Laser illuminated lighting system

• US 5,700,078 A
• Filed: 12/23/1996
• Issued: 12/23/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 12/23/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Inventors: Fohl, Timothy, Remillard, Jeffrey Thomas, Marinelli, Michael Anthony
• Primary Examiner(s): Sember, Thomas M.
• Application Number:
  US08/780,034
• Time in Patent Office: 365 Days
• Field of Search: 362/61, 362/80, 362/32, 362/259, 362/31, 362/297, 362/298, 362/299, 362/300, 362/301, 362/347, 362/350
• US Class Current: 362/553
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/0011 with light guides for distributing the light between several lighting or signalling devices
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 43/239 plate-shaped
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 43/245 emitting light from one or more of its major surfaces
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 43/247 with a single light source being coupled into the light guide
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 43/251 the light guides being used to transmit light from remote light sources
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/001 the light being emitted along at least a portion of the lateral surface of the fibre
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/0018 Redirecting means on the surface of the light guide
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/002 by shaping at least a portion of the light guide, e.g. with collimating, focussing or diverging surfaces
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/0028 Light guide, e.g. taper
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/0048 with stepwise taper

Abstract

A tail lamp assembly for an automotive vehicle includes a remote laser light source coupled with a light transmitting fiber optic light pipe which illuminates a unitary thin sheet optic having an input section, a manifold section, and a kicker section.

Claims

1. A lamp assembly for use in an automotive vehicle, said lamp assembly comprising:

(a) a laser light source for transmitting light;

(b) a unitary optical element adjacent said laser light source for receiving light therefrom, said unitary optical element comprising;

(i) a front surface;

(ii) an input portion, with a first light collimator;

(iii) a manifold portion having an aperture defining a second light collimator along an edge thereof normal to said front surface, said second light collimator positioned so as to direct collimated light in a predetermined direction, said manifold portion further having a plurality of recesses defining reflective surfaces normal to said front surface aligned along said predetermined direction, said plurality of recesses having a depth increasing a predetermined increment along said predetermined direction; and

,

(iv) a kicker portion having a plurality of reflective facets extending a length of said unitary optical element, each of said reflective facets being skewed with respect to said front surface.

2. A lamp assembly according to claim 1, wherein said laser light source is a diode laser.

3. A lamp assembly according to claim 1, wherein said unitary optical element has a thickness between 10 μ

m-6 mm.

4. A lamp assembly according to claim 1, wherein said first light collimator is a cylindrical lens.

5. A lamp assembly according to claim 1, wherein said first light collimator collimates light parallel to said front surface and within said unitary optical element.

6. A lamp assembly according to claim 1, wherein said second light collimator is a parabolic reflector.

7. A lamp assembly according to claim 1, wherein said second light collimator collimates light substantially parallel to said reflective facets.

8. A lamp assembly according to claim 1, wherein said unitary optical element is comprised of a polymeric material.

9. A lamp assembly for use in an automotive vehicle, said lamp assembly comprising:

(a) a remote laser light source for transmitting light;

(b) a light guide for transmitting light from said remote laser light source, said light guide having a first end and a second end, said first end of said light guide connected to said remote laser light source;

(c) a unitary optical element adjacent said second end of said light guide for receiving light therefrom, said unitary optical element comprising;

(i) a front surface;

(ii) an input portion, with a first light collimator;

(iii) a manifold portion having an aperture defining a second light collimator along an edge thereof normal to said front surface, said second light collimator positioned so as to direct collimated light in a predetermined direction, said manifold portion further having a plurality of recesses defining reflective surfaces normal to said front surface aligned along said predetermined direction, said plurality of recesses having a depth increasing a predetermined increment along said predetermined direction; and

,

(iv) a kicker portion having a plurality of reflective facets extending a length of said unitary optical element, each of said reflective facets being skewed with respect to said front surface.

10. A lamp assembly according to claim 9, wherein said light guide is a glass fiber.

11. A lamp assembly according to claim 10, wherein said glass fiber light guide has a diameter between 0.1-1.0 mm.

12. A lamp assembly according to claim 9, wherein said unitary optical element has a thickness between 10 μ

m-6 mm.

13. A lamp assembly according to claim 9, wherein said first light collimator is a cylindrical lens.

14. A lamp assembly according to claim 9, wherein said first light collimator collimates light parallel to said front surface and within said unitary optical element.

15. A lamp assembly according to claim 9, wherein said second light collimator is a parabolic reflector.

16. A lamp assembly according to claim 9, wherein said second light collimator collimates light substantially parallel to said reflective facets.

17. A lamp assembly for use in an automotive vehicle, said lamp assembly comprising:

(a) a remote laser light source for transmitting light;

(b) a light guide for transmitting light from said remote laser light source, said light guide having a first end and a second end, said first end of said light guide connected to said remote laser light source;

(c) a unitary optical element adjacent said second end of said light guide for receiving light therefrom, said unitary optical element comprising;

(i) a front surface;

(ii) an input portion having a first light collimator disposed on an edge of said unitary optical element, said first light collimator collimating light parallel to said front surface and within said unitary optical element;

(iii) a manifold portion having an aperture normal to said front surface, said aperture defining a parabolic reflector normal to said front surface, said parabolic reflector collimating light substantially parallel to said edge, said manifold portion further having a plurality of recesses adjacent to said parabolic reflector including a most proximate recess and a most distal recess, said plurality of recesses defining reflective surfaces normal to said front surface, said plurality of recesses having a depth normal to said front surface, said depth increasing incrementally from the most proximate recess to the most distal recess; and

,

(iv) a kicker portion having a plurality of reflective facets extending a length of said unitary optical element, each of said reflective facets being skewed with respect to said front surface.