Vehicle signal or lighting apparatus providing progressive lighting impression
Through the combination of two LED diodes, light guides and light transmitting screens, the alternating control of the light source power supply by using electronic units, the problem of high cost in the prior art that opening and closing multiple light sources in sequence is solved, and the simplicity of the progressive lighting impression is achieved. Low cost implementation.
Patent Information
- Application Number
- CN202410827515.2
- Authority / Receiving Office
- CN · China
- Patent Type
- Applications(China)
- Current Assignee / Owner
- Priority Date
- 2023-06-26
- Filing Date
- 2024-06-25
- Publication Date
- 2024-12-27
AI Technical Summary
The prior art In a vehicle signal or lighting device that provides a progressive lighting impression from the first end to the opposite second end, multiple light sources need to be turned on and off in sequence, resulting in higher costs.
Two LED diodes are used as light sources, and the combination of parallel light guides and light transmitting screens is combined, and the power supply of the light source is controlled alternately by electronic units, achieving linear growth and reduction of light intensity from zero to maximum value, avoiding the sequential opening and closing of multiple light sources. demand.
Achieves a progressive lighting impression from the first end to the opposite second end on the basis of reducing costs. The equipment is simple and low-cost, with only two LED diodes and two light guides, and the light along the screen length seen by the observer Has non-uniform intensity, creating a moving impression.
Smart Images
Figure CN119196581A_ABST
Abstract
Description
Technical Field
[0001] This patent application claims the priority of Italian Patent Application No. 102023000013170 filed on June 26, 2023, the entire disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.
[0002] The present invention relates to a vehicle signal or lighting device for providing a progressive lighting impression from a first end to an opposite second end. Background Art
[0003] Recently, vehicle signage or lighting devices have been proposed for providing a progressive lighting impression from a first end to an opposite second end.
[0004] For example, patent US10053005B2 describes a vehicle lighting device that can display moving light by reducing the number of light sources, thereby reducing costs. The vehicle interior lighting device includes: a light guide element, a light source unit, another light source unit, and a control unit. The control unit turns on the other light source unit after turning on the one light source unit, turns off the one light source unit after turning on the other light source unit, and turns off the other light source after turning off the one light source unit.
[0005] Patent DE102020214361A1 describes a sequential lighting system including a light guide, which is configured to enable part of the light to be reflected and moved when irradiated to the inside, and to enable part of the light to be transmitted and emitted outward. It also includes a first light source and a second light source, which are respectively located at one end and the other end of the light guide and are configured to use light at different positions in the light guide. Finally, it also includes a control unit, which is capable of controlling the illumination of the first light source and the second light source, and is capable of controlling the illumination time of the first light source and the second light source so that the light guide emits light in a sequential lighting mode. Summary of the invention
[0006] It is an object of the present invention to provide a vehicle signal or lighting device which is configured to provide a progressive lighting impression from a first end to an opposite second end in a simple manner at reduced cost without the need to sequentially switch on and off a plurality of light sources.
[0007] The invention achieves the above mentioned objects in that it relates to a vehicle signalling or lighting device as stated in claim 1 for providing a progressive lighting impression from a first end to a second opposite end. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0008] The present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:
[0009] Figure 1 Schematically showing a vehicle signal or lighting device for providing a progressive lighting impression from a first end to an opposite second end produced according to the concept of the present invention;
[0010] Figure 2 The cross-sections are shown according to two possible alternatives. Figure 1 Equipment in;
[0011] Figure 3 and Figure 4 The operating principle of the device according to the invention is shown;
[0012] Figure 5 Shows Figure 1 A series of sequences of opening cycles of the devices in;
[0013] Figure 6 Shows Figure 1 A series of shutdown cycles of the devices in the
[0014] Figure 7 Controls for opening are shown; and
[0015] Figure 8 The controls for closing are shown. DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0016] Reference Figure 1 , numeral 1 identifies a vehicle signal or lighting device configured to provide a progressive lighting impression from a first end to an opposite second end.
[0017] The device 1 includes a first light guide 2, which has at least one first linear portion 2d, and the first linear portion 2d extends along a specific path P1 (marked by a dotted line, which is a straight path in the example, and it is obvious that the path can have different shapes); the first light guide 2 has a first light source 3 at a light entry end 2-in, and the first light source is conveniently composed of an LED diode that provides light to the light guide 2.
[0018] The device 1 also comprises a second light guide 4 having at least one second linear portion 4d extending along a path P2 (indicated by a dashed line, in the example a straight path, which path may obviously have a different shape) parallel to and close to the path P1. Thus, the first linear portion 2d and the second linear portion 4d are parallel to each other.
[0019] The second light guide 4 is adjacent to the first light guide 2. The second light guide 4 has a second light source 5 at one light entry end 4-in, which is conveniently composed of an LED diode for providing light to the light guide 4.
[0020] The device 1 further comprises an at least partially light transmissive elongate screen 6 having a first face 6a facing the first and second light guides 2, 4 and a second face 6b facing outside the device 1 in use (in the example the face opposite the first face, but different arrangements are possible).
[0021] The first light source 3 and the second light source 5 are arranged at opposite ends of the elongated screen 6 and are controlled by an electronic unit 7 which performs at least one on cycle or one off cycle alternately.
[0022] The opening cycle includes (see Figure 7 ):
[0023] - At a first start time (T0), only the first light source 3 is powered, so that the light intensity generated by the first light source 3 increases from a substantially zero value (in the example, a linear ramp S1, but the growth curve may be different) to a limit value L max
[0024] (100%), while the second light source initially remains off (intensity zero); and
[0025] - After the first time T0, at the second time T1, the second light source 5 is subsequently controlled to supply power.
[0026] The light intensity of the second light source 5 increases from a substantially zero value (in the example with a linear ramp S2, but the increasing curve may be different) to a limit value L max , while the first light source 3 remains turned on.
[0027] - at the end of the on period (time T3), both light sources 3 and 5 are on;
[0028] The shutdown cycle includes:
[0029] - At the third stop time (T Off ) controls the power supply to the first light source 3 so that the light intensity generated by the first light source 3 is reduced from the limit value L max The second light source 5 is initially maintained at the intensity limit L , while the second light source 5 is reduced (in the example by a linear ramp S2, but the reduction curve may be different) to a value substantially zero. max (100%)Open;
[0030] - At the third stop time (T Off ) at a fourth time T2 after the second light source 5 is subsequently controlled and powered,
[0031] The light intensity of the second light source 5 is increased from the intensity limit value L max (100%) decrease (in the example a linear ramp S2,
[0032] But the reduction curve may be different) to a value substantially zero.
[0033] - At the end of the off period (time T3), both light sources 3, 5 are off.
[0034] For example, at the second time T1, the first light source reaches the intensity limit L max (100%), see Figure 7 Upper part.
[0035] Alternatively, at the second time T1, the first light source 3 has not yet reached the intensity limit L max (100%), see Figure 7 lower part, and is still increasing.
[0036] Furthermore, at the fourth time T2, the first light source 3 has reached an intensity value of substantially zero.
[0037] Alternatively, at the fourth time T2, the first light source has not yet reached said substantially zero value.
[0038] Based on the operation shown above, an observer looking at the elongated screen 6 sees an elongated light on face 6b having a non-uniform intensity along the length of the screen, thereby providing the observer with the impression that the light moves from the first end to the second end during the on cycle and from the second end to the first end during the off cycle. This effect can be produced using only two LED diodes 3 and 5, two light guides 2, 4 and one screen 6, so the device 1 is simpler and less expensive.
[0039] Switching on source 3 and then source 5 provides the impression that the light moves from left to right, whereas switching on source 5 and then source 3 provides the impression that the light moves from right to left.
[0040] Likewise, turning off source 3 and then source 5 provides the impression that the light is moving in a first direction, while turning off source 5 and then source 3 provides the impression that the light is moving in a second direction.
[0041] The control unit 7 controls the variable supply voltage of the LED diodes 3 and 5 using a dedicated microprocessor and simple electronics production, also reducing costs.
Claims
1. A vehicle signal or lighting device (1) configured to provide a progressive lighting impression from a first end to an opposite second end, the device comprising: - a first light guide (2) having at least one first linear portion (2d); A first light source (3) is provided at a light entry end (2-in) of the first light guide (2); - a second light guide (4) having at least one second linear portion (4d) parallel to said first linear portion (2d); A second light source (5) is provided at a light entry end (4-in) of the second light guide (4); - an elongated screen (6) having a first face (6a) facing the first and second light guides (2, 4) and a second face (6b) facing the outside of the lighting device (1) in use; - a first light source and a second light source (3, 5), arranged at opposite ends of the elongated screen (6) and controlled by an electronic unit (7) which performs alternately at least one on cycle or one off cycle: The opening cycle consists of: - at a first start time (T0) only the first light source (3) is controlled to be powered so that the light intensity generated by the first light source (3) increases from a value substantially zero, while the second light source (5) is initially kept off; and - within a second time T1 after the first time T0, the second light source (5) is subsequently controlled to be powered so that the light intensity generated by the second light source (5) increases from a value substantially zero, while the first light source (3) is already turned on; - at the end of the on period, both light sources (3, 5) are on; The shutdown cycle includes: - At the third stop time (T 0ff ) controlling the power supply to the first light source (3) so that the light intensity generated by the first light source (3) is reduced to a value substantially zero, while the second light source (5) initially remains turned on; - At the third stop time (T 0ff ), at a fourth time (T2) after the second light source (5), the second light source (5) is subsequently controlled to be powered so that the light intensity from the second light source (5) is reduced to a value substantially equal to zero; - At the end of the off period, both light sources (3, 5) are off.
2. The device according to claim 1, wherein at the second time (T1), the first light source has reached the intensity limit L max (100%).
3. The device according to claim 1, wherein at the second time T1, the first light source (3) has not yet reached the intensity limit L max (100%), and the intensity is still increasing.
4. A device according to claim 1, wherein at the fourth time T2, the first light source (3) has reached an intensity value of substantially zero.
5. The device according to claim 1, wherein at a fourth time T2, the first light source has not yet reached the substantially zero value and the intensity is still decreasing.
6. Device according to claim 1, wherein the electronic unit (7) is configured to increase the light intensity according to a ramped linear curve.
7. Device according to claim 1 or 6, wherein the electronic unit (7) is configured to reduce the light intensity according to a ramped linear curve.
8. The device of claim 1, wherein the electronic unit is configured to cyclically repeat an on cycle and an off cycle.