Light assembly for illuminating a window of

Abstract

The invention relates to a light assembly (1) for illuminating a surface and / or a light medium, comprising a light source (2), a printed circuit board (11), at least one lens (3) and at least one reflector element (4). The invention is characterized in that the light source (2), the printed circuit board (9) and the at least one lens (3) are arranged in the housing (5), and at least one retaining element (6) is provided which enables the housing (5) to be fastened to the glass carrier (7) in a positionally precise manner.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The invention relates to an optical component for illuminating a surface and / or an optical medium of the type defined in more detail in the preamble to claim 1 . Background Art

[0002] In principle, optical components for illuminating surfaces and / or optical media are known from the prior art. In the automotive industry, the surface can be, for example, a window pane or another glass or plexiglass. The illumination can be a warning message and / or any type of light signal generated by a light beam. The light signal or warning message can, for example, be projected onto a window pane of a motor vehicle.

[0003] For example, US 2018 008 6028 A discloses a light source coupled to vehicle glass. The light source is a diode and is arranged laterally beside the glass. A diffuser or reflector is disposed on the surface of the glass and is spaced apart from the light source. Light from the light source is introduced into the glass via an edge surface and is extracted or conducted from the glass via a diffuser.

[0004] Since the diffuser or reflector is spaced apart from the light source, a precise alignment of the two elements is unavoidable. Disadvantageously, however, this results from restrictions due to the installation space, which is also caused, for example, by the geometric curvature within the frame of a curved window pane. Similarly, manufacturing-related tolerances influence the light conducted or extracted from the glass, resulting in deviations in the light appearance. Therefore, additional components may be required, in particular to ensure precise light guidance. Overall, therefore, absolute tolerance effects are usually not included, which reduces lighting efficiency. Summary of the invention

[0005] It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved light assembly for illuminating surfaces and / or optical media, which overcomes the above-mentioned disadvantages.

[0006] According to the invention, this object is achieved by a light component having the features of claim 1, here in particular having the features of the characterizing part of claim 1. Advantageous embodiments and developments are given in the dependent claims.

[0007] In the core of the light assembly according to the invention, the light source, the printed circuit board and at least one lens are arranged in a housing, wherein at least one retaining element is provided, which enables the housing to be fastened to the glass carrier with precise position. Since all elements are arranged compactly in the housing, restrictions related to the construction space can be advantageously avoided. For example, the light efficiency can be increased by optimized position tolerances and optimized reflector properties, since only one compact element, the housing, has to be fastened to the glass carrier.

[0008] The at least one retaining element serves in particular as a form-fitting part of the housing, wherein the housing can be fixed, in particular by clamping, by exerting a targeted force on the housing by the at least one retaining element. Industrial alignment and tolerance compensation of components can also be achieved by exerting a targeted force.

[0009] The optical component for illuminating a surface and / or an optical medium comprises at least one light source, a printed circuit board, at least one lens and at least one reflector element. All of these elements, except the reflector element, are arranged completely in a housing. The at least one lens serves for optical light distribution and can be configured as a microlens. The reflector element contacts the light guide element and is thus also directly connected to the housing of the optical component. Subsequent replacement is thus possible in a simple and flexible manner without damaging the optically relevant surfaces of the glass carrier. Likewise, preassembly of the glass carrier, for example for cleaning or treating the surface, can be omitted, since the housing can be easily removed from the at least one holding element without additional components and accessories and can thus be easily replaced.

[0010] Preferably, the light guide element can be arranged in the housing. The light guide element in particular contacts the printed circuit board and is in particular completely surrounded by the housing on at least one side and is bounded on at least another side by the reflector element and the glass carrier. As a result, in particular the light beam can be prevented from escaping, because the housing forms a shielding housing outside the glass carrier.

[0011] According to a very advantageous development of this idea, it can be provided that the reflector element contacts the light guide element. When the housing is held on the glass carrier by at least one holding element, the reflector element is particularly arranged on a side region of the light assembly. Thus, the reflector element is arranged on the glass carrier in the same region as the housing.

[0012] In this case, according to an advantageous design, it can be provided that the printed circuit board and / or the housing have a white surface. Thus, the reflection properties can be increased or improved. This increases the efficiency of the entire system. In addition to the white surface, it is sufficient to design the surface of the printed circuit board and / or the housing to be relatively bright.

[0013] According to a very advantageous development of this idea, it can be provided that at least one holding element is glued and / or clamped to the housing. Advantageously, the housing is fixed to the glass carrier via the holding element, wherein the holding element is firmly connected to the glass carrier and the housing is clamped on the holding element. Thus, the housing and thus the entire light assembly can be easily replaced. This makes it possible to provide a cost-effective service.

[0014] Another advantageous design can provide two holding elements arranged on two opposite sides of the housing. As a result, the housing can be held clamped between the two holding elements. For example, the holding elements can be fixed to the glass carrier in such a way that the glass carrier exerts pressure on the housing when the housing is located between the holding elements.

[0015] In this case, according to an advantageous design, it can be provided that the at least one retaining element can be mounted precisely on the glass carrier. Thus, the housing and thus the light assembly can be positioned precisely on the glass carrier. Thus, when determining the position to which the housing is to be fastened, the curvature of the glass carrier, for example the curvature of a vehicle window, can be taken into account.

[0016] According to a very advantageous improvement of this idea, it can be provided that the two holding elements can be inseparably bonded to the glass carrier at a predetermined position. In particular, at least one holding element, for example two holding elements, are inseparably bonded to the glass carrier. This allows the position to remain unchanged.

[0017] Another advantageous embodiment can provide that the retaining elements are each configured as a hook, wherein the housing can be clamped and fixed between two retaining elements. For example, an L-shape can also be understood as a hook shape, wherein each hook element has two parts, in particular two parts bent at right angles to each other. One of the parts can extend along a first side surface of the housing, and the second part can extend along an adjacent side surface of the housing. The second part in particular has a free end, so that each retaining element can be configured to be elastically movable. The retaining elements can include, for example, metal and / or plastic.

[0018] In this case, according to an advantageous design, at least one retaining element can be provided to exert a restoring force on the housing in order to secure and hold the housing in a precisely positioned manner. In this case, in particular, the two L-shaped retaining elements can be designed mirror-image to one another so that the two restoring forces of the two retaining elements are aligned with one another. As a result, the clamping force of the two retaining elements can be exerted on the housing arranged between the retaining elements. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0019] Further advantages of the light assembly according to the invention will also be apparent from the remaining dependent claims and from the embodiments described below in more detail with reference to the attached drawings.

[0020] in:

[0021] Figure 1 One possible implementation of an optical assembly is shown;

[0022] Figure 2 Another possible implementation of the light assembly is shown;

[0023] Figure 3 Another possible implementation of a light assembly is shown. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0024] Figure 1 A possible embodiment of an optical component 1 is shown. A light source 2, a printed circuit board 9 and a plurality of lenses 3 are arranged in a housing 5. Furthermore, a light guide element 8 is arranged in the housing 5 in such a way that the light guide element is bounded on one side by the housing 5 and on at least another side by a reflector element 4. The reflector element 4 is located on at least one glass carrier 7, wherein in this embodiment a further glass carrier is provided. The reflector element 4 is arranged at least partially between the two glass carriers 7 , 7 ′, wherein the glass carrier 7 ′ can contain, for example, polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) or polycarbonate (PC). Other designs of the glass are also conceivable.

[0025] The glass carrier 7 is used to introduce the light beam 10 and is in particular designed to be light-conducting. The light source 2 can be designed, for example, as an LED, for example at least one side-emitting or top-emitting LED. The light beam 10 is guided from the light source 2 through a plurality of lenses 3 and through a light guide element 8 to the reflector element 4. The light beam 6 is reflected at the reflector element and introduced into the glass carrier 7.

[0026] In particular, the edge-side housing part 5' can prevent the light beam 10 from being accidentally emitted to the outside of the light assembly 1. Since all components are arranged completely enclosed in the housing 5, the optical functions are arranged almost completely in the housing 5. Therefore, the lighting efficiency can be increased and tolerances can be compensated. In addition, the light assembly 1 can be arranged as a compact component in a space-saving manner.

[0027] The housing 5 may be made of thermoplastic and contain a web and a cavity. The web may form a holder or support for components such as a printed circuit board 9 and / or the light source 2.

[0028] In this embodiment, the housing 5 is held by two holding elements 6, wherein the holding elements 6 are designed in a hook shape. In particular, each holding element 6 is configured in an L-shape, wherein the holding elements 6 are arranged mirror-imaged relative to each other. The restoring force is indicated by the arrows shown on the free end of each holding element, wherein the housing 5 is clamped and held by the two holding elements 6.

[0029] exist Figure 2 Another embodiment variant of the optical component 1 can be seen in FIG. Here, the same components have the same reference numerals and no further description is required. Figure 1In contrast, there is no glass carrier 7' here. However, the light beam 10 can be introduced into the glass carrier 7 via the reflector element 4. The glass carrier 7' thus has a protective function, in particular as a protective layer, but in particular not as a light-guiding layer.

[0030] Figure 3 Another embodiment of the optical assembly is shown. Figure 1 and Figure 2 In contrast to the embodiment of FIG. 1 , the lens 3 is arranged at a different position in the housing or at a different position relative to the light source 2. Figure 1 and Figure 2 In contrast, the light beam 10 can be introduced into the glass carrier 7 .

[0031] certainly, Figures 1 to 3 The embodiment variants of the optical component 1 described in the above can also be combined with one another, so that various possibilities arise. Thus, for example, according to Figure 3 The embodiment of can be realized without the glass carrier 7'. Furthermore, for example, the arrangement and the number of lenses 3 can vary.

Claims

1. An optical component (1) for illuminating a surface and / or an optical medium, the optical component comprising a light source (2), a printed circuit board (11), at least one lens (3) and at least one reflector element (4), It is characterized in that A light source (2), a printed circuit board (9) and at least one lens (3) are arranged in a housing (5), wherein at least one retaining element (6) is provided, which enables the housing (5) to be fastened to a glass carrier (7) with precise position.

2. The optical component (1) according to claim 1, It is characterized in that The light guide element (8) is arranged in the housing (5).

3. The optical component (1) according to claim 2, It is characterized in that The reflector element (4) contacts the light-guiding element (8).

4. The optical component (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 3, It is characterized in that The printed circuit board (9) and / or the housing (5) have a white surface.

5. The optical component (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 4, It is characterized in that The at least one retaining element (6) is glued and / or clamped to the housing (5).

6. The optical component (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 5, It is characterized in that It comprises two retaining elements (6) arranged on two opposite sides of the housing (5).

7. The optical component (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 6, It is characterized in that The at least one holding element (6) can be mounted on the glass carrier (7) with precise position.

8. The optical component (1) according to claim 6 and 7, It is characterized in that The two holding elements (6) can be inseparably bonded to the glass carrier (7) at predetermined locations.

9. The optical component (1) according to any one of claims 6 to 8, It is characterized in that The holding elements (6) are each designed in the form of a hook, wherein the housing (5) can be held and fixed in a clamped manner between two holding elements (6).

10. The optical component (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 9, It is characterized in that The at least one retaining element (6) exerts a restoring force on the housing (5) to secure and retain the housing in a precisely positioned manner.

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