# US 9,435,504 B2 · Apparatus for radiating light from a virtual source

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- Number: US 9,435,504 B2
- Document ID: US9435504B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 14/066,795
- Filed: 2013-10-30
- Published: 2015-04-30
- Granted: 2016-09-06
- Earliest claimed: 2013-10-30
- Assignees: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
- Applicants: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
- Inventors: Jason Durand
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US9435504B2

## CPC

- F21S 41/285: {Refractors, transparent cover plates, light guides or filters not provided in groups F21S41/24 - F21S41/2805}
- F21S 41/322: {the reflector using total internal reflection}
- F21S 41/37: characterised by their material, surface treatment or coatings
- F21S 43/14: Light emitting diodes [LED]
- 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 43/315: {using total internal reflection}
- F21S 43/33: characterised by their material, surface treatment or coatings
- F21S 43/40: characterised by the combination of reflectors and refractors
- F21S: NON-PORTABLE LIGHTING DEVICES; SYSTEMS THEREOF; VEHICLE LIGHTING DEVICES SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR VEHICLE EXTERIORS

## Abstract

A lighting assembly that includes an LED source that generates a light cone (solid angle); and a transparent near field lens having a front surface, a collimating surface, and an aspherical groove. The collimating surface collimates the light cone into a beam that reflects off of the front surface toward the aspherical groove, and the aspherical groove directs the beam away from the lens as an exit cone from a virtual focal point, positive virtual focal ring or a negative virtual focal ring. The exit cone may be evenly distributed, substantially forward or substantially rearward from the virtual focal point or virtual focal ring. Parabolic or aparabolic reflectors can be employed with lighting assemblies having a virtual focal point or virtual focal ring, respectively, to reflect the exit cone in a vehicular exterior lighting pattern.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A lighting assembly, comprising:
an LED source that generates a light cone; and
a transparent near field lens having a front surface, a collimating surface, and an aspherical groove,
wherein the collimating surface collimates the light cone into a beam that reflects off of the front surface toward the groove, the groove shaped to spread the beam as an exit cone substantially evenly distributed from a virtual focal point in forward and rearward directions.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The lighting assembly according to claim 1, wherein the near field lens is configured in proximity to the LED source such that the collimating surface collimates a substantial portion of the light cone into the beam that reflects off of the front surface toward the aspherical groove.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The lighting assembly according to claim 1, wherein the aspherical groove possesses a continuously varying radius of curvature.

### Claim 4

A lighting assembly, comprising:
an LED source that generates a light cone; and
a transparent near field lens having a front surface, a plurality of collimating surfaces, and an aspherical groove,
wherein the collimating surfaces collimate the light cone into a beam that reflects off of the front surface toward the groove, the groove shaped to spread the beam as an exit cone substantially evenly distributed from a virtual focal point in forward and rearward directions.

### Claim 5 (depends on 4)

The lighting assembly according to claim 4, wherein the near field lens is configured in proximity to the LED source such that the collimating surfaces collimate a substantial portion of the light cone into the beam that reflects off of the front surface toward the aspherical groove.

### Claim 6 (depends on 4)

The lighting assembly according to claim 4, wherein the aspherical groove possesses a continuously varying radius of curvature.

### Claim 7 (depends on 4)

The lighting assembly according to claim 4, further comprising:
a parabolic reflector configured to reflect the exit cone in a vehicular exterior lighting pattern.