Optical Waveguide (e.g., Fiber Optic, Edge-lit) Patents (Class 362/511)
  • Publication number: 20140321137
    Abstract: A vehicle headlamp includes an LED light source, a light guide plate optically coupled to the LED light source, and a convergent lens positioned therebetween to converge light from the LED light source to an optical fiber bundle which is connected with the light guide plate. The light guide plate includes a light incident face for receiving light exiting from the convergent lens, a light exit face, a bottom face adjacent to the light incident face for reflecting light toward the light exit face thereof, and at least a bent surface extending between the bottom face and the light exit face. The vehicle headlamp creates a specific illumination field with a desired bright/dark cut-off line as the light from the LED light source passes through the convergent lens and the light guide plate in succession to project out of the vehicle headlamp.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 15, 2013
    Publication date: October 30, 2014
    Applicant: HON HAI PRECISION INDUSTRY CO., LTD.
    Inventor: PO-CHOU CHEN
  • Publication number: 20140321140
    Abstract: The present invention is directed toward light module for a motor vehicle headlamp that has numerous light sources, a primary lens, and a secondary lens. The primary lens is configured to collect light emitted from the light sources, and to convert this light to an intermediate light distribution having the form of a closed, illuminating surface area. The secondary lens has an object-side focal length, and the primary lens and the secondary lens are disposed such that the intermediate light distribution lies, at a spacing of this focal length, in the beam path in front of the secondary lens. The light emission surfaces of the light sources are separated from one another by spacings lying between them, and the primary lens is configured to distribute the light emitted from the light sources such that the spacings in the intermediate light distribution can no longer be perceived.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 29, 2014
    Publication date: October 30, 2014
    Inventor: Matthias Brendle
  • Publication number: 20140321141
    Abstract: The invention relates to an LED projection module (1), comprising two or more LED light sources (2, 3, 4), wherein each LED light source (2, 3, 4) consists of one or more light-emitting diodes, wherein each LED light source (2, 3, 4) couples light via a light coupling-in point (21, 31, 41) associated therewith into an optical waveguide (20, 30, 40), and wherein light exits from the optical waveguides (20, 30, 40) via a light decoupling point (22, 32, 42) of the optical waveguide (20, 30, 40), and wherein the exiting light is projected by means of a projection lens (90) into the outside space so as to form at least one light distribution.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 5, 2012
    Publication date: October 30, 2014
    Inventors: Friedrich Bauer, Andreas Moser
  • Patent number: 8870422
    Abstract: A lighting device includes a light source, an elongated panel member, an elongated light guide member provided to the panel member, a first light transmission portion provided in the panel member and through which the light from the light guide member transmits toward the first portion to be illuminated, and a second light transmission portion provided in the panel member to be farther away from the light source than the first light transmission portion and through which the light from the light guide member transmits toward the second portion to be illuminated, the second light transmission portion and the second portion extending along a longitudinal direction of the light exit portion. The light guide member and the second portion are provided to be closer to each other as they are farther away from the light source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 28, 2014
    Assignees: Toyota Boshoku Kabushiki Kaisha, Toyota Shatai Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yasuhiro Ukai, Hiroyasu Tahara, Takahiro Sugioka, Ryuuji Fukui
  • Patent number: 8870423
    Abstract: A vehicle decorative lighting device and a vehicle lamp including a lighting device can include a light guide lens formed in a substantially U-shape and a pair of LED light sources that can emit various color lights. Each of the light sources can be located at both end surfaces of the light guide lens having a U-shaped light-emitting surface. The vehicle lamp can include a lamp room between an outer lens and a housing, and can incorporate various vehicle lamps such as a headlight along with the lighting device in the lamp room. The lighting device can be located in the lamp room so as to emit various U-shaped color lights along a periphery of the outer lens. Thus, the disclosed subject matter can include providing vehicle lamps including the decorative lighting device having a harmonious favorable light distribution, for example, such that combine a headlight with a position lamp.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 28, 2014
    Assignee: Stanley Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Teruhiko Mihara, Yasuaki Kaizumi, Kazuya Shiraishi
  • Patent number: 8864358
    Abstract: In a surface light source device frame, an amount of light that leaks from an outer peripheral surface of the frame can be decreased while a decrease in luminance is suppressed in an emission surface. The frame includes a rectangular frame main body made of a black resin and an auxiliary member made of a white resin. In inner peripheral surfaces of both lateral sides of the frame main body, fitting portions are provided in an end portion on a side farther away from the light source in the frame main body in order to fit the leg portions. The auxiliary member is attached to the inner peripheral surface on the side farther away from the light source in the frame main body while the leg portions are fitted in the fitting portions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2014
    Assignee: OMRON Corporation
    Inventors: Kensuke Nambu, Kenji Ozawa, Yuichi Hiraki
  • Patent number: 8864328
    Abstract: In a head lamp 1, relative positions of a laser light guide path in a tapered light guide section 20 and a parabolic mirror 5 are fixed. An optical fiber 10 and the tapered light guide section 20 are each provided so as to have a receiving end part where laser light is received and an emitting end part where laser light is emitted. The emitting end part of the optical fiber 10 is located near the receiving end part of the tapered light guide section 20.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2014
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kensei Toyota, Hiroshi Kijima, Koji Takahashi
  • Publication number: 20140301099
    Abstract: A vehicle direction indicator light includes a light source and a light emitting body. The light emitting body guides light to the outside of the vehicle, and includes an outer emitting surface facing the outside of the vehicle, an inner emitting surface facing the inside of the vehicle, and a tip surface connecting the inner and outer emitting surfaces and facing a front or rear side of the vehicle. The outer emitting surface has a step shape in which a first surface portion that faces the outside of the vehicle and a second surface portion that faces the front side or the rear side of the vehicle are alternatingly connected to each other in a longitudinal direction of the vehicle. Light emitted through the second surface portion and the tip surface has a higher intensity than the light emitted through the first surface portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 31, 2014
    Publication date: October 9, 2014
    Applicant: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hidefumi Watanabe, Tomohiko Sano, Koji Fukura, Masayuki Takayama, Shuji Koman, Hiroshi Ishibashi, Shigeru Watanuki, Masahiro Sagawa
  • Patent number: 8851722
    Abstract: Headlight lens for a vehicle headlight having a monolithic body of transparent material, the monolithic body including at least one light entry face, a light passage section and at least one optically operative light exit face.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 11, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 7, 2014
    Assignee: Docter Optics SE
    Inventors: Dmitry Fedosik, Wolfram Wintzer
  • Publication number: 20140293632
    Abstract: An illuminating device for motor vehicle including an upper panel and a lower panel, an illumination opening partitioned between the upper and lower panels, and an illuminating portion having a light source portion and a light guide body configured to guide light from the light source portion to the illumination opening. A protrusion portion is set on the lower panel. A recessed portion into which the protrusion portion is to be inserted and an opposite portion that opposed to the protrusion portion are provided on the upper panel. A shading portion, provided between the opposite portion and a the light guide body, is configured to lower luminance of the leak light from the light guide body towards an opposite side to the illumination opening.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 31, 2014
    Publication date: October 2, 2014
    Applicant: NIHON PLAST CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Takeshi WATANABE
  • Publication number: 20140293649
    Abstract: An automotive lamp includes an LED and a light guide. The light guide has the light, emitted from the LED, enter through an incident surface and emits the light frontward from an emission surface by guiding the light inside the light guide. The light guide includes a plurality of steps on a rear face side of the peripheral surface of the light guide. With the plurality of steps, the light traveling inside the light guide is reflected toward the emission surface. The pitch between each of the plurality of steps is set to 0.5 mm or below.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 17, 2014
    Publication date: October 2, 2014
    Applicant: KOITO MANUFACTURING CO.,LTD.
    Inventor: Haruhiko IYODA
  • Patent number: 8845156
    Abstract: A vehicle lamp includes a long solid-core shaped light guide; a first light source that irradiates an end portion of the long solid-core shaped light guide in a longitudinal direction such that light is radiated long from an end side of the vehicle lamp toward another end side of the vehicle lamp; and a second light source that irradiates the another end side of the vehicle lamp to a lateral outer side.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2014
    Assignee: Mitsuba Corporation
    Inventors: Yosuke Fukasawa, Yasushi Kawaji, Hitoshi Kurihara, Tatsuya Sugamoto
  • Publication number: 20140286030
    Abstract: A lighting appliance for vehicles with a light unit includes a light source and a light guide assigned to the light source for the creation of a given light function, wherein the light guide is embodied as a rod-shaped light guide with a punctiform surface for the coupling-out of light or as a flat light guide with a line-shaped or a sheet-like surface for the coupling-out of light, wherein for the creation of said light function, a light surface magnifying unit is provided, which comprises a light source and a mask template unit for the generation of an illumination pattern from a light beam sent from a light source onto a projection screen.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 21, 2014
    Publication date: September 25, 2014
    Inventors: Carsten Hohmann, Martin Mügge
  • Publication number: 20140286031
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a lighting device for vehicles including at least one diffuser body suitable for receiving light emitted by a light source so as to diffuse the light externally to the body. The diffuser body includes a solid matrix of transparent polymer material which incorporates a plurality of bubbles or cavities, wherein the solid matrix performs the transmission of light within the body by subsequent reflections and wherein the bubbles perform the diffusion of light and the extraction thereof outside the body by subsequent refractions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 24, 2014
    Publication date: September 25, 2014
    Inventors: Franco Marcori, Maria Chiara Frijia, Igor Di Vora, Fabio Leone
  • Publication number: 20140286032
    Abstract: The invention relates to a vehicle headlight having at least one light source arrangement comprising a laser, and having a headlight lens comprising a body composed of a transparent material, wherein the body comprises at least one light tunnel and a light-conducting part having at least one optically active light exit surface, wherein the light tunnel comprises at least one, more particularly optically active, light entrance surface and undergoes transition with a bend into the light-conducting part for the purpose of imaging the bend as a bright-dark boundary by means of light coupled or radiated from the light source arrangement into the light entrance surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 27, 2012
    Publication date: September 25, 2014
    Applicant: Doctor Optics SE
    Inventors: Dmitry Fedosik, Woldfram Wintzer, Jens Fischer
  • Publication number: 20140286029
    Abstract: The invention relates to a lighting device (1) for a vehicle interior, comprising a light guide element (4) having a light coupling surface and a light decoupling surface, wherein a luminous flux can be introduced into the light coupling surface by means of at least one light source, wherein the light guide element (4) is retained at least in some sections in a frame element (2) at the edges thereof. According to the invention, the at least one light source is arranged in the frame element (2) in such a way that the light decoupling surface (13) extends substantially perpendicularly to the light coupling surface, wherein the light guide element (4) is structured at least in some sections.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 24, 2012
    Publication date: September 25, 2014
    Applicant: Johnson Controls GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventor: Wolfgang Mueller
  • Patent number: 8840287
    Abstract: An illuminating apparatus and method for an interior passenger compartment of a vehicle including, in combination, a panel, a manual operation element mounted to the panel, and a hidden light source mounted behind the panel providing indirect light directed along a path extending downwardly across a visible surface of the panel through an aperture in the panel. A bezel can be associated with the manual operation element. The bezel can define an edge with a reflective surface. The bezel is located on the visible surface of the panel within the path of indirect light. The edge reflects indirect light from the hidden light source to be visible to occupants of the passenger compartment of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 23, 2014
    Assignee: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.
    Inventors: Chae An, Jonathan Quijano
  • Patent number: 8840289
    Abstract: The present invention provides a headlamp assembly including a light pipe and reflex reflector integration utilizing a single bulb to illuminate both the reflex reflector and the light pipe, simultaneously. The headlamp assembly includes a single light source, a light pipe and a reflex reflector positioned adjacent one another allowing the light source to provide light to both the reflex reflector and the light pipe. The reflex reflector includes a reflecting element and a cutout to allow light to pass though the reflex reflector into the reflecting element. The reflex reflector is adapted to transform light from white to amber thereby creating the side marker function. The headlamp assembly further includes a reflector behind the light source to direct light into the light pipe. The automotive headlamp assembly provides an automotive headlamp assembly that includes a reflex reflector light and a light pipe while reducing cost and decreasing weight.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 23, 2014
    Assignees: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc., II Stanley Co., Inc.
    Inventors: Brian Lindsay, Yasuo Watanabe
  • Publication number: 20140268848
    Abstract: An automotive headlamp (10) having a solid-state light source (14) and a reflector (16) having a light collecting region (18) adapted to receive a first portion of light emitted by the solid-state light source (14) and reflect the first portion of light in a first illumination pattern. The automotive headlamp (10) further includes a light guide assembly (22) adapted to receive a second portion of light emitted by the solid-state light source (14) and redirect the second portion of light in a second illumination pattern.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Publication date: September 18, 2014
    Applicant: OSRAM SYLVANIA Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas Tessnow, Lawrence M. Rice, Ronald Boyd, Howard B. Eng
  • Publication number: 20140268840
    Abstract: A frame-supported vehicle, such as a bicycle or the like, has at least one frame component made of a light diffusing or fluorescent translucent or transparent material to form a leaky light pipe, and at least one light source in light communication with the frame component, whereby light propagates within the frame and is visible from outside the frame by diffusion or fluorescence or a combination thereof. The bicycle is highly visible at night, and may carry logos or other indicia that are enhanced by the background illumination, which may be redirected out of the tube. The frame component may be load bearing or non load bearing. In the latter case, it may be provided as an add-on accessory.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 23, 2014
    Publication date: September 18, 2014
    Applicant: PHANTOM FRAMES, INC.
    Inventor: Forrest Smith
  • Publication number: 20140268847
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: March 14, 2013
    Publication date: September 18, 2014
    Applicant: Valeo Sylvania L.L.C.
    Inventor: Brant Potter
  • Patent number: 8833991
    Abstract: A light emitting device of the present invention includes: a laser diode group which generates a plurality of laser beams; a cylindrical light emitting element which emits incoherent light in response to the plurality of laser beams; and a light guide irradiation section which (i) guides the plurality of laser beams entered via a light incidence plane toward a light irradiation plane and (ii) irradiates the light irradiation area of the cylindrical light emitting element with the plurality of laser beams thus guided. The light irradiation plane of the light guide irradiation section has an area which is smaller than that of the light incidence plane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 16, 2014
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Katsuhiko Kishimoto, Koji Takahashi, Shigetoshi Ito, Hidenori Kawanishi
  • Patent number: 8833955
    Abstract: A backlight module has a light guide plate, a back plate and light emitting assemblies. The light guide plate is substantially prism-like. The back plate has a shape corresponding to that of the light guide plate, and has an inclined first side plate and an inclined second side plate opposite to the first side plate. Each of the first and second side plates has at least one receiving recess, and the light emitting assemblies are received in the receiving recesses. In comparison with a side-light type backlight module, the present invention saves a heat-dissipation aluminum extrusion member. In comparison with a direct-light type backlight module, the present invention shortens the light mixing distance in a vertical direction, so as to reduce the module thickness.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 16, 2014
    Assignee: Shenzhen China Star Optoelectronics Technology Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Lindong Fang, Yicheng Kuo
  • Publication number: 20140254187
    Abstract: An automobile vehicle including at least one glazing unit capable of operating as a direction indicator light, the glazing unit including: a first transparent sheet including first and second main faces, and an edge face; one or more light sources, each including a light-emission face opposite the edge face, connected to emit a flashing light synchronized with flashing of other direction indicator lights of the vehicle; a mechanism for extraction of light in at least one region of the first main face or the second main face of the first sheet or situated in a thickness of the first sheet, the extraction mechanism emitting, when illuminated by the light sources, an auto yellow light; and a mechanism rendering opaque situated toward inside of the vehicle with respect to the extraction mechanism and totally masking the extraction mechanism to render the extraction mechanism invisible from the inside of the vehicle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 31, 2012
    Publication date: September 11, 2014
    Applicant: SAINT-GOBAIN GLASS FRANCE
    Inventors: Laetitia Massault, Adele Verrat-Debailleul, Pascal Bauerle, Sophie Milhe Poutingon
  • Publication number: 20140247616
    Abstract: An automotive light is provided having a substantially tub-shaped rear casing designed to fit to the vehicle body and a front lenticular half-shell which closes the opening of the rear casing and has at least one portion of transparent or semi-transparent material. The front lenticular half-shell includes a rear portion substantially aligned with the rear of the vehicle body, and a lateral portion substantially aligned with the side of the vehicle body. The automotive light also includes a strip light source designed to emit light when powered electrically and a light guide plate of photoconductive material shaped to substantially match the profile of the strip light source and housed inside the rear casing in a position substantially perpendicular to the rear portion of the front lenticular half-shell.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 18, 2012
    Publication date: September 4, 2014
    Applicant: AUTOMOTIVE LIGHTING ITALIA S.P.A.
    Inventors: Frank Arrivet, Alain Buisson, Franco Marcori, Benoit Samson
  • Publication number: 20140247615
    Abstract: An automotive light comprising a substantially basin-shaped rear body structured so to be fixed onto the vehicle body; a front lenticular semi-shell, which is arranged to close the mouth of the rear body and is provided with at least one band-like, transparent or semi-transparent portion; and at least a first lighting assembly, which is structured so as to emit light when electrically powered and is arranged within the rear body so as to backlight the band-like, transparent or semi-transparent portion of the front lenticular semi-shell; said first lighting assembly comprising: a first light-guiding plate made of photoconductive material and which substantially extends from the bottom of the rear body up to and close to the front lenticular semi-shell, while remaining locally substantially perpendicular to said front lenticular semi-shell, and is furthermore shaped so as to arrange its front lateral side close to a first part of said band-like, transparent or semi-transparent portion; and a second light-guidin
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 28, 2014
    Publication date: September 4, 2014
    Applicant: AUTOMOTIVE LIGHTING ITALIA S.p.A
    Inventors: Denis Fadi, Sara Paroni, Marco Svettini
  • Publication number: 20140247617
    Abstract: An optical device, in particular for a motor vehicle, such as a lighting or indicating device, this device comprising at least two light sources associated with different predetermined photometric functions and a principal light guide comprising an emergent end and arranged to guide the light generated by the light sources towards this emergent end, so that this emergent end defines a common illuminating surface for the two photometric functions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 15, 2014
    Publication date: September 4, 2014
    Inventor: Antoine de Lamberterie
  • Patent number: 8820990
    Abstract: A vehicle lamp has at least one transparent element (10), and at least one main light source, whose emitted light passes the optical boundary layers of the at least one transparent element (10) substantially perpendicularly. The at least one transparent element (10) has at least two optical areas (12, 20, 26) with different optical indices of refraction which adjoin one another along at least one optical boundary layer (16, 24), and at least in one of the adjoining optical areas (12), whose index of refraction is greater than the index of refraction of the adjoining optical area (20, 26), the light of at least one light source is coupled via at least one light coupling point (22) into a direction pointing substantially along the at least one optical boundary layer (16, 24), and the introduced light is decoupled via at least one light decoupling point (14).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2014
    Assignee: Volkswagen AG
    Inventors: Berend Wegner, Henning Kiel
  • Patent number: 8820991
    Abstract: A lighting and/or signalling device for a motor vehicle comprising at least one light source (S) emitting a light beam and at least one optical guide (G) within which the light beam propagates, the optical guide comprising: a first face forming an exit face (FS) for the light beam, a second face forming a face (FR) for reflecting the light beam, and a screen (ED) disposed facing the reflection face (FR) of the light guide (G) and comprising an orientation means redirecting light rays escaping from the guide at the reflection face, so as to return them, at least partially, into the guide, the orientation means comprising catadioptric reflecting patterns.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2014
    Assignee: Valeo Vision
    Inventors: Vincent Godbillon, Fabrice Mairet, Fabien Sergent
  • Patent number: 8820992
    Abstract: A headlamp assembly includes a bezel defining a first surface and a second surface inclined with respect to the first surface and located at an outboard periphery, a series of fingers separated by slots, each slot extending through the first surface and the second surface, light sources, and light guides, each light guide fitted into one of the slots, for transmitting light from one of the light sources, along and through one of the slots.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2014
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Terrence J. Wilson, Stephen K. Helwig, Sleiman N. Abdelnour
  • Publication number: 20140233251
    Abstract: A light module for a motor vehicle is disclosed. The light module includes a light source and a reflecting unit. The light module also includes an optical waveguide, wherein the waveguide is formed by a plate-shaped body having an L-shaped cross section, the light-reflecting unit comprises a reflector arranged in front of a shorter input part of the waveguide, and wherein at a place where a shorter inlet part of the waveguide passes into a longer outlet part of the waveguide, an angled surface is provided for total reflection of light passing through the shorter inlet part of the waveguide to the longer outlet part of the waveguide, wherewith a bottom area and an adjacent face of the outlet part of the waveguide are provided with a white coating.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 3, 2014
    Publication date: August 21, 2014
    Applicant: Varroc Lighting Systems s.r.o.
    Inventors: Miroslav Kropac, Ludek Mazal, Tomas Mateju, Libor Juttner
  • Patent number: 8810433
    Abstract: A garage door opener and parking guide combination includes a male connector that is configured to be removably extended into and electrically coupled to a light bulb socket. A light bulb is electrically coupled to the male connector and emits light when electricity is supplied to the light bulb socket. The light bulb is non-removably coupled to the male connector. The male connector includes a first portion and a second portion. The first portion is threaded. The light bulb includes a plurality of light emitting diodes. A first electrical coupler is mounted in and non-removably affixed to the second portion of the male connector. The first electrical coupler is in electrical communication with the male connector. A laser light assembly is removably electrically coupled to the first electrical coupler and emits laser light when the male connector receives electricity from the light bulb socket.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2014
    Inventor: Ronald W. Aarons
  • Patent number: 8807807
    Abstract: Aspects of the disclosure provide a door handle assembly used in a vehicle door having an illumination module and illumination source that directs light in a first direction and a second direction using a pair of light pipes. The door handle from the door handle assembly includes a first illumination aperture oriented in the first direction and a second illumination aperture oriented in the second direction. As the illumination source generates light, the first light pipe receives a first portion of light and directs it toward a first illumination surface and the first illumination aperture in the first direction. By molding the second light pipe around the first light pipe, remaining light is captured from the illumination source as a second portion of light. The second portion of light reflects along the interior surfaces of the second light pipe towards the second illumination surface oriented in the second direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2014
    Assignee: Tesla Motors, Inc.
    Inventors: David Wheeler, Brenda Cucci, Adam S. Kilgore, Daryl Zalan
  • Publication number: 20140226353
    Abstract: A lighting apparatus for a vehicle includes a light source and a light pipe. The light pipe has a first end coupled with the light source, a second end, and a side surface extending between the first and second ends for radially emitting light. A carrier surrounds the side surface and includes an opaque portion and a translucent portion. The opaque portion abuts the side surface for preventing light from emitting beyond the side surface. The translucent portion extends adjacent to the opaque portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 3, 2013
    Publication date: August 14, 2014
    Inventors: Ben Sohizad, Ali Ammar
  • Publication number: 20140226354
    Abstract: An optical system for an illumination device for vehicles includes at least one light unit for generating a lighting function, semi-transparent mirrored surfaces, and reflective mirrored surfaces, characterized in that the reflective mirrored surfaces and the semi-transparent mirrored surfaces are oriented in the direction of a main direction of emission such that the sub light beam emitted by the light guiding element can be guided in the direction of the main direction of emission.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 10, 2014
    Publication date: August 14, 2014
    Applicant: HELLA KGaA
    Inventor: Martin Mügge
  • Patent number: 8801234
    Abstract: A light emitting module is provided with a light emitting element and an optical wavelength converting member. The optical wavelength converting member includes a light incident plane, a light output plane, and an outer plane which is a plane except for said light incident plane and said light output plane. The optical wavelength converting member converts a wavelength of light emitted on the light emitting element and entered from the light incident plane into the optical wavelength converting member and outputs the wavelength-converted light from the light output plane. An average roughness “Ra” of at least a portion of the outer plane is lower than an average roughness of the light output plane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 12, 2014
    Assignee: Koito Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yasuaki Tsutsumi, Takashi Onishi
  • Patent number: 8801246
    Abstract: Disclosed is a vehicle lamp, including a reflector reflecting light of a light guide, wherein the reflector includes a first reflection surface and a second reflection surface forming an inner circumferential surface, together with at least a part of a light emitting surface of the light guide and the inner circumferential surface is converged in a direction opposite to an irradiation direction to form a convergent point. By this configuration, it is possible to reduce manufacturing costs and manufacturing man hour of the vehicle lamp while increasing aesthetic appearance of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 12, 2014
    Assignee: Hyundai Mobis Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Ban Suk Choi
  • Patent number: 8801245
    Abstract: A door handle assembly for a door of a vehicle includes a handle portion and an illumination module. The handle portion is disposed at the vehicle door and movable to actuate a locking mechanism of the vehicle door to open the vehicle door. The illumination module includes at least one illumination source and an icon element and a cover element. The illumination source, when operated, backlights the icon element so that an icon of the icon element is viewable through the cover element at an exterior surface of the handle portion. The icon element includes a security icon and the illumination module is operable to backlight the security icon when a security system of the vehicle is operational.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 12, 2014
    Assignee: Magna Mirrors of America, Inc.
    Inventors: Darryl P. De Wind, Justin E. Sobecki, Eric S. Deuel
  • Publication number: 20140218951
    Abstract: A vehicular lamp has a light source, a pillar-shaped light guide having a plurality of light controlling portions formed on a side surface thereof, and a lens disposed in front of the light guide. Light emitted from the light source enters the light guide from one end surface of the light guide. The light guide guides the light inside the light guide. The light guide emits the guided light forward of the vehicular lamp via the plurality of light controlling portions. The lens has a thick-walled projecting portion. The projecting portion is formed to have a rectangular vertical cross-section. The projecting portion guides the light emitted from the light guide and emits the light forward of the vehicular lamp.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 5, 2014
    Publication date: August 7, 2014
    Applicant: KOITO MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Ryo Takada
  • Publication number: 20140211493
    Abstract: A vehicle lighting unit includes LEDs mounted on a substrate, and an elongated inner lens configured to receive light from the LEDs and guide the light along its lengthwise direction so as to emit light from its front surface. The inner lens includes a first light guiding section extending in the left-to-right direction and a second light guiding section extending in the vertical direction, and a bending section between the first and second light guiding sections. The bending section includes a first reflection surface and a second reflection surface. The first and second reflection surfaces internally reflect light toward the first and second light guiding sections, respectively. The LEDs include a first LED and a second LED, disposed in the rear of the first reflection surface and the second reflection surface, respectively.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 30, 2014
    Publication date: July 31, 2014
    Applicant: Stanley Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Asaki Ichikawa, Norifumi Imazeki
  • Patent number: 8789991
    Abstract: An optical system for a motor vehicle, the optical system performing at least one main optical function and including in particular a diffusion screen, at least one light source of the LED type, each LED of the optical system producing a set of rays of light to be propagated in the diffusion screen wherein the screen is in the form of a curved sheet, with an upper lateral flange and a lower lateral flange which meet at a periphery which has in particular a rear face and a front edge and the principal function is performed essentially via an output face constituted by the front edge of the diffusion screen.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2014
    Assignee: Valeo Vision
    Inventors: Laure Martin, Benjamin Vernisse, Benjamin Thierry, Nicolas Vathonne, Jean-Claude Gasquet
  • Patent number: 8789989
    Abstract: A display switch unit is provided for a vehicle comprising at least one first and one second light guide plate with first and second light sources disposed at the edges. The light guide plates have switch symbols and proximity sensors having sensor structures. The first light guide plate and the second light guide plate are disposed on one another. Respectively one sensor structure is assigned two switch symbols in both light guide plates. The material of the switch symbols is a plastic with light-sensitive nanoparticles, which is arranged distributed in the light guide plates in such a manner that under edge-side irradiation the switch symbols are visible illuminated in color and three-dimensionally in the light guide plates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2014
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventor: Dino Demma
  • Publication number: 20140204601
    Abstract: An illuminating glazing unit for a vehicle includes a first sheet made of mineral or organic glass, a peripheral light source with a support profiled member referred to as source support, the emitting region or face of the source facing the edge face, referred to as injection face, of the first sheet for a propagation of the injected light within the thickness of the first sheet, the first sheet then playing the role of guide for the injected light, a device of extraction of the guided light so as to form at least one illuminating region, the source support being within an accommodation surrounded by material and covered by a cover, the cover and the source support being removable from the glazing unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 30, 2012
    Publication date: July 24, 2014
    Applicant: SAINT-GOBAIN GLASS FRANCE
    Inventors: Pascal Bäuerle, Adèle Verrat-Debailleul, Christophe Kleo, Laurent Lamoureux, Pascal Lefevre
  • Publication number: 20140204600
    Abstract: A lighting appliance has a flat light guide and multiple light sources radiating light beams and a section for coupling-in light of the flat light guide, wherein the flat light guide has a surface for coupling-in the light beam and a deflecting surface for deflecting the coupled-in light beam toward a main section of the light guide, onto which a surface for coupling-out of light abuts in the light guiding direction, that the main section extends between the section for coupling-in of light and the surface for coupling-out of light has opposing flat sides, on which the coupled-in light beam is fully reflective in direction of the surface for coupling-out of light, wherein the surface for coupling-in of light is embodied so that the coupled-in light beam is directed under a tipping angle relative to a main radiation direction of the light source in the direction of the deflecting surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 21, 2014
    Publication date: July 24, 2014
    Inventor: Carmen Bungenstock
  • Publication number: 20140204599
    Abstract: A vehicle component includes a molded cover molded into a shape of a surface of a part attached to a vehicle and a surface-emitting device bonded or fitted and fixed along a back face of the molded cover. The molded cover is vacuum formed by solid decorative molding of a translucent resin molded member with a translucent film, and light from the surface-emitting device is transmitted through the molded cover and emerges in a predetermined light-emitting area which is a part of a surface of the vehicle component. The vehicle component obtains a light-emitting function with a relatively simple structure and in a relatively compact form with a design not impaired and excellent in beauty and appearance.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 8, 2012
    Publication date: July 24, 2014
    Applicants: Fu-se Vacuum Forming CO., LTD., KOHKI CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Takayuki Miura, Yoshihiro Kamiike, Yuichi Ohga
  • Publication number: 20140198513
    Abstract: A light module for a motor vehicle headlamp having an optical fiber configuration with at least one first optical fiber branch and one second optical fiber branch. Each of the two branches has a light exit surface each bordered by two narrow sides and disposed such that a narrow side of the first branch is disposed parallel and directly adjacent to a narrow side of the light exit surface of the second branch. Each branch exhibits two transport surfaces. The transport surfaces exhibit surface norms having a directional component, which faces more toward a first narrow side of the two narrow sides of the branch than toward a second narrow side of the two narrow sides of the branch, wherein the narrow sides lying directly adjacent and parallel to one another are a second narrow side of the first branch and a first narrow side of the second branch.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 8, 2014
    Publication date: July 17, 2014
    Inventors: Emil P. Stefanov, Christian Buchberger, Henning Vogt
  • Patent number: 8777467
    Abstract: A vehicle interior lighting system includes: a designed cover 10 attached to a ceiling wall in an inside of a vehicle compartment; and a light source unit 20 arranged in the rear of the designed cover. In this system, a light beam emitted from an emission port 25 of the light source unit illuminates the inside of the vehicle compartment through two irradiation holes 15 for spot illumination, which are provided in the designed cover. A light guide 50 is arranged between the emission port 25 of the light source unit and the two irradiation holes 15 of the designed cover. The light guide 50 is configured to divide the light beam emitted from the light source unit into two directions, and to guide the thus-divided light beams to the respective irradiation holes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2014
    Assignee: Yazaki Corporation
    Inventors: Kentaro Nagai, Hiroyuki Suzuki
  • Patent number: 8777466
    Abstract: A panel includes at least one icon area (8), the area (8) being illuminated by a light source (10) placed under the ornament panel, the ornament panel (1) including a translucent skin (2) forming the outer surface (6) of the ornament panel and a substrate layer (4) placed against the skin (2), the substrate layer (4) including an opening (14) placed at least between the light source (10) and the icon area (8). A light-transmitting material (18) is placed in at least part of the opening (14), the material (18) being placed in a translucent substrate element (20) placed in the opening (14) between the material (18) and the light source (10).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2014
    Assignee: Faurecia Interieur Industrie
    Inventors: Jean-Francois Oeuvrard, Godefroy Beau
  • Patent number: 8764257
    Abstract: An optical device, in particular for a motor vehicle, such as a lighting or indicating device, this device comprising at least two light sources associated with different predetermined photometric functions and a principal light guide comprising an emergent end and arranged to guide the light generated by the light sources towards this emergent end, so that this emergent end defines a common illuminating surface for the two photometric functions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2014
    Assignee: Valeo Vision
    Inventor: Antoine De Lamberterie
  • Publication number: 20140177249
    Abstract: While a light source is arranged on the back side of a light guide lens, light beams can be emitted from the light source with respective optical axes directed in one direction and be guided toward opposite ends of the light guide lens. A light source and a reflective surface are arranged on the back side of a light guide lens. The light source emits light beams with respective optical axes directed in one direction. One of the light beams obliquely enters the light guide lens toward one end in a long direction of the light guide lens without being reflected by the reflective surface. Another one of the light beams is reflected by the reflective surface and obliquely enters the light guide lens toward another end in the long direction of the light guide lens.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 20, 2013
    Publication date: June 26, 2014
    Applicant: MURAKAMI CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kota ISEKI, Hiroaki NAGANO, Akihito INABA