Optical module, lamp apparatus and motor vehicle

Abstract

Provided are an optical module comprising: a first optical unit (100), comprising one first light source (142) and one first light collector (122) being configured to collect and reflect a first light beam from the first light source; a second optical unit (200), comprising one second light source (144) and one second light collector (124) being configured to collect and reflect a second light beam from the second light source, wherein the first and the second light beam have different functions; and a projecting optical system (130) configured to project the first light beam reflected by the first light collector (122) and the second light beam reflected by the second light collector (124) along an optical axis, wherein the first and the second light collector are offset from each other, wherein an optical focus (F) of the projecting optical system and a reflective surface of the second light collector (124) are spaced apart from each other.

Description

OPTICAL MODULE, LAMP APPARATUS AND MOTOR VEHICLE

[0001] Embodiments of the present disclosure relate in general to the field of lighting and / or signalling, and in particular to an optical module capable of providing a lighting effect, and a lamp apparatus and a motor vehicle fitted with such a lamp apparatus.

[0002] Lighting apparatuses are widely used in various fields to provide light for lighting and / or optical indication functions; for example, lighting apparatuses such as vehicle lamps are used in motor vehicles to ensure safe travel. In motor vehicles, various types of vehicle lamps are often required to implement different functions, including automotive headlamps, fog lamps, tail lamps, turn signal lamps, brake lamps, side marker lamps and parking lamps, etc.

[0003] Lighting apparatuses in the prior art, particularly headlamps, are generally much larger in size in a width direction of a vehicle than in a height direction of the vehicle, so that an ultrathin lighting apparatus is formed in the height direction of the vehicle, enhancing the high-tech feel of the exterior style. Under such a requirement, how to realize such a lighting apparatus is a major challenge.Summary of the Invention

[0004] An objective of the present disclosure is to solve or overcome at least one of the above and other problems and shortcomings in the prior art.

[0005] According to one aspect of the present disclosure, an optical module is provided, comprising a first optical unit, this first optical unit comprising at least one first light source and at least one first light collector, the first light collector being configured to collect and reflect a first light beam from the first light source; a second optical unit, comprising at least one second light source and at least one second light collector, the second light collector being configured to collect and reflect a second light beam from the second light source, wherein the first light beam and the second light beam have different functions; and a projecting optical system, the projecting optical system being configured to project the first light beam reflected by the first light collector and the second light beam reflected by the second light collector along an optical axis of the projecting optical system, wherein the first light collector and the second light collector are offset from each other at least in a direction of the optical axis of the projecting optical system and a perpendicular direction, wherein an optical focus of the projecting optical system and a reflective surface of the second light collector are spaced apart from each other.

[0006] In some embodiments, the projecting optical system at least comprises a projection lens.

[0007] In some embodiments, the projecting optical system is configured to form an image of the reflective surface of the second light collector.

[0008] In some embodiments, the reflective surface of the second light collector comprises a rear edge that forms a horizontal cutoff line in the second light beam.

[0009] In some embodiments, a front edge of the first light collector is joined to a rear edge of the second light collector.

[0010] In some embodiments, the first light collector and the second light collector form an integral whole.

[0011] In some embodiments, the projecting optical system has an optical focus that is set at a distance of greater than or equal to 10 millimetres from the reflective surface of the second light collector.

[0012] In some embodiments, the projecting optical system has an optical focus that is set at a distance of greater than or equal to 10 millimetres from a rear edge of the reflective surface of the second light collector.

[0013] In some embodiments, each one of a reflective surface of the first light collector and the reflective surface of the second light collector has an elliptical or parabolic profile.

[0014] In some embodiments, the optical module is configured to comprise multiple optical unit groups, wherein the optical unit group comprises one first optical unit and one second optical unit; and the projection lens has a number of windows that is greater than or equal to the number of optical unit groups.

[0015] In some embodiments, the projection lens has 3 or 5 windows.

[0016] According to another aspect of the present disclosure, the embodiments further provide a lamp apparatus, comprising a housing and the optical module described in any one of the embodiments of the present disclosure, the optical module being at least partially installed in the housing.

[0017] In some embodiments, the lamp apparatus comprises at least one of a lighting lamp, a signalling lamp and an ambient lamp used for a motor vehicle.

[0018] According to another aspect of the present disclosure, the embodiments further provide a motor vehicle, which comprises the optical module or the lamp apparatus described in any one of the embodiments of the present disclosure.

[0019] A detailed description of the present disclosure is provided below with reference to the accompanying drawings to make other objectives and advantages of the present disclosure obvious and help achieve a comprehensive understanding of the present disclosure.Brief Description of the Drawings

[0020] These and / or other aspects, features and advantages of the present disclosure will become apparent and readily understood from the following description of some illustrative embodiments in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. In the drawings:

[0021] is a schematic drawing showing the structure of an optical module according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0022] is an exploded drawing showing the structure of an optical module according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0023] is a sectional view schematically showing an optical path of an optical module according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure.Detailed Description of Embodiments

[0024] Embodiments of the present disclosure will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings. In the present description, identical or similar components are indicated by identical or similar reference numerals. The following description of embodiments of the present disclosure with reference to the drawings is intended to explain the general concept of the present disclosure, and should not be construed as limiting the present disclosure.

[0025] In addition, in the following detailed description, for ease of explanation, many specific details are expounded to provide a comprehensive understanding of embodiments of the present disclosure. However, it is obvious that one or more embodiments may also be implemented without these specific details. In other scenarios, well-known structures and devices are shown in the form of illustrations to simplify the drawings.

[0026] Figs. 1 to 3 schematically show the structure of an optical module 10 and an optical path schematic drawing according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure; as an example, the optical module 10 shown inmay be fitted in a motor vehicle as a vehicle lamp, for example, including but not limited to a low-beam lamp and / or a high-beam lamp.

[0027] shows an exploded drawing showing the structure of a projection optical module according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure. As shown in, the optical module according to the present disclosure comprises a support 110, such as a radiator; a light source assembly 140, a first light source 142 and a second light source 144 at least being provided on the light source assembly 140, the light source assembly 140 being arranged on the support 110; a light collector assembly 120, wherein the light collector assembly may be formed from multiple groups of a first light collector 122 and a second light collector 124, and each one of a reflective surface of the first light collector and a reflective surface of the second light collector has an elliptical or parabolic profile, and in some embodiments, the multiple groups of the first light collector 122 and the second light collector 124 may form an integral whole; and a projecting optical system 130, the projecting optical system being a projecting optical lens for example, and in some embodiments, since the optical module is configured to comprise multiple optical unit groups, wherein each optical unit group comprises at least one first optical unit and at least one second optical unit, then since the first optical unit and the second optical unit in the optical unit group share the same projecting optical lens window, the projection lens has a number of windows that is greater than or equal to the number of optical unit groups, thereby reducing the number of windows of the projection lens, which can satisfy more style requirements. For example, in some embodiments, the projection lens may have 3 or 5 windows.

[0028] schematically shows a sectional view of an optical path of an optical module according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure. As shown in, an optical module 10 comprises a first optical unit 100, the first optical unit 100 comprising at least one first light source 142 and at least one first light collector 122, the first light collector 122 being configured to collect and reflect a first light beam from the first light source 142; a second optical unit 200, comprising at least one second light source 144 and at least one second light collector 124, the second light collector 124 being configured to collect and reflect a second light beam from the second light source 144. In some embodiments, each one of a reflective surface of a first light collector 122 and a reflective surface of a second light collector 124 has an elliptical or parabolic profile, and the first light source and the second light source are respectively located at or near the position of a focus of the corresponding first light collector and second light collector. In some embodiments, the first light beam and the second light beam have different lighting and / or signalling functions; for example, the first light beam may be configured as a high-beam light beam, and the second light beam may be configured as a low-beam light beam, and a person skilled in the art should understand that the first light beam and the second light beam may achieve lighting / signalling with different functions, for example.

[0029] The optical module 10 further comprises a projecting optical system 130, the projecting optical system being configured to project the first light beam reflected by the first light collector and the second light beam reflected by the second light collector along an optical axis of the projecting optical system, so as to project the light beam to outside the optical module 10. In some embodiments, the projecting optical system 130 is configured to form an image of the reflective surface of the second light collector. For example, the reflective surface of the second light collector 124 comprises a rear edge 125 that forms a horizontal cutoff line in the second light beam. A person skilled in the art should understand that the horizontal cutoff line may include a bend on the optical axis. In such a situation, the rear edge of the reflective surface of the second light collector that forms the horizontal cutoff line is configured to be bent rather than straight.

[0030] As shown in, an X direction is a horizontal direction, and a Y direction is set as a perpendicular direction, the first light collector and the second light collector are offset from each other at least in a direction of the optical axis of the projecting optical system (the X direction shown in) and the perpendicular direction, and an optical focus F of the projecting optical system 130 and the reflective surface of the second light collector are spaced apart from each other.

[0031] Compared to arranging a focus of a projecting optical system at or near a rear edge of a reflective surface of a second light collector in a conventional technical solution, by arranging the focus of the projecting optical system 130 at an interval from the reflective surface of the second light collector, the first light collector can be afforded more accommodation space, so that the first light beam can have more emission space; at the same time, the horizontal cutoff line projected by the projecting optical system 130 may have a bluish tint, which is more distinctly aesthetically pleasing.

[0032] In some embodiments, the focal point F of the projection optical system 130 is positioned between the second light source and the projection optical system 130 along the light-emitting direction, which can give the horizontal cut-off line projected by the projection optical system 130 a bluish tint.

[0033] In some embodiments, the projecting optical system has an optical focus that is set at a distance of greater than or equal to 10 millimetres from the reflective surface of the second light collector, and preferably, in some embodiments, the projecting optical system has an optical focus that is set at a distance of greater than or equal to 10 millimetres from a rear edge of the reflective surface of the second light collector.

[0034] Preferably, in some embodiments, the projection optical system has an optical focus located at a distance greater than or equal to 15 mm from the reflective surface of the second light collector. More preferably, in some embodiments, the optical focus is located at a distance greater than or equal to 15 mm from the rear edge of the reflective surface of the second light collector. It should be understood that a greater distance from the reflective surface of the second light collector provides more accommodation space for the first light collector in the height direction.

[0035] In embodiments of the present disclosure, a front edge of a first light collector 122 is joined to a rear edge of a second light collector 124, and in some embodiments, reflective surfaces of respective light collectors may be integrally formed, or may be fixed together in a fixing stage after being formed separately, and reflective surfaces of respective light collectors and the projection lens 130 are separate components.

[0036] According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, a single module may be used to generate multiple beams including a horizontal cutoff line, and this module retains compactness (especially in a height direction) and is simple to produce. Imaging an illuminated reflective surface with sufficient depth of field allows a clearly projected luminous image to be obtained, and therefore allows the aid of an edge of a reflective surface of a light collector for also generating a clear bluish cutoff line. In addition, when a paraxial approximation holds (i.e. when light is inclined relative to the optical axis by a small amount and the distance from the axis is not far), a lens forming the projecting system may be a thin lens with a thickness of less than 6 mm, for example, such that this lens may be produced in a single plastic injection-moulding operation.

[0037] A lamp apparatus comprising the optical module according to an embodiment of the present disclosure may be used as a lighting and / or signalling apparatus, comprising any type of motor vehicle lighting lamp and / or signal lamp, such as a headlamp, a central high-mounted brake lamp, a turn signal lamp, a position lamp, a rear brake lamp, etc.

[0038] Embodiments of the present disclosure also provide a motor vehicle which comprises the optical module or the lamp apparatus as described in any one of the above embodiments.

[0039] Although the present disclosure has been described in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, the embodiments disclosed in the drawings are intended to illustrate preferred embodiments of the present disclosure demonstratively, and must not be construed as limiting the present disclosure. The dimensional proportions in the drawings are merely schematic, and must not be construed as limiting the present disclosure.

[0040] Although some embodiments of the general concept of the present disclosure have been shown and described, those ordinarily skilled in the art will understand that changes can be made to these embodiments without departing from the principle and spirit of the general concept of the present disclosure. The scope of the present disclosure is defined by the claims and their equivalents.

Claims

Optical module, characterized in that the optical module comprises:a first optical unit (100), comprising at least one first light source (142) and at least one first light collector (122), the first light collector (122) being configured to collect and reflect a first light beam from the first light source;a second optical unit (200), comprising at least one second light source (144) and at least one second light collector (124), the second light collector (124) being configured to collect and reflect a second light beam from the second light source (144), wherein the first light beam and the second light beam have different functions; anda projecting optical system (130), the projecting optical system being configured to project the first light beam reflected by the first light collector (122) and the second light beam reflected by the second light collector (124) along an optical axis of the projecting optical system (130), whereinthe first light collector (122) and the second light collector (124) are offset from each other at least in a direction of the optical axis of the projecting optical system and a perpendicular direction (Y), wherein an optical focus (F) of the projecting optical system and a reflective surface of the second light collector (124) are spaced apart from each other.Optical module according to Claim 1, the projecting optical system at least comprising one projection lens.Optical module according to Claim 1, the projecting optical system being configured to form an image of the reflective surface of the second light collector.Optical module according to Claim 1, the reflective surface of the second light collector comprising a rear edge that forms a horizontal cutoff line in the second light beam.Optical module according to Claim 1, wherein a front edge of the first light collector is joined to a rear edge of the second light collector.Optical module according to Claim 5, wherein the first light collector and the second light collector are integrally formed.Optical module according to Claim 1, whereinthe projecting optical system has an optical focus that is set between the second light source and the projection optical system along the light-emitting direction.Optical module according to Claim 1, whereinthe projecting optical system has an optical focus that is set at a distance of greater than or equal to 10 millimetres from the reflective surface of the second light collector.Optical module according to Claim 1, whereinthe projecting optical system has an optical focus that is set at a distance of greater than or equal to 15 millimetres from the reflective surface of the second light collector.Optical module according to Claim 1, whereinthe projecting optical system has an optical focus that is set at a distance of greater than or equal to 10 millimetres from a rear edge of the reflective surface of the second light collector.Optical module according to Claim 1, whereineach one of a reflective surface of the first light collector and the reflective surface of the second light collector has an elliptical or parabolic profile.Optical module according to Claim 2,the optical module being configured to comprise multiple optical unit groups, wherein the optical unit group comprises at least one first optical unit and at least one second optical unit; andthe projection lens has a number of windows that is greater than or equal to the number of optical unit groups.Optical module according to Claim 12, whereinthe projection lens is provided with 3 or 5 windows.Lamp apparatus, comprising:a housing; andthe optical module according to any one of Claims 1 - 13, the optical module being at least partially mounted in the housing.Motor vehicle, wherein the motor vehicle comprises the optical module according to any one of Claims 1 - 13, or the lamp apparatus according to Claim 14.

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