# US 9,753,208 B2 · Illuminator

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- Number: US 9,753,208 B2
- Document ID: US9753208B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 14/857,345
- Filed: 2015-09-17
- Published: 2016-03-31
- Granted: 2017-09-05
- Earliest claimed: 2014-09-29
- Assignees: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.; Stanley Electric Co., Ltd.
- Applicants: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.; Stanley Electric Co., Ltd.
- Inventors: Kazuya Ban; Kentaro Shimizu; Masahiro Sagawa; Kotaro Oku
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US9753208B2

## CPC

- G02B 6/0043: {provided on the surface of the light guide}
- F21S 43/239: plate-shaped
- F21S 43/249: with two or more light sources being coupled into the light guide
- F21S 43/40: characterised by the combination of reflectors and refractors
- G02B 6/0035: {provided on the surface of the light guide or in the bulk of it}
- G02B 6/0068: {Arrangements of plural sources, e.g. multi-colour light sources}
- F21S 43/14: Light emitting diodes [LED]
- G02B 6/0038: {Linear indentations or grooves, e.g. arc-shaped grooves or meandering grooves, extending over the full length or width of the light guide}
- G02B 6/0045: {by shaping at least a portion of the light guide}
- G02B: OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS
- F21S: NON-PORTABLE LIGHTING DEVICES; SYSTEMS THEREOF; VEHICLE LIGHTING DEVICES SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR VEHICLE EXTERIORS

## Abstract

An illuminator includes a strip-shaped light guide and a plurality of light sources. The light sources are disposed along one end surface in the width direction of the light guide to allow light to be incident on the one end surface. The light guide guides the light of the light sources from the one end surface to the other end surface in the width direction of the light guide. The one end surface and the other end surface of the light guide are light-diffusing surfaces. The width of the light guide is larger than the thickness of the light guide.

## Claims

### Claim 1

An illuminator comprising:
a strip-shaped light guide; and
a plurality of light sources disposed along one end surface in a width direction of the light guide, the light sources allowing light to be incident on the one end surface,
wherein
the light guide guides the light of the light sources from the one end surface to the other end surface in the width direction of the light guide;
the one end surface and the other end surface of the light guide are light-diffusing surfaces; and
a width of the light guide is larger than a thickness of the light guide,
the light guide part includes a horizontal strip-shaped light guide part, a vertical strip-shaped light guide part and a twisted strip-shaped light guide part which is continuous with one end in a longitudinal direction of the horizontal strip-shaped light guide part and connects the horizontal strip-shaped light guide part with the vertical strip-shaped light guide part,
the twisted strip-shaped light guide part is twisted with respect to an axis extending in a longitudinal direction of the horizontal strip-shaped light guide part in such a way that directions of main surfaces of the horizontal strip-shaped light guide part and the vertical strip-shaped light guide part are different from each other with respect to the longitudinal direction of the horizontal strip-shaped light guide part, and
the plurality of light sources is disposed over the horizontal strip-shaped light guide part, the vertical strip-shaped light guide part and the twisted strip-shaped light guide part in the light guide.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The illuminator according to claim 1, wherein the thickness of the light guide gradually decreases from the one end surface toward the other end surface of the light guide.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The illuminator according to claim 1, wherein one side in a thickness direction of the light guide includes a light-diffusing area adjacent to the other end surface and a smooth area adjacent to the one end surface.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The illuminator according to claim 1, wherein one other side in a thickness direction of the light guide has a plurality of grooves extending in a longitudinal direction of the light guide, the grooves having light-diffusing inner surfaces.