Luminous device for an automotive vehicle

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2024175560-A1
Application number	US-202218071963-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Nov 30, 2022
Priority date	Nov 30, 2022
Publication date	May 30, 2024
Grant date	—

Abstract

The present invention pertains to a luminous device of an automotive vehicle. The luminous device is configured to produce homogenous lit appearances when using multiple light sources. The luminous device comprises at least one light source for producing a light beam associated with a photometric function. Further, the at least one light source is encapsulated within an encapsulating material. The luminous device further comprises at least one optical element configured to produce said photometric function, wherein the at least one optical element is arranged juxtapose with said encapsulated light source and is configured to receive said light beam to perform at least one said photometric function of the luminance device.

First claim

1 . A luminous device comprising:
first lights that produce a first light beam associated with a first photometric function of the luminous device, wherein the first lights are partially or completely located within and directly in contact with a first light material so that a surface of the first light material contacts a surface of the first lights forming a first light source; second lights that produce a second light beam associated with a second photometric function of the luminous device, wherein the second lights are partially or completely located within and directly in contact with a second light material so that a surface of the second light material contacts a surface of the second lights forming a second light source; and one or more optical elements in communication with the first light source and the second light sources so that the first light beams from the first light source are directed through the first light material and then through the one or more optical elements to a region around a vehicle to perform a first regulatory function, a signature function, or both and the second light source is in communication with the optical elements so that the second light beam from the second light source is directed through the second light material and then through the one or more optical elements to a region around the vehicle to perform a second regulatory function, a signature function, or both.

2 . The luminous device as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the first light material, the second light material, or both are silicone and the first light material, the second light material, or both encapsulates the first lights and the second lights respectively.

3 . The luminous device as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the first light material, the second light material, or both are two or more layers that extend around all or a portion of the first light sources and the second light sources respectively.

4 . The luminous device as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the first light material encapsulates the first lights and the second light material encapsulates the second lights so that the first light sources are embedded entirely within the first light material and the second light sources are embedded entirely within the second light material.

5 . The luminous device as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the one or more optical elements comprise one or more receiving regions configured to receive the first light beam and a directing region configured to transmit the first light beam out of the one or more optical elements.

6 . The luminous device as claimed in claim 5 , wherein the one or more optical elements are made from a transparent material that allows light from the first light beam to extend through the first light material and light from the second light beam to extend through the second light material, into the one or more optical elements, and to extend from the one or more receiving region to the direction region to provide a first color and a second color, when the first lights and the second lights respectively are activated.

7 . The luminous device as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the one or more optical elements comprise a light diffusive portion that diffuses the first light beam, the second light beam, or both to produce a diffusive light pattern.

8 . The luminous device as claimed in claim 7 , wherein the light diffusive portion is configured to cover at least a part of a directing region.

9 . The luminous device as claimed in claim 5 , wherein the one or more optical elements include a first optical portion that comprises at least one optical structures configured to optically couple with the first light sources to allow the first light beam to enter the one or more optical elements.

10 . The luminous device as claimed in claim 9 , wherein the at least one optical structures are flat surfaces on opposite ends of the one or more optical elements.

11 . The luminous device as claimed in claim 9 , wherein the at least one optical structures are formed as grooves formed in a surface of the one or more optical elements.

12 . The luminous device as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the first light source and the second light source each produce a different light beam so that two or more different photometric functions are provided by the luminous device.

13 . The luminous device as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the first light beam, the second light beam, or both entering the one or more optical elements are transmitted through the one or more optical elements by internal reflection.

14 . The luminous device as claimed in claim 1 , wherein one of the one or more optical elements are cylindrical or a hollow tubular structure.

15 . (canceled)

16 . The luminous device as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the first light sources and the second light sources are directly embedded within one of the one or more optical elements.

17 . A method comprising:
disposing first lights partially or entirely within a first light material forming a first light source; disposing second lights partially or entirely within a second light material forming a second light source; disposing the first light source within one or more optical elements to form a first luminous device; disposing the first light sources within the one or more optical elements juxtaposed with the first light source to form a second luminous device; directing a first light beam from the first light source into receiving regions of the one or more optical elements; directing a second light beam from the second light source into the receiving regions of the one or more optical elements; and directing the first light beam, the second light beam, or both out of the one or more optical elements via direction regions of the one or more optical elements so that the first luminous device, the second luminous device, or both produce a homogenous lit appearance and provide a first regulatory function when the first light beam is directed into the receiving regions and provide a second regulatory function when the second light beam directed into the receiving regions.

18 . The method as claimed in claim 17 , further comprising:
providing at least one first optical area configured to receive the first light beam, the second light beam, or both and at least one second optical area configured to transmit the first light beam, the second light beam, or both out of the one or more optical elements.

19 . The method as claimed in claim 17 , wherein further comprising:
embedding all or portion of the first lights within the first light material so that the first lights are directly in contact with the first light material.

20 . The method as claimed in claim 19 , wherein the method comprises forming a light diffusive portion on or within the one or more optical elements to produce a diffusive light pattern.

21 . The method as claimed in claim 17 , further comprising:
wrapping the first light source and the second light source around the one or more optical elements so that the one or more optical elements and the first light source and the second light source are connected.

Assignees

• Valeo Vision

Inventors

• Darlage Colby
• Fraizer Robert
• Guinn Brian

Classifications

• 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

• F21S43/19

  Attachment of light sources or lamp holders · CPC title

• F21S43/26241

  diffusing, scattering or spreading · CPC title

• F21S43/2643

  with several light entry surfaces for two or more light sources having distinct functions, at least one of them being signalling · CPC title