Thick appearance lens using reflective surfaces

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12259100-B1
Application number	US-202418676604-A
Country	US
Kind code	B1
Filing date	May 29, 2024
Priority date	May 29, 2024
Publication date	Mar 25, 2025
Grant date	Mar 25, 2025

Abstract

Aspects of the disclosure include a relatively thin lens that leverages reflective surfaces to provide a thick lens appearance and methods of manufacturing the same. An exemplary vehicle includes a component having a lens. The lens includes a light pipe configured such that opposite sidewalls of the light pipe face each other across an airgap, a first reflector surface having a first reflective material formed on a first sidewall of the opposite sidewalls, a second reflector surface having a second reflective material formed on a second sidewall of the opposite sidewalls, and a third surface positioned between the first reflector surface and the second reflector surface and configured such that light can pass through the third surface and into the airgap. A path of light within the airgap is elongated due to internal reflections between the first reflector surface and the second reflector surface, thereby providing an infinity mirror effect.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A vehicle comprising:
a component comprising a lens, the lens comprising:
a light pipe configured such that opposite sidewalls of the light pipe face each other across an airgap;
a first reflector surface comprising a first reflective material, the first reflector surface formed on a first sidewall of the opposite sidewalls;
a second reflector surface comprising a second reflective material, the second reflector surface formed on a second sidewall of the opposite sidewalls; and
a third surface positioned between the first reflector surface and the second reflector surface, the third surface configured such that light can pass through the third surface and into the airgap;

wherein a path of light within the airgap is elongated due to internal reflections between the first reflector surface and the second reflector surface, thereby providing an infinity mirror effect.

2. The vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the light pipe comprises a nominal sidewall thickness of less than 5.0 mm.

3. The vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the third surface is substantially free of reflective material, excepting only portions of the third surface covered due to a thickness of the first reflector surface and a thickness of the second reflector surface.

4. The vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the first reflective material and the second reflective material are the same.

5. The vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the component further comprises a light source.

6. The vehicle of claim 5 , wherein the light source comprises a first light source positioned within the airgap such that light emitted from the first light source is reflected between the first reflector surface and the second reflector surface through the airgap.

7. The vehicle of claim 6 , wherein the light source further comprises a second light source positioned such that light emitted from the second light source is refracted against one of the first reflector surface and the second reflector surface through the light pipe.

8. A lens comprising:
a light pipe configured such that opposite sidewalls of the light pipe face each other across an airgap;
a first reflector surface comprising a first reflective material, the first reflector surface formed on a first sidewall of the opposite sidewalls;
a second reflector surface comprising a second reflective material, the second reflector surface formed on a second sidewall of the opposite sidewalls; and
a third surface positioned between the first reflector surface and the second reflector surface, the third surface configured such that light can pass through the third surface and into the airgap;
wherein a path of light within the airgap is elongated due to internal reflections between the first reflector surface and the second reflector surface, thereby providing an infinity mirror effect.

9. The lens of claim 8 , wherein the light pipe comprises a nominal sidewall thickness of less than 5.0 mm.

10. The lens of claim 8 , wherein the third surface is substantially free of reflective material, excepting only portions of the third surface covered due to a thickness of the first reflector surface and a thickness of the second reflector surface.

11. The lens of claim 8 , wherein the first reflective material and the second reflective material are the same.

12. The lens of claim 8 , wherein the lens further comprises a light source comprising one or more micro light emitting diodes (LEDs).

13. The lens of claim 12 , wherein the one or more micro LEDs comprise a first micro LED positioned within the airgap such that light emitted from the first micro LED is reflected between the first reflector surface and the second reflector surface through the airgap.

14. The lens of claim 13 , wherein the one or more micro LEDs comprise a second micro LED positioned such that light emitted from the second micro LED is refracted against one of the first reflector surface and the second reflector surface through the light pipe.

15. A method comprising:
providing a light pipe configured such that opposite sidewalls of the light pipe face each other across an airgap;
forming a first reflector surface on a first sidewall of the opposite sidewalls, the first reflector surface comprising a first reflective material;
forming a second reflector surface on a second sidewall of the opposite sidewalls, the second reflector surface comprising a second reflective material; and
forming a third surface positioned between the first reflector surface and the second reflector surface, the third surface configured such that light can pass through the third surface and into the airgap;
wherein a path of light within the airgap is elongated due to internal reflections between the first reflector surface and the second reflector surface, thereby providing an infinity mirror effect.

16. The method of claim 15 , wherein the light pipe comprises a nominal sidewall thickness of less than 5.0 mm.

17. The method of claim 15 , wherein the third surface is substantially free of reflective material, excepting only portions of the third surface covered due to a thickness of the first reflector surface and a thickness of the second reflector surface.

18. The method of claim 15 , wherein the first reflective material and the second reflective material are the same.

19. The method of claim 15 , wherein the lens further comprises a light source comprising one or more micro light emitting diodes (LEDs).

20. The method of claim 19 , wherein the one or more micro LEDs comprise a first micro LED positioned within the airgap such that light emitted from the first micro LED is reflected between the first reflector surface and the second reflector surface through the airgap.

Assignees

• Gm Global Tech Operations Llc

Inventors

• Park Jonglee
• Ericson Stephen
• Larsen Michael K

Classifications

• F21S43/249

  with two or more light sources being coupled into the light guide · CPC title

• F21S43/315

  using total internal reflection · CPC title

• F21S43/40

  characterised by the combination of reflectors and refractors · CPC title

• F21Y2113/13

  comprising an assembly of point-like light sources · CPC title

• F21Y2115/10

  Light-emitting diodes [LED] · CPC title