# US 12,222,080 B1 · Common cavity lighting assembly using auto shading > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 12,222,080 B1 - Document ID: US12222080B1 - Status: Granted - Kind: B1 - Application number: 18/504,443 - Filed: 2023-11-08 - Granted: 2025-02-11 - Earliest claimed: 2023-11-08 - Assignees: GM Global Technology Operations LLC - Applicants: GM Global Technology Operations LLC - Inventors: Jonglee Park; Thomas S. Prevost; Helgert Elezi - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12222080B1 ## CPC - F21S 41/68: by acting on screens - F21S 41/265: Composite lenses; Lenses with a patch-like shape - F21S 41/285: {Refractors, transparent cover plates, light guides or filters not provided in groups F21S41/24 - F21S41/2805} - F21S 41/40: characterised by screens, non-reflecting members, light-shielding members or fixed shades - F21W 2102/13: for high-beam region or low-beam region - 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 Aspects of the disclosure include lighting assemblies and methods of using the same that leverage auto-shading laminates to support a common cavity for mixed lighting applications. An exemplary vehicle includes a lighting assembly having a common cavity. The common cavity includes an outer lens coated with an auto-shading film, a primary light source positioned behind the outer lens, a secondary light source positioned on an edge of the outer lens, and a wire embedded in the auto-shading film. The auto-shading film includes discrete substructures which vary in alignment in response to an electric field, thereby varying a transmittance through the outer lens. A controller is electrically coupled to the wire. The controller is configured to direct a switching voltage to a switch to change a state of the switch, thereby causing the wire to deliver the electric field to the discrete substructures to change the transmittance of the auto-shading film. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A vehicle comprising: a lighting assembly comprising a common cavity, the common cavity comprising: an outer lens coated with an auto-shading film, the auto-shading film comprising discrete substructures which vary in alignment in response to an electric field, thereby varying a transmittance through the outer lens; a primary light source positioned behind the outer lens, the primary light source configured to emit light through the auto-shading film and the outer lens; a secondary light source positioned on an edge sidewall of the outer lens, the secondary light source configured to emit light into the outer lens, wherein the outer lens and the auto-shading film collectively serve as a light guide for light emitted from the secondary light source into the outer lens; and a wire embedded in the auto-shading film; and a controller electrically coupled to the wire, the controller configured to direct a switching voltage to a switch to change a state of the switch, thereby causing the wire to deliver the electric field to the discrete substructures to change the transmittance of the auto-shading film. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the auto-shading film comprises a first transmittance when the switch is in a first state and a second transmittance greater than the first transmittance when the switch is in a second state, and wherein the controller is configured to direct the switch to the first state to support a call for low beams and to direct the switch to the second state to support a call for high beams. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the common cavity comprises a first lighting region and a second lighting region. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The vehicle of claim 3, wherein the second lighting region does not include the primary light source. ### Claim 5 (depends on 3) The vehicle of claim 3, wherein the outer lens in the first lighting region comprises a transparent material and the outer lens in the second lighting region comprises a micro-lens material. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the light guide comprises a total internal reflection. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the auto-shading film includes a designated region configured to transition between a first transmittance state and a second transmittance state different than the first transmittance state responsive to receiving the switching voltage. ### Claim 8 A lighting assembly comprising: an outer lens coated with an auto-shading film, the auto-shading film comprising discrete substructures which vary in alignment in response to an electric field, thereby varying a transmittance through the outer lens; a primary light source positioned behind the outer lens, the primary light source configured to emit light through the auto-shading film and the outer lens; a secondary light source positioned on an edge sidewall of the outer lens, the secondary light source configured to emit light into the outer lens, wherein the outer lens and the auto-shading film collectively serve as a light guide for light emitted from the secondary light source into the outer lens; and a wire embedded in the auto-shading film; wherein the primary light source and the secondary light source are positioned within a common cavity of the lighting assembly. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The lighting assembly of claim 8, wherein the auto-shading film comprises a first transmittance when in a first state and a second transmittance greater than the first transmittance when is in a second state, and wherein a controller is configured to direct a switch to the first state to support a call for low beams and to direct the switch to the second state to support a call for high beams. ### Claim 10 (depends on 8) The lighting assembly of claim 8, wherein the common cavity comprises a first lighting region and a second lighting region. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The lighting assembly of claim 10, wherein the second lighting region does not include the primary light source. ### Claim 12 (depends on 10) The lighting assembly of claim 10, wherein the outer lens in the first lighting region comprises a transparent material and the outer lens in the second lighting region comprises a micro-lens material. ### Claim 13 (depends on 8) The lighting assembly of claim 8, wherein the light guide comprises a total internal reflection. ### Claim 14 (depends on 8) The lighting assembly of claim 8, wherein the auto-shading film includes a designated region configured to transition between a first transmittance state and a second transmittance state different than the first transmittance state responsive to receiving the switching voltage. ### Claim 15 A method comprising: coating an outer lens of a lighting assembly with an auto-shading film, the auto-shading film comprising discrete substructures which vary in alignment in response to an electric field, thereby varying a transmittance through the outer lens, wherein the auto-shading film comprises a first transmittance when in a first state and a second transmittance greater than the first transmittance when in a second state; positioning a primary light source behind the outer lens, the primary light source configured to emit light through the auto-shading film and the outer lens; positioning a secondary light source on an edge sidewall of the outer lens, the secondary light source configured to emit light into the outer lens, wherein the outer lens and the auto-shading film collectively serve as a light guide for light emitted from the secondary light source into the outer lens; embedding a wire in the auto-shading film; electrically coupling a controller to the wire, the controller configured to direct a switching voltage to a switch to change a state of the switch, thereby causing the wire to deliver the electric field to the discrete substructures; receiving a call for high beams; and responsive to the call for high beams, switching the auto-shading film, via the controller, to the second state. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The method of claim 15, wherein the primary light source and the secondary light source are positioned within a common cavity of the lighting assembly, the common cavity comprising a first lighting region and a second lighting region. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The method of claim 16, wherein the second lighting region does not include the primary light source. ### Claim 18 (depends on 16) The method of claim 16, wherein the outer lens in the first lighting region comprises a transparent material and the outer lens in the second lighting region comprises a micro-lens material. ### Claim 19 (depends on 15) The method of claim 15, wherein the light guide comprises a total internal reflection. ### Claim 20 (depends on 15) The method of claim 15, wherein the auto-shading film includes a designated region configured to transition between the first transmittance and the second transmittance responsive to receiving the switching voltage.