Optical module, light device and motor vehicle
By designing the total reflection surface and projection optical system of the optical module, the problem of excessively large size of vehicle headlights in the height direction is solved, achieving a compact optical module design and enhancing the technological appearance and lighting effect of motor vehicle lights.
Patent Information
- Authority / Receiving Office
- CN · China
- Patent Type
- Applications(China)
- Current Assignee / Owner
- VALEO VISION SA
- Filing Date
- 2024-12-30
- Publication Date
- 2026-06-30
AI Technical Summary
In the existing technology, the size of vehicle headlights in the height direction is usually too large, resulting in an unsophisticated appearance and making it difficult to achieve a compact lighting device design.
An optical module, including first and second light sources and corresponding optical elements, is used to achieve the reorientation and projection of light through the design of a total reflection surface and a projection optical system. The size of the optical module, especially the size in the height direction, is compressed by utilizing the total reflection surface and collimator.
It features a compact optical module design that enhances the technological look while maintaining efficient lighting functionality, making it suitable for a variety of lights in motor vehicles, including headlights and signal lights.
Smart Images
Figure CN122305416A_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 light source and a first optical element, and a second light source and a second optical element, wherein the first and second optical elements collect light emitted by the first and second light sources such that the light emitted by the first and second light sources enters the first and second optical elements respectively and is redirected; a projection optical system is configured to project the redirected light from the first and second optical elements; the first optical element has a total reflection surface disposed on its surface, the total reflection surface reflecting at least some of the light rays within the first optical element according to a cutoff line profile; the second optical element has at least one total reflection surface to change the direction of light emitted from the second light source such that light exits from the light-emitting surface of the second optical element; and the optical focus of the projection optical system is disposed at or near the edge of the total reflection surface along the light propagation direction of the first light source.
[0006] In some embodiments, the projection optical system includes at least one projection lens.
[0007] In some embodiments, the light-emitting surfaces of the first and second optical elements of the optical module abut against each other.
[0008] In some embodiments, the first light source and the second light source are arranged on different supports, wherein the supports have different orientations.
[0009] In some embodiments, the first light source and the second light source are arranged on the same support.
[0010] In some embodiments, the second optical element includes at least two total reflection surfaces to continuously change the light from the second light source, such that the light exits from the light-emitting surface of the second optical element.
[0011] In some embodiments, the first optical element and / or the second optical element have a collimating portion.
[0012] In some embodiments, the total reflection surface of the first optical element is disposed on the surface of the first optical element near the optical axis of the projection optical system.
[0013] In some embodiments, the second optical element is configured to include an optical structure that adjusts the light pattern of light entering the second optical element.
[0014] In some embodiments, the reflective surface of the second optical element is configured as an arcuate surface to further adjust the light pattern of the light entering the second optical element.
[0015] 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.
[0016] In some embodiments, the lighting device includes at least one of a headlight for a motor vehicle, a signal indicator, and an ambient light.
[0017] 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.
[0018] 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
[0019] 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:
[0020] Figure 1 This is a schematic cross-sectional view of the optical path of an optical module according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure;
[0021] Figure 2 This is an exploded view showing the structure of an optical module according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure;
[0022] Figure 3This is an exploded view showing the structure of an optical module according to another exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure;
[0023] Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram illustrating 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 4 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 1 This is a schematic cross-sectional view of the optical path of an optical module 10 according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure. Figure 2 This is an exploded view showing the structure of an optical module according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure. Figure 1 and Figure 2 As shown, the optical module 10 includes at least one first light source 110 and at least one first optical element 200, as well as at least one second light source 120 and at least one second optical element 300.
[0028] In this example, the first optical element 200 and the second optical element 300 are adapted to collect light emitted by the at least one first light source 110 and the at least one second light source 120 such that light emitted by the at least one first light source 3 and the at least one second light source 4 enters the at least one first optical element 200 and the second optical element 300 respectively and is redirected.
[0029] Figure 1The first light source 110 and first optical element 200, as well as the second light source 120 and second optical element in the illustrated optical module 10, are used to generate two beams that achieve two different lighting functions, such as lighting with a cutoff profile to prevent glare from oncoming vehicles (corresponding to a "low beam" type lighting function); and lighting without a cutoff profile (corresponding to a "full beam" or "high beam" type lighting function). It should be understood that the embodiments of this disclosure are not limited to this, but other beams with different lighting or signal indication functions may be used.
[0030] like Figure 1 and Figure 2 The illustrated optical module 10 further includes a projection optical system 400 configured to project light that has been redirected from the first optical element 200 and the second optical element 300. In some embodiments, the projection optical system 400 includes one or more projection lenses, wherein the projection lenses may be configured to be shared by a plurality of first optical elements and / or a plurality of second optical elements. The projection optical system 400 is arranged along an optical axis and projects light beams from the first optical element 200 and / or the second optical element 300 to produce at least one of two illumination functions.
[0031] According to the technical solution of this disclosure, the first optical element 200 has a total internal reflection surface 210 disposed on the surface of the first optical element 200 near the optical axis of the projection optical system. The total internal reflection surface 210 reflects some or all of the light rays propagating inside the first optical element 200 according to a cutoff line profile to generate a light beam with a cutoff line profile. Further, the optical focus F of the projection optical system 400 is disposed at or near the edge of the total internal reflection surface 210 along the light propagation direction of the first light source, and therefore the cutoff line profile of the light beam of the first optical element 200 is generated by the total internal reflection surface 210 at the focus F. It should be understood that a "total internal reflection surface" in an optical element refers to a surface having such a refractive index that light rays arriving at the surface at an angle of incidence greater than a predetermined value are totally internally reflected at the surface, without any significant portion of the energy of the light rays being transmitted through the surface.
[0032] In some embodiments, such as Figures 1 to 3 The first optical element 200 and the second optical element 300 of the optical module shown abut against each other at their respective light-emitting surfaces, for example, at the total reflection surface 210 of the first optical element 200. As a result, the transition effect of the light beam emitted from the light-emitting surfaces of the first and second optical elements is improved, thereby achieving a better light emission effect.
[0033] According to the technical solution of this disclosure, such as Figure 1 and Figure 2The second optical element 300 shown has at least one total internal reflection surface to change the direction of light emitted from the second light source, so that the light exits from the light-emitting surface of the second optical element. In some embodiments, the second optical element 300 has two or more total internal reflection surfaces to continuously change the optical path of light incident from the second light source. Because the second optical element has multiple total internal reflection surfaces, the size of the projection optical system can be further compressed in the vertical direction, resulting in a more compact optical module.
[0034] In some embodiments, the second optical element 300 is further configured to include an optical structure that adjusts the light pattern of light entering the second optical element. For example, at least one reflective surface of the second optical element may be configured as an arcuate surface to further converge the light pattern of light entering the second optical element and improve its utilization. It should be understood that this application is not limited to this and may also include other optical structures or microstructure surfaces for adjusting the light pattern.
[0035] In some embodiments, the first optical element and the second optical element have collimation sections, thereby further improving the light output effect.
[0036] According to embodiments of this disclosure, the aforementioned first and second optical elements are made of a transparent material having a refractive index greater than that of air. Polycarbonate (PC), which can withstand heat generated by the light source, is preferably used. A particular advantage of this material is that the light source can be positioned near the transparent optical element without being affected by the heat it generates. In other embodiments, the optical element may be made of polypropylene carbonate (PPC) or polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA).
[0037] As shown in Figure 1, the first light source 110 and the second light source 120 are arranged on the same support member 100. It should be understood that the first light source 110 and the second light source 120 can also be arranged on different supports, and the supports have different orientations, thereby achieving higher utilization and better light output.
[0038] Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram illustrating an optical module according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure. Figure 3 As shown, the optical module may further include a housing 500 and a heat sink 600. The optical module may be at least partially mounted in the housing 500, such as within the receiving space of the housing 500. The heat sink 600 may be attached to or integrally formed with the support member 100 of the light sources 110 and 120 to improve the heat dissipation efficiency of the heat generated by the light sources 110 and 120.
[0039] 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. For example, the light-emitting surface height of the module according to embodiments of this disclosure can be less than or equal to 8 mm. 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 optical elements. 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 said axis), 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.
[0040] Embodiments of this disclosure also provide motor vehicles that include optical modules or lighting devices as described in any of the foregoing embodiments.
[0041] 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.
[0042] 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 system comprises at least one first light source (110) and at least one first optical element (200), and at least one second light source (120) and at least one second optical element (300), wherein the first optical element (200) and the second optical element (300) are adapted to collect light emitted by the at least one first light source (110) and the at least one second light source (120) such that the light emitted by the at least one first light source (110) and the at least one second light source (120) enters and is redirected into the at least one first optical element (200) and the at least one second optical element (300), respectively. A projection optical system (400) configured to project light that has been redirected by a first optical element (200) and a second optical element (300), wherein... The first optical element (200) has a total internal reflection surface (210) disposed on the surface of the first optical element (300), the total internal reflection surface (210) reflecting at least some of the light rays within the first optical element (200) according to a cutoff line profile. The second optical element (300) has at least one total internal reflection surface to change the direction of light emitted from the second light source, so that the light exits from the light-emitting surface of the second optical element. The optical focus (F) of the projection optical system (400) is located at or near the edge of the total reflection surface (210) along the light propagation direction of the first light source.
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 first optical element (200) and the second optical element (300) of the optical module abut against each other at the light-emitting surface.
4. The optical module according to claim 1, wherein the first light source and the second light source are arranged on different supports, wherein the supports have different orientations.
5. The optical module according to claim 1, wherein the second optical element comprises at least two total reflection surfaces to continuously change the light from the second light source, such that the light exits from the light-emitting surface of the second optical element.
6. The optical module according to claim 1, wherein the second optical element is configured to include an optical structure for adjusting the light pattern of light entering the second optical element.
7. The optical module according to claim 1 or claim 5, wherein at least one reflective surface of the second optical element is configured as an arcuate surface to further adjust the light pattern of the light entering the second optical element.
8. The optical module according to claim 1, wherein the first optical element and / or the second optical element has a collimation section.
9. The optical module according to claim 1, wherein The total reflection surface (210) of the first optical element is disposed on the surface of the first optical element near the optical axis of the projection optical system.
10. A lighting device, comprising: case; and The optical module according to any one of claims 1-9, wherein the optical module is at least partially mounted in the housing.
11. A motor vehicle, wherein, The vehicle includes an optical module as described in any one of claims 1-9, or a lighting device as described in claim 10.