# US 11,079,092 B2 · Controlled caustic generator surface lighting device forming a pattern on a target surface > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,079,092 B2 - Document ID: US11079092B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 16/943,599 - Filed: 2020-07-30 - Published: 2020-11-12 - Granted: 2021-08-03 - Earliest claimed: 2018-01-30 - Assignees: Valeo Vision - Applicants: Valeo Vision - Inventors: Jerome Le Corre; Marine Courcier; Eric Moisy; Stefan Namyslo - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11079092B2 ## CPC - F21V 7/048: {with facets structure} - B60Q 3/60: characterised by optical aspects - B60Q 3/74: for overall compartment lighting; for overall compartment lighting in combination with specific lighting, e.g. room lamps with reading lamps (general lighting mounted on specific fittings B60Q3/20; general lighting for mass transit vehicles B60Q3/43) - F21S 10/002: {using liquids, e.g. water} - F21S 41/143: the main emission direction of the LED being parallel to the optical axis of the illuminating device - F21S 41/275: Lens surfaces, e.g. coatings or surface structures - 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 43/33: characterised by their material, surface treatment or coatings - F21V 5/002: {using microoptical elements for redirecting or diffusing light} - F21W 2103/60: Projection of signs from lighting devices, e.g. symbols or information being projected onto the road - F21V: FUNCTIONAL FEATURES OR DETAILS OF LIGHTING DEVICES OR SYSTEMS THEREOF; STRUCTURAL COMBINATIONS OF LIGHTING DEVICES WITH OTHER ARTICLES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR - B60Q: ARRANGEMENT OF SIGNALLING OR LIGHTING DEVICES, THE MOUNTING OR SUPPORTING THEREOF OR CIRCUITS THEREFOR, FOR VEHICLES IN GENERAL - F21S: NON-PORTABLE LIGHTING DEVICES; SYSTEMS THEREOF; VEHICLE LIGHTING DEVICES SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR VEHICLE EXTERIORS - F21W: INDEXING SCHEME ASSOCIATED WITH SUBCLASSES F21K, F21L, F21S and F21V, RELATING TO USES OR APPLICATIONS OF LIGHTING DEVICES OR SYSTEMS ## Abstract The present invention relates to a vehicle turn indicator luminous device (1) comprising: an optical element (10) having a controlled caustic generator surface (12) so as to propagate a pattern over a usable range, a mounting part (2) on which is intended to be mounted a beam generator (3) of rays incident on said generator surface, the optical element being such that the propagated pattern is projected onto a target surface, visible from the exterior of the lighting device and situated in the usable range. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A vehicle turn indicator luminous device comprising: an optical element having a controlled caustic generator surface, the controlled caustic generator surface being a reflecting or refracting surface formed by irregular patterns of bosses and recesses extending in accordance with a given overall shape and having local variations of the given overall shape, the local variations being distributed over the controlled caustic generator surface so as to confer on the controlled caustic generator surface an object pattern, the local variations being such that a majority of the controlled caustic generator surface is smooth and such that for a beam of rays incident on the controlled caustic generator surface, the beam of rays having a given distribution, the controlled caustic generator surface deviates the beam of rays with different orientations as a function of the local variations, thus forming a deviated beam propagating an identifiable propagated pattern over a usable range extending in an upstream direction and at least as far as an optimum propagation distance, the identifiable propagated pattern corresponding to a distorted shape of the object pattern, and a mounting part on which is to be mounted a beam generator of rays in accordance with the given distribution, so that the beam of rays are incident on the controlled caustic generator surface, wherein the identifiable propagated pattern is projected onto a target surface, which is visible from outside the vehicle turn indicator luminous device and which is situated inside a usable range or at a distance substantially equal to the optimum propagation distance. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The vehicle turn indicator luminous device according to claim 1, in which the given distribution is substantially such that for any plane transverse to the a propagation direction, at a given point of that plane, the ray or beam of rays incident at this point come from a single direction. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The vehicle turn indicator luminous device according to claim 1, in which the given distribution corresponds to that of a light-emitting diode. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The vehicle turn indicator luminous device according to claim 1, wherein the beam generator of rays is in accordance with the given distribution. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The vehicle turn indicator luminous device according to claim 1, in which the controlled caustic generator surface comprises at least one smooth portion which represents the majority of the controlled caustic generator surface, a passage from one local variation to the other being smooth inside the at least one smooth portion. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The vehicle turn indicator luminous device according to claim 5, wherein the controlled caustic generator surface is smooth, the passage from the one local variation to the other being smooth. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The vehicle turn indicator luminous device according to claim 6, in which a passage between certain local variations is formed by an edge. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The vehicle turn indicator luminous device according to claim 7, in which the beam generator comprises a light-emitting diode. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The vehicle turn indicator luminous device according to claim 8, in which the beam generator further comprises a light source and an optic adapted with the light source to generate a beam of substantially parallel rays. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The vehicle turn indicator luminous device according to claim 1 in which the optical element comprises a reflecting surface at least one portion of which is formed by the controlled caustic generator surface. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The vehicle turn indicator luminous device according to claim 10 in which the optical element is a mask. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The vehicle turn indicator luminous device according to claim 1, further comprising: a housing and an outer lens, the outer lens closing the housing through which exit light rays are emitted by a lighting device, outer lens forming the optical element, the controlled caustic generator surface being formed on a surface of a portion of the closing outer lens, the deviated beam being formed by refraction of rays emitted by the beam generator.