Optical imaging system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11209589-B2
Application number	US-201716466054-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 28, 2017
Priority date	Dec 6, 2016
Publication date	Dec 28, 2021
Grant date	Dec 28, 2021

Abstract

An optical imaging system (100) including an elongated lightguide (105) having pluralities of first and second light extractors (110) forming respective first and second patterns along the length of the lightguide is described. Light extracted by the first light extractors exit the lightguide primarily along a first direction toward a target location (150), and light extracted by the second light extractors exit the lightguide primarily along a second direction different from the first direction. The optical imaging system includes a first reflector (114) for receiving light exiting the lightguide primarily along the second direction and reflecting the received light toward the target location. The first reflector forms a first virtual image (132) of the second pattern behind the first reflector. The first pattern and the first virtual image are visible to a viewer (152) viewing the optical imaging system from the target location.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An optical imaging system, comprising:
an elongated lightguide extended along a length of the lightguide and comprising pluralities of first and second light extractors extracting light that would otherwise be confined and propagate within the lightguide along the length of the lightguide primarily by total internal reflection, the first and second light extractors forming respective first and second patterns along the length of the lightguide, light extracted by the first light extractors exiting the lightguide primarily along a first direction toward a target location, light extracted by the second light extractors exiting the lightguide primarily along a second direction different from the first direction; and
a first reflector for receiving light exiting the lightguide primarily along the second direction and reflecting the received light toward the target location, the first reflector forming a first virtual image of the second pattern behind the first reflector, the first pattern and the first virtual image being visible to a viewer viewing the optical imaging system from the target location such that the optical imaging system provides a perceived depth of the first and second patterns to the viewer.

2. The optical imaging system of claim 1 , wherein the first light extractors are discrete and spaced apart and arranged along a first axis along the length of the lightguide, and the second light extractors are discrete, spaced apart and arranged along a different second axis along the length of the lightguide.

3. The optical imaging system of claim 2 , wherein the elongated lightguide is centered on a main axis, and wherein the first and the second axes subtend an angle between 40 and 150 degrees at the main axis.

4. The optical imaging system of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the first and second patterns comprises one or more of a letter, a text or a logo.

5. The optical imaging system of claim 1 , further comprising a light source at an end of the elongated lightguide.

6. The optical imaging system of claim 1 , wherein light extracted by the second light extractors exits the lightguide away from the target location.

7. The optical imaging system of claim 1 , wherein the lightguide is disposed between the first reflector and the target location.

8. The optical imaging system of claim 1 , wherein the elongated lightguide further comprises a plurality of third light extractors forming a third pattern along the length of the lightguide, light extracted by the third light extractors exiting the lightguide primarily along a third direction different from the first and second directions.

9. The optical imaging system of claim 8 further comprising a second reflector for receiving light exiting the lightguide primarily along the third direction and reflecting the received light toward the target location, the second reflector forming a second virtual image of the third pattern behind the second reflector, the first pattern and the first and second virtual images being visible to a viewer viewing the optical imaging system from the target location.

10. The optical imaging system of claim 8 , wherein a first portion of the first reflector is disposed to receive light exiting the lightguide primarily along the second direction and to reflect the received light toward the target locations, and a second portion of the first reflector is disposed to receive light exiting the lightguide primarily along the third direction and to reflect the received light toward the target location, the second portion of the first reflector forming a second virtual image of the third pattern behind the second portion of the first reflector, the first pattern and the first and second virtual images being visible to a viewer viewing the optical imaging system from the target location.

Assignees

• 3M Innovative Properties Co

Inventors

• Liu Tao
• Hedding Brent A
• Mercord David C
• Ostlie Brian W

Classifications

• B60K35/232

  controlling the projection distance of virtual images depending on the condition of the vehicle or the driver · CPC title

• B60K35/60

  Instruments characterised by their location or relative disposition in or on vehicles (arrangements of lighting devices on dashboards B60Q3/10) · CPC title

• B60K35/211

  producing three-dimensional [3D] effects, e.g. stereoscopic images · CPC title

• G02B6/001 Primary

  the light being emitted along at least a portion of the lateral surface of the fibre · CPC title

• B60Q1/50

  for indicating other intentions or conditions, e.g. request for waiting or overtaking · CPC title