Vehicle lighting

• US 10,451,558 B1
• Filed: 03/30/2018
• Issued: 10/22/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 03/30/2018
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Dent Impressions, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Dent Impressions, Inc.
• Inventors: Chenvert, Brian J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Bowman, Mary Ellen
• Application Number:
  US15/941,530
• Publication Number:
  US 20190302030A1
• Time in Patent Office: 571 Days
• CPC Class Codes: G01B 11/167 by projecting a pattern on the object
• CPC Class Codes: G01B 11/306 for measuring evenness
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2021/8812 Diffuse illumination, e.g. "sky"
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2021/8829 Shadow projection or structured background, e.g. for deflectometry three-dimensional metrology of surfaces G01B11/25
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/8803 Visual inspection measuring projectors G01B9/08
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/8806 Specially adapted optical and illumination features
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2201/0634 Diffuse illumination
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2201/0638 Refractive parts
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 1/045 Light guides
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/0038 Linear indentations or grooves, e.g. arc-shaped grooves or meandering grooves, extending over the full length or width of the light guide
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/0041 provided in the bulk of the light guide
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/0043 provided on the surface of the light guide
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/0051 Diffusing sheet or layer
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/0055 Reflecting element, sheet or layer
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/0058 varying in density, size, shape or depth along the light guide

Abstract

A vehicle lighting apparatus may include a backing panel. The vehicle lighting apparatus may include a light guide panel (LGP) layered over the backing panel, wherein the LGP includes a front surface, a rear surface opposite the front surface, and a plurality of side surfaces connecting the front surface with the rear surface. The vehicle lighting apparatus may include a light source positioned along a first side surface of the plurality of side surfaces of the LGP. The vehicle lighting apparatus may include a front film layered over the front surface of the LGP, wherein the LGP includes a plurality of refraction elements that refract light emitted from the light source through the front surface of the LGP and through the front film and wherein a distribution pattern of the refraction elements creates a corresponding pattern of differing light intensities visible through the front film when illuminated by the light source.

Claims

1. A vehicle lighting apparatus, comprising:

a backing panel;

a light guide panel (LGP) layered over the backing panel, wherein the LGP includes a front surface, a rear surface opposite the front surface, and a plurality of side surfaces connecting the front surface with the rear surface;

a light source positioned along a first side surface of the plurality of side surfaces of the LGP; and

a front film layered over the front surface of the LGP, wherein the LGP includes a plurality of refraction elements, wherein the plurality of refraction elements refract light, emitted from the light source, to concentrate the light to be emitted through a first portion of the front surface of the LGP aligned over the plurality of refraction elements adjacent to a second portion of the front surface of the LGP not aligned over the plurality of refraction elements, and wherein a distribution pattern of the refraction elements creates a corresponding pattern of differing light intensities among the first portion and the second portion visible through the front film when illuminated by the light source.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the refraction elements include a plurality of dot depressions in the rear surface of the LGP that faces the backing panel.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the distribution pattern of the refraction elements includes a first portion of the LGP panel with the refraction elements and a second portion of the LGP panel without the refraction elements.

4. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the first portion of the LGP panel and the second portion of the LGP panel form alternating stripes across the rear surface of the LGP that faces the backing panel.

5. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the corresponding pattern of differing light intensities include alternating stripes of a greater light intensity, corresponding to the first portion of the LGP panel, and stripes of a lesser light intensity, corresponding to the second portion of the LGP panel.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the backing panel is reflective.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the front film is a plastic light diffusing panel.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the LGP is a transparent acrylic panel.

9. A vehicle lighting apparatus, comprising:

a light guide panel (LGP) including a front surface, a rear surface opposite the front surface, and a plurality of side surfaces connecting the front surface with the rear surface;

a powered LED light source positioned along a first side surface of the plurality of side surfaces of the LGP such that a light produced by the LED light source enters the LGP through the first side surface;

a reflector panel positioned against the rear surface of the LGP such that a portion of the light produced by the LED light source that exits the rear surface of the LGP is reflected back into the LGP by the reflector panel;

a plurality of refraction elements in the LGP, wherein the plurality of refraction elements is distributed at a first density across a first portion and a second portion of the LGP and distributed at a second density across a third portion of the LGP separating the first portion and the second portion, wherein the plurality of refraction elements refract the light produced by the LED light source to exit the front surface of the LGP concentrated within an area of the front surface aligned immediately over the plurality of refraction elements; and

a light diffusing panel layered over the front surface of the LGP.

10. The vehicle lighting apparatus of claim 9, comprising a fourth portion of the LGP between the first portion and the third portion, wherein the plurality of refractive elements is distributed at a third density across the fourth portion.

11. The vehicle lighting apparatus of claim 10, wherein the first density of refraction elements is greater than the third density of refraction elements, and wherein the third density of refraction elements is greater than the second density of refractions elements.

12. The vehicle lighting apparatus of claim 10, wherein a density gradient from a greater density of refraction elements to a lesser density of refraction elements is formed from the first portions of the LGP to the third portion of the LGP.

13. The vehicle lighting apparatus of claim 9, wherein the plurality of refraction elements is distributed to project a plurality of stripes through the face of the light diffusing panel when the LED light source is producing the light, wherein a first portion of the plurality of stripes has an illuminated appearance and wherein a second portion of the plurality of stripes has a darkened appearance.

14. The vehicle lighting apparatus of claim 9, comprising a side surface reflector positioned against a face of a second side surface.

15. The vehicle lighting apparatus of claim 9, wherein the light diffusing panel is a translucent colored panel to alter a hue of the light passed through it.

16. The vehicle lighting apparatus of claim 9, wherein the light diffusing panel includes a printed pattern to block a portion of the light passed through it.

17. The vehicle lighting apparatus of claim 9, wherein a face of the first side surface of the LGP and a face of the front surface of the LGP are perpendicular to each other.

20. The method of claim 17, wherein the light diffusing panel includes alternating opaque stripes and alternating translucent stripes to produce the output of the plurality of alternating bright stripes and dark stripes.

18. A method of identifying a dent on a vehicle, comprising:

illuminating a portion of a vehicle with a vehicle lighting apparatus, wherein the vehicle lighting apparatus includes a;

a light guide panel (LGP) including a front surface, a rear surface opposite the front surface, and a plurality of side surfaces connecting the front surface with the rear surface,

a powered light source positioned along a first side surface of the plurality of side surfaces of the LGP such that a light produced by the light source enters the LGP through the first side surface,

a reflector panel positioned against the rear surface of the LGP such that a portion of the light produced by the light source that exits the rear side of the LGP is reflected back into the LGP by the reflector panel,

a plurality of refraction elements in the LGP, wherein the plurality of refraction elements refract the light produced by the light source to exit the front surface of the LGP concentrated within an area of the front surface of the LGP aligned immediately over the plurality of refraction elements, and

a light diffusing panel layered over the front surface of the LGP,

wherein the vehicle lighting apparatus outputs a plurality of alternating bright stripes and dark stripes to illuminate the vehicle, wherein the bright stripes correspond to the area of the front surface of the LGP aligned immediately over the plurality of refraction elements and wherein the dark stripes correspond to an area of the front surface of the LGP not aligned immediately over the plurality of refraction elements;

inspecting the portion of the vehicle utilizing the plurality of alternating bright stripes and dark stripes output by the vehicle lighting module; and

identifying the dent on the vehicle from the inspection.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the plurality of refraction elements is distributed in alternating stripes of alternating densities across the rear surface of the LGP to produce the output of the plurality of alternating bright stripes and dark stripes when the light source is producing light.