Vehicle headlight and method for operating a vehicle headlight

Abstract

The present invention relates to a vehicle headlight with a housing having a lens with a functional area for the passage of light emissions providing light functions, with a first light module which is designed for the light emission of a first light function, wherein the first light module is movably fastened in the housing, an adjusting device which is designed to move the first light module into at least a first and a second pose, wherein in the first pose the light emission of the first light module required to provide the first light function passes through the functional area, with a second light module which is designed for the light emission of a second light function.Furthermore, the invention relates to a method for adjusting a first light module and a second light module in a housing of a vehicle headlight, having a functional area through which light emissions provided by light functions pass.

Description

The present invention relates to a vehicle headlight having a housing which has a lens with a functional region for the passage of light emissions providing light functions, having a first light module which is designed for the light emission of a first light function, the first light module being fastened movably in the housing, having an adjusting device which is designed to move the first light module into at least a first and a second pose, the light emission of the first light module required for providing the first light function passing through the functional region in the first pose, and having a second light module which is designed for the light emission of a second light function. Furthermore, the invention relates to a method for setting a first light module and a second light module in a housing of a vehicle headlight having a functional region through which light emissions provided by light functions pass.In the configurations for modern vehicle headlights, the signal light functions, in particular the daytime running light, take an increasingly greater role. However, the main light functions such as low beam and high beam must also be accommodated with their light cones in the headlight housing. In addition, a headlight range regulation is to be possible for the main light functions by adjusting the light emission of the main light function vertically, for example by a stepper motor. In order to realize signal light functions and main light functions including the pivot positions of the associated light module, an increased installation space in the housing is necessary. This conflicts with the increasing need for the design of the vehicle to minimize the vehicle headlights both in terms of housing size and to make the exit surfaces of the lens increasingly flatter for the light functions, i.e. with a small overall height. The competing light functions accommodated in the housing, namely the signal light function and the main light functions, should therefore take up as little installation space as possible.Up to now, this has been realized by main light function modules that are as flat as possible or by removal of the main light functions from another area of the vehicle. However, flat main light modules are challenging to continue to provide optimal illumination. With out-of-line main light functions, the problem arises that the costs for the headlights increase and, if a light module for the low beam is mounted with a lower mounting height, the range of the low beam decreases.The object of the present invention is therefore to provide a vehicle headlight and a method of the type mentioned at the beginning which require little installation space.According to the invention, this object is achieved by a vehicle headlight having the features of claim 1 and a method having the features of claim 8. Advantageous embodiments and refinements emerge from the dependent claims.Accordingly, the vehicle headlight according to the invention is characterized in that the second light module is coupled to the first light module for a common movement, wherein in the second pose the light emission of the second light module required for providing the second light function passes through the functional region and wherein in the first pose the light emission of the second light module required for providing the second light function is at least partially shaded.The functional region describes that region of the lens through which the emitted light of the light modules can exit the housing in order to contribute to providing a light function. The functional region can comprise the entire lens, but it can also assume only a defined region of the lens. The light screen can be made of a different material and / or in a different color in the region of the functional region.In this specification, a pose is understood to mean the combination of position and orientation of a rigid body in three-dimensional space. To describe the pose, the position and orientation relative to a reference coordinate system is specified. The first and the second light module are accordingly moved in the housing in accordance with the predetermined poses by changing their position, for example upward, downward, right, left, front and rear and / or their orientation, in this case for example the orientation of the light-emitting elements of the light modules. The change of their position and orientation can be effected both by turning and by displacement along the movable fastening of the light modules.The light emission of the light modules is to be understood as meaning only their primarily emitted light for providing the light function. Scattered light caused by scattering and reflections is not considered or neglected in this case.The adjusting device is configured such that it can move the light modules successively into a first and a second pose. This makes it possible for the two light modules installed within the housing to be used alternately. The change from one pose to the other pose and thus the change of use of the respective light module takes place with the aid of a coupled movement of both light modules.For coupling the first light module to the second light module, these are fastened in particular on a common axis such that the movement, in particular the pivoting, of the one light module also automatically results in a movement, in particular a pivoting, of the other module. In the first pose, the first light module points in the direction of the functional region of the lens, and the second light module is located in a position which is not suitable for emitting light through the functional region by means of the second light module. In the first pose, in particular, the first light module is activated and the second light module is not activated; the second light function can therefore not be provided in the first pose.By a coupled movement of the light modules, the first pose is transferred into the second pose, in which the second light module is oriented in the direction of the functional region of the lens and the first light module is located in a position which is not suitable for emitting light through the functional region by means of the first light module. In the second pose, in particular, the second light module is activated and the first light module is not activated. The first light function can therefore not be provided in the second pose.As a result of the movement of the light modules, only a single functional region, which is used alternately by the two light modules, is required in the lens for the emission of the emitted light. Advantageously, the size of the functional region can thereby be selected to be smaller than in previous vehicle headlights. This on the one hand saves installation space, on the other hand a small installation height of the light screen can be realized.Furthermore, the respectively inactivated light module, by being moved or pivoted into a lateral or upper or lower region of the installation space of the housing in the inactive state, does not take up any space in front of the lens and in particular in front of the functional region. This region can thereby be used more effectively by the active light module on the one hand and / or the installation space in front of the lens can be designed to be more space-saving.According to one configuration of the vehicle headlight according to the invention, the light emission of the first light module required for providing the first light function is at least partially shaded in the second pose.In the second pose, the second light module is placed in front of the functional area, so that the second light function can be provided to emit light through the functional area. The first light module is located in a position which is not suitable for emitting light through the functional region by means of the first light module. The first light module is not activated. The first light module has been moved such that it is no longer aligned in the direction of the functional region. It is in particular displaced upwards or downwards or backwards into the installation space of the housing.The orientation of the first light module in the housing advantageously has the effect that, if the light function of the first light module were activated in the second pose, it would be at least partially shaded. Viewed from the outside, the second light module is at least partially concealed, which leads to an improved appearance.According to a further embodiment of the vehicle headlight according to the invention, the light emission of the first light module is at least partially shaded by a predominantly non-transparent component in the second pose.The housing of the vehicle headlight is bounded, for example, downward by a housing base. Alternatively, the housing can be bounded at the bottom by a non-transparent part of the light screen or a screen. In this case, the predominantly non-transparent component is the housing base, the non-transparent part of the light screen or the screen. In the second pose, the light emission of the first light module is at least partially shaded by the predominantly non-transparent component. In the second pose, the second light module is moved such that it is oriented in the direction of the functional region. The first light module is moved such that it is oriented in the direction of the predominantly non-transparent component.The space in the housing located in front of the functional region can be used for the second light module in order to have a particularly large area available for light emission. In this case, the first light module is pivoted downward, for example in the direction of the housing base, in such a way that it is at least partially not visible from the outside and therefore does not interfere with the appearance of the vehicle headlight.According to a further embodiment of the vehicle headlight according to the invention, a screen is arranged between the second light module and the lens in the first pose in order to shadow the light emission of the second light module.The panel is in particular mounted in the upper part of the housing. In the first pose, the first light module is moved such that it is oriented in the direction of the functional region. The second light module is directed upward. The aperture is arranged such that, viewed from the outside through the lens, the second light module is at least partially covered by the aperture.A light exit surface of the second light module is thus not visible from the outside and does not interfere with the appearance of the vehicle headlight. It can advantageously be made larger than in conventional vehicle headlights because it is covered by a screen in the state of use of the first light function.According to a further embodiment of the vehicle headlight according to the invention, the adjusting device is designed to pivot the first light module and the second light module about a pivot axis.The adjusting device comprises in particular a shaft and a motor. The first and second light modules are each fastened to a receptacle which is coupled to the shaft. The light modules are thereby pivotable about the common pivot axis.The light modules are controlled via the adjustment device such that they move jointly, coupled to one another. The adjusting device moves the two light modules into one of the provided poses, for example into the first or the second pose.Advantageously, the alignment of the headlights can be adjusted easily and precisely in this way by means of the adjustment device. The pivot axis offers a possibility for moving the light modules, which requires very little installation space.According to a further embodiment of the vehicle headlight according to the invention, the first light module is fixedly connected to the second light module and the adjusting device is configured to move the first light module and the second light module together.The first light module is screwed or glued to the second light module, for example, and the modules are mounted one above the other or next to each other. Via the axis of the adjustment device, the total light module, consisting of the first and second light modules, is moved into the different poses.Advantageously, the different poses can be set by a common movement. The adjustment device with pivot axis and further components can be realized in this way more simply and economically. Since the adjusting device has to cause only one movement and not two, it is less susceptible to errors. The adjustment of the light modules can therefore be effected more precisely.According to a development of the vehicle headlight according to the invention, the first light module corresponds to a low beam module and / or a high beam module.The low beam module or high beam module is not needed during daytime running. For this purpose, the second pose is implemented, in which the low-beam module is oriented downward, for example on the housing base, a non-transparent part of the lens or a screen, and is not activated. The second light module is aligned with the functional region in this pose and is in the activated state.According to a development of the vehicle headlight according to the invention, the second light module corresponds to a day light module.The daytime lighting module is not needed during night driving. For this purpose, the first pose is implemented, in which the tag light module is covered by a shutter and is not directed at the functional area. It is also deactivated. The first light module, in particular the low beam module and / or high beam module, is aligned with the functional region in this pose and is in the activated state.If the daytime running light module is to be used as a position light at night in a shaded state, this is also possible in the first pose. When the daytime running light module is deactivated, other functional areas can take over the function of the daytime running light module as position light.By implementing the low beam module as the first light module and the daytime light module as the second light module, two light modules that are not used simultaneously in a vehicle are advantageously installed in the housing of the vehicle headlight in such a way that they are available exactly when they are needed by adjusting the different poses.According to a further configuration of the vehicle headlight according to the invention, in the second pose, the light emission of the second light module required for providing the second light function passes through the functional region at a first emission angle, and in a third pose, the light emission of the second light module required for providing the second light function passes through the functional region at a second emission angle, which differs from the first emission angle.For this purpose, the already known mechanism of a headlight range regulation, which mechanism may already be implemented in vehicle headlights, may be used. A module position is selected for the second light module, which brings the light emission of the second light module particularly into effect.In the first pose for providing the first light function, the required light emission of the first light module can pass through the functional region analogously in a first emission angle of the first light module and in a third pose the light emission of the first light module required for providing the first light function can pass through the functional region in a second emission angle of the second light module.No further mechanism is required for this too, since both light modules are connected to one another and the most varied positions can be set with the setting device. By changing the radiation angle, a headlight range regulation can take place. The lighting range is understood to mean the range at which the light cone of the light modules strikes the roadway. Depending on the vehicle and driving situation, the illumination range can be set manually or automatically.Advantageously, by collapsing the headlight range regulation and the setting of the pose, i.e. the selection of the light module used, with the same setting device and only one mechanical element, installation space and material costs are saved.In the method according to the invention for adjusting a first light module and a second light module in a housing of a vehicle headlight, wherein the housing has a lens with a functional region through which light emissions that provide light functions pass, the first light module is moved together with the second light module into a first pose in which the first light module and the second light module are actuated in order to provide a first light function such that the first light module emits light for the first light function that passes through the functional region and the second light module does not emit light for the second light function, wherein in the first pose the second light module is aligned such that a light emission of the second light module required for a second light function would be shaded at least in part, and for providing the second light function, the first light module together with the second light module is moved into a second pose in which the first light module and the second light module are controlled such that the second light module emits light for the second light function, which light passes through the functional region, and the first light module does not emit light for the first light function.The method according to the invention is designed in particular to be carried out by means of the vehicle lamp according to the invention. The method according to the invention thus has the same advantages as the vehicle light according to the invention.According to a further embodiment of the method according to the invention, in the second pose the first light module is oriented such that a light emission of the first light module required for a first light function would be at least partially shaded.In the second pose, the first light module is no longer aligned in the direction of the functional region, but rather moved in such a way that the first light module is located in a region of the housing in which, viewed from the outside, it experiences shading, for example by the alignment downwards, for example on the housing base, a non-transparent part of the lens or a screen. Advantageously, viewed from the outside, the second light module is thereby at least partially covered by the shading, which leads to an improved appearance of the vehicle light.According to a further embodiment of the method according to the invention, during the movement from the first pose into the second pose, the first light module and the second light module are pivoted about a pivot axis.Analogously, in a further embodiment, during the movement from the second pose into the first pose, the first light module and the second light module are pivoted about a pivot axis.The two light modules can be connected to one another, so that the grouping of the two light modules is fastened together on the pivot axis and the movement about the pivot axis of the two light modules takes place together.The transition from the first pose to the second pose or from the second pose to the first pose can take place before the start of the drive. However, it can also take place during travel, for example when changing from a daytime travel to a night travel.Advantageously, a change between the poses can be made particularly simply and precisely by pivoting about the pivot axis.According to a further embodiment of the method according to the invention, the illumination range of the first light function is adjusted by pivoting the first light module about the pivot axis.Advantageously, in this way, with only one component group and a common mechanism, both the light module used and the illumination range of the light function can be adjusted.The invention will now be explained in detail on the basis of an exemplary embodiment with reference to the appended drawings. FIG. 1 schematically shows the structure of a first exemplary embodiment of the vehicle headlight according to the invention in the first pose, FIG. 2 schematically shows the structure of the first exemplary embodiment of the vehicle headlight according to the invention in the second pose, and FIG. 3 schematically shows the structure of a second exemplary embodiment of the vehicle headlight according to the invention in the second pose.FIG. 1 illustrates the basic structure of the exemplary embodiments of the vehicle headlight according to the invention:The vehicle headlight comprises a housing 6, which is bounded on a side facing outwards onto the roadway by a light screen 5 and downwards by a housing base 8. Alternatively, the housing can also be bounded at the bottom by a non-transparent part of the light screen or a screen. Inside the housing 6, or connected to the housing 6, there is an adjusting device 4. the adjusting device 4 is configured to move a first and a second light module 1, 2, which are located in the housing 6, into different poses. For this purpose, the second light module 2 is coupled to the first light module 1 for a common movement. A functional region is formed within the lens 5. This is manufactured in such a way that light emissions of the light modules 1, 2 directed at this region pass through the lens, i.e. are emitted from inside the housing 6 to the outside.With reference to FIGS. 1 and 2, a first exemplary embodiment of the vehicle headlight according to the invention is explained:In FIG. 1, the adjusting device 4 has moved the coupled light modules 1, 2 into a first pose. The setting device 4 controls the first light module 1 such that the first light module 1 emits light for the first light function, which light passes through the functional region and the second light module 2 does not emit light. The second light module 2 is oriented in this case such that a light emission of the second light module 2 required for a second light function would be shaded at least in part. A screen 3 is arranged between the second light module 2 and the light screen 5 for shading at least a part of the light emission of the second light module 2 in the first pose or for shading the view from the outside onto the second light module 2 in the first pose.In this exemplary embodiment, the first light module 1 provides a low-beam function and the second light module 2 provides a daytime running light function. In the first pose, the low beam is accordingly activated, it is aligned with the functional region and emits light outwards onto the roadway. The screen 3 prevents the second light module 2 from being perceived from the outside through the lens 5. The daytime running light is not required during use of the low beam, and is therefore inactive and is hidden by the shade 3. A simultaneous activation of the second light module 2 as a daytime running light in addition to the first light module 1 is not possible in the first pose. However, the second light module 2 can be activated with a different light function, such as a position light function, in addition to the first light module 1 in the first pose, provided that the light emission in the first pose is not completely shaded.The first light module 1 is now to be deactivated and the second light module is to be activated. The adjusting device 4 therefore moves the coupled light modules 1, 2 into a second pose illustrated in FIG. 2. The setting device 4 controls the second light module 2 such that the second light module 2 emits light for the second light function, which light passes through the functional region and the first light module 1 does not emit light. The first light module 1 is oriented in this case such that a light emission of the first light module 1 required for a first light function would be shaded at least in part. In order to shadow the light emission of the first light module 1, the light emission of the first light module 1 is at least partially shaded from the housing base 8 in the second pose.In this exemplary embodiment, the first light module 1 again corresponds to the low beam and the second light module 2 to the daytime running light. Accordingly, in the second pose, the daytime running light is activated, it is aligned with the functional region and emits light outwards onto the roadway. The low beam was adjusted by the adjusting device 4 so that it is directed at the housing base 8. This prevents the first light module 1 from being perceived from the outside through the lens 5. The low beam is not required during the use of the daytime running light, it is therefore inactive and is shaded by positioning in the direction of the housing base 8. In the second pose, the first light module 1 is not activated in addition to the second light module 2.In this exemplary embodiment, the first light module 1 is firmly connected to the second light module 2. The second light module is located above the first light module 1 and is screwed to the latter; alternatively, both modules can also be glued or soldered to one another. The adjusting device 4 thus always moves the first light module 1 and the second light module 2 together. In this exemplary embodiment, the movement takes place by pivoting about a pivot axis 7. During the movement from the first pose into the second pose or from the second pose into the first pose, the first light module 1 and the second light module 2 are pivoted about the pivot axis 7.The pivot axis 7 for setting the first or second pose is at the same time also the axis for adjusting the illumination range of the light modules 1, 2. in the first pose, in which the first light module 1 is activated, the illumination range of the first light function is set by pivoting the first light module 1 with the pivot axis 7.In a second exemplary embodiment, the vehicle headlight is initially in the second pose, as shown in FIG. 2. The light emission of the second light module 2 required for providing the second light function initially passes through the functional region at a first emission angle. Now, the adjusting device 4 can move the light modules 1, 2 into a third pose, for example by means of the pivot axis 7, as is illustrated in FIG. 3. In this third pose, the light emission of the second light module 2 required for providing the second light function passes through the functional region at a second emission angle that differs from the first emission angle.List of reference characters1 First light module 2 Second light module 3 Aperture 4 Setting device 5 Lens 6 Housing 7 Pivot axis 8 Housing base

Claims

Vehicle headlight having a housing (6) which has a lens (5) with a functional region for the passage of light emissions providing light functions, a first light module (1) which is designed for the light emission of a first light function, the first light module (1) being fastened movably in the housing (6), an adjusting device (4) which is designed to move the first light module (1) into at least a first and a second pose, the light emission of the first light module required for providing the first light function passing through the functional region in the first pose, and a second light module (2) which is designed for the light emission of a second light function, characterized in that the second light module (2) is coupled to the first light module (1) for a joint movement, wherein in the second pose the light emission of the second light module (2) required for providing the second light function passes through the functional region and wherein in the first pose the light emission of the second light module (2) required for providing the second light function is at least partially shaded.Vehicle headlight according to Claim 1, characterized in that, in the second pose, the light emission of the first light module (1) required for providing the first light function is at least partially shaded.Vehicle headlight according to Claim 1 or 2, characterized in that, in the second pose, the light emission of the first light module (1) is at least partially shaded by a predominantly non-transparent component (8).Vehicle headlight according to one of Claims 1 to 3, characterized in that, in order to shadow the light emission of the second light module (2) in the first pose, a screen (3) is arranged between the second light module (2) and the lens (5).Vehicle headlight according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the adjusting device (4) is designed to pivot the first light module (1) and the second light module (2) about a pivot axis (7).Vehicle headlight according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the first light module (1) is fixedly connected to the second light module (2) and the adjusting device (4) is designed to move the first light module (1) and the second light module (2) together.Vehicle headlight according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that, in the second pose, the light emission of the second light module (2) required for providing the second light function passes through the functional region at a first emission angle and, in a third pose, the light emission of the second light module (2) required for providing the second light function passes through the functional region at a second emission angle which differs from the first emission angle.Method for setting a first light module (1) and a second light module (2) in a housing (6) of a vehicle headlight, wherein the housing (6) has a lens (5) with a functional region through which light emissions that provide light functions pass, in which, in order to provide a first light function, the first light module (1) is moved together with the second light module (2) into a first pose in which the first light module (1) and the second light module (2) are controlled such that the first light module (1) emits light for the first light function, which light passes through the functional region, and the second light module (2) does not emit light for the second light function, wherein, in the first pose, the second light module (2) is aligned in this way, that a light emission of the second light module (2) required for a second light function would be at least partially shaded, and for providing the second light function, the first light module (1) is moved together with the second light module (2) into a second pose in which the first light module (1) and the second light module (2) are controlled such that the second light module (2) emits light for the second light function, which light passes through the functional region, and the first light module (1) does not emit light for the first light function.Method according to Claim 8, characterized in that, in the second pose, the first light module (2) is aligned such that light emission of the first light module (2) required for a first light function would be shaded at least in part.Method according to one of claims 8 or 9, characterised in that during the movement from the first pose into the second pose, the first light module (1) and the second light module (2) are pivoted about a pivot axis (7).

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