# US 11,440,465 B2 · Reduction of constant illumination section area by indirect illumination of sequential illumination section area

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- Number: US 11,440,465 B2
- Document ID: US11440465B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 17/161,781
- Filed: 2021-01-29
- Published: 2022-08-04
- Granted: 2022-09-13
- Earliest claimed: 2021-01-29
- Assignees: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.
- Applicants: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.
- Inventors: Alexander L. Paradis
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11440465B2

## CPC

- B60Q 1/381: {with several light sources activated in sequence, e.g. to create a sweep effect}
- F21S 43/31: Optical layout thereof
- F21S 43/14: Light emitting diodes [LED]
- F21S 43/15: Strips of light sources
- F21S 43/26: {Refractors, transparent cover plates, light guides or filters not provided in groups F21S43/235 - F21S43/255}
- F21S 43/37: Attachment thereof
- F21W 2103/20: Direction indicator lights
- F21W 2103/55: Daytime running lights [DRL]
- F21Y 2115/10: Light-emitting diodes [LED]
- 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
- F21Y: INDEXING SCHEME ASSOCIATED WITH SUBCLASSES F21K, F21L, F21S and F21V, RELATING TO THE FORM OR THE KIND OF THE LIGHT SOURCES OR OF THE COLOUR OF THE LIGHT EMITTED

## Abstract

A lighting system for a vehicle includes a sequential illumination section including multiple illumination segments, and a constant illumination section. The multiple illumination segments of the sequential illumination portion activate or deactivate sequentially, and the constant illumination section illuminates at least a portion of the sequential illumination section when all of the multiple illumination segments are deactivated.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A lighting system for a vehicle comprising:
a sequential illumination section including multiple illumination segments; and
a constant illumination section, wherein
the multiple illumination segments of the sequential illumination portion activate or deactivate sequentially, and
the constant illumination section illuminates at least a portion of the sequential illumination section when all of the multiple illumination segments are deactivated.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The lighting system of claim 1, further comprising an internal reflector configured to reflect light from the constant illumination section to at least a portion of the sequential illumination section.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The lighting system of claim 1, wherein the sequential illumination section and the constant illumination section are illuminated by LED PCBs.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The lighting system of claim 1, wherein the sequential illumination section includes seven illumination segments.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The lighting system of claim 1, wherein the sequential illumination section includes a direct illumination portion and an indirect illumination portion and light from the indirect illumination portion is isolated from the direct illumination portion.

### Claim 6 (depends on 5)

The lighting system of claim 5, wherein the constant illumination section and the indirect illumination portion comprise an effective constant illumination area and the effective constant illumination area is greater than 22 cm{circumflex over ( )}2.

### Claim 7 (depends on 5)

The lighting system of claim 5, wherein the constant illumination section and the indirect illumination portion comprise an effective constant illumination area and the effective constant illumination area is greater than 50 cm{circumflex over ( )}2.

### Claim 8 (depends on 5)

The lighting system of claim 5, wherein the indirect illumination portion comprises a single illumination segment.

### Claim 9

A vehicle including a lighting system comprising:
a sequential illumination section including multiple illumination segments;
a constant illumination section, wherein
the multiple illumination segments of the sequential illumination portion activate or deactivate sequentially, and
the constant illumination section illuminates at least a portion of the sequential illumination section when all of the multiple illumination segments are deactivated.

### Claim 10 (depends on 9)

The vehicle of claim 9, wherein the sequential illumination section includes a direct illumination portion and an indirect illumination portion and light from the indirect illumination portion is isolated from the direct illumination portion.

### Claim 11 (depends on 10)

The vehicle of claim 10, wherein the constant illumination section and the indirect illumination portion comprise an effective constant illumination area and the effective constant illumination area is greater than 22 cm{circumflex over ( )}2.