Optical device for a motorcycle headlamp optical unit

Abstract

Optical device (10) for a motorcycle headlamp, the optical device (10) comprising: - a primary optic (100) having a base body (110) and a plurality of light guide elements (120) for forming a light distribution in a main direction (X), wherein each light guide element (120) has a common light output surface (130) having an optically relevant area (131); - a holder (300); - a cover element (400) attachable to the holder (300), wherein the cover element (400) in combination with the holder (300) is configured to fix a position of the primary optic (100) between the holder (300) and the cover element (400) when the cover element (400) is attached to the holder (300), wherein the primary optic (100) comprises a stabilizing structure (200), wherein the stabilizing structure (200) is built as a protrusion protruding in the main direction (X) from the common light output surface (130), wherein the stabilizing structure (200) has a first support surface (210), and wherein the cover element (400) comprises a first counter support surface (410), wherein the base body (110) of the primary optic (100) comprises a second support surface (140), and wherein the holder (300) comprises a second counter support surface, wherein the first counter support surface (410) in combination with the first support surface (210) of the stabilizing structure (200) is configured to stabilize a position of a curved surface of the optically relevant area (131) of the common light output surface (130) of the primary optic (100) when the cover element (400) is attached to the holder (300).

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The invention relates to an optical device for a motorcycle headlight, the optical device comprising:

[0002] - a primary optic having a base body and a plurality of light guide elements protruding from the base body for forming a predetermined light distribution in a main direction from light of a light source, wherein each light guide element has a light input surface into which light of the light source can be coupled into the light guide element and a common light output surface having an optically relevant area designed as a curved surface and a peripheral area, the peripheral area limiting the optically relevant area of the common light output surface, wherein the curved surface of the optically relevant area is curved along at least two axes orthogonal to the main direction,

[0003] - a holder arranged on a back side of the primary optic, the light guide elements of the primary optic passing through the holder via an opening area of the holder configured to receive the light guide elements of the primary optic and to hold them in a position relative to the light source,

[0004] - a cover element arranged on a front side of the primary optic facing away from the light guide elements of the primary optic, wherein the cover element is attachable to the holder by means of at least one first engagement element arranged on the cover element configured to engage with at least one second engagement element arranged on the holder, wherein the cover element in combination with the holder is configured to fix the position of the primary optic between the holder and the cover element when the cover element is attached to the holder.

[0005] Further, the invention relates to a motorcycle headlight having at least one optical device according to the invention. BACKGROUND

[0006] Optical devices having primary optics of the prior art are usually made of a silicone material and thus can only have a limited size for the light output surface, because otherwise this would become instable due to the material and would result in a shaky light distribution due to the vibrations that inevitably occur during the driving of the vehicle. SUMMARY

[0007] It is an object of the invention to provide an enhanced optical device.

[0008] In order to achieve this object, the primary optic comprises a stabilizing structure, wherein the stabilizing structure is built as a protrusion protruding in the main direction from the common light output surface, wherein the stabilizing structure has a first support surface,

[0009] and wherein the cover element comprises a first counter support surface following the form of the first support surface of the stabilizing structure,

[0010] wherein the base of the primary optical device comprises a second support surface arranged on an opposite side of the first support surface on the back side of the primary optical device, and wherein the holder comprises a second counter support surface,

[0011] wherein the first counter support surface in combination with the first support surface of the stabilizing structure is configured to stabilize the position of the curved surface of the optically relevant area of the common light output surface of the primary optical device when the cover element is attached to the holder,

[0012] wherein the cover element presses against the first support surface of the stabilizing structure and the second counter support surface of the holder presses against the second support surface of the base when the cover element is attached to the holder.

[0013] Advantageously, the optical device comprises a light source for emitting light into the light guide element.

[0014] Advantageously, the support surfaces of the stabilizing structure are formed as triangles.

[0015] Advantageously, the stabilizing structure is built as a regular triangular prism.

[0016] Advantageously, the stabilizing structure is built as a truncated pyramid structure.

[0017] This shape allows for a high stability of the stabilizing structure while keeping the volume of the stabilizing structure small, thereby increasing the optically relevant area.

[0018] Advantageously, the light guide element is arranged in at least two areas on the base, which are formed as circular sectors.

[0019] Advantageously, the holder is attachable to the base of the primary optical device by means of at least one third engagement element arranged on the holder, which is configured to engage with at least one fourth engagement element arranged on the base of the primary optical device.

[0020] Advantageously, the fourth engagement element is arranged on the side of the base facing away from the stabilizing structure.

[0021] Advantageously, the cover element is built as a burning glass shade, which is configured to block solar radiation.

[0022] Advantageously, the primary optical device is made of a silicone material.

[0023] Advantageously, the cover element comprises two branches, which extend from the counter support surface and substantially follow a peripheral area of the common light output surface of the primary optical device, wherein the cover element presses against the peripheral area and the support surface when the cover element is attached to the holder.

[0024] This further stabilizes the optically relevant area while maintaining the size of the optically relevant area.

[0025] Advantageously, the cover element has a cavity comprising the first counter support surface, wherein the cavity corresponds to the stabilizing structure in a way that the stabilizing structure is forcibly insertable into the cavity in a stable configuration.

[0026] Advantageously, the cover element is built as a 3D molded cover element.

[0027] Advantageously, the cover element has a plate shape extending essentially in one plane, wherein this plane is preferably orthogonal to the main direction.

[0028] This object can also be achieved by a motorcycle headlamp having at least one optical device according to the invention. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0029] In the following, for further explanation of the invention, illustrative and non-limiting embodiments are discussed, as shown in the drawings, which show:

[0030] Figure 1 is a perspective view of an illustrative optical device for a motorcycle headlamp, the optical device having a main optical, a holder and a cover element;

[0031] Figure 2 is a perspective view of the illustrative main optical of Figure 1

[0032] Figure 3 is a rear view of the main optical of Figure 2 in the main direction, and

[0033] Figure 4 is a perspective view of another illustrative optical device for a motorcycle headlamp, wherein the cover element has a cavity. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0034] Figure 1 An illustrative optical device 10 of a motorcycle headlamp is shown, wherein the optical device 10 comprises a main optical 100 having a base body 110 and a plurality of light guide elements 120 protruding from the base body 110 for forming a predetermined light distribution in a main direction X from light of a light source, as can be seen in detail in Figure 2 Furthermore, the main optical 100 is made of a silicone material via an injection molding process.

[0035] ​Each light guide element 120 has a light input surface 121 into which light of the light source can be coupled into the light guide element 120 and a common light output surface 130 having an optically relevant area 131 designed as a curved surface and a peripheral area 132 limiting the optically relevant area 131 of the common light output surface 130. The curved surface of the optically relevant area 131 is curved along at least two axes which are orthogonal to the main direction X and to each other.

[0036] The light guide elements 120 are arranged in at least two areas on the base body 110 which are formed as circular sectors, as Figure 3 shown.

[0037] The optical device 10 further comprises a holder 300 arranged on the back side of the main optical 100, wherein the light guide elements 120 of the main optical 100 pass through the holder 300 through an open area of the holder 300 which is configured to receive the light guide elements 120 of the main optical 100 and to hold them in a position relative to the light source.

[0038] Further, the optical device 10 comprises a cover element 400 arranged on the front side of the main optical 100 facing away from the light guide elements 120 of the main optical 100, wherein the cover element 400 is attachable to the holder 300 by means of at least one first engagement element arranged on the cover element 400 which is configured to engage with at least one second engagement element arranged on the holder 300, wherein the cover element 400 in combination with the holder 300 is configured to fix the position of the main optical 100 between the holder 300 and the cover element 400 when the cover element 400 is attached to the holder 300.

[0039] As can be seen in Figure 2 , the main optical 100 comprises a stabilizing structure 200, wherein the stabilizing structure 200 is built as a protrusion protruding from the common light output surface 130 in the main direction X, wherein the stabilizing structure 200 has a first support surface 210 and is built as a regular triangular prism, wherein the form of the support surface 210 of the stabilizing structure 200 is built as a triangle.

[0040] The cover element 400 comprises a first counter support surface 410, as can be seen in Figure 1 , which follows the form of the first support surface 210 of the stabilizing structure 200.

[0041] The base body 110 of the main optical 100 comprises a second support surface 140 arranged on the back side of the main optical 100 on the opposite side of the first support surface 210, as Figure 3As shown, the holder 300 comprises a second counter support surface, wherein the first counter support surface 410 in combination with the first support surface 210 of the stabilizing structure 200 is configured to stabilize the position of the curved surface of the optically relevant area 131 of the common light output surface 130 of the main optical device 100 when the cover element 400 is attached to the holder 300.

[0042] In the assembled state of the optical device 10, when the cover element 400 is attached to the holder 300, the cover element 400 presses against the first support surface 210 of the stabilizing structure 200 and the second counter support surface of the holder 300 presses against the second support surface 140 of the base body 110.

[0043] Thus, the cover element 400 comprises two branches which extend from the counter support surface 410 and substantially follow the peripheral area 132 of the common light output surface 130 of the main optical device 100, wherein the cover element 400 presses against the peripheral area 132 and the support surface 210 when the cover element 400 is attached to the holder 300.

[0044] Furthermore, the cover element 400 is built as a light trap glass cover which is configured to block solar radiation, for example solar radiation focused by a projection lens, so that the main optical device 100 is not heated and maintains its optical properties.

[0045] Furthermore, the cover element 400 has a plate shape which extends substantially in one plane, wherein this plane is orthogonal to the main direction X.

[0046] In detail, the holder 300 is attachable to the base body 110 of the main optical device 100 by means of three third engagement elements arranged on the holder 300, which are configured to engage with three fourth engagement elements 150 arranged on the base body 110 of the main optical device 100, which can be seen in Figure 3 .

[0047] The fourth engagement elements 150 are arranged on the side of the base body 110 facing away from the stabilizing structure 200, each fourth engagement element 150 being arranged in a triangular form corner of the stabilizing structure 200 on the back side of the main optical device 100 in the main direction X

[0048] Figure 4 Another illustrative optical device 10 is shown, which has a holder 300, a main optical device 100 with a stabilizing structure 200 comprising a first support surface 210 and a cover element 400. It is to be noted that what has been described before for the embodiments in the preceding figures applies equally to the Figure 4 embodiments in .

[0049] The cover element 400 has a cavity 420 comprising a first counter support surface 410, wherein the cavity 420 corresponds to the stabilizing structure 200, which in the shown example is built as a truncated pyramid structure in such a way that the stabilizing structure 200 can be positively inserted into the cavity 420. The cover element 400 in this example is built as a 3D molded cover element.

[0050] List of reference signs

[0051] Optical device 10

[0052] Main optical means 100

[0053] Base 110

[0054] Light guiding element 120

[0055] Light input surface 121

[0056] Common light output surface 130

[0057] Optically relevant area 131

[0058] Peripheral area 132

[0059] Second support surface 140

[0060] Fourth engagement element 150

[0061] Stabilizing structure 200

[0062] First support surface 210

[0063] Holder 300

[0064] Cover element 400

[0065] First counter support surface 410

[0066] Cavity 420

[0067] Main direction X

Claims

1. An optical device (10) for a motorcycle headlamp, the optical device (10) comprising: - a primary optic (100) having a base body (110) and a plurality of light guide elements (120) protruding from the base body (110), the plurality of light guide elements (120) being for forming a predetermined light distribution from light of a light source in a main direction (X), wherein each light guide element (120) has a light input surface (121) into which light of a light source is coupled into the light guide element (120) and a common light output surface (130) having an optically relevant area (131) designed as a curved surface and a peripheral area (132) limiting the optically relevant area (131) of the common light output surface (130), wherein the curved surface of the optically relevant area (131) is curved along at least two axes orthogonal to the main direction (X), - a holder (300) arranged on a back side of the primary optic (100), the light guide elements (120) of the primary optic (100) passing through the holder (300) through an open area of the holder (300) configured to receive the light guide elements (120) of the primary optic (100) and to hold them in a position relative to the light source, - a cover element (400) arranged on a front side of the primary optic (100) facing away from the light guide elements (120) of the primary optic (100), wherein the cover element (400) is attachable to the holder (300) by means of at least one first engagement element arranged on the cover element (400) configured to engage with at least one second engagement element arranged on the holder (300), wherein the cover element (400) in combination with the holder (300) is configured to fix the position of the primary optic (100) between the holder (300) and the cover element (400) when the cover element (400) is attached to the holder (300), characterized in that the primary optic (100) comprises a stabilizing structure (200), wherein the stabilizing structure (200) is built as a protrusion protruding in the main direction (X) from the common light output surface (130), wherein the stabilizing structure (200) has a first support surface (210), and wherein the cover element (400) comprises a first counter support surface (410) following the form of the first support surface (210) of the stabilizing structure (200), wherein the base body (110) of the primary optic (100) comprises a second support surface (140) arranged on the back side of the primary optic (100) on an opposite side of the first support surface (210), and wherein the holder (300) comprises a second counter support surface. wherein the first counter-support surface (410) in combination with the first support surface (210) of the stabilizing structure (200) is configured to stabilize the position of the curved surface of the optically relevant area (131) of the common light output surface (130) of the main optical device (100) when the cover element (400) is attached to the holder (300), wherein the cover element (400) presses against the first support surface (210) of the stabilizing structure (200) and the second counter-support surface of the holder (300) presses against the second support surface (140) of the base body (110) when the cover element (400) is attached to the holder (300).

2. The optical device of claim 1, wherein, The support surface (210) of the stabilizing structure (200) is formed as a triangle.

3. The optical device of claim 1 or 2, wherein, The stabilizing structure (200) is formed as a regular triangular prism.

4. The optical device of claim 1 or 2, wherein, The light guide element (120) is arranged in at least two regions on the base body (110), which regions are formed as circular sectors.

5. The optical device of claim 1 or 2, wherein, The holder (300) is attachable to the base body (110) of the main optical device (100) by means of at least one third engagement element arranged on the holder (300), which third engagement element is configured to engage with at least one fourth engagement element (150) arranged on the base body (110) of the main optical device (100).

6. The optical device of claim 5, wherein, The fourth engagement element (150) is arranged on the side of the base body (110) facing away from the stabilizing structure (200).

7. The optical device of claim 1, 2, or 6, wherein, The cover element (400) is formed as a light collecting glass cover, which is configured to block solar radiation.

8. The optical device of claim 1, 2, or 6, wherein, The main optical device (100) is made of a silicone material.

9. The optical device of claim 1, 2, or 6, wherein, The cover element (400) comprises two branches, which branches extend from the counter-support surface (410) and substantially follow the peripheral region (132) of the common light output surface (130) of the main optical device (100), wherein the cover element (400) presses against the peripheral region (132) and the support surface (210) when the cover element (400) is attached to the holder (300).

10. The optical device of claim 1, 2, or 6, wherein, The stabilizing structure is formed as a truncated prism structure.

11. The optical device of claim 1, 2, or 6, wherein, The cover element (400) has a cavity (420) comprising the first counter-support surface (410), wherein the cavity (420) corresponds to the stabilizing structure (200) in such a way that the stabilizing structure (200) can be forcedly inserted into the cavity (420).

12. The optical device of claim 11, wherein, The cover element (400) is formed as a 3D molded cover element.

13. The optical device of claim 1, 2, 6, or 12, wherein, The cover element (400) has a plate shape, which substantially extends in one plane.

14. The optical device of claim 13, wherein, The plane is orthogonal to the main direction (X).

15. A motorcycle headlamp having at least one optical device (10) according to any one of claims 1 to 14.

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