taillight for a motor vehicle

Abstract

Rear light device for a motor vehicle, comprising: a plurality of reflectors (100) mounted in a rear light housing of the motor vehicle to reflect light emitted by light sources (1) at different angles, wherein the plurality of reflectors (100) together form at least three surfaces, a plurality of light guides (200), each of which is provided in a corresponding reflector (100) and has an end section on which one of the light sources (1) is mounted to guide the light emitted by the light source (1) through the light guide (200), the at least three surfaces of the reflectors (100) are designed to implement at least one three-dimensional image through the emitted light, characterized by the fact that a plurality of auxiliary optical fibers (210), each of which is mounted in addition to the corresponding optical fiber (200) within the respective reflectors (100), and a plurality of auxiliary light sources (2), each of which is mounted on an end section of a corresponding auxiliary light guide (210) to guide the light emitted by the auxiliary light sources (2) through the auxiliary light guides (210), wherein each of the light sources (1) is arranged at least approximately on a respective line of contact of adjacent reflectors (100), wherein each of the auxiliary light sources (2) is arranged at least approximately on one of the respective tangent lines.

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to a rear light or a rear light-headlight for a motor vehicle, in particular a rear light for a motor vehicle which can emit a large amount of light even with a small number of light sources, and which differs from the design of a rear light of the prior art.

[0002] Generally, for safety and driver comfort, various types of lighting devices are mounted on the front and rear of a motor vehicle. These lighting devices are those that emit light directly using lamps, such as headlights, taillights, turn signals, and the like. In addition, reflectors are mounted on the front and rear of the vehicle to reflect light, making the vehicle easily visible from the outside.

[0003] Various types of lighting devices have already been developed in this field, and with the recent trend of increasing importance of vehicle design, minimum regulations must be observed. In particular, light guide devices have been fitted to the latest vehicles, enabling the creation of indirect lighting effects where the light sources are not directly exposed.

[0004] As from Fig. As can be seen in Figure 1, a rear light for a motor vehicle of the prior art comprises: a housing 28 with a front surface on which a reflector 26 is mounted, a lamp 24 mounted on a front central section of the reflector 26, a shield mounted at a distance from the front of the lamp 24 for absorbing heat, and a lens 30 engaging an edge section of the housing 28.

[0005] If the out Fig. 1. Light emitted from the lamp 24 representing the light source in the visible rear light of a motor vehicle of the prior art is reflected by the reflector 26, the reflected light is emitted from the rear of the vehicle through the shield 32 and the lens 30.

[0006] However, the problem with the prior art rear light is that, since the emission and reflection of the light are achieved solely by means of the lamp 24 and the reflector, the design of the rear light is uniform. Furthermore, if the number of lamps 24 is increased to enhance the light emission effect, the manufacturing costs and the weight of the rear light also increase, thereby reducing its marketability.

[0007] A rear light for a motor vehicle according to the preamble of claim 1 is known from DE 10 2008 044 976 A1. Further rear lights for motor vehicles are known from KR 20 0 329 134 Y1 and US 2008 / 0 180 967 A1.

[0008] The above description of the prior art is intended only to provide a better understanding of the general background of the present invention and not to be construed as an acknowledgment or any form of indication that this description represents the prior art already known to the person skilled in the art.

[0009] The object of the present invention is to provide a rear light for a motor vehicle which can emit a large amount of light even with a small number of light sources, and which differs from the design of rear lights of the prior art and which, in particular, can produce a three-dimensional image with a complex shape with few light sources.

[0010] This problem is solved by a rear light device for a motor vehicle according to claim 1. Advantageous embodiments are the subject of the dependent claims.

[0011] According to the present invention, the rear light device for a motor vehicle comprises: a plurality of reflectors mounted in the rear light housing of the motor vehicle to reflect light emitted from light sources at different angles, and light guides mounted in the reflectors and having end sections on which the light sources are mounted to guide light emitted from the light sources through the light guides.

[0012] According to one embodiment of the present invention, the light guides are made of acrylic material.

[0013] According to the present invention, the reflectors form polygonal surfaces, at least three surfaces, in order to implement at least one three-dimensional image through the emitted light.

[0014] According to a further embodiment of the present invention, the light sources are each arranged at least approximately on a line of contact of the respective adjacent reflectors.

[0015] According to a further embodiment of the present invention, the light sources are provided with LEDs.

[0016] According to the present invention, the rear light device further comprises auxiliary light guides which are additionally mounted within the reflectors provided with the light guides.

[0017] According to the present invention, the rear light device further comprises auxiliary light sources which are mounted on end sections of the auxiliary light guides, wherein the auxiliary light sources are preferably arranged at least approximately on a line of contact of the respective adjacent reflectors.

[0018] According to one embodiment of the present invention, the auxiliary light sources are provided with LEDs, wherein the auxiliary light guides are made of acrylic material.

[0019] In the above-described construction according to the present invention, the manufacturing costs and weight of the rear light are reduced and the design of the vehicle rear light is improved, thus improving its marketability, since a large amount of light is emitted although only a small number of light sources and reflectors are used.

[0020] The above and further objectives, features and advantages of the present invention will become clearer with the help of the following detailed description when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

[0021] The drawings show: Fig. 1. A sectional view of an example of a state-of-the-art motor vehicle rear light. Fig. 2 a view showing an exemplary rear light for a motor vehicle according to the present invention, Fig. 3 a view showing reflectors and light guides provided in an exemplary rear light for a motor vehicle according to the present invention, Fig. 4 a view showing a light emission arrangement of a light source in an exemplary rear light according to the present invention, and Fig. 5 a view showing an example of a vehicle rear light according to the present invention.

[0022] It is noted that the attached drawings are not necessarily to scale, but rather represent a somewhat simplified depiction of various features that illustrate the basic principles of the present invention. The specific design features of the present invention, as disclosed herein, including, for example, certain dimensions, orientations, positions, and shapes, are partly determined by the particular application and environment of use.

[0023] The reference numerals in the figures refer to identical or equivalent parts of the present invention.

[0024] Various embodiments of the present invention are discussed in detail below, with examples illustrated in the attached drawings and described below. Although the invention is described in connection with exemplary embodiments, it should be noted that the present description does not limit the invention to these embodiments. On the contrary, the invention is intended to include not only the exemplary embodiments but also numerous alternatives, modifications, equivalents, and other embodiments that fall within the scope of the appended claims.

[0025] Exemplary embodiments of the present invention are described below with reference to the attached drawings.

[0026] Out of Fig. 2 to Fig. Figure 5 shows a rear light for a motor vehicle according to the embodiments of the present invention. Fig. Figure 2 shows a rear light for a motor vehicle according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, and from Fig. Figure 3 shows reflectors and light guides provided in a vehicle rear light according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

[0027] Furthermore, it is from Fig. 4 a light emission arrangement of a light source in a vehicle rear light according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention is shown, and from Fig. Figure 5 shows an example of a vehicle rear light according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

[0028] As from Fig. 2 to Fig. Figure 5 shows a rear light for a motor vehicle according to the embodiments of the present invention: reflectors 100, which are mounted in the rear light of the vehicle to reflect light at different angles, and light guides 200, which are provided in the reflectors 100 to guide the light. The fundamental technical feature of the present invention is the improvement of the marketability of the rear light through an improved design thereof.

[0029] The following section describes in detail the components of the rear light for a motor vehicle according to the embodiments of the present invention with reference to the attached drawings.

[0030] Out of Fig. Figure 2 shows a rear light for a motor vehicle according to an embodiment of the present invention. The reflectors 100 are mounted in the rear light and reflect light emitted from light sources 1, so that the light is emitted outwards from the rear light.

[0031] As from Fig. 2 and Fig. As can be seen in Figure 3, the plurality of reflectors 100, for example arranged in a triangle, can reflect the light emitted from the light sources 1 at different angles, with the sides of the triangle being convexly arcuate towards the outside (see Figure 3). Fig. 2 and Fig. 3).

[0032] As from Fig. As can be seen in Figure 2, the reflectors 100 preferably form three surfaces which are combined in a three-dimensional space, wherein they can implement a three-dimensional image with a complex shape by reflecting the emitted light through all three surfaces of the reflectors 100.

[0033] As from Fig. As can be seen in Figure 3, the light guides 200, made of acrylic material which transmits the light from the light sources 1, are arranged in series on the inner surfaces of the reflectors 100. The end sections of the light guides, which emit light along their length, are equipped with the light sources 1 mounted thereon in order to direct the light from the light sources 1.

[0034] Furthermore, auxiliary light guides 210 are also mounted in a triangular arrangement within the reflectors 100, along with the light guides 200 provided therein, and auxiliary light sources 2 are additionally mounted at the end sections of the auxiliary light guides 210. Accordingly, the light emission effect is improved, and the light reflected by the three surfaces of the reflectors 100 forms a complex shape, thus improving the design of the rear light. As can be seen from Fig. As can be seen in Figure 3, three optical fibers 200 each extend along a convexly curved side of the triangle, and the auxiliary optical fibers 210 each extend along a straight side of the triangle, which forms a chord of the curved side of the triangle, with the auxiliary optical fiber triangle being arranged in the optical fiber triangle.

[0035] The light guides 200 emit the real-image light laterally through the light sources 1 provided at their end sections, and the reflectors 100 reflect the light emitted by the light guides 200, so that they emit not only the real-image light but also a virtual-image light. This means, as from Fig. 4 It is evident that a linear or strip-shaped real image area 200a, from which the light is emitted through the respective light guide 200, and a linear or strip-shaped virtual image area 100a, from which the reflected light is transmitted, are formed in the reflectors 100, and that both the emitted light and the reflected light are reflected by the three surfaces of the reflectors, so that it is possible to implement a three-dimensional image with a complex shape through the light.

[0036] The light sources 1 and the auxiliary light sources 2, which are mounted on the end sections of the light guides 200 and the auxiliary light guides 210 respectively, are also equipped with LEDs (light-emitting diodes) to improve the visibility of the rear light.

[0037] According to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the light sources 1 and the auxiliary light sources 2 are arranged at least approximately on a line of contact around adjacent reflectors 100.

[0038] The function and effect of the rear light according to the embodiments of the present invention are described below.

[0039] As from Fig. 2 and Fig. As can be seen in Figure 3, the rear light according to the exemplary embodiment of the present invention differs from the design of a rear light of the prior art by the use of the light guides 200, the reflectors 100 and the light sources 1.

[0040] The 200 light guides provided in the reflectors radiate, as if from Fig. 4 shows that the real image light is emitted by the light sources 1 provided at the end sections thereof, and the reflectors 100 reflect the light emitted from the light guides 200, so that they emit not only the real image light but also the virtual image light, which results in the reflectors 100 reflecting the real image light generated by the light guides 200 and the reflected virtual image light.

[0041] When the driver of the vehicle activates the rear light, current is applied to the LED light sources 1 arranged at the end sections of the light guide 200, the light emitted from the light sources 1 is transmitted to the outside through the light guides 200 and the image of the light emitted from the light guides 200 is transmitted to the eye of a person who is outside the vehicle, so that the vehicle is visible.

[0042] The light emitted by the light guides 200 is further reflected by the reflectors 100 and thus transmitted to the eye of a viewing person, and the reflectors 100 can, as shown from Fig. 5 can be seen, arranged at an angle of 90 degrees to each other for an efficient light emission effect, so that they form three surfaces, whereby the rear light according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention can produce a three-dimensional image with a complex shape.

[0043] As described above, the rear light for a motor vehicle according to the present invention has reflectors mounted within it, such that the light emitted by the light sources is reflected at different angles. The light is guided by light guides provided in the reflectors, resulting in the emission of a large amount of light despite the use of only a small number of light sources and reflectors. This reduces both the manufacturing costs and the weight of the rear light, and furthermore improves its design, thus enhancing its marketability.

[0044] For the purpose of simplified explanation and precise definition in the attached claims, the terms “top”, “bottom”, “inside”, “outside” and “back” are used to describe features of the exemplary embodiments with reference to the positions of such features as shown in the figures.

[0045] The preceding description of certain exemplary embodiments of the present invention has been provided for illustrative purposes. It is neither intended to be exhaustive nor to limit the invention to the exact forms disclosed, and numerous modifications and variations are possible in light of the teachings described above. The exemplary embodiments have been selected and described to illustrate certain principles of the invention and their practical application, thus enabling a person skilled in the art to carry out and utilize various exemplary embodiments of the present invention and those defined in the appended claims, as well as various alternatives and modifications thereof.

[0046] List of reference symbols in the figures: 1 light sources 2 auxiliary light sources 100 reflectors 200 fiber optic cables 210 Auxiliary light guides

Claims

[1] Rear light device for a motor vehicle, comprising: a plurality of reflectors (100) mounted in a rear light housing of the motor vehicle to reflect light emitted by light sources (1) at different angles, wherein the plurality of reflectors (100) together form at least three surfaces, a plurality of light guides (200), each of which is provided in a corresponding reflector (100) and has an end section on which one of the light sources (1) is mounted to guide the light emitted by the light source (1) through the light guide (200), the at least three surfaces of the reflectors (100) are designed to implement at least one three-dimensional image through the emitted light, characterized by , that a plurality of auxiliary optical fibers (210), each of which is mounted in addition to the corresponding optical fiber (200) within the respective reflectors (100), and a plurality of auxiliary light sources (2), each of which is mounted to an end section of a corresponding auxiliary light guide (210) in order to guide the light emitted by the auxiliary light sources (2) through the auxiliary light guides (210), wherein each of the light sources (1) is arranged at least approximately on a respective line of contact of adjacent reflectors (100), wherein each of the auxiliary light sources (2) is arranged at least approximately on one of the respective tangent lines. [2] Rear light device according to claim 1, wherein the light guides (200) are made of acrylic material. [3] Rear light device according to claim 1, wherein the light sources (1) are provided with LEDs (light-emitting diodes). [4] Rear light device according to claim 1, wherein the auxiliary light sources (2) are provided with LEDs. [5] Rear light device according to claim 1, wherein the auxiliary light guides (210) are made of acrylic material.

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