Light assembly for illuminating panes for automobiles

Abstract

The invention relates to a light assembly (1) for illuminating surfaces and / or light media, comprising a light source (2), a printed circuit board (11), at least one lens (3), and at least one reflector element (4). The invention is characterized in that the light source (2), the printed circuit board (9), and the at least one lens (3) are arranged in a housing (5), and at least one holding element (6) is provided which allows the housing (5) to be secured to a glass support (7) in a precise position.

Description

[0001] LIGHTING ASSEMBLY FOR ILLUMINATION OF WINDOWS FOR AUTOMOBILES

[0002] The invention relates to a lighting assembly for illuminating surfaces and / or light media according to the type defined in the preamble of claim 1.

[0003] In principle, light assemblies for illuminating surfaces and / or light media are known from the state of the art. In the automotive industry, the surface can be, for example, a window pane or another piece of glass or Plexiglas. The illustration can be any type of light signal and / or a warning message generated by light beams. The light signal or warning message can, for example, be projected onto a window pane of a motor vehicle.

[0004] For example, US 2018 008 6028 A shows a light source coupled to the glazing of a vehicle. The light source is a diode and is arranged laterally next to the glazing. A diffuser or reflector is arranged on a surface of the glazing and spaced apart from the light source. The light from the light source is introduced into the glazing via an edge surface and extracted or guided out of the glazing via the diffuser.

[0005] Since the diffuser or reflector is positioned at a distance from the light source, precise alignment of both elements is essential. However, limitations can arise due to the structural constraints, for example, resulting from geometric curvatures within a curved pane. Manufacturing tolerances can also affect the light emitted or extracted from the glazing, leading to a deviation in the light appearance. In particular, additional components may be necessary to ensure precise light distribution. Therefore, absolute tolerance effects are usually not taken into account, which reduces the lighting efficiency.

[0006] The object of the present invention is to provide an improved lighting assembly for illuminating surfaces and / or light media, which overcomes the aforementioned disadvantages.

[0007] According to the invention, this object is achieved by a lighting assembly having the features in claim 1 and in particular in the characterizing part of claim 1. Advantageous embodiments and further developments emerge from the dependent claims.

[0008] At the core of the lighting assembly according to the invention, a light source, a circuit board, and at least one lens are arranged in a housing, with at least one retaining element being provided that enables precise attachment of the housing to a glass carrier. This advantageously eliminates space-related limitations, since all elements are compactly arranged in one housing. For example, an increase in lighting efficiency can be achieved through optimized positional tolerance and optimized reflector properties, since only one compact element, i.e., the housing, needs to be attached to the glass carrier.

[0009] The at least one retaining element serves, in particular, as a mold holder for the housing, whereby the targeted application of force by the at least one retaining element on the housing enables the housing to be fixed, in particular by clamping. Targeted force can also be used for industrial alignment and tolerance compensation of the components.

[0010] The lighting assembly for illuminating surfaces and / or light media comprises at least one light source, a circuit board, at least one lens, and at least one reflector element. All of these elements, except for the reflector element, are completely arranged within the housing. The at least one lens serves for optical light distribution and can be designed as a microlens. The reflector element contacts the light-guiding element and is thus also directly connected to the housing of the lighting assembly. This enables simple and flexible subsequent replacement without damaging the optically relevant surfaces of the glass carrier. Likewise, prefabrication of the glass carrier, for example by cleaning or treating the surface, is no longer necessary, since the housing can be easily removed from the at least one holding element without additional components and attachments, and can therefore be easily replaced.

[0011] Preferably, a light-guiding element can be arranged in the housing. The light-guiding element, in particular, contacts the circuit board and is completely surrounded by the housing on at least one side and delimited on at least one other side by the reflector element and the glass carrier. This can prevent, in particular, the escape of light rays, since the housing forms a shielding envelope outside the glass carrier.

[0012] According to a very advantageous development of the concept, it can be provided that the reflector element contacts the light-guiding element. The reflector element is arranged, in particular, on a side region of the light assembly when the housing is held on the glass carrier by the at least one holding element. As a result, it is arranged in the same region as the housing on the glass carrier.

[0013] According to an advantageous embodiment, the circuit board and / or the housing can have a white surface. This can increase or improve the reflection properties. This leads to an increase in the efficiency of the overall system. In contrast to a white surface, it may also be sufficient to make the surfaces of the circuit board and / or the housing relatively light.

[0014] According to a very advantageous development of the concept, it can be provided that at least one retaining element is glued and / or clamped to the housing. Advantageously, the housing is fixed to the glass carrier with the retaining element, in which the retaining element is firmly connected to the glass carrier and the housing is clamped to the retaining element. This allows for easy replacement of the housing, and thus the entire lighting assembly. This enables cost-effective servicing.

[0015] A further advantageous embodiment may provide for two retaining elements arranged on two opposite sides of the housing. This allows the housing to be clamped between the two retaining elements. For example, the retaining elements can be fixed to the glass carrier in such a way that they exert a compressive force on the housing when the housing is located between the retaining elements.

[0016] According to an advantageous embodiment, it can be provided that the at least one retaining element can be attached to the glass carrier in a precise location. This allows for precise positioning of the housing, and thus the light assembly, on the glass carrier. When determining the position to which the housing is to be attached, curvatures of the glass carrier, such as the curvature of a vehicle windshield, can be taken into account.

[0017] According to a very advantageous development of the concept, it can be provided that the two retaining elements can be permanently bonded to the glass carrier in a predetermined position. In particular, at least one retaining element, for example both retaining elements, is permanently bonded to the glass carrier. This allows the position to be maintained unchanged.

[0018] A further advantageous embodiment can provide for the holding elements to each be hook-shaped, wherein the housing can be held and fixed in place by clamping between the two holding elements. The hook shape can also be understood, for example, as an L-shape, wherein each hook element has two sections, in particular angled at right angles to one another. One of the sections can run along a first side surface of the housing, the second section along an adjacent side surface of the housing. The second section in particular has a free end, so that each of the holding elements can be designed to be elastically movable. The holding elements can, for example, contain metal and / or plastic. According to an advantageous embodiment, it can be provided that the at least one holding element exerts a restoring force on the housing in order to fasten and hold it in a precise position.In particular, two L-shaped retaining elements can be designed to mirror each other, so that the two restoring forces of the two retaining elements are aligned with each other. This allows a clamping force of the two retaining elements to be exerted on the housing arranged between them.

[0019] Further advantages of the lighting assembly according to the invention also emerge from the remaining dependent subclaims and become clear from the exemplary embodiments which are described in more detail below with reference to the figures.

[0020] Showing:

[0021] Fig. 1 shows a possible embodiment of the lighting assembly;

[0022] Fig. 2 shows another possible embodiment of the lighting assembly;

[0023] Fig. 3 shows another possible embodiment of the lighting assembly.

[0024] The illustration in Fig. 1 shows a possible embodiment of the lighting assembly 1. A light source 2, a circuit board 9 and a plurality of lenses 3 are arranged within a housing 5. Furthermore, a light-guiding element 8 is arranged within the housing 5 in such a way that it is bounded on one side by the housing 5 and on at least one further side by a reflector element 4. The reflector element 4 is located on at least one glass carrier 7, wherein in this embodiment a further glass carrier 7' is provided. The reflector element 4 is arranged at least partially between these two glass carriers 7, 7', wherein the glass carrier 7' can contain, for example, a polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) or a polycarbonate (PC). A design made of glass is also conceivable.

[0025] The glass carrier 7 serves to introduce light rays 10 and is particularly light-conducting. The light source 2 can be designed, for example, as an LED, for example as at least one side-emitting or top-emitting LED. From the light source 2, the light rays 10 are guided through the plurality of lenses 3 and through the light-guiding element 8 to the reflector element 4. There, the light rays 6 are reflected and introduced into the glass carrier 7.

[0026] In particular, an edge-side housing section 5' can prevent unintentional emission of the light beams 10 outside the light assembly 1. Since all components are arranged within the housing 5, the optical functions are essentially completely contained within the housing 5. This can increase lighting efficiency and compensate for tolerances. Furthermore, the light assembly 1 can be arranged as a compact component, saving space.

[0027] The housing 5 can be made of a thermoplastic and contain webs and cavities. The webs can form holders or supports for the components, such as the circuit board 9 and / or the light source 2.

[0028] In this embodiment, the housing 5 is held by two retaining elements 6, wherein the retaining elements 6 are hook-shaped. In particular, each of the retaining elements 6 is L-shaped, with the retaining elements 6 arranged in a mirrored manner to one another. A restoring force is illustrated by an arrowhead at a free end of each retaining element, wherein the housing 5 is held in a clamping manner by the two retaining elements 6.

[0029] Another embodiment of the light assembly 1 can be seen in Fig. 2. The same components are provided with the same reference numerals, so they need not be discussed in detail. Unlike Fig. 1, the glass carrier 7' is not present here. The light rays 10 can still be introduced into the glass carrier 7 via the reflector element 4. The glass carrier 7' therefore has a protective function, in particular as a protective layer, but not as a light-conducting layer.

[0030] Fig. 3 shows a further embodiment of the light assembly. In contrast to the embodiment shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the lenses 3 are arranged at a different position in the housing or at a different position relative to the light source 2. This allows the light rays 10 to be introduced into the glass carrier 7 in a different manner than in Figs. 1 and 2.

[0031] Of course, the described design variants of the light assembly 1 in Figures 1 to 3 can also be combined with each other, creating various possibilities. For example, the design according to Figure 3 can be designed without the glass carrier 7'. Furthermore, the arrangement and number of lenses 3 can vary.

Claims

A lighting assembly (1) for illuminating surfaces and / or light media, comprising a light source (2), a circuit board (11), at least one lens (3), and at least one reflector element (4), characterized in that the light source (2), the circuit board (9), and the at least one lens (3) are arranged in a housing (5), wherein at least one holding element (6) is provided, which enables a precisely positioned fastening of the housing (5) to a glass carrier (7). A lighting assembly (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that a light-guiding element (8) is arranged in the housing (5). A lighting assembly (1) according to claim 2, characterized in that the reflector element (4) contacts the light-guiding element (8). A lighting assembly (1) according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the circuit board (9) and / or the housing (5) have a white surface. A lighting assembly (1) according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the at least one holding element (6) is glued and / or clamped to the housing (5). Lighting assembly (1) according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that it comprises two holding elements (6) which are arranged on two opposite sides of the housing (5). Lighting assembly (1) according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the at least one holding element (6) can be attached to the glass carrier (7) in a precise location. Lighting assembly (1) according to claims 6 and 7, characterized in that the two holding elements (6) can be permanently glued to the glass carrier (7) in a predetermined position. Lighting assembly (1) according to one of claims 6 to 8, characterized in that the holding elements (6) are each hook-shaped, wherein the housing (5) can be held and fixed in a clamped manner between the two holding elements (6).Lighting assembly (1) according to one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that the at least one holding element (6) exerts a restoring force on the housing (6) in order to fasten and hold it in a precisely positioned manner.

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