Device for mutually crossing arrangement of at least two light paths in a plane, and system comprising such a device
Patent Information
- Application Number
- EP2024742855
- Authority / Receiving Office
- EP · EP
- Patent Type
- Applications
- Current Assignee / Owner
- Priority Date
- 2023-10-09
- Filing Date
- 2024-07-08
- Publication Date
- 2026-01-28
AI Technical Summary
Existing light railway crossing arrangements often result in interrupted lighting, increased space requirements, or both, due to the structural limitations and shadowing effects of traditional light rail configurations.
A device that allows for the intersection of at least two light rails on the same level by using electrical contact sections and conductors to maintain continuous lighting and separate control of each light rail, while minimizing space and avoiding shadows.
Enables a building-optimized intersection of light rails with continuous and homogeneous lighting, reducing space requirements and eliminating interruptions in lighting, even when controlled differently.
Smart Images
Figure EP2024069237_17042025_PF_FP_ABST
Abstract
Description
[0001] Device for the intersecting arrangement of at least two light paths in a plane and system comprising such a device
[0002] Description:
[0003] The invention relates to a device for the intersecting arrangement of at least two light paths in a plane and to a system with two light paths and such a device.
[0004] A variety of light paths are known from the prior art, particularly for use in motor vehicles. A light path is preferably understood to mean a plurality of luminous elements arranged in a line, one behind the other, which can be controlled jointly or individually to generate a corresponding linear illumination or light pattern toward a visible side. However, if two separate light paths are to intersect, the prior art often provides for one (lower) of the light paths to run beneath the other (upper) light path at the intersection point.
[0005] However, depending on the specific structure of the light path, this has several disadvantages.
[0006] If the light paths are non-transparent towards a rear side opposite the visible side, i.e. opaque, the lower light path is shaded so that its illumination is interrupted in the intersection area, which is particularly noticeable if the light paths are controlled differently or produce different illumination.
[0007] If the light tracks or at least the upper light track are transparent at least in the intersection area, so that the lighting generated by the lower light track is still visible on the visible side, the arrangement leads to a large installation space requirement, since the thicknesses of the two light tracks add up in the intersection area.
[0008] The invention is therefore based on the object of overcoming the aforementioned disadvantages and providing a device for the intersecting arrangement of at least two light paths, by means of which a space-optimized intersection of the light paths can be achieved and, in particular, a seamless continuation of the two light paths and homogeneous illumination on the visible side is possible.
[0009] This problem is solved by the combination of features according to the main claim and the subordinate claim.
[0010] According to the invention, a device, which can also be referred to as an adapter, is therefore proposed for the intersecting arrangement of at least two light paths in one plane. The light paths, which can also be referred to as light bands, each comprise a plurality of light sources for illuminating the light paths towards a visible side, wherein the light sources are in particular one or more light sources, such as LEDs. According to the invention, the device has two first electrical contact sections for electrically contacting a first light path and two second electrical contact sections for electrically contacting a second light path, so that the light sources of the first light path can be electrically contacted at the first electrical contact sections and the light sources of the second light path can be electrically contacted at the second electrical contact sections.Preferably, a first section of the first light path electrically contacts a first contact section, and a second section of the first light path electrically contacts the other first contact section, so that these two sections of the first light path are connected to one another via the device. Analogously, preferably, a first section of the second light path electrically contacts a second contact section, and a second section of the second light path electrically contacts the other second contact section, so that these two sections of the second light path are connected to one another via the device.According to the invention, first electrical conductors electrically connect the two first electrical contact sections to one another and second electrical conductors electrically connect the two second electrical contact sections to one another, wherein the two first electrical contact sections are arranged opposite one another with respect to the second electrical conductors and the two second electrical contact sections are arranged opposite one another with respect to the first electrical conductors, so that the two light paths cross in an imaginary extension between the respective contact sections at an intersection point or an intersection region. Furthermore, it is provided that the first electrical conductors connect the second electrical conductors in particular at the intersection point orin the intersection area, they cross in an electrically insulated manner from one another, so that despite the crossing arrangement, the two light paths are arranged in one plane at least at the intersection point and can be controlled separately from one another.
[0011] Accordingly, first conductors of the first light path can be electrically contacted and continued by the first conductors of the device, and second conductors of the second light path can be electrically contacted and continued by the second conductors of the device, so that control and power supply of the respective light sources by the device is not interrupted.
[0012] Preferably, each contact section has a plurality of electrical contacts, each of which is contacted with a conductor of the first electrical conductor or the second electrical conductor, wherein each contact of the contact sections is designed to electrically contact a contact of a respective light path.
[0013] An advantageous development provides that the device has a rigid or flexible substrate on which the first electrical contact sections and the second electrical contact sections are arranged, wherein the first electrical conductors and the second electrical conductors also extend at least partially on the substrate. The substrate can extend entirely or partially in one or the other plane, wherein the substrate can alternatively have a predetermined three-dimensional shape. If the substrate has a predetermined three-dimensional shape, the intersection point at which the two light paths intersect still lies in a common plane.
[0014] The substrate can furthermore be, in particular, a rigid or flexible printed circuit board or a flexible conductor foil. In order to enable an optical continuation of the illumination generated by the light paths in the region of the device and to optically continue or complete the light paths for the viewer on the visible side, a further advantageous embodiment provides that at least one first light source for optically continuing the illumination of the first light path is provided between the first contact sections and, completing a predetermined course of the first light path in the region of the device and electrically contacted by the first electrical conductors.As a result, the illumination provided on the visible side can be continued homogeneously and seamlessly towards the visible side by the first light path between the first electrical contact sections in optical completion of the first light path divided by the device.
[0015] Analogously, it is further preferably provided that between the second contact sections and completing a predetermined course of the second light path and electrically contacted by the second electrical conductors, at least one second light source is provided for optically continuing the illumination of the second light path, so that the illumination by the second light path between the second electrical contact sections can be continued homogeneously and seamlessly towards the visible side in optical completion of the second light path divided by the device.
[0016] It is advantageous in each case if the at least one first light source and / or the at least one second light source is provided on the surface of the substrate facing the visible side.
[0017] Furthermore, at least one of the first light sources and at least one of the second light sources is preferably arranged in or at the intersection point or in or at the intersection region, so that at the intersection point both the illumination by the first light path and the illumination by the second light path can be continued homogeneously and seamlessly, independently of one another, and the intersection point can be illuminated homogeneously towards the visible side.
[0018] Alternatively, but also in addition to this, it is also possible for at least one third light source to be provided in or at the intersection point or in or at the intersection region, which third light source can be controlled by a control unit belonging in particular to the device and further in particular arranged on or at the substrate as a function of the illumination generated by the first light path and the second light path. For this purpose, both the first electrical conductors and the second electrical conductors can be electrically contacted with the control unit, which is designed to generate control signals for controlling the third light source from control signals received via the first electrical conductors for controlling the first light sources and control signals received via the second electrical conductors for controlling the second light sources.
[0019] For optimized and, in particular, homogeneous illumination on the visible side, light guides are often arranged on the light paths, which homogenize and / or redirect the light toward the visible side. Similarly, it is preferably provided that the device also further comprises at least one light guide element adjacent to the light sources of the device, i.e., the first light sources and / or second light sources and / or third light sources, and guiding light toward the visible side. This light guide element can be arranged, for example, on the surface of the substrate facing the visible side.
[0020] The optical fiber(s) of the device can also extend beyond the contact sections and preferably beyond the substrate via the light paths, so that an optical transition from the optical fibers assigned to the respective light paths to the optical fiber of the device takes place, in particular at a distance from the substrate and away from the crossing point, whereby this can be optically concealed.
[0021] In principle, the light paths must be supplied with power and controlled by control signals. If a device according to the invention is provided, according to an advantageous development, it can be used for this purpose at the same time, so that - with regard to the system comprising the device and light paths - further installation space can be saved, since no additional connections to the light paths are necessary. In this case, such a development provides that the device further has at least one control connection for electrically contacting a control device, in particular an external one, which is electrically contacted with at least some of the first electrical conductors and / or at least some of the second electrical conductors.Additionally or alternatively, the device can accordingly have at least one supply connection for electrical contact with a power source, which is electrically contacted with at least a part of the first electrical conductors and / or at least a part of the second electrical conductors.
[0022] The mutually electrically insulated crossing of the first and second electrical conductors can take place in the crossing region, wherein in order to reduce complexity it is preferably provided that the first and second electrical conductors cross outside the crossing region.
[0023] The electrical conductors can be crossed in various ways, and these can also be combined with one another. For example, the electrical conductors can be crossed by the first electrical conductors and the second electrical conductors, or a portion of the first electrical conductors and a portion of the second electrical conductors, running at least partially in different and electrically insulated planes for the electrically insulated crossing. For example, one electrical conductor can run on a surface of the substrate facing the visible side, and the other electrical conductors can run on a surface of the substrate facing an opposite rear side. If the substrate has a multi-layer structure, the electrical conductors can also run in or on different layers.
[0024] Additionally or alternatively, the first electrical conductors or the second electrical conductors, or a portion of the first electrical conductors and a portion of the second electrical conductors, can be electrically insulated at least in sections by a protective layer to form an electrically insulated intersection, with the respective other conductors extending on the protective layer. Such protective layers can be applied, for example, in the form of a lacquer or as a film.
[0025] Furthermore, additionally or alternatively, the first electrical conductors or the second electrical conductors or a part of the first electrical conductors and a part of the second electrical conductors can be formed for electrically insulated crossing at least in sections by at least one wire or cable extending out of a plane of the respective other conductors, which can be achieved, for example, by means of wire bonding.
[0026] Depending on the type of control of the light sources of the light paths, there may also be electrical conductors, such as GND, whose contact is uncritical or desired anyway. Since these conductors do not necessarily have to cross in an electrically insulated manner on the device, an advantageous development provides that the device further comprises at least a third conductor which is in electrical contact with the first electrical contact sections and the second electrical contact sections. If a supply connection is provided, the third electrical conductor can also be in contact with this. Furthermore, the third electrical conductor can cross the first and / or the second electrical conductors in an insulated manner, as is also provided for the first and second electrical conductors.
[0027] In order to ensure a secure and durable electrical contact with the light paths, it is also preferably provided that a mechanical fastening section is provided on the first electrical contact sections and on the second electrical contact sections for mechanically fastening the respective light path to the device or to the substrate and accordingly preferably also for mechanically relieving the electrical contacts of the contact sections.
[0028] A further aspect of the invention relates to a system comprising a first light path and a second light path, each having a plurality of light sources for illuminating the light paths towards a visible side, as well as to a device according to the invention. The light sources of the light paths are each arranged linearly one behind the other on a carrier that determines the shape of the light path, wherein the carrier is, for example, a lead frame. The shape of the path corresponds to or defines the predetermined course of the respective light path, which can accordingly follow a straight or curved line. By means of the device, two sections of the first light path are or are electrically connected to one another and two sections of the second light path are or are electrically connected to one another, such that the two light paths intersect at the device.
[0029] The features disclosed above can be combined in any way, as long as this is technically possible and they do not contradict each other. Other advantageous developments of the invention are characterized in the subclaims or are presented in more detail below, together with the description of the preferred embodiment of the invention, with reference to the figures. They show:
[0030] Fig. 1 shows a first variant of a device;
[0031] Fig. 2 shows a second variant of a device;
[0032] Fig. 3a-c different variants of the crossing arrangement of the first and second electrical conductors.
[0033] The figures are schematic examples. Identical reference numerals in the figures indicate identical functional and / or structural features. In particular, the device 1 shown in Figure 1 or the resulting system may be a simplified representation of the device 1 or the resulting system shown in Figure 2, which are shown in both Figures 1 and 2 from a visible top view.
[0034] In order to enable the light paths 100, 200 to cross in a common plane, so that the thickness of the resulting arrangement at the crossing point is not determined by adding the thicknesses of the light paths 100, 200, a device 1 according to Figure 1 and / or Figure 2 is provided. The light paths 100, 200 are divided at their intended intersection or at the intersection point 3 into two sections 110, 120, 210, 220, which can be connected or are connected in a common plane by the device 1 in a crossing manner and are electrically contacted, so that the thickness of the resulting arrangement or the thickness of the system is essentially determined by the thickness of the individual first light path 100 or the thickness of the individual second light path 200.Basically, both for the device 1 according to Figure 1 and for the device 1 according to Figure 2, it can be seen that they each have two first electrical contact sections 10 and two second electrical contact sections 20, which are arranged on a substrate 30, which can be a rigid or flexible printed circuit board.
[0035] The contact sections 10, 20 each consist of a plurality of electrical contacts which correspond to the electrical contacts of the respective associated light path 100, 200.
[0036] In order to continue to maintain the electrical contact between the sections 110, 120, 210, 220 of the light paths 100, 200 and to continue to supply and control the respective light sources 101, 201 of the light paths 100, 200 with power, the device 1 has electrical conductors 11, 12, which are preferably provided as conductor tracks on the substrate 30 designed as a printed circuit board.
[0037] First electrical conductors 11 connect the first electrical contact sections 10 and second electrical conductors 21 electrically connect the second electrical contact sections 20 to one another, wherein preferably one of the electrical conductors 11, 21 is assigned to each contact of the contact sections 10, 20.
[0038] In order to further enable separate and independent control of the two light paths 100, 200, the first electrical conductors 11 and the second electrical conductors 21 cross in an electrically insulated manner from one another, as is shown for the individual electrical conductors 11, 21 in particular in Figure 1. In the overall view, the viewer on the visible side sees the optical continuation of the two light paths 100, 200, shown in dashed lines in the region of the device 1, which cross one another at an intersection point or an intersection region 2.
[0039] Since a crossing arrangement of the electrical conductors 11, 21 in or even exclusively in the crossing region 2 may be complicated or not possible due to the available installation space, the variant according to Figure 2 provides for the electrical conductors 11, 12 to cross at least partially outside the crossing point or region 2.
[0040] Depending on the distance between the light sources 101, 201 of the light paths 100, 200 or depending on the illumination to be generated on the visible side for an observer, the device 1 can have a plurality of light sources 12, 22 which optically continue the light sources 101, 201 provided on the light paths 100, 200, so that no optical transition between the light paths 100, 200 and the device 1 is visible to the observer or is concealed.
[0041] Although the first light sources 12 arranged between the first contact sections 10 are provided to complete the first light path 100 and the second light sources 22 arranged between the second contact sections 20 are provided to complete the second light path 200, in the intersection area 2 - and as shown in Figure 2 - at least one first light source 12 and one second light source 22 are provided, so that the intersection of the light bands 100, 200 in the intersection area 2 is further optically concealed.
[0042] Starting from four first electrical conductors 11 and four second electrical conductors 21, as is also shown in Figure 1, various variants for the crossed arrangement of the electrical conductors 11, 21 are shown in Figures 3a to 3c in a lateral sectional view through the device 1, whereby these are not to be understood as exhaustive.
[0043] Figure 3a shows a variant in which the second electrical conductors 21 run along a surface of the substrate 30 facing the visible side S, and the first electrical conductors 11 are guided in the region of the intersection to a rear side R facing away from it, so that they run along a surface of the substrate 30 facing the rear side R. Accordingly, the first electrical conductors 11 and the second electrical conductors 21 run in different planes in sections and thus cross each other in an electrically insulated manner.
[0044] According to the variant of Figure 3b, the second electrical conductors 21 are covered with an electrically insulating protective layer 4, wherein the first electrical conductors 11 extend over the protective layer 4 and cross the second electrical conductors 21.
[0045] Alternatively, and as shown in Figure 3c, the first electrical conductors 11 are formed in sections by at least one wire 5 extending out of the plane of the second electrical conductors 21 for the electrically insulated crossing of the second electrical conductors 21, wherein such a structure can be achieved by wire bonding. Concealed by the view chosen in Figure 3c, a wire 5 is provided for each electrical conductor of the first electrical conductors 11, which wire 5 crosses the second electrical conductors 21.
[0046] Furthermore, a different variant of the crossing arrangement can also be selected for some of the electrical conductors 11, 21, so that, for example, two of the first electrical conductors 11 can cross the second electrical conductors 21 according to Figure 3a and two of the first electrical conductors 11 can cross the second electrical conductors 21 according to Figure 3c.
[0047] * * * * *
Claims
Patent claims 1. Device (1) for the intersecting arrangement of at least two light paths (100, 200) in a plane, each of which has a plurality of light sources (101, 201) for illuminating the light paths (100, 200) toward a visible side (S), wherein the device (1) has two first electrical contact sections (10) for electrically contacting a first light path (100) and two second electrical contact sections (20) for electrically contacting a second light path (200), wherein first electrical conductors (11) electrically connect the two first electrical contact sections (10) to one another and second electrical conductors (21) electrically connect the two second electrical contact sections (20) to one another,wherein the two first electrical contact sections (10) are arranged opposite one another with respect to the second electrical conductors (21) and the two second electrical contact sections (20) are arranged opposite one another with respect to the first electrical conductors (11), so that the two light paths (100, 200) cross in an imaginary extension between the respective contact sections (10, 20) at a crossing point (2), and wherein the first electrical conductors (11) cross the second electrical conductors (21) in an electrically insulated manner from one another.
2. Device according to claim 1, comprising a rigid or flexible substrate (30) on which the first electrical contact sections (10) and the second electrical contact sections (20) are arranged, wherein the first electrical conductors (11) and the second electrical conductors (21) run at least in sections on the substrate (30).
3. Device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein between the first contact sections (10) and completing a predetermined course of the first light path (100) and electrically contacted by the first electrical conductors (11), at least one first light source (12) is provided for optically continuing the illumination of the first light path (100).
4. Device according to one of the preceding claims, wherein between the second contact sections (20) and completing a predetermined course of the second light path (200) and electrically contacted by the second electrical conductors (21), at least one second light source (22) is provided for optically continuing the illumination of the second light path (200).
5. Device according to the two preceding claims, wherein at least one of the first light sources (12) and at least one of the second light sources (22) are arranged in or at the intersection point (2), so that at the intersection point (2) both the illumination by the first light path (100) and the illumination by the second light path (200) can be continued homogeneously and seamlessly, independently of one another, and the intersection point (2) can be illuminated homogeneously towards the visible side (S).
6. Device according to one of claims 3 to 5, further comprising at least one light-guiding element adjacent to the light sources (12, 22) and guiding light to the visible side (S).
7. Device according to one of the preceding claims, further comprising at least one control terminal for electrical contacting with a control device, which is connected to at least a part of the first electrical conductors (11) and / or at least is electrically contacted with a part of the second electrical conductors (21), and / or further comprising at least one supply connection for electrical contact with a power source, which is electrically contacted with at least a part of the first electrical conductors (11) and / or at least a part of the second electrical conductors (21).
8. Device according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the first electrical conductors (11) and the second electrical conductors (21) for the electrically insulated crossing run at least in sections in mutually different and mutually electrically insulated planes and / or wherein the first electrical conductors (11) or the second electrical conductors (21) for the electrically insulated crossing are at least in sections electrically insulated by a protective layer (4) and the respective other conductors (21, 11) run on the protective layer (4) and / or wherein the first electrical conductors (11) or the second electrical conductors (21) for the electrically insulated crossing are formed at least in sections by at least one wire (5) or cable extending out of a plane of the respective other conductors (21, 11).
9. Device according to one of the preceding claims, further comprising at least one third conductor which is electrically contacted with the first electrical contact sections (10) and the second electrical contact sections (20).
10. Device according to one of the preceding claims, wherein at the first electrical contact sections (10) and a mechanical fastening section is provided on each of the second electrical contact sections (20) for mechanically fastening the respective light path (100, 200) to the device (1). 11 . System comprising a first light path (100) and a second light path (200), each comprising a plurality of light sources (101, 201) for Illumination of the light paths towards a visible side (S), wherein the light sources (101, 201) are each arranged linearly one behind the other on a support (102, 202) determining the path shape of the light path (100, 200), wherein the system further comprises a device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, by means of which two sections (110, 120) of the first light path (100) are electrically connected to one another and by means of which two sections (210, 220) of the second light path (200) are electrically connected to one another, so that the two light paths (100, 200) intersect at the device (1). * * * * *