The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Jul. 23, 2002
Filed:
Oct. 17, 2000
Timothy Fohl, Carlisle, MA (US);
Jeffrey Thomas Remillard, Ypsilanti, MI (US);
Willes H. Weber, Ann Arbor, MI (US);
Ford Global Technologies, Inc., Dearborn, MI (US);
Abstract
An optical element, a lighting system utilizing the optical element and a method of manipulating light from a source to provide an illumination pattern suitable for use in a night vision system and exterior lighting applications is disclosed. The optical element has an input surface and an output surface disposed at approximately perpendicular to the input surface. A stepped surface angles between the input surface and the output surface intersecting the light inside the optical element. Multiple facets are formed in the stepped surface to reflect the light towards the output surface. The input, stepped and output surfaces are arranged such that the light reflects only from the stepped surface. The optical element has a rectangular shape in one embodiment and a wedge shape in a second embodiment.