Gm Global Technolgoy Operations, Inc.

Michael K Larsen

Jonglee Park

Jeffrey T Zawacki

Patrick Minjeur

Gregory M Castillo

Jodi Mary Jean Allen

Alvin T Pieczynski

Stephen Ericson

A vehicle includes a window having a display. The display includes a substrate, a light source disposed at a first location of the substrate, a light sensor disposed at a second location of the substrate, and a first optical medium disposed on the substrate over the light source. The first optical medium includes a surface at an angle that prevents light from the light source from passing through the first optical medium and into the light sensor.

Display substrate preventing light source light from passing to light sensor

Aspects of the disclosure include a relatively thin lens that leverages reflective surfaces to provide a thick lens appearance and methods of manufacturing the same. An exemplary vehicle includes a component having a lens. The lens includes a light pipe configured such that opposite sidewalls of the light pipe face each other across an airgap, a first reflector surface having a first reflective material formed on a first sidewall of the opposite sidewalls, a second reflector surface having a second reflective material formed on a second sidewall of the opposite sidewalls, and a third surface positioned between the first reflector surface and the second reflector surface and configured such that light can pass through the third surface and into the airgap. A path of light within the airgap is elongated due to internal reflections between the first reflector surface and the second reflector surface, thereby providing an infinity mirror effect.

Thick appearance lens using reflective surfaces

A vehicle includes a window having a lighting system therein. The lighting system includes a layer of an optical medium, a light source and a lens array. The layer of the optical medium has a first interface and a second interface. The light source emits a light ray that is incident at the first interface and travels through the optical medium to exit the optical medium at the second interface. The lens array is configured to reduce an occurrence of total internal reflection of the light ray at the second interface.

Lighting system laminated into glasses using microLEDs and lens

A method includes generating a first beam pattern via a headlamp assembly arranged on a motor vehicle and detecting, via a camera, an object in the first light beam pattern. The method additionally includes receiving, via an electronic controller, a signal from the camera indicative of the object, identifying the object as another motor vehicle, and determining a distance between the headlamp assembly and the other vehicle. The method also includes determining a first amount of glare the first beam pattern generates to the other vehicle at the determined distance and identifying when the first amount of glare exceeds target glare. The method further includes identifying a second beam pattern corresponding to a second amount of glare that is below the target glare and switching the headlamp assembly from generating the first beam pattern to generating the second light beam pattern.

Vehicle headlamp lighting strategy

A device for detecting a light beam projecting from a lamp of a vehicle is described, and includes a plurality of photo-sensors and a plurality of indicator bulbs. The photo-sensors are arranged in a linear array along a first axis, and the indicator bulbs are arranged in a linear array along a second axis that is in parallel to the first axis. A controller is in communication with the photo-sensors and the indicator bulbs. The controller includes an instruction set that is executable to monitor signal inputs from the plurality of photo-sensors to detect presence of a light beam projecting from the lamp of a vehicle, determine a cut-off gradient line for the light beam based thereon, and illuminate one of the indicator bulbs to indicate a location of the cut-off gradient line for the light beam.

Method and apparatus for aiming a vehicle lamp

A light-emitting diode (LED) string includes an electrically conductive wire and a plurality of LEDs. The LEDs are electrically connected to the wire in series along an axial length of the wire. The LED string may include a solder layer, with the LEDs electrically connected to the wire via the solder layer. A tube having an optional phosphor coating may circumscribe the wire and LEDs. When connected to a surface, the LED string emits light in a band of at least 180 degrees with respect to the surface. A light assembly includes a first surface and a first LED string configured as set forth above. The light assembly may include a second LED string positioned with respect to the surface and having additional LEDs configured to illuminate in response to a second control signal from the controller.

Light assembly with LED string

An infrared energy reflecting lens system for a lamp subjectable to sunlight is provided. The lens system includes a lens having an exterior surface and a dichroic coating on the exterior surface of the lens so that at least a portion of the infrared energy content of sunlight is reflected from entering the lens.

Lens system and method for eliminating sun focusing thermal effects in lamps

Headlamp assemblies utilize a solid optical body made of glass or another heat resistant, light transmissive material. The solid optical body has an axially positioned cavity therethrough which receives a bulb that injects light through a cylindrical wall of the cavity into the optical body. In order to reflect light from the bulb, the optical body has a rear surface which is coated with a reflecting material, such as aluminize or a dichroic material. In accordance with one embodiment of the invention in which a plastic lens is used, the optical body is made of glass with a dichroic coating configured so that the infrared component of light from the bulb is transmitted through the dichroic coating and emitted through the rear of the optical body. This reduces transmission of heat from the bulb to the plastic lens so that the lens can be positioned closer to the optical body, which decreases the fore/aft extent of the headlamp assemblies. In another embodiment of the invention the dichroic coating is tuned not to reflect yellow wavelength light.

Growing community of inventors

Sterling Heights, MI, United States of America

Michael K Larsen