Lighting systems
First Claim
1. An illumination system, comprising:
- first and second layers, wherein at least the first layer is transparent;
a polymer layer interposed between the first and second layers, wherein the polymer layer attaches the first layer to the second layer;
an optical fiber embedded in the polymer layer; and
a light source that emits light into the optical fiber, wherein the optical fiber has light extraction features that cause the light to scatter outwards through the first layer.
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Abstract
A lighting system may include one or more light sources and one or more light guides. A lighting system may be integrated into a window, a skylight, an exterior light such as a headlight, a tail light, or a high center-mounted stop light, or other exterior or interior portions of a system such as a vehicle. The light guide may be embedded in an adhesive layer in a vehicle structure. The light guide may be index-matched to the adhesive layer so that unilluminated portions of the light guide are indistinguishable from the vehicle structure. The light guide may be formed from optical fibers. The optical fibers may include a light-scattering optical fiber that scatters light out of the vehicle structure. The light-scattering optical fiber may be fused to a non-scattering optical fiber that guides light from a light source to the light-scattering optical fiber.
33 Citations
18 Claims
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1. An illumination system, comprising:
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first and second layers, wherein at least the first layer is transparent; a polymer layer interposed between the first and second layers, wherein the polymer layer attaches the first layer to the second layer; an optical fiber embedded in the polymer layer; and a light source that emits light into the optical fiber, wherein the optical fiber has light extraction features that cause the light to scatter outwards through the first layer. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A vehicle, comprising:
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a body; a window mounted in the body; and an illumination system having a light guide embedded in the window, wherein the light guide is indistinguishable from the window when the illumination system is unilluminated. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14)
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15. A vehicle, comprising:
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a body; a vehicle structure mounted to the body, wherein the vehicle structure comprises a layer of adhesive and a transparent layer; and an exterior lighting system mounted to the body, wherein the exterior lighting system comprises an optical fiber in the layer of adhesive and wherein the optical fiber scatters light through the transparent layer to illuminate an exterior area of the vehicle. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18)
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Specification