Light assembly, vehicle design element, rear view device and door finisher

Abstract

A system comprising a light assembly for illumination of a vehicle design element includes a plurality of light pipes, each comprising a core; one or more light sources, each of the one or more light sources being disposed adjacent to and directed toward one or more of the plurality of the light pipes, wherein light emitted from the one or more light sources is split into reflected light that propagates within the core of one or more of the plurality of light pipes and diffuse light that exits one or more of the plurality of light pipe; and a lens having an inner surface and an outer surface disposed opposite the inner surface, the lens including a continuous transparent and/or translucent coating on the outer surface The continuous transparent and/or translucent coating is at least partially permeable to at least some of the diffuse light which is passed through the lens. The continuous transparent and/or translucent coating comprises a metal, an alloy or a conductive metalloid, providing a chromium or chromium-based reflective coating. End portions of at least two of the plurality of light sources overlap, providing at least one region of overlap.

Claims

1. A system comprising a light assembly for illumination of a vehicle design element, comprising: a plurality of light pipes, each comprising a core; one or more light sources, each of the one or more light sources being disposed adjacent to and directed toward one or more of the plurality of the light pipes, wherein light emitted from the one or more light sources is split into reflected light that propagates within the core of one or more of the plurality of light pipes and diffuse light that exits one or more of the plurality of light pipe; and a lens having an inner surface and an outer surface disposed opposite the inner surface, the lens including a continuous transparent and/or translucent coating on the outer surface, wherein the continuous transparent and/or translucent coating is at least partially permeable to at least some of the diffuse light which is passed through the lens, wherein the continuous transparent and/or translucent coating comprises a metal, an alloy or a conductive metalloid, providing a chromium or chromium-based reflective coating, and wherein end portions of at least two of the plurality of light pipes extend over each other, providing a loop in a plane with at least one region of vertical overlap from an orthogonal view of the plane.

2. The system of claim 1, further comprising a cladding, optics, a plurality of screen printed dots, a paint, or a further coating on the plurality of light pipes for providing a diffuse, homogenous light output from the one or more light pipes.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein each of the plurality of light pipes comprises a cladding surrounding the core such that emitted light is at least partly reflected by the cladding to propagate within the core.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein the cladding is made from a material selected from the group consisting a fluoropolymer, fluorocarbon polymer and substituted polymer.

5. The system of claim 3, wherein the cladding has a different refractive index compared to the core of each of the plurality of light pipes.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein each light pipe is flexible and cylindrical.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein light emitted from the one or more light sources is output from the one or more light pipes with a substantially uniform luminance.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein light output from the one or more light pipes is color stable.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the one or more light sources comprise at least one of an incandescent light source, a light-emitting diode (LEDs), an organic light-emitting diodes (OLED), or a LASER diode.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the plurality of light pipes comprise a clear polymeric material.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the polymeric material is selected from the group consisting of polyacrylate, polyester, polystyrene, polyethylene, polypropylene, polyamides, polyamides, polycarbonate, epoxy, phenolic, acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene, acrylonitrile-styrene-acrylates, acetal and blends of these.

12. The system of claim 10, wherein the polymeric material is as polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA).

13. The system of claim 12, wherein the plurality of light pipes including light diffusing elements.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein the plurality of light pipes generate a substantially uniform light output.

15. A vehicle design element comprising the system of claim 1.

16. A rear view device of a vehicle comprising the system of claim 1.

17. A door finisher for automotive doors comprising the system of claim 1.

18. The system of claim 1, wherein a translucency of the continuous transparent and/or translucent coating depends on at least one characteristic of the plurality of light pipes or the one or more light sources.

19. The system of claim 18, wherein the at least one characteristic is determined by at least one of cladding, optics, screen printed dots, or a plurality of contact areas.

20. The system of claim 1, wherein the plurality of light pipes comprise a first light pipe and a second light pipe, wherein the one or more light sources comprise a first light source disposed adjacent to a first end of the first light pipe and a second light source disposed adjacent to a first end of the second light pipe, wherein the first end of the first light pipe and the first end of the second light pipe overlap.

21. The system of claim 20, wherein the one or more light sources further comprise a third light source disposed adjacent to a second end of the first light pipe, wherein the second end of the first light pipe and a second end of the second light pipe overlap.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) Embodiments of the present disclosure will be discussed with reference to the accompanying drawings wherein:

(2) FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view of a system including an assembly according to an embodiment of this disclosure.

(3) FIG. 2a is a schematic top view of a part of a light assembly with one light source and one light guide;

(4) FIG. 2b is a perspective view of a sub-assembly with the light assembly of FIG. 2a; and

(5) FIG. 2c is a front view of a part of a system according to a further embodiment of this disclosure making usage of the sub-assembly shown in FIG. 2b.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

(6) Referring now to FIG. 1, there is shown a simplified schematic assembly of a system 10 of this disclosure, with light pipes 1 and light sources 2. In detail, the system 10 has two overlapped light pipes 1a and 1b and three light sources 2a, 2b, 2c. The light pipes 1 are covered by a cladding layer (not shown) to improve reflectivity and thus ensure a consistent and even light output. A lens with a coating is also not shown, and the lens comprises a transparent and/or translucent metal layer which, in use, is translucent. The light sources 2 are each switchable between an on state in which the light is visible on the front surface of the lens and an off state in which no light is visible on the front surface front surface of the lens.

(7) As can be seen from FIG. 1, there is a first overlap between the light pipes 1a and 1b near the light source 2a and a second overlap between the light pipes 1a and 1b near the light source 2b. In fact, light is inputted into the two ends of the light pipe 1a via the light sources 2a and 2c, whereas only one end of the light guide 1b is receiving light from the light source 2b. All three light sources 2a, 2b, 2c are connected to a printed circuit board 3.

(8) With this arrangement of the two light pipes 1a, 1b overlapping such that a loop is provided and three light sources 2a, 2b, 2c emitting light into said overlapping light pipes 1a, 1b, together with the cladding, the lens and the coating, an homogenous constant 360 illumination is achieved.

(9) FIGS. 2a to 2c depicts a further system 10 according to this disclosure, which makes usage of a single light pipe 1 which is flexible and cylindrical. Said single light pipe 1 comprises a core 11 surrounded by a cladding 12 as best seen in FIG. 2a. A light source 2 emits light 20 into the light pipe 1, with said emitted light 20 being split into light 21 reflected by the cladding 12 and diffuse light 22 exiting the light pipe 1.

(10) The two ends of the light pipe 1 do overlap in order to form a closed loop, which for example can be in form of a circle or oval, with the one light source 2 being sufficient to provide the required diffuse light 22. As can be seen in FIG. 2b, the light source 2 is connected to a printed circuit board 3.

(11) The assembly described with respect to FIGS. 2a and b is completed by arranging a mask 4 around the light pipe 1 and arranging a lens 5 along the circumference of the arrangement, see FIG. 2c. The mask 4 is providing an illumination window 41. The lens 5 is provided with a not shown chromium-based reflective coating.

(12) The illumination window 41 of the mask 4 is no greater in width than the light pipe 1. The mask 4 is applied over the light pipes so that the light is visible through the mask illumination window 41. The mask window 41 has varying transmission levels such that it is less transmissive at the light pipe overlap so the brighter light emission at the light pipe overlap is absorbed more than at other areas of the 360 illumination window 41. Hence the viewer of the 360 illumination sees a homogenous luminance level of light.

(13) The geometry of the light pipe 1, the overlap of the two ends of the light pipe 1, the cladding 12 of the light pipe 1, the arrangement of the light source 2 in front of one of the ends of the light pipe 1, the mask 4, the lens 5 and the coating on the lens 5 co-operate such that light exits the illumination window 41 in a homogenous manner and provides a circular or oval 360 illumination.

(14) The illumination window 41 can be used to provide a frame around a not shown display or the like within a vehicle.

(15) Throughout the specification and the claims that follow, unless the context requires otherwise, the words comprise and include and variations such as comprising and including will be understood to imply the inclusion of a stated integer or group of integers, but not the exclusion of any other integer or group of integers.

(16) The reference to any prior art in this specification is not, and should not be taken as, an acknowledgement of any form of suggestion that such prior art forms part of the common general knowledge.

(17) It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the disclosure is not restricted in its use to the particular application described. Neither is the present disclosure restricted in its preferred embodiment with regard to the particular elements and/or features described or depicted herein. It will be appreciated that the disclosure is not limited to the embodiment or embodiments disclosed, but is capable of numerous rearrangements, modifications and substitutions without departing from the scope of the disclosure as set forth and defined by the following claims.

REFERENCE SIGNS

(18) 1, 1a, 1b, 1 light pipe 2, 2a, 2b, 2c, 2 light source 3, 3 printed circuit board 4 mask 5 lens 10, 10 system with light assembly 11 core 12 cladding 20 emitted light 21 reflected light 22 diffuse light 41 illumination window