Vehicle with lighting system for tail lights and license plate comprising light emitting diodes and optical waveguide

• US 20060250808A1
• Filed: 06/29/2004
• Published: 11/09/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 07/02/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Koninklijke Philips N.V.
• Original Assignee: Koninklijke Philips N.V.
• Inventors: Verbrugh, Stefan Marcus, Pfeffer, Nicola Bettina, Peek, Johannes Adrianus Frederikus
• Granted Patent: US 7,318,663 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 362/497
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/0011 with light guides for distributing the light between several lighting or signalling devices
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/30 for indicating rear of vehicle, e.g. by means of reflecting surfaces
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/56 for illuminating registrations or the like , e.g. for licence plates
• 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

Abstract

A vehicle fitted with at least one tail light (1) and a rear license plate (8) to be illuminated, a light source (2) for emitting a light beam to a optical waveguide (4) disposed adjacent the light source is provided, said optical waveguide being provided with an input surface (5) facing towards the light source for inputting at least part of the light beam from the light source, as well as with at least one output surface (6) for outputting a light beam that is being passed through the optical waveguide to the license plate and/or the at least one tail light. The light source can be a light emitting diode.

Claims

1. A vehicle fitted with at least one tail light and a rear license plate to be illuminated, characterized in that a light source for emitting a light beam to an optical waveguide disposed adjacent the light source is provided, said optical waveguide being provided with an input surface facing towards the light source for inputting at least part of the light beam from the light source, as well as with at least one output surface for outputting a light beam that is being passed through the optical waveguide to the license plate and/or the at least one tail light.

2. A vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the optical waveguide comprises at least two output surfaces, of which one output surface outputs part of the light beam that is being passed through said optical waveguide to the license plate and of which the other output surface outputs part of the light beam that is being passed through said optical waveguide to the tail light.

3. A vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the optical waveguide is in part disposed in front of the license plate.

4. A vehicle according to claim 3, wherein the part of the optical waveguide that is disposed in front of the license plate is transparent.

5. A vehicle according to claim 3, wherein the part of the optical waveguide that is disposed in front of the license plate comprises means for directing the light beam that is being output from the output surface towards the license plate.

6. A vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the optical waveguide is arranged in part near an edge of the license plate.

7. A vehicle according to claim 6, wherein the part of the optical waveguide that is disposed near the edge of the license plate particularly comprises means for directing the light beam that is being output from the output surfaces towards the license plate.

8. A vehicle according to any one of the claim 1, wherein said vehicle comprises at least two tail lights.

9. A vehicle according to claim 1, wherein said light source comprises a LED (light emitting diode).

10. An optical waveguide suitable for use in a vehicle according to claim 1.