Light guide unit

Abstract

Lighting device (4) for a motor vehicle, with at least one pre-assembled light-guiding unit (2) comprising a light-guiding body (6), an optically active element (8) and a covering means (12), and with at least one illuminating means (20) for coupling light into the light-guiding body (6), wherein the optically active element (8 ) • is arranged at least on a surface section (10) of the light guide body (6), partially surrounding the light guide body (6), seen in the circumferential direction, • influences the light emission behavior of the light guide body (6) at least in the area of ​​this surface section (10), since it comprises a reflective surface facing the light guide body (6) and is also opaque or light-impermeable on the side facing the light guide body (6), and • is designed as a coating for the light guide body (6 ) and comprises a film which is fixed to the light guide body (6 ) by the covering means (12 ), and wherein the covering means (12 ) • is arranged on at least one free surface of the optically active element ( 8 ), • the at least one free surface of the optically active element (8) completely covers the outside, is opaque or light-impermeable at least on the side facing the light guide body (6) and • comprises a plastic which is injection-molded onto the light-guiding body (6) and thereby fixes the optically active element (8), so that the optically active element (8) and the covering means (12) are fixed non-releasably to the light-guiding body (6).

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a lighting device for a motor vehicle. Furthermore, the invention relates to a rearview device with such a lighting device.

[0002] Light guide units for the lighting system of a motor vehicle are known, for example, for the interior lighting of a motor vehicle as well as for the exterior lighting of a motor vehicle.

[0003] A generic light guide unit is known from US 5,857,761 A or DE 10 2011 015 161 A1.

[0004] DE 10 2004 012 052 A1 relates to a side indicator light for a motor vehicle with a light guide and a light source, wherein portions of a light coupled in by the light source are coupled out transversely to the longitudinal direction of the light guide and a reflector aperture is provided, spaced from the light guide.

[0005] From DE 10 2008 008 180 A1 a motor vehicle interior lighting is known in which an optically active element is arranged on a light guide body, on which element light incident into the light guide body is reflected and prevented from being coupled out of the light guide body.

[0006] From JP 2005112316 A an exterior mirror with a lighting device for a motor vehicle is known, in which an optically active element is arranged on a light guide body of the light guide unit in such a way that light is deflected within the light guide body.

[0007] US 6,123,442 A teaches an article configured to emit diffuse light in a predetermined set of directions when coupled to a light source. The article comprises an optical fiber and a diffusely reflective sheeting material disposed around at least a portion of the optical fiber to direct at least a portion of the light emitted by it in predetermined directions.

[0008] In the known light guide units, it has proven disadvantageous that the optically active element arranged on the light guide body is subject to wear due to environmental influences and has a short service life, as a result of which the light guide unit and / or the lighting device has proven to be maintenance-intensive and cost-intensive.

[0009] The object of the invention is to provide a lighting device and a rear-view device in which the service life of the light guide unit is increased.

[0010] The object is achieved according to the invention by a lighting device according to claim 1.

[0011] Preferred embodiments of the invention are described in claims 2 and 3.

[0012] The optically active element can comprise, for example, a prism, a lens, or a reflector. To at least reduce the unintentional coupling of light from the light guide, the optically active element comprises a reflective surface facing the light guide. In this way, light exiting the light guide is immediately redirected into the light guide.

[0013] The free surface is, in particular, the side facing away from the light guide. The light guide can, in principle, have any shape. For example, it can be rod-shaped or circular segment-shaped. Furthermore, it is conceivable for the light guide to have sections with a straight or curved profile.

[0014] The optically active element comprises a reflector. Furthermore, it is conceivable that several optically active elements are provided, each of which has a technically similar or different optical effect.

[0015] By arranging the optically active element on the light guide body, the light guide unit can be pre-assembled.

[0016] Because the optically active element rests on the surface of the light guide body on the one hand and is covered to the outside by the covering means on the other hand, it is at least almost completely insulated from environmental influences, thereby increasing the service life of the optically active element.

[0017] In principle, it is conceivable that the covering means forms a sealing element for sealing the at least one exposed surface against air, moisture, humidity, and / or contamination. For this purpose, the covering means can comprise a plastic.

[0018] According to the invention, the optically active element partially surrounds the light guide body, viewed in the circumferential direction. The covering means surrounds the optically active element at least partially or entirely, viewed in the circumferential direction.

[0019] This is preferably the circumferential direction perpendicular to the longest extension of the light guide. However, it is also conceivable that the circumferential direction is perpendicular or oblique to the longest extension of the light guide.

[0020] Since the optically active element only partially surrounds the light guide, the optically active element can act like a reflector, with light within the light guide being reflected by the optically active element and emitted outward from an uncovered surface of the light guide. This allows for a visually appealing radiation pattern.

[0021] Furthermore, the invention provides that not only the optically active element, but also the covering means, are / is substantially opaque and / or light-impermeable, at least on a side facing the light-guiding body. For example, it is conceivable that the optically active element on the side facing away from the light-guiding body has a configuration such that light can pass through the optically active element and be coupled into the light-guiding body, whereas coupling out is prevented on the side facing the light-guiding body.

[0022] In addition, the covering agent may include a coloring.

[0023] According to the invention, the optically active element and the covering means are fixed inseparably to the light guide body.

[0024] In principle, it is conceivable that both the optically active element and the covering means can be secured to the light guide body independently of one another. However, the invention provides that the optically active element is secured to the light guide body by the covering means.

[0025] The optically active element comprises a film that is secured to the light guide by the covering means. The covering means comprises a plastic that is molded onto the light guide, thereby securing the optically active element.

[0026] The optically active element is a coating for the light guide, which is made of a film.

[0027] Since the optically active element comprises a film, the optically active element is fixed to the light guide body by the covering means.

[0028] It is intended that the covering agent is sprayed onto the light guide body.

[0029] In the invention, the optically active element is first vapor-deposited onto the light guide body and then the covering agent is sprayed onto the optically active element.

[0030] Finally, the problem is solved by a rear-view device, such as an exterior mirror or indicator, for a motor vehicle with a lighting device having at least one of the features mentioned above.

[0031] The lighting device according to the invention and the rearview device according to the invention prove to be advantageous in several respects.

[0032] Because the optically active element rests against the light guide on the one hand and is completely covered by the covering material on the other, the optically active element is insulated from environmental influences such as air, moisture, or contamination. This increases the service life of the optically active element.

[0033] Because the optically active element and the covering means can be fixed to the light guide body, the light guide body, the optically active element and the covering means form a pre-assembled component, whereby the light guide unit can be easily arranged, for example, when used in motor vehicle interior lighting or in motor vehicle exterior lighting.

[0034] Further features, details and advantages of the invention emerge from the appended claims, from the drawings and the following description of a preferred embodiment of the light guide unit according to the invention.

[0035] The drawing shows: Fig. 1 a perspective view of a first embodiment of the light guide unit according to the invention; Fig. 2 a perspective view of a second embodiment of the light guide unit according to the invention; Fig. 3 a schematic representation of a lighting device.

[0036] The Fig. 1 and Fig. 2 show a light guide unit, generally designated by the reference numeral 2, for a lighting device 4 (see Fig. 3) of a motor vehicle (not shown). The light-guiding unit 2 comprises a light-guiding body 6 for coupling in, forwarding and / or decoupling or emitting light. An optically active element 8 is arranged on the light-guiding body 6 and lies flat against a surface section 10 of the guide body 6. The optically active element 8 comprises a reflective surface facing the light-guiding body 6, which influences the light emission behavior of the light-guiding body 6 in the region of the surface section 10. Light that attempts to exit the light-guiding body 6 in the region of the surface section 10 is reflected by the optically active element 8.

[0037] On the side of the optically active element 8 facing away from the light guide body 6, a covering means 12 is arranged on the optically active element 8 and covers it at least almost completely from the outside. The covering means 12 is designed as a sealing element 14, with which the optically active element 8 is sealed from the outside against air, moisture, and / or contamination.

[0038] Fig. 1 shows a first embodiment of the light guide unit 2 according to the invention, in which both the optically active element 8 and the covering means 12 only partially surround the light guide body 6 in the circumferential direction of the longitudinal extent of the light guide body 6. Partially surrounded appears to be the case in the Fig. 1, the optically active element 8 acts like a reflector, redirecting light incident on the optically active element 8 outward through the uncovered surface of the light guide body 6.

[0039] Fig. Figure 2 shows a second embodiment of the light guide unit 2 according to the invention, in which the light guide body 6 is completely surrounded by both the optically active element 8 and the covering means 12. In this case, light which is introduced into the light guide body 6 through a coupling surface 16 can be guided to an output surface 18 (see Fig. 3) are transmitted by reflecting light that attempts to emerge from the light guide body 6 by the optically active element 8.

[0040] Fig. 3 schematically shows a lighting device 4 with a light guide unit 2 according to Fig. 2 and a light source 20, through which light is coupled into the light guide body 6 of the light guide unit 2 at the coupling surface 16 and is coupled out to the outside at the coupling surface 18.

[0041] The features of the invention disclosed in the above description, in the claims and in the drawings can be essential both individually and in any combination for the realization of the invention in its various embodiments. List of reference symbols 2 light guide unit 4 Lighting device 6 light guides 8 Optically effective element 10 Surface section 12 covering agents 14 Sealing element 16 light coupling surface 18 Light output surface 20 bulbs

Claims

[1] Lighting device (4) for a motor vehicle, with at least one pre-assembled light-guiding unit (2) comprising a light-guiding body (6), an optically active element (8) and a covering means (12), and with at least one illuminating means (20) for coupling light into the light-guiding body (6), wherein the optically active element (8 ) • is arranged at least on a surface section (10) of the light guide body (6), partially surrounding the light guide body (6), seen in the circumferential direction, • influences the light emission behavior of the light guide body (6) at least in the area of ​​this surface section (10), since it comprises a reflective surface facing the light guide body (6) and is also opaque or light-impermeable on the side facing the light guide body (6), and • is designed as a coating for the light guide body (6 ) and comprises a film which is fixed to the light guide body (6 ) by the covering means (12 ), and wherein the covering means (12 ) • is arranged on at least one free surface of the optically active element ( 8 ), • the at least one free surface of the optically active element (8) completely covers the outside, is opaque or light-impermeable at least on the side facing the light guide body (6) and • comprises a plastic which is injection-molded onto the light-guiding body (6) and thereby fixes the optically active element (8), so that the optically active element (8) and the covering means (12) are fixed non-releasably to the light-guiding body (6). [2] Lighting device (4) according to claim 1, characterized bythat the covering means (12) forms a sealing element (14) for sealing the at least one free surface against air, wetness, moisture and / or contamination. [3] Lighting device (4) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized by that the lighting device ( 4 ) is an interior lighting or exterior lighting for the motor vehicle. [4] Rearview device, such as an exterior mirror, for a motor vehicle with a lighting device (4) according to claim 3.

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