IP Library Granted Patent US 10,760,762
Granted Patent B2
US 10,760,762 · App. 15/644,406 · Granted Sep 1, 2020

Lit image projection lamp and assemblies and methods to use the same to generate three-dimensional images

Inventors: Todd M. Nykerk (Holland, MI); Lester R. Sullivan (Wyoming, MI)
Assignee: Flex-N-Gate Advanced Product Development, LLC
F21S43/14F21S43/15F21S43/26F21Y2115/10
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 10,760,762
App. No.
15/644,406
Granted
Sep 1, 2020
Kind
B2
Abstract

Lit image projection lamp and assemblies and methods to use the same to generate three-dimensional images. In an exemplary embodiment of a projection device of the present disclosure, the projection device comprises a light source and a curved lens positioned at a first distance from the light source, wherein the curved lens is a lenticular lens, having a concave portion and a convex portion, and wherein the projection device is configured to generate a homogenous light bar image from light emitted from the light source that passes through the curved lens.

Claims (27)

1. A projection device, comprising:

a light source;

an opaque mask having one or more custom apertures defined therethrough, each of the one or more custom apertures having a size and a shape;

at least one first lens element and at least one second lens element; and

a lenticular lens/sheet;

wherein the projection device is configured to generate one or more three dimensional images corresponding to the one or more custom apertures of the opaque mask by emitting light from the light source and through the one or more custom apertures of the opaque mask, the at least one first lens element, the at least one second lens element, and the lenticular lens/sheet.

2. The projection device of claim 1 , wherein the light source comprises one or more light-emitting diodes.

3. The projection device of claim 1 , wherein the at least one first lens element comprises at least one first custom lenticular shaped portion, and wherein the at least one second lens element comprises at least one second custom lenticular shaped portion.

4. The projection device of claim 3 , wherein the at least one first custom lenticular shaped portion and the at least one second custom lenticular shaped portion have a size and a shape corresponding to the size and the shape of the one or more custom apertures.

5. The projection device of claim 1 , wherein the at least one first lens element comprises at least one additional lenticular lens/sheet, and wherein the at least one second lens element comprises at least one further lenticular lens/sheet.

6. The projection device of claim 1 , forming part of a lamp assembly, the lamp assembly further comprising a housing and an outer lens, wherein the projection device is positioned within the housing.

7. The projection device of claim 6 , wherein the lamp assembly is configured as a vehicle lamp assembly.

8. The projection device of claim 1 , forming part of a lamp assembly, the lamp assembly further comprising:

a housing; and

an outer lens coupled to the housing to define a volume, wherein the projection device is positioned within the volume.

9. A projection device, comprising:

a light source;

a first lenticular lens/sheet;

a second lenticular lens/sheet positioned distal to the first lenticular lens/sheet relative to the light source, the second lenticular lens/sheet having a negative image mask thereon or defined therein, the negative image mask having one or more opaque portions defining one or more open portions; and

a third lenticular lens/sheet positioned distal to the second lenticular lens/sheet;

wherein the projection device is configured to generate one or more three dimensional images corresponding to the one or more open portions of the negative image mask by emitting light from the light source and through the first lenticular lens/sheet, the negative image mask of the second lenticular lens/sheet, and the third lenticular lens/sheet.

10. The device of claim 9 , wherein the light source comprises one or more light-emitting diodes.

11. The device of claim 9 , forming part of a lamp assembly, the lamp assembly further comprising a housing and an outer lens, wherein the projection device is positioned within the housing.

12. The device of claim 11 , wherein the lamp assembly is configured as a vehicle lamp assembly.

13. The projection device of claim 9 , forming part of a lamp assembly, the lamp assembly further comprising:

a housing; and

an outer lens coupled to the housing to define a volume, wherein the projection device is positioned within the volume.

Assignments (4)
SECOND AMENDED AND RESTATED PATENT AND TRADEMARK SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Aug 12, 2024
From: FLEX-N-GATE LLC, (F/K/A FLEX-N-GATE CORPORATION); FLEX-N-GATE ADVANCED PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT, LLC
To: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
Reel/Frame 068539/0865 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jul 23, 2020
From: NYKERK, TODD M.; SULLIVAN, LESTER R.
To: FLEX-N-GATE ADVANCED PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT, LLC
Reel/Frame 053293/0296 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jul 23, 2020
From: NYKERK, TODD M.; SULLIVAN, LESTER R.
To: FLEX-N-GATE ADVANCED PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT, LLC
Reel/Frame 053293/0836 →
AMENDED AND RESTATED PATENT AND TRADEMARK SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Nov 8, 2019
From: FLEX-N-GATE LLC (F/K/A FLEX-N-GATE CORPORATION); FLEX-N-GATE ADVANCED PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT, LLC
To: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., AS ADMINSTRATIVE AGENT
Reel/Frame 050969/0269 →
Continuity (6)
Continuation In Part 15542331
Provisional Application 62398602 · Sep 23, 2016
Provisional Application 62359268 · Jul 7, 2016
Provisional Application 62181545 · Jun 18, 2015
Provisional Application 62165785 · May 22, 2015
Related Publication 20170314759A1 · Nov 2, 2017