Patent · US Active

Automobile with conformal film-based lightguide

US11640026B2 · kind B2 · utility

0Cited by
1References
21Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateFeb 18, 2022
Grant dateMay 2, 2023
Priority date
Expiry dateFeb 18, 2042

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
  • CPC primaryY10T29/49716
  • WIPO fieldElectrical machinery, apparatus, energy
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

An automobile comprises a light transmitting film with a thickness not greater than 0.5 millimeters with a core layer, a lightguide region of the film comprises a light emitting region with light extracting features positioned to receive and extract light from at least one light source propagating by total internal reflection within the core layer out of the core layer, and a light mixing region positioned between the at least one light source and the light emitting region, wherein a surface of the portion of the automobile is visible through the light emitting region of the film when the at least one light source is not emitting light and the light transmitting film is conformal with the surface of the portion of the automobile. The surface of the film may have arcuate cross-sectional shape conforming to a curved surface of the portion of the automobile.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.