Fiber optic light panel with homogeneous light output
AssigneeValeo North America, Inc.
InventorsKayla Greene, John Orisich, Brant Potter, Mark Madden
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An optical mixer for a vehicle lighting device having a light source and an optical fiber panel that inputs light from the light source. The optical mixer includes a light input face configuration to input light from the light source, and a light output face configured to output light to the input to panel. A sidewall connects the light input face to the light output face. The optical mixer is configured to provide output light from the output face having greater spatial uniformity than input light entering the input face.
Claims19
A lighting device for a vehicle, comprising:
- a light source for generating light;
- a light panel comprising a plurality of optical fibers arranged in a predetermined form;
- a bundling element for bundling ends of the optical fibers of the light panel together;
- and
- an optical mixer interposed between the light source and the bundling element, the optical mixer configured to receive at least a portion of said light from the light source, mix said light by total internal reflection and transmit mixed light to the bundling element, wherein the optical mixer is an integral component comprising:
- a light input face configured to input light from the light source,
- a light output face configured to output light to the input to panel;
- and
- an outer sidewall extending longitudinally to connect the light input face to the light output face, wherein said sidewall is configured to provide total internal reflection of said light within the optical mixer and a length of said sidewall causes multiple total internal reflections of the light within the optical mixer such that the optical mixer is configured to provide output light from the output face having greater spatial uniformity than input light entering the input face.
A method of manufacturing a lighting device for a vehicle, comprising:
- providing a light source for generating light;
- providing a light panel comprising a plurality of optical fibers arranged in a predetermined form;
- bundling ends of the optical fibers of the light panel together to form an input to the light panel;
- and
- providing an optical mixer between the light source and the bundling element, the optical mixer being an integral component having a light input face configured to input light from the light source, a light output face configured to output light to the input to panel, and an outer sidewall connecting the light input face to the light output face and being configured to provide total internal reflection of said light within the optical mixer, said sidewall having a geometry which causes multiple total internal reflections such that the optical mixer mixes light received at the light input face from the light source to provide mixed light at the light output face having greater spatial uniformity for coupling to the light panel.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.