FIBER OPTICS FOR A VEHICLE

Abstract

Optical fiber device (100), comprising: a light source (150) configured to emit light; a first light guide (110) coupled to the light source (150) and configured to guide the light emitted by the light source (150); and a second light guide (120) arranged outside the first light guide (110) and coupled to the light source (150) to guide the light, wherein the light source (150) comprises: a first light source (151) coupled to the first light guide (110); and a second light source (152) coupled to the second light guide (120) and arranged adjacent to the first light source (151), the first light guide (110) comprising: a first entrance section (111) receiving light from the first light source (151); a curved surface portion (113) extending from the first entry portion (111); and a first emission section (115) extending from the curved surface section (113), wherein the second light guide (120) comprises: a second entrance section (121) receiving light from the second light source (152); a main body (122) extending from the second inlet portion (121); a side wall (123) arranged on the main body (122) so as to separate the first light guide (110) and the second light guide (120) from each other; and a second emission section (125) formed at an end portion of the main body (122), wherein a curvature of the side wall (123) corresponds to a curvature of the curved surface portion (113), and wherein the side wall (123) is configured to totally reflect the light emitted by the second light source (152) of the second light guide (120), and the side wall (123) is configured to receive light emitted by the first light guide (110) and to distribute the received light within the second light guide (120).

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONField of the invention

[0001] The present invention relates to a light guide for a vehicle. More particularly, it relates to a light guide for a vehicle configured to uniformly illuminate an entire light guide area and improve design freedom. Description of the technology used

[0002] Generally, a lighting device configured to illuminate in the direction of travel of a vehicle is arranged in a vehicle to ensure visibility in an area ahead of the vehicle while the vehicle is traveling at night, to detect obstacles and pedestrians, and to inform another vehicle and a user using the same road on which the vehicle is traveling.

[0003] According to a recent trend of focusing on design, such a lighting device has been developed in various forms to enhance the aesthetic appearance of a vehicle exterior. In particular, a light guide of the lighting device configured to reflect light received from a light source to exhibit an indirect illumination effect without directly exposing the light source that emits the light has recently been widely used in a vehicle. The light guide is mainly arranged at a portion of a front edge of a socket of a headlight arranged at a front side of a vehicle to enhance the aesthetic appearance of a vehicle exterior.

[0004] Here, the light guide is a component that provides a path for uniformly scattering and distributing light emitted from a light source. A light-emitting diode (LED) light source, which is a point light source configured to emit directional light, is arranged on one side surface of the light guide, and the light entering from the LED light source is converted into area light by the light guide and then emitted.

[0005] This allows the light guide to exhibit an indirect illumination effect without exposing the LED light source that emits the light, and the indirect illumination effect of the light guide serves to enhance the aesthetic impression. Therefore, the light guide is applied to the lighting device for a vehicle in line with the recent trend of focusing on aesthetic effects as well as the lighting and signaling functions of the lighting device for a vehicle.

[0006] Fig. 1 is an illustrative diagram of a lighting device for a vehicle using a conventional light guide.

[0007] Referring to Fig. 1, a front view of a lighting area W and cross-sectional views along lines AA and BB of the lighting device for a vehicle are shown, and a light source 15 is arranged on a circuit board to emit light, wherein the circuit board can control turning on and off of the light source 15 and the light source 15 can be an LED.

[0008] A guide portion 10 can guide light emitted from the light source 15 and extends over a predetermined length and can be formed to have a round or polygonal shaped cross section.

[0009] Accordingly, light emitted from the light source 15 is guided along the guide portion 10 and is then emitted, and an invalid portion, such as a dummy portion, 20 is provided to avoid a hot spot.

[0010] However, a dark portion is generated due to a loss of light while the light emitted from the light source 15 is guided along the guide portion 10. Therefore, due to the dark portion formed due to the loss of light, the brightness of the light guide is reduced, and thereby the differentiation is deteriorated to such an extent that there is a problem that the sensitivity to the light is deteriorated.

[0011] Furthermore, since a blind section is provided to avoid the hot spot, a structure is so complicated that there are problems in that working time, cost and energy consumption increase.

[0012] The information disclosed in this Background to the Invention is provided merely to enhance the understanding of the general background of the invention and should not be considered as an acknowledgment or any form of suggestion that this information constitutes prior art already known to a person skilled in the art.

[0013] DE 10 2016 200 541 A1 discloses a light source module of a vehicle lamp.

[0014] DE 196 52 159 A1 discloses a lighting device for vehicles.

[0015] DE 10 2013 104 174 A1 a lighting device for vehicles.

[0016] DE 10 2010 016 633 A1 discloses a light guide unit for a vehicle lamp.

[0017] DE 21 2011 100 156 U1 discloses a motor vehicle headlight.

[0018] US 2012 / 0 014 111 A1 discloses an LED lamp. SHORT DESCRIPTION

[0019] The present invention has for its object to provide a light guide configured to improve a degree of freedom in the design of a light guide structure and to prevent a loss of light to enable uniform illumination while preventing the generation of a dark portion.

[0020] Other various aspects of the present invention can be understood from the following description and will become apparent with reference to the exemplary embodiments of the present invention. Likewise, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art to which the present invention pertains that the objects and advantages of the present invention may be attained by means as claimed and combinations thereof.

[0021] The present invention provides a light guide device according to claim 1, a light guide device according to claim 3 and a light guide device according to claim 6. Further embodiments are described in the subclaims.

[0022] The first light source and the second light source can be switched on and off simultaneously.

[0023] The first diffusion hole may have a flat inverted funnel structure.

[0024] A convex portion having a convex shape may be formed on an emission surface of the first diffusion hole.

[0025] The convex portion may be formed on an optical axis of the second light source of the light source.

[0026] A second diffusion hole may be formed in the main body.

[0027] The second diffusion hole may have a flat inverted funnel structure.

[0028] A diffusion optic may be formed at the second diffusion hole.

[0029] A height of the second emission section of the second light guide may be equal to a diameter of the first light guide.

[0030] The height of the second emission section of the second light guide may correspond to a height of the first light guide.

[0031] A curvature range of the curved surface portion may be in a range of 2 to 10 times the diameter.

[0032] The devices of the present invention have other features and advantages which will become apparent from or are set forth in greater detail in the accompanying drawings incorporated herein and the following detailed description, which together serve to explain certain principles of the present invention. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Fig. 1 is an illustrative diagram of a lighting device adapted for a vehicle using a conventional light guide. Fig. 2 is an illustrative diagram of a light guide according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. Fig. 3 is an imaging diagram showing an emission path of the light guide according to Fig. 2 in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. Fig. 4 is another imaging diagram showing an emission path of the light guide according to Fig. 2 in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. Fig. 5 is an imaging diagram showing an emission path of diffusion holes of the light guide according to Fig. 4 in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. Fig. 6 shows illustrative diagrams showing cases before and after using a first diffusion hole of the light guide in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. Fig. 7 is an imaging diagram of a light guide according to another exemplary embodiment of the present invention. Fig. 8 is an illustrative diagram of a light guide according to another exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

[0033] It should be understood that the attached drawings are not necessarily to scale and present somewhat of a simplified representation of various features illustrating the basic principles of the invention. The specific design features of the present invention as incorporated herein, including, for example, specific sizes, orientations, positions, and shapes, will be determined in part by the particular intended application and use environment.

[0034] In the figures, reference numerals refer to the same or equivalent parts of the present invention throughout the various figures of the drawings. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0035] Reference will now be made in detail to various embodiments of the present invention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings and described below. While the invention will be described in conjunction with the exemplary embodiments of the present invention, it is to be understood that the present description is not intended to limit the invention to these exemplary embodiments. On the contrary, the invention is intended to cover not only the exemplary embodiments of the present invention, but also other alternatives, modifications, equivalents, and other embodiments which may be encompassed within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

[0036] The exemplary embodiments described below are provided to help those skilled in the art easily understand the technical spirit of the present invention, and therefore, the present invention is not limited thereto. Furthermore, the items shown in the drawings are schematically illustrated to easily describe the exemplary embodiments of the present invention, and the items may differ from those actually implemented.

[0037] It is to be understood that when a component is referred to as being connected or coupled to another component, the component may be directly connected or coupled to the other component, or another component may be present between the component and other components.

[0038] The term “connection” as used herein may include a direct connection or an indirect connection between one element and another element and may refer to any physical connection such as gluing, fastening, snapping, fixing, soldering and the like.

[0039] Furthermore, terms such as “first,” “second,” and the like are used only to distinguish a plurality of configurations from one another and do not limit the order or other characteristics of the configurations.

[0040] The singular form includes the plural form unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. In this specification, the terms "comprise," "have," or similar terms are used to specify that a feature, number, step, operation, component, element, or combination thereof described herein exists, and may be interpreted to include one or more other features, numbers, steps, operations, components, elements, or combinations thereof.

[0041] Fig. 2 is an illustrative diagram of a light guide (e.g., a light guide device) according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

[0042] Referring to Fig. 2, a light guide 100 for a vehicle according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention includes a light source 150 configured to emit light, a first light guide 110 configured to guide light emitted from the light source 150, and a second light guide 120 disposed outside the first light guide 110 and configured to guide the light.

[0043] In a specific example, the light source 150 includes a first light source 151 and a second light source 152 disposed adjacent to the first light source 151. Preferably, the first light source 151 and the second light source 152 are turned on and off simultaneously.

[0044] According to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the first light guide 110 includes a first entrance portion 111, a curved surface portion 113 extending from the first entrance portion 111, and a first emission portion 115 extending downward from the curved surface portion 113.

[0045] Furthermore, the second light guide 120 has a second entrance portion 121, a main body 122 extending from the second entrance portion 121, a side wall 123 formed on the main body 122, and a second emission portion 125 arranged at an end portion of the main body 122.

[0046] In the present structure, a first diffusion hole 141 and a second diffusion hole 142 are formed on the main body 122, and the first diffusion hole 141 and the second diffusion hole 142 are formed as an inverted funnel structure.

[0047] According to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, a height of the second emission section 125 of the second light guide 120 preferably corresponds to a diameter of the first light guide 110 or a height thereof.

[0048] Fig. 3 is an imaging diagram showing an emission path of the light guide according to Fig. 2 in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

[0049] Referring to Fig. 3 and Fig. 2, the light guide 100 for a vehicle includes: the light source 150 configured to emit light, the first light guide 110 configured to guide light emitted from the light source 150, and the second light guide 120 disposed outside the first light guide 110 and configured to guide the light; and the second light guide 120 includes the second entrance portion 121, the main body 122 extending from the second entrance portion 121, the side wall 123 formed on the main body 122, and the second emission portion 125 formed at the end portion of the main body 122;and the side wall 123 is configured to totally reflect the light emitted by the second light source 152 of the second light guide 120, and at the same time, it is configured to receive the light emitted by the first light guide 110 and to distribute the received light within the second light guide 120.;

[0050] In an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the inner surface of the side wall 123 is formed by embossments.

[0051] In an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the inner surface of the second emission section 125 is formed by embossments.

[0052] As shown in the drawing, the side wall 123 may totally reflect the light emitted from the second light source 152 so that it enters the second diffusion hole 142, and also a diffusion hole 160 may be formed at the second diffusion hole 142 so that the light is emitted to a light-filling-susceptible portion X to uniformly illuminate an entire area.

[0053] Further, a diffusion hole 141 is formed on the main body 122, and the first diffusion hole 151 is formed as a flat inverted funnel structure.

[0054] An entrance surface 141a into which the light emitted from the light source 150 enters and an emission surface 141b from which the light exits are formed on the first diffusion hole 141. The entrance surface 141a of the first diffusion hole 141 is preferably formed to have a concave shape, and a convex portion 145 having a convex shape is preferably formed on the emission surface 141b of the first diffusion hole 141. Further, the convex portion 145 is preferably formed on an optical axis OP of the second light source 152 of the light source 150.

[0055] Furthermore, the second diffusion hole 142 is formed on the main body 122, and the second diffusion hole 142 is formed as a flat inverted funnel structure. Specifically, it is configured so that the light emitted from the second light source 152 enters the second diffusion hole 142 via the first diffusion hole 141.

[0056] Fig. 4 is another imaging diagram showing an emission path of the light guide according to Fig. 2 in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, and Fig. 5 is an imaging diagram showing an emission path of the diffusion holes of the light guide according to Fig. 4 in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

[0057] Referring to the Fig. 4, Fig. 5 and Fig. 2, the light guide 100 for a vehicle includes: the light source 150 configured to emit light; the first light guide 110 configured to guide light emitted from the light source 150; and the second light guide 120 formed outside the first light guide 110 and configured to guide light; and the second light guide 120 including the second entrance portion 121, the main body 122 extending from the second entrance portion 121, the side wall 123 formed on the main body 122, the second emission portion 125 formed at one end portion of the main body 122, and the first diffusion hole 141 and the second diffusion hole 152 formed on the main body 122.

[0058] In a specific example, the light source 150 includes the first light source 151 and the second light source 152 disposed adjacent to the first light source 151.

[0059] According to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, light entering the second light guide 120 is distributed to an entire area of ​​the second emission portion 125 while passing through the first diffusion hole 141 and the second diffusion hole 142; the entrance surface 141a of the first diffusion hole 141 is formed to have a concave shape, and the convex portion 145 is formed on the flat emission surface 141b where the light is emitted to distribute it and transmit it to the second diffusion hole 142.

[0060] Similar to the first diffusion hole 141, the second diffusion hole 142 has an entrance surface 142a and an emission surface 142b formed thereon, and the second diffusion hole 142 preferably has an optical shape for scattering light. In an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the entrance surface 142 and the emission surface 142b are formed by embossments.

[0061] Accordingly, light entering the first diffusion hole 141 is evenly distributed over an entire area of ​​the emission surface 142b while passing through the second diffusion hole 142.

[0062] Fig. 6 shows illustrative diagrams comparing cases before and after use of the first diffusion hole of the light guide according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

[0063] Referring to Fig. 6 shows the comparison cases before and after forming the first diffusion hole 141 of the main body 122. It can be seen that a hot spot is generated in a central region and that the light is not evenly distributed in an emission region in the case where the first diffusion hole 141 is not formed in the main body 122, but the light is evenly distributed in the emission region in the case where the first diffusion hole 141 is formed in the main body 122.

[0064] Fig. 7 is an illustrative diagram of a light guide (e.g., a light guide device) according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

[0065] Referring to Fig. 7, a front view of a luminous area W of a light guide 200 and cross-sectional views along lines CC and DD are shown, and the light guide 200 according to another exemplary embodiment of the present invention includes: the light source 150 configured to emit light; the first light guide 110 configured to guide the light emitted from the light source 150; the second light guide 120 disposed outside the first light guide 110 and configured to guide the light; and a third light guide 130 formed at a position vertically facing the first light guide 110 with respect to a front surface and configured to guide the light.

[0066] In an exemplary embodiment, the light source 150 comprises: the first light source 151, the second light source 152 arranged adjacent to the first light source 151, and a third light source 153 arranged at a position symmetrical to the first light source 151 (relative to the second light source).

[0067] Furthermore, the second light guide 120 includes: the second entrance portion 121, the main body 122 extending from the second entrance portion 121, the side wall 123 formed on both sides of the main body 122, and the second emission portion 125 arranged at one end portion of the main body 122, and, referring to the cross-sectional views along lines CC and DD, the first light guide 110 and the third light guide 130 are preferably arranged vertically symmetrically to each other in a plane.

[0068] Furthermore, the first diffusion hole 141 and the second diffusion hole 142 are formed on the main body 122, wherein the first diffusion hole 141 and the second diffusion hole 142 are preferably arranged vertically symmetrically to each other in a plane.

[0069] According to another exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the first diffusion hole 141 and the second diffusion hole 142 preferably each have an inverted funnel structure and an optical shape for scattering light.

[0070] Fig. 8 is an illustrative diagram of a light guide (e.g., a light guide device) according to still another exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

[0071] Referring to Fig.8, a front view of a bent portion of a light guide 300 and cross-sectional views along lines EE and FF are shown, and the light guide 300 according to the further another exemplary embodiment of the present invention includes: the light source 150 configured to emit light; the first light guide 110 configured to guide the light emitted from the light source 150; the second light guide 120 disposed outside the first light guide 110 and configured to guide the light; and a third light guide disposed at a position laterally facing the first light guide 110 with respect to a front side of the light guide and configured to guide light.

[0072] In a specific example, the light source 150 includes the first light source 151 and the second light source 152 arranged adjacent to the first light source 151, and the second light guide 120 also includes the second entrance portion 121, the main body 122 extending from the second entrance portion 121, the side wall 123 formed on the main body 122, and the second emission portion 125 formed at an end portion of the main body 122, and, referring to the cross-sectional views along lines EE and FF, the first diffusion hole 141 and the second diffusion hole 142 are formed in the main body 122, wherein the first light guide 110 and the third light guide 130 are preferably arranged vertically symmetrically to each other in a plane.

[0073] Therefore, in accordance with the light guide according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, limitations of space are overcome, so that a degree of freedom in design is improved and loss of light is prevented, thereby preventing the generation of a dark portion and a hot spot, so that effects are provided that the efficiency of illumination is improved and power consumption and weight can be reduced.

[0074] According to exemplary embodiments of the present invention, it is possible to prevent loss of light and generation of a dark portion and a hot spot, so that effects are provided that efficiency of illumination can be improved and power consumption can be reduced.

[0075] For ease of explanation and accurate definition in the appended claims, terms such as "upper", "lower", "inner", "outer", "top", "bottom", "upper", "lower", "up", "down", "front", "back", "rear", "inside", "outside", "inward", "outward", "internal", "external", "inner", "outer", "forward" and "backward" are used to describe features of the exemplary embodiments with reference to the positions of those features as illustrated in the figures.

Claims

[1] Optical fiber device (100), comprising: a light source (150) configured to emit light; a first light guide (110) coupled to the light source (150) and configured to guide the light emitted by the light source (150); and a second light guide (120) arranged outside the first light guide (110) and coupled to the light source (150) to guide the light, wherein the light source (150) comprises: a first light source (151) coupled to the first light guide (110); and a second light source (152) coupled to the second light guide (120) and arranged adjacent to the first light source (151), the first light guide (110) comprising: a first entrance section (111) receiving light from the first light source (151); a curved surface portion (113) extending from the first inlet portion (111); and a first emission section (115) extending from the curved surface section (113), wherein the second light guide (120) comprises: a second entrance section (121) receiving light from the second light source (152); a main body (122) extending from the second inlet portion (121); a side wall (123) arranged on the main body (122) so as to separate the first light guide (110) and the second light guide (120) from each other; and a second emission section (125) formed at an end portion of the main body (122), wherein a curvature of the side wall (123) corresponds to a curvature of the curved surface portion (113), and wherein the side wall (123) is configured to totally reflect the light emitted by the second light source (152) of the second light guide (120), and the side wall (123) is configured to receive light emitted by the first light guide (110) and to distribute the received light within the second light guide (120). [2] The optical fiber device (100) according to claim 1, wherein a first diffusion hole (141) is formed in the main body (122). [3] Optical fiber device (200), comprising: a light source (150) configured to emit light; a first light guide (110) coupled to the light source (150) and configured to guide light emitted by the light source (150); a second light guide (120) coupled to the light source (150) and arranged outside the first light guide (110) and configured to guide the light; and a third light guide (130) designed to guide the light, wherein the first light guide (110) comprises: a first entrance section (111) receiving light from the light source (150); a first curved surface portion (113) extending from the first inlet portion (111); and a first emission section (115) extending from the first curved surface section (113), wherein the second light guide (120) comprises: a second entrance section (121) receiving light from the light source (150); a main body (122) extending from the second inlet portion (121); a side wall (123) formed on a first side and a second side of the main body (122), the side wall (123) separating the first light guide (110) and the second light guide (120) on the first side and the side wall (123) separating the second light guide (120) and the third light guide (130) on the second side; and a second emission section (125) arranged at an end section of the main body (122), wherein the first light guide (110) converges on the third light guide (130) in a direction which is vertical to the second emission section (125), wherein a curvature of the side wall (123) corresponds to a curvature of the first curved surface portion (113), and wherein the side wall (123) is configured to totally reflect the light emitted by the light source (150), and the side wall (123) is configured to receive light emitted by the first light guide (110) and to distribute the received light within the second light guide (120). [4] The optical fiber device (200) according to claim 3, wherein a first diffusion hole (141) and a second diffusion hole (142) are formed on the main body (122). [5] Optical fiber device (200) according to one of claims 3 to 4, wherein the third optical fiber (130) comprises: a third entrance section that receives light from the light source (150); a second curved surface portion extending from the third entry portion; and a third emitting portion extending from the second curved surface portion. [6] Optical fiber device (300), comprising: a light source (150) configured to emit light; a first light guide (110) that receives light from the light source (150) and that is configured to guide the light emitted by the light source (150); a second light guide (120) disposed outside the first light guide (110) and receiving light from the light source (150) to guide the light; and a third light guide (130) which receives light from the light source (150) to guide the light, wherein the first light guide (110) comprises: a first entrance section (111) receiving light from the light source (150); a first curved surface portion (113) extending from the first inlet portion (111); and a first emission section (115) extending from the first curved surface section (113), wherein the second light guide (120) comprises: a second entrance section (121) receiving light from the light source (150); a main body (122) extending from the second inlet portion (121); a side wall (123) formed on a first side of the main body (122), the side wall (123) separating the first light guide (110) and the second light guide (120) on the first side, and the side wall (123) separating the second light guide (120) and the third light guide (130) on the first side; and a second emission section (125) arranged at an end section of the main body (122), wherein the third light guide (130) is arranged at a position such that it converges on the first light guide (110) in a direction which is laterally directed to the second emission section (125), wherein a curvature of the side wall (123) corresponds to a curvature of the first curved surface portion (113), and wherein the side wall (123) is configured to totally reflect the light emitted by the light source (150), and the side wall (123) is configured to receive light emitted by the first light guide (110) and to distribute the received light within the second light guide (120).

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