Light assembly for automotive lighting applications

• US 7,438,454 B2
• Filed: 11/29/2005
• Issued: 10/21/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 11/29/2005
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Varroc Lighting Systems S.R.O. (Varroc Engineering Limited)
• Original Assignee: Visteon Global Technologies Incorporated (Visteon Corporation)
• Inventors: Sayers, Edwin Mitchell, Chinniah, Jeyachandrabose
• Primary Examiner(s): TON, ANABEL
• Application Number:
  US11/288,518
• Publication Number:
  US 20070121331A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,057 Days
• Field of Search: 362/500, 362/511, 362/545, 362/244, 362/237, 362/334, 362/332, 362/328
• US Class Current: 362/500
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/2696 Mounting of devices using LEDs
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 3/64 for a single lighting device
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 43/14 Light emitting diodes [LED]
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 43/237 rod-shaped
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 43/241 of complex shape
• 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: F21S 43/315 using total internal reflection
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 7/0091 using total internal reflection
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2115/10 Light-emitting diodes [LED]
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/0018 Redirecting means on the surface of the light guide
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/0021 for housing at least a part of the light source, e.g. by forming holes or recesses

Abstract

An automotive light assembly produces numerous beam patterns meeting automotive requirements through the reduction of light scatter and collection and redirection in efficiencies. A light source projects light laterally, which is collected by a light conducting body having a hub and a plurality of fingers extending from the hub. By using a plurality of small individual fingers, large and bulky light pipes are eliminated and the light collection and redirection efficiency is improved.

Claims

1. An automotive light assembly arranged along a longitudinal axis, the light assembly comprising:

a light source projecting light laterally relative to the longitudinal axis;

a light conducting body having a hub and a plurality of fingers extending from the hub;

the hub positioned adjacent the light source and having a laterally facing surface receiving light from the light source; and

each of the plurality of fingers extending laterally and longitudinally from the hub, and including a longitudinally facing surface for emitting light passing through the plurality of fingers.

2. The light assembly of claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of fingers includes a first portion connected to the hub and extending laterally from the hub, and a second portion connected to the first portion and extending longitudinally from the first portion.

3. The light assembly of claim 2, wherein each of the plurality of fingers includes an angled outer surface at the intersection of the first and second portions.

4. The light assembly of claim 3, wherein light traveling laterally through the first portion is reflected off the angled outer surface to the second portion.

5. The light assembly of claim 3, wherein each of the plurality of fingers includes a curved inner surface at the intersection of the first and second portions.

6. The light assembly of claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of fingers follows a curved shape.

7. The light assembly of claim 1, wherein the plurality of fingers are circumferentially spaced.

8. The light assembly of claim 1, wherein the hub circumscribes the light source.

9. The light assembly of claim 1, wherein the hub includes a passageway defining the laterally facing surface and receiving at least a portion of the light source therein.

10. The light assembly of claim 1, wherein at least one longitudinally facing surface is flat.

11. The light assembly of claim 1, wherein at least one longitudinally facing surface is curved.

12. The light assembly of claim 1, wherein at least one longitudinally facing surface includes beam spreading features.

13. The light assembly of claim 1, wherein the longitudinally facing surfaces are arranged in a pattern corresponding to an automotive lighting function.

14. The light assembly of claim 13, wherein the longitudinally facing surfaces are arranged in a circular pattern.

15. The light assembly of claim 1, wherein the light source is a light emitting diode.

16. The light assembly of claim 1, wherein the light source includes a lens directing the light laterally from the light source.

17. An automotive light assembly arranged along a longitudinal axis, the light assembly comprising:

a light source projecting light laterally relative to the longitudinal axis, the light source including a lens directing the light laterally from the light source, the lens being a ring-shaped, side-emitting, near field lens surrounding the light source and engaging the hub;

a light conducting body having a hub and a plurality of fingers extending from the hub;

the hub positioned adjacent the light source and having a laterally facing surface receiving light from the light source; and

each of the plurality of fingers extending laterally and longitudinally from the hub, and including a longitudinally facing surface for emitting light passing through the plurality of fingers.

19. The light assembly of claim 17, wherein the plurality of fingers are circumferentially spaced.

18. An automotive light assembly arranged along a longitudinal axis, the light assembly comprising:

a light source having a lens projecting light laterally relative to the longitudinal axis, the lens being a ring-shaped, side-emitting, near field lens surrounding the light source; and

a light conducting body extending laterally and longitudinally to redirect the light longitudinally, the light conducting body having a laterally facing surface receiving light from the light source and a plurality of longitudinally facing surfaces for emitting light longitudinally, the plurality of the longitudinally facing surfaces being arranged in a pattern corresponding to an automotive lighting function, the light conducting body including a central hub defining the laterally facing surface, and including a plurality of fingers defining the plurality of longitudinally facing surfaces.