PATENT DOCUMENT

Publication Number: US-11230225-B1
Application Number: US-201916526905-A
Country: US
Kind Code: B1

Title: Exterior lighting

Abstract:
Light-based devices may be provided that emit light. The light-based devices may be incorporated into systems such as vehicles. The light-based devices may include light sources such as light-emitting diodes and lasers. Mirrors may be used to collimate light from the light sources. Light modulators may be used to pattern light from the light sources. The light sources may include light sources of different colors. Arrays of pixels may be used to provide dynamically varying patterns of emitted light. A light source may produce light that is diffracted by an array of diffractive elements on a window. Mechanical and electrical shutters may obscure light sources, mirrors, and light-emitting components mounted on windows.

Claims:
What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A light-based device for a vehicle, comprising:
 a light source that emits light; 
 a mirror from which the light reflects before exiting the vehicle; and 
 an electrically adjustable light modulator between the light source and the mirror, wherein the electrically adjustable light modulator is operable in a transparent state that allows the light to pass through the electrically adjustable light modulator before being reflected out of the vehicle by the mirror and is operable in an opaque state in which the light is blocked from reaching the mirror and exiting the vehicle, and wherein the electrically adjustable light modulator entirely covers the mirror to obscure the light source from view in the opaque state. 
 
     
     
       2. The light-based device defined in  claim 1  wherein the electrically adjustable light modulator comprises a liquid crystal layer. 
     
     
       3. The light-based device defined in  claim 1  wherein the electrically adjustable light modulator comprises an electrochromic device. 
     
     
       4. The light-based device defined in  claim 1  wherein the mirror is a first mirror, the light-based device further comprising:
 a second mirror that collimates light from the light source before the light reaches the electrically adjustable light modulator and the first mirror. 
 
     
     
       5. The light-based device defined in  claim 1 , wherein the mirror is configured to reflect the light out of the vehicle through an opening in a vehicle body that separates an interior of the vehicle from an exterior of the vehicle. 
     
     
       6. The light-based device defined in  claim 5 , wherein the mirror is configured to reflect the light out of the vehicle through a transparent layer mounted in the opening. 
     
     
       7. The light-based device defined in  claim 6  wherein the transparent layer is curved. 
     
     
       8. The light-based device defined in  claim 6 , wherein the light-based device forms a headlight of the vehicle. 
     
     
       9. The light-based device defined in  claim 6 , wherein the light-based device forms a brake light of the vehicle. 
     
     
       10. The light-based device defined in  claim 6 , wherein the light-based device forms a turn signal of the vehicle. 
     
     
       11. The light-based device defined in  claim 1 , wherein the light source comprises a light-emitting diode (LED). 
     
     
       12. The light-based device defined in  claim 11 , wherein the light-based device forms a steerable headlight of the vehicle. 
     
     
       13. The light-based device defined in  claim 12 , wherein the electrically adjustable light modulator is layered on the mirror and the light-based device further comprises an electrically controllable positioner configured to steer the mirror in different directions to adjust an angle at which the light is reflected before exiting the vehicle. 
     
     
       14. The light-based device defined in  claim 1 , wherein the electrically adjustable light modulator is layered on the mirror. 
     
     
       15. The light-based device defined in  claim 14 , wherein the electrically adjustable light modulator comprises an electrochromic device. 
     
     
       16. The light-based device defined in  claim 14 , wherein the electrically adjustable light modulator comprises a liquid crystal layer. 
     
     
       17. The light-based device defined in  claim 1 , wherein the electrically adjustable light modulator comprises an electrically controllable shutter. 
     
     
       18. The light-based device in  claim 17 , wherein the electrically controllable shutter is in direct contact with the mirror. 
     
     
       19. A light-based device for a vehicle, comprising:
 a light source that emits light; 
 a mirror from which the light reflects before exiting the vehicle; 
 an electrically adjustable light modulator between the light source and the mirror, wherein the electrically adjustable light modulator is operable in a transparent state that allows the light to pass through the electrically adjustable light modulator before being reflected out of the vehicle by the mirror and is operable in an opaque state in which the light is blocked from reaching the mirror and exiting the vehicle, and wherein the electrically adjustable light modulator obscures the light source from view in the opaque state; and 
 an electrically controllable positioner configured to steer the mirror in different directions to adjust an angle at which the light is reflected before exiting the vehicle. 
 
     
     
       20. The light-based device defined in  claim 19 , wherein the light-based device forms a steerable headlight for the vehicle.

Description:
This application is a division of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/092,540, filed Apr. 6, 2016, which claims the benefit of provisional patent application No. 62/143,703, filed Apr. 6, 2015, each of which is hereby incorporated by reference herein in its entirety. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND 
     This relates generally to lighting, and, more particularly, to vehicle lighting. 
     Vehicles such as automobiles have exterior lighting such as turn signals, headlights, and taillights. Light sources such as light-emitting diodes and lamps have been used to provide illumination for exterior lights. 
     It can be challenging to incorporate light sources into a vehicle. If care is not taken, light sources may be overly conspicuous or may consume more space within a vehicle than desired. 
     It would therefore be desirable to be able to provide enhanced exterior lighting for vehicles. 
     SUMMARY 
     A vehicle or other system may be provided with light-based devices that emit light. The light may serve as illumination for the interior or exterior of the device. For example, the light-based devices may serve as headlights on a vehicle. The light may also serve to convey braking information or other information to observers outside of the vehicle. Emitted light from the light-based devices may include text and symbols. Different patterns of light may be emitted under different braking conditions or in response to detection of other changes in vehicle operating conditions. 
     A light-based device for a vehicle may be formed from a leaky optical fiber or other leaky optical waveguide. A laser, light-emitting diode, or other component may serve as a light source for the light-based device. A mirror may collimate light from the light source. A protective transparent cover may cover the light-based device when the light-based device is mounted in an opening in the body of the vehicle. 
     A mechanical or electrical shutter may be operated in a transparent mode when the light source is producing light and an opaque mode in which the light source is not producing light. When operated in the opaque mode, the shutter may obscure the light source, mirror, and other internal components from view from an observer located outside of the vehicle. 
     The shutter may include a mechanical shutter that is moved using a positioner. Electronic shutters may be implemented using light modulating layers such as liquid crystal shutters and electrochromic shutters. 
     Light modulators in the light-based devices may be adjusted dynamically to produce patterns of output light that vary as a function of applied vehicle braking or other vehicle operating conditions. Sensors, wireless circuitry that receives information on traffic and weather, and user input devices may be used in gathering input that affects how the light-based devices are adjusted. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a side view of an illustrative vehicle with light-based devices in accordance with an embodiment. 
         FIG. 2  is a schematic diagram of an illustrative vehicle or other system with light-based devices in accordance with an embodiment. 
         FIG. 3  is a diagram showing how leaky optical fibers may be used to serve as a light-based device for a vehicle in accordance with an embodiment. 
         FIG. 4  is a cross-sectional side view of an illustrative vehicle light having a conformal light source in accordance with an embodiment. 
         FIG. 5  is a cross-sectional side view of illustrative vehicle lighting having a transparent light-emitting device sandwiched between a vehicle window and an electronic shutter such as a liquid crystal shutter or electrochromic shutter in accordance with an embodiment. 
         FIG. 6  is a cross-sectional side view of an illustrative transparent vehicle window structure with diffractive elements that can be used to direct light in a desired direction in accordance with an embodiment. 
         FIGS. 7A, 7B, 7C, and 7D  are rear views of an illustrative vehicle window that has an integrated light-emitting device that displays information for following vehicles in accordance with an embodiment. 
         FIG. 8  is a cross-sectional side view of illustrative vehicle lighting based on an array of illuminated microperforations in accordance with an embodiment. 
         FIG. 9  is a cross-sectional side view of an illustrative vehicle lighting system having multicolored backlighting in accordance with an embodiment. 
         FIG. 10  is a diagram showing illustrative information of the type that may be displayed using a vehicle lighting system of the type shown in  FIG. 9  in accordance with an embodiment. 
         FIG. 11  is a cross-sectional side view of an illustrative vehicle lighting system having a backlight and a light modulator with an array of pixels accordance with an embodiment. 
         FIG. 12  is a cross-sectional side view of an illustrative vehicle lighting system having an array of light-emitting elements in accordance with an embodiment. 
         FIG. 13  is a cross-sectional side view of an illustrative vehicle lighting system having an array of elements illuminated by a light source such as a laser in accordance with an embodiment. 
         FIG. 14  is a cross-sectional side view of an illustrative vehicle lighting system with an electrically adjustable shutter to selectively cover a light source and mirror in accordance with an embodiment. 
         FIG. 15  is a cross-sectional side view of an illustrative vehicle lighting system with a movable mechanical shutter to selectively cover a light source and mirror in accordance with an embodiment. 
         FIG. 16  is a cross-sectional side view of an illustrative vehicle lighting system with a louvered shutter that may be used to selectively cover a light source in accordance with an embodiment. 
         FIG. 17  is a cross-sectional view of an illustrative vehicle lighting system with an adjustable mirror that may be adjusted to help selectively obscure a light source and mirror from view in accordance with an embodiment. 
         FIG. 18  is a cross-sectional view of an illustrative vehicle lighting system with a movable shutter system that can be used to selectively block a light source in accordance with an embodiment. 
         FIG. 19  is a cross-sectional side view of an illustrative vehicle light having a shutter that is selectively interposed or not interposed between a light source and a lens such as a total-internal-reflection lens in accordance with an embodiment. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Systems such as vehicles and other systems may incorporate light-emitting devices. As an example, a vehicle may have headlights that emit light to provide illumination to areas in front of a vehicle, taillights to provide drivers behind a vehicle with braking and turn signal information, and other vehicle lighting (e.g., fog lights, parking lights, side lights, etc.). 
     A side view of an illustrative vehicle of the type that may be provided with vehicle lighting is shown in  FIG. 1 . As shown in  FIG. 1 , vehicle  10  may include a body such as body  12 . Body  12  may have body panels and other structures that are mounted on a chassis. Interior components in vehicle  10  such as seating for a driver and other vehicle occupants may be supported by the chassis. External components such as wheels  18  may also be mounted to the chassis. The structures that make up body  12  may include metal structures, structures formed from fiber-composite materials such as carbon-fiber materials and fiberglass, plastic, and other materials. 
     Vehicle body  12  may include doors. Windows  14  may be formed at the front and rear of vehicle  10  in openings in body  12  and may be formed within the doors or other portions of the body  12  of vehicle  10 . As shown in  FIG. 1 , for example, vehicle  10  may have a front window such as front window  14 F that faces the front of vehicle, rearward facing windows such as rear window  14 R, and side windows such as windows mounted within the doors of vehicle  10  (see, e.g., side windows  14 D). Windows  14  may be formed from glass (e.g., glass laminated with polymer layers), plastics such as polycarbonate, or other clear materials. 
     Devices that emit light may be used in vehicle  10  to provide exterior lighting (e.g., environmental lighting), to display information for pedestrians, drivers and passengers in vehicles that are in the vicinity of vehicle  10 , and other observers. Because these devices emit light, they may sometimes be referred to as light-based devices, light-emitting devices, or lighting systems. Light-based devices for vehicle  10  may include vehicle lights (e.g., headlights, taillights, etc.). 
     In some configurations, the light-emitting devices of a vehicle may supply text, icons, stationary or moving patterns of light, colored light, light that varies in intensity, and/or other light-based output that can inform a nearby pedestrian, driver, or autonomously operated computing equipment such as an autonomously operated vehicle, traffic management system, roadside camera system, or other systems of the intentions of the driver of the vehicle. As an example, a driver can direct a light-based device such as a turn signal to supply output that indicates whether the driver is about to turn left or right. Input from sensors, wirelessly received information (e.g., information from nearby vehicles, pedestrians, transmitters embedded along roadways, etc.), and/or information from other sources can be used in determining what type of output to supply using a light-based device. For example, information on the operating environment of vehicle  10  and/or input from a driver of vehicle  10  can be used in determining when and how to activate a brake light or other light-based warning to following vehicles (e.g., a rear window warning, taillight warning, etc.). Output from vehicle  10  may also include audio output for a driver and/or others in the vicinity of vehicle  10 . Illustrative configurations in which light-based devices are used for supplying various types of output are sometimes described herein as an example. In general, any suitable input and output devices may be used for gathering information on the operation of vehicle  10  and may be used for supplying output to a driver of vehicle  10  and others. 
     A schematic diagram of illustrative circuitry that may be used in operating vehicle  10  is shown in  FIG. 2 . As shown in  FIG. 2 , vehicle  10  may include control circuitry  20 . Control circuitry  20  may include storage and processing circuitry for supporting the operation of device  10 . The storage and processing circuitry may include storage such as hard disk drive storage, nonvolatile memory (e.g., flash memory or other electrically-programmable-read-only memory configured to form a solid state drive), volatile memory (e.g., static or dynamic random-access-memory), etc. Processing circuitry in control circuitry  12  may be used to control the operation of device  10 . The processing circuitry may be based on one or more microprocessors, microcontrollers, digital signal processors, baseband processors, power management units, audio chips, application specific integrated circuits, electronic control units, etc. 
     Vehicle  10  may include input-output devices  22  that allow data to be supplied to vehicle  10  and that allow data to be provided from vehicle  10  to external systems. Input-output devices  22  may include sensors  20  for gathering information on the operating environment of vehicle  10 . Sensors  20  may include light-based sensors, wireless sensors such as radar sensors, ultrasonic sensors, proximity sensors, range-finding sensors, ambient light sensors, strain gauges, parking sensors, cruise control sensors, accelerometers, touch sensors, magnetic sensors such as electronic compass sensors, temperature sensors, rain sensors and other moisture sensors, force sensors, pressure sensors (e.g., altimeters), and other components for making measurements on the environment surrounding vehicle  10 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 2 , input-output devices  22  may include user input-output devices  26 . Devices  26  may be used to gather input from users (e.g., a driver or passenger of vehicle  10 ) and may be used in providing output to users. Devices  26  may include buttons, joysticks, steering wheels, shift levels and/or buttons, foot-actuated controllers (e.g., a throttle pedal, a brake pedal, a clutch pedal, etc.), touch pads, keypads, keyboards, motion sensors, microphones, cameras, and other devices for gathering user input. Input devices in devices  26  may also circuitry for generating audio output such as speakers, tone generators, and vibrators and circuitry for generating visible output. Light-based devices  28  may include internal devices and external devices for providing light-based output. Light-based devices  28  may include lamps, light-emitting diodes and other status indicators, displays, lasers, arrays of light sources, individual light sources, backlight units for displays, light sources that emit one or more beams of light (e.g., a laser or collimated light source), light sources that emit light in a fixed pattern of one or more beams, light sources that emit light using raster scanning techniques, lights that include mechanical and/or electrical modulators such as mechanical shutters, liquid crystal shutters, electrochromic shutters, electrically and/or mechanically adjusted mirrors, or other electronic or mechanical light modulators, etc. 
     Light-based devices  28  may contain individually controlled areas. These areas may be relatively small areas that may serve as pixels in an array of pixels for a display-type output device and/or may contain one or only a few larger controlled areas (e.g., areas that are patterned to form predefined symbols). Light-based devices  28  may display one or more larger-sized outputs (e.g., light output for a brake light, light output that includes text, light output that includes an arrow or other symbol, etc.). These different outputs may be varied as a function of operating conditions or other input. 
     In some configurations, light-based devices  28  may use an array of pixels or other arrangements to display images, to display text, to display icons, to display video, or to display other visual output. In a mechanical or electronic shutter, the shutter may be directed to either pass light or to block light. Shutters may be used to obscure portions of light-based devices  28  from view by an observer outside of vehicle  10 . Shutters and other structures may also be used to block portions of light-based devices  28  from view by observers inside vehicle  10 . 
     Devices  28  with individually controlled pixels may be capable of supplying detailed output such as detailed symbols, images, text, etc. The functions of light-based devices  28  and user input-output devices  26  need not be mutually exclusive. For example, a device that supplies output to a vehicle that is following vehicle  10  in a line of traffic may also supply output to the driver or a passenger of vehicle  10 . 
     Light-based devices  28  may include light sources such as lasers, light-emitting diodes, and lamps. Light-based devices  28  may include modulators such as mechanical shutters, liquid crystal devices (e.g., devices with arrays of pixels and/or that serve as shutters), cholesteric liquid crystal devices or other liquid crystal shutters that exhibit opaque (light scattering) and transparent modes, electrochromic devices that exhibit opaque and transparent modes, and other modulating devices. Devices  28  may produce rasterized output (e.g., rastered laser beams), may include backlit devices, and may include other equipment for producing light-based output. 
     Wireless circuitry  32  may include radio-frequency transceiver circuitry and antennas for transmitting and receiving wireless signals. The signals may include, for example, short-range signals such as wireless local area network signals (WiFi® and Bluetooth® signals) and long-range signals (e.g., cellular telephone signals and other signals at frequencies of 700 MHz to 2700 MHz and/or other suitable frequencies). Wireless information may be shared with nearby vehicles, sensors and beacons embedded along a roadway, satellites, cellular telephone networks, cellular telephones, wristwatches, and other wireless devices associated with a driver and passengers in vehicle  10 , etc. Wireless information that is received by circuitry  32  may include traffic information, weather information, information on the status of nearby vehicles (e.g., direction of motion, acceleration/decelaration, brake status (braking due to application of brakes by a driver or not braking), throttle status (applied or not applied), temperature information, road condition information (as measured by sensors in vehicles and/or external sensors), etc. 
     Vehicle controls  34  may include control circuitry, actuators, and other systems for controlling vehicle operation. Vehicle controls  34  may include systems for steering, braking (manual brakes, emergency brakes, power-assisted brakes, drum brakes, disc brakes, regenerative brakes that use drive motors or other systems to recover energy and convert the kinetic energy of vehicle  10  into electrical energy stored in capacitors and/or batteries or that use other techniques for storing recovered energy, or other braking systems), accelerating, shifting gears, adjusting interior and exterior lights, adjusting infotainment functions, controlling satellite navigation system operation, adjusting airbags, seatbelts, and other safety devices, controlling audio output, controlling electronic windows, door locks, the opening and closing of doors and hatches, windshield wipers, defrosters, and other climate controls, and systems for controlling and adjusting other operations during the operating of vehicle  10 . 
     Using information from sensors  30 , user input and other input from devices  26 , and/or information received wirelessly from remote sources via wireless circuitry  32 , vehicle  10  may determine actions to take in supplying output and otherwise controlling the operation of vehicle  10 . As an example, control circuitry  20  may determine that light-based devices  28  should be adjusted to supply headlight output, to supply brake light output (e.g., output from a taillight such as light  16 R or rear window  14 R that includes braking light and/or icons or information indicating that vehicle  10  is being braked), to supply turn signal information, or to supply other light-based output. Control circuitry  20  can also supply visible and/or audio output to a driver and passengers of vehicle  10  using devices  26  (e.g., by issuing audio alerts, by displaying output information on a display in an infotainment system in vehicle  10 , etc.). Control circuitry  20  may, if desired, control the steering, braking, and acceleration functions and other functions of vehicle  10  in response to the information received from devices  26 , circuitry  32 , and/or sensors  30 . As an example, vehicle  10  may steer and brake vehicle  10  to avoid collisions or to autonomously reach a desired destination. 
     Light-based devices  28  may be used in implementing interior and/or exterior lighting systems for vehicle  10 . As an example, light-based devices  28  may be used in forming headlights  16 F, taillights  16 R, lights on mirrors (e.g., side mirror turn lights located near the front of side windows  14 D), fog lights, spotlights, other external lights  16  for vehicle  10 . Lights  16  may be formed in openings in body  12  (e.g., a taillight opening for each taillight  16 R, etc.). If desired, light-based devices  28  may provide trim around headlights, taillights, or other lights, and/or may provide output through rear window  14 R or other windows  14 . 
     Light-based devices  28  may be configured to have an appearance that contrasts with body  12  or may be provided with an appearance that blends with body  12 . For example, light-based devices  28  may be provided with a color, texture, and/or other visual attributes that match the visual attributes of nearby portions of body  12 . If, as an example, body  12  has a dark appearance, light-based devices  28  may be operable in a state (e.g., an off state) in which the external appearance of light-based devices  28  is also dark. With this type of arrangement, light-based devices  28  may appear sufficiently similar to body  12  and/or other portions of vehicle  10  to be hidden or nearly hidden from view. If desired, light-based devices  28  may have an appearance that makes devices  28  visible against body  12  (i.e., light-based devices  28  may have an appearance that contrasts with that of body  12 ). Illustrative arrangements in which light-based devices  28  have an appearance that minimizes visual disturbance (i.e., that hides some or all of the components of light-based devices  28  from view from the exterior of vehicle  10 ) may sometimes be described herein as an example. 
     An illustrative configuration for light-based device  28  in which light is guided through leaky optical fibers or other optical waveguides is shown in  FIG. 3 . With this type of arrangement, device  28  may include one or more light sources such as lasers  40 . Lasers  40  may be diode lasers that produce laser light of a desired color (e.g., red, blue, green, yellow, white, etc.). Each laser  40  may produce light of a different color that is launched into a respective different optical waveguide or one or more of lasers  40  may produce light of the same color. Waveguides  44  may be optical fibers formed from clear plastic, transparent glass, or other transparent material. Waveguides  44  may have a core with a first index of refraction and a cladding with a second index of refraction that is lower than the first index of refraction or may have other light guiding structures (e.g., waveguides  44  may be formed from a core fiber material that has not cladding). Waveguides  44  may, if desired, be formed on a flexible substrate or other substrate. Fiber-based waveguides may be secured in a desired shape using adhesive, fasteners, or other mounting arrangements. 
     Waveguides  44  may be configured to have a leaky characteristic (e.g., waveguides  44  may be formed from materials having index of refraction values and light scattering attributes that cause waveguides  44  to emit light outwards along their lengths). As shown in the example of  FIG. 3 , lasers  40  may launch light  42  into waveguides  44 . Due to their leaky nature, light  42  may leak out of waveguides  44  evenly (or unevenly) along their lengths, as shown by emitted light  46  in  FIG. 3 . This allows waveguides  44  to serve as light-emitting structures for device  28 . Waveguides  44  may be used as trim pieces that surround other light-emitting structures, may be used to form text, symbols, or other shapes, may be mounted within body panel gaps in body  12  or other recesses within body  12 , or may be mounted elsewhere within vehicle  10 . 
     In the illustrative configuration of  FIG. 4 , body  12  has an opening such as opening  50  and light-based device  28  has light-emitting component  54 . Light-based device  28  may have a protective outer layer such as protective cover layer  52 . Layer  52  may be formed from clear or colored glass, plastic, or other clear and/or colored material. Cover layer  52  may have a curved surface that is configured to mate with the curved outer surface of surrounding portions of body  12  and/or the outer surface and opposing inner surface of cover layer  52  may have other shapes (e.g., planar surfaces, profiles with curved and flat portions, etc.). Light-emitting layer  54  may be based on an organic light-emitting diode structure (e.g., one or more organic light-emitting diodes) and may be formed on a flexible substrate. Light-emitting diode layer  54  may emit light in a single block, may have two or more individually controlled portions, may have pre-patterned portions in the shape of symbols (e.g., arrows, parts of arrows, warning signs, etc.), may have numerous pixels to form a low-resolution or high-resolution display, or may have other structure that allow an on-off signal or more complex light-based output (e.g., an image, an icon, text, etc.) to be displayed. 
     Light-emitting layer  54  may be mounted to the inner surface of protective cover  52  (e.g., using adhesive, heat and pressure, etc.). Support structure  56  may be formed from plastic, metal, glass, other materials and/or combinations of these materials. If desired, light-emitting layer  54  may be a flexible organic light-emitting diode device formed from one or more independently controlled or parallel light-emitting diodes on a substrate such as a transparent polyimide substrate or other clear flexible sheet of polymer. In this configuration, support structure  56  may be a molded plastic part, a machined structure, a backing layer, or other supporting member that has a color and texture that helps match the appearance of light-based device  28  in opening  50  to that of the surrounding adjacent portions of vehicle body  12 . 
     If, as, an example, body  12  is blue, structure  56  may be blue. Light-emitting layer  54  may be operated in a first state (an ON state) in which the diode(s) of layer  54  emit light  58  to the exterior of vehicle  10  and in a second state (an OFF state) in which the diode(s) of layer  54  do not emit light so that layer  54  is transparent. In the transparent off state of layer  54 , an observer located outside of vehicle  10  will view structure  56  through protective layer  52  and layer  54  (which is transparent). Because layer  56  is blue (in this example), light-based device  28  in opening  50  will have a blue color that matches the blue color of surrounding portions of body  12 . If desired, the colored structures of layer  56  may be incorporated into the substrate layer for light-emitting device  54  (i.e., layers  54  and  56  may be formed from a unitary structure). 
     As shown in  FIG. 5 , light-based device  28  may be configured to emit light  64  out of the rear portion of vehicle  10 . Light-based device  28  may, for example, be mounted behind rear window  14 R. Window  14 R may be formed from plastic, glass, and/or other transparent materials. Light-based device  28  may include a light-emitting layer such as layer  60 . As described in connection with layer  54  of  FIG. 4 , layer  60  may have one or more light-emitting diodes or other structures that are operated individually and/or in parallel to output desired patterns of light  64  out of rear window  14 R. A driver of a vehicle that is following behind vehicle  10  may observe the pattern of light  64  produced by light-based device  28 . This allows light  64  to be used as a one-level or multiple-level brake light, to provide the following driver with status information on road conditions (e.g., “obstruction ahead”) or to otherwise supply the following driver with appropriate information. 
     Light-emitting layer  60  may be formed on a transparent polyimide substrate or other flexible transparent substrate, which allows layer  60  to conform to the inner surface of window  14 R. Adhesive or other attachment mechanisms may be used to mount layer  60  to window  14 R. Layer  62  may be an electrically controllable light modulating device such as an electronic shutter. Layer  62  may be, for example, a shutter as a cholesteric liquid crystal shutter that exhibits a transparent state and an opaque state. When layer  60  is off, control circuitry  20  may place layer  62  in its transparent state. This allows the driver of vehicle  10  to see clearly through rear window  14 R without visual obstruction due to the presence of device  28 . When layer  60  is on and is emitting light  64 , layer  62  may either be transparent (in which case the driver can observe that the brake light or other light output  64  that is being provided to the following vehicle is present) or may be opaque (in which case light  64  is blocked and does not distract the driver). In the opaque state, layer  62  may either absorb light  64  that is directed towards layer  62  or may be reflective to help recycle light  64  by reflecting light  64  from layer  60  out the rear of vehicle  10  through window  14 R. 
     As shown in  FIG. 6 , light-based device  28  may have a light source such as light source  66  that emits beams of light  68 . Light source  66  may include a laser, a light-emitting diode, or other component that generates light. Beams  68  may be generated by passing emitted light from a laser, light-emitting diode, or other light-generating component through a fixed optical beam splitting structure (e.g., a structure with lenses, gratings, mirrors, or other structures for creating multiple parallel beams from an input beam) and/or by using a mechanical or optical beam steering device to raster scan the output beam from source  66  over multiple beam positions (shown as separate beams  68  in  FIG. 6 ). Individual beams  68  may also be produced by respective individual lasers or other light sources. Beams  68  may be aligned with diffractive elements  70  that are mounted within or on rear window  14 R. As each beam  68  strikes an associated diffractive element  70 , that diffractive element diffracts beam  68  rearward towards the driver of the vehicle following vehicle  10 , as indicated by diffracted beams  72  of  FIG. 6 . The fixed patterned of intensities of beams  68  or the dynamically adjusted intensities of beams  68  may be used to produce fixed and/or dynamically adjusted patterns of light  72  and may be used to present warning signs, text, graphics, and other information. Diffractive structures for forming elements  70  may be formed as integral portions of rear window  14 R, as part of a textured polymer or glass layer attached to the inner surface of rear window  14 R, as discrete elements mounted on window  14 R, as a coating on window  14 R, or may be formed using other structures for directing light beams  68  in the rearward direction indicated by beams  72 . 
     With one suitable arrangement, systems of the types shown in  FIGS. 5 and 6  or other light-based devices  28  may be used to produce braking indicators that vary as a function of braking intensity, vehicle speed, driving conditions, sensor inputs, traffic, wirelessly received data, or other factors. Consider, as an example, the displayed output on rear window  14 R of  FIGS. 7A, 7B, 7C, and 7D . As shown in  FIG. 7A , when no light output is being produced by light-based device  28  (e.g., light-based device  28  of  FIG. 5 , light-based device  28  of  FIG. 6 , or other light-based device  28  that presents information on rear window  14 R), rear window  14 R may be transparent and may therefore be free of visible obstructions to the driver of vehicle  10  or the driver of the vehicle following vehicle  10 . As shown in  FIG. 7B , when the driver of vehicle  10  lightly brakes vehicle  10 , an area such as rectangular area  74  may be illuminated by device  28 . Area  74  may be positioned in a region of rear window  14 R that allows area  74  to serve as a center high mounted stop light. When the driver of vehicle  10  brakes moderately, an additional brake alert such as alert information  76  may be displayed below illuminated area  74 , as shown in  FIG. 7C . Additional information  76  may include warning icons such a warning triangle  78  and warning messages such as warning message  80  (e.g., text). In response to hard braking by the driver of vehicle  10 , most or all of the rear surface of window  14 R may be illuminated by device  28  in addition to illuminating area  74  and displaying information  76 , as shown by illustrative illuminated region  82  of  FIG. 7D . 
     If desired, there may be more levels of information displayed or fewer levels of information displayed on rear window  14 R, information of the type shown in  FIGS. 7A, 7B, 7C , and  7 D and/or other information presented by device  28  may be displayed elsewhere in vehicle  10  (e.g., on front window  14 R, on side windows  14 D, on a rear-view mirror, etc.), and/or input other than braking information (e.g., information on weather conditions, traffic, vehicle speed, the behavior of pedestrians, sensor data, etc.) may be used in determining what level of alert or other information to display with device  28 . The arrangement of  FIGS. 7A, 7B, 7C, and 7D  is merely illustrative. 
     In the illustrative configuration of  FIG. 8 , light-based device  28  has an array of light sources  84  such as light-emitting diodes, lasers, lamps, etc. Light sources  84  may be aligned with respective openings  88  in body  12 . Openings  88  may be circular, rectangular, or may have other shapes. During operation, light sources  84  may be adjusted to produce light  86  that passes through openings  88  for viewing by an observer located outside of vehicle  10 . Light sources  84  may each produce the same amount of light or some or all of light sources  84  may be individually adjusted so that light-based device  28  can produce different light output patterns under different operating conditions, as described in connection with light-based devices  28  of  FIGS. 5 and 6  and the illustrative arrangement of  FIGS. 7A, 7B, 7C, and 7D . There may fifty or more openings  88  and respective light sources  84  or any other suitable number of openings and light sources (10-1000, more than 10, more than 10,000, less than 5,000, etc.). Openings  88  may have widths (e.g., diameters) of 0.1 to 10 mm, less than 5 mm, less than 2 mm, less than 1 mm, less than 0.5 mm, or less than 0.3 mm. The use of relatively small opening sizes for openings  88  may help minimize the visual impact of placing light-based device  28  of  FIG. 8  on the exterior surface of body  12  of vehicle  10 . There may be a sufficient number of light sources  88  in light-based device  28  of  FIG. 8  to cover 1-100 cm 2  of surface area on body  12 , to cover 50-1000 cm 2  of surface area on body  12 , to cover more than 10 cm 2  of surface area, or to cover less than 2000 cm 2  of surface area (as examples). 
     If desired, openings such as openings  88  or larger openings may be filled with polarizers, one-way mirrors, or other materials to help block interior components from view. Polarized glass for lights  16  may prevent diffuse light from the exterior of vehicle  10  from illuminating internal components, while allowing polarized light from a light source inside device  28  from exiting vehicle  10 . A corresponding polarizing filter may be placed on windows  14  (e.g., front window  14 F) to help block reflected light (e.g., window  14 F may have a polarizer that is complementary to the polarization of lights  16 ), thereby reducing headlight glare (i.e., glare from headlights  16 F in other vehicles). One-way mirrors may allow light from the interior of vehicle to exit vehicle  10  while reflecting exterior light and thereby minimizing the visibility of internal components. 
     In the illustrative example of  FIG. 9 , light-based device  28  includes light sources  90 . There are two light sources  90  in the example of  FIG. 9 . More light sources  90  or fewer light sources  90  may be used, if desired. Light sources  90  may be light-emitting diodes, lasers, lamps, or other sources of illumination. Each light source  90  may, if desired, have a different respective color. For example, in a scenario in which there are two light sources  90  in light-based device  28 , a first of the light sources may be a yellow light source such as a yellow light-emitting diode and a second of the light sources may be a red light source such as a red light-emitting diode. Emitted light  94  from light sources  90  may be reflected through light modulator  96  using light collimating mirror  92  (e.g., a metallized plastic structure, a curved metal member, etc.). Light sources  90  may serve as backlight sources for light modulator  96  (e.g., to provide red and yellow backlight in the example of  FIG. 9 ). 
     Light modulator  96  may be mounted in an opening in body  12 . Body  12  may have curved portions adjacent to modulator  96  and modulator  96  may, if desired, have a curved shape that matches that of body  12  or modulator  96  and/or body  12  may be planar in the vicinity of light-based device  28 . 
     Light modulator  96  may be operable in an opaque state in which the appearance of modulator  96  matches the appearance of body  12  and/or in which modulator  96  is sufficiently dark to block interior components of light-based device such as light sources  90  and mirror  92  from view. When modulator  96  is in its opaque state, light sources  90  may be turned off to conserve power. Light modulator  96  may also have an active state. During the active state, a selected one of light sources  90  is turned on and produces backlight  94  that passes through light modulator  96  (i.e., modulator  96  is at least partly transparent in its active state). 
     Light modulator  96  may be formed from one or more layers  98 . Layers  98  may form a liquid crystal shutter (e.g., layers  98  may include a pair of polarizers, liquid crystal material between the polarizers, and transparent electrodes for modulating the electric field applied to the liquid crystal material). Light modulator  96  may also be formed from other light modulating structures (e.g., electrochromic modulator structures, etc.). Light modulator  96  may be monochromatic (i.e., modulator  96  may exhibit only gray tones). In this type of configuration, different colors for light-based device  28  may be created by selectively activating a light source  90  having a desired backlight color (e.g., red, yellow, etc.). Light modulator  96  may be formed from a uniform sheet of material that toggles between opaque and transparent states or the electrodes of light modulator  96  may be patterned to form arrows, stop sign symbols, or other patterns. The use of a light modulator structure that creates patterned transparent regions allows light-based device  28  to display different patterns of light (e.g., one or more brake light messages, turn signals, chasing light turn signals, hazard warnings, pulsing stop lights or other flashing graphics, text, etc.). 
     If desired, modulator  96  may be configured to exhibit transparency in the event that the operating temperature for vehicle is outside of a desired operating range (e.g., when ambient temperature conditions are lower than desired) and/or when modulator  96  otherwise is unable to perform desired active modulation functions. With this type of fail-safe arrangement, light  94  may be emitted by light-based device  28  even if modulator  96  is unable to be electronically switched. 
     In the example of  FIG. 9 , there are two light sources  90  each of which produces light with a different color (yellow and red, respectively). Modulator  96  is monochromatic and can therefore be used to display red output (when the red light source is active) or yellow output (when the yellow light source is active). Light sources  90  may be operated continuously (e.g., with a persistent ON or OFF state, as appropriate) or may be time division multiplexed. As an example, the output from sources  90  may be synchronized so that sources  90  produce red light pulses alternated with yellow light pulses. Modulator  96  can be operated in synchronization with the alternating red and yellow output pulses. So long as the frequency of the alternating color pulses and the synchronized operation of modulator  96  is more than the speed with which the human eye responds (about 0.1 s), the output on device  28  will appear constant (non-flickering) to a human observer. The use of a pair of backlight light sources of alternating colors therefore allows light-based device  28  to display content that appears to simultaneously contain multiple different colors (i.e., yellow and red areas in the present example). Three or more backlight sources of different colors may be used in this way, if desired. 
       FIG. 10  is diagram showing illustrative patterns of light output that may be provided by light-based device  28  of  FIG. 9 . When vehicle  10  is braking, red light may be produced by a red backlight source and modulator  96  may be transparent within octagonal stop-sign icon region  100  (and opaque elsewhere). When a driver of vehicle  10  is making a left turn, yellow light may be produced by a yellow backlight source and modulator  96  may adjusted to be transparent within the interior of left turn icon  102  (and opaque elsewhere). A left-turn chasing light turn signal may be implemented by adjusting modulator  96  to make regions  104 - 1 ,  104 - 2 ,  104 - 3 , and  104 - 4  transparent in sequence while generating yellow illumination with sources  90 . In this example, modulator  96  has been provided with electrodes that are patterned to form symbols that overlap. To simplify electrode layouts, each of the different patterns that are displayed on light-based device  28  may be implemented using a discrete set of non-overlapping electrodes in modulator  96 . The arrangement of  FIG. 10  in which differently colored patterns of output light are produced using overlapping light modulator electrodes (for creating overlapping light modulator transparent regions) is merely illustrative. 
     The use of a light modulator such as light modulator  96  of  FIG. 9  that has relatively large electrodes (e.g., an electrode for modulating electric fields through a large octagon-shaped region of modulator  96 , electrodes for large turn-signal areas of modulator  96 , etc.) or the use of an organic light-emitting diode display panel with similarly shaped large diode electrodes helps reduce electrode complexity. The use of a monochromatic arrangement for modulator  96  may help enhance light transmission and improve power efficiency. 
     If desired, more complex “display-like” configurations may be used for light-based devices  28 . These devices may allow control circuitry  20  to create potentially complex dynamically adjustable output patterns (e.g., text and/or icons that change depending on operating conditions). For example, different types of messages may be displayed depending on context. Urgent messages may be displayed with more colors, brighter colors, more emphatic wording, more surface area, etc. Less urgent messages may be displayed in less urgent manner. Icons may change depending on context (e.g., icons for braking may be displayed during braking, icons for turning may be displayed when turning, etc.). Software updates and other updates and/or user-adjusted or manufacturer-adjusted settings may be used to modify the type of output that light-based devices  28  produce. For example, the size, shape, color, and movement of a turn signal can be adjusted depending on the current geographic location of vehicle  10 , thereby ensuring that vehicle  10  satisfies applicable vehicle regulations. 
     Illustrative display-type light-based devices  28  that may be used in vehicle  10  are shown in  FIGS. 11, 12, and 13 . In the example of  FIG. 11 , light-based device  28  has a liquid crystal light modulator such as modulator  114  that has an array of individually controllable pixels  116 . There may be any suitable number of pixels  116  in modulator  114  (e.g., hundreds, thousands, etc.). Backlight unit  106  may include a light guide plate such as plate  112 . Light-emitting diodes  108  may emit light  110  into an edge of light guide plate  112 . This light may be conveyed within light guide plate  112  by total internal reflection. A portion of the guided light in plate  112  may be scattered out of plate  112  by light scattering features such as pits or bumps. Reflector  111  may help direct scattered light through modulator  114 . In this way, backlight unit  106  may produce backlight  118  that passes outwardly through modulator  114 . The array of pixels  116  in modulator  114  may be controlled (made transparent, opaque, etc.) by control circuitry  20  to display output light in a desired pattern. 
     In the illustrative example of  FIG. 12 , output light  124  is patterned by controlling an array of individually controlled pixels  122  in organic light-emitting diode device (display)  120 . Organic light-emitting diode device  120  may contain monochromatic pixels  122  or may contain pixels of different colors. As an example, pixels  122  may include red pixels and yellow pixels to produce patterns of red and yellow light of the type described in connection with  FIG. 10 . 
       FIG. 13  is a cross-sectional side view of an illustrative configuration for light-based device  28  that is based on an array of diffractive elements  126 . A light source such as laser  128  may emit a raster scanned light beam  130  or may emit an array of individually controlled light beams  130  to illuminate each of elements  126  to produce a corresponding diffracted output beam  132 . The intensity of light  130  at each element  126  may be modulated so that the pattern of light  132  that is output by device  28  has a desired shape (e.g., the shape of an icon, text, or other information). 
     If desired shutter-type structures may be used to help block internal components in light-based device  28  from view when device  28  is not emitting light. 
     In the illustrative arrangement of  FIG. 14 , device  28  has been formed within opening  150  of body  12 . Protective layer  148  may be layer of plastic, glass, or other transparent material. Layer  148  may be mounted in opening  150  and may have a shape (curvature, etc.) that matches that of body  12 . Electronic shutter  146  may be mounted on the interior of layer  148  and may overlap opening  150 . Shutter  146  may be formed from a liquid crystal shutter device or other light modulator (e.g., shutter  146  may be an electronically controllable shutter based on cholesteric liquid crystals, etc.). Shutter  146  may exhibit a first state in which shutter  146  is transparent. In the first state, light source  142  may produce output light  144  that passes through shutter  146 . Mirror  140  may be used to collimate the light from light source  142 . Shutter  146  may also exhibit a second state in which shutter  146  is opaque (e.g., black or at least translucent) and therefore blocks more light than when shutter  146  is in the first state. When light source  142  (e.g., a light-emitting diode, etc.) is off and is not producing light  144 , shutter  146  may be placed in its second (light blocking) state to help block source  142  and mirror  140  from view from the exterior of vehicle  10 . 
     In the illustrative configuration of  FIG. 15 , light-based device  28  has a protective layer such as protective layer  154  that is mounted in an opening such as opening  152  in body  12 . Layer  154  may be formed from clear material such as glass or plastic and may have a shape that matches the shape of adjoining portions of body  12 . Light source  160  may produce light  164  that is collimated by mirror  162 . When control circuitry  20  turns light source  160  on, light  164  passes through protective layer  154  and is emitted from opening  152  in body  12 . When light source  160  is off and not being used to emit light, shutter  156  may be placed in a position such as the illustrative position of  FIG. 15  in which shutter  156  overlaps and blocks opening  152  and layer  154 . Shutter  156  may be a structure such as plastic or metal sheet that has a color and texture that matches the visual appearance of body  12  (as an example). Shutter  156  may be moved in directions  166  using electrically controlled positioner  158 . Positioner  158  and other shutter components for light-based devices  28  may be controlled by control circuitry  20  of  FIG. 2 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 16 , a mechanical shutter such as the shutter of  FIG. 15  may be implemented using a louvered configuration. With this type of approach, the shutter has louvers that can be pivoted about pivots  156 P by actuators built into pivots  156 P or other positioning components in response to commands from control circuitry  20 . The louvers may be placed in open positions  156 ′ to allow light  164  to be emitted or closed positions  156 ″ to block light source  160  and mirror  162  from view. 
       FIG. 17  shows how light-based device  28  may use an electronically controlled mirror to help obscure a light source and other internal components from view when not in use. Illustrative light-based device  28  of  FIG. 17  has a protective layer such as transparent layer  186  mounted in opening  184  in body  12 . Light source  170  may be turned on and off by control circuitry  20 . When turned on, light source  170  (e.g., a light-emitting diode) may emit light  174  that reflects from electrically controllable mirror  176  and is emitted though protective layer  186 . Mirror  176  may have a reflective support structure such as support structures  190  and an electrically controllable light shutter such as shutter  188 . Shutter  188  may be a light modulator based on a liquid crystal component, electrochromic device, or other component that can be placed in either a transparent state or a light-absorbing state under control of control circuitry  20 . When light source  170  is on, shutter  188  may be placed in its transparent state. This allows light  174  to reflect from layer  190  and pass through layer  186  and opening  184 . Electrically controllable positioner  178  may steer mirror  176  in direction  180  or direction  182  (e.g., when device  28  is being used to implement steerable headlights). When light source  170  is off, shutter  188  may be placed in an opaque (black or at least translucent) state in which mirror  190  is blocked. When mirror  190  is blocked by shutter  188  in this way electronically controlled mirror  176  will not reflect light, so it will be difficult or impossible for an observer outside vehicle  10  to view light source  170  and mirror  172  through opening  184 . 
     Illustrative light-based device  28  of  FIG. 18  has a transparent protective structure such as layer  192  in opening  190  of body  12 . Light source  204  can be turned on to emit light  198 . Light  198  may be reflected from mirror  196  as shown by reflected light ray  200  of  FIG. 18 . Optional optical structures such as lens  194  may be used to help concentrate light  200 . Positioner  206  may be controlled using signals from control circuitry  20  and may be used to move a mechanical shutter. When placed in position  202 , the shutter does not block light  198  and light can be emitted from device  28  through opening  190 . When light source  204  has been turned off, positioner  206  may move the shutter into position  202 ′ to help block light source  204  from view by an observer external to vehicle  10  (without blocking mirror  196  from view). The appearance of the shutter may be chosen to help visually blend device  28  with the exposed exterior surfaces of body  12 . 
     If desired, light-based device  28  may include a total-internal-reflection lens such as lens  222  of  FIG. 19 . Light source  210  (e.g., a light-emitting diode) may emit light. The light may enter lens  222  at lens entrance  226 . Within lens  222 , the light may reflect from the surfaces of lens  222  in accordance with the principle of total internal reflection, as illustrated by the reflection of light ray  216  from surface  220  to produce reflected light ray  218 . At curved exit surface  228 , light  216  may be emitted as collimated light  224 . A mechanical shutter that is controlled by control circuitry  20  can be used to selectively block light source  210  from view. Positioner  212  may move the mechanical shutter into position  214  when it is desired to emit light from light source  210 . When light source  210  is turned off, positioner  212  may move the shutter into position  214 ′ to block light source  210  from view by an observer outside of vehicle  10 . Lens  222  may be mounted in an opening in body  12  (e.g., behind a protective transparent layer). 
     Light-based devices  28  may be used in a system such as vehicle  10  or other suitable equipment. Devices  28  may be used to provide illumination and/or to provide informative light output (e.g., text, graphics, icons, etc.). The light output from devices  28  may be supplied to the interior of vehicle  10  or may be supplied to the exterior of vehicle  10 . Devices  28  may be used to implement rear lights  16 R of  FIG. 1 , front lights  16 F, or other vehicle lights. Devices  28  may also be incorporated into one or more of windows  14  such as window  12 R (e.g., to serve as a high center mounted light or other lighting, to provide informative content, to serve as illumination, to provide heads-up display content to a driver of vehicle  10 , etc.). Other arrangements may be used for devices  28  if desired. The foregoing examples are merely illustrative. 
     The foregoing is merely illustrative and various modifications can be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the scope and spirit of the described embodiments. The foregoing embodiments may be implemented individually or in any combination.

Metadata:
Filing Date: 20190730
Publication Date: 20220125
Grant Date: 20220125
Priority Date: 20150406
Inventors: STEFANOV-WAGNER, Thaddeus
GOLKO, ALBERT J.
COHEN, SAWYER I.
Kamei, Ibuki
GARRONE, RYAN J.
LAST, MATTHEW E.
MAZUIR, Clarisse
Assignee: APPLE INC
CPC Classifications: [{"code": "F21S43/2605", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "F21S41/635", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "B60Q1/2619", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "B60Q1/26", "inventive": true, "first": true, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "B60Q1/5037", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "B60Q1/545", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "B60Q1/543", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "B60Q1/381", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "B60Q1/381", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "B60Q1/26", "inventive": true, "first": true, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "F21S41/645", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "F21S43/00", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "B60Q1/0408", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "F21S41/683", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "F21V14/003", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "B60Q1/268", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "B60Q1/444", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "F21S41/60", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "F21S41/689", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "F21S41/675", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "B60Q1/34", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "F21V14/003", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "B60Q1/0408", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "F21S43/00", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "F21S41/60", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "F21S41/689", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "B60Q1/444", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "F21S41/635", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "F21S41/683", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "B60Q1/268", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "B60Q1/2619", "inventive": true, "first": true, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "F21S43/26", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "F21S41/645", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "F21S41/675", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "B60Q1/34", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "B60Q1/5037", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "B60Q1/545", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "B60Q1/543", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "F21S43/26", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}]
Family ID: 79689886