# US 11,079,534 B2 · LED coupler for light reflection and leakage prevention > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,079,534 B2 - Document ID: US11079534B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 16/048,648 - Filed: 2018-07-30 - Published: 2020-01-30 - Granted: 2021-08-03 - Earliest claimed: 2018-07-30 - Assignees: Valeo North America, Inc. - Applicants: Valeo North America, Inc. - Inventors: Terry Grammer - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11079534B2 ## CPC - G02B 6/0061: {to provide homogeneous light output intensity} - G02B 6/06: the relative position of the fibres being the same at both ends, e.g. for transporting images - B60Q 3/64: for a single lighting device - B60Q 3/66: for distributing light among several lighting devices - F21S 41/141: Light emitting diodes [LED] - F21S 41/24: Light guides - F21S 41/29: Attachment thereof (for achieving variable light distribution F21S41/63) - F21S 41/321: {the reflector being a surface of revolution or a planar surface, e.g. truncated} - F21S 41/39: Attachment thereof (achieving variable light distribution by movable reflectors F21S41/675) - F21S 43/14: Light emitting diodes [LED] - F21S 43/235: Light guides - F21S 43/237: rod-shaped - F21S 43/239: plate-shaped - F21S 43/245: emitting light from one or more of its major surfaces - F21S 43/246: {having two or more output branches} - F21S 43/251: the light guides being used to transmit light from remote light sources - F21S 43/252: {Two or more successive light guides} - F21S 43/253: {Two or more juxtaposed light guides} - F21S 43/27: Attachment thereof - F21S 43/281: {Materials thereof; Structures thereof; Properties thereof; Coatings thereof} - F21S 43/31: Optical layout thereof - F21S 43/37: Attachment thereof - F21S 43/40: characterised by the combination of reflectors and refractors - F21V 9/08: for producing coloured light, e.g. monochromatic; for reducing intensity of light (with provision for controlling the colour F21V9/40) - G02B 6/0006: {Coupling light into the fibre (in general G02B6/4298)} - G02B 6/0008: {the light being emitted at the end of the fibre} - G02B 6/0073: {Light emitting diode [LED]} - G02B: OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS - 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 - F21V: FUNCTIONAL FEATURES OR DETAILS OF LIGHTING DEVICES OR SYSTEMS THEREOF; STRUCTURAL COMBINATIONS OF LIGHTING DEVICES WITH OTHER ARTICLES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR ## Abstract A vehicle lighting device including a light source configured to emit diverging light a fiber bundle including a plurality of optical fibers bundled into a cross sectional shape configured to be optically coupled to the light source; and a coupling device configured to optically couple the light source to the fiber bundle, the coupling device including a reflecting portion configured to reflect the diverging light toward the optical fiber bundle and a blocking portion configured to block light from bleeding from the assembly. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A light emitting diode (LED) coupling device for an automotive vehicle, comprising: a first cavity configured to receive a base of an LED; a second cavity configured to receive at least a portion of the LED through the first cavity and comprising variably sloped sidewalls configured to reflect divergent light emitted from the LED towards an input face of a fiber optic bundle, wherein the second cavity is joined to the first cavity and a first opening at the interface between the first cavity and the second cavity is narrower than a width of the first cavity; and a third cavity joined to the second cavity and comprising a stopping lip, wherein the third cavity is configured to receive the fiber optic bundle and the stopping lip is configured to prevent translation of the fiber optic bundle beyond a predetermined distance, wherein a second opening at the interface between the second cavity and the third cavity is wider than the first opening at an interface between the first cavity and the second cavity. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The coupling device according to claim 1, wherein the shape of the variably sloped sidewalls of the second cavity is parabolic and the parabolic shape opens towards the input face of the fiber optic bundle. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The coupling device according to claim 1, wherein a material of the coupling device includes at least one of acetal, polyethylene, polycarbonate, polyamide, polystyrene, polypropylene, aluminum, heat-treated aluminum (hokotol), tungsten, copper, brass, bronze, silver, gold, chromium, platinum, polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), and a fluoropolymer known as Spectralon by Labsphere. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The coupling device according to claim 3, wherein the coupling device is configured to absorb heat generated by the LED. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The coupling device according to claim 1, wherein the first cavity is configured to block light bleed emitted by the LED through the interface between the first cavity and the second cavity. ### Claim 6 A light emitting diode (LED) coupling system for an automotive vehicle, comprising: a light emitting diode (LED) comprising a base and a light emitting portion; an LED coupler, comprising: a first cavity configured to receive a base of an LED; a second cavity configured to receive a light emitting portion of the LED through the first cavity and comprising variably sloped sidewalls configured to reflect divergent light emitted from the LED towards an input face of a fiber optic bundle, wherein the second cavity is joined to the first cavity and a first opening at an interface between the first cavity and the second cavity is narrower than a width of the first cavity; and a third cavity joined to the second cavity and comprising a stopping lip, wherein the third cavity is configured to receive the fiber optic bundle and the stopping lip is configured to prevent translation of the fiber optic bundle beyond a predetermined distance, wherein a second opening at the interface between the second cavity and the third cavity is wider than the first opening at the interface between the first cavity and the second cavity. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The LED coupling system according to claim 6, wherein the fiber optic bundle is inserted into the third cavity at a predetermined distance and comprising at least one optical fiber configured to transmit light from an input face to an output face. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The LED coupling system according to claim 7, wherein the shape of the variably sloped sidewalls of the second cavity is parabolic and the parabolic shape opens towards the input face of the fiber optic bundle. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The LED coupling system according to claim 8, wherein a material of the LED coupler includes at least one of acetal, polyethylene, polycarbonate, polyamide, polystyrene, polypropylene, aluminum, heat-treated aluminum (hokotol), tungsten, copper, brass, bronze, silver, gold, chromium, platinum, polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), and a fluoropolymer known as Spectralon by Labsphere. ### Claim 10 (depends on 8) The LED coupling system according to claim 8, wherein a material of the LED coupler is configured to absorb heat generated by the LED. ### Claim 11 (depends on 8) The LED coupling system according to claim 8, wherein the first cavity is configured to block light bleed emitted by the LED through the interface between the first cavity and the second cavity. ### Claim 12 (depends on 8) The LED coupling system according to claim 8, wherein the beam angle of the LED is 120 degrees and the focal length of the emitted light of the inserted LED in the LED coupler is 0.3 mm. ### Claim 13 (depends on 8) The LED coupling system according to claim 8, wherein the beam angle of the LED is less than 120 degrees and the fiber optic bundle is configured to be partially inserted into the third cavity.