Edge-lit optical element having a manifold and lamp assembly utilizing such element
First Claim
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1. A lamp assembly for use in an automotive vehicle, said lamp assembly comprising:
- a light source adapted to generate light;
a plurality of optical elements, said optical elements each having a body of light transmitting material, an element top surface, an element bottom surface, an element front surface and a plurality of reflective facets formed in said body, a majority of said optical elements having a generally pie wedge shape when viewed in a direction toward said element top surface;
a manifold adapted to transmit light, said manifold including said plurality of optical elements arranged with respect to one another, said manifold having a composite top surface, a composite bottom surface and a composite perimeter surface; and
the element front surface being configured to collimate the light in one direction and focus the light to the corner of the pie wedge shape opposite the element front surface.
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Abstract
A lamp assembly including a number of light sources each utilized in conjunction with an optical element. The optical elements include a body of light transmitting material which further includes a top surface, a bottom surface, a front surface and a plurality of facets. The facets receive light through the front surface and reflect light through the top surface. The assembly further includes a manifold defined by the optical elements. When viewed in a direction toward the top surface, a majority of the optical elements have a common shape, preferably a pie wedge shape.
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Citations
36 Claims
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1. A lamp assembly for use in an automotive vehicle, said lamp assembly comprising:
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a light source adapted to generate light;
a plurality of optical elements, said optical elements each having a body of light transmitting material, an element top surface, an element bottom surface, an element front surface and a plurality of reflective facets formed in said body, a majority of said optical elements having a generally pie wedge shape when viewed in a direction toward said element top surface;
a manifold adapted to transmit light, said manifold including said plurality of optical elements arranged with respect to one another, said manifold having a composite top surface, a composite bottom surface and a composite perimeter surface; and
the element front surface being configured to collimate the light in one direction and focus the light to the corner of the pie wedge shape opposite the element front surface. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A manifold for transmitting light comprising:
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a plurality of optical elements arranged with respect to one another so as to define said manifold, each of said optical elements including a element top surface, an element bottom surface, an element front surface and element side surfaces, each of said optical elements further including a reflective facet, said reflective facet being oriented to receive light transmitted through said element front surface and to reflect light through said element top surface, said top element surfaces of each of said optical elements cooperating to define a composite top surface of said manifold, said bottom surfaces of each of said optical elements cooperating to define a composite bottom surface of said manifold, said element front surfaces of each of said optical elements cooperating to define a composite perimeter surface of said manifold, said reflective facets of each of said optical elements cooperating to define a composite face of said manifold;
wherein said optical elements have a generally pie wedge shape, the element front surface being configured to collimate the light in one direction and focus the light to the corner of the pie wedge shape opposite the element front surface. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26)
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27. A light transmitting optical element comprising:
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a body having a top surface, a bottom surface, a front surface, at least two side surfaces, and a reflective facet, said facet being oriented to receive light through said front surface and reflect light through said top surface; and
the body having a generally pie wedge shape, the front surface being configured to collimate the light in one direction and focus the light to the corner of the pie wedge shape opposite the front surface. - View Dependent Claims (28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36)
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Specification