Optical fiber assembly, lighting and / or signal indicating device and motor vehicle

Abstract

The invention discloses an optical fiber assembly, a lighting and / or signal indicating device and a motor vehicle. The optical fiber assembly comprises: an optical fiber (10); the light guide part (20) is arranged at the end part of the optical fiber (10) and is provided with an incident end (201) and a side conical surface (202), the incident end (201) is used for receiving light rays from a light source (40), and the side conical surface (202) is used for totally reflecting at least one part of the light rays so as to guide the light rays into the optical fiber (10).

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to an optical fiber assembly, a lighting and / or signal indicating device, and a motor vehicle. Background Art

[0002] In the arrangement of a vehicle lamp assembly, there is a linear lamp assembly made of an optical fiber. In an existing such linear lamp assembly, due to the structural limitation at the end of the optical fiber, the optical coupling efficiency at the end of the optical fiber is not high, which will affect the optical efficiency of the light assembly. Summary of the Invention

[0003] An object of the present invention is to provide an optical fiber assembly, a lighting and / or signal indicating device, and a motor vehicle. The optical fiber assembly has improved optical coupling efficiency and optical distribution uniformity.

[0004] On the one hand, an optical fiber assembly is provided, including: an optical fiber; and a light guiding portion disposed at an end of the optical fiber and having an incident end for receiving light from a light source and a side conical surface for totally reflecting at least a part of the light to guide it into the interior of the optical fiber.

[0005] In an embodiment, the side conical surface extends obliquely with respect to the longitudinal direction of the optical fiber, and the cross-sectional area of the light guiding portion gradually increases from the incident end towards the interior of the optical fiber.

[0006] In an embodiment, the optical fiber includes a core layer and a cladding located outside the core layer to surround the core layer, and the light guiding portion is configured to be integrally formed with the core layer.

[0007] In an embodiment, the light guiding portion is exposed outside the cladding.

[0008] In an embodiment, the light guiding portion has an exit end facing the end face of the optical fiber, and the exit end is separated from the end face of the optical fiber.

[0009] In an embodiment, the optical fiber assembly further includes a support structure configured to support the light guiding portion and arranged between the light guiding portion and the optical fiber such that the light guiding portion is connected to the optical fiber through the support structure.

[0010] In an embodiment, the light guiding portion is configured to be integrally formed with the support structure.

[0011] In an embodiment, the light guiding portion is formed of a silicone material.

[0012] In an embodiment, the optical fiber includes a core layer and a cladding located outside the core layer to surround the core layer, and the size of the exit end of the light guiding portion matches the size of the end of the core layer.

[0013] On the other hand, there is provided an illumination and / or signal indication device, which includes an optical fiber component and a light source according to an embodiment of the present invention, and the light source faces the incident end of the light guiding portion.

[0014] In one embodiment, the size of the incident end of the light guiding portion is larger than the size of the light source.

[0015] On yet another hand, there is provided a motor vehicle, which includes an optical fiber component according to an embodiment of the present invention or an illumination and / or signal indication device according to an embodiment of the present invention. Description of the Drawings

[0016] Figure 1 Schematic diagram showing an optical fiber component according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0017] Figure 2 Schematic diagram showing an optical fiber component according to another embodiment of the present invention.

[0018] Figure 3 Perspective view showing an optical fiber component according to another embodiment of the present invention.

[0019] Figure 4 Perspective view showing an optical fiber component according to another embodiment of the present invention from another angle. Detailed Description of the Embodiments

[0020] The technical solutions of the present invention will be further specifically described below through embodiments in conjunction with the drawings. In the description of the specification, the same or similar reference numerals denote the same or similar components. The description of the embodiments of the present invention with reference to the drawings below is intended to explain the overall inventive concept of the present invention and should not be construed as a limitation of the present invention.

[0021] In addition, in the following detailed description, for the purpose of explanation, many specific details are set forth to provide a comprehensive understanding of the embodiments disclosed herein. However, it is obvious that one or more embodiments may be practiced without these specific details.

[0022] Figure 1 Schematic diagram showing an optical fiber component 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention. Figure 2 Schematic diagram showing an optical fiber component 100 according to another embodiment of the present invention. Figure 3 Perspective view showing an optical fiber component 100 according to another embodiment of the present invention. Figure 4 Perspective view showing an optical fiber component 100 according to another embodiment of the present invention from another angle.

[0023] As Figures 1 to 3As shown, the optical fiber component 100 includes an optical fiber 10 and a light guiding portion 20 disposed at the end of the optical fiber 10. The light guiding portion 20 may have an incident end 201. The incident end 201 may be arranged to face the light source 40 to receive light from the light source 40, so that the light enters the light guiding portion 20 through the incident end 201.

[0024] The light guiding portion 20 also has a side conical surface 202. As Figures 1 to 3 shown, the side conical surface 202 is arranged to extend from the incident end 201 towards the optical fiber 10, and the side conical surface 202 is arranged to extend obliquely with respect to the longitudinal direction L of the optical fiber 10, so that the cross-sectional area of the light guiding portion 20 gradually increases from the incident end 201 of the light guiding portion 20 towards the inside of the optical fiber 10. Thus, the light guiding portion 20 is formed into a conical shape. As an example, the inclination angle of the side conical surface 202 with respect to the longitudinal direction L may be in the range of 5 degrees to 50 degrees. However, the embodiments of the present invention are not limited thereto, and the inclination angle or the cone angle of the side conical surface 202 may be appropriately set according to the desired lighting effect.

[0025] According to an embodiment of the present invention, the side conical surface 202 is configured to totally reflect at least a part of the light entering the light guiding portion 20, so that the at least a part of the light is guided into the optical fiber 10 in a total reflection manner.

[0026] In this way, by providing the obliquely extending side conical surface 202 in the light guiding portion 20, the angle between the incident light entering the light guiding portion 20 and the side conical surface 202 can be reduced, thereby increasing the probability of total reflection of the incident light at the side conical surface 202. That is, by providing the inclined side conical surface 202, the optical ratio of the incident light that undergoes total reflection at the side conical surface 202 can be increased, and further the ratio of the light guided into the optical fiber 10 through total reflection can be increased. Thus, at least most of the light of the light source 40 can be coupled into the optical fiber 10, thereby ensuring the coupling efficiency of the optical fiber 10, enhancing the brightness, and improving the uniformity of the optical distribution.

[0027] Furthermore, by providing the light guiding portion 20 to guide the light into the optical fiber 10, the light leakage phenomenon at the end of the optical fiber 10 can also be avoided or reduced. In the absence of the light guiding portion 20, due to the structural reasons at the end of the optical fiber 10, most of the incident light from the light source 40 cannot undergo total reflection at the end of the optical fiber 10 and directly exits from the optical fiber 10, which will make the end of the optical fiber 10 brighter than other regions (such as the middle), resulting in non-uniform optical distribution. By providing the light guiding portion 20 according to the embodiment of the present invention, since the light guiding portion 20 can guide at least most of the incident light into the optical fiber 10, the light leakage phenomenon at the end of the optical fiber 10 can be reduced, thereby improving the uniformity of the optical distribution of the optical fiber 10 and providing a good lighting effect.

[0028] According to an embodiment of the present invention, the optical fiber 10 may include a core layer 101 and a cladding layer 102 located outside the core layer 101 to surround the core layer 101. The light guided into the optical fiber 10 via the light guiding portion 20 may be guided into the core layer 101 of the optical fiber 10 and propagate within the core layer 101 to achieve a lighting effect.

[0029] In one embodiment, as Figure 1 shown, the light guiding portion 20 may be configured to be integrally formed with the core layer 101. As an example, the light guiding portion 20 may use the same material as the core layer 101 and be integrally formed with the core layer 101 in a single preparation process. Thereby, the light guiding portion 20 and the core layer 101 can be formed into an integral component. In this way, the connection stability between the light guiding portion 20 and the core layer 101 can be ensured. In addition, due to the integral component characteristics, the light propagation efficiency from the catheter portion 20 to the optical fiber 10 can also be maximized, and the light leakage phenomenon at the connection between the two can be avoided.

[0030] Furthermore, as Figure 1 described, the light guiding portion 20 is exposed outside the cladding layer 102. That is, the light guiding portion 20 is not surrounded by the cladding layer 102 like the core layer 101. As an example, the light guiding portion 20 can be formed by processing the optical fiber 10. For example, a certain distance range of the cladding layer 102 at the end of the optical fiber 10 can be removed to expose the core layer 101. Then, by processing the exposed core layer into a tapered shape, the light guiding portion 20 with a side tapered surface 202 is obtained. Thereby, the light guiding portion 20 extending from the optical fiber 10 and exposed outside the cladding layer 102 can be formed. However, the embodiments of the present invention are not limited thereto.

[0031] In one embodiment, as Figures 2 to 3 shown, the light guiding portion 20 may not be integrally formed with the core layer 101, but a separate component separated from the optical fiber 10. In this case, the light guiding portion 20 may have an output end 203 facing the end surface of the optical fiber 10, and the output end 203 is separated from the end surface of the optical fiber 10. Therefore, light can be output from the light guiding portion 20 through the output end 203 and enter the interior of the optical fiber 10.

[0032] In this way, by providing a separate light guiding portion 20, it is more conducive to mass processing of the light guiding portion 20 to save economic costs. In addition, since the light guiding portion 20 is only a simple optical component with a tapered shape, it is easy to design and manufacture, and the process difficulty is reduced. Additionally, the light guiding portion 20 as a separate component can be directly applied to existing optical fibers without modifying the optical fibers, thereby increasing the installation convenience.

[0033] As an example, the light guiding portion 20 may be formed into a lens.

[0034] In one embodiment, as Figures 2 to 3 shown, the light component 100 may further include a support structure 30. The support structure 30 is configured to support the light guide portion 20. As an example, the support structure 30 may be adhesively connected to the surrounding structure so as to fix the light guide portion 20 relative to the light source 40, enabling the light guide portion 20 to receive light from the light source 40. On the other hand, the support structure 30 may be arranged to be located between the light guide portion 20 and the optical fiber 10, such that the light guide portion 20 is connected to the optical fiber 10 through the support structure 30. As an example, as Figure 4 shown, a socket 301 may be provided at a position of the support structure 30 facing the optical fiber 10 for inserting the optical fiber 10. Generally, the optical fiber 10 may be inserted until it abuts against the support structure 30 between the optical fiber 10 and the light guide portion 20 or directly against the light guide portion 20. Since the support structure 30 and the light guide portion 20 are generally integrally formed by an injection molding process (which will be described in detail below), the connection between the light guide portion 20 and the optical fiber 10 can be achieved.

[0035] In this way, the relative positions of the light source 40, the light guide portion 20, and the optical fiber 10 can be easily fixed, thereby maximizing the optical coupling efficiency of the optical fiber 10 to obtain the desired brightness and uniformity.

[0036] In one embodiment, the light guide portion 20 may be integrally formed with the support structure 30. As an example, the light guide portion 20 and the support structure 30 may have the same material. For example, both the light guide portion 20 and the support structure 30 may be made of polycarbonate (PC) material. Therefore, the light guide portion 20 and the support structure 30 can be integrally formed in one preparation process (e.g., one injection molding), thus forming an integral component. In this way, while enabling mass production of the light guide portion 20 and the support structure 30, the connection stability between the two is ensured, and the component installation complexity is reduced.

[0037] In another embodiment, the light guide portion 20 may have a different material from the support structure 30. That is, the light guide portion 20 may be formed of a material different from the support structure 30. As an example, the support structure 30 may still be made of polycarbonate (PC) material to save costs and ensure support stability. The light guide portion 20 may be made of silica gel. In this case, the light guide portion 20 made of silica gel may have better temperature resistance. Thus, the light guide portion 20 can be closer to the light source 40 without being affected by the heat of the light source 40. By reducing the distance between the light guide portion 20 and the light source 40, more light can be ensured to enter the light guide portion 20, and then more light can be guided to the optical fiber 10 via total internal reflection, thereby improving the brightness and lighting effect of the optical fiber 10. As an example, the distance between the light guide portion 20 made of silica gel material and the light source 40 may be in the range of about 0.10 mm to 0.20 mm. Preferably, it may be about 0.15 mm. Additionally, as an example, the light guide portion 20 and the support structure 30 with different materials can be prepared by two processes (such as double injection molding).

[0038] In one embodiment, the size of the exit end 203 of the light guide portion 20 may match the size of the end of the core layer 101. By this setting, it can be ensured that light propagates smoothly from the light guide portion 20 to the inside of the optical fiber 10 along the total internal reflection path, thereby reducing the light leakage phenomenon and improving the optical distribution uniformity and lighting effect. Specifically, the size of the exit end 203 of the light guide portion 20 may be slightly larger or slightly smaller than the size of the core layer 101, and the two are approximately matched.

[0039] In one embodiment, the size of the incident end 201 of the light guide portion 20 may be larger than the size of the light source 40. By this setting, the incident end 201 can receive more light from the light source 40, thereby ensuring the brightness effect of the optical fiber.

[0040] In one embodiment, according to the lighting effect requirements, light sources 40 may be respectively arranged at both ends of the optical fiber 10. In this case, corresponding light guide portions 20 may be respectively arranged for each light source 40. That is, the light guide portions 20 may be respectively arranged at both ends of the optical fiber 10.

[0041] The optical fiber assembly 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention can be used, as an example, in any lighting and / or signal indication device. The lighting and / or signal indication device may include any type of motor vehicle lighting and / or signal lights, such as, as an example, headlamps, center high-mounted stop lamps, turn signals, position lights, tail brake lights, and so on. The optical fiber assembly 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention can also be used in fields other than vehicle lights, such as, as an example, street lamps, advertising lights, and so on.

[0042] Although the present invention has been described in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, the embodiments disclosed in the drawings are intended to exemplarily illustrate the preferred embodiments of the present invention and should not be construed as a limitation of the present invention.

[0043] Although some embodiments of the general concept of the present invention have been shown and described, those of ordinary skill in the art will understand that changes may be made to these embodiments without departing from the principles and spirit of the general inventive concept, and the scope of the present invention is defined by the claims and their equivalents.

Claims

1. An optical fiber component (100), characterized in that, comprising: an optical fiber (10); and a light guiding part (20) arranged at an end of the optical fiber (10), and having an incident end (201) for receiving light from a light source (40) and a side tapered surface (202), the side tapered surface (202) being configured to totally reflect at least a part of the light to guide it into the interior of the optical fiber (10).

2. The optical fiber component (100) according to claim 1, characterized in that, the side tapered surface (202) extends obliquely with respect to the longitudinal direction (L) of the optical fiber (10), and the cross-sectional area of the light guiding part (20) gradually increases in a direction from the incident end (201) towards the interior of the optical fiber (10).

3. The optical fiber component (100) according to claim 1, characterized in that, the optical fiber (10) includes a core layer (101) and a cladding layer (102) located outside the core layer (101) to surround the core layer (101), and the light guiding part (20) is configured to be integrally formed with the core layer (101).

4. The optical fiber component (100) according to claim 3, characterized in that, the light guiding part (20) is exposed outside the cladding layer (102).

5. The optical fiber component (100) according to claim 1, characterized in that, the light guiding part (20) has an exit end (203) facing the end face of the optical fiber (10), and the exit end (203) is separated from the end face of the optical fiber (10).

6. The optical fiber component (100) according to claim 5, characterized in that, the optical fiber component further includes a support structure (30), the support structure (30) being configured to support the light guiding part (20) and arranged between the light guiding part (20) and the optical fiber (10) such that the light guiding part (20) is connected to the optical fiber (10) through the support structure (30).

7. The optical fiber component (100) according to claim 6, characterized in that, the light guiding part (20) is configured to be integrally formed with the support structure (30).

8. The optical fiber component (100) according to claim 6, characterized in that, the light guiding part (20) is formed of a silica gel material.

9. The optical fiber component (100) according to claim 5, characterized in that, the optical fiber (10) includes a core layer (101) and a cladding layer (102) located outside the core layer (101) to surround the core layer (101), and the size of the exit end (203) of the light guiding part (20) matches the size of the end of the core layer (101).

10. An illumination and / or signal indication device, characterized in that, comprising: the optical fiber component (100) according to any one of claims 1 to 9; and a light source (40), the light source (40) facing the incident end (201) of the light guiding part (20).

11. The lighting and / or signaling device according to claim 10, wherein the size of the incident end (201) of the light guide part (20) is larger than the size of the light source (40).

12. A motor vehicle, characterized in that it comprises an optical fiber assembly according to any one of claims 1 to 9 or a lighting and / or signaling device according to claim 10 or 11.

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