Cross shut gap lighting source

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9849824-B2
Application number	US-201514938550-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 11, 2015
Priority date	Nov 11, 2015
Publication date	Dec 26, 2017
Grant date	Dec 26, 2017

Abstract

A lighting system for a vehicle includes a light assembly having a light source and an optical guide configured to focus and direct light to an adjacent reflector assembly. The reflector assembly and the light assembly are separated by a gap. The reflector assembly includes passive elements, and a light collector aligned with the optical guide to receive light from the light source across the gap and to distribute light to the passive elements.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A vehicle comprising:
a reflector assembly coupled to a first panel;
a light assembly, coupled to a second panel and separated from the reflector assembly by a gap, including at least one light source and an optical guide configured to focus at least some light from the at least one light source into a beam that passes through a reflective channel defined by the optical guide and across the gap to the reflector assembly; and
a light shield coupled to one or more of the reflector assembly and the light assembly configured to cover the gap in proximity to a light exit from the optical guide to reduce light leakage from the gap.

2. The vehicle of claim 1 wherein the first panel is movable relative to the second panel.

3. The vehicle of claim 1 wherein the at least one light source includes a light-emitting diode (LED).

4. The vehicle of claim 1 wherein the at least one light source is disposed within the reflective channel.

5. The vehicle of claim 1 wherein the light assembly further includes a reflecting portion configured to reflect light from the at least one light source in a direction different than the beam.

6. The vehicle of claim 5 wherein the at least one light source includes a first light source configured to provide light for the optical guide and a second light source configured to provide light for the reflecting portion.

7. A vehicle comprising:
a reflector assembly configured to receive a beam of light from a first direction and diffuse the beam of light in a second direction; and
a light assembly including a light source and an optical guide configured to focus light from the light source into the beam and direct the beam through a light exit across a gap covered by a light shield to reduce light leakage to the reflector assembly.

8. The vehicle of claim 7 wherein the light assembly further includes one or more optical elements configured to reflect and diffuse a portion of light from the light source in the second direction.

9. The vehicle of claim 8 wherein the light assembly further includes a second light source configured to provide light for the one or more optical elements.

10. The vehicle of claim 7 wherein the light source is one or more light emitting diodes (LED).

11. The vehicle of claim 7 wherein the optical guide further includes a reflective channel configured to guide light from the light source to a light exit of the optical guide.

12. The vehicle of claim 7 wherein the light shield is disposed on one or more of the reflector assembly and the light assembly.

13. The vehicle of claim 7 wherein the light shield is formed of a resilient material.

14. A lighting system for a vehicle comprising:
a light assembly including a light source, one or more optical elements configured to distribute light from the light source generally in a first direction, an optical guide configured to focus light from the light source into a beam of light and direct the beam of light through a reflective channel defined by the optical guide in a second direction across a gap to a reflector assembly, and a second light source configured to provide light for the one or more optical elements.

15. The lighting system of claim 14 wherein the light source includes one or more of a light emitting diode (LED), a discharge lamp, and a fluorescent lamp.

16. The lighting system of claim 14 further comprising a light shield coupled to the lighting assembly and configured to reduce light leakage from the gap.

17. The lighting system of claim 16 wherein the light shield is formed of a resilient material.

18. The lighting system of claim 16 wherein the light shield surrounds an opening through which the beam of light exits the light assembly.

Assignees

• Ford Global Tech Llc

Inventors

• Anderson Ronald L

Classifications

• B60Q1/26

  the devices being primarily intended to indicate the vehicle, or parts thereof, or to give signals, to other traffic · CPC title

• B60Q1/0011 Primary

  with light guides for distributing the light between several lighting or signalling devices · CPC title

• B60Q1/0041

  of several lamps in relation to each other · CPC title

• F21S43/30

  characterised by reflectors · CPC title

• F21S43/251

  the light guides being used to transmit light from remote light sources · CPC title