# US 11,906,127 B2 · Signal lights for a motor vehicle lighting system > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,906,127 B2 - Document ID: US11906127B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 18/185,542 - Filed: 2023-03-17 - Published: 2023-09-21 - Granted: 2024-02-20 - Earliest claimed: 2022-03-18 - Assignees: Marelli Automotive Lighting Reutlingen (Germany) GmbH - Applicants: Marelli Automotive Lighting Reutlingen (Germany) GmbH - Inventors: Michael Richter - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11906127B2 ## CPC - F21S 43/237: rod-shaped - B60Q 1/0058: {Stacked, i.e. one lamp located behind the other in the optical axis direction} - B60Q 1/2607: {comprising at least two indicating lamps} - B60Q 1/38: using immovably-mounted light sources, e.g. fixed flashing lamps - F21S 43/245: emitting light from one or more of its major surfaces - F21S 43/249: with two or more light sources being coupled into the light guide - F21S 43/26: {Refractors, transparent cover plates, light guides or filters not provided in groups F21S43/235 - F21S43/255} - F21S 43/31: Optical layout thereof - F21S 43/40: characterised by the combination of reflectors and refractors - B60Q 2400/30: Daytime running lights [DRL], e.g. circuits or arrangements therefor - F21W 2103/20: Direction indicator lights - F21W 2103/55: Daytime running lights [DRL] - F21Y 2103/20: of polygonal shape, e.g. square or rectangular - F21S: NON-PORTABLE LIGHTING DEVICES; SYSTEMS THEREOF; VEHICLE LIGHTING DEVICES SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR VEHICLE EXTERIORS - B60Q: ARRANGEMENT OF SIGNALLING OR LIGHTING DEVICES, THE MOUNTING OR SUPPORTING THEREOF OR CIRCUITS THEREFOR, FOR VEHICLES IN GENERAL - 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 The invention relates to a signal light for a motor vehicle that has a fiber optic rod, which has a light emitting surface and a rear surface, in which deflection elements are located, and which has two side walls, and numerous pairs of reflectors and light sources, which are in a row in the rear surface, and which project light bundles through the fiber optic rod, transverse thereto. The fiber optic rod has two rear walls, each of which has deflection element edge and side wall edge, and extends longitudinally between the deflection elements and the side walls. The side wall edges are further apart than the deflection element edges in a cross section of the fiber optic rod that is transverse to the longitudinal direction thereof. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A signal light for a motor vehicle lighting system comprising: a fiber optic rod extending in a longitudinal direction, which has a light emitting surface extending along the longitudinal direction which is convex in the direction transverse to the longitudinal extension, wherein the fiber optic rod has a rear surface lying opposite the light emitting surface, wherein the rear surface has a row of deflection elements that extend along the longitudinal direction, wherein the fiber optic rod has two side walls, each side wall having a rear surface edge and a light emitting surface edge, wherein the fiber optic rod extends between the rear surface and the light emitting surface along the longitudinal direction, wherein the fiber optic rod has two rear walls, each of the rear walls has a deflection element edge, a rear wall edge and a side wall edge, and extends in the longitudinal direction between the row of deflection elements and the side walls, wherein the side wall edges of each of the two rear walls are further apart than the deflection element edges in a cross section of the fiber optic rod that is transverse to the longitudinal direction thereof, and wherein the rear walls form a recess in the rear surface; and a plurality of pairs of a reflector and a light source, wherein the pairs are arranged in a row along the longitudinal direction and configured to project light bundles through the fiber optic rod, wherein each of the light bundles has a main beam direction that is transverse to the longitudinal direction. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The signal light as set forth in claim 1, wherein the convex light emitting surface has a focal curve that follows the elongated shape of the fiber optic rod, and which is behind the row of deflection elements when seen from the convex light emitting surface. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The signal light as set forth in claim 1, wherein each pair of the reflector and the light source is configured to convert spherical wave fronts from the light source into a cylindrical wave front with a focal axis. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The signal light as set forth in claim 3, wherein the focal axis is parallel to the longitudinal direction of the fiber optic rod. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The signal light as set forth in claim 4, wherein the focal axis is at an angle to the longitudinal direction of the fiber optic rod. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The signal light as set forth in claim 5, wherein the focal axis corresponds to the longitudinal direction of the fiber optic rod at the point where it is directly in front of the reflector in a main light distribution of the associated reflector, thus following the contour of the light emitting surface. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The signal light as set forth in claim 6, wherein each pair is configured to focus its light bundle in a focal axis lying in a row of deflection elements in the fiber optic rod. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The signal light as set forth in claim 1, wherein the reflection surfaces of the reflectors have a diffusing structure superimposed on the fundamental shape of the reflection surfaces of the reflectors. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The signal light as set forth in claim 8, wherein the diffusing structures are configured to diffuse light vertically 2° to 5°, and horizontally 5° to 10° in the intended orientation of the signal light. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The signal light as set forth in claim 1, wherein the fiber optic rod has a first end where a light source for projecting light into the fiber optic rod is located, and a second end, which lies opposite the first end in the longitudinal direction, wherein two adjacent deflection elements are spaced apart at a distance that decreases as the distance between adjacent deflection elements to the first end increases, wherein the distance between adjacent deflection elements is not less than 20% of the distance to two adjacent deflection elements. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The signal light as set forth in claim 1, wherein the rear wall and side walls are configured such that at least a portion of the light from the light sources reflected by the reflectors strikes the rear walls due to refraction, and this portion is deflected by reflection on the side walls into a central region of a light distribution that can be projected with the signal light using the light from the light sources.