Light guide with single optical cavity

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12590684-B2
Application number	US-202418785891-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 26, 2024
Priority date	Jan 28, 2022
Publication date	Mar 31, 2026
Grant date	Mar 31, 2026

Abstract

A lighting device including predetermined harmonious lighting zones with independence utilizing a single cavity. The lighting device provides predetermined selectively independent lighting zones that can have harmonious appearance when turned all on but maintain crisp zone definition when turned on independently. These lighting zones are generated by a single optical cavity. Hexagonal or other predetermined shaped one-piece or multi-piece lens includes inside plating to provide inner and outer light separation. There is provided isolation of light guides by use of plating in a one piece design or multipiece design.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A lamp device adapted for a vehicle, comprising:
a plurality of light sources; a molded component that operably provides optical enhancement of light including an inner cavity that includes an inner surface defined by both a coated portion and multiple inner sides, wherein the coated portion has a contoured shape and extends from a longitudinal end of the molded component to multiple inner sides that extend longitudinally from the coated portion to a front end of the molded component, the inner sides are flat and not parallel to the coated portion, the coated portion and the inner sides are reflective surfaces operable to reflect light from a selected one or more of the plurality of light sources into the inner cavity to distribute light throughout the inner cavity, said molded component including an outer peripheral light guide extending from the inner surface to an outer surface and arranged directly overlaying other selected one or more of the plurality of light sources, the light guide being operable to direct light from said other plurality of light sources in an outer zone defined between the inner surface and the outer surface, wherein said molded component provides inner and outer zone separation, wherein said separation includes generating independent lighting zones comprising at least an inner zone in the inner cavity and said outer zone that allow substantially harmonious appearance with light across the entire front end when turned on together but appear as distinct zones when turned on independently.

2 . The lamp device of claim 1 , wherein said coated portion is curved and extends circumferentially continuously.

3 . The lamp device of claim 1 , wherein said light guide is formed of a clear material.

4 . The lamp device of claim 1 , wherein the light guide is a clear polycarbonate material.

5 . The lamp device of claim 4 , wherein the molded component is a 1-piece hexagonal body and the inner surface includes reflective plating to provide inner and outer light separation.

6 . The lamp device of claim 1 , wherein the coated portion and the inner sides are continuous without a gap or space in or between them and comprise a continuously coated central surface having at least one predetermined profile operable to direct light in at least one predetermined direction.

7 . The lamp device of claim 1 , wherein the inner sides include at least one pair of opposing longitudinal reflective surfaces and a plurality of adjacent integral reflective surfaces having at least one other predetermined profile.

8 . The lamp device of claim 1 , wherein said at least one light source comprises at least one light emitting diode operably mounted at a central portion of said light guide, and at least one light emitting diode operably mounted in said light guide.

9 . A lamp device adapted for a vehicle, comprising:
a plurality of light sources; a single cavity molded part with an outer surface and an inner surface defining a single optic cavity having a front end, said inner surface being defined by a contoured portion and a plurality of flat inner sides that are joined to the contoured portion and extend longitudinally away from the contoured portion, the contoured portion and the inner sides each constructed to reflect light into the single optic cavity so that light is reflected within the single optic cavity at multiple angles; wherein one or more of said plurality of light sources are operably mounted in an inner zone including the single optic cavity and defined by the inner surface, and one or more other of said plurality of light sources are operably mounted in an outer zone defined between the outer surface and the inner surface and directly overlying the other of said plurality of light sources.

10 . The lamp device of claim 9 , wherein the coated portion and the inner sides are continuous without a gap or space in or between them and further comprise a continuous central reflective surface along the longitudinal length of the single cavity molded part.

11 . A lamp device for a vehicle, comprising:
a light guide body formed of a clear material and having an inner surface and an outer surface, the inner surface is defined by a portion having a contoured shape and extending, from one longitudinal end of the body, both radially outwardly and longitudinally to multiple inner sides that are arranged at different angles, connected together, flat and extend longitudinally from a coated portion to a front end of the body that is opposite to said one longitudinal end, wherein the portion and the inner sides are reflective surfaces and are continuous without a gap or space in the reflective surfaces and define a single cavity within the body that extends to the front end; at least one first light source arranged to emit light into the single cavity; and at least one second light source arranged to emit light into the body between the inner surface and the outer surface, wherein light emitted from the at least one first light source is reflected by the reflective surfaces within the single cavity within an inner zone defined by the single cavity, and light emitted from the at least one second light source is emitted from the body between the inner surface and the outer surface within an outer zone, and wherein in a first mode the inner zone is illuminated separate from the outer zone with the reflective surfaces maintaining definition of the inner zone separate from the outer zone, in a second mode the outer zone is illuminated separately from the inner zone with the reflective surfaces maintaining definition of the outer zone separate from the inner zone, and in a third mode both the outer zone and the inner zone are illuminated together providing light emission across all of the front end from both the inner zone and the outer zone.

12 . The device of claim 11 wherein the inner surface is circumferentially continuous.

13 . The device of claim 12 wherein the inner surface is circumferentially continuous along the entire circumferential length of the body between said one longitudinal end and the front end.

14 . The device of claim 11 wherein the outer surface is parallel to the inner surface along the longitudinal extent of the inner sides.

15 . The device of claim 11 wherein the outer surface of the body is defined by the clear material of the body.

16 . The device of claim 11 wherein the portion having the contoured shape is defined by surfaces that are curved.

17 . The device of claim 11 wherein multiple second light sources are provided evenly spaced apart within the body.

18 . The device of claim 17 wherein multiple first light sources are provided.

19 . The device of claim 11 wherein, in the third mode, light is emitted from the front end without the appearance that there are two distinct zones.

20 . The device of claim 11 wherein, in the third mode, light is provided across the entire front face.

Assignees

• Magna Exteriors Inc

Inventors

• Williamson Chris

Classifications

• F21S43/31

  Optical layout thereof · CPC title

• F21S43/249

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

• F21S43/243

  emitting light from one or more of its extremities · CPC title

• F21S43/33

  characterised by their material, surface treatment or coatings · CPC title

• F21S43/241

  of complex shape · CPC title