Lighting device for a vehicle

Abstract

The invention relates to a lighting device for a vehicle, comprising an optical element configured to a light source, which is embodied as a reflection lens, the reflection lens having a lens section in a central region, which has a first coupling-in surface on the coupling-in side and a first coupling-out surface on the coupling-out side, light coupled in on the first coupling-in surface being directed directly to the first coupling-out surface, and having a reflection section in an outer region, which has a second coupling-in surface on the coupling-in side and a second coupling-out surface on the coupling-out side, the light source being inclined with respect to an axis of rotation extending perpendicular to the optical axis and / or being arranged in rotation around the optical axis in a plane extending perpendicular to the optical axis with the edge of the inclined extension of the light source being imaged as a bright / dark boundary, and the first coupling-in surface, the second coupling-in surface, the reflection surface, the first coupling-out surface and / or the second coupling-out surface of the optical element being shaped such that a predetermined light distribution is produced in the case of the edge of the light source being imaged as a bright / dark boundary.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a lighting device for a vehicle including a light source, comprising an optical element configured as a reflective lens disposed to the light source, the reflective lens having a lens section in a central region of the optical axis accommodating the optical element, the lens section having a first coupling surface on an coupling-in side and a first coupling-out side, wherein light coupled in on the first coupling surface can be directly guided to the first coupling-out side, and the reflective lens having a reflective section in an outer region, the reflective section having a second coupling surface on the coupling-in side and a second coupling-out side, wherein light coupled in on the second coupling surface can be guided to the second coupling-out side through the reflective surface of the optical element. Background Technology

[0002] A vehicle lighting device comprising a light source and optical elements is known from DE 10 2019 118 051 A1, wherein the optical elements have a reflective section on one side and a lens section on the other. The reflective section is positioned behind the lens section along the main emission direction. An imaging edge generated by a laser is introduced in the intermediate region between the reflective section and the lens section, the imaging edge being imaged as a bright / dark boundary of the light distribution by means of the lens section. A disadvantage of the known optical elements is their relatively large structural depth.

[0003] A lighting device for a vehicle, comprising a light source and an optical element, is known from DE 10 2017 213 516 A1. The optical element is configured as a reflecting lens comprising a reflective section and a lens section. The lens section is disposed in the central region of the optical element, and the reflective section is disposed in the outer region of the optical element. The coupling surface of the reflective section is directly connected to the coupling surface of the lens section. The reflective section has a reflecting surface on which light coupled inwards is totally internally reflected along the main emission direction. The optical element is configured to be substantially rotationally symmetrical. The light source is disposed on the optical axis of the optical element and oriented along the main emission direction of the lighting device. The lighting device does not have a mechanism for imaging the light / dark boundary for light distribution. Summary of the Invention

[0004] The objective of this invention is to further configure a vehicle lighting device including a reflective lens in such a way that it provides high light efficiency for light distribution with light / dark boundaries while saving structural space.

[0005] To address this task, the present invention is characterized in that the light source is tilted about a rotation axis extending perpendicular to the optical axis and / or is arranged at the edge forming the tilted extension of the light source in a plane extending perpendicular to the optical axis, and the first coupling surface, second coupling surface, reflective surface, first coupling surface, and / or second coupling surface of the optical element are shaped such that a predetermined light distribution is generated when the edge of the light source is imaged as a bright / dark boundary.

[0006] According to the invention, the first coupling surface, second coupling surface, reflecting surface, first coupling surface, and / or second coupling surface of the reflecting lens are configured without rotational symmetry, such that light emitted from an inclined and / or rotated light source corresponds to an image of a predetermined light distribution with bright / dark boundaries. Advantageously, the light distribution can be generated in a simple manner without the need for other components, especially shielding elements for imaging the bright / dark boundaries. By combining the inclined or rotated arrangement of the light source with the surfaces of the reflecting lens, the light efficiency can be significantly improved. The light efficiency can be at least 60%, preferably 70% to 80%. This means that at least 60% of the light flow (luminous flux) emitted by the light source is coupled out on the light-emitting side of the optical element.

[0007] According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the lens section and / or reflective section of the optical element are configured non-rotationally symmetrically. In particular, the lens section and reflective section are configured to extend, preferably horizontally, in a plane perpendicular to the optical axis of the optical element. Therefore, the upper and lower portions of the reflective surface are larger than the left and right portions of the reflective surface. The coupling-in and coupling-out surfaces of the lens section are preferably elliptical in cross-section. This advantageously produces a relatively wide light distribution, which is preferably used for illuminating the front area of ​​a headlamp.

[0008] According to a further configuration of the invention, the upper and lower portions of the reflective surface are parabolically shaped differently. The light source is tilted upward at an acute angle, thereby substantially reaching the upper portion of the reflective surface. This produces a relatively wide distribution below the zero line of light distribution.

[0009] According to a further configuration of the invention, a gap is provided in the upper region of the reflective section, and more precisely in the end region of the reflective surface facing the optical axis. This gap causes the edge of the light source to be clearly imaged (mapped) as the light / dark boundary of the light distribution. The gap prevents a portion of the light emitted by the light source from incident on the upper portion of the reflective surface, thereby causing the light / dark boundary to soften, especially resulting in the imaging of the light share above the desired light / dark boundary. This advantageously allows for clear imaging of the central region of the light / dark boundary in the horizontal line (plane), particularly between -5° and +5°.

[0010] According to a further configuration of the invention, the lens section and / or rotation section are configured rotationally symmetrically, wherein the optical elements are configured to be sheared off above the lens section. Thus, the upper portion of the reflecting surface is smaller than the lower portion of the reflecting surface. Because the light source is tilted downwards, and more precisely towards the lower portion of the reflecting surface, primarily only the lower portion of the reflecting surface is used for total internal reflection. Advantageously, this can produce a light distribution with an effective range of light emission substantially above the zero line. By rotating the light source about the optical axis, the slope of the bright / dark boundary can be additionally adjusted, wherein the angular position of the upper edge of the light source determines the bright / dark boundary.

[0011] According to a further configuration of the invention, the lens section and / or reflection section are configured with rotational symmetry. The light source is oriented along the optical axis, thereby producing a symmetrical light distribution with respect to the vertical line, especially for high beams.

[0012] According to a further configuration of the invention, the lighting device has three light modules, each comprising a light source and an optical element. The high beam module has a substantially rotationally symmetrical lens and a reflective section, wherein the light source is oriented along the optical axis. The effective range light module has a substantially rotationally symmetrical lens and a reflective section, wherein the reflective section is sheared off above the lens section. By oriented the light source toward the reflective section below the optical axis, the largest portion of the coupled light is coupled out above the horizontal line after total internal reflection on the reflective surface, thereby producing an effective range light distribution. The front light module mainly comprises a lens section extending horizontally and an extended reflective section. The light source is configured at an angle. In this way, a front light distribution can be produced, in which light is coupled out primarily below the horizontal plane. By superimposing the front and effective range light distributions, a low beam distribution can be produced. By additionally activating the high beam module, a high beam distribution can be produced. Advantageously, a fully functional headlight can be constructed using these three light modules, having a small structural depth and requiring less structural space. The optical elements are each constructed as a single piece and can achieve effective light control with high optical efficiency. Attached Figure Description

[0013] The embodiments of the present invention will then be further explained with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0014] It is shown that:

[0015] Figure 1 A schematic diagram of a headlight including three light modules;

[0016] Figure 2 Front view of the optical components of the high beam module;

[0017] Figure 3 Top view of the optical components of the high beam module;

[0018] Figure 4 Bottom view of the optical components of the high beam module;

[0019] Figure 5 along Figure 2 The longitudinal section of the optical element at the intersection line VV;

[0020] Figure 6 along Figure 2 The horizontal cross-section of the optical element of the high beam module along the intersection line VI-VI;

[0021] Figure 7 Front view of the optical components of the operational range optical module;

[0022] Figure 8 according to Figure 7 A top view of the optical components of the optical module within its effective range;

[0023] Figure 9 according to Figure 7 Bottom view of the optical components of the optical module within its effective range;

[0024] Figure 10 Along Figure 7 The vertical cross-section of the optical element at the intersection line XX;

[0025] Figure 11 Along Figure 7 The horizontal cross-section of the optical element at the intersection line XI-XI;

[0026] Figure 12 Front view of the optical components of the front-area optical module;

[0027] Figure 13 according to Figure 12 A top view of the optical components of the optical module within its effective range;

[0028] Figure 14 according to Figure 12 Bottom view of the optical components of the optical module within its effective range;

[0029] Figure 15 refer to Figure 12 The longitudinal section of the optical element along the intersection line XV-XV;

[0030] Figure 16 refer to Figure 12 The horizontal cross-section of the optical element along the intersection line XVI-XVI;

[0031] Figure 17 A schematic diagram of the light distribution of the high beam module;

[0032] Figure 18A schematic diagram of the light distribution of the optical module within its effective range;

[0033] Figure 19 The schematic light distribution of the front optical module and

[0034] Figure 20 A schematic diagram of the light distribution when the front zone and the effective range optical modules are turned on. Detailed Implementation

[0035] The lighting device for a vehicle is configured as a headlight, the lighting device including a housing 1 and a transparent cover 2 that closes the opening of the housing 1. The cover 2 is preferably made of glass-like transparency.

[0036] Three light modules are installed inside the housing 1. One is the high beam module 3, the other is the range light module 4, and the third is the front area light module 5.

[0037] The optical modules 3, 4, and 5 each have a light source 6, 7, and 8, and an optical element 9, 10, and 11, respectively. Optical elements 9, 10, and 11 are each constructed as a single piece. Each optical element is configured as a reflecting lens, in which light is imaged through a lens section and, on the other hand, is totally internally reflected by a reflecting section within optical elements 9, 10, and 11 and coupled out to a coupling surface adjacent to the lens section.

[0038] Optical elements 9, 10, and 11 each have an input side 12 and an output side 13. The input side 12 is formed on the side facing the light sources 6, 7, and 8. The output side 13 is positioned in front of the input side 12 along the main emission direction H of the headlamp. Lens sections of optical elements 9, 10, and 11 are located in the central region of optical elements 9, 10, and 11. Reflective sections are located in the outer region of optical elements 9, 10, and 11. The lens sections are therefore located in the region close to the optical axis A of optical elements 9, 10, and 11, and the reflective sections are located in the region far from said optical axis A.

[0039] High beam module 3 is used to generate according to Figure 17 The high beam headlights are distributed as follows. The high beam module 3 has a light source 6, which is positioned on the optical axis A and oriented toward the optical element 9. The main axis H1 of the light source 6 extends along the optical axis A.

[0040] The optical element 9 of the high beam module 3 is configured substantially rotationally symmetrically. The optical element has a lens section 14 in the central region and a reflective section 15 in the outer region. The lens section 14 is rotationally symmetrically arranged relative to the optical axis A. The lens section 14 intersects the optical axis A and is located in the region close to the optical axis A. The reflective section 15 is located in the region far from the optical axis A and does not intersect the optical axis A.

[0041] Lens section 14 is configured as a plano-convex lens, including a flat first coupling surface 16 and a convex first coupling surface 17. Reflection section 15 is directly connected to lens section 14 transversely to optical axis A. Reflection section 15 has a second coupling surface 18 and a second coupling surface 19. Optical element 9 has a recess 20 on coupling side 12, such that the second coupling surface 18 extends parallel and / or slightly inclined relative to optical axis A. The recess 20 may extend in a tapered or cylindrical shape. The side surface of the recess 20 serves here as the second coupling surface 18 of optical element 9.

[0042] The reflecting section 15 has an arc-shaped reflecting surface 21 extending along the main emission direction H. This reflecting surface can be, for example, parabolic in shape or formed as a free-form surface. Light coupled into the reflecting section 15 at the second coupling surface 18 is reflected on the reflecting surface 21 and coupled out at the second coupling surface 19. Preferably, only a single total internal reflection of the light beam occurs at the reflecting surface 21.

[0043] By superimposing the light coupled out from the first coupling surface 17 and the second coupling surface 19 of the optical element 9, a result is generated according to... Figure 17 The distribution of high beam headlights.

[0044] The effective range optical module 4 has a light source 7 and an optical element 10. The light source 7 is tilted about a rotation axis extending perpendicular to the optical axis A. In this embodiment, the rotation axis extends in a horizontal direction. The light source 7 is tilted forward at an acute angle φ, so that the main axis H2 of the light source 7 extends vertically (viewed from the direction) below the optical axis A in the region of the optical element 10.

[0045] Furthermore, the light source 7 is arranged at an angle α, for example, 15°, in a plane extending perpendicular to the optical axis A, and the angular imaging is performed according to... Figure 18 The angle of the bright / dark boundary 32 in the light distribution L2 generated by the light module 4 within the effective range. The bright / dark boundary 32 is generated by imaging the edge 22 of the light source 7.

[0046] Optical element 10 has a central lens section 23 and a reflective section 24 transversely connected to the lens section 23 along the optical axis A. In the lens section 23, optical element 10 has a first coupling surface 25 and a first coupling surface 26. The first coupling surface 25 is flat and the first coupling surface 26 is convex. Furthermore, optical element 10 has a second coupling surface 27 and a second coupling surface 28 in the region of the reflective section 24. The second coupling surface 27 is part of a recess 29 in optical element 10. Unlike the optical element 9 of the high beam module 3, optical element 10 is constructed by shearing off the side viewed vertically upwards. The upper portion of the reflective surface 30 is smaller than the lower portion 30' of the reflective surface. The tilt angle α reflects the... Figure 18 The slope of the light / dark boundary 32 in the light distribution L2.

[0047] The light source 7 is oriented toward the lower portion 30' of the reflecting surface 30, so that the main portion of the total internally reflected light in the optical element 10 is guided to the second coupling surface 28 of the optical element 10 by means of the lower portion 30' of the reflecting surface 30.

[0048] The second coupling surface 28 of the optical element 10 can be flat, arcuate, or formed as a free-form surface.

[0049] In the region above optical element 9, the optical element has a gap 31. The gap 31, viewed along the main emission direction H, is positioned on the left and / or right side and causes the bright / dark boundary 32 of the light distribution L2 to be clearly formed. The gap 31 causes the non-reflection of a certain light fraction, which would otherwise lead to a flocculation 33 with an undesirable light fraction at the bright / dark boundary 32 (in... Figure 18 (shown by the dashed line).

[0050] As by Figure 18 As can be seen, the effective range of light distribution L2 extends basically below the horizontal line.

[0051] The front-area optical module 5, like the effective range optical module 4, has a light source 8, which is tilted at an angle β relative to a rotation axis extending perpendicular to the optical axis A. The main axis H3 of the light source 8 is tilted upward in a vertical direction, so that the main axis H3 extends only in the region of the optical element 11 above the optical axis A.

[0052] The optical element 11 of the front optical module 5 has a first coupling surface 34 and a first coupling surface 35 of the lens section 36 in the central region. In addition, the optical element 11 has a second coupling surface 37 and a second coupling surface 38 of the reflection section 29 in the outer region.

[0053] Lens section 36 and reflection section 39 are configured without rotational symmetry. They are configured to extend in one direction, and more precisely, preferably in a horizontal direction. The first coupling surface 34 and the first coupling surface 35 of lens section 36 thus extend elliptically in a plane perpendicular to the optical axis A.

[0054] The second coupling surface 37 of the optical element 11 is the side of the recess 40, as in the previous optical element. The reflective section 39 has a reflective surface 41, the upper portion 41' of which has a different parabolic shape than the lower portion 41'' of the reflective surface 41. The upper portion of the reflective surface 41 extends above the optical axis A. The lower portion of the reflective surface 41'' extends below the optical axis A. The upper portion 41 and the lower portion 41'' of the reflective surface 41 are preferably parabolic in shape, respectively.

[0055] A gap 42 is provided at the lateral edge in the region above the optical element 11, where total internal reflection on the reflecting surface 41 cannot occur. This results in a clear light / dark boundary 43 imaged by the optical element 11, without the undesirable softening or flocculation 44 of the light distribution L3 formed above the light / dark boundary 43 due to the smaller illumination intensity of the light share. Figure 19 (The dashed line in the image). For example, the gap 31 of the effective range optical module 4 and the gap 42 of the front area optical module 5 are located above the optical axis A. The edge 22 of the light source 8 is imaged as the bright / dark boundary 43 of the light distribution L2.

[0056] The structural depth 45 of optical element 11 is less than the structural depth 46 of optical element 9 of high beam module 3 and the structural depth 47 of optical element 10 of range light module 4.

[0057] As by Figure 19 As can be seen, the light distribution L3 of the front zone light module 5 is basically symmetrical and extends relatively wide below the horizontal zero line for illumination of the front zone of the vehicle.

[0058] It should be noted that the first coupling surfaces 25, 34 of optical elements 10 and / or 11 can be non-spherical.

[0059] The first coupling surface 17 of the optical element 9 is preferably implemented in a modified manner, comprising aspherical surfaces that are different from each other in the horizontal and vertical directions.

[0060] In order to generate a result including light / dark boundaries, according to Figure 20 The low beam distribution AL connects the light source 7 of the effective range module 4 and the light source 8 of the front area light module 5, so that the light distributions L2 and L3 are superimposed to form a distribution according to... Figure 20 The distribution of low beam headlights.

[0061] When the light source 6 of the additional high beam module 3 is turned on, high beam distribution can be generated.

[0062] The light sources 6, 7, and 8 are preferably LED light sources.

[0063] Optical elements 8, 10, and 11 are preferably made of polycarbonate (PC), polymethyl methacrylate (PMA), or silicone resin.

[0064] The second coupling surfaces 19, 28, and 38 of optical elements 9, 10, and 11 may be provided with micro-optical elements and (circular) cylindrical sections.

[0065] List of reference numerals

[0066] 1. Shell

[0067] 2 Cover plate

[0068] 3 High Beam Module

[0069] 4-Area Optical Module

[0070] 5 front-area optical modules

[0071] 6 light sources

[0072] 7 light sources

[0073] 8 light sources

[0074] 9 optical elements

[0075] 10 optical components

[0076] 11 Optical Components

[0077] 12 Coupled side

[0078] 13 Coupler side

[0079] 14 lens sections

[0080] 15 Reflection Sections

[0081] 16 First Coupled Surface

[0082] 17 First Coupler Surface

[0083] 18 Second Coupled Surface

[0084] 19 Second Coupler

[0085] 20 concave areas

[0086] 21 reflective surfaces

[0087] 22 Edge

[0088] 23 lens section

[0089] 24 reflection sections

[0090] 25 First Coupled Surface

[0091] 26 First Coupler Surface

[0092] 27 Second Coupled Surface

[0093] 28 Second Coupler Surface

[0094] 29 concave areas

[0095] 30' Reflective Surface

[0096] 31 gaps

[0097] 32 Bright / Dark Boundaries

[0098] 33 flocculation

[0099] 34 First Coupled Surface

[0100] 35 First Coupler Surface

[0101] 36 lens sections

[0102] 27 Second Coupled Surface

[0103] 38 Second Coupler

[0104] 39 Reflection Section

[0105] 40 concave area

[0106] 41, 41', 41'' Reflecting surfaces

[0107] 42 gaps

[0108] 43 Light / Dark Boundaries

[0109] 44 flocculation

[0110] 45 structural depth

[0111] 46 structural depth

[0112] 47 structural depth

[0113] H Main Launch Direction

[0114] A-axis

[0115] H1, H2, H3 spindles

[0116] AL low beam headlight distribution

[0117] L1, L2, L3 light distribution

[0118] φ angle

[0119] α tilt angle

[0120] β angle

Claims

1. A lighting device for a vehicle including light sources (6, 7, 8), said lighting device including optical elements (9, 10, 11) configured as reflective lenses disposed on the light sources (6, 7, 8). -The reflecting lens has a lens segment in the central region of the optical axis (A) accommodating the optical elements (9, 10, 11), the lens segment having a first coupling surface (16) on the coupling-in side (12) and a first coupling-out surface (17) on the coupling-out side (13), wherein, The light coupled into the first coupling surface (16) can be directly guided to the first coupling surface (17). - And the reflecting lens has a reflecting section in the outer region, the reflecting section having a second coupling surface (18) on the coupling side (12) and a second coupling surface (19) on the coupling side (13), wherein light energy coupled on the second coupling surface (18) is guided to the second coupling surface (19) through the reflecting surface (30) of the optical element (9, 10, 11). The light source (6, 7, 8) is positioned at an angle relative to the rotation axis extending perpendicular to the optical axis (A) at the edge forming the angled extension of the light source (6, 7, 8), and the first coupling surface (16), second coupling surface (18), reflective surface (30), first coupling surface (17), and / or second coupling surface (19) of the optical element (9, 10, 11) are shaped such that a predetermined light distribution (L1, L2, L3, AL) is generated when the edge (22) of the light source (6, 7, 8) is imaged as a bright / dark boundary (32, 43). In order to generate the low beam distribution (AL), an effective range light module (4) and a front area light module (5) are provided. -The effective range optical module (4) has a light source (7), which is inclined downward at an acute angle (φ) in the vertical direction, and the optical element (10) of the effective range optical module is cut out on the upper side, and -The front area optical module (5) has a light source (8) that is tilted upward in the vertical direction, and an optical element (11) that is elongated in the horizontal direction.

2. The lighting device according to claim 1, characterized in that, The first coupling surface (16) of the optical element (9, 10, 11) is flat and the first coupling surface (17) of the optical element is convex.

3. The lighting device according to claim 1, characterized in that, The second coupling surface (18) of the optical element (9, 10, 11) is configured as a concave (20) side of a cone or cylindrical recess extending along the main emission direction (H).

4. The lighting device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that, The second coupling surface (19, 28, 38) of the optical element (9, 10, 11) is flat and / or the surface of the second coupling surface of the optical element is provided with micro-optical elements or cylindrical segments.

5. The lighting device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that, The lens section (23) and / or the reflection section (24) are configured non-rotationally symmetrically.

6. The lighting device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that, The reflective section (24) has a gap, such that the edge of the reflective surface adjacent to the gap reflects light as the light at the bright / dark boundary (32, 43).

7. The lighting device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that, The lens section (23) and the reflection section (24) are elongated in a plane that extends perpendicular to the optical axis (A).

8. The lighting device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that, The upper part (30') and the lower part (30'') of the reflecting surface (30) are parabolically extended in different ways.

9. The lighting device according to claim 6, characterized in that, The gap is provided in the half of the reflective section (24) extending above the optical axis (A).

10. The lighting device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that, The first coupling surface (17) of the optical element (9, 10, 11) extends in a non-spherical manner.

11. The lighting device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that, The first coupling surface (17) is deformed and includes surfaces of different aspherical shapes along the horizontal and vertical directions.

12. The lighting device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that, The lower part of the reflective surface is inclined around a transverse axis that extends laterally relative to the optical axis (A).

13. The lighting device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that, In order to generate the high beam distribution, an effective range light module (4), a front area light module (5), and a high beam module (3) are set up. The high beam module has a light source (6) oriented along the optical axis (A) and an optical element (9). The optical element has a rotationally symmetrical lens section and a reflection section.

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