Optical device and vehicle equipped with it

Abstract

Optical device comprising: a printed circuit board (PCB); a light-emitting diode (LED) mounted on a circuit board; a light guide layer that embeds the LED within it and a reflective surface and includes an exit area; and a reflective pattern layer formed on the reflective surface of the optical fiber layer, wherein the reflective surface of the optical fiber layer has a curved shape, so that light from the LED is completely reflected internally using the reflective pattern layer and emitted from the exit surface.

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to an optical device and a vehicle equipped therewith, which realize a stereoscopic light emission image using a light guide layer with a curved reflective surface that fully internally reflects LED light in a lighting structure of the vehicle.

[0002] In general, a vehicle is equipped with various lights that, depending on the external environment and time, shine light forward to ensure the driver's field of vision and to inform other vehicles about a route.

[0003] Such lights are classified according to their purpose and include a headlight to illuminate a road in front of the vehicle, a flashing light to ensure the driver's field of vision and to indicate the vehicle's position, a fog light to ensure the driver's field of vision and to indicate the vehicle's position in addition to the headlight in fog or rain, a reversing light which is switched on when the vehicle is moving backwards, a brake light which is switched on when the driver applies the brakes, and the like.

[0004] Halogen lamps have been the primary light source used in existing vehicle lighting systems. When a halogen lamp is used as the light source, a reflector plate is present to reflect the light emitted by the halogen lamp, and this reflected light is then directed forward. While halogen lamps have the advantage of being inexpensive, they also have disadvantages, such as generating significant heat during operation, having low luminous efficacy relative to their power consumption, and possessing a short lifespan.

[0005] To solve these problems, vehicle lights using light-emitting diodes (LEDs) were developed. LED lights have the advantages of high luminosity, a long lifespan, and low power consumption.

[0006] As described above, the LED is arranged to emit light in order to perform various functions of the vehicle light. Generally, a stereoscopic structure such as a light guide or multiple reflective plates are arranged to reflect light and thereby create different types of light emission patterns.

[0007] However, continuous operation of the vehicle can lead to discoloration, deformation, and similar changes in the light guide, frequently resulting in maintenance problems. Furthermore, if multiple reflective plates are arranged, an interface between them can disrupt the continuity of the light emission pattern, which can also cause problems with image sharpness.

[0008] Therefore, there is a need for a means to implement the different types of light emission images more efficiently, while simultaneously solving the problems described above.

[0009] The present invention relates to an optical device and a vehicle equipped therewith, more precisely an optical device and a vehicle equipped therewith, which realize a stereoscopic light emission image using a light guide layer with a curved reflective surface that fully reflects LED light internally in a lighting structure of the vehicle.

[0010] Furthermore, the present invention is intended to provide an optical device and a vehicle equipped therewith that can implement a stereoscopic light emission image without a sense of interruption using a curved reflective surface.

[0011] Furthermore, the present invention is intended to provide an optical device and a vehicle equipped therewith that can ensure the uniformity of the light emitted at an exit surface by defining a light path using a reflective pattern layer formed on a curved reflective surface.

[0012] The technical problems to be solved by the present invention are not limited to the technical problems mentioned above, and other, unmentioned technical problems will be clearly understandable to the person skilled in the art to whom the present invention relates from the following description.

[0013] An optical device is provided comprising: a printed circuit board; an LED mounted on the printed circuit board; a light guide layer embedding the LED and comprising a reflective surface and an exit surface; and a reflective pattern layer formed on the reflective surface of the light guide layer, wherein the reflective surface of the light guide layer has a curved shape such that light from the LED is completely internally reflected using the reflective pattern layer and emitted from the exit surface.

[0014] The reflective pattern layer can comprise multiple facets arranged in a grid pattern.

[0015] The reflective surface of the optical fiber layer can be designed with a constant curvature.

[0016] The reflective surface of the optical fiber layer can have a curvature on one side adjacent to the circuit board and a curvature on the remaining side adjacent to the exit surface, which differ from each other.

[0017] The reflective pattern layer can be formed in a shape that corresponds to the curved shape of the reflective surface of the optical fiber layer.

[0018] The light guide layer can include a first optical resin for scattering the light from the LED.

[0019] The exit surface of the optical fiber layer may include a second optical resin to reflect or shield a portion of the light that is fully reflected internally.

[0020] The exit surface of the optical fiber layer can have a convex curved shape, so that the light, which is completely reflected internally, is refracted and emitted.

[0021] The optical device may further comprise a light-emitting lens arranged parallel to the exit surface of the light guide layer and producing a stereoscopic light emission image using light emitted from the exit surface.

[0022] A vehicle is provided comprising: a vehicle body; a lighting structure located on a front and / or rear surface of the vehicle body; and an optical device embedded in the lighting structure, the optical device comprising: a printed circuit board; an LED mounted on the printed circuit board; a light guide layer embedding the LED therein and comprising a reflective surface and an exit surface; and a reflective pattern layer formed on the reflective surface of the light guide layer, the reflective surface of the light guide layer having a curved shape such that light from the LED is completely internally reflected using the reflective pattern layer and emitted from the exit surface.

[0023] The optical device and the vehicle equipped therewith according to the present invention can realize the stereoscopic light emission image using the light guide layer with the curved reflective surface, which fully reflects the LED light internally in the lighting structure of the vehicle.

[0024] Furthermore, according to the present invention, the optical device and the vehicle equipped therewith can realize the stereoscopic light emission image without the feeling of interruption by using the curved reflective surface.

[0025] Furthermore, according to the present invention, the optical device and the vehicle equipped therewith can ensure the uniformity of the light emitted to the exit surface by defining the light path using the reflective pattern layer formed on the curved reflective surface.

[0026] The effects achievable with the present invention are not limited to the effects mentioned above, and other, unmentioned effects can be clearly understood by those skilled in the field of the present invention from the following description. Fig. Figure 1 is a diagram showing an optical device according to an embodiment of the present invention. Fig. Figure 2 is a diagram showing several facets formed in a reflective pattern layer in the optical device according to an embodiment of the present invention. Fig. Figure 3 is a diagram showing another embodiment of a light guide layer in the optical device of the present invention. Fig. Figure 4 is a diagram showing a shape of an exit surface of the light guide layer in the optical device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0027] The following description presents exemplary embodiments of the invention with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the drawings, identical or similar elements are designated by the same reference numerals, regardless of the figure number, and redundant descriptions are omitted for clarity. The suffixes "module" and "unit," as used here for elements, are used synonymously for simplicity and do not denote different meanings or functions. In describing the embodiments disclosed herein, detailed descriptions of known technologies may be omitted if such details could obscure the core of the invention. The accompanying drawings serve to facilitate understanding of the disclosed embodiments and are not intended to limit the technical scope of the invention.

[0028] Terms containing ordinal numbers such as "first," "second," and the like can be used to describe different elements, but such terms do not restrict the elements. They are used solely to distinguish one element from another.

[0029] When an element is described as "connected to" or "coupled with" another element, it should be understood that the element may be directly connected or coupled, or indirectly connected or coupled via one or more intermediate elements. Conversely, it should be understood that no intermediate elements are present when an element is described as "directly connected to" or "directly coupled with" another element.

[0030] Unless explicitly stated otherwise, the singular forms used herein also include the plural forms.

[0031] As used herein, the terms “exhibit”, “include” and “have” (and variations thereof) denote the presence of the specified features, integers, steps, operations, elements, components or combinations thereof, but do not exclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, operations, elements, components or combinations thereof.

[0032] Fig. Figure 1 is a diagram showing an optical device 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention. Fig. Figure 2 is a diagram showing several facets 141 formed in a reflective pattern layer 140 in the optical device 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention. Fig. Figure 3 is a diagram showing a further embodiment of an optical fiber layer 130 in the optical device 100 of the present invention. Furthermore, Fig. 4 a diagram showing a shape of an exit surface 132 of the light guide layer 130 in the optical device 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0033] As in Fig. As shown in Figure 1, the optical device 100 according to one embodiment of the present invention can comprise a printed circuit board (PCB) 110, a light-emitting diode (LED) 120, the light guide layer 130 with a reflective surface 131 and the exit surface 132, and the reflective pattern layer 140. Additionally, a light-emitting lens 150 can be provided, which is arranged parallel to the exit surface 132 of the light guide layer 130 and produces a stereoscopic light emission image. Furthermore, according to one embodiment of the present invention, the optical device 100 can be embedded in a lighting structure located on a front surface and / or rear surface of a vehicle body.

[0034] More precisely, the LED 120 can be mounted on the circuit board 110 and serve to emit light. Furthermore, the circuit board 110 can supply power to the LED 120, enabling it to be switched on and emit light. According to one embodiment of the present invention, the LED 120 of the optical device 100 can comprise a top-emission type and a side-emission type. In addition, the LED 120 can comprise both a top- and side-emission type.

[0035] The light guide layer 130 can be laminated onto the circuit board 110 to embed the LED 120 within it. Furthermore, the light guide layer 130 can include a first optical resin for diffusing the light from the LED 120. This first optical resin can be transparent to enhance the diffusion effect of the light.

[0036] The first optical resin can be designed to contain at least one of polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA), titanium dioxide (TiO2), silicon dioxide (SiO2) and aluminum oxide (Al2O3).

[0037] The light-guiding layer 130 can comprise the reflective surface 131 and the exit surface 132, and the reflective pattern layer 140 can be formed on the reflective surface 131 of the light-guiding layer 130. In particular, in the optical device 100 according to one embodiment of the present invention, the reflective surface 131 of the light-guiding layer 130 can have a curved shape, such that the light from the LED 120 is entirely (or completely) reflected internally using the reflective pattern layer 140 and emitted from the exit surface 132.

[0038] As described above, prior art has achieved various types of light emission images by arranging a stereoscopic structure, such as a light guide, or multiple reflective plates to reflect light. However, discoloration, deformation, and similar issues can occur in the light guide due to continuous vehicle operation, frequently leading to maintenance problems. Furthermore, when multiple reflective plates are used, the interface between them can create a perceived break in the light emission image, and image sharpness may also be affected.

[0039] Accordingly, the optical device 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention is intended to solve the problems described above by implementing the stereoscopic light emission image without using the previously used stereoscopic structure, such as the light guide or the multiple reflective plates.

[0040] This means that the optical device 100 according to one embodiment of the present invention can implement the stereoscopic light emission image, which is implemented by the light-emitting lens 150, without any perceived interruption, using the curved reflective surface 131. Furthermore, the uniformity of the light emitted onto the exit surface 132 can be ensured by defining a light path using the reflective pattern layer 140 formed on the curved reflective surface 131. Further details will be described later.

[0041] According to Fig. 2 In the optical device 100 according to one embodiment of the present invention, the reflective pattern layer 140 can comprise the multiple facets 141 arranged in a grid shape. Here, the multiple facets 141 can be formed with a size in the millimeter range, so that the light from the LED 120 can be refracted and reflected at different angles. Accordingly, different light paths can be defined and the uniformity of the light emitted to the exit surface 132 can be ensured.

[0042] Furthermore, in the optical device 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention, the reflective surface 131 of the light guide layer 130 can be processed such that the multiple facets 141 described above are formed therein. In addition, light from the LED 120 can be refracted at different angles using the reflective surface 131 of the light guide layer 130 in which the multiple facets 141 are formed.

[0043] That is, in the optical device 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention, light from the LED 120 is refracted and reflected at different angles using the multiple facets 141 formed in the reflective pattern layer 140 or the reflective surface 131 of the light guide layer 130, thereby defining the different light paths and ensuring the uniformity of the light emitted to the exit surface 132.

[0044] Additionally, with reference to Fig. 1 together with Fig. 3 In the optical device 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention, the reflective surface 131 of the optical fiber layer 130, on which the reflective pattern layer 140 is formed, is formed with a constant curvature. In addition, the reflective surface 131 of the optical fiber layer 130 can have a curvature on one side adjacent to the circuit board 110 and a curvature on the remaining side adjacent to the exit surface 132, which differ from each other.

[0045] This means that in the optical device 100 according to one embodiment of the present invention, the curvature of the reflective surface 131, on which the reflective pattern 140 is formed, can be configured in various ways so that the light from the LED 120 can be reflected at different angles. Accordingly, the different light paths can be defined to ensure the uniformity of the light emitted to the exit surface 132.

[0046] In this respect, the reflective pattern layer 140, which is formed on the reflective surface 131 of the light guide layer 130, can be shaped in a form that corresponds to the curved shape of the reflective surface 131. By forming the reflective pattern layer 140, which serves to reflect light from the LED 120 completely within the light guide layer 130, in a shape that corresponds to the curved shape of the reflective surface 131, the stereoscopic light emission image realized by the light-emitting lens 150 can be achieved without any perceived interruption.

[0047] Additionally, in the optical device 100 according to one embodiment of the present invention, the exit surface 132 of the light guide layer 130 can contain a second optical resin that reflects or shields a portion of the completely internally reflected light. For example, the second optical resin can be black and / or chromatic.

[0048] Furthermore, the second optical resin can be designed to contain at least one of polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA), titanium dioxide (TiO2), silicon dioxide (SiO2) and aluminum oxide (Al2O3).

[0049] In this respect, the second optical resin can be formed in a mixing ratio that differs from that of the first optical resin described above. For example, the second optical resin can be formulated to have a higher reflectance than the first optical resin by adjusting the mixing ratio of the materials described above.

[0050] Furthermore, the second optical resin can be formed on the exit surface 132 of the light guide layer 130. That is, the second optical resin can be applied to the exit surface 132 of the light guide layer 130. Moreover, according to one embodiment of the present invention, the optical device 100 can form the various stereoscopic light emission images by adjusting the amount of light emitted from the exit surface 132 of the light guide layer 130 using the second optical resin.

[0051] Furthermore, accordingly Fig. 4 In the optical device 100 according to one embodiment of the present invention, the exit surface 132 of the optical fiber layer 130 has a convexly curved shape, such that the completely internally reflected light is refracted and emitted. Furthermore, several convexly curved shapes can be formed on the exit surface 132 of the optical fiber layer 130. Additionally, the multiple curved surfaces formed on the exit surface 132 can be configured to have different curvatures.

[0052] Furthermore, the optical device 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention can enable the completely internally reflected light to be scattered and emitted at different angles from the exit surface 132.

[0053] Accordingly, the optical device 100, according to one embodiment of the present invention, can define the different light paths and enable the formation of different stereoscopic light emission images in the light-emitting lens 150 using the shape of the exit surface 132 of the light guide layer 130. Furthermore, by using light scattered at different angles from the exit surface 132 of the light guide layer 130, the stereoscopic light emission image implemented in the light-emitting lens 150 can be implemented without any perceived interruption.

[0054] In summary, the optical device and the vehicle equipped with it, according to the present invention, can realize the stereoscopic light emission pattern using the light guide layer with the curved reflective surface, which completely reflects the LED light internally within the vehicle's lighting structure. Furthermore, the stereoscopic light emission pattern can be achieved without any perceived interruption using the curved reflective surface. Additionally, the uniformity of the light emitted to the exit surface can be ensured by defining the light path using the reflective pattern layer formed on the curved reflective surface.

Claims

[1] Optical device comprising: a printed circuit board (PCB); a light-emitting diode (LED) mounted on a circuit board; a light guide layer that embeds the LED within it and a reflective surface and includes an exit area; and a reflective pattern layer formed on the reflective surface of the optical fiber layer, wherein the reflective surface of the optical fiber layer has a curved shape, so that light from the LED is completely reflected internally using the reflective pattern layer and emitted from the exit surface. [2] Optical device according to claim 1, wherein the reflective pattern layer comprises several facets arranged in a grid shape. [3] Optical device according to claim 1, or 2, wherein the reflecting surface of the optical fiber layer has a constant curvature. [4] Optical device according to claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein the reflecting surface of the light guide layer comprises: a first side section adjacent to the circuit board with a first curvature; and a second side section adjacent to the exit surface with a second curvature that differs from the first curvature. [5] Optical device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the reflective pattern layer has a shape that corresponds to the curved shape of the reflective surface of the optical fiber layer. [6] Optical device according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the light guide layer comprises a first optical resin configured to scatter the light from the LED. [7] Optical device according to claim 6, wherein the exit surface of the optical fiber layer comprises a second optical resin configured to reflect or shield a portion of the light that is fully internally reflected. [8] Optical device according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the exit surface of the optical fiber layer has a convex curved shape, so that the completely internally reflected light is refracted and emitted. [9] Optical device according to any one of claims 1 to 8, further comprising a light-emitting lens arranged parallel to the exit surface of the optical fiber layer and configured to produce a stereoscopic light emission image using the light emitted from the exit surface. [10] Vehicle which features: a vehicle body; a lighting structure located on a front and / or rear surface of the vehicle body; and an optical device embedded in the luminaire structure, the optical device comprises: a printed circuit board (PCB); a light-emitting diode (LED) mounted on a circuit board; a light guide layer configured to embed the LED within it and a reflective surface and an exit surface; and a reflective pattern layer formed on the reflective surface of the optical fiber layer, and wherein the reflective surface of the optical fiber layer has a curved shape, so that light from the LED is completely reflected internally using the reflective pattern layer and emitted from the exit surface.

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