Signal light for vehicles, comprising a plurality of parallel light guide elements and a reflector

Abstract

Signal light for arrangement in the rear area of ​​vehicles, comprising a plurality of rod-shaped light-guiding elements (1, 21, 27) extending parallel to one another, which have a light coupling surface (2) on one end face, wherein a light source (3) is assigned to the light coupling surface, and which have a number of coupling-out elements on an elongated first lateral surface segment (7, 7') extending in the direction of a longitudinal axis of the rod-shaped light-guiding elements (1, 21, 27) for coupling out the light in the direction of a reflector (5), which deflects the coupled-out light in the main emission direction (4), wherein the reflector (5) is arranged behind the rod-shaped light-guiding elements (1) in the main emission direction (4), wherein the first lateral surface segment (7, 7') is arranged on a longitudinal side of the rod-shaped light-guiding element (1, 21, 27) and wherein the coupling-out elements are designed as prism elements (8),which scatter the coupled-in light in the direction of an elongated second lateral surface segment (10, 10') of the rod-shaped light-guiding element (1, 21, 27) arranged on a longitudinal side of the rod-shaped light-guiding element (1, 21, 27) facing the reflector (5, 11, 13, 17, 19) and forming a light output surface of the rod-shaped light-guiding element (1, 21, 27), wherein the scattered light is reflected back by the reflector (5, 11, 13, 17, 19) past the light-guiding elements (1, 21, 27) without the reflected light re-entering the light-guiding elements (1, 21, 27), wherein the prism elements (8) extend over the entire length of the first lateral surface segment (7, 7'), wherein the second lateral surface segment (10) is circular or arcuate in cross-section, wherein the plurality of parallel light-guiding elements (1, 21, 27) cooperate with the reflector (5, 11, 13, 17, 19) in such a way that the light emitted by the reflector (5, 11, 13,17, 19) reflected light (15) can emerge from a housing of the signal light through a space (1) between the rod-shaped light-guiding elements (1, 21, 27) in the main emission direction (4) through a light disc (6), wherein the spaces between the parallel light-guiding elements (1, 21, 27) are selected to be large enough that the luminous surface formed on the light disc (6) is greater than 60% of the total surface of the light disc (6), wherein the plurality of parallel rod-shaped light-guiding elements (1, 21, 27) are arranged in the rear region of the vehicle, wherein the plurality of parallel light-guiding elements (1, 21, 27) extend in the horizontal direction or in the vertical direction or in an inclined direction, wherein the light coupling surface (2) is arranged on an end face of the rod-shaped light-guiding element (1, 21, 27) facing the vehicle center axis is.,

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a signal light for vehicles according to the preamble of patent claim 1.

[0002] EP 1 443 265 A1 discloses a signal light for vehicles with an arcuate light-guiding element, at one end face of which light is coupled in. On a rear side of the light-guiding element in the main emission direction, a first lateral surface segment is arranged, which has a plurality of output coupling elements, so that the light is scattered in the direction of a front, second lateral surface segment. In order to also utilize the light component scattered by the first lateral surface segment, which leaves the light-guiding element opposite to the main emission direction, a reflector is assigned to the first lateral surface segment, which deflects the light in the main emission direction. In this case, both the first lateral surface segment and the second lateral surface segment serve as light output coupling surfaces.

[0003] DE 103 17 062 A1 discloses a signal light for vehicles with a rod-shaped light-guiding element into which light is coupled at one end face. The rod-shaped light-guiding element has a first lateral surface segment with a number of coupling-out elements that cause the light to be coupled out at the first lateral surface segment. A reflector is assigned to the first lateral surface segment and deflects the coupled-out light in the main radiation direction. To form the coupling-out elements, the first lateral surface segment is roughened. The first lateral surface segment thus enables direct coupling of the light, whereby a prism surface for coupling the light out at an opposite second lateral surface segment is dispensed with. A disadvantage of the known signal light is that no prism elements can be used for optimal light conduction by means of total internal reflection.

[0004] From DE 103 17 062 A1, a roughening of a second lateral surface segment facing the reflector is known so that the light is coupled out in the direction of the reflector.

[0005] DE 103 59 182 A1 discloses a rear light for vehicles with multiple rod-shaped light-guiding elements. The light-guiding elements have output coupling elements in a first lateral surface segment, so that the input light is totally reflected to an opposite second lateral surface segment, where it is output in the direction of the reflector. The light-guiding element is relatively thin and lies in a focal line of the reflector, so that the light reflected by the reflector passes outward in parallel through the lens.

[0006] DE 103 11 317 A1 discloses a signal light for vehicles comprising a rod-shaped light-guiding element and a plurality of reflectors associated with the same. The light-guiding element has decoupling elements on a front side in the main radiation direction, so that the light is directed to the reflectors opposite to the main radiation direction. The reflectors are designed to generate a parallel light beam, so that a light band with homogeneous light emission is generated by the signal light arranged in an exterior mirror as a turn signal.

[0007] DE 10 2007 010 023 A1 discloses a turn signal in an exterior mirror in which decoupling elements are arranged only in certain areas along a light-guiding element. These ensure that the light coupled into the light-guiding element is emitted not only forward but also to the sides. The spacing and arrangement of the two light-guiding elements is not suitable for use as a rear light. Furthermore, the decoupling elements are not prism-shaped, but rather crenellated.

[0008] The object of the present invention is therefore to further develop a signal light for vehicles with a rod-shaped light guide element in such a way that light extraction based on prism elements is possible in a space-saving manner and with high lighting effectiveness.

[0009] To achieve this object, the invention has the features of patent claim 1.

[0010] The particular advantage of the invention is that it enables an efficient and space-saving arrangement of a signal light, while the optical appearance of the light guide is barely altered. Instead of arranging the prism elements on a rear side of the light guide element in the main emission direction, as is known from the prior art, the invention arranges a first lateral surface segment with a number of prism elements as output coupling elements on a front side of the light guide element in the main emission direction. The output coupling elements cause total reflection in the direction of a second lateral surface segment of the rod-shaped light guide element, which is arranged on an opposite rear longitudinal side and outputs the light in the direction of a rear-mounted reflector.The reflector deflects the light so that it can exit the signal light housing in the main emission direction through a space between a number of light-guiding elements. The light-guiding element can thus advantageously be designed to be completely transparent, without requiring an additional mirrored surface, which is undesirable for stylistic reasons. The proportion of light that exits the first lateral surface segment in the main emission direction is negligible. According to the invention, targeted light extraction is thus provided on a rear side (second lateral surface segment) of the light-guiding element, which is located at the rear in the main emission direction, with the reflector arranged on the rear absorbing the entire luminous flux and deflecting it in the main emission direction.

[0011] According to the invention, a number of parallel light-guiding elements are provided, wherein the light coupled out by the light-guiding element is reflected by the reflector in the direction of the light-guiding element and radiated forward through several spaces between the light-guiding elements. Advantageously, the distance between the light-guiding elements can be selected to be relatively large, since the luminous surface is essentially determined by the spaces between the light-guiding elements. The legal requirement that at least 60% of the total surface of the signal light must be formed by a luminous surface when in operation can therefore be met, namely if the area of the spaces accounts for at least 60% of the total surface.

[0012] According to the invention, the rod-shaped light-guiding element runs in a horizontal or vertical or inclined direction, wherein the light source is assigned to an end face of the light-guiding element facing the vehicle center axis.

[0013] The inventive arrangement of the first and second lateral surface segments eliminates the need for mirrored prism elements. A high degree of illuminance corresponds to the conventional arrangement in which light is coupled only from a light source arranged on the end face of the rod-shaped light-guiding element facing away from the vehicle's centerline.

[0014] According to a further development of the invention, the first lateral surface segment of the rod-shaped light-guiding element, which has the prism elements, is arranged on a side arranged at the front in the main emission direction, and a second lateral surface segment of the light-guiding element, which has a smooth contour, is arranged on a side arranged at the rear in the main emission direction. The second lateral surface segment is designed such that the coupled-in light is totally reflected at a relatively shallow angle, so that it essentially continues within the light-guiding element. The prism elements of the first lateral surface segment cause the coupled-in light impinging on them to be totally reflected at a relatively steep angle, so that it exits the light-guiding element at the opposite second lateral surface segment.

[0015] According to a further development of the invention, the prism elements of the light-guiding element form a forward-curved prism saddle, with the light-guiding element being slightly curved relative to a vertical axis. The prism saddle is located on a front side of the light-guiding element, which is located at the front in the main radiation direction. This results in improved efficiency of the light-guiding element.

[0016] According to a further development of the invention, the reflector has a flat reflector surface or reflector surfaces stepped in the horizontal and / or vertical direction. This allows vertical or horizontal light distribution to be influenced by means of the reflector, with the reflected light being focused toward the spaces between the adjacent light-guiding elements. Preferably, the reflector surfaces arranged behind the respective light-guiding elements in the main radiation direction focus the light toward the spaces adjacent to the front light-guiding element.

[0017] According to a further development of the invention, an end face opposite the light coupling face can be designed as a light coupling face, so that a lateral coupling of the light, i.e. essentially transverse to the vehicle longitudinal axis, is made possible to generate a side marker light.

[0018] According to a further development of the invention, to generate a side marker light, an end section of the light guide element arranged away from the vehicle's longitudinal center axis can open into a flat side region of the lamp, wherein the first lateral surface segment and the second lateral surface segment are arranged complementarily to the first and second lateral surface segments of a main section. No reflector is arranged in the flat side region. The first lateral surface segment having the prism elements is arranged at the rear in the radiation direction, and the second lateral surface segment having the smooth surface is arranged at the front in the radiation direction. Advantageously, this makes it possible to dispense with the provision of a reflector in the end section. Furthermore, the installation depth of the lamp in the flat side region can be kept relatively small. Furthermore, adaptation to the body shape can be achieved.

[0019] Further advantages of the invention emerge from the further subclaims.

[0020] Embodiments of the invention are explained in more detail below with reference to the drawings.

[0021] They show: Fig. 1 a horizontal section through a signal light according to the invention, Fig. 2 a vertical section through the luminaire according to the invention according to a second embodiment, Fig. 3 a vertical section through a signal light according to a third embodiment, Fig. 4 a vertical section through the signal light according to a fourth embodiment, Fig. 5 a horizontal section through the signal light according to a fifth embodiment, Fig. 6a a horizontal section through the signal light according to a sixth embodiment, Fig. 6b an enlarged horizontal section in an end section of the rod-shaped light guide element of the signal light according to Fig. 6a, Fig. 7a a horizontal section through the signal light according to a seventh embodiment, Fig. 7b an enlarged horizontal section in an end section of the light guide element according to the signal light according to Fig. 7a and Fig. 8 a horizontal section of the signal light according to an eighth embodiment.

[0022] A signal light for vehicles can be arranged in the rear area of a vehicle and can be provided for generating a tail light, brake light, etc. Several lighting units can be integrated in a common housing of the signal light, with a lighting unit for generating a tail light being described below. This lighting unit essentially consists of a rod-shaped light-guiding element 1, a light source 3 arranged on a first end face of the light-guiding element 1, and a reflector 5 arranged behind the rod-shaped light-guiding element 1 in the main radiation direction 4. As can be seen from Fig. 1, the lighting unit and the other lighting units of the signal light are covered by a common lens 6.

[0023] The light source 3 is designed as an LED light source, which is arranged near the first end face such that the light emitted by the light source 3 is coupled into the light-guiding element 1 essentially through the first end face, which is designed as a light coupling surface 2. The first end face and the light source 3 are preferably arranged on a side of the signal light facing the vehicle center axis.

[0024] The rod-shaped light guide element 1 is curved and has an elongated lateral surface which extends into a Fig. 1 not shown side area of the luminaire. The lateral surface of the light-guiding element 1 has, on the one hand, a first lateral surface segment 7, which extends elongated in the longitudinal direction of the light-guiding element 1 on a front longitudinal side of the light-guiding element 1 facing away from the reflector 5. The first lateral surface segment 7 has a number of optical elements designed as prism elements 8, of which in Fig. 1, some examples are shown. The prism elements 8 extend over the entire length of the first lateral surface segment 7 and cause total reflection of coupled light rays 9 in the direction of the reflector 5. The individual prism elements 8 run transversely to the longitudinal extent of the light-guiding element 1.

[0025] Furthermore, the lateral surface of the light-guiding element 1 has a second lateral surface segment 10, which extends elongatedly on a rear longitudinal side of the light-guiding element facing the reflector 5. The second lateral surface segment 10 is circular or arcuate in cross-section, see, for example, Fig. 2, and has a smooth contour, so that the coupled light rays 9 impinging on it are totally reflected within the light guide element 1.

[0026] According to a second embodiment of the invention according to Fig. 2, instead of a single light-guiding element, a plurality of light-guiding elements 1 can be provided, which extend in a plane E, wherein the plane E forms an angle to a vertical plane V. An upper light-guiding element 1' is arranged set back towards the rear of the signal light compared to the middle and lower light-guiding elements 1. A reflector 11 arranged at a distance from the light-guiding elements 1, 1' is arranged in steps and has reflector surfaces 12, wherein an upper reflector surface 12' - corresponding to the light-guiding elements 1, 1' - is arranged set back from the middle and lower reflector surfaces 12.

[0027] As from Fig. As can be seen in Figure 2, the first lateral surface segment 7 extends essentially in a vertical direction. For simplification, the prism elements 8 are not shown. These extend in the longitudinal direction of the first lateral surface segment 7, forming a series of elevations that are triangular in horizontal section.

[0028] According to a third embodiment of the signal light according to Fig. 3, the light-guiding elements 1 can also be arranged in a common vertical plane V. At a distance from this number of light-guiding elements 1, a reflector 13 is arranged, which has one of the reflector surfaces 14 that are flat in the vertical direction. As can be seen from Fig. 3, the light coupled out at the second lateral surface segment 10 is reflected at the reflector surfaces 14 such that the returned light 15 is directed through a gap 16 arranged to an adjacent light-guiding element 1. The light 15 does not re-enter the light-guiding elements 1. The gaps 16 between the light-guiding elements 1 are selected to be large enough that the luminous area formed on the light disc 6 is greater than 60% of the total area of the light disc 6, thus fulfilling legal requirements. Preferably, adjacent light-guiding elements 1 are arranged at a constant distance from one another. The light-guiding elements 1 can - as in Fig. 2 - can be arranged in a stepped or vertical direction relative to one another. The light-guiding elements 1 preferably run parallel to one another. According to the present embodiment, the rod-shaped light-guiding elements 1 extend in a horizontal direction. Alternatively, the light-guiding elements 1 can also run vertically or in an inclined direction and preferably parallel to one another.

[0029] According to a fourth embodiment of the luminaire according to Fig. 4, a reflector 17 can also have a smooth, free-form reflector surface 18 and / or a parabolic reflector surface that is concave in vertical section. The reflector surface 18 is designed such that the light rays 15 are reflected not only to the spaces 16 adjacent to the light-emitting light-guiding element 1, but also to spaces 16 further away from the light-emitting light-guiding element 1. Fig. 4 shows an example of a light beam 15' which is reflected to a more distant space.

[0030] Identical components or component functions of the embodiments are provided with the same reference numerals.

[0031] According to a further embodiment of the invention according to Fig. 5, a reflector 19 can be provided, which has a horizontally stepped arrangement of reflector surfaces 20. Here, the light-guiding element 1 has an arrowed shape, with the distance of the light-guiding element 1 from the reflector 19 being greater than from the lens 6.

[0032] According to a further embodiment of the invention according to the Fig. 6a and Fig. 6b, a rod-shaped light-guiding element 21 is provided which, in contrast to the preceding light-guiding element 1, has a light-output surface 22 on a second end face opposite the light-input surface 2. The second end face is arranged in a region in which the reflector 19 ends. The second end face extends into a side region 23 of the luminaire, thus enabling improved lateral visibility of the luminaire or the generation of a side marker light. The second end face can have a lens-, spherical-, or prism-shaped light exit surface, see Fig. 6b.

[0033] According to a further embodiment of the luminaire according to the Fig. 7a and Fig. 7b, a Fresnel lens 24 is arranged in the side region 23 of the luminaire. This Fresnel lens extends vertically and enables planar illumination in the lateral direction of the luminaire. For this purpose, the side of the Fresnel lens 24 facing the light output surface 22 is provided with a prism structure 25. The Fresnel lens 24 is preferably held in a receptacle 26 of the reflector 19 in a form-fitting or material-fitting manner.

[0034] According to a further embodiment of the invention according to Fig. 8, a rod-shaped light-guiding element 27 is provided, which extends with an end section 28—in contrast to the previous exemplary embodiment—into the side region 23 of the luminaire. A main section 29 of the light-guiding element 27 is designed according to the previous embodiments, with the first lateral surface segment 7 with the prism structure extending on the front side and the second lateral surface segment 10 with the smooth surface extending on the back side. Arranged in the end section 28 are a first lateral surface segment 7' and a second lateral surface segment 10' complementary to the first lateral surface segment 7 and second lateral surface segment 10 of the main section 29, respectively. Thus, the first lateral surface segment section 7' of the end section 28, provided with the prism elements 8, is located on a side of the light-guiding element 27 facing away from the light panel 6.The second lateral surface segment section 10', which has a smooth surface, is located on a front side of the light-guiding element 27 facing the light disc 6. This enables light emission in the side region 23 without the need for a reflector in the end section 28. The installation depth in the side region 23 of the luminaire can thus be kept relatively small.

[0035] As from Fig. 8, the light-guiding element 27 spans a relatively long arc which is at a relatively large acute angle relative to a vertical axis.

[0036] According to an alternative embodiment not shown in accordance with Fig.8, the first lateral surface segment 7 and the second lateral surface segment 10 can also be formed continuously in the longitudinal direction of the light-guiding element 1, without changing the position of the prism elements 8 in the circumferential direction of the light-guiding element. In this case, however, the reflector 19 would have to extend into the side region 23, resulting in a greater installation depth.

[0037] The prism elements 8 form a prism saddle of the light guide element 1, 21, 27, wherein the prism saddle curved forwards or in the direction of the light disc 6 is curved in the horizontal direction.

Claims

[1] Signal light for arrangement in the rear area of vehicles with a plurality of rod-shaped light-guiding elements (1, 21, 27) running parallel to one another, which have a light coupling surface (2) on one end face, wherein a light source (3) is assigned to the light coupling surface, and which have a number of coupling-out elements on an elongated first lateral surface segment (7, 7') extending in the direction of a longitudinal axis of the rod-shaped light-guiding elements (1, 21, 27) for coupling out the light in the direction of a reflector (5), which deflects the coupled-out light in the main emission direction (4), wherein the reflector (5) is arranged behind the rod-shaped light-guiding elements (1) in the main emission direction (4), wherein the first lateral surface segment (7, 7') is arranged on a longitudinal side of the rod-shaped light-guiding element (1, 21, 27) and wherein the coupling-out elements are designed as prism elements (8),which scatter the coupled-in light in the direction of an elongated second lateral surface segment (10, 10') of the rod-shaped light-guiding element (1, 21, 27) arranged on a longitudinal side of the rod-shaped light-guiding element (1, 21, 27) facing the reflector (5, 11, 13, 17, 19) and forming a light output surface of the rod-shaped light-guiding element (1, 21, 27), wherein the scattered light is reflected back by the reflector (5, 11, 13, 17, 19) past the light-guiding elements (1, 21, 27) without the reflected light re-entering the light-guiding elements (1, 21, 27), wherein the prism elements (8) extend over the entire length of the first lateral surface segment (7, 7'), wherein the second lateral surface segment (10) is circular or arcuate in cross-section, wherein the plurality of parallel light-guiding elements (1, 21, 27) cooperate with the reflector (5, 11, 13, 17, 19) in such a way that the light emitted by the reflector (5, 11, 13,17, 19) reflected light (15) can emerge from a housing of the signal light through a space (1) between the rod-shaped light-guiding elements (1, 21, 27) in the main emission direction (4) through a light disc (6), wherein the spaces between the parallel light-guiding elements (1, 21, 27) are selected to be large enough that the luminous surface formed on the light disc (6) is greater than 60% of the total surface of the light disc (6), wherein the plurality of parallel rod-shaped light-guiding elements (1, 21, 27) are arranged in the rear region of the vehicle, wherein the plurality of parallel light-guiding elements (1, 21, 27) extend in the horizontal direction or in the vertical direction or in an inclined direction, wherein the light coupling surface (2) is arranged on an end face of the rod-shaped light-guiding element (1, 21, 27) facing the vehicle center axis is., [2] Signal light according to claim 1,characterized by that the rod-shaped light-guiding elements (1, 21, 27) extend in an arc shape, wherein the prism elements (8) form a prism saddle curved in the direction of the light disc (6). [3] Signal light according to claim 1 or 2, characterized by that a second end face opposite the light coupling face (2) is designed as a light coupling face (22) for coupling out the light, wherein the second end face extends in a side region (23) of the signal light, so that improved lateral visibility of the signal light is enabled. [4] Signal light according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized by that the prism elements (8) of the first lateral surface segment (7, 7') run transversely to the longitudinal extent of the respective light-guiding element (1, 21, 27).

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