Lighting equipment for vehicles

Abstract

Lighting device for vehicles with - a first lighting unit (2) for generating a first lighting function, - a second lighting unit (7) for generating a second lighting function, - a third lighting unit (13) for generating a flashing light function, which is arranged on a side of the lighting device facing away from the vehicle's longitudinal center axis, - a fourth lighting unit (17) for generating a tail light function and a side marker light function, wherein the second lighting unit (7) is arranged in front of the first lighting unit (2) in the main radiation direction (H) and the fourth lighting unit (17) is arranged in front of the third lighting unit (13) in the main radiation direction (H), and wherein the second lighting unit (7) and the fourth lighting unit (17) each comprise a flat light-guiding element (8, 18) which has a light-coupling surface on one narrow side, wherein at least one light source is assigned to the light-coupling surface,- which has a light output surface on a front side (11), - which has a plurality of output elements on a rear side (12) facing away from the front side, so that the planar light-guiding element (8, 18) acts as a homogeneously illuminated surface in the operating state of the second lighting unit (7) and the fourth lighting unit (17), wherein a diaphragm unit (21) is assigned to the planar light-guiding elements (8, 18), which diaphragm unit has at least one diaphragm section (23) partially covering the planar light-guiding elements (8, 18), such that, on the one hand, a planar luminous functional area of the respective planar light-guiding elements (8, 18) is defined for generating the second lighting function as well as the tail light function and the side marker light function, and, on the other hand, the planar light-guiding elements (8, 18) are held in a defined position on the diaphragm unit (21),wherein the at least one aperture section (23) of the aperture unit (21) is designed in a frame-like manner, wherein frame parts (24) of the aperture section (23) cover a peripheral edge region of the respective planar light-guiding elements (8, 18), wherein the planar light-guiding elements (8, 18) are arranged at a distance from one another and bear against a rear side of the aperture unit (21).

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a lighting device for vehicles according to patent claim 1.

[0002] DE 102 07 694 A1 discloses a lighting device for vehicles, which comprises, on the one hand, a first lighting unit for generating a first lighting function and, on the other hand, a second lighting unit arranged in front of the first lighting unit in the light emission direction for generating a second lighting function. The second lighting unit comprises a flat light-guiding element, with light being coupled in at its narrow side, totally reflected at the flat sides, and output at a flat front side. A plurality of output elements are arranged on a rear side of the flat light-guiding element, so that the light can be output homogeneously at the front side. The known lighting device enables a space-saving and simple arrangement of multiple lighting functions.

[0003] However, the generation of the second light function is determined solely by the arrangement or number of LED lighting elements assigned to the flat light guide element and the number or arrangement of the output coupling elements.

[0004] DE 10 2005 018 212 A1 discloses a lighting device for vehicles in which a lighting unit is formed by a flat light-guiding element, on one narrow side of which a row of LED lighting elements is arranged to feed the light into the flat light-guiding element. To generate a specific lighting function, the output elements have a specific shape or contour.

[0005] US 2003 / 0193815 A1 discloses a lighting device for vehicles that is integrated into an exterior mirror of a vehicle. The lighting device comprises a first lighting unit for generating a lighting function, which emits light towards the front of the vehicle, and a second lighting unit that emits light towards the side of the vehicle. A cover plate of the first lighting unit serves as a light-guiding element for the second lighting unit, so that the light can be guided from one side to an opposite side, where it exits. However, the cover plate of the first lighting unit, which serves as a light-guiding element, does not have any output coupling elements on a rear side that would redirect the input light towards the front.

[0006] US 2006 / 0044825 A1 discloses a lighting device for vehicles with a lighting unit for generating a predetermined lighting function. The lighting unit comprises at least one planar light-guiding element, on the rear of which output coupling elements are arranged, so that coupled-in light generated by light sources arranged on a narrow side is redirected at the rear toward a front side of the planar light-guiding element, so that it can exit at the front. To generate different brightnesses or colors, several planar light-guiding elements are arranged in the main emission direction, each of which is assigned different light sources. Simultaneous generation of different lighting functions is not intended.

[0007] The object of the present invention is to further develop a lighting device for vehicles in such a way that the lighting function of a lighting unit having a flat light-guiding element can be influenced in a space-saving and simple manner.

[0008] To solve this problem, the invention has the features of patent claim 1.

[0009] The particular advantage of the invention is that, on the one hand, the aperture unit defines a predetermined functional area of the second lighting function generated by the planar light-guiding element. Advantageously, the planar light-guiding element can thereby have a simple structure and be positioned in front of the first lighting unit in the main radiation direction, more or less as a "light curtain." The influence on the light emission or the quantity of light emitted is determined by the design of the aperture sections of the aperture unit according to the invention. Advantageously, the aperture unit can have aperture openings or aperture sections, giving the lighting unit a visually appealing appearance. Secondly, the invention enables a defined positioning or mounting of the planar light-guiding element, since it rests against the aperture unit, preferably at the edges.Preferably, the planar light-guiding element is connected to the aperture unit in a form-fitting and / or force-fitting and / or material-fitting manner, so that the aperture unit can be installed together with the planar light-guiding element as a common structural unit in the lighting device.

[0010] According to the invention, a diaphragm section of the diaphragm unit extends in a frame-like manner, with frame parts of the diaphragm section covering a peripheral edge area of the planar light-guiding element. This advantageously allows for a long-term stable connection between the planar light-guiding element and the diaphragm unit.

[0011] According to a further development of the invention, frame parts of the aperture section have a shoulder surface so that an edge of the flat light-guiding element rests against it. This allows a secure form-fitting and / or material-fitting connection between the light-guiding element and the aperture unit to be achieved.

[0012] According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, an additional light disc is arranged between the aperture unit and the flat light-guiding element. This additional light disc has optically effective surfaces for influencing the light distribution and / or the appearance of the lighting device. The additional light disc can have smooth, free-form surfaces or surfaces with an optical structure. This allows for a simple further influence on the light distribution. Preferably, the optically effective surfaces of the additional light disc can be positioned flush with a aperture opening, so that the additional light disc can be integrated into the lighting device in a space-saving manner.

[0013] According to a further development of the invention, the additional light disc can be colored, for example, it can be colored blue, gray, red, green or yellow, so that a desired appearance of the lighting device can be achieved.

[0014] According to a further development of the invention, coupling-out elements arranged preferably on a rear side of the planar light-guiding element can have a different shape and / or a different size and / or a different distribution, so that the light distribution of the second light function can be influenced in this way.

[0015] According to a further development of the invention, the planar light-guiding element can be arranged in front of several lighting units in the main emission direction to generate one or more lighting functions. For example, the LED lighting elements arranged on a narrow side can be controlled independently of one another, so that a different lighting function can be generated if necessary, or the amount of emitted light can be dependent on sub-areas of the light exit surface of the lighting device.For example, a section of the planar light-guiding element running essentially perpendicular to the vehicle's longitudinal axis can serve to generate a tail light, and a section of the planar light-guiding element running at a relatively small, acute angle to the vehicle's longitudinal axis can serve as a side marker light. The aperture sections of the aperture unit are arranged such that the light beam emitted by the planar light-guiding element only extends up to a predetermined critical angle to the direction of travel. This ensures compliance with the legal regulations for the emission of light from a rear light in the direction of travel.

[0016] Further advantages of the invention emerge from the further subclaims.

[0017] An embodiment of the invention is explained in more detail below with reference to the drawings.

[0018] They show: Fig. 1 a horizontal section through a lighting device, Fig. 2 an enlarged horizontal section of the lighting device as Fig. 1 in a side area of the same, Fig. 3 a partial vertical section through the lighting device, Fig. 4 a perspective front view of a diaphragm unit of the lighting device and Fig. 5 a perspective front view of two flat light guide elements integrated in the lighting device in the mounting position.

[0019] A lighting device for vehicles according to the invention can be arranged in a rear and / or front area thereof.

[0020] In the present exemplary embodiment, the lighting device is designed as a signal light arranged in the rear area of the vehicle. It comprises a housing 1 in which four lighting functions are integrated. A first lighting unit 2 for generating a brake light function is provided on a side of the housing 1 facing the vehicle's longitudinal center axis. The first lighting unit 2 comprises an LED lighting element 3 as a light source, which is preceded by a reflector element 4. The LED lighting element 3 and the reflector element 4 are arranged in a first lighting chamber 5.

[0021] A second lighting unit 7 is arranged in the main radiation direction 6 of the light in front of the first lighting unit 2 to generate a second lighting function (tail light function). The second lighting unit 7 essentially consists of a flat light-guiding element 8, which is strip-shaped and slightly curved. A row of LED lighting elements 10 is arranged on a lower narrow side 9 of the flat light-guiding element 8, the main radiation direction of which forms a right angle to the narrow side 9. The narrow side 9 forms a light coupling surface of the flat light-guiding element 8, so that the light emitted by the LED lighting elements 10 spreads within the flat light-guiding element 8 under total reflection on an opposite front side 11 and a rear side 12 of the flat light-guiding element 8.A plurality of output coupling elements are arranged on the rear side 12 of the planar light-guiding element 8, at which the incident light is deflected toward the front side 11 so that it exits the planar light-guiding element 8 in the main emission direction 6. The output coupling elements can be designed as printed optical output coupling surfaces. For example, they can be designed as spherical or prism-shaped surfaces that are produced during injection molding of the planar light-guiding element 8. The light output coupling elements are distributed on the rear side 12 in such a way that the planar light-guiding element 8 is illuminated homogeneously. The planar light-guiding element 8 forms a "light curtain" that is suitable for forming a tail light function, position light function, or side marker light function. The "light curtain" represents a relatively wide, homogeneous light distribution with relatively limited light values.According to an alternative embodiment, the light decoupling elements can also be arranged on the front side 11 of the flat light guide element 8.

[0022] A third lighting unit 13 for generating a flashing light function is arranged on a side of the lighting device facing away from the vehicle's longitudinal centerline. The third lighting unit 13 essentially consists of an LED lighting element 14 and a reflector element 15, which are arranged in a second lighting chamber 16.

[0023] Arranged in the main radiation direction 6 in front of the third lighting unit 13 is a fourth lighting unit 17, which serves to generate a tail light function and a side marker light function. The fourth lighting unit 17 is formed - like the second lighting unit 7 - essentially by a flat light-guiding element 18 and a row of LED lighting elements 20 arranged on a lower narrow side 19 thereof. The flat light-guiding element 18 is shell-shaped and extends into a side region of the vehicle body, which extends essentially parallel to the vehicle's longitudinal axis. In this side region 26, the flat light-guiding element 18 serves to generate the side marker light function.

[0024] The spaced-apart light-guiding elements 8 and 18 rest against the rear side of a diaphragm unit 21. The diaphragm unit 21 is formed in one piece and has a plurality of diaphragm openings 22, 22', 22'', to which the light-guiding elements 8 and 18 are respectively assigned. For this purpose, the diaphragm unit 21 has a plurality of diaphragm sections 23, the outer edges of which correspond to the contour of the lighting device. To enclose the LED lighting elements 8, 18, the diaphragm unit 21 has corresponding frame parts 24, each of which covers a peripheral edge region of the planar light-guiding elements 8, 18. As can be seen from Fig. 4, the frame parts 24 can also cover a central region of the flat light-guiding element 18.

[0025] In the present embodiment, the planar light-guiding elements 8, 18 are integrally connected to the frame parts 24 of the aperture unit 21. For this purpose, the frame parts 24 have a shoulder surface 25 on the edge, to which the light-guiding elements 8, 18 are connected by welding. According to an alternative embodiment not shown, the planar light-guiding elements 8, 18 can also be connected to the aperture unit 21 in a form-fitting or force-fitting manner.

[0026] As from Fig.1, the flat light-guiding elements 8, 18 extend essentially flush with the aperture sections 23 of the aperture unit 21. The aperture unit 21 enables a decorative appearance of the lighting device with open illuminated areas (aperture openings 22, 22', 22'') and closed, unlit areas (aperture section 23), while at the same time promoting the lighting design of the lighting device.

[0027] In the outer side region 26 of the lighting device, between the flat light-guiding element 18 and the diaphragm unit 21, an additional light disc 27 is arranged, which is arranged with strip-shaped elevations 28 in strip-shaped diaphragm openings 22'', flush with the diaphragm sections 23 of the diaphragm unit 21. The elevations 28 of the additional light disc 27 form optically effective surfaces for influencing the light distribution and / or the appearance of the lighting device. For example, the elevations 28 can be designed as smooth and profiled optical surfaces. Alternatively, they can have an optical structure. Alternatively, the additional light disc 27 can also have optical elements on a rear side. As an alternative to the present crystal-clear embodiment, the additional light disc 27 can also be colored, for example, colored red or yellow.

[0028] In the main radiation direction in front of the aperture unit 21 there is a red-colored cover plate 29 which is attached to the edge of the housing 21.

[0029] The aperture section in the side region 26 is designed such that the light beam 30 emitted by the planar light-guiding element 18 is emitted only within a predetermined solid angle range that forms a critical angle α with the vehicle's direction of travel F. This ensures that light that appears red is not emitted forward in an inadmissible manner.

[0030] The aperture unit 21 enables a location-dependent determination of the emitted light quantity by partially covering the light-guiding elements 8, 18. In addition, the light distribution can be controlled by the design of the light-guiding elements 8, 18 and their separate control. In the present exemplary embodiment, the planar light-guiding element 8 has linear output elements produced by printing, while the planar light-guiding element 18 has relatively small point-shaped output elements produced by printing. This allows different luminance to be generated when the planar light-guiding elements 8 and 18 are controlled together.

[0031] Since the LED lighting elements 10 and 20 of the second lighting unit 7 and the fourth lighting unit 17, respectively, are arranged on different circuit boards with associated control circuits, the intensity or magnitude of the lighting function can be varied. In the side area 26, a side marker function can thus be implemented instead of the tail light function.

Claims

[1] Lighting device for vehicles with - a first lighting unit (2) for generating a first lighting function, - -a second lighting unit (7) for generating a second lighting function, - a third lighting unit (13) for generating a flashing light function, which is arranged on a side of the lighting device facing away from the vehicle's longitudinal center axis, - a fourth lighting unit (17) for generating a tail light function and a side marker light function, wherein the second lighting unit (7) is arranged in front of the first lighting unit (2) in the main radiation direction (H) and the fourth lighting unit (17) is arranged in front of the third lighting unit (13) in the main radiation direction (H), and wherein the second lighting unit (7) and the fourth lighting unit (17) each comprise a flat light-guiding element (8, 18), - which has a light coupling surface on one narrow side, wherein at least one light source is assigned to the light coupling surface, - which has a light coupling surface on a front side (11), - which has a plurality of decoupling elements on a rear side (12) facing away from the front, so that the planar light-guiding element (8, 18) acts as a homogeneously illuminated surface in the operating state of the second lighting unit (7) and the fourth lighting unit (17), wherein the planar light-guiding elements (8, 18) are assigned a diaphragm unit (21) which has at least one diaphragm section (23) which partially covers the planar light-guiding elements (8, 18), such that, on the one hand, a planar luminous functional area of the respective planar light-guiding elements (8, 18) is defined for generating the second light function as well as the tail light function and the side marker light function, and on the other hand, the planar light-guiding elements (8, 18) are held in a defined position on the diaphragm unit (21), wherein the at least one diaphragm section (23) of the diaphragm unit (21) is designed like a frame, wherein frame parts (24) of the diaphragm section (23) cover a circumferential edge area of the respective planar light-guiding elements (8, 18), wherein the planar light-guiding elements (8, 18) are arranged at a distance from one another and bear against a rear side of the diaphragm unit (21). [2] Lighting device according to claim 1, characterized by that the at least one diaphragm section (23) of the diaphragm unit (21) has an edge-side shoulder surface (25) for contacting an edge of the respective flat light-guiding elements (8, 18). [3] Lighting device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized by that the aperture unit (21) has a plurality of aperture openings (22, 22', 22"), wherein at least one aperture opening (22, 22', 22") is assigned to the respective planar light-guiding elements (8, 18). [4] Lighting device according to claim 3, characterized bythat between the aperture opening (22") of the aperture unit (21) assigned to the planar light-guiding element (18) of the fourth lighting unit (17) and the planar light-guiding element (18) of the fourth lighting unit (17) there is arranged an additional light disc (27) which has optically effective surfaces (28) for influencing the light distribution and / or for influencing the appearance of the lighting device. [5] Lighting device according to claim 4, characterized by that the additional light disc (27) is colored. [6] Lighting device according to one of claims 3 to 5, characterized by that the respective planar light-guiding elements (8, 18) have coupling-out elements with different shapes and / or with different sizes and / or with different distributions depending on the size and / or shape of the apertures (22, 22', 22"). [7] Lighting device according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized by that the aperture unit (21) is formed in one piece. [8] Lighting device according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterized by that LED lighting elements (10, 20) arranged on the narrow side (9, 19) of at least one planar light-guiding element (8, 18) can be controlled depending on the position relative to the diaphragm opening (22, 22', 22") of the diaphragm unit (21) in such a way that the light emitted by the planar light-guiding element (8, 18) represents different lighting functions. [9] Lighting device according to one of claims 1 to 8, characterized bythat the diaphragm unit (21) has a lateral diaphragm section (26) which leads in an arc shape in the direction of a lateral body surface of the vehicle and which is designed such that the light beam (30) emitted by the flat light-guiding element (18) of the fourth lighting unit (17) extends in a solid angle range such that a limiting ray of the light beam (30) forms a predetermined limiting angle (α) with respect to the direction of travel (F) of the vehicle.

Images