An optical light emission system for a motor vehicle, the optical system comprising: a first light emission subsystem comprising a first set of light sources, and a second light emission subsystem comprising a second set of light sources and a light guide able to diffuse the light from said light sources of the second set of light sources outside the optical system. The light guide is arranged facing the first set of light sources such that the first set of light sources substantially radiates through the light guide outside the optical system.

A device and a method for driving the supply of power to a plurality of light sources that is made up of a first group of light sources comprising at least one light source, which first group of light sources is connected in series with at least one second group of light sources comprising at least one light source. The device comprises a supply circuit to which the plurality of light sources is connected as a load. According to the inventive measures, it becomes possible to short at least one of the groups of light sources without causing high intensity transient current peaks in the light sources that are not shorted.

A device and a method for driving the supply of power to a plurality of light sources that is made up of a first group of light sources comprising at least one light source, which first group of light sources is connected in series with at least one second group of light sources comprising at least one light source. The device comprises a supply circuit to which the plurality of light sources is connected as a load. According to the inventive measures, it becomes possible to short at least one of the groups of light sources without causing high intensity transient current peaks in the light sources that are not shorted.

A vehicle lighting system includes: a lighting device that emits a first light and a second light to a periphery of an own vehicle, the second light having a higher directivity than the first light; a camera to acquire image information; a detector to emit an electromagnetic wave and acquire a reflection wave; and an electronic control unit configured to detect a physical body using the image information, detect the physical body using information of the reflection wave, control the lighting device such that the first light is emitted to the physical body detected by the reflection wave, determine whether the physical body detected using the image information in a state where the first light is being emitted is an target object, and control the lighting device such that the lighting device emits the second light toward a predetermined range around the target object.

A vehicle lighting system includes: a lighting device that emits a first light and a second light to a periphery of an own vehicle, the second light having a higher directivity than the first light; a camera to acquire image information; a detector to emit an electromagnetic wave and acquire a reflection wave; and an electronic control unit configured to detect a physical body using the image information, detect the physical body using information of the reflection wave, control the lighting device such that the first light is emitted to the physical body detected by the reflection wave, determine whether the physical body detected using the image information in a state where the first light is being emitted is an target object, and control the lighting device such that the lighting device emits the second light toward a predetermined range around the target object.

A hood ornament mounting system is provided. The system includes a ring member having a keyed structure, including dentations, along an internal perimeter of the ring member, and a pair of through channels formed along an outside perimeter of the ring member at opposite regions. Additionally, the system includes a base member with a pair of recesses formed at opposite regions along a perimeter of the base member. The base member includes a bottom surface configured to contact a surface of an automobile and a top surface dimensioned to fit within the internal perimeter of the ring member. The base member has grooves on the perimeter to accommodate the dentations. A locking pin is seated in each of the pair of recesses. The locking pin is configured to lockingly interact with the keyed structure.

A hood ornament mounting system is provided. The system includes a ring member having a keyed structure, including dentations, along an internal perimeter of the ring member, and a pair of through channels formed along an outside perimeter of the ring member at opposite regions. Additionally, the system includes a base member with a pair of recesses formed at opposite regions along a perimeter of the base member. The base member includes a bottom surface configured to contact a surface of an automobile and a top surface dimensioned to fit within the internal perimeter of the ring member. The base member has grooves on the perimeter to accommodate the dentations. A locking pin is seated in each of the pair of recesses. The locking pin is configured to lockingly interact with the keyed structure.

An IR illuminator used during the operation of autonomous vehicles, which provides improvement in the performance of cameras used in the vehicle at night time. An optical design of an outer lens of the IR illuminator is selected so that the outer lens forms a beam pattern for the output light from the IR light source, and also acts as a light guide for light emitted from a secondary visible light source, which is located in the same module as the IR light source, and which may be positioned on the same or a different printed circuit board as the IR light source. The material of outer lens is opalescent including scattering bodies. The optical design of the outer lens allows for improved field of view of the IR illuminator.

An IR illuminator used during the operation of autonomous vehicles, which provides improvement in the performance of cameras used in the vehicle at night time. An optical design of an outer lens of the IR illuminator is selected so that the outer lens forms a beam pattern for the output light from the IR light source, and also acts as a light guide for light emitted from a secondary visible light source, which is located in the same module as the IR light source, and which may be positioned on the same or a different printed circuit board as the IR light source. The material of outer lens is opalescent including scattering bodies. The optical design of the outer lens allows for improved field of view of the IR illuminator.

A vehicle may have vehicle controls that are used in steering, braking, and accelerating the vehicle. The vehicle may have sensors that gather information on vehicle speed, orientation, and position. The sensors may also gather information on relative speed between the vehicle and a following vehicle, information on risks of a collision between a vehicle and an external object, and other vehicle status information and vehicle operating environment information. Control circuitry may use light-based devices to display braking information, information on vehicle speed, the relative speed between a vehicle and a following vehicle, autonomous driving mode status information, custom brake light information or other user-selected information, or other information on vehicle status and the operating environment of a vehicle.