Bundle entry weave for lighting modules

A method of manufacturing a fiber optic lighting module, comprising:

• providing a first fiber panel having a front face, a back face, and a plurality of optical fibers arranged in a predetermined form and having at least some of the plurality of optical fibers extending outwardly from one edge of the first fiber panel;
• providing a second fiber panel having a front face, a back face, and plurality of optical fibers arranged in a predetermined form and having at least some of the plurality of optical fibers extending outwardly from one edge the second fiber panel;
• mounting the first fiber panel and the second fiber panel in a hinged fixture that holds the fiber panels with their front faces parallel and in proximity and with the plurality of optical fibers from each fiber panel directed in the same direction;
• unfolding the fixture along a hinge line such that the plurality of optical fibers of the first fiber panel interweave with the plurality of optical fibers of the second fiber panel until the first fiber panel and the second fiber panel are coplanar;
• applying a first bundling element to bundle together the ends of the optical fibers extending from the first fiber panel;
• applying a second bundling element to bundle together the ends of the optical fibers extending from the second fiber panel;
• attaching a first light source to a bundled end of the optical fibers extending from the first fiber panel;
• and
• attaching a second light source to a bundled end of the optical fibers extending from the second fiber panel.

A vehicle taillight assembly comprising:

• a taillight housing mountable on a rear corner of a vehicle;
• a first fiber panel, mountable in the taillight housing, having a plurality of optical fibers arranged in a predetermined form and having at least some of the plurality of optical fibers extending outwardly from a light input edge of the first fiber panel to couple to a first light source;
• a second fiber panel, mountable in the taillight housing, having a plurality of optical fibers arranged in a predetermined form and having at least some of the plurality of optical fibers extending outwardly from a light input edge the second fiber panel to couple to a second light source;
• and
• a transition region wherein the optical fibers extending from the first fiber panel are interwoven with the optical fibers extending from the second fiber panel,
• wherein the first light source and the second light source are mountable in an outboard location in the taillight housing such that light from the first light source and the second light source is directed toward an inboard location in the taillight housing, and
• wherein the first fiber panel and the second fiber panel are mounted proximate to each other on a hinged fixture to interweave the optical fibers, and wherein the plurality of optical fibers from each fiber panel is directed in the same direction.