Lighting assembly with integrated optical diffuser

Abstract

An integrated lighting element assembly includes a transparent light-transmitting portion and an opaque or translucent optical diffuser. The light-transmitting portion has a light-transmitting surface. The optical diffuser is integrated or co-molded with the light-transmitting element to form a boundary of the light-transmitting surface. A light source is configured to direct incident light into the light-transmitting portion in response to a lighting control signal. A controller may generate the lighting control signal in response to activation of a user input device such as a turn signal lever or transmission mode selection lever. The optical diffuser may be parallel to and contiguous with the longitudinal surfaces of the light-transmitting element. A headlight assembly includes first and second headlights having respective low- and high-beam functions, and the lighting element assembly, which is positioned with respect to one of the headlights.