Flex-n-gate Advanced Product Development, LLC

Les Sullivan

Todd M Nykerk

Jonathan Scoville

An integrated display-light assembly for a vehicle includes a lamp housing for mechanically supporting an outer lens. A light source is positioned within the lamp housing behind a first portion of the outer lens. A display device is positioned within the lamp housing behind a second portion of the outer lens, different than the first portion. The display device illuminates a changeable visual content visible through the outer lens. The display device may be adapted for displaying digital images received from a controller. The light source may provide an automotive lighting function. The outer lens is positioned externally beside the display device and the light source for providing protection from external environmental conditions. The lamp housing is adapted to support the display device, the light source, and the outer lens.

Integrated display light assembly

A backlit three-dimensional lamp for a vehicle includes an indicia rendering disposed on a transparent lenticular sheet, an outer lens positioned in front of the transparent lenticular sheet, and a light source positioned behind the transparent lenticular sheet. The light source provides backlighting of the indicia rendering such that the lenticular sheet projects a forward image that hovers beyond the outer lens. A vehicle light assembly includes a light source adapted to produce a substantially homogeneous light, a rendering of indicia located adjacent the light source and facing away from the light source such that the rendering of indicia is backlit by the light source, and an array of light-modifying elements aligned with the light source to at least partially cover the rendering of indicia for creating a projection of the rendering of indicia outside the vehicle light assembly.

Backlit 3D lamp

A reflective-ink lighting assembly includes a light transferring medium, a reflective-ink marking in the light transferring medium, and a light source adapted to insert light into the light transferring medium. In a lit state, light from the light source propagates through the light transferring medium by total-internal reflection. As propagated light reflects off the reflective-ink marking, some light exits through a fa&#xe7;ade of the light transferring medium to produce an illuminated marking. In an unlit state, the reflective-ink marking remains visible due to ambient light reflecting off the reflective-ink marking.

Reflective ink lighting assembly

An animated 3D image multiplying light assembly includes a light source having a plurality of light-emitting diodes. A mask is disposed at a predetermined distance from the light source, and a plurality of holes are adapted to allow light to pass through the mask. The mask includes more holes than the number of light-emitting diodes. A first lenticular sheet is adjacent a second lenticular sheet for projecting light from the light source having passed through the mask. The first lenticular sheet is aligned perpendicular with the second lenticular sheet for homogenizing light in a first direction and a second direction, perpendicular to the first direction. An outer lens is positioned such that light projected from the first lenticular sheet and the second lenticular sheet appears as though positioned at different depths with respect to the outer lens, providing a 3D appearance. When viewed dynamically, the light projected appears to move.

Animated 3D image multiplier

A vehicle reflector lamp includes a curved reflector having a reflective front side and a non-reflective back side opposite the front side. The curved reflector has a light-permeable slot. A light source is positioned behind the non-reflective back side such that light emanates from the light source through the light-permeable slot for reflecting off the reflective front side. An optical sheet is positioned adjacent the front side of the reflector for homogenizing light reflected from the reflector, and a clear outer lens protects the optical sheet, the light source, and the curved reflector from an outdoor environment. The reflector lamp has a lit mode and an unlit mode. When in the unlit mode, ambient light reflects off of the reflective front side. When in the lit mode, light from the light source reflects of at least a portion of the reflective front side.

Reflector lamp

A homogenous light-emitting diode (LED) lamp for an automotive vehicle is provided that includes multiple LEDs configured as a LED array and a diffusion sheet. The diffusion sheet has a curvature aligned with the LED array for smoothing and bending light emitted by the LEDs for the purpose of creating a lighting appearance substantially lacking hotspots. An automotive vehicle lamp for producing homogenous light is provided. The vehicle lamp includes multiple LEDs each positioned a first distance apart from one another to form an array of LEDs, and a diffusion sheet positioned a second distance from the array of LEDs for smoothing light emitted from the array of LEDs. The first distance and the second distance are arranged for the purpose of providing a substantially homogenous light output from the vehicle lamp when viewed through the diffusion sheet.

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Wyoming, MI, United States of America

Les Sullivan