Vehicle lamp assembly with light blade and method of illumination using light blade

Abstract

The present disclosure provides "Vehicle lamp assembly with light blade and method of illumination using light blade". A vehicle lamp assembly includes a light blade of a vehicle lamp and a light source that emits light into the light blade. The light blade has a reflective surface that reflects some of the light outward to an outside of the vehicle to provide a side marker light.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This disclosure generally relates to a lamp assembly for a vehicle, and more specifically to a lamp assembly incorporating light-reflecting blades. Background Technology

[0002] Vehicles can include various types of lamp assemblies. A lamp assembly is illuminated when light from a light source moves through a lens. Lamp assemblies can include headlights, taillights, side marker lights, etc. Side marker lights can help identify the presence, location, and direction of travel of a vehicle, especially when viewed from an angle. Summary of the Invention

[0003] In some respects, the technology described herein relates to a vehicle lighting assembly comprising: light blades of a light bulb; and a light source that emits light into the light blades, the light blades having a reflective surface that reflects some of the light outward to the outside of the vehicle to provide side marker lights.

[0004] In some respects, the technology described herein relates to a vehicle lighting assembly that further includes a lens, the lens being included in a portion on the side of the vehicle, the light reflected outward from the reflective surface passing through the portion on the side of the vehicle.

[0005] In some respects, the technology described herein relates to a vehicle lighting assembly in which the light source comprises a plurality of light-emitting diodes.

[0006] In some respects, the technology described herein relates to a vehicle lighting assembly in which a plurality of light-emitting diodes are arranged along a vertically extending axis.

[0007] In some respects, the technology described herein relates to a vehicle lighting assembly, wherein the lighting is a taillight.

[0008] In some respects, the technology described herein relates to a vehicle lighting assembly in which some of the light passes through the light blades without being reflected from the reflective surface, to provide brake lights for the vehicle.

[0009] In some respects, the technology described herein relates to a vehicle lighting assembly in which the light blades are transparent.

[0010] In some respects, the technology described herein relates to a vehicle lighting assembly in which the light blades are solid.

[0011] In some respects, the technology described herein relates to a vehicle lighting assembly in which the light blade has a side surface, and the light reflected by the reflective surface moves through the side surface as it leaves the light blade.

[0012] In some respects, the technology described herein relates to a vehicle lighting assembly in which the light reflected by the reflective surface has an intensity of at least 0.25 candela.

[0013] In some respects, the technology described herein relates to a vehicle lighting assembly in which light emitted from the light blades that is not reflected by the reflective surface is emitted to the rear of the vehicle.

[0014] In some respects, the technology described herein relates to a vehicle lighting assembly in which the light emitted to the rear of the vehicle provides brake lights for the vehicle.

[0015] In some respects, the technology described herein relates to a vehicle lighting assembly in which the reflective surface is located at the inner corner of the light blade.

[0016] In some respects, the technology described herein relates to a vehicle lighting assembly, wherein the reflective surface includes an upper reflective surface and a lower reflective surface spaced apart from the upper reflective surface.

[0017] In some respects, the technology described herein relates to a vehicle lighting method comprising: emitting light from a light source toward a light sheet of a vehicle; and reflecting a portion of the light from a reflective surface of the light sheet onto the side of the vehicle to provide side marker lights.

[0018] In some respects, the technology described herein relates to a vehicle lighting method, wherein some of the light not reflected by the reflective surface is emitted from the light blade toward the rear of the vehicle to provide the vehicle's brake lights.

[0019] In some respects, the technology described herein relates to a vehicle lighting method in which light emitted to provide the brake lights passes through a portion of a taillight lens and light reflected to provide the side marker lights passes through another portion of the taillight lens.

[0020] In some respects, the technology described herein relates to a vehicle lighting method in which the reflection occurs within the light blade.

[0021] In some respects, the technology described herein relates to a vehicle lighting method, wherein the reflective surface comprises an upper reflective surface and a lower reflective surface spaced apart from the upper reflective surface.

[0022] In some respects, the technology described herein relates to a vehicle lighting method, wherein the reflective surface is located at the inner corner of the light blade.

[0023] Embodiments, examples, and alternatives, including any of their various aspects or respective individual features, may be adopted independently or in any combination of the foregoing paragraphs, claims, or the following description and drawings. Features described in connection with one embodiment are applicable to all embodiments unless such features are incompatible. Attached Figure Description

[0024] According to the specific embodiments, various features and advantages of the disclosed examples will become apparent to those skilled in the art. The accompanying drawings of the specific embodiments can be briefly described as follows:

[0025] Figure 1 A perspective view of a vehicle incorporating a lighting assembly according to an exemplary aspect of this disclosure is shown.

[0026] Figure 2 It shows Figure 1 A perspective view in which the lens of the lamp assembly has been removed to show the light blades and light source of the lamp assembly.

[0027] Figure 3 It shows Figure 2 An unfolded perspective view of the light blades and the light source.

[0028] Figure 4 It shows Figure 3 End view of the light blades and the light source.

[0029] Figure 5 It shows in Figure 4 The cross-sectional view taken at line 5-5 in the diagram.

[0030] Figure 6 It shows Figure 1 A close-up side view of the lamp assembly, showing the lamp assembly that provides the side sign lights. Detailed Implementation

[0031] This disclosure generally relates to a lamp assembly incorporating light-emitting blades, and more specifically to the use of light-emitting blades to reflect light. The reflected light can be used as a side marker light, eliminating the need for a separate light source for the side marker light.

[0032] refer to Figure 1 The vehicle 10 may include various lamp assemblies, including headlights 14 and taillights 18. Headlights 14 can emit light forward from the vehicle 10. Taillights 18 can emit light rearward from the vehicle 10. Although exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure have been described in conjunction with taillights 18, the teachings of the present disclosure can be applied to other vehicle lamp assemblies, such as headlights 14.

[0033] Now for reference Figures 2 to 6 And continue to refer to Figure 1An exemplary taillight 18 includes a light source 22, light blades 26, and a lens 30. Details of the passenger-side taillight 18 of the vehicle 10 are shown. The driver-side taillight 18 is constructed similarly to the passenger-side taillight.

[0034] The taillight 18 can emit light rearward from the vehicle 10 to provide, for example, a brake light for the vehicle 10. The light emitted rearward from the taillight 18 can be observed from a position behind the vehicle 10. The taillight 18 can also emit light outward to a corresponding outer side 34 of the vehicle 10 to provide side marker lights for the vehicle 10. The side marker lights can be observed from a position beside the vehicle 10.

[0035] An exemplary light source 22 for each of the taillights 18 is provided by a plurality of light-emitting diodes (LEDs) 50. In this example, each of the taillights 18 includes forty-five LEDs 50 arranged along a vertically extending axis A. The LEDs 50 can be mounted to a printed circuit board.

[0036] In this example, the light blade 26 is a transparent polymer-based material, such as polycarbonate. The light blade 26 is solid. The light blade 26 includes a forward surface 52, a backward surface 54, a reflective surface 58, an inner surface 60, and an outer surface 62.

[0037] When activated, LED 50 emits light into light blade 26 through forward surface 52. The light then propagates backward through light blade 26 in direction D.

[0038] In this example, direction D is perpendicular to the rearward surface 54. The reflective surface 58 is configured at an angle to the rearward surface 54 and direction D.

[0039] Most of the light from the light blade 26 passes through the rearward surface 54 to provide brake lights for the vehicle 10. However, some of the light is redirected outward by the reflective surface 58 to the corresponding outer side 34 of the vehicle 10 to provide side marker lights. The exemplary reflective surface 58 is not coated. Due to total internal reflection, the exemplary reflective surface 58 redirects the light outward. In this example, total internal reflection occurs when the reflective surface 58 is positioned such that the angle of incidence of the light encountering the reflective surface is greater than 39 degrees.

[0040] The size and position of the reflective surface 58 can be designed to redirect enough light to achieve the side marker light function, while still allowing light to pass through the rearward surface 54 to achieve the brake light function.

[0041] The reflective surface 58 can be designed by evaluating the locations where light will strike various points on the hypothetical reflective surface. The points used to guide the position of the reflective surface will be the locations where light strikes the hypothetical reflective surface and is redirected outwards perpendicular to the centerline of the vehicle 10. The reflective surface 58 is then positioned to pass through these points.

[0042] The lens 30 of each taillight 18 extends from the rear of the vehicle 10 to the corresponding outer side 34, wrapping around the corner of the vehicle 10. Light exiting the light blade 26 through the rearward surface 54 passes through a portion of the lens 30 on the rear of the vehicle 10. Light reflected from the reflective surface 58 and guided to the outer side 34 of the vehicle 10 passes through a portion of the lens 30 on the outer side 34.

[0043] In some examples, the intensity of the light reflected from the reflective surface 58 and used to provide the side marker light can be at least 0.25 candela. The light can be emitted through the portion of the lens 30 on the outer side 34. The beam angle of the side marker light can extend 45 degrees forward toward the front of the vehicle 10 from the lens 30 and 45 degrees toward the rear of the vehicle 10 from the rear of the lens 30.

[0044] In this example, the reflective surface 58 is disposed at the inner corner of the light blade 26. The light blade 26 may be shaped to include the reflective surface 58.

[0045] In this example, the reflective surface 58 provided by the light blade 26 includes an upper reflective surface 80 and a lower reflective surface 84 spaced apart from the upper reflective surface 80. When the LED 50 is illuminated and the light is reflected away from the upper reflective surface 80 and the lower reflective surface 84, the side marker light can include two separately illuminated areas.

[0046] Textured surfaces of the light blade 26, lens 30, or both can promote uniform light diffusion. In one embodiment, texturing can be in-mold formed. In this example, the outer surface 62 of the light blade 26 includes a plurality of in-mold formed strips 88.

[0047] The disclosed examples feature the integration of light blades into the lamp assembly to reflect light from the light source to provide side marker lights. Therefore, a light source dedicated solely to illuminating the side marker lights may not be necessary. The same light source can be used to illuminate both the brake lights and the side marker lights.

[0048] The foregoing description is exemplary in nature and not restrictive. Variations and modifications made to the disclosed examples will become apparent to those skilled in the art, and such variations and modifications do not necessarily depart from the spirit of this disclosure. Therefore, the scope of protection accorded to this disclosure can only be determined by studying the following claims.

[0049] According to one embodiment, the reflective surface is located at the inner corner of the light blade.

Claims

1. A vehicle lighting assembly, comprising: The light blades of the car headlights; as well as A light source that emits light into the light blades, the light blades having a reflective surface that reflects some of the light outwards to the outside of the vehicle to provide side marker lights.

2. The vehicle lamp assembly of claim 1, further comprising a lens, the lens being a portion on the side of the vehicle, light reflected outward from the reflective surface passing through the portion on the side of the vehicle, and optionally, wherein the vehicle lamp is a taillight.

3. The vehicle lighting assembly according to claim 1, wherein the light source comprises a plurality of light-emitting diodes, and optionally, wherein the plurality of light-emitting diodes are arranged along a vertically extending axis.

4. The vehicle headlight assembly of claim 1, wherein some of the light passes through the light blades without being reflected from the reflective surface to provide brake lights for the vehicle.

5. The headlight assembly according to claim 1, wherein the light blades are transparent.

6. The headlight assembly according to claim 1, wherein the light blade is solid.

7. The headlight assembly of claim 1, wherein the light blade has a side surface, and the light reflected by the reflective surface moves through the side surface as it leaves the light blade.

8. The headlight assembly of claim 1, wherein the light reflected by the reflective surface has an intensity of at least 0.25 candela.

9. The lamp assembly of claim 1, wherein light emitted from the light blades that is not reflected by the reflective surface is emitted to the rear of the vehicle, and optionally, wherein the light emitted to the rear of the vehicle provides a brake light for the vehicle.

10. The headlight assembly according to claim 1, wherein the reflective surface is on the inner corner of the light blade.

11. The vehicle lamp assembly according to claim 1, wherein the reflective surface comprises an upper reflective surface and a lower reflective surface spaced apart from the upper reflective surface by a certain distance.

12. A vehicle lighting method, comprising: Light is emitted from the light source onto the vehicle's light fixture; as well as Some of the light is reflected from the reflective surface of the light blades to the side of the vehicle to provide side marker lights.

13. The vehicle lighting method of claim 12, wherein some of the light not reflected by the reflective surface is emitted from the light blade toward the rear of the vehicle to provide brake lights for the vehicle, and optionally, wherein the light emitted to provide the brake lights passes through a portion of the taillight lens, and the light reflected to provide the side marker lights passes through another portion of the taillight lens.

14. The vehicle lighting method of claim 12, wherein the reflection occurs within the light blade.

15. The vehicle lighting method according to claim 12, wherein the reflective surface comprises an upper reflective surface and a lower reflective surface spaced apart from the upper reflective surface by a certain distance.

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