Lighting device for a vehicle

Abstract

Lighting device for a vehicle, the device comprising: a light source (10) emitting light of a first predetermined color; a reflector (20) that reflects the light emitted by the light source (10) to project the light outward, wherein the reflector (20) has a color that is different from the first predetermined color of the light emitted by the light source (10) to change the color of the first predetermined light when the light of the light source (10) is reflected by the reflector (20); and a variable light transmission section (30) positioned between the light source (10) and the reflector (20) such that the light emitted by the light source (10) falls thereon in front of the reflector (20), wherein the variable light transmission section (30) is designed to vary the light transmission, wherein, when the variable light transmittance portion (30) is set to have a light transmittance lower than a predetermined light transmittance, the light emitted by the light source (10) is reflected by the variable light transmittance portion (30) and thus projected in a second predetermined color, and wherein, when the variable light transmittance portion (30) is set to have a light transmittance higher than the predetermined light transmittance, the light emitted from the light source (10) is transmitted through the variable light transmittance portion (30) and reflected by the reflector (20) to be changed in a color and projected in a changed color different from the second predetermined color, the reflector (20) having a plurality of curved surfaces (21, 22, 23), and wherein the plurality of curved surfaces (21, 22, 23) are configured such that at least one of the curved surfaces (21, 22, 23) has a different color than the remaining curved surfaces (21, 22, 23).

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONTechnical FieldThe present invention relates to a lighting device for a vehicle, and more particularly to a device that emits light of different colors.Description of the Prior ArtIn general, a vehicle is provided with lighting devices that allow a driver to clearly identify an object in a traveling direction and inform pedestrians and / or drivers of other vehicles of a traveling state of a vehicle of the driver during night driving. A lamp, also referred to as a headlight, is a lamp that illuminates a road in front of the vehicle.Such a lamp can be classified into a headlight, a fog lamp, a turn signal lamp, a stop lamp, and a backup lamp, and the like, and the directions of their light emission to a road surface are respectively set differently.These lamps have a low degree of freedom of light because the color of the projected light is determined depending on a light source and the color of the lens. In addition, in order to emit light of different colors, a light source, a reflecting surface and a lens for expressing the colors are provided, thereby complicating the layout and increasing the manufacturing cost.Furthermore, a lighting device is known in the prior art in particular from WO 2009 / 150 580 A1, US 2006 / 0 023 449 A1, US 2012 / 0 013 238 A1, JP 2000-340 009 A, DE 11 2005 001 379 T5, JP 2011-70 922 A, DE 103 30 215 A1 and JP 2011-243 366 A.The information disclosed in this section of the present invention is only for enhancement of understanding of the general background of the invention and cannot be taken as an acknowledgement or any form of suggestion that this information forms the prior art already known to those skilled in the art.SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONThe lighting device for a vehicle according to the invention is described in claim 1. Preferred embodiments are evident from the dependent claims.Various aspects of the present invention are directed to providing a lighting device for a vehicle, the device emitting light of different colors without increasing the complexity of the layout, and allowing the color of the light to be determined according to various driving conditions by color combination.In various aspects of the present invention, there is provided a lighting apparatus for a vehicle, the apparatus comprising: a light source that emits light of a predetermined color; a reflector that reflects the light emitted from the light source to project the light to the outside, the reflector having a color different from the color of the light emitted from the light source to change the color of the light when the light is reflected; and a variable light transmission portion positioned between the light source and the reflector so that the light emitted from the light source falls thereon in front of the reflector, wherein the variable light transmission portion is configured to vary the light transmission, wherein when the variable light transmission portion is set to have a low light transmission, the light emitted from the light source is reflected by the variable light transmission portion and thus projected into the predetermined color thereof, and when the variable light transmission portion is set to have a high light transmission, the light emitted from the light source is transmitted through the variable light transmission portion and reflected by the reflector so as to be changed in color and thus projected into a changed color.The reflector may have a parabolic shape having a curvature, the light source may be positioned at a parabolic focus of the reflector, and the variable light transmission portion may be integrally coupled to the reflector and have the same curvature as the reflector.The variable light transmission portion may be a variable film whose light transmission varies depending on whether electric power is applied thereto.The apparatus may further include an external lens positioned on a path along which the light emitted from the light source is reflected and projected by the reflector, the external lens having a color different from the color of the light emitted from the light source and the color of the reflector.The reflector has a plurality of curved surfaces, the plurality of curved surfaces being configured such that all or some of the curved surfaces have different colors.The variable light transmission portion may be provided in plural to correspond to the plural curved surfaces of the reflector, respectively, and plural variable light transmission members may be configured to individually vary in light transmission.At least two or more variable light transmission members may be provided to be positioned between the light source and the reflector, and the plurality of variable light transmission members may include a plurality of color lenses of different colors disposed therebetween.The plurality of variable light transmission parts and the color lenses may be sequentially stacked on top of each other on the reflector.The plurality of variable transmittance parts may be configured to individually vary the transmittance, and a change in the transmittance is performed such that the transmittance is sequentially varied in a direction in which the light emitted from the light source reaches the reflector.According to the lighting device for the vehicle having the above-described configuration, it is possible to realize the light of different colors emitted to the outside by combining different colors of light, and thus to perform a lighting function according to the driving conditions and improve a light design. In addition, the film-type variable light transmission portion that varies in light transmission is configured to be coupled to the reflector, so that it is possible to realize light of different colors without increasing layout complexity and determining the color of the light according to different driving conditions, thereby improving the visibility of the lamp and safety.The methods and apparatuses of the present invention have other features and advantages which will be apparent from or are set forth in more detail in the accompanying drawings, which are incorporated herein, and the following Detailed Description, which together serve to explain certain principles of the present invention.BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURESFIG. 1 is a view showing a lighting device for a vehicle according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 2 is a view showing a first lighting device for the vehicle shown in FIG. 1 ; FIG. 3 is a view showing various exemplary embodiments of the lighting device for the vehicle shown in FIG. 1 ; and FIG. 4 is a view showing various exemplary embodiments of the lighting device for the vehicle shown in FIG. 1.It should be understood that the appended drawings are not necessarily to scale, presenting a somewhat simplified representation of various features illustrative of the basic principles of the invention. The specific design features of the present invention as disclosed herein, including, for example, specific dimensions, orientations, locations, and shapes will be determined in part by the particular intended application and use environment.In the figures, reference numerals in the various figures of the drawing refer to the same or equivalent parts of the present invention.DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTReference will now be made in detail to various embodiments of the present invention(s), examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings and described below. While the invention(s) will be described in connection with exemplary embodiments, it is to be understood that the present description is not intended to limit the invention(s) to these exemplary embodiments. On the other hand, the invention(s) are intended to cover not only the exemplary embodiments, but also various alternatives, modifications, equivalents and other embodiments, which may be included within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.Hereinafter, a lighting device for a vehicle according to exemplary embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the drawings, the same reference numerals refer to the same or similar parts.FIG. 1 is a view showing a lighting device for a vehicle according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a view showing a first lighting device for the vehicle shown in FIG. 1. FIG. 3 is a view showing various exemplary embodiments of the lighting device for the vehicle shown in FIG. 1, and FIG. 4 is a view showing various exemplary embodiments of the lighting device for the vehicle shown in FIG. 1.As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, a lighting device for a vehicle may include a light source 10 that emits light of a predetermined color; a reflector 20 that reflects the light emitted from the light source 10 to project the light to the outside, the reflector having a color different from the color of the light emitted from the light source 10 to change the color of the light when the light is reflected; and a variable light transmission portion 30 that is disposed between the light source 10 and the reflector 20 such that the light emitted from the light source 10 is incident thereon in front of the reflector 20, the variable light transmission portion configured to vary the light transmission.As described above, the present invention includes the light source 10, the reflector 20, and the variable light transmission portion 30, wherein the light source 10 is an LED, and the reflector 20 reflects the light emitted from the light source to change a moving path of the light to be projected outward. Herein, the color of the light emitted from the light source 10 and the color of the reflector 20 are different from each other, whereby the color of the light emitted from the light source 10 is changed due to the complementary color upon reflection by the reflector 20, whereby the light emitted to the outside is changed in color.Further, the reflector 20 has a parabolic shape having a curvature, and the light source 10 is positioned in a parabolic focus of the reflector 20, so that the light emitted from the light source 10 is reflected by the reflector 20 and thus moves along a path corresponding to the parabolic shape of the reflector 20 to be projected. The parabolic shaped reflector 20 has the variable light transmission portion 30 integrally coupled thereto, and the variable light transmission portion 30 is set to have a low light transmission, which results in the light emitted from the light source 10 being reflected to pass through the same path as the reflector 20.Since the variable light transmission portion 30 is configured to vary the light transmission, it is possible to change the color of the light emitted to the outside. In other words, when the variable light transmission portion 30 is set to have the low light transmission, the light emitted from the light source 10 is reflected by the variable light transmission portion 30, and thus is projected outward in the predetermined color thereof. Conversely, when the variable light transmission portion 30 is set to have high light transmission, the light emitted from the light source 10 is transmitted through the variable light transmission portion 30 and reflected by the reflector 20 so that its color is changed and thus is projected outward in a changed color.As described above, depending on the light transmittance of the variable light transmittance portion 30, the light emitted from the light source 10 is emitted to the outside without changing its color, or is emitted to the outside after the color changes due to the reflector 20. This allows the light emitted to the outside to be selectively changed in color depending on the light transmittance of the variable light transmittance portion 30. Since the variable light transmission portion 30 is integrally coupled to the reflector 20, the present invention can simplify the configuration for changing the color of the light and thus simplify the layout.The present invention described above will be described in detail. The variable light transmission portion 30 may be a variable light transmission film whose light transmission varies depending on whether electric power is applied thereto.The variable light transmission portion 30 may be made of various variable light transmission films such as a suspended particle film, a polymer liquid crystal film, an electrochromic film, an electronic polarizer film, etc. The light transmission of the variable light transmission portion 30 may be varied depending on whether an electric power determined by the control of a lamp controller E is applied thereto.In other words, when no electric power is applied, the variable light transmission portion 30 reflects the incident light as the light transmission decreases, whereby the light emitted from the light source 10 is reflected by the variable light transmission portion 30 and thus emitted to the outside in the predetermined color thereof. Conversely, when electric power is applied to the variable light transmission portion 30, the variable light transmission portion 30 is switched to a transparent state to increase the light transmission and transmit the incident light. Thereafter, the light transmitted through the variable light transmission portion 30 is incident on the reflector 20 to be changed in color by the reflector 20, and thus is emitted to the outside in the changed color.The light transmittance of the variable light transmittance portion may be adjusted depending on whether electric power is applied thereto from the above example. Accordingly, depending on the amount of electric power applied to the variable light transmission portion 30, some light can be reflected and some light can be transmitted, thereby changing the color of the light emitted to the outside in various ways.As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the present invention may further include an external lens 40 positioned on a path along which the light emitted from the light source 10 is reflected and projected by the reflector 20, the external lens having a color different from the color of the emitted light of the light source 10 and the color of the reflector 20.The external lens 40 is provided at a position where the light is finally emitted to the outside and is mounted on a lamp housing H. Since the external lens 40 has a color different from the color of the light emitted from the light source 10, the color of the reflector 20 causes the light emitted to be finally changed in color.For example, it is assumed that the color of the light emitted from the light source 10 is a BLUE color, the color of the reflector 20 is a GREEN color, and the color of the external lens 40 is a RED color. When the variable light transmission portion 30 is set to have the low light transmission, the light emitted from the light source 10 is reflected by the variable light transmission portion 30, resulting in light of the MAGENTA color being emitted to the outside through the external lens 40, the MAGENTA color resulting from a combination of the BLUE color of the light emitted from the light source 10 and the RED color of the external lens 40.On the other hand, when the variable light transmission portion 30 is set to have the high light transmission, the light emitted from the light source 10 is transmitted through the variable light transmission portion 30 and reflected by the reflector 20, resulting in a WE color of the light emitted to the outside through the external lens 40, the white color resulting from a combination of the BLUE color of the light emitted from the light source 10, the GREEN color of the reflector 20, and the RED color of the external lens 40.As described above, by the color combination of the light emitted from the light source 10, the color of the reflector 20, and the color of the external lens 40, it is possible to selectively emit light of different colors to the outside due to the complementary color.As various exemplary embodiments of the lighting device for the vehicle and as shown in FIG. 3, the reflector 20 may have multiple curved surfaces. The plurality of curved surfaces may be configured such that all or some of the curved surfaces have different colors.Accordingly, since the reflector 20 has the plurality of curved surfaces and the plurality of curved surfaces have different colors, this enables the light emitted from the light source 10 to be incident on the plurality of curved surfaces, so that the light finally emitted to the outside has partially different colors.For example, and as shown in FIG. 3, it is assumed that the curved surfaces of the reflector 20 include a first curved surface 21, a second curved surface 22, and a third curved surface 23, the first and third curved surfaces 21 and 23 have a CYAN color, and the second curved surface 22 has a GREEN color. Here, when the color of the light emitted from the light source 10 is the RED color, the light incident on the first and third curved surfaces 21 and 23 may be changed to the WHITE color, while the light incident on the second curved surface 22 may be changed to a YELLOW color.In addition, when the variable light transmission portion 30 is set to have the low light transmission, the light emitted from the light source 10 may be reflected by the variable light transmission portion 30 and thus emitted to the outside in the RED color thereof.Meanwhile, the variable light transmission portion 30 may be provided multiple times to correspond to the multiple curved surfaces of the reflector 20, respectively, and multiple variable light transmission parts 30 are configured to individually vary the light transmission. Accordingly, the variable transmittance parts 30 respectively correspond to the plurality of curved surfaces of the reflector 20, and the transmittance partially changes for each curved surface of the reflector 20.Referring to the example of FIG. 3, among the variable light transmission portions 30 corresponding to the first curved surface 21, the second curved surface 22, and the third curved surface 23 constituting the reflector 20, when the variable light transmission portions 30 of the first and third curved surfaces 21 and 23 are set to have low light transmission, while the variable light transmission portion 30, of the second curved surface 22 is set to have high light transmission, the light reflected by the different light transmission portions 30 of the first and third curved surfaces 21 and 23 may be emitted outward in the RED color, and the light transmitted by the variable light transmission portion 30 corresponding to the second curved surface 22 may be reflected by the second curved surface 22 and emitted outward in the YELLOW color. In addition, when the light transmittance of the variable light transmittance portion 30 corresponding to the second curved surface 22 is set to be repeatedly switched from the high light transmittance to the low light transmittance, the light is caused to be reflected by the second curved surface 22 and emitted to the outside to be repeatedly changed in color from the YELLOW color to the RED color. This can realize a turn signal lighting.As described above, by the configuration in which the reflector 20 has the plurality of curved surfaces and the variable light transmission parts 30 respectively correspond to the curved surfaces, it is possible to change the color of the light emitted outward depending on the color of the plurality of curved surfaces of the reflector 20. In addition, the variable light transmission members 30 selectively vary in light transmission, so that the light transmission of the variable light transmission portion 30 varies according to a predetermined curved surface among the plurality of curved surfaces, thereby facilitating light of a perceivable color according to driving conditions of a vehicle to be emitted to the outside.On the other hand, as various exemplary embodiments of the lighting apparatus for the vehicle, and as shown in FIG. 4, at least two or more variable light transmission parts 30 may be provided to be disposed between the light source 10 and the reflector 20. The plurality of variable light transmission members 30 may have a plurality of color lenses 50 of different colors interposed therebetween.Accordingly, the color lenses 50 having different colors are arranged between the different variable light transmission parts 30, whereby it is possible to selectively vary the light transmission of the plurality of variable light transmission parts 30, and thus change the color of the light transmitted through the color lenses 50.At the present time, the plurality of variable light transmission parts 30 and the color lenses 50 may be stacked on top of each other on the reflector 20. As shown in FIG. 4, the color lenses 50 of different colors may be disposed between the plurality of variable light transmission parts 30. The color lenses 50 and the variable light transmission members 30 may be sequentially stacked in a sequence of a variable light transmission portion 30 and a color lens 50 in a direction in which the light emitted from the light source 10 moves toward the reflector 20. Accordingly, the color lenses 50 are disposed between the variable light transmission parts 30 and fixed to the reflector 20.Further, the variable light transmission parts 30 may be configured to individually vary the light transmission. The variation of the transmittance is performed such that the transmittance is sequentially varied in the direction in which the light emitted from the light source 10 reaches the reflector 20, resulting in the color of the light being sequentially changed by the color lenses 50.As an example, and as shown in FIG. 4, the color of the light emitted from the light source 10 may be an A color, the color lens 50 may be formed by a B color lens 51 and a C color lens 52, and the color of the reflector 20 may be a D color, while the variable light transmission portion 30 may be formed by a first variable portion 31, a second variable portion 32, and a third variable portion 33. Herein, the variable light transmission members 30 and the color lenses 50 may be sequentially stacked in a sequence of the first variable portion 31, the B color lens 51, the second variable portion 32, the C color lens 52, the third variable portion 33, and the reflector 20.Thus, when the first variable portion 31 is set to have the low light transmittance, the light emitted from the light source 10 is caused to be reflected by the first variable portion 31 and thus emitted to the outside in the color A.On the other hand, when the first variable portion 31 is set to have the high light transmittance and the second variable portion 32 is set to have the low light transmittance, the light emitted from the light source 10 is caused to be changed in color while being transmitted through the first variable portion 31 and the B color lens 51 and then reflected by the second variable portion 32, thereby emitting the light to the outside in the A+B color.On the other hand, when the first variable portion 31 and the second variable portion 32 are set to have the high light transmittance while the third variable portion 33 is set to have the low light transmittance, the light emitted from the light source 10 is caused to be changed in color while being transmitted through the first variable portion 31, the B color lens 51, the second variable portion 32, and the C color lens 52 and then reflected by the third variable portion 33, thereby emitting the light to the outside in the color A+B+C.On the other hand, when the first variable portion 31, the second variable portion 32, and the third variable portion 33 are set to have the high light transmittance, the light emitted from the light source 10 is caused to change in color while being transmitted through the first variable portion 31, the B color lens 51, the second variable portion 32, the C color lens 52, and the third variable portion 33, and then reflected by the reflector 20, whereby the light is emitted to the outside in the color A+B+C+D.As described above, by the configuration in which the plurality of variable light transmission members 30 and the color lenses 50 are sequentially stacked on top of each other on the reflector 20, and the plurality of variable light transmission members 30 selectively vary depending on the light transmission over the color of the light finally emitted to the outside, it is possible to emit light of different colors by color combination of light to the outside.According to the lighting device for the vehicle having the above-described configuration, it is possible to realize the light of different colors emitted to the outside by combining different colors of light, and thus to perform a lighting function according to the driving conditions and improve a light design. In addition, the film-type variable light transmission portion 30 that varies in light transmission is configured to be coupled to the reflector 20, so that it is possible to realize light of different colors without an increase in layout complexity and determine the light color according to different driving conditions, improve the visibility of the lamp, and improve safety.For convenience in explanation and accurate definition in the appended claims, the terms "upper", "lower", "inner", "outer", "upper", "lower", "upper", "lower", "upward", "downward", "front", "rear", "inside", "outside", "inward", "outward", "inward", "outward", "forward" and "rearward" are used to describe features of the exemplary embodiments with reference to the positions of such features as displayed in the figures.The foregoing descriptions of specific exemplary embodiments of the present invention have been presented for purposes of illustration and description. They are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise forms disclosed, and obviously many modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teachings. The exemplary embodiments were chosen and described in order to explain certain principles of the invention and their practical application, to enable others skilled in the art to make and use various exemplary embodiments of the present invention, as well as various alternatives and modifications thereof. It is intended that the scope of the invention be defined by the appended claims and their equivalents.

Claims

A lighting device for a vehicle, the device comprising: a light source (10) that emits light of a first predetermined color; a reflector (20) that reflects the light emitted from the light source (10) to project the light outward, the reflector (20) having a color different from the first predetermined color of the light emitted from the light source (10) to change the color of the first predetermined light when the light of the light source (10) is reflected by the reflector (20); and a variable light transmission portion (30) positioned between the light source (10) and the reflector (20) such that the light emitted from the light source (10) falls thereon in front of the reflector (20), the variable light transmission portion (30) being configured to vary the light transmission, wherein when the variable light transmission portion (30) is set so as to vary the light transmission, that it has a light transmittance lower than a predetermined light transmittance, the light emitted from the light source (10) is reflected by the variable light transmittance portion (30) and thus is projected in a second predetermined color, and wherein when the variable light transmittance portion (30) is set to have a light transmittance higher than the predetermined light transmittance, the light emitted from the light source (10) is transmitted by the variable light transmittance portion (30) and is reflected by the reflector (20) to be changed in color and projected in a changed color different from the second predetermined color, the reflector (20) has a plurality of curved surfaces (21, 22, 23), and wherein the plurality of curved surfaces (21, 22, 23) are configured such that at least one of the curved surfaces (21, 22, 23) is different in color from the remaining curved surfaces (21, 22, 23), 23).The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the reflector (20) has a parabolic shape having a curvature, wherein the light source (10) is positioned in a parabolic focus of the reflector (20), and wherein the variable light transmission portion (30) is integrally coupled to the reflector (20) and has the same curvature as the reflector (20).The device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the variable light transmission portion (30) is a variable film that varies in light transmission depending on whether electric power is applied thereto.The apparatus of any preceding claim, further comprising: an external lens (40) positioned on a path along which the light emitted from the light source (10) is reflected and projected by the reflector (20), the external lens (40) having a color different from the first predetermined color of the light emitted from the light source (10) and the color of the reflector (20).The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the variable light transmission portion (30) is provided multiple times to form multiple variable light transmission portions (30) to respectively correspond to the multiple curved surfaces (21, 22, 23) of the reflector (20), and wherein the multiple variable light transmission portions (30) are configured to individually vary in light transmission.The apparatus according to any preceding claim, wherein at least two variable light transmission portions (30) are provided to be positioned between the light source (10) and the reflector (20), and wherein a plurality of color lenses (50) of different colors are arranged between the at least two variable light transmission portions (30).The apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the at least two variable light transmission portions (30) and the color lenses (50) are sequentially stacked one above the other on the reflector (20) in a direction of the light incident from the reflector (20).The apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the at least two variable light transmission portions (30) are configured to individually vary the light transmission, and a change in the light transmission is performed such that the light transmission is sequentially varied in a direction in which the light emitted from the light source (10) reaches the reflector (20).

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