Vehicle lamp device with variable effect

Abstract

A vehicle lamp device with variable action, comprising: a printed circuit board (4); the vehicle lamp device is characterized by: a plurality of light-emitting groups (2) arranged on the circuit board (4), wherein each of the light-emitting groups (2) comprises a plurality of light sources (25) arranged in an arrangement or array, wherein the light-emitting groups (2) are capable of emitting light in a plurality of illumination cycles within a unit of time, wherein in each of the illumination cycles the light-emitting groups (2) cooperate to emit light in a variety of light emission modes, and wherein at least two of the light emission modes are different from each other.

Description

[0001] The disclosure relates to a vehicle component, in particular a vehicle lamp device with variable action.

[0002] With reference to the Fig. 1 and Fig. 2 Japanese patent number JP6745620B2 discloses a vehicle lamp device for a vehicle. The vehicle is, for example, a motorcycle. The vehicle lamp device is designed to form a light pattern (P) with a clear boundary line (L), as shown in Fig. 2 shown. The vehicle lighting device comprises a first lighting group 11, a second lighting group 12 and a third lighting group 13.

[0003] The first lighting group 11, the second lighting group 12, and the third lighting group 13 each comprise a plurality of LED chips. The first lighting group 11 and the second lighting group 12 can each be in a light-emitting state (represented by black squares) and an extinguished state (represented by white squares), as shown in Fig. Figure 1 shows that the third lighting group 13 is located between the first lighting group 11 and the second lighting group 12. When the third lighting group 13 emits light, its brightness is lower than that of the first lighting group 11. Thus, the first lighting group 11 can be used to form most of the beam pattern (P) on an inside side of the boundary line (L), while the third lighting group 13 is used to form part of the beam pattern (P) along the boundary line (L).

[0004] Such a conventional vehicle lamp device is characterized in that, since the brightness of the third lighting group 13 is lower than that of the first lighting group 11, the edge of the beam pattern (P) can exhibit a brightness gradient. In particular, first protruding sections (P1) of the beam pattern (P) along the boundary line (L) can be darker than second protruding sections (P2) of the beam pattern (P) along the boundary line (L), so that the boundary line (L) appears smoother when viewed from a distance. Although such a conventional vehicle lamp device can produce the aforementioned brightness gradient of the beam pattern (P), it remains a question to be resolved how different products can be provided to achieve the same or a similar effect and thus promote healthy competition in the industry.

[0005] Therefore, one objective of the disclosure is to provide a vehicle lamp device with a variable effect that can reduce at least one of the disadvantages of the prior art.

[0006] According to the disclosure, the vehicle lamp device with variable action comprises a circuit board and a plurality of light-emitting groups.

[0007] The light-emitting groups are arranged on the circuit board. Each light-emitting group comprises a plurality of light sources arranged in an array. The light-emitting groups are capable of emitting light in a plurality of illumination cycles within a unit of time. In each illumination cycle, the light-emitting groups work together to emit light in a plurality of light emission modes, with at least two of the light emission modes being distinct from one another.

[0008] Further features and advantages of the disclosure will become clear in the following detailed description of the embodiment(s) with reference to the accompanying drawings. It should be noted that various features may not be drawn to scale. Fig. Figure 1 is a front view showing a first lighting group, a second lighting group and a third lighting group of a conventional vehicle lamp device. Fig. Figure 2 is a schematic view showing a beam pattern produced by the conventional vehicle lamp device. Fig. Figure 3 is a schematic partial front view showing an embodiment of a vehicle lamp device with a variable effect according to the disclosure, wherein a plurality of light emission groups are categorized by dashed lines. Fig. Figure 4 is a schematic partial view from the front, showing the light-emitting groups that work together to produce a light pattern with a brightness gradient. Fig. Figure 5 is a schematic partial view from the front, showing the light-emitting groups that interact in a first illumination mode. Fig. Figure 6 is a schematic partial view from the front, showing the groups of LEDs that work together in a second lighting mode. Fig. Figure 7 is a schematic fragmentary front view showing the light-emitting groups interacting in a third illumination mode. Fig. Figure 8 is a schematic partial view from the front, showing the light-emitting groups that interact in a fourth illumination mode.

[0009] Before describing the revelation in more detail, it should be noted that, where it was deemed appropriate, reference signs or terminal parts of reference signs were repeated in the figures to indicate corresponding or analogous elements which may optionally have similar properties.

[0010] It should be noted here that, for the purpose of clarifying the description, spatially relative terms such as "above," "below," "above," "on," "over," "downwards," "upwards," and the like may be used throughout the revelation, while referring to the features depicted in the drawings ( ). The features may be oriented differently (e.g., rotated by 90 degrees or in other orientations), and the spatially relative terms used here may be interpreted accordingly.

[0011] With reference to the Fig. 3 and Fig. Figure 4 is an embodiment of the variable-effect vehicle lamp device designed for mounting on a motorcycle or car. The variable-effect vehicle lamp device comprises several light-emitting groups 2 that interact to emit light in multiple illumination cycles within a unit of time. In each illumination cycle, the light-emitting groups 2 can be controlled by a control unit 3 to interact with each other to emit light in a variety of light emission modes, as shown in the following. Fig. 5 to 8 is shown.

[0012] Since at least two of the light emission modes are different in each of the illumination cycles (in this embodiment, all light emission modes are different), the illumination durations of at least two of the light emission groups 2 are different (in this embodiment, the illumination durations of the light-emitting groups 2 are all different), whereby the light-emitting groups 2 together can produce a gradient or a transition in brightness, as shown in Fig. 4 shown.

[0013] With reference to the Fig. 3 and Fig. The light emission groups 2 are arranged on a printed circuit board 4, and there are four light emission groups 2. The light emission groups 2 can be divided into a first illumination group 21, a second illumination group 22, a third illumination group 23, and a fourth illumination group 24.

[0014] The first lighting group 21 comprises four light sources 25 arranged in a square configuration. Each of the light sources 25 is an LED chip.

[0015] The second lighting group 22 comprises several light sources 25 arranged in an array. Each of the light sources 25 is an LED chip. The arrangement of the light sources 25 of the second lighting group 22 is in a U-shape, partially surrounding the first lighting group 21.

[0016] The third lighting group 23 and the fourth lighting group 24 each comprise a plurality of light sources 25 arranged in a U-shape. Each of the light sources 25 is an LED chip. The third lighting group 23 is located between the second lighting group 22 and the fourth lighting group 24. In some examples, the light sources 25 of the second lighting group 22, the third lighting group 23, and the fourth lighting group 24 form two overlapping U-shaped patterns.

[0017] In this embodiment, the light sources 25 of the light-emitting groups 2 are arranged in a rectangular arrangement, but in other embodiments of the present disclosure, the light sources 25 are arranged in an arrangement in other geometric shapes or complex patterns, such as triangles, pentagons, hexagons and other polygonal shapes or circles, ellipses, etc., as well as picture patterns such as animal shapes, heart shapes, star shapes and emoticons, or symbolic or abstract patterns.

[0018] With reference to the Fig. Groups 5 to 8, the light-emitting groups 2, are connected to the control unit 3 via a signal and can be controlled by the control unit 3 to emit light cyclically in 30 cycles within a time unit of one second. The control unit 3 can, for example, be a chip located on the circuit board 4.

[0019] Each of the lighting cycles comprises four different light emission modes, as shown in the Fig. Figures 5 to 8 are shown. Since the number of light emission groups 2 is four and the number of light emission modes is also four, the number of light emission groups 2 is equal to the number of light emission modes. In other embodiments of the present disclosure, the number of light emission modes differs from the number of light emission groups 2 depending on the different requirements. Additionally, the number of light emission groups 2 can be two, three, five, or more, and the number of light emission modes can also be two, three, five, or more.

[0020] In this embodiment, there are 30 illumination cycles per second, and each illumination cycle has four light emission modes, so the light emission modes are switched 120 times per second. In other words, in this embodiment, the switching frequency of the light emission modes is 120 Hz.

[0021] In other embodiments of the present disclosure, the switching frequency of the light emission modes is in the range of 20 Hz to 200 Hz, for example, 24 Hz, 30 Hz, 60 Hz, 90 Hz, 100 Hz, 120 Hz, 150 Hz, etc. The number of illumination cycles can be adjusted accordingly; for example, the number of illumination cycles corresponds to the switching frequency divided by the number of light emission modes in an illumination cycle. In this embodiment, for example, the number of illumination cycles (i.e., 30) corresponds to the switching frequency (i.e., 120) divided by the number of light emission modes in an illumination cycle (i.e., 4). In other embodiments of the present disclosure, the number of illumination cycles in a unit of time is in the range of 15 to 50 (e.g., 20, 30, 40 illumination cycles).

[0022] With reference to Fig. In the first lighting group 21, the second lighting group 22, the third lighting group 23, and the fourth lighting group 24 work together to emit light in a first lighting mode. In the first lighting mode, the first lighting group 21, the second lighting group 22, the third lighting group 23, and the fourth lighting group 24 emit light with the same brightness. In other words, all light-emitting groups 2 emit light.

[0023] With reference to Fig. 6. The first lighting group 21, the second lighting group 22, the third lighting group 23, and the fourth lighting group 24 work together to emit light in a second lighting mode. In the second lighting mode, the first lighting group 21, the second lighting group 22, and the third lighting group 23 emit light with the same brightness, while the fourth lighting group 24 does not emit light (is switched off). In other words, only one of the light-emitting groups 2 does not emit light, while the remaining light-emitting groups 2 emit light.

[0024] With reference to Fig. 7. The first lighting group 21, the second lighting group 22, the third lighting group 23, and the fourth lighting group 24 work together to emit light in a third lighting mode. In the third lighting mode, the first lighting group 21 and the second lighting group 22 emit light with the same brightness, while the third lighting group 23 and the fourth lighting group 24 do not emit light (are switched off). In other words, half of the light-emitting groups 2 emit light, while the other half do not.

[0025] With reference to Fig. In the fourth lighting mode, the first lighting group 21, the second lighting group 22, the third lighting group 23, and the fourth lighting group 24 work together to emit light in a fourth lighting mode. In the fourth lighting mode, the first lighting group 21 emits light, while the second lighting group 22, the third lighting group 23, and the fourth lighting group 24 do not emit light (are switched off). In other words, only one of the light-emitting groups 2 emits light, while the remaining light-emitting groups 2 do not emit light.

[0026] With reference to Fig. 4. The first lighting group 21, the second lighting group 22, the third lighting group 23, and the fourth lighting group 24 can switch between the first, second, third, and fourth lighting modes, which differ from each other, in each of the lighting cycles, and the light emission modes can switch 120 times (30 lighting cycles) per second, so that the vehicle lighting device, according to the disclosure, when activated and operating, produces a brightness gradient (a fade effect or crossfade effect), as shown in Fig. 4 shown, can generate.

[0027] Since the first lighting group 21 emits light in each of the light emission modes, the first lighting group 21 has an illumination duration of one second in the time unit of one second. In contrast, the second lighting group 22 emits light in only three of the light emission modes, so the second lighting group 22 has a cumulative illumination duration of 0.75 seconds in the time unit of one second. Similarly, the third lighting group 23 and the fourth lighting group 24 have cumulative illumination durations of 0.5 seconds and 0.25 seconds, respectively, in the time unit of one second. Since the first lighting group 21, the second lighting group 22, the third lighting group 23, and the fourth lighting group 24 have different luminous or luminous modes, the total luminous duration of the second lighting group 22 is 0.75 seconds in the time unit of one second.Due to varying illumination durations within a given time unit, the brightness of the first illumination group 21, the second illumination group 22, the third illumination group 23, and the fourth illumination group 24, as well as the beam pattern they project, may appear different to an observer. When the brightness of the first illumination group 21 is set to 100%, the vehicle lighting device can produce a beam pattern with a brightness gradient or transition ranging from 100% to 25% (i.e., 100%, 75%, 50%, and 25%).

[0028] Although in this embodiment the light-emitting groups 2 have different illumination durations and different light emission modes, in other embodiments of the present disclosure, for example, if the number of light-emitting groups 2 or the number of light emission modes is larger, or in order to form different beam patterns, the illumination durations of some of the light-emitting groups 2 may be the same and some of the light emission modes may be the same. Furthermore, the number of light-emitting groups 2 and the number of light emission modes may also be different and not the same.

[0029] In this embodiment, a gradient or transition in brightness is represented, but the embodiment can also be applied with respect to a gradual color change. For example, the first lighting group 21 emits red light in the first, second, third, and fourth lighting modes. The second lighting group 22 emits red light in the first, second, and third lighting modes and emits green light in the fourth lighting mode. The third lighting group 23 emits red light in the first and second lighting modes and green light in the third and fourth lighting modes. The fourth lighting group 24 emits red light in the first lighting mode and green light in the second, third, and fourth lighting modes. In this way, a gradual color change is produced, so that the vehicle lighting device emits light in the sequence red light, red-yellow light, yellow light, and yellow-green light.

[0030] Alternatively, the first lighting group 21 can be configured to emit red light in the first and second lighting modes and green light in the third and fourth lighting modes, producing a similar effect to emitting yellow light.

[0031] In the two examples mentioned above, since at least one of the light emission groups 2 emits light of different colors in different light emission modes, a color mixing effect can be created by superimposing light colors in a single light emission group 2 or by a gradual color change between different light emission groups 2.

[0032] In summary, the advantage of the variable-effect vehicle lamp device is that by switching the light-emitting groups 2 between the light emission modes in each of the illumination cycles within a unit of time, a gradient or transition of brightness or a gradual change of color is achieved.

[0033] In the description above, numerous specific details have been provided for illustrative purposes, in order to convey a comprehensive understanding of the embodiment(s). However, it will be clear to a person skilled in the art that one or more other embodiments can be realized without some of these specific details. It should also be noted that the reference in this description to "an embodiment," "an embodiment" with an ordinal number, etc., means that a particular feature, structure, or property may be included in the implementation of the disclosure.It should also be noted that in the description, various features are sometimes summarized or grouped in a single embodiment, figure, or description to streamline the disclosure and facilitate understanding of various inventive aspects; this does not mean that each of these features must be implemented in conjunction with all the other features. In other words, in any described embodiment, if the implementation of one or more features or specific details does not interfere with the implementation of one or more other features or specific details, that one or more features may be selected and implemented alone, without the other one or more features or specific details.It should also be noted that one or more features or specific details from one embodiment may be implemented together with one or more features or specific details from another embodiment in the implementation of the disclosure. 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] JP 6745620B2

[0002]

Claims

[1] A vehicle lamp device with variable action, comprising: a printed circuit board (4); the vehicle lamp device is characterized by: a plurality of light-emitting groups (2) arranged on the circuit board (4), wherein each of the light-emitting groups (2) comprises a plurality of light sources (25) arranged in an arrangement or array, wherein the light-emitting groups (2) are capable of emitting light in a plurality of illumination cycles within a unit of time, wherein in each of the illumination cycles the light-emitting groups (2) cooperate to emit light in a variety of light emission modes, and wherein at least two of the light emission modes are different from each other. [2] The vehicle lamp device with variable effect according to claim 1, wherein the illumination durations of at least two of the light-emitting groups (2) are different from each other in each of the illumination cycles. [3] The vehicle lamp device with variable effect according to claim 2, where the number of light-emitting groups (2) is equal to the number of light-emitting modes in each of the illumination cycles, and wherein in each of the illumination cycles the illumination durations of the light-emitting groups (2) are different from each other and the light emission modes of the light-emitting groups (2) are different from each other. [4] The vehicle lamp device with variable effect according to claim 1, wherein one of the light-emitting groups (2) emits light of a different color in at least two of the light emission modes in each of the illumination cycles. [5] The vehicle lamp device with variable effect according to one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the light emission modes change 20 to 200 times within the unit of time. [6] The vehicle lamp device with variable effect according to claim 5, wherein the time unit is between 0.5 seconds and 5 seconds. [7] Vehicle lamp device with variable effect according to claim 6, wherein the number of lighting cycles within the time unit is between 15 and 50. [8] Vehicle lamp device with variable effect according to claim 1, wherein in each of the illumination cycles the light-emitting groups (2) cooperate to emit light in a first illumination mode, a second illumination mode, a third illumination mode and a fourth illumination mode, which differ from each other, wherein in the first illumination mode all light-emitting groups (2) emit light, wherein in the second illumination mode one of the light-emitting groups (2) does not emit light, while the remaining light-emitting groups (2) emit light, wherein in the third illumination mode half of the light-emitting groups (2) emit light, while the other half of the light-emitting groups (2) do not emit light, and wherein in the fourth illumination mode one of the light-emitting groups (2) emits light, while the remaining light-emitting groups (2) do not emit light. [9] The vehicle lamp device with variable effect according to claim 1, wherein the light-emitting groups (2) are subdivided into a first illumination group (21), a second illumination group (22), a third illumination group (23) and a fourth illumination group (24), wherein in each of the illumination cycles the first illumination group (21), the second illumination group (22), the third illumination group (23) and the fourth illumination group (24) work together to emit light in a first illumination mode, a second illumination mode, a third illumination mode and a fourth illumination mode, which are different from each other, wherein in the first lighting mode the first lighting group (21), the second lighting group (22), the third lighting group (23) and the fourth lighting group (24) emit or radiate light, wherein in the second lighting mode the first lighting group (21), the second lighting group (22) and the third lighting group (23) emit light, while the fourth lighting group (24) does not emit light, wherein in the third illumination mode the first illumination group (21) and the second illumination group (22) emit light, while the third illumination group (23) and the fourth illumination group (24) do not emit light; and wherein in the fourth lighting mode the first lighting group (21) emits light, while the second lighting group (22), the third lighting group (23) and the fourth lighting group (24) do not emit light. [10] The vehicle lamp device with variable effect according to claim 1, wherein the light sources (25) are arranged in an arrangement in a polygonal shape, a circular shape or an elliptical shape.

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