Low profile illuminator

• US 5,365,412 A
• Filed: 01/07/1993
• Issued: 11/15/1994
• Est. Priority Date: 01/07/1993
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Visteon Global Technologies Incorporated (Visteon Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Ford Motor Company
• Inventors: Fallah, Amir, Dassanayake, Mahendra, Chinniah, Jeyachandrabose, Koppolu, Prasad M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Cole, Richard R.
• Application Number:
  US08/001,591
• Time in Patent Office: 677 Days
• Field of Search: 362/31, 362/32, 362/61, 362/297, 362/298, 362/300, 362/301, 362/307
• US Class Current: 362/518
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 41/24 Light guides
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 43/237 rod-shaped
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 43/243 emitting light from one or more of its extremities
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 43/247 with a single light source being coupled into the light guide
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/0001 specially adapted for lighting devices or systems lighting or signalling on vehicles using light guides B60Q1/00; lighting devices for vehicle dashboards B60Q3/10; lighting devices for vehicle interior using light guides B60Q3/62; lighting devices mounted on the vehicle rear part using light guides F21S43/235; measuring arrangements having light conducting pointers G01D13/265; illumination of liquid crystal displays G02F1/1336; illuminated signs G09F13/00
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/001 the light being emitted along at least a portion of the lateral surface of the fibre

Abstract

A illuminator for use on a vehicle utilizing light from a remote light source. A semi-paraboloidal reflector collects and collimates light from the remote light source which is transmitted to the semi-paraboloidal reflector through a light guide, such as a fiber optic light pipe. Light from the reflector is reflected outward through a plurality of reflective facets to form a light beam.

Claims

1. A lighting System, including a remote light source comprising:

an illuminator having a semi-paraboloidal reflector section having a focal axis and a focal point and a plurality of adjacent emitter sections each emitter section having at least one reflective facet;

a light guide for transmitting light from said remote light source to said illuminator;

a non-imaging optics concentrator attached to said light guide and positioned at the focal point of said semi-paraboloidal reflector section and inclined with respect to the focal axis of said semi-paraboloidal reflector section; and

said emitter sections aligned with adjacent emitter sections such that the facets of adjacent emitter sections are staggered whereby the light from each reflective facet is combined to form a beam pattern.

2. A lighting system for use with a remote light source comprising:

a light guide for transmitting light from said remote light source;

an illuminator, said illuminator receiving light from said remote light source via said light guide, said illuminator including a reflective surface which receives and collimates the light exiting said light guide and a plurality of planar sections, said planar sections having a front face and a rear face, said rear face including at least one reflective facet positioned oblique said collimated light for receiving and redirecting said light outward through said front face, said planar sections arranged in adjacent layers such that no two facets of adjacent layers are aligned in a direction perpendicular the collimated light.

3. A lighting system as set forth in claim 2 wherein said illuminator is formed of a material having an index of refraction such that the critical angle when the material is disposed in air is less than 45°

.

4. A lighting system as set forth in claim 3 wherein said facets comprise planar surfaces positioned at an angle of 45°

with respect to said collimated light.

5. A lighting system as set forth in claim 2 wherein said front face of said illuminator is a complex surface.

6. A lighting system as set forth in claim 2 wherein said reflective facets have reflective surfaces, said reflective surfaces being complex surfaces.

7. A lighting system as set forth in claim 2 wherein said reflective surface includes a semi-paraboloidal reflector.

8. A lighting system as set forth in claim 7 wherein said light guide having a non-imaging optic concentrator positioned on one end thereof, said concentrator positioned at the focal point of said semi-paraboloidal section so that substantially all of said light exiting said concentrator is collected and collimated toward said reflective facets.