US 12,459,418 B2
Signal light display and environment detection by means of the same device
Eugen Thiessen, Bad Rothenfelde (DE); and Roman Danov, Hannover (DE)
Assigned to Volkswagen Aktiengesellschaft, Wolfsburg (DE)
Filed by Volkswagen Aktiengesellschaft, Wolfsburg (DE)
Filed on Nov. 3, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/518,394.
Claims priority of application No. 102020213826.5 (DE), filed on Nov. 3, 2020.
Prior Publication US 2022/0134940 A1, May 5, 2022
Int. Cl. G02B 5/20 (2006.01); B60Q 1/00 (2006.01); B60Q 1/34 (2006.01); G01S 17/10 (2020.01); G01S 17/86 (2020.01); G02B 5/28 (2006.01); G01S 17/931 (2020.01)
CPC B60Q 1/0023 (2013.01) [B60Q 1/34 (2013.01); G01S 17/10 (2013.01); G01S 17/86 (2020.01); G02B 5/208 (2013.01); G02B 5/28 (2013.01); G01S 17/931 (2020.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A device for signal light display and environment detection, comprising:
a first light source configured to emit visible light in a first spectral range, and a second light source that is configured to emit invisible light in a second spectral range;
a lighting surface, within the device, configured to reflect and/or transmit light in the first spectral range in a diffused manner to form an automotive signal light;
a material layer that is (i) at least substantially transparent for light in the second spectral range, or (ii) is configured to reflect light in the second spectral range with minimal diffusion;
a deflection unit configured to deflect the visible light emitted from the first light source onto the lighting surface and deflect the invisible light emitted from the second light source onto the material layer, wherein the material layer is located in proximity to the deflection unit and the second light source such that the invisible light deflected onto the material layer is emitted for environment detection in the environment of the device; and
a control unit, configured to control the first light source to temporally modulate the visible light in order to display a pattern or symbol as a light signal on the lighting surface using the visible light deflected onto the lighting surface by the deflection unit.