Optical module, light device and motor vehicle
By employing an offset light collector and optical focus design in vehicle headlights, the problem of ultra-thin design for vehicle headlights has been solved, achieving a compact and aesthetically pleasing multi-functional lighting effect.
Patent Information
- Authority / Receiving Office
- CN · China
- Patent Type
- Applications(China)
- Current Assignee / Owner
- VALEO VISION SA
- Filing Date
- 2024-11-29
- Publication Date
- 2026-05-29
AI Technical Summary
In existing technologies, the dimensions of vehicle headlights in the height direction are usually much larger than those in the width direction, resulting in a less technologically advanced appearance and making it difficult to achieve an ultra-thin design.
By employing first and second optical units and a projection optical system, and by setting the offset light collector and optical focus, beam projection and multi-functional illumination are achieved, reducing the number of windows in the projection lens to meet the design requirements.
It achieves a compact design for the optical module, providing greater emission space and clear, aesthetically pleasing lighting effects, and is suitable for a variety of vehicle lighting fixtures.
Smart Images
Figure CN122107312A_ABST
Abstract
Description
Technical Field
[0001] Embodiments of this disclosure generally relate to the field of lighting and / or signal indication, and more specifically, to optical modules capable of providing lighting effects, and to lamp devices and motor vehicles equipped with such optical modules. Background Technology
[0002] Lighting devices are used to provide light for illumination and / or optical indication functions, and are widely used in various fields. For example, in motor vehicles, lighting devices such as headlights are used to ensure safe driving. Motor vehicles often require various types of lights to achieve different functions, including headlights, fog lights, taillights, turn signals, brake lights, side marker lights, parking lights, and so on.
[0003] Existing lighting devices, especially headlights, are typically much larger in width than in height to create an ultra-thin design that enhances the vehicle's futuristic appearance. Achieving this type of lighting device presents a significant challenge. Summary of the Invention
[0004] One object of this disclosure is to solve or overcome at least one of the above-mentioned and other problems and defects existing in the prior art.
[0005] According to one aspect of this disclosure, an optical module is provided, comprising a first optical unit including at least one first light source and at least one first light collector configured to collect and reflect a first light beam from the first light source; a second optical unit including at least one second light source and at least one second light collector configured to collect and reflect a second light beam from the second light source, wherein the first light beam and the second light beam have different functions; and a projection optical system configured to project the first light beam reflected by the first light collector and the second light beam reflected by the second light collector along the optical axis of the projection optical system, wherein the first light collector and the second light collector are offset from each other at least in the optical axis direction and vertical direction of the projection optical system, wherein the second light collector is spaced apart from the reflective surface of the second light collector at and between the optical focal point of the projection optical system and the reflective surface of the second light collector.
[0006] In some embodiments, the projection optical system includes at least one projection lens.
[0007] In some embodiments, the projection optics system is configured to form an image of the reflective surface of the second light collector.
[0008] In some embodiments, the reflective surface of the second light collector includes a rear edge that forms a horizontal cutoff line in the second light beam.
[0009] In some embodiments, the front edge of the first light collector and the rear edge of the second light collector are connected.
[0010] In some embodiments, the first light collector and the second light collector are integrated into one unit.
[0011] In some embodiments, the projection optical system has an optical focal point located at a distance of 10 mm or more from the reflective surface of the second light collector.
[0012] In some embodiments, the projection optical system has an optical focal point located at a distance greater than or equal to 10 mm from the rear edge of the reflective surface of the second light collector.
[0013] In some embodiments, each of the reflective surfaces of the first and second light collectors has an elliptical or parabolic profile.
[0014] In some embodiments, the optical module is configured to include multiple optical unit groups, wherein each optical unit group includes a first optical unit and a second optical unit; and the projection lens has a number of windows greater than or equal to the number of optical unit groups.
[0015] In some embodiments, the projection lens has three or five windows.
[0016] According to another aspect of this disclosure, embodiments also provide a lamp device including a housing and an optical module described in any embodiment of this disclosure, the optical module being at least partially mounted in the housing.
[0017] In some embodiments, the lighting device includes at least one of a headlight for a motor vehicle, a signal indicator, and an ambient light.
[0018] According to another aspect of this disclosure, embodiments also provide a motor vehicle that includes the optical module or lamp device described in any embodiment of this disclosure.
[0019] Other objects and advantages of this disclosure will become apparent from the following detailed description of the disclosure with reference to the accompanying drawings, and will help to provide a comprehensive understanding of the disclosure. Attached Figure Description
[0020] These and / or other aspects, features, and advantages of this disclosure will become apparent and readily understood from the following description of illustrative embodiments, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:
[0021] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram illustrating the structure of an optical module according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure;
[0022] Figure 2This is an exploded view showing the structure of an optical module according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure;
[0023] Figure 3 This is a schematic cross-sectional view of the optical path of an optical module according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure. Detailed Implementation
[0024] The embodiments of this disclosure will now be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. In this specification, identical or similar components are indicated by identical or similar reference numerals. The following description of embodiments of this disclosure with reference to the accompanying drawings is intended to explain the overall concept of this disclosure and should not be construed as a limitation thereof.
[0025] Furthermore, in the following detailed description, numerous specific details are set forth to provide a thorough understanding of the embodiments of this disclosure for ease of explanation. However, it will be apparent that one or more embodiments may be practiced without these specific details. In other instances, well-known structures and apparatuses are illustrated to simplify the figures.
[0026] Figures 1 to 3 The diagram schematically illustrates the structure and optical path of an optical module 10 according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, as an example, such as... Figure 1 The optical module 10 shown can be installed in a motor vehicle as a headlight, for example, including but not limited to, low beam headlights and / or high beam headlights.
[0027] Figure 2 An exploded view of the structure of an optical module according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure is shown. Figure 2As shown, the optical module according to this disclosure includes a carrier 110, such as a heat sink; a light source assembly 140, on which at least a first light source 142 and a second light source 144 are disposed, the light source assembly 140 being arranged on the carrier 110; a light collector assembly 120, which may be composed of multiple sets of first light collectors 122 and second light collectors 124, wherein each of the reflective surfaces of the first light collectors and the second light collectors has an elliptical or parabolic profile, and in some embodiments, the multiple sets of first light collectors 122 and second light collectors 124 may be formed as one unit; and a projection optical system 130, which is, for example, a projection optical lens. In some embodiments, since the optical module is configured to include multiple sets of optical unit groups, wherein each optical unit group includes at least one first optical unit and at least one second optical unit, since the first optical unit and the second optical unit in the optical unit group share the same window of the projection optical lens, the projection lens has a number of windows greater than or equal to the number of the optical unit groups, thereby reducing the number of windows of the projection lens and meeting more design requirements. For example, in some embodiments, the projection lens may have three or five windows.
[0028] Figure 3 A cross-sectional view of the optical path of an optical module according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure is shown schematically. For example... Figure 3 As shown, the optical module 10 includes a first optical unit 100, which includes at least one first light source 142 and at least one first light concentrator 122, the first light concentrator 122 being configured to collect and reflect a first light beam from the first light source 142; and a second optical unit 200, which includes at least one second light source 144 and at least one second light concentrator 124, the second light concentrator 124 being configured to collect and reflect a second light beam from the second light source 144. In some embodiments, each of the reflective surfaces of the first light concentrator 122 and the second light concentrator 124 has an elliptical or parabolic profile, and the first light source and the second light source are located at or near the focal point of the corresponding first light concentrator and the second light concentrator, respectively. In some embodiments, the first light beam and the second light beam have different illumination and / or signal indication functions; for example, the first light beam can be configured as a high beam and the second light beam can be configured as a low beam. Those skilled in the art will understand that the first light beam and the second light beam can be implemented as illumination / signal with different functions, for example.
[0029] The optical module 10 further includes a projection optics system 130 configured to project a first light beam reflected by a first light condenser and a second light beam reflected by a second light condenser along the optical axis of the projection optics system to project the light beams to the outside of the optical module 10. In some embodiments, the projection optics system 130 is configured to form an image of the reflective surface of the second light condenser. For example, the reflective surface of the second light condenser 124 includes a trailing edge 125 forming a horizontal cutoff line in the second light beam. Those skilled in the art will understand that the horizontal cutoff may include a bend in the optical axis. In this case, the trailing edge of the reflective surface of the second light condenser forming the horizontal cutoff line is set to be bent rather than straight.
[0030] like Figure 3 As shown, the X direction is horizontal, and the Y direction is set to vertical. The first and second light collectors are located at least along the optical axis of the projection optical system (e.g., ...). Figure 3 The X direction and the vertical direction shown are offset from each other, and the optical focus F of the projection optical system 130 is spaced apart from the reflective surface of the second light collector.
[0031] Compared with the traditional technical solution where the focal point of the projection optical system is set at or near the rear edge of the reflective surface of the second light collector, by setting the focal point of the projection optical system 130 at a distance from the reflective surface of the second light collector, the first light collector can obtain a larger accommodating space, thereby allowing the first beam to have more exit space; at the same time, the horizontal cutoff line projected by the projection optical system 130 can have a bluish hue, which is clearer and more aesthetically pleasing.
[0032] In some embodiments, the projection optical system has an optical focal point located at a distance greater than or equal to 10 mm from the reflective surface of the second light collector, and preferably, in some embodiments, the projection optical system has an optical focal point located at a distance greater than or equal to 10 mm from the rear edge of the reflective surface of the second light collector.
[0033] In embodiments of this disclosure, the front edge of the first light collector 122 and the rear edge of the second light collector 124 are connected. In some embodiments, the reflective surfaces of each light collector can be integrally formed or separately formed and then fixed together by a fixing means. The reflective surfaces of each light collector and the projection lens 130 are separate components.
[0034] According to embodiments of this disclosure, multiple beams containing horizontal cutoff lines can be generated using a single module that remains compact (particularly in height) and simple to manufacture. Imaging the illuminated reflective surface with sufficient depth of field allows for a clear projected luminous image, and thus allows for the generation of equally clear, bluish cutoff lines by means of the edges of the reflective surface of the light collector. Furthermore, when paraxial approximation is applicable (i.e., when the light rays are slightly tilted relative to the optical axis and not very far from it), the lens forming the projection system can be, for example, a thin lens with a thickness of less than 6 mm, which allows the lens to be manufactured in a single plastic injection molding operation.
[0035] The lighting device including the optical module according to the embodiments of this disclosure can be used as a lighting and / or signaling device, including any type of motor vehicle lighting and / or signal lights, such as headlights, center high-mounted brake lights, turn signals, position lights, taillights, etc.
[0036] Embodiments of this disclosure also provide motor vehicles that include optical modules or lighting devices as described in any of the foregoing embodiments.
[0037] Although this disclosure has been described in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, the embodiments disclosed in the drawings are intended to illustrate preferred embodiments of this disclosure and should not be construed as limiting the disclosure. The dimensions in the drawings are merely illustrative and should not be construed as limiting the disclosure.
[0038] While some embodiments of the general concept of this disclosure have been shown and described, those skilled in the art will understand that changes may be made to these embodiments without departing from the principles and spirit of the general concept of this disclosure, the scope of which is defined by the claims and their equivalents.
Claims
1. An optical module, characterized in that, The optical module includes: The first optical unit (100) includes at least one first light source (142) and at least one first light collector (122), the first light collector (122) being configured to collect and reflect a first beam of light from the first light source; The second optical unit (200) includes at least one second light source (144) and at least one second light collector (124), the second light collector (124) being configured to collect and reflect a second beam from the second light source (144), wherein the first beam and the second beam have different functions; and A projection optical system (130) is configured to project a first light beam reflected by a first light collector (122) and a second light beam reflected by a second light collector (124) along the optical axis of the projection optical system (130), wherein... The first light collector (122) and the second light collector (124) are offset from each other at least in the optical axis direction and the vertical (Y) direction of the projection optical system, wherein the optical focal point (F) of the projection optical system is spaced apart from the reflective surface of the second light collector (124).
2. The optical module according to claim 1, wherein the projection optical system includes at least one projection lens.
3. The optical module according to claim 1, wherein the projection optical system is configured to form an image of the reflective surface of the second light collector.
4. The optical module according to claim 1, wherein the reflective surface of the second light collector includes a rear edge forming a horizontal cutoff line in the second light beam.
5. The optical module according to claim 1, wherein the front edge of the first light collector and the rear edge of the second light collector are connected.
6. The optical module according to claim 5, wherein the first light collector and the second light collector are integrated into one unit.
7. The optical module according to claim 1, wherein The projection optical system has an optical focal point located at a distance of 10 mm or more from the reflective surface of the second light collector.
8. The optical module according to claim 7, wherein The projection optical system has an optical focal point located at a distance of 10 mm or more from the rear edge of the reflective surface of the second light collector.
9. The optical module according to claim 1, wherein Each of the reflective surfaces of the first and second light collectors has an elliptical or parabolic profile.
10. The optical module according to claim 2, The optical module is configured to include multiple sets of optical unit groups, wherein each optical unit group includes at least one first optical unit and at least one second optical unit; and The projection lens has a number of windows that is greater than or equal to the number of optical unit groups.
11. The optical module according to claim 10, wherein The projection lens has 3 or 5 windows.
12. A lighting device, comprising: case; and The optical module according to any one of claims 1-10, wherein the optical module is at least partially mounted in the housing.
13. A motor vehicle, wherein, The vehicle includes an optical module as described in any one of claims 1-11, or a lighting device as described in claim 12.