Cross shut gap lighting source

• US 9,849,824 B2
• Filed: 11/11/2015
• Issued: 12/26/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 11/11/2015
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Inventors: Anderson, Ronald L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Truong, Bao Q
• Application Number:
  US14/938,550
• Publication Number:
  US 20170129386A1
• Time in Patent Office: 776 Days
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/0011 with light guides for distributing the light between several lighting or signalling devices
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/0041 of several lamps in relation to each other
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/304 Adaptations of signalling devices having a part on the vehicle body and another on the boot door
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 43/14 Light emitting diodes [LED]
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 43/251 the light guides being used to transmit light from remote light sources
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 43/26 Refractors, transparent cover plates, light guides or filters not provided in groups F21S43/235 - F21S43/255
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 43/30 characterised by reflectors
• CPC Class Codes: F21W 2103/10 Position lights

Abstract

A lighting system for a vehicle includes a light assembly having a light source and an optical guide configured to focus and direct light to an adjacent reflector assembly. The reflector assembly and the light assembly are separated by a gap. The reflector assembly includes passive elements, and a light collector aligned with the optical guide to receive light from the light source across the gap and to distribute light to the passive elements.

Claims

1. A vehicle comprising:

a reflector assembly coupled to a first panel;

a light assembly, coupled to a second panel and separated from the reflector assembly by a gap, including at least one light source and an optical guide configured to focus at least some light from the at least one light source into a beam that passes through a reflective channel defined by the optical guide and across the gap to the reflector assembly; and

a light shield coupled to one or more of the reflector assembly and the light assembly configured to cover the gap in proximity to a light exit from the optical guide to reduce light leakage from the gap.

2. The vehicle of claim 1 wherein the first panel is movable relative to the second panel.

3. The vehicle of claim 1 wherein the at least one light source includes a light-emitting diode (LED).

4. The vehicle of claim 1 wherein the at least one light source is disposed within the reflective channel.

5. The vehicle of claim 1 wherein the light assembly further includes a reflecting portion configured to reflect light from the at least one light source in a direction different than the beam.

6. The vehicle of claim 5 wherein the at least one light source includes a first light source configured to provide light for the optical guide and a second light source configured to provide light for the reflecting portion.

7. A vehicle comprising:

a reflector assembly configured to receive a beam of light from a first direction and diffuse the beam of light in a second direction; and

a light assembly including a light source and an optical guide configured to focus light from the light source into the beam and direct the beam through a light exit across a gap covered by a light shield to reduce light leakage to the reflector assembly.

8. The vehicle of claim 7 wherein the light assembly further includes one or more optical elements configured to reflect and diffuse a portion of light from the light source in the second direction.

9. The vehicle of claim 8 wherein the light assembly further includes a second light source configured to provide light for the one or more optical elements.

10. The vehicle of claim 7 wherein the light source is one or more light emitting diodes (LED).

11. The vehicle of claim 7 wherein the optical guide further includes a reflective channel configured to guide light from the light source to a light exit of the optical guide.

12. The vehicle of claim 7 wherein the light shield is disposed on one or more of the reflector assembly and the light assembly.

13. The vehicle of claim 7 wherein the light shield is formed of a resilient material.

14. A lighting system for a vehicle comprising:

a light assembly including a light source, one or more optical elements configured to distribute light from the light source generally in a first direction, an optical guide configured to focus light from the light source into a beam of light and direct the beam of light through a reflective channel defined by the optical guide in a second direction across a gap to a reflector assembly, and a second light source configured to provide light for the one or more optical elements.

15. The lighting system of claim 14 wherein the light source includes one or more of a light emitting diode (LED), a discharge lamp, and a fluorescent lamp.

16. The lighting system of claim 14 further comprising a light shield coupled to the lighting assembly and configured to reduce light leakage from the gap.

17. The lighting system of claim 16 wherein the light shield is formed of a resilient material.

18. The lighting system of claim 16 wherein the light shield surrounds an opening through which the beam of light exits the light assembly.