VEHICLE LIGHTING
First Claim
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.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
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.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A vehicle lighting apparatus, comprising:
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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. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A vehicle lighting apparatus, comprising:
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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. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 20)
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18. A method of identifying a dent on a vehicle, comprising:
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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. - View Dependent Claims (19)
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Specification