Vehicle lamp

Abstract

Vehicle lamp (10), wherein the vehicle lamp (10) comprises: - a light guide (100), - a cover lens (200) having an operating section (210) for the light guide (100) to illuminate an environment outside of the vehicle lamp (10), and an opaque section (220) delimiting the operation section (210), - a holder (300) for holding the light guide (100), the holder (300) comprises a front side (300a) facing the operating section (210) of the cover lens (200), wherein the holder (300) is mounted on the cover lens (200), wherein the holder (300) comprises at least one heating wire (500) embedded within the holder (300), wherein the heating wire (500) is configured to heat the operating section (210) of the cover lens (200), wherein the holder (300) is mounted on the opaque section (220) in a way to allow the at least one heating wire (500) to heat the operating section (210) of the cover lens (200), wherein at least a part of the front side (300a) of the holder (300) is arranged at a distance to the operating section (210) of the cover lens (200), so that an air gap (AG) is formed, in order to enable the removal of condensed water evaporated by the at least one heating wire (500).

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a vehicle lamp, in particular a vehicle headlamp or a vehicle rear lamp, wherein the vehicle lamp comprises: a light guide for emitting light in a main direction, a cover lens having an operating section for the light guide to illuminate an environment outside of the vehicle lamp, wherein the operating section having an inward-facing side and a side opposite the inward-facing side, which - in a correctly installed state of the lamp in a vehicle - is exposed to an external environment of the vehicle, an opaque section delimiting the operation section, a holder for holding the light guide in a predetermined position in the vehicle lamp, wherein the holder comprises a front side facing the operating section of the cover lens, so that light emitted by the light guide can pass through the operating section of the cover lens to illuminate the environment outside of the vehicle lamp, wherein the holder is mounted on the opaque section of the cover lens by means of a fixation device.

[0002] Further, the invention also relates to a vehicle comprising at least one vehicle lamp according to the invention.

[0003] Condensed water can occur in the vehicle lamp due to a temperature difference between the inside of the vehicle lamp and the outside temperature outside the vehicle lamp.

[0004] The condensed water on the inner surface of the cover lens, in particular the operating surface, influences the overall brightness of the light emitted by the light guide and changes the visual appearance of the light distribution.

[0005] It is an object of the invention to provide an enhanced vehicle lamp.

[0006] To achieve this object the holder comprises at least one heating wire embedded within the holder, wherein the heating wire is configured to heat the operating section of the cover lens, wherein the holder is mounted on the opaque section in a way to allow the at least one heating wire to heat the operating section of the cover lens, wherein at least a part of the front side of the holder is arranged at a distance to the operating section of the cover lens, so that an air gap is formed, in order to enable the removal of condensed water formed between the operating section and the front side of the holder by evaporating the condensed water by means of the at least one heating wire.

[0007] In other words, the condensed water is removed due to evaporating, meaning water is converted from liquid to gaseous form.

[0008] The vehicle lamp could also be part of supplementary exterior light - e.g., front grill, or vehicle radiator grill.

[0009] Advantageously, the light guide is built as optic fiber with 2-3 mm in diameter.

[0010] Advantageously, the air gap has a width - from the operating section to the front side of the holder - of 0,1 to 3 mm, preferably 1 / 3 or 1 / 4 of the light guide diameter.

[0011] Advantageously, the operating section of the cover lens is formed of an at least partially translucent material.

[0012] Advantageously, the cover lens is made using a 2K injection molding process.

[0013] Advantageously, the holder is mounted on the opaque section of the cover lens by means of a screw connection.

[0014] Advantageously, the vehicle lamp comprises a housing, which in connection with the cover lens limits the vehicle lamp. In this way an inner space is formed in which the holder and the light guide is disposed.

[0015] Advantageously, the vehicle lamp is a vehicle rear lamp.

[0016] Advantageously, the vehicle lamp comprises two or more heating wires.

[0017] Advantageously - in a correctly installed state of the vehicle lamp in a vehicle - seen from the front side of the holder, the holder comprises an upper part, which is above the light guide, and a lower part, which is below the light guide.

[0018] Advantageously, the upper part is in mechanical contact with the cover lens.

[0019] Advantageously, the at least one heating wire is disposed in the upper part of the holder.

[0020] Advantageously, another heating wire is disposed in the lower part of the holder.

[0021] Advantageously, the at least one heating wire is disposed - seen in an opposite direction of the main direction - behind the light guide.

[0022] The object is also achieved by a vehicle comprising at least one vehicle lamp according to the invention.Description of the Drawings

[0023] In the following, in order to further demonstrate the present invention, illustrative and non-restrictive embodiments are discussed, as shown in the drawings, which show: Fig. 1an example of a vehicle lamp according to the invention, wherein the vehicle lamp comprises a holder, a cover lens, a light guide mounted in the holder and heating wires embedded in the holder to heat the cover lens.

[0024] Fig. 1 shows a part of a vehicle lamp 10, in particular a vehicle headlamp or a vehicle rear lamp, wherein the vehicle lamp 10 comprises a light guide 100 for emitting light in a main direction X, and a cover lens 200.

[0025] The cover lens 200 comprises an operating section 210 for the light guide 100 to illuminate an environment outside of the vehicle lamp 10, wherein the operating section 210 having an inward-facing side 210a and an outward-facing side 210b opposite the inward-facing side, which - in a correctly installed state of the lamp in a vehicle - is exposed to an external environment of a vehicle. Further, the cover lens 200 comprises an opaque section 220 delimiting the operation section 210. The operating section 210 of the cover lens 200 is formed of an at least partially translucent material. The cover lens 200 in general is made using a 2K injection molding process.

[0026] Further, the vehicle lamp 10 comprises a holder 300 for holding the light guide 100 in a predetermined position in the vehicle lamp 10, wherein the holder 300 comprises a front side 300a facing the operating section 210 of the cover lens 200 or facing the inward-facing side 210a of the cover lens 200, so that light emitted by the light guide 100 can pass through the operating section 210 of the cover lens 200 to illuminate the environment outside of the vehicle lamp 10.

[0027] In a correctly installed state of the vehicle lamp 10 in a vehicle - seen from the front side 300a of the holder 300, the holder 300 comprises an upper part 310a, which is above the light guide 100, and a lower part 320a, which is below the light guide 100.

[0028] The holder 300 is mounted on the opaque section 220 of the cover lens 200 by means of a screw connection. In the shown example in the figures, the upper part 310a is in mechanical contact with the cover lens 200.

[0029] Further, the holder 300 comprises heating wires 500 embedded within the holder 300, wherein the heating wires 500 are configured to heat up the operating section 210 of the cover lens 200, wherein the holder 300 is mounted on the opaque section 220 in a way to allow the heating wires 500 to heat up the operating section 210 of the cover lens 200, wherein at least a part of the front side 300a of the holder 300 is arranged at a distance to the operating section 210 of the cover lens 200, so that an air gap AG is formed, in order to enable the removal of condensed water formed between the operating section 210 and the front side 300a of the holder 300 by evaporating by means of the at least one heating wire 500.

[0030] In the shown example, one heating wire 500 is disposed in the upper part 310a of the holder 300 near the cover lens 200. Another heating wire 500 is disposed in the lower part 320a of the holder 300. Further, another heating wire 500 is disposed - seen in an opposite direction of the main direction X - behind the light guide 100.

[0031] The shown exemplary vehicle lamp 10 comprises a housing (not shown in the figures), which in connection with the cover lens 200 limits the vehicle lamp 10 and forms an inner space in which the holder 300 and the light guide 100 is disposed.

[0032] Also, the shown example of a vehicle lamp 10 is a vehicle rear lamp.LIST OF REFERENCE SIGNS

[0033] Vehicle lamp10Light guide100Cover lens200Operating section210Inward facing side210aOutward facing side210bOpaque section220Holder300Front face300aUpper part310aLower part320aFixation device400Heating wire500Main directionX

Claims

1. Vehicle lamp (10), in particular a vehicle headlamp or a vehicle rear lamp, wherein the vehicle lamp (10) comprises: - a light guide (100) for emitting light in a main direction (X), - a cover lens (200) having - an operating section (210) for the light guide (100) to illuminate an environment outside of the vehicle lamp (10), wherein the operating section (210) having an inward-facing side (210a) and an outward-facing side (210b) opposite the inward-facing side, which outward-facing side (210b) - in a correctly installed state of the lamp in a vehicle - is exposed to an external environment of a vehicle, - an opaque section (220) delimiting the operation section (210), - a holder (300) for holding the light guide (100) in a predetermined position in the vehicle lamp (10), wherein the holder (300) comprises a front side (300a) facing the operating section (210) of the cover lens (200), so that light emitted by the light guide (100) can pass through the operating section (210) of the cover lens (200) to illuminate the environment in front of the vehicle lamp (10), wherein the holder (300) is mounted on the opaque section (220) of the cover lens (200) by means of a fixation device (400), characterized in that the holder (300) comprises at least one heating wire (500) embedded within the holder (300), wherein the heating wire (500) is configured to heat the operating section (210) of the cover lens (200), wherein the holder (300) is mounted on the opaque section (220) in a way to allow the at least one heating wire (500) to heat the operating section (210) of the cover lens (200), wherein at least a part of the front side (300a) of the holder (300) is arranged at a distance to the operating section (210) of the cover lens (200), so that an air gap (AG) is formed, in order to enable the removal of condensed water formed between the operating section (210) and the front side (300a) of the holder (300) by evaporating by means of the at least one heating wire (500).

2. Vehicle lamp according to claim 1, wherein the operating section (210) of the cover lens (200) is formed of an at least partially translucent material.

3. Vehicle lamp according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the cover lens (200) is made using a 2K injection molding process.

4. Vehicle lamp according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the holder (300) is mounted on the opaque section (220) of the cover lens (200) by means of a screw connection.

5. Vehicle lamp according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the vehicle lamp (10) comprises a housing, which in connection with the cover lens (200) limits the vehicle lamp (10).

6. Vehicle lamp according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the vehicle lamp (10) is a vehicle rear lamp.

7. Vehicle lamp according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the vehicle lamp (10) comprises two or more heating wires (500).

8. Vehicle lamp according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein - in a correctly installed state of the vehicle lamp (10) in a vehicle - seen from the front side (300a) of the holder (300), the holder (300) comprises an upper part (310a), which is above the light guide (100), and a lower part (320a), which is below the light guide (100).

9. Vehicle lamp according to claim 8, wherein the upper part (310a) is in mechanical contact with the cover lens (200).

10. Vehicle lamp according to claim 8 or 9, wherein the at least one heating wire (500) is disposed in the upper part (310a) of the holder (300).

11. Vehicle lamp according to claim 10, wherein another heating wire (500) is disposed in the lower part (320a) of the holder (300).

12. Vehicle lamp according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the at least one heating wire (500) is disposed - seen in an opposite direction of the main direction (X) - behind the light guide (100).

13. Vehicle comprising at least one vehicle lamp (10) according to any one of the preceding claims.

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