# US 10,371,347 B2 · Vehicle light comprising a portion of light emission with opalescent effect

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- Number: US 10,371,347 B2
- Document ID: US10371347B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 15/825,839
- Filed: 2017-11-29
- Published: 2018-05-31
- Granted: 2019-08-06
- Earliest claimed: 2016-11-30
- Assignees: Automotive Lighting Italia S.p.A.
- Applicants: AUTOMOTIVE LIGHTING ITALIA S.p.A.
- Inventors: Sara Paroni; Marco Svettini
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10371347B2

## CPC

- F21V 5/002: {using microoptical elements for redirecting or diffusing light}
- F21S 41/285: {Refractors, transparent cover plates, light guides or filters not provided in groups F21S41/24 - F21S41/2805}
- F21S 43/14: Light emitting diodes [LED]
- F21S 43/26: {Refractors, transparent cover plates, light guides or filters not provided in groups F21S43/235 - F21S43/255}
- F21S 43/26241: {diffusing, scattering or spreading}
- F21S 43/26261: {Single refractor combining two or more properties of the groups F21S43/26211 - F21S43/26251 on opposite sides}
- F21S 43/26271: {using micro-optics, e.g. micro-lenses or micro-structures}
- F21S 43/26411: {Two or more successive refractors}
- G02B 3/0006: {Arrays (G02B3/02, G02B5/188 take precedence)}
- G02B 5/0215: {the surface having a regular structure}
- G02B 5/0231: {the surface having microprismatic or micropyramidal shape (macroscopic prism arrays G02B5/045)}
- G02B 5/0278: {used in transmission}
- G02B 5/0294: {adapted to provide an additional optical effect, e.g. anti-reflection or filter}
- G02B 19/0014: {at least one surface having optical power}
- G02B 19/0066: {in the form of an LED array}
- G02B 27/0961: {Lens arrays (lens arrays per se G02B3/0006)}
- G02B 3/0056: {arranged along two different directions in a plane, e.g. honeycomb arrangement of lenses (G02B3/0043 takes precedence; miniaturised objectives for electronic devices employing wafer level optics G02B13/0085)}
- G02B 3/0062: {Stacked lens arrays, i.e. refractive surfaces arranged in at least two planes, without structurally separate optical elements in-between}
- F21V: FUNCTIONAL FEATURES OR DETAILS OF LIGHTING DEVICES OR SYSTEMS THEREOF; STRUCTURAL COMBINATIONS OF LIGHTING DEVICES WITH OTHER ARTICLES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- F21S: NON-PORTABLE LIGHTING DEVICES; SYSTEMS THEREOF; VEHICLE LIGHTING DEVICES SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR VEHICLE EXTERIORS
- G02B: OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS

## Abstract

A vehicle light comprising a container body that houses at least one light source that emits a plurality of light rays (Ri). A lenticular body is at least partially crossed by the light beam produced by the light source. A diffuser body faces at least one light source, so as to receive the light beam from the diffuser body and extends along a main transverse extension (T-T) perpendicular to a main direction of propagation (L-L) of the light beam. The diffuser body comprises a first group of first optical elements defining cylindrical or spherical optics which scatter the light rays (Ri) towards the light output wall and emit an opalescent light beam. The first optical elements of the first group form a single body, and the first optical elements are separated from the light source and the lenticular body by air gaps.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A vehicle light comprising:
a container body delimiting a containment housing which houses at least one light source, adapted to emit, when electrically powered, a plurality of light rays (Ri) defining a light beam to propagate outside the vehicle light,
a lenticular body, closing at least partially the containment housing and suitable to be crossed at least partially by the beam of light produced by the light source,
a diffuser body defined by a light input wall and a light output wall, said diffuser body facing said at least one light source, so as to be crossed by its beam of light, said diffuser body facing the lenticular body and extending along a main transverse extension (T-T) perpendicular to a main propagation direction (L-L) of the beam of light,
wherein the diffuser body comprises a first group of first optical elements defining cylindrical optics with circular cross-section or spherical optics that produce cylindrical or spherical caustics that produce, by subsequent refractions, a scattering of said light rays (Ri) towards the light output wall in order to produce a beam of light having an opalescent effect,
wherein the first optical elements of the first group are solid bodies juxtaposed without interruption so as to form a single body, and
wherein the first optical elements are separated from the light source and from the lenticular body, by air gaps.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The vehicle light as set forth in claim 1, wherein the first optical elements of the first group have a diameter of between 1 mm and 5 mm.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The vehicle light as set forth in claim 1, wherein said first optical elements are substantially tangent or penetrate each other for a circular sector equal to 1-10% of their total area, measured with respect to a sectional plane perpendicular to a first axis of symmetry (X-X) of the first optical elements.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The vehicle light as set forth in claim 1, wherein said first optical elements are cylinders with a circular cross-section, with respective axes of symmetry (X-X) perpendicular to the main direction of propagation (L-L) of the light beam, equidistant from each other and all having the same diameter.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The vehicle light as set forth in claim 1, to wherein said first optical elements are spheres, equidistant from each other and all having the same diameter.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The vehicle light as set forth in claim 1, wherein the diffuser body, on the light output wall has a diffusive portion, comprising micro optics and/or embossing and/or a glaze, suitable to equalize and to diffuse the beam of light coming from the light output wall.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The vehicle light as set forth in claim 1, wherein the light comprises a screen, placed between the diffuser body and the lenticular body, said screen comprising a diffusive portion, comprising micro-optics and/or embossing and/or a glaze, suitable to equalize and to diffuse the beam of light coming from the light output wall.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The vehicle light as set forth in claim 1, wherein the container body houses at least two light sources suitable to emit, when electrically powered, a plurality of light rays (Ri′, Ri″) which expand in light cones (C′, C″), wherein the light sources are spaced apart so that two light cones (C′, C″) adjacent each other intersect at least partially on the diffuser body.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The vehicle light as set forth in claim 1, wherein said light cones (C′, C″) intersect at the light input wall of the diffuser body.

### Claim 10 (depends on 1)

The vehicle light as set forth in claim 1, wherein the diffuser body has a second group of second optical elements defining cylindrical optics with circular cross-section or spherical optics suitable to realize cylindrical or spherical caustics which realize, by subsequent refractions, a scattering of said light rays (Ri) towards the light output wall in order to produce a beam of light having an opalescent effect,
wherein the second optical elements of the second group are solid bodies juxtaposed without interruption so as to form a single body,
wherein the second optical elements are placed between the first optical elements and the lenticular body and are separated from them by air gaps, and
wherein the second optical elements are spaced from the first optical elements by a pitch.

### Claim 11 (depends on 10)

The vehicle light as set forth in claim 10, wherein said second optical elements are staggered, along a transverse direction (T-T) perpendicular to the main direction of propagation (L-L) of the light beam, with respect to the first optical elements, so as to stagger first portions of intersection between two first optical elements adjacent to each other with second intersection portions between two second optical elements adjacent to each other, so as to offset from each other said first and second intersection portions with respect to the main direction of propagation (L-L).

### Claim 12 (depends on 10)

The vehicle light as set forth in claim 10, wherein said second optical elements of the second group have a diameter of between 1 mm and 5 mm.

### Claim 13 (depends on 10)

The vehicle light as set forth in claim 10, wherein said second optical elements are substantially tangent or penetrate each other for a circular sector equal to 1-10% of their total area, measured with respect to a sectional plane perpendicular to a second axis of symmetry (Y-Y) of the second optical elements.

### Claim 14 (depends on 10)

The vehicle light as set forth in claim 10, wherein said second optical elements are elements with a circular cross-section, equidistant from each other and all having the same diameter.

### Claim 15 (depends on 10)

The vehicle light as set forth in claim 10, wherein said second optical elements are the same as said first optical elements.

### Claim 16 (depends on 10)

The vehicle light as set forth in claim 10, wherein said second optical elements are cylinders with a circular cross-section, with respective axes of symmetry (Y-Y) perpendicular to the main direction of propagation (L-L) of the light beam, equidistant from each other and all having the same diameter.

### Claim 17 (depends on 10)

The vehicle light as set forth in claim 10, wherein said second optical elements are spheres, equidistant from each other and all having the same diameter.

### Claim 18 (depends on 10)

The vehicle light as set forth in claim 10, wherein the light output wall is placed on said second optical elements and wherein the diffuser body, on the light output wall has a diffusive portion, comprising micro-optics and/or embossing and/or a glaze, suitable to equalize and to diffuse the beam of light coming from the light output wall.

### Claim 19 (depends on 10)

The vehicle light as set forth in claim 10, wherein the light comprises a screen, placed between the diffuser body and the lenticular body, said screen comprising a diffusive portion, comprising micro optics and/or embossing and/or a glaze, suitable to equalize and to diffuse the beam of light coming from the light output wall.

### Claim 20 (depends on 10)

The vehicle light as set forth in claim 10, where said pitch between the first group and the second group is at least 1.1 times the diameter of said first and second optical elements.