Lighting system and lighting device

Abstract

The present invention relates to a lighting system (100), particularly a lighting system (100) for interior or exterior lighting of a vehicle, comprising: an LED light source (1) on an electrical unit (2) that is at least partially flexible; a plurality of reflector elements (3) that are flexibly interconnected, and each reflector element is associated with at least one LED light source (1); and a housing (4) wherein the electrical unit (2) and the reflector elements (3) are housed in the housing (4).

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to a lighting system, particularly for interior or exterior lighting of a vehicle, and associated lighting devices. Background Technology

[0002] Beyond their primary lighting or signaling functions, lighting solutions for automotive applications increasingly must also fulfill decorative functions and therefore meet high aesthetic requirements. This invention relates to a lighting device in which an extended, particularly strip-shaped, lighting system is integrated into vehicle components, such as interior panel elements or skirts attached to the vehicle body, so as to precisely conform to the surface contours of the component. Inside the vehicle, such a lighting system can be used, for example, as footlights, reading lights, or purely for decorative purposes. Applications on the exterior of the vehicle include, for example, signal lights or "welcome lights."

[0003] In the prior art, these applications are typically addressed through lighting systems based on light guide elements that emit light via extended edges (“edge light”). A drawback of such lighting systems is their lack of geometric flexibility, making it challenging to adapt them to vehicle components with complex 3D surface profiles. Furthermore, because the light guide principle is optimized for uniform illumination across the entire surface, the variety of dynamic light signals and lighting effects that can be generated using edge light systems is somewhat limited. Summary of the Invention

[0004] One object of the present invention is to provide a lighting system for the aforementioned automotive applications, characterized in particular by taking into account significant flexibility in geometric arrangement and a wide range of achievable lighting effects.

[0005] This objective is achieved by the lighting system taught in claim 1 and the lighting device according to claim 10 or 12. Advantageous embodiments are defined in the dependent claims.

[0006] The present invention discloses a lighting system, particularly for interior or exterior lighting of a vehicle, comprising an LED light source on an at least partially flexible electrical unit; a plurality of reflector elements flexibly interconnected, each reflector element being associated with at least one LED light source; and a housing in which the electrical unit and reflector elements are housed.

[0007] The concept of this invention lies in dividing a lighting system into multiple functional units, including LED light sources and associated small reflector elements, wherein these functional units can be arranged at an angle to each other, allowing the overall functional units to present complex 3D shapes, particularly adaptable to curved surfaces. This allows the lighting system to flexibly adapt to different vehicle components with various surface profiles, where only the rigid housing must be manufactured individually for each application. The reflector elements are used for homogenization and / or color mixing of light emitted from the associated LED light sources. Each reflector element can be associated with a set of RGB-LED light sources for colored illumination. In particular, the lighting system includes a control unit capable of individually addressing each LED light source, enabling a wider range of illumination effects compared to lighting systems based on extended or injection-molded light guides with only a few LED modules at the ends.

[0008] In a preferred embodiment of the lighting system, the reflector elements are characterized by a chain arrangement, wherein each reflector element is flexibly connected to two adjacent reflector elements, except for end members. This embodiment is suitable for generating linear light stripes on arbitrary surface profiles.

[0009] For example, the reflector elements are interconnected by connecting studs made of a flexible polymer material. These connecting studs allow adjacent reflector elements to tilt toward each other, with the length and flexibility of the connecting studs determining the specific amount of tilt. This embodiment is particularly suitable for producing chain-like arrangements of reflector elements.

[0010] Preferably, the reflector elements, together with the means for interconnecting them, such as the aforementioned connecting studs, are made of a flexible polymer material, such as thermoplastic polyurethane integrally, or of a flexible and rigid polymer by two-component injection molding. Alternatively, the reflector elements and the means for interconnecting them are manufactured separately and then assembled, particularly wherein the means for interconnecting are detachable, for example by forming male-female connectors. This detachable interconnection results in improved modularity of the lighting system.

[0011] In another embodiment, each reflector element is characterized as a reflector chamber having a mounting aperture for an LED light source and a light emission aperture, which are substantially perpendicular to each other. The perpendicular orientation of the apertures is intended to ensure that light emitted from the LED light source is reflected at least once within the reflector chamber to produce a uniform light distribution when emitted from the light emission aperture.

[0012] The light homogenization effect of each reflector element can be further improved by a shield between the mounting aperture and the light exit aperture, which is designed to prevent light from escaping from the reflector chamber without reflection. Preferably, the shield is characterized by a reflective and convex surface facing the light entrance aperture, such that when using LED light sources of different colors (especially RGB), the reflection at the shield produces a uniform light distribution in terms of spatial and angular uniformity and / or color mixing.

[0013] The flexible electrical unit of the LED light source includes, for example, multiple printed circuit boards (PCBs) that are flexibly and electrically interconnected, and each PCB is equipped with at least one LED light source. The flexible connector elements used to interconnect the PCBs can be thermoformed strip elements.

[0014] Furthermore, the present invention relates to a lighting device for vehicle interior lighting, comprising panel elements, particularly door panels, front panel panels, console panels, or headliner panels, and at least one lighting system according to an embodiment of the preceding claims, integrated within the panel elements. The lighting system is particularly covered by a transparent or translucent covering element, such as partially transparent fabric, perforated coverings, or milky-white coverings. Another application of the lighting system for vehicle exterior lighting involves its integration into attachment parts for vehicle bodywork, particularly front aprons, rear aprons, sill panels, or exterior rearview mirrors. Such lighting devices may include lighting systems characterized by a strip-like shape and conform to the surface contours of the panel elements or attachment parts. The lighting device may have multiple electrically interconnected lighting systems, particularly connected in series via end-side terminals and controlled by a common control unit. Attached Figure Description

[0015] Additional details, features, and advantages of the present invention are disclosed in the following description of the accompanying drawings, which illustrate preferred embodiments of the invention in an exemplary and schematic manner.

[0016] Figure 1 The first embodiment of the lighting system,

[0017] Figure 2 The reflector element of the first embodiment,

[0018] Figure 3 The first embodiment of the lighting device,

[0019] Figure 4 The second embodiment of the lighting device, and

[0020] Figure 5 Example of a lighting device in a vehicle door. Detailed Implementation

[0021] Figure 1 An exploded view (cut-off section) of a first embodiment of a lighting system 100 is shown. The lighting system 100 includes an LED light source 1 on a flexible electrical unit, a plurality of reflector elements 3, and a rigid housing 4 housing the electrical unit 2 and the reflector elements 3. The reflector elements 3 are flexibly interconnected, and each reflector element 3 is associated with an LED light source 1. The overall shape of the lighting system 100 is S-shaped.

[0022] The flexible electrical unit 2 includes multiple PCBs 21 flexibly interconnected via a strip-shaped flexible connector element 22, and each PCB 21 is equipped with an LED light source 1. The flexibility of the electrical unit 2 is provided by the connector element 22. A power supply and control unit (not shown) can be electrically connected to terminals 23 on the side of the electrical unit 2. Each of the LED light sources 1 can be individually addressed by the control unit via terminals 23.

[0023] exist Figure 1 In the perspective view, the electrical unit 2 should be attached to the reflector element 3 from the rear, and light should be emitted upward from the reflector element 3. The reflector elements 3 have a chain-like arrangement, wherein each reflector element 3 is flexibly connected to two adjacent reflector elements 3, except for the end members. The reflector elements 3, together with the means for interconnection therewith, are integrally manufactured from a flexible polymer material, wherein the means for interconnection consists of connecting studs (31), which can be... Figure 2 I saw it in the middle.

[0024] Figure 2 It was shown as Figure 1 A perspective view of the reflector element 3 of the first embodiment. The reflector element 3 is characterized by a reflector chamber 32 having a mounting aperture 33 and a light emission aperture 34 for the LED light source (1), the mounting aperture 33 and the light emission aperture 34 being substantially perpendicular to each other. The reflector chamber 32 is generally characterized by a hollow semi-cylindrical shape. The inner surface of the reflector chamber 32 is reflective, for example, white or characterized by a metallic coating. The PCB (21) of the electrical unit (2) can be mounted to the reflector chamber 32 and fastened to the fixing slit 36, wherein the associated LED light source (1) is received in the mounting aperture 33.

[0025] The reflector element 3 is characterized by a shield 35 between the mounting aperture 33 and the light exit aperture 34, which is designed to prevent light from leaving the reflector chamber 32 without being reflected. The shield 35 is characterized by a convex surface facing the mounting aperture 33, which widens the range of the reflection angle, thereby producing a higher degree of light homogenization.

[0026] The connecting stud 31 (shown in cross-section) on the side of the reflector chamber 32 serves as a flexible device for interconnection. The connecting stud 31 is integrally manufactured with the reflector chamber 32 from a flexible polymer material, allowing the connecting stud 31 to bend and adjacent reflector elements to tilt toward each other.

[0027] Figure 3 A cross-section of a first embodiment of a lighting device 1000 for vehicle interior lighting is shown. The lighting device includes a panel element 200 and a lighting system 100 integrated within the panel element 200. A rigid housing 4 connects the lighting system 100 to the panel element 200 and houses a reflector element 3 and a flexible electrical unit 2 attached thereto. A light exit aperture 34 of the reflector chamber 32 is covered by a transparent cover element 5. The paths of some exemplary light beams L emitted from an LED light source 1 in a mounting aperture 33 through the reflector chamber 32 are shown. Multiple reflections produce a uniform distribution of light emitted from the light exit aperture 34, resulting in a similar optical impression of the lighting device 1000 over a wide viewing angle range.

[0028] Figure 4 A cross-section of a second embodiment of the lighting device 1000 is shown, wherein the reflector element 3 is characterized by an additional shield 35 between the mounting aperture 33 and the light emission aperture 34. As shown by the exemplary beam L, the shield 35 prevents light emitted from the LED light source 1 from exiting the reflector chamber 32 without reflection. The surface of the shield 35 is reflective to maintain a high light emission rate.

[0029] Figure 5 A perspective view of a lighting device 1000 on the inside of a vehicle door is shown, the lighting device comprising two lighting systems 100 integrated into a door panel 200. Both lighting systems 100 are characterized by a strip-like shape and conform to the surface contour of the panel element 200.

[0030] List of reference numerals

[0031] 1 LED light source

[0032] 2 Electrical Unit

[0033] 21 PCB

[0034] 22 Flexible connector components

[0035] 23 terminals

[0036] 3. Reflector Element

[0037] 31 Connecting studs

[0038] 32 Reflector Chamber

[0039] 33 Mounting Holes

[0040] 34 Light emission aperture

[0041] 35. Shielding

[0042] 36 Fixed slit

[0043] 4. Shell

[0044] 5 Covering elements

[0045] 100 Lighting System

[0046] 200 panel components

[0047] 1000 Lighting Equipment

[0048] L-beam

Claims

1. A lighting system (100), particularly a lighting system (100) for interior or exterior lighting of a vehicle, comprising an LED light source (1) on an electrical unit (2) that is at least partially flexible; a plurality of reflector elements (3) that are flexibly interconnected, and each reflector element being associated with at least one LED light source (1); and a housing (4) wherein the electrical unit (2) and the reflector elements (3) are housed in the housing (4).

2. The lighting system (100) according to claim 1, characterized in that, The reflector element (3) is characterized by a chain arrangement, wherein each reflector element (3) is flexibly connected to two adjacent reflector elements (3), except for the end members.

3. The lighting system (100) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that, The reflector elements (3) are interconnected by connecting studs (31) made of flexible polymer material.

4. The lighting system (100) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that, The reflector elements (3), together with the means for interconnecting them, are integrally manufactured from a flexible polymer material, or from a flexible and rigid polymer by two-component injection molding.

5. The lighting system (100) according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that... The reflector element (3) and the means for interconnecting therewith are manufactured separately and then assembled, in particular the means for interconnecting therewith are detachable, for example by forming male-female connectors.

6. The lighting system (100) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that, Each reflector element (3) is characterized by a reflector chamber (32) having a mounting aperture (33) and a light emission aperture (34) for the LED light source (1), the mounting aperture and the light emission aperture being substantially perpendicular to each other.

7. The lighting system (100) according to claim 6, characterized in that, Each reflector element (3) is characterized by a shield (35) between the mounting aperture (33) and the light emission aperture (34), the shield (35) being designed to prevent light from being emitted unreflected from the reflector chamber (32), particularly to produce a uniform light distribution in terms of spatial and angular uniformity and / or color mixing.

8. The lighting system (100) according to claim 7, characterized in that, The shield (35) is characterized by a convex surface facing the mounting hole (33).

9. The lighting system (100) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that, The electrical unit (2) includes a plurality of flexible and electrically interconnected printed circuit boards (21), and each printed circuit board is equipped with at least one LED light source (1).

10. A lighting device (1000) for interior lighting of a vehicle, comprising a panel element (200), particularly a door panel, front bulkhead, console panel or headliner panel, and at least one lighting system (100) according to any of the preceding claims, which is integrated in the panel element (200).

11. The lighting device (1000) according to claim 10, characterized in that, The lighting system (100) is covered by a transparent or semi-transparent covering element (5).

12. A lighting device for exterior lighting of a vehicle, comprising attachment parts for the vehicle body, particularly a front apron, a rear apron, a door sill panel, or an exterior rearview mirror, and a lighting system according to any one of the preceding claims, the lighting system being integrated into the attachment parts.

13. The lighting device (1000) according to any one of claims 10 to 12, characterized in that, The lighting system (100) is characterized by a strip shape and is adapted to the surface contour of the panel element (200) or the attached part.

14. The lighting device (1000) according to any one of claims 10 to 13, characterized in that, The lighting device (1000) is characterized by multiple electrically interconnected lighting systems (100), particularly connected in series via end-side terminals (23).

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