Lighting device for a motor vehicle

Abstract

The invention relates to a lighting device (1) for a motor vehicle, comprising a sealed housing (2) in which at least light sources (6) are arranged, the housing (2) having a cover plate (3) that is at least partially transparent. The lighting device according to the invention is characterized in that at least one decorative element (10) that is at least partially transparent is arranged on the side of the cover plate (3) facing away from the interior (4) of the housing.

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a lighting device for a motor vehicle with a sealed housing in which light sources are arranged, wherein the housing has a transparent cover plate.

[0002] Lighting devices, such as headlights or taillights of vehicles, are known in principle from the prior art. For example, DE 10 2020 002 904 A1 describes a front cover unit for a vehicle, which is combined with headlights in a waterproof and dustproof manner. The control electronics for the light sources and the light sources themselves are typically located within these headlights. They emit light through the transparent cover lens.

[0003] German patent DE 10 2014 004 334 A1 discloses a lighting device for a vehicle in which an external decorative element is provided. A transparent cover is arranged between the decorative element and a light source. This document constitutes the prior art of this type.

[0004] From DE 10 2014 100 698 A1, an operating device for a vehicle is also known. This includes a backlit operating area.

[0005] In terms of operational reliability, it is a crucial advantage if the light sources, and especially the control electronics, are encapsulated within the sealed housing in a watertight and dustproof manner. However, this does impose certain limitations on lighting design.

[0006] The object of the present invention is therefore to provide an improved lighting device for a motor vehicle, which in particular allows for a great deal of design freedom.

[0007] According to the invention, this problem is solved by a lighting device having the features of claim 1, and in particular those of the characterizing part of claim 1. Advantageous embodiments and further developments are described in the dependent claims.

[0008] In the lighting device according to the invention, the light source and, in particular, the control electronics are arranged within a sealed housing, i.e., behind a transparent cover plate in the direction of light emission. This cover plate, which is completely or at least partially transparent, forms the end of the housing.

[0009] It is provided that at least one decorative element is arranged on the side of the cover plate facing away from the inside of the housing. Such a decorative element can thus be used to regain design freedom in the initial design or subsequent modification of the lighting device. The decorative element is simply placed on the cover plate from the outside and illuminated by the light sources inside the housing. This ensures the continued tightness of the lighting device's construction, protecting it against water, moisture, and dust. At the same time, the at least one decorative element placed on the cover plate allows for a very high degree of design freedom, particularly with regard to the emitted light.

[0010] The decorative element is designed as an at least partially transparent light guide. This can then be used very efficiently, either wholly or partially, to direct the light generated behind the cover plate, thus greatly increasing design freedom.

[0011] Furthermore, at least one decorative element has a three-dimensional shape that rises above the plane of contact with the cover plate.

[0012] According to the invention, a space is provided between the decorative element and the cover plate. This space can be filled, for example, with air or, in principle, with another type of medium, possibly even a colored one. This further increases the flexibility in light design, especially when combined with a light guide that is at least partially transparent as the decorative element.

[0013] The decorative element is bonded to the cover plate. This method of bonding the typically three-dimensional decorative elements to the cover plate makes assembly particularly simple and efficient. Furthermore, the bonding can be carried out, for example using a transparent adhesive, at almost any point on the cover plate without affecting the light emission around the decorative element through mountings or similar components. Of course, an opaque adhesive could also be used selectively, at least partially, especially in combination with a partially transparent light guide as the decorative element.

[0014] According to the invention, the cover plate is further provided to have grooves, recesses and / or recesses in which the decorative elements are arranged. This makes it possible to design the structure in such a way that, for example, different decorative elements can be easily adapted to different design requirements by using different decorative elements in one and the same geometric recess of the cover plate, and at the same time the decorative elements do not protrude beyond the cover plate or only protrude a small amount, thus enabling a compact design.

[0015] According to a further highly advantageous embodiment of the lighting device according to the invention, light guides can be provided inside the housing to selectively illuminate the decorative elements from within the housing. The use of light guides enables the transport of light generated at any point by light sources, such as light-emitting diodes or arrays of light-emitting diodes, to the required location. The light guides can be flat, curved, cable-shaped, or configured in any other known manner.

[0016] A further highly advantageous embodiment of the lighting device according to the invention can also provide for opaque and / or light-diffusing materials or layers inside the housing or on the decorative element in order to selectively illuminate the decorative elements from inside the housing and / or to selectively influence the light emission via the decorative elements on the cover plate. This also serves to increase design freedom. The light can thus be directed selectively via layers or coated materials. For example, light-diffusing materials can be used to create a diffuse background light, which then receives an optical highlight at a specific point, for example, by a correspondingly shaped decorative element on the cover plate.

[0017] As mentioned at the beginning, in the design of the lighting device, the control electronics for the light sources can also be integrated into the inside of the housing, so that the housing itself can be very well sealed and only requires a cable for the power supply and any control data.

[0018] Further advantageous embodiments of the lighting device according to the invention will also become apparent from the exemplary embodiment. This will be described in more detail below with reference to the figure.

[0019] The only attached Fig. Figure 1 shows a cross-section through a schematic structure of a possible embodiment of a lighting device according to the invention.

[0020] In the presentation of the Fig. Figure 1 shows a schematic cross-section through a lighting device 1, such as can be used as a front or rear headlight of a vehicle. This device comprises a housing, designated 2, and a cover plate, designated 3, which are connected to each other, for example, by gluing, such that the interior of the housing, designated 4, is sealed against the environment. Inside this water- and dust-proof housing 2 are control electronics, designated 5, and light sources, designated 6, which are shown here purely as an example of an array of light-emitting diodes. This illustration is purely illustrative and schematic. In particular, the light sources 6 are not shown at the location within the housing 4 suitable for the light emission of the lighting device 1.

[0021] The housing interior 4 also has three light guides, labeled 7, through which the light from the light source 6 can be directed to the desired areas and emitted therein. For the lighting situation intended here, the light guide 7 projecting into the plane of the leaf, located in the center of the housing interior and with its round cross-sectional shape, is particularly relevant. It can, for example, direct the coupled light in the representation of the Fig. 1. Radiate upwards. The two rectangular light guides 7 shown here can, for example, also radiate light upwards and be designed as surface light elements to create a light strip in the plane of the leaf.

[0022] An optional element, designated 8, can be located between the light sources 6 or the light guides 7 and the cover plate 3. This element can be configured, for example, as an aperture, diffuser, or filter. It can be used, for instance, as a diffuser to disperse the light emitted upwards from the two rectangular light guides 7 into two diffuse, planar bands of light. This element 8 also includes an opening, designated 9, which acts as an aperture. This opening allows undiffracted light to pass through the center, so that light from the central circular light guide 7 is coupled directly towards the cover plate 3. The cover plate 3 itself has a recess in this area into which a transparent decorative element 10 is glued. This element is laterally fixed to the cover plate 3 with an opaque material 11, such as an adhesive.It encloses a free space 12 between itself and the cover plate 3, which could be filled with any gases, fluids, or the like. The way in which this decorative element 10 is designed allows for a very flexible shaping of the emitted light, independent of the design of the housing 2 and the cover plate 3 of the lighting device 1, and without the housing interior 4 losing its seal against the environment.

[0023] The decorative element 10 is illuminated from the inside of the housing 4, for example, via the central round light guide 7, and then emits the light into the surrounding area in a targeted manner according to its properties and geometric shape. It would also be possible to partially coat this decorative element 10 with an opaque or semi-transparent material and then selectively remove this material using a laser. This would allow for the creation of even more complex light patterns. Particularly when using semi-transparent metallic materials, it would be conceivable, for example, that the decorative element 10 appears metallic when the lighting device 1 is switched off, thus resembling a chrome-plated component, while when the light source 6 is switched on, it is illuminated through and perceived as a light source.

Claims

[1] Lighting device (1) for a motor vehicle, comprising a sealed housing (2) in which at least light sources (6) are arranged, wherein the housing (2) has a cover plate (3) that is at least partially transparent, wherein at least one decorative element (10) is arranged on the side of the cover plate (3) facing away from the interior (4) of the housing, which is designed as a light guide element that is at least partially transparent and is bonded to the cover plate (3), and wherein the at least one decorative element (10) has a three-dimensional shape that rises above the plane of contact with the cover plate (3) and encloses a free space (12) between the cover plate (3) and the decorative element (10), characterized by , that the free space (12) is filled with a medium other than air, wherein the cover plate (3) has grooves, depressions and / or recesses in which the decorative elements (10) are arranged. [2] Lighting device (1) according to claim 1, characterized bythat the medium is in the form of a gas. [3] Lighting device (1) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized by that the medium is colored. [4] Lighting device (1) according to claim 1, 2 or 3, characterized by that at least a partially transparent adhesive is used for bonding. [5] Lighting device (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized by , that light guides (7) are provided to selectively illuminate at least one decorative element (10) from inside the housing (4). [6] Lighting device (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized by , that opaque and / or light-scattering materials or layers are provided inside the housing (4) or in the area of ​​the decorative body (10) in order to selectively illuminate the at least one decorative body (10) from inside the housing (4). [7] Lighting device (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized by, that a control electronics (5) for the light sources (6) is provided in the housing interior (4).

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