# US 2018/0023776 A1 · Fiber optic light panel having aesthetic appearance in an unlit state > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2018/0023776 A1 - Document ID: US20180023776A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 15/217,703 - Filed: 2016-07-22 - Published: 2018-01-25 - Earliest claimed: 2016-07-22 - Assignees: Valeo North America, Inc. - Applicants: Valeo North America, Inc. - Inventors: Kayla Greene; John Orisich; Brandt Potter - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20180023776A1 ## CPC - F21S 41/29: Attachment thereof (for achieving variable light distribution F21S41/63) - F21S 41/24: Light guides - F21S 41/37: characterised by their material, surface treatment or coatings - F21S 41/50: characterised by aesthetic components not otherwise provided for, e.g. decorative trim, partition walls or covers - F21S 43/237: rod-shaped - F21S 43/245: emitting light from one or more of its major surfaces - F21S 43/33: characterised by their material, surface treatment or coatings - F21S 43/332: {Diffusing reflectors} - F21S 43/50: characterised by aesthetic components not otherwise provided for, e.g. decorative trim, partition walls or covers - G02B 6/0006: {Coupling light into the fibre (in general G02B6/4298)} - G02B 6/001: {the light being emitted along at least a portion of the lateral surface of the fibre} - G02B 6/08: with fibre bundle in form of plate - F21S: NON-PORTABLE LIGHTING DEVICES; SYSTEMS THEREOF; VEHICLE LIGHTING DEVICES SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR VEHICLE EXTERIORS - G02B: OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS ## Abstract Alighting device for a vehicle includes a light source for generating light, and a lighting panel having a light emitting side and a light reflecting side opposing the light emitting side. The lighting panel includes an optical fiber layer having a plurality of optical fibers each configured to emit the light along a length of the optical fiber. The plurality of optical fibers are arranged in a predetermined form such that the optical fiber layer has a first side facing the light emitting side of the lighting panel and a second side facing the light reflecting side of the lighting panel. A reflecting layer is provided on the second side of the optical fiber layer and is configured to reflect the light toward the first side of the optical fiber layer. At least one layer of the lighting panel is an aesthetic layer selected for aesthetic appeal and being visible from the light emitting side of the lighting panel in an unlit state. A bundling element is configured to hold ends of the plurality optical fibers in a bundle which is optically coupled to the light source. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A lighting device for a vehicle, comprising: a light source for generating light; a lighting panel having a light emitting side and a light reflecting side opposing the light emitting side, the lighting panel comprising: an optical fiber layer comprising a plurality of optical fibers each configured to emit said light along a length of the optical fiber, the plurality of optical fibers being arranged in a predetermined form such that the optical fiber layer has a first side facing said light emitting side of the lighting panel and a second side facing said light reflecting side of the lighting panel, and a reflecting layer provided on said second side of the optical fiber layer and configured to reflect said light toward the first side of the optical fiber layer, wherein at least one layer of the lighting panel is an aesthetic layer selected for aesthetic appeal and being visible from the light emitting side of the lighting panel in an unlit state; and a bundling element configured to hold ends of the plurality optical fibers in a bundle which is optically coupled to said light source. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The lighting device of claim 1, wherein the light source comprises a solid state light source. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The lighting device of claim 1, wherein said plurality of optical fibers are arranged in an array. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The lighting device of claim 1, wherein said plurality of optical fibers are arranged in a woven configuration. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The lighting device of claim 1, wherein said at least one aesthetic layer comprises said reflecting layer. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The lighting device of claim 5, wherein said at least one aesthetic layer comprises a highly reflective colored film. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The lighting device of claim 6, wherein said highly reflective colored film is a color which matches a color of the light generated by said light source. ### Claim 8 (depends on 5) The lighting device of claim 5, wherein said reflecting layer comprises a metal which provides a metallic appearance of the light emitting side of the lighting panel in an unlit state. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The lighting device of claim 8, wherein said reflecting layer comprises a diffusive reflecting material partially coated with said metal. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The lighting device of claim 9, wherein a partially coated amount of said metal provides said metallic appearance of the light emitting side of the lighting panel in the unlit state and leaves a portion of the diffuse reflecting material exposed. ### Claim 11 (depends on 8) The lighting device of claim 8, wherein said metal comprises at least one of aluminum, silver and gold. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The lighting device of claim 1, wherein said at least one aesthetic layer comprises a structural layer configured to fix said lighting panel. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The lighting device of claim 12, wherein said structural layer includes a bezel configured to fix the lighting panel in a predetermined shape. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The lighting device of claim 1, wherein said at least one aesthetic layer comprises said fiber optic layer. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The lighting device of claim 14, wherein said plurality of optical fibers are colored in an unlit state of the lighting panel. ### Claim 16 (depends on 14) The lighting device of claim 14, wherein said fiber optic layer comprises said plurality of optical fibers encapsulated in a colored medium having a predetermined color in an unlit state of the lighting panel. ### Claim 17 (depends on 1) The lighting device of claim 1, wherein said at least one layer comprises a transmission layer provided on said light emitting side of the panel. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The lighting device of claim 17, wherein said transmission layer is colored in an unlit state. ### Claim 19 (depends on 17) The lighting device of claim 17, wherein said transmission layer comprising a one way mirrored coating which transmits said light when the panel is in a lighted state, and which appears mirrored in an unlit state. ### Claim 20 A method of manufacturing a lighting device for a vehicle, comprising: providing a plurality of light sources each configured to generate light; providing a light panel comprising a plurality of optical fibers arranged in a predetermined form; bundling ends of the optical fibers of the light panel together to form an input to the light panel; providing at least one aesthetic layer visible from a light emitting side of the panel in an unlit state and selected to provide aesthetic appeal of the lighting device in an unlit state; selecting one of said plurality of light sources which provides a light output to compensate for optical properties of said aesthetic layer, and coupling the selected light source to the light panel.