Partial metallization of molded part using ablation

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2020003389-A1
Application number	US-201816024237-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Jun 29, 2018
Priority date	Jun 29, 2018
Publication date	Jan 2, 2020
Grant date	—

Abstract

An optical element for a lighting device of an automotive vehicle. The optical element includes a first portion configured to transmit electromagnetic (EM) radiation therethrough, the EM radiation including visible wavelengths and an ablation process wavelength. Also included is a second portion configured to absorb at least the ablation process wavelength, the second portion being in contact with the first portion to define an ablation process boundary which separates a surface of the first portion from an adjacent surface of the second portion. A patterned optical coating is provided on the optical element such that the optical coating material is provided on at least a part of the surface of the second portion, but not provided on the surface of the first portion.

First claim

1 . An optical element for a lighting device of an automotive vehicle, comprising:
a first portion configured to transmit electromagnetic (EM) radiation therethrough, said EM radiation comprising visible wavelengths and an ablation process wavelength; a second portion configured to absorb at least said ablation process wavelength, said second portion being in contact with the first portion to define an ablation process boundary which separates a surface of the first portion from an adjacent surface of the second portion; and a patterned optical coating provided on the optical element such that the optical coating material is provided on at least a part of the surface of the second portion, but not provided on the surface of the first portion.

2 . The optical element of claim 1 , wherein first portion is clear and the second portion is opaque.

3 . The optical element of claim 1 , wherein the patterned optical coating is configured to provide at least one of absorption, reflection, refraction, and wavelength conversion of said visible wavelengths.

4 . The optical element of claim 1 , wherein the patterned optical coating is a metallized surface coating is configured to reflect visible light.

5 . The optical element of claim 1 , wherein an edge of the patterned optical coating is on the surface of the first portion in a vicinity of the boundary.

6 . The optical element of claim 1 , wherein the optical element is a lens comprising a base portion providing said first portion, and raised portions providing said second portion, the raised portions being formed on the base portion to form recesses where the base portion.

7 . The optical element of claim 6 , wherein the raised portions comprise black plastic overmolding formed on the base portion which is transparent.

8 . A vehicle lighting device comprising a light source and the optical element of claim 1 optically coupled to said light source such that light emitted from the light source is incident on the optical element.

9 . The vehicle lighting device of claim 8 , wherein the vehicle lighting device is brake lamp.

10 . A vehicle comprising a fastening device configured to mount the brake lamp of claim 9 to the vehicle

11 . A method of forming an a lighting device of an automotive vehicle, comprising:
forming a lens by a two shot molding process comprising:
injecting a first material into a mold to form a lens base, the first material being is transparent to visible light and ablation process light, and
injecting a second material into the mold to form a lens feature made from a second material that absorbs at least said ablation process light, the lens feature being intermittently provided in direct contact with portions of the lens base such that a boundary is formed between exposed portions of the lens base and exposed portions of the lens feature; and
forming a patterned coating on the lens such that the exposed portions of the lens base remain exposed and said exposed portions of the lens feature become covered with the coating material.

12 . The method of claim 11 , wherein said forming a patterned coating comprises providing an optical coating material on a coated surface of the optical element covering said exposed portions of the lens base and said exposed portions of the lens feature.

13 . The method of claim 12 , wherein said forming a patterned coating comprises providing ablating light incident on a surface of the optical element which is opposite to the coated surface.

14 . The method of claim 13 , wherein said forming a patterned coating further comprises ablating said coating material from said exposed portion of the lens base.

15 . The method of claim 11 , wherein said injecting a first material comprises injecting a clear plastic material into said mold to form the lens base.

16 . The method of claim 15 , wherein said injecting a second material comprises injecting a black plastic material into said mold to form a black overmolding portion on said lens base.

Assignees

• Valeo North America Inc

Inventors

• Ho Tung
• Li Ziyi

Classifications

• F21S43/50

  characterised by aesthetic components not otherwise provided for, e.g. decorative trim, partition walls or covers · CPC title

• F21S43/31

  Optical layout thereof · CPC title

• B29C45/16

  Making multilayered or multicoloured articles {(B29C45/0062 takes precedence; feeding colouring materials into the injection unit B29C45/1816)} · CPC title

• B29L2031/30

  Vehicles, e.g. ships or aircraft, or body parts thereof {(vanes or blades B29L2031/08, air bags B29L2022/027)} · CPC title

• B29L2031/747

  Lightning equipment · CPC title