Vehicle headlights

Abstract

The invention relates to a vehicle headlight (1) with a primary light source (5) and a cover lens (3), wherein at least one design element (10) is arranged in a region of the headlight housing (2) below the cover lens (3), the surface of which has a texture that reduces scattered light. The vehicle headlight according to the invention is characterized in that the texture is formed by spherical bodies (15) embedded in the surface of the design element (10).

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a vehicle headlight with a primary light source under a cover lens and with a design aperture below the cover lens of the type otherwise defined in more detail in the preamble of claim 1.

[0002] Modern vehicle headlights are complex optical systems that perform a multitude of functions. Besides their primary task of illuminating the road, aesthetics and design play an increasingly important role. For this purpose, various light modules and design elements, such as decorative bezels, are integrated into the headlight alongside the main light source. A well-known problem with this development is the occurrence of unwanted stray light during operation. This often arises from reflections off the inner and / or outer surface of the headlight's transparent lens. The light rays from the primary light module are deflected accordingly and thus reach, for example, the decorative bezel. This leads to reflections and disruptive stray light emanating from the bezel.From certain viewing angles, this scattered light can cause unpleasant glare for the observer, for example, a pedestrian, a driver approaching from the opposite direction, or even a person sitting inside the vehicle itself. In addition to the scattering itself, double images also arise. This significantly impairs the intended design effect of the headlight and can even create the impression that the headlight is defective or damaged, which is very detrimental to the end customer, as it suggests reduced product quality or impaired functionality.

[0003] From DE 10 2008 039 930 A1, a method for manufacturing a lens for a vehicle headlight is known in which the lens base is treated with laser radiation to modify its reflection properties and to minimize scattered light by means of an applied texture. However, such textured and thus ultimately matte surfaces have the disadvantage of restricting the design freedom of the headlight. For example, they no longer allow for lens designs that are perceived as transparent.

[0004] The object of the present invention is to provide an improved vehicle headlight with a design cover which avoids the aforementioned disadvantages.

[0005] According to the invention, this problem is solved by a vehicle headlight with the features of claim 1, and in particular with the features in the characterizing part of claim 1. Advantageous embodiments and further developments are described in the dependent claims.

[0006] The headlight according to the invention comprises, beneath a cover lens, at least one design element and a primary light source, for example a primary lighting module. Similar to the prior art mentioned above, the surface of the design element is provided with a texture that reduces stray light.

[0007] According to the invention, this texture, unlike in the prior art, is not achieved by matting the surface of the design lens, but is formed by incorporated spherical bodies. According to a particularly advantageous embodiment, these spherical bodies are transparent and / or reflective. They can preferably be designed as solid spheres, hemispheres, and / or as spherical segments. They are arranged on the surface of the design lens in such a way that they do not impair the original design effect of the headlight, but nevertheless ensure that light reflected onto the design lens is deflected at a specific angle so that the light rays deflected by the spherical bodies no longer reach the relevant viewing angles of a person looking at the headlight.The deflection can preferably be optimized with respect to this angle such that, through the size, nature, and arrangement of the spherical bodies on the design aperture, the deflected light rays are ideally deflected according to the wavelength of the light used, thus rendering stray light optically imperceptible to the human eye. This significantly reduces visual disturbance and glare without creating the disadvantageous matte effect of a textured design aperture.

[0008] The spherical elements can preferably be arranged in a regular pattern across the design aperture, following a regular matrix arrangement or grid pattern with individual columns and / or rows. The individual spherical elements can all be the same size or of varying sizes to ideally direct the disruptive stray light into areas where it is not a problem. This allows the originally intended design of the aperture within the headlight to be fully appreciated and prevents it from being affected by disruptive stray light. The headlight itself thus appears flawless and high-quality, increasing customer satisfaction and significantly improving visual comfort for the viewer. The headlight's primary function—to optimally illuminate the desired areas—is not only unaffected but actually enhanced by preventing unwanted stray light.

[0009] The design panel itself can be made of polycarbonate according to a particularly advantageous embodiment. The spherical elements can be integrated into this material. For example, glass spheres can be pressed into the transparent thermoplastic polycarbonate under increased pressure and / or temperature for integration into the design panel, or similar methods can be used. However, according to a particularly advantageous embodiment, it is also conceivable to form the spherical elements integrally with the material of the design panel, i.e., to integrate them directly into the panel material. Several variations are possible. For example, the design panel can be manufactured using injection molding, so that the negative shapes of the spherical elements are already incorporated into the surface of the design panel in the molding tools. This is a cost-effective manufacturing method, especially for high production volumes.Alternatively, embossing processes could be used, which, through embossing, or in particular hot stamping, form the spherical bodies as micro-optics on the surface of the design aperture. As a further manufacturing option, especially for smaller quantities, production by material removal would also be conceivable, for example by creating the spherical bodies on the surface of the design aperture through structuring using a high-energy electromagnetic beam or a material / fluid jet.

[0010] Further advantageous embodiments of the headlight according to the invention can also be seen from the exemplary embodiment, which is described in more detail below with reference to the figures.

[0011] This shows: Fig. 1 a schematic cross-section through a headlight in a version with a design cover according to the state of the art; Fig. 2 a schematic view of a headlight in the front part of a vehicle; Fig. 3 a representation analogous to the one in Fig. 1 with the design panel in an embodiment according to the invention; and Fig. 4 an enlarged representation of a possible embodiment of a design aperture in a headlight according to the invention.

[0012] In the presentation of the Fig. Figure 1 shows a headlight 1 according to the prior art in a basic sectional view. The headlight 1 is also shown in a highly schematic, partial front view of a vehicle 12 in the representation of the Fig. 2. Essentially, the view shown is that of a person looking at the vehicle 12 from the front, who can see essentially only the cover lens 3 of the headlight 1 and the elements located behind the cover lens 3, which are in Fig. However, 2 are not shown, it is recognized.

[0013] Headlight 1 includes a Fig. 1 Partially depicted housing 2, which is covered by the transparent cover plate 3. A primary lighting module 4 includes a light source 5 (only indicated here) and a primary optic 6. In the depiction of the Fig. Figure 1 shows a primary light beam, designated 7, emanating from the lighting module 4, which is emitted through the cover plate 3 into the surrounding area U of the headlight 1. A portion of the primary light beam 7 is reflected at the inner and / or outer surface of the cover plate 3; for simplicity, only the reflection at the inner surface is shown here. The primary light beam 7 thus splits into a main light beam 8 emitted into the surrounding area U and a reflected partial light beam 9. The reflected partial light beam 9 reaches the surface of a design element 10 located behind the cover plate 3 (as seen from the surrounding area U) and is reflected there. It then enters the surrounding area U as scattered light 11, in addition to the main light beam 8, causing the problems described earlier.

[0014] In the presentation of the Fig. 3. The representation from the Fig. 1. We will now return to this point. The same elements are provided with the same reference symbols, and these elements will only be explained again below if they have a different effect.

[0015] This essentially concerns the design panel 10, which in the embodiment of the headlight 1 shown here has spherical bodies 15 on its surface, which are shown in the enlarged view of the design panel 10 in Fig. 4 can be seen. These spherical bodies 15, of which in the representation of the Fig. 4. Only some of the elements are marked with a reference symbol; these can, for example, be subsequently incorporated into the material of the design panel 10, such as polycarbonate (PC), or can be formed integrally with it, for example by hot stamping or injection molding. The spherical elements 15 can, as shown in Fig. As shown in Figure 4, they can be realized as solid spheres. However, they can also be designed as hemispheres or as spherical segments and arranged on the surface of the design aperture 10 facing the viewer.

[0016] These spherical bodies 15 form micro-optics. They can all be the same size or vary in size to achieve different optical deflection effects and / or to create a specific desired appearance. The size of the spherical bodies 15, as well as their spacing and arrangement, can be chosen to achieve maximum deflection efficiency for the expected spectrum of scattered light. They can be arranged uniformly in rows and / or in a regular grid pattern across the surface of the design aperture 10. Their optical properties are transparent and / or reflective to ensure targeted and effective deflection of the reflected partial light beam 9 as scattered light 13, 14, without this being reflected analogously to the scattered light 11 shown in the illustration. Fig. 1 into the surroundings U. For this purpose, the spherical bodies 15 are designed to act like small lenses or prisms and deflect the incident reflected partial light ray 9 in other directions by refraction and / or total internal reflection. The result is the two deflected scattered light rays 13, 14 in the representation of the Fig. 3, which, unlike the scattered light 11 in the prior art according to Fig. 1 not enter the environment U or at least not enter the area of ​​the environment U visible to an observer of the headlight 1.

[0017] This ensures high optical quality, whereas in the aforementioned state of the art no matting of the design aperture 10 is necessary, so that it can continue to be transparent in its overall effect or implemented in any other desired way. QUOTES INCLUDED IN THE DESCRIPTION

[0000] This list of documents cited by the applicant was automatically generated and is included solely for the reader's convenience. The list is not part of the German patent or utility model application. The DPMA accepts no liability for any errors or omissions. Cited patent literature

[0000] DE 10 2008 039 930 A1

[0003]

Claims

Vehicle headlight (1) with a primary light source (5) and a cover lens (3), wherein at least one design aperture (10) is arranged in a region of the headlight housing (2) under the cover lens (3), the surface of which has a scattering light-reducing texture, characterized in that the texture is formed by spherical bodies (15) introduced into the surface of the design aperture (10). Vehicle headlight (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the spherical bodies (15) are transparent and / or reflective. Vehicle headlight (1) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the spherical bodies (15) are designed as solid spheres, hemispheres and / or spherical segments. Vehicle headlight (1) according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the spherical bodies (15) are arranged in regular rows and / or columns on the surface of the design panel (10). Vehicle headlight (1) according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the spherical bodies (15) all have the same sphere diameter or different sphere diameters. Vehicle headlight (1) according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the design cover (10) is made of a transparent material. Vehicle headlight (1) according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the design cover (10) and the spherical bodies (15) are made of the same material. Vehicle headlight (1) according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the design cover (10) and the spherical bodies (15) are formed in one piece. Vehicle headlight (1) according to one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the design cover (10) is made of polycarbonate.

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