) and spaced apart second ends (5, 25, 35, 55, 65) comprise the light entrance surface and light exit surface, respectively. Light beams emitted by the light source (2) are transmitted by total internal reflection in the elongated light guiding elements (4, 24, 34, 54, 64) from the first ends (7, 27, 37, 57) to the spaced apart seconds ends (5, 25, 35, 55, 65).Type: GrantFiled: August 12, 2010Date of Patent: August 23, 2016Assignee: KONINKLIJKE PHILIPS N.V.Inventors: Petrus Adrianus Josephus Holten, Giorgia Tordini
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Patent number: 9411086Abstract: An optical waveguide assembly includes a plurality of separate body sections each having a coupling cavity for receiving an LED element and a light extraction feature spaced from the coupling cavity, and a mounting structure surrounding the plurality of body sections that maintains the plurality of body sections in assembled relationship. The waveguide assembly may be incorporated into a light engine.Type: GrantFiled: December 9, 2013Date of Patent: August 9, 2016Assignee: Cree, Inc.Inventors: Zongjie Yuan, Kurt S. Wilcox, Jiayin Ma
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Patent number: 9354376Abstract: An illuminable component having a two-dimensionally extending decorative element which has at least one translucent region and at least one non-translucent region. A lighting source serves to illuminate the at least one translucent region. A light-filtering layer is arranged between the decorative element and the lighting source, the layer being integrally attached to a rear side of the decorative element by injection molding. A structure is provided that completely absorbs and/or scatters light when the lighting source is transported to the specified edge. As a result, leakage light at an edge of the component can be reliably avoided.Type: GrantFiled: March 13, 2015Date of Patent: May 31, 2016Assignee: WEIDPLAS GmbHInventor: Thomas Englert