Optical Waveguide (e.g., Fiber Optic, Edge-lit) Patents (Class 362/511)
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Publication number: 20140169016Abstract: A lighting appliance for vehicles includes a flat light guide having a light coupling section for the coupling of light into a first or a second end of the light guide, a narrow-side front serving as a light coupling section for the coupling-out of light into the main radiation direction extending between the first end and the second end of the flat light guide, a first flat side and a second flat side arranged on the opposite side, on which the coupled-in light can be fully reflected, a rear extending between the first end and the second end of the flat light guide having a number of optic elements for the redirection of the light into the direction of the narrow-side front, wherein the flat light guide is held with fastening means in a holding section of a holding lens running at right angles to the main radiation direction.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 10, 2013Publication date: June 19, 2014Applicant: Hella KGaA Hueck & Co.Inventors: Christoph Kirchner, Martin Mügge Mügge, Heinz Albert Püttmann
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Publication number: 20140169017Abstract: A lamp for a vehicle is provided and includes a signal lamp that displays a predetermined image of repetition on an exterior minor of a vehicle. The lamp further includes a minor housing into which a mirror is installed and a signal lamp disposed on one surface of the minor housing. The signal lamp includes a reflection unit, a lens unit disposed at a predetermined distance apart from the reflection unit and having a half mirror installed on at least one surface thereof, and a first light source unit disposed between the reflection unit and the lens unit and is about the same distance apart from the reflection unit and the lens unit.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 10, 2013Publication date: June 19, 2014Applicant: SL CorporationInventors: Do-Yoon Song, Yong-Hwan Kim
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Patent number: 8752990Abstract: A vehicle light can allow light to be emitted more uniformly through an elongated area from a fewer number of light sources as compared with a conventional one. The vehicle light can include an outer lens, a plurality of light sources arranged along the outer edge of the outer lens for emitting light in an optical axis direction orthogonal to the arraying direction thereof, an inner lens including a light guide portion elongated in the arraying direction of the light sources and disposed along the optical axis of the light sources, for dispersing the light in a longitudinal direction of the lens and emitting in the optical axis direction, and a first diffusion reflector and second diffusion reflectors configured to be elongated in the longitudinal direction of the inner lens and disposed in the optical axis direction of the lens.Type: GrantFiled: December 2, 2011Date of Patent: June 17, 2014Assignee: Stanley Electric Co., Ltd.Inventors: Hidetaka Okada, Takuya Matsumaru, Kazuya Makiuchi
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Patent number: 8752986Abstract: A vehicle lamp assembly includes a lamp housing, a primary lamp unit, and an auxiliary lamp unit. The primary lamp unit and the auxiliary lamp unit are provided within the lamp housing. The auxiliary lamp unit includes a first lighting device, a second lighting device and a supplemental lighting device. The first lighting device is configured to illuminate a portion of the lamp housing in a first direction and the second lighting device is configured to illuminate a portion of the lamp housing in a second direction. The supplemental lighting device is positioned in the lamp housing at an intersection of the first and second directions to provide a uniform lit appearance at a transition of the first lighting device and the second lighting device.Type: GrantFiled: February 21, 2012Date of Patent: June 17, 2014Assignees: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc., North American Lighting, Inc.Inventors: Stuart Roger Wuerthele, Jeremy Sasena, Michael Douglas Van Hoef
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Publication number: 20140160779Abstract: A motor vehicle taillight (10) has at least a rear position light function, a turn signal light function, and a brake light function. The rear position light function and the turn signal light function are formed by a common first optical waveguide (15) and by first LED light sources (16, 17) that inject light into the first optical waveguide (15). The brake light function is formed by at least two second optical waveguides (23) and by second LED light sources (24) that inject light into the optical waveguides (23). The second optical waveguides (23) border the first optical waveguide (15) on at least two sides.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 11, 2013Publication date: June 12, 2014Applicant: Hella KGaA Hueck & Co.Inventors: Frank Pusch, Thorsten Ruths
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Publication number: 20140160778Abstract: Disclosed is a vehicular lamp having a light source and a light guide body. In the vehicular lamp, the light guide body is configured by a first and a second rod shaped light guiding portions disposed at positions spaced apart from each other, and a planar light guiding portion disposed to connect the circumferential surface portions of the first and second rod shaped light guiding portions with each other. Further, the light source configured to include a first light source and a second light source disposed to cause light to be incident from an end portion surfaces of the first and the second rod shaped light guiding portions, respectively, and then configured to make each of the first light source and the second light source to emit a different color light with each other.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 3, 2013Publication date: June 12, 2014Applicant: KOITO MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.Inventor: Asami NAKADA
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Patent number: 8746943Abstract: A light emitting diode (LED) based illumination system with particular application to large scale side lighted liquid crystal displays (LCD). The invention uses on board closed loop intensity control in conjunction with red, green and blue (R,G,B) LED die and a hybrid non-imaging optical system to overcome substantial temperature dependence, loss in intensity with time, increased system cost and complexity, and decreased dynamic range. The invention obtains a large color gamut in excess of 110% of the NTSC (National Television System Committee) recommendation. A high performance thermal management design, the use of “chip on board” technology, compact and efficient collection optics, and on board closed loop intensity control increase and maintain luminous performance and decrease cost relative to less efficient RGB LED approaches. One or more line sources can be generated for applications other than in lighting LCD displays.Type: GrantFiled: October 24, 2008Date of Patent: June 10, 2014Assignee: Innovations In Optics, Inc.Inventor: Thomas J. Brukilacchio
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Publication number: 20140153272Abstract: A lighting and/or signaling device, notably for a motor vehicle, comprising at least one light source and one light guide, the source comprising a support and a plurality of light emitting components arranged on the support so as to emit a beam of light, the device being configured to direct the beam toward the guide, in which device the support is a printed circuit and/or the light emitting components are light emitting diodes, in which device the light emitting components are arranged in such a way as to define an emission surface for the beam of light on a face of the support, in which device the light source is configured so that the emission surface has a longitudinally extending axis, in which device the light guide comprises at least one emitting portion configured to emit light out of the guide, and at least one guide portion, situated between the source and the emitting portion, configured to transmit the beam of light from the source to the emitting portion.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 27, 2013Publication date: June 5, 2014Inventors: Sylvain Giraud, Jean-Francois Doha, Arnaud Perrotin
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Patent number: 8740428Abstract: An indirect illumination device for a vehicle may include an internal panel forming a diffusion portion in a surface thereof, a light guide plate faced with the diffusion portion, a light source provided in a side portion of the light guide plate to which the light guide plate may be not faced with the diffusion portion, to irradiate light to an inside of the light guide plate, and an external panel provided with guide ribs protruding from a surface of the external panel, wherein the guide ribs support a lateral side of the internal panel and the light guide plate.Type: GrantFiled: June 27, 2012Date of Patent: June 3, 2014Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Hyundai Mobis Co., Ltd.Inventors: Hong Sik Chang, Jung Hoon Woo, Jung Hwan Yun, Joo Ha Kim, Young Jin You
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Publication number: 20140146554Abstract: A light guide for an optical device, notably for lighting and/or signaling, comprising: at least one light output portion having a top face and a bottom face linked together by a light output rim, at least one collimation subassembly suitable for receiving light emitted by a light source and for directing at least a part of this light toward the light output portion, the collimation subassembly having a top face and a bottom face linked together by a rim, and a coupling portion coupling the light output portion to the subassembly, the coupling portion having a top face and a bottom face, the bottom and top faces of the collimation subassembly extend substantially in mutually parallel planes, and in that the top face of the coupling portion and at least one of the top face of the collimation subassembly of the top face of the light output portion meet at an edge.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 27, 2013Publication date: May 29, 2014Inventor: Sylvain Giraud
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Patent number: 8733991Abstract: A vehicle lamp is formed using a light guide body. Thus light with an excellent aesthetic quality can be emitted without increasing the number of components. The structure has a light guide part (6a) formed on a light guide member (6). The light guide part (6a) emits light in an elongated shape by irradiating a first light-emitting diode (9) provided on one end of the light guide part (6a) in the longitudinal direction. A projecting part (6g) projects reward on the rear face of the light guide part (6a), which is the light-emitting face. A light emission suppressing part (6h) is provided on the projection end face of the projecting part (6g) and has a metal film (6f) formed by vapor deposition.Type: GrantFiled: October 19, 2009Date of Patent: May 27, 2014Assignee: Mitsuba CorporationInventors: Yosuke Fukasawa, Hitoshi Kurihara, Akifumi Suzuki, Atsushi Obata
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Publication number: 20140140084Abstract: Presented is a motor vehicle light with a light source, a light conductor, which comprises a bordering decoupling volume opposite of a first side and a second side lying opposite the second side, wherein the second side comprises decoupling elements, which decouple light distributed about a principal propagation direction, and wherein the motor vehicle light comprises a colored shield which is positioned behind the second side in a direction opposite to the principal propagation direction. The shield is a black shield.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 20, 2013Publication date: May 22, 2014Inventor: Hubert Zwick
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Publication number: 20140140083Abstract: A light for a motor vehicle is presented, with a light conductor which is designed to locally deflect the light propagating in it so that the deflected light emerges through the light emitting surface in a light beam that is centered around one preferential direction to generate a signal light distribution in accordance with the regulations, which subtends a predetermined angle region in a first spatial direction (z) and in a second spatial direction, and wherein the first spatial direction, the second spatial direction, and the preferential direction are each pairwise orthogonal to each other. The light is characterized in that it has a diaphragm that extends starting from the light conductor in a diaphragm direction lying between the preferential direction (x) and the first spatial direction and runs outside the aperture angle, and wherein the diaphragm extends starting from the light conductor for a length that corresponds to 2.5 to 6 times the thickness of the light conductor, especially 4.5 to 5.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 18, 2013Publication date: May 22, 2014Inventor: Hubert Zwick
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Publication number: 20140133168Abstract: A lighting device may include: a plurality of light sources; and a plurality of waveguides; wherein the waveguides each have a light coupling-in surface and a light coupling-out surface; wherein the light coupling-in surfaces are respectively assigned a light-emitting surface of a light source, such that light emitted by the light-emitting surface of the light source impinges on the light coupling-in surface of the waveguide assigned thereto; wherein the light coupling-out surfaces of the waveguides are arranged in a matrix-like manner; wherein the light coupling-in surface of the respective waveguide is smaller than the light-emitting surface of the light source assigned to said waveguide, and a grating-like optical diaphragm having grating cells is provided, which is arranged in the region of the light coupling-in surfaces of the waveguides, such that light coupling-in surfaces belonging to different waveguides are arranged in different grating cells of the grating-like optical diaphragm.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 8, 2013Publication date: May 15, 2014Applicant: OSRAM GMBHInventors: Roland Fiederling, Philipp Helbig, Thomas Feil
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Patent number: 8721142Abstract: A novel vehicular light fixture (10) is disclosed. The light fixture (10) is compact, yet efficient, and employs semiconductor light sources (44) to produce output light in desired patterns. The fixture (10) can be used to produce fog lamps, driving lamps and other non-headlamp vehicle lighting functions. Depending upon the light output required, one or more semiconductor light sources (44) and a corresponding number of optical bodies (64) are employed in the fixture (10) to produce the desired light pattern.Type: GrantFiled: March 7, 2013Date of Patent: May 13, 2014Assignee: Magna International Inc.Inventors: Chad D. Lambert, James R. McFadden, Ronald O. Woodward, Ronald G. Hare
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Publication number: 20140119039Abstract: A vehicle light device includes a light source board and a light guide cover. The light source board include a plurality of light emitting diodes (LEDs) mounted thereon to emit a light. The light guide cover is disposed on the light source board and covering the LEDs to make the emitted light uniformly illuminated. The vehicle light device has a simple structure, which the LED lamp holder and the reflecting element are eliminated. Therefore, the structure of the vehicle light device is thin and reduced-volume, that is easy to mass-produce with cost down.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 20, 2012Publication date: May 1, 2014Inventor: Wei-Ting LIN
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Patent number: 8708538Abstract: A vehicle lamp includes a plurality of light sources, and a light guide plate configured to emit light to the front side of the lamp from a second surface facing a first surface by internally reflecting light, which is emitted from the respective light sources, by a plurality of reflective elements formed on the first surface after causing the light to enter the light guide plate from a rear end face of the light guide plate. The light guide plate is curved to the first surface and gradually becomes thinner toward the front side. The reflective elements are disposed at a predetermined interval in a longitudinal direction and extend in a direction crossing the longitudinal direction.Type: GrantFiled: June 28, 2012Date of Patent: April 29, 2014Assignee: Koito Manufacturing Co., Ltd.Inventors: Kazunori Natsume, Hiroya Koizumi
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Publication number: 20140104862Abstract: A lighting device for a vehicle may include one or more light sources and one or more light conducting rods including a lens through which light radiated from the light source enters and a light outlet surface through which light entering an inside through the lens exits to an outside, in which the lens includes a light inlet surface configured to refract the light entering from the light source in parallel and a light outlet surface configured to collect parallel light passing through the light inlet surface to an upper portion of the light conducting rod, and a reflective body configured to reflect the light collected at the upper portion of the light conducting rod toward the light outlet surface of the light conducting rod may be installed on the light conducting rod, thereby improving light efficiency.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 18, 2012Publication date: April 17, 2014Applicant: Hyundai Motor CompanyInventor: Byeongho JEONG
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Publication number: 20140098562Abstract: The invention relates to a lighting and/or signaling module comprising a support, a light guide arranged in an enclosure of said support and a mask arranged on the support and extending in front of the light guide. The light guide comprises a longitudinal rib intended to collaborate by engaging with a series of hooks belonging to the support. The mask is intended to mask the mounting zones of the light guide. It comprises one or more windows intended to let through the rays of light emitted transversally by the light guide. The rib extends continuously over essentially the entire length of each of the windows. The rib allows simple, rapid and reliable attachment of the light guide to its support. The continuity of the rib among each of the windows means that the creation of any visible non-uniformity through said windows is avoided.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 3, 2013Publication date: April 10, 2014Inventor: Manuel Gomez
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Publication number: 20140092615Abstract: A concentric lighting module with conical mirror for creating of a three-dimensional optical effect, especially in the outer brake and tail lights of a motor vehicle, has in the peripheral region of the conical mirror (3) a cylindrical output part (2c) of a light guide (2) provided by at least one offset (2d) on its outer side, which terminates in an active surface (2e) and which couples in the region beyond the conical mirror (3) to the collimator part (2b) of the light guide (2), formed by a parabolic collimator and a lens and applied by its input part (2a) against the light source (1) of the module, and at the transition between the collimator part (2b) and the output part (2c) of the light guide (2) the module is provided with a total internal light reflection surface (4), whose bottom part also forms an optical prism (4a).Type: ApplicationFiled: August 30, 2013Publication date: April 3, 2014Inventors: Miroslav Kropac, Libor Juttner, Tomas Nejezchleba, Ivana Chmielova
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Publication number: 20140092616Abstract: A vehicle lamp is provided which includes a toroidal lens 30 which extends into an arc shape so as to surround a light source 20 from a front side thereof. By adopting this configuration, light emitted from the light source 20 is allowed to emanate from the toroidal lens 30 as it is as diffuse light in a horizontal plane in which the toroidal lens 30 extends, while the light is allowed to emanate from the toroidal lens 30 as parallel light in a vertical plane. Furthermore, a front surface 30Aa of a central portion 30A of the toroidal lens 30 in the direction in which the toroidal lens 30 extends into the arc shape is formed so as to be displaced rearwards relative to an imaginary extensional plane C1 from front surfaces 30Ba of general portions 30B which are situated at both sides of the central portion 30A.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 1, 2013Publication date: April 3, 2014Applicant: KOITO MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.Inventor: Kenichi MOTOMURA
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Patent number: 8684578Abstract: A lighting device (30) comprises a side-light light guide 1? located in a support (2) that has an elongate opening for the passage of light emitted by the light guide. The support (20) is shaped to provide contact edges (24) and the only physical engagement between the support and the light guide is along those contact edges. The support also has planar surfaces internal positioned adjacent, and parallel to, planar surfaces (15) in the light guide to retain the light guide in the required orientation in the support. To enhance the flexibility of the support, in some embodiments only part of the support is continuous along the whole length of the support (FIGS. 14 to 19).Type: GrantFiled: May 14, 2013Date of Patent: April 1, 2014Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties CompanyInventors: David M. Rudek, Joerg R. Purfuerst, Hans-Michael Vogt
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Publication number: 20140085916Abstract: The invention deals with a light module, notably for motor vehicles, comprising a reflector with a reflecting surface, a screen arranged facing the reflector, the screen comprising a semi-reflecting area, and a light guide extending longitudinally along the screen and the reflector. The guide comprises a diffusing output face extending transversally from the semi-reflecting area of the screen to the reflector. A portion of the rays exiting from the output face passes through the semi-transparent area, the other portion being also reflected toward the reflecting surface to form successive images with a depth effect of 3D type, without dark areas between these images.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 18, 2013Publication date: March 27, 2014Inventors: Christophe Dubosc, Pierre Louis Tassy
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Patent number: 8678627Abstract: A covering (16) for an exterior rear view mirror assembly for motor vehicles includes a plurality of covering parts (17, 18, 19, 20) defining a contact point (24) between each of the plurality of covering parts (17, 18, 19, 20). At least one of the covering parts (17, 18, 19, 20) is provided in a two-component or multi-component injection molding procedure. A coating (25) of plastic forms an outer layer, which covers the covering parts (17, 18, 19, 20). The coating (25), being a light-resistant and transparent plastic, forms a high-gloss surface. One of the covering parts (17, 18, 19, 20) is void of the coating (25) at the contact point (24).Type: GrantFiled: November 22, 2011Date of Patent: March 25, 2014Assignee: SMR Patents S.a.r.l.Inventors: Gregor Serve, Peter Hein
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Publication number: 20140078765Abstract: A light guide for vehicles includes a light coupling section for the coupling of light into a first end and/or a second end of the light guide, with a main section having a front side for the coupling out of light and a back extending between the first end and the second end of the light guide and comprising elements for coupling-out for the deflection of the coupled-in light toward the front side, wherein the section for the coupling-in of light is embodied as a defocussing element situated between a surface coupling the light in and the main section.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 17, 2013Publication date: March 20, 2014Applicant: Hella KGaA Hueck & Co.Inventor: Carmen Bungenstock
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Publication number: 20140078764Abstract: A clearance lamp (20) including an LED, a light guide (23) that receives light from the LED on its one end surface and guides the light therein to emit the light forward from the emitting surface (23c) extending along the extending direction of the light guide; and a back surface portion (26b) of a clearance lamp body (26) to which the light guide is attached. The light guide includes a bar-shaped light guide body (23b), a first extended portion (23f) extended downward from the light guide body, a second extended portion (23g) extended rearward from an extended end of the first extended portion, and a fixing portion (23h) that is formed in the second extended portion to fix the light guide to the back surface portion of the clearance lamp body.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 12, 2013Publication date: March 20, 2014Applicant: Koito Manufacturing Co., Ltd.Inventor: Daisuke Aizawa
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Patent number: 8672524Abstract: A rear lamp apparatus for a vehicle may include a plurality of reflectors mounted in a rear lamp housing of the vehicle to reflect light emitted from light sources at various angles and a light guide provided inside the reflectors and having end portions on which the light sources are mounted to guide the light emitted from the light sources through the light guide.Type: GrantFiled: October 18, 2010Date of Patent: March 18, 2014Assignee: Hyundai Motor CompanyInventors: Jun Ho Cha, Byeong Ho Jeong, Yang Gi Lee
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Publication number: 20140071703Abstract: A vehicular lamp includes a light source, and a light guide body having a front surface and a rear surface, configured to allow light emitted from the light source to enter from the rear surface and to exit through the front surface. The rear surface of the light guide body comprises, in a first plane extending in a front-to-rear direction, a first entrance portion configured to allow light emitted from the light source to enter in such a way as to be refracted to the front, second entrance portions situated at both sides of the first entrance portion and configured to allow light emitted from the light source to enter in such a way as to be refracted sideways, and reflecting portions configured to internally reflect light from the light source which enters from the second entrance portions to the front.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 11, 2013Publication date: March 13, 2014Applicant: KOITO MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.Inventor: Kenichi Motomura
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Patent number: 8662723Abstract: The invention is related to a method for assembly a turn signal indicator module mounted into a rear view mirror comprising a housing. A LED, a light guide and a lens of the turn signal indicator module are mounted in steps as: Mounting the LED on a printed circuit board, fixing the printed circuit board at the light guide to define a strict relation between the LED and the light guide and mounting the light guide, the lens and the housing to form a turn signal indicator module.Type: GrantFiled: November 17, 2010Date of Patent: March 4, 2014Assignee: SMR Patents S.a.r.l.Inventor: Arne Schmierer
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Publication number: 20140049975Abstract: A modular micro-structure light-guide device, that composed of at least a micro-structure light guide unit. Each said micro-structure light guide unit comprises: a light source; a light coupling element, to transmit lights of said light source in parallel; and a light guide body, including at least two light incident surfaces, a micro-structure light uniformed region, a total reflection region, and a light exit surface. Wherein, said at least two light incident surfaces guide lights separately to said micro-structure light uniformed region and said total reflection region, and that reflects lights to exit from said light exit surface.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 13, 2012Publication date: February 20, 2014Inventors: Ching-Tsan LEE, Chih-Bin Chiang, Jih-Tao Hsu, Wen-Liang Wang
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Patent number: 8646953Abstract: A light guiding body of this invention comprises a light incident surface arranged on one end side of a light guide member, a light reflecting surface arranged on another end side of the light guide member opposite to the light incident surface across the light guide member, and a light emitting surface, arranged on a side surface of the light guide member between the light incident surface and the light reflecting surface, through which light input from the light incident surface into the light guide member passes to outside, in which the light guide member is formed as a solid body and at least a part of the light guide member is made from light scattering guide material which contains light scattering particles.Type: GrantFiled: January 6, 2012Date of Patent: February 11, 2014Assignees: Nittoh Kogaku K.K., Koike, YashuhiroInventors: Keiichi Mochizuki, Yoshinori Shinohara
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Publication number: 20140036522Abstract: A vehicular lamp, has a light guide extending in a predetermined direction, and having an end surface located in the predetermined direction thereof, and a light source configured to cause light to be incident on the light guide from the end surface, and configured to emit the light incident from the end surface from a front surface portion of the light guide. Reflective elements that reflects the light incident on the light guide toward the front surface portion of the light guide are formed at a plurality of positions along the predetermined direction on a rear surface portion of the light guide. Each of the reflective elements is comprises a curved surface profile in a cross-section along a plane perpendicular to the predetermined direction.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 1, 2013Publication date: February 6, 2014Applicant: KOITO MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.Inventor: Asami Nakada
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Publication number: 20140029284Abstract: The light guide for an automobile lighting and/or signaling device comprises at least one coupler having at least two input faces arranged so that, when a light source is positioned at a predetermined point in relation to the coupler, for each of the input faces, all the rays from the source passing geometrically through the point and penetrating into the guide through the input face are refracted there in mutually parallel planes.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 19, 2013Publication date: January 30, 2014Inventors: Sylvain Giraud, Yves Gromfeld
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Publication number: 20140029285Abstract: A semiconductor incandescent lamp retrofit lamp may include: at least one semiconductor light source, at least one light scattering body, and at least one optical waveguide, into which light of the at least one semiconductor light source can be coupled, wherein the at least one light scattering body is configured and arranged for the purpose of diffusely emitting light supplied thereto from the at least one semiconductor light source by way of the at least one optical waveguide.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 27, 2012Publication date: January 30, 2014Applicant: OSRAM GMBHInventors: Andreas Bittinger, Marc Luennemann, Sascha Zelt
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Publication number: 20140029283Abstract: A replacement vehicular lamp assembly (10) configured for insertion into a vehicle chassis-mounted lamp housing (110) originally containing an incandescent lamp (118) installed in an aperture (102) in a chassis-mounted reflector (116). Lamp assembly (10) has a housing (12) supporting LED(s) and displaceably mounted reflector segments (40) moveable between a closed configuration facilitating installation through the aperture (102) and an outwardly open configuration for function within the lamp housing (110) to form a first reflector (38). A biasing mechanism (25) biases the reflector segments (40) to the open configuration to deploy the first reflector (38) overlying the chassis-mounted reflector (116) so that light from the LED is received on the first reflector (38) defined by the reflector segments (40).Type: ApplicationFiled: July 26, 2012Publication date: January 30, 2014Applicant: OSRAM SYLVANIA INC.Inventors: Ronald E. Boyd, JR., Lawrence M. Rice, Thomas Tessnow
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Patent number: 8632232Abstract: A vehicle lamp includes, within a lamp chamber formed by a lamp body and a front cover, a light source, a columnar light guide having an incident portion at the end thereof in the vicinity of the light source, and an annular reflecting portion arranged in the vicinity of the light source side of the incident portion. The columnar light guide guides incident light from the light source, which enters via the incident portion, and irradiates the incident light from a light-emitting portion on a front side. The annular reflecting portion reflects light with a large emission angle, which has not been able to directly enter the incident portion from the light source, toward the incident portion. The light source is arranged on a central axis of the annular reflecting portion.Type: GrantFiled: March 30, 2011Date of Patent: January 21, 2014Assignee: Koito Manufacturing Co., Ltd.Inventors: Kazuki Okui, Akio Inoue
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Publication number: 20140003075Abstract: A vehicular rear panel with a new configuration is provided. The vehicular rear panel according to an aspect of the present disclosure is made of a resin material and disposed on a rear vehicle body part. The vehicular rear panel includes a light guiding unit configured to guide light from the light source along an extending direction of the vehicular rear panel and a light emitting unit configured to emit light in the light guiding unit to a rear side of a vehicle.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 26, 2013Publication date: January 2, 2014Inventors: Kenji YAMADA, Masaaki NAKABAYASHI, Koji UCHINO, Manabu MAEDA, Noriaki ITO, Norimasa YAMAMOTO, Asami NAKADA, Yuji SAKURAI, Hiroya KOIZUMI, Tsukasa TOKIDA, Takao MURAMATSU, Tomoaki OTANI, Motohiro KOMATSU, Akihiro MATSUMOTO, Takashi TERAYAMA, Hiroki ISHIBASHI
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Publication number: 20140003076Abstract: A vehicular lamp that is mounted on a vehicle has a light source, a transparent part that is transparent when viewed from inside of a compartment when mounted on the vehicle, a light guiding member that forms at least a part of the transparent part, wherein the light guide member is configured to guide light emitted from the light source toward outside of the compartment when mounted on the vehicle, and a light-shielding member that blocks the light emitted from the light source and that travels toward the inside of the compartment when mounted on the vehicle.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 28, 2013Publication date: January 2, 2014Inventors: Shinya Suganumata, Yasuo Teranishi, Kenichi Motomura, Asami Nakada, Kenji Yamada, Tsukasa Tokida
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Patent number: 8616740Abstract: The lighting assembly (20) includes a light guide (22) formed of a resin material propagating light through internal reflection. A housing (28) surrounds the light guide (22) and maintains the light guide (22) in a predetermined position. A light transmissive coating (24), such as a vacuum metalized coating, is disposed on the light guide (22) and faces outwardly of the housing (28). The light transmissive coating (24) disguises the resin light guide (22) so that the light guide (22) appears to be a metallic trim. A non-light transmissive coating (26), such as a paint, appearing to be the same material as the light transmissive coating (24), may be disposed on the light guide (22) adjacent the light transmissive coating (24).Type: GrantFiled: June 14, 2010Date of Patent: December 31, 2013Assignee: Federal-Mogul CorporationInventors: James Burr Anderson, Alexis Antonio Silva Perez
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Publication number: 20130343074Abstract: Disclosed is a projection lens that is disposed in front of a first semiconductor light emitting device and configured to irradiate light incident from the rear side to the front side. A first reflector reflects a part of the light emitted from the first semiconductor light emitting device to converge on the rear side of the projection lens. A light guide member is disposed across the front side of the projection lens and configured to emit the light incident from the second semiconductor light emitting device to a predetermined direction. A second reflector reflects a part of the light reflected by the first reflector toward the projection lens. The light reflected by the second reflector to be incident on the projection lens is emitted from the projection to avoid the light guide member.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 14, 2013Publication date: December 26, 2013Inventor: Michio TSUKAMOTO
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Publication number: 20130322104Abstract: The invention relates to an optical unit, notably for a motor vehicle signaling and/or lighting device, comprising: at least one light source, notably an LED, at least one board bearing the light source, this board comprising an electric circuit to power the light source, a light guide made at least partially from a material through which light can travel, this guide being designed to accept light from the light source and to guide this light, the optical unit being characterized in that the board is borne by the light guide.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 17, 2012Publication date: December 5, 2013Inventors: Christophe Baert, Sébastien Denis, Xavier Soenen
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Publication number: 20130322103Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: November 12, 2012Publication date: December 5, 2013Applicant: HYUNDAI MOBIS CO., LTD.Inventor: Ban Suk CHOI
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Patent number: 8596839Abstract: The invention is related to a lighting element for a homogenous light appearance used in automotive devices. The lighting element has a light guide structure illuminated by a LED that feeds light into the light guide at the edge of the light guide. The diffuser pane forms a diffuser layer on the light guide surface and light guide and diffuser layer consist of plastic material and are in integrally molded together in a 2-K molding process.Type: GrantFiled: July 14, 2011Date of Patent: December 3, 2013Assignee: SMR Patents S.a.r.l.Inventor: Daniel Fritz
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Publication number: 20130314935Abstract: A vehicle lighting unit can include LEDs and at least two long light guide bodies arranged adjacent to each other. At least two light transmitting lenses can be disposed in front of the at least two light guide bodies. The at least two light guide bodies each can include a gap portion interposed therebetween. A first end portion of the light transmitting lens can be positioned at the gap portion so that the first end portions of the light transmitting lenses overlap with each other in a front-rear direction. The first end portions of the at least two light transmitting lenses can have a surface processed portion on its front surface. The surface processed portions can be configured to direct light exiting through the respective first end portions of the at least two light guide bodies forward.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 24, 2013Publication date: November 28, 2013Applicant: Stanley Electric Co., Ltd.Inventors: Yuki Tokieda, Toshiyuki Okuno, Hirokuni Osugi
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Patent number: 8585264Abstract: The cup receptacle has an annular outer wall configured to receive a cup and a light source operably attached to the cup receptacle. The outer wall of the cup receptacle is constructed of a light transmitting material that is uniformly illuminated by light emitted from the light source.Type: GrantFiled: February 11, 2011Date of Patent: November 19, 2013Assignee: Federal-Mogul Ignition CompanyInventor: Brent H. Robbins
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Publication number: 20130301287Abstract: A decorative part for use in vehicle interiors. The decorative part includes a haptic layer that is at least partially transparent; and a light source configured to feed light into the haptic layer.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 3, 2011Publication date: November 14, 2013Applicant: LISA DRAXLMAIER GMBHInventor: Christian Schlemmer
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Patent number: 8579449Abstract: Disclosed is a pointer type measuring instrument of a novel look, in which an indication portion detours the outer circumference of a display portion and can be visually confirmed as if the indication portion is floating above the display portion. The pointer type measuring instrument (M) comprises a display means (1), a drive body (2) mounted on the back side of the display means (1), an arm portion (3) mounted on the output shaft (26) of the drive body (2) and detouring the outer circumference of the display means (1), an indicating portion (5) extending from the arm portion (3) toward the center of the display means (1) and indicating an indicator portion (4) disposed on the display means (1), and a first light source (7) mounted on the arm portion (3) or the indicating portion (5) and causing the indicating portion (5) to glow.Type: GrantFiled: August 20, 2009Date of Patent: November 12, 2013Assignee: Nippon Seiki Co., Ltd.Inventor: Masato Obata
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Patent number: 8579481Abstract: A door handle apparatus for a vehicle is provided. The door handle includes a door handle body that is configured to be disposed at a door of the vehicle. A light source is mounted inside the door handle body. A light-transmitting member is located between the light source and the door handle body. The light-transmitting member is partially exposed to an exterior of the door handle body.Type: GrantFiled: March 25, 2011Date of Patent: November 12, 2013Assignee: Aisin Technical Center of America, Inc.Inventors: Adam Minter, Michael Wlotkowski, Sadayuki Makino, Katsuhisa Yamada
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Patent number: 8579483Abstract: An optical device, in particular for an automotive vehicle, such as a lighting or signaling device, comprising at least one light source, and at least one light guide designed to guide at least some of the light emitted by the light source, the light guide comprising at least one output face and at least one reflection face designed to reflect, towards the output face, light being propagated in the guide, wherein the light guide exhibits a cylindrical sheet form and/or the output face is not completely planar.Type: GrantFiled: February 2, 2010Date of Patent: November 12, 2013Assignee: Valeo VisionInventor: Antoine de Lamberterie
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Patent number: 8568008Abstract: An illumination unit for a vehicle comprising: a light emitting element; an outer housing including an opening, on which the light emitting element is mounted; a prism disposed between the light emitting element and the opening, the prism including a tip portion which is disposed at the opening, a body portion which continues from the tip portion, a flange portion which continues from the body portion, and a stage at a boundary between the tip portion and the body portion.Type: GrantFiled: January 15, 2010Date of Patent: October 29, 2013Assignee: Yazaki CorporationInventor: Haruki Yoshida