High efficiency stop lamp
An assembly includes a collimator having one end associated with a light source, a pillow lens associated with the collimator, and at least one surface that is non-coplanar with the pillow lens. The assembly further includes at least one light pipe, wherein a first portion of light is directed through the pillow lens and a second portion of light exits the pillow lens and is directed by the at least one surface into the at least one light pipe.
1 . An assembly, comprising:
a collimator having one end associated with a light source;
a pillow lens associated with the collimator;
at least one surface that is non-coplanar with the pillow lens;
at least one light pipe, wherein a first portion of light is directed through the pillow lens and a second portion of light exits the pillow lens and is directed by the at least one surface into the at least one light pipe; and
wherein the at least one light pipe comprises a curved outer surface.
2 . The assembly of claim 1 , wherein the collimator comprises a conical body portion having a first outer peripheral dimension extending about a center axis at one end and a second outer peripheral dimension extending about the center axis at an opposite end that is greater than the first outer peripheral dimension, and wherein the conical body portion has an outer peripheral surface that continuously increases in taper from the one end to the opposite end.
3 . The assembly of claim 2 , wherein the light source is centered on the center axis at the one end.
4 . The assembly of claim 2 , wherein the at least one surface extends at an oblique angle relative to the center axis.
5 . The assembly of claim 4 , wherein the at least one surface comprises at least a first angled surface and a second angled surface, wherein each of the first angled surface and the second angled surface extend at an oblique angle relative to the center axis.
6 . The assembly of claim 5 , wherein the first angled surface faces the second angled surface.
7 . The assembly of claim 5 , wherein the first angled surface covers a first side portion of the pillow lens and the second angled surface covers a second side portion of the pillow lens leaving a center portion of the pillow lens uncovered.
8 . The assembly of claim 7 , wherein the at least one light pipe comprises at least a first light pipe and a second light pipe, and wherein the first angled surface extends from a first edge at the pillow lens outwardly away from the pillow lens to a second edge that is associated with the first light pipe, and wherein the second angled surface extends from a first edge at the pillow lens outwardly away from the pillow lens to a second edge that is associated with the second light pipe.
9 . The assembly of claim 5 , wherein the oblique angle comprises approximately a 45 degree angle or greater.
10 . The assembly of claim 1 , wherein the light source comprises a LED that is associated with a stop lamp or tail lamp.
11 . The assembly of claim 1 , including a plurality of prisms inside of the at least one light pipe.
12 . An assembly comprising:
a plurality of light pipes including at least a first light pipe and a second light pipe;
a collimator positioned within a gap between opposing ends of the first light pipe and the second light pipe;
a light source positioned at one end of the collimator;
a pillow lens covering an opposite end of the collimator;
a first surface that is non-coplanar with the pillow lens and extends toward the first light pipe;
a second surface that is non-coplanar with the pillow lens and extends toward the second light pipe, wherein a first portion of light is directed through the pillow lens and a second portion of light exits the pillow lens and is directed by the first surface into the first light pipe and by the second surface into the second light pipe; and
wherein the first light pipe and the second light pipe each have a curved outer surface.
13 . The assembly of claim 12 , wherein the plurality of light pipes comprise a plurality of additional light pipes that are connected to the first light pipe and the second light pipe in series, and wherein each set of opposing ends of adjacent light pipes are separated from each other by a gap that receives one collimator.
14 . The assembly of claim 12 , wherein the collimator comprises a conical body portion having a first outer peripheral dimension extending about a center axis at one end and a second outer peripheral dimension extending about the center axis at an opposite end that is greater than the first outer peripheral dimension, and wherein the conical body portion has an outer peripheral surface that continuously increases in taper from the one end to the opposite end.
15 . The assembly of claim 14 , wherein the light source is centered on the center axis at the one end.
16 . The assembly of claim 15 , wherein each of the first surface and the second surface extend at an oblique angle relative to the center axis.
17 . The assembly of claim 16 , wherein the first surface covers a first side portion of the pillow lens and the second surface covers a second side portion of the pillow lens leaving a center portion of the pillow lens uncovered.
18 . The assembly of claim 17 , wherein at least some of the first portion of light exits the pillow lens via the center portion in a direction that extends along the center axis, and wherein the second portion of light is directed into the first light pipe and the second light pipe to extend along paths that are generally perpendicular to the center axis.
19 . The assembly of claim 12 , including a plurality of prisms inside at least one of the first light pipe and the second light pipe.
20 . A method comprising:
positioning a collimator in a gap between two opposing ends of adjacent light pipes each have a curved outer surface;
positioning a light source at one end of the collimator;
covering an opposite end of the collimator with a pillow lens;
directing a first portion of light through the pillow lens; and
directing a second portion of light exiting the pillow lens into the adjacent light pipes via angled surfaces extending way from the pillow lens.
21 . The method of claim 20 , wherein each light pipe comprises a curved body extending along a length of the light pipe from a first end to a second end, and including guiding the second portion of light along a center axis of the light pipe from the first end to the second end.
22 . The assembly of claim 12 , wherein the first light pipe and the second light pipe each comprise a tubular body that extends along a length of the first light pipe and the second light pipe from a first end to a second end, and wherein the second portion of light is directed by the first surface and the second surface into the first end and is guided along the length to exit at the second end.
23 . The assembly of claim 12 , wherein the first surface extends from a first edge at the pillow lens outwardly away from the pillow lens to a distal second edge that is spaced from an outer peripheral surface of the first light pipe, and wherein the second surface extends from a first edge at the pillow lens outwardly away from the pillow lens to a distal second edge that is spaced from an outer peripheral surface of the second light pipe.
24 . The assembly of claim 1 , wherein the at least one light pipe comprises a tubular body that extends along a length of the at least one light pipe from a first end to a second end, and wherein the second portion of light is directed by the at least one surface into the first end and is guided along the length to exit at the second end.
25 . The assembly of claim 1 , wherein the at least one surface extends from a first edge at the pillow lens outwardly away from the pillow lens to a distal second edge that is spaced from an outer peripheral surface of the at least one light pipe.