CN115698586A - Attachment optical assembly for a partial high beam module of a motor vehicle headlamp - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention proposes an attachment optical assembly for a partial high beam module of a motor vehicle headlamp. The attachment optics assembly has an attachment optics base that contains a first light guide, and a separate insert that contains a second light guide. The light guide closest to the first light guide in a row is the second light guide, and the light guide closest to the second light guide in the row is the first light guide. The insert is disposed in a sandwich between the reflective optical ring and the substrate. The reflective optical ring is resiliently biased into engagement with the substrate at two different locations from one another across the insert.

Description

Attachment optical assembly for a partial high beam module of a motor vehicle headlamp

Technical Field

The present invention relates to an attachment optical assembly for a part of a high beam module of a motor vehicle headlamp according to the preamble of claim 1.

Background

Such an attachment optical assembly is known from US10261228B2 and has a plurality of light guides arranged in a row, each of which has a light entrance surface and a light exit surface and is arranged to guide light incident on the light entrance surface to the light exit surface. The known attachment optics assembly further comprises an attachment optics base containing a first light guide in the row of light guides, and the known attachment optics assembly has an insert, manufactured separately from the attachment optics base, containing a second light guide in the row of light guides. The light guide closest to the first light guide in the row is the second light guide and the light guide closest to the second light guide in the row is the first light guide.

Modern motor vehicle headlamps are increasingly equipped with LEDs as light sources. Thus, increasing energy saving requirements can be better met while improving lighting and modern designs compared to using conventional light sources.

In an LED lamp module for a motor vehicle headlight with a partial high beam function and a matrix-like light distribution, matrix-element-specific light guides are used for the matrix elements of the light distribution, which are arranged closely to one another in one or more rows in order to produce a light distribution which can dim a single or even a plurality of matrix elements and avoid glare for other traffic participants.

By the above-described division of the light guides into base bodies and inserts, it is possible to increase the distance of the light guides of the base bodies from each other and the distance of the inserts from each other at the time of manufacture of the attachment optics, to avoid sharp tool tips in the injection mold and to improve the accessibility of the light guides for polishing the light guide cavities. Thereby, light guide positions having a desired small distance of as low as 0.1mm from each other can be achieved upon joining of the base body and the insert, and a better surface quality of the light guide surface already in the injection mould can be achieved without having to use expensive light guide materials such as silicone.

Disclosure of Invention

The invention differs from the initially mentioned prior art by the characterizing features of claim 1. These characterizing features provide that the attachment optics have a reflective iris for a motor vehicle headlight, and that the insert is arranged between the reflective iris and the substrate, and that the reflective iris engages resiliently biasedly with the substrate in two mutually different positions in a manner spanning over the insert.

By these features, an attachment optic assembly is provided that is characterized by reflective optical rings, matrices, and inserts that achieve a gapless connection with minimal component expense.

A preferred design is characterized in that the light exit surfaces closest to each other have a distance between them which is smaller than 0.1mm, and the entire light exit surface of the attachment optical component consists of the individual light exit surfaces of the first and second light guides, and the insert is snapped into the base body.

A preferred embodiment is characterized in that the base body has n first light guides.

It is also preferred that the base has a first substrate 38.

It is further preferred that at each lateral end of the base body a pin is arranged, which extends in the vertical direction.

A further preferred embodiment is characterized in that between each pin and the substrate, on both sides of the basic body, respectively, an abutment surface for an insert and a snap-in structure extend, which snap-in structure is provided for snap-in engagement with a snap-in structure of the reflective optical ring provided for this purpose as a counterpart.

It is also preferred that the insert has a second base plate and that the second base plate has a central snap-in lug which by its arrangement, size and shape is arranged for snap-in engagement with the central recess of the first base plate of the base body.

It is further preferred that the insert is an element produced separately from the base body and contains m second light guides, wherein the numbers m and n of the first and second light guides preferably differ from each other by 1.

Another preferred embodiment is characterized in that an opening is arranged at each lateral end of the insert, which opening, by its arrangement and orientation and by its size and shape, is arranged to fit exactly around one of the pins of the basic body extending in the vertical direction.

It is also preferred that the reflective optical ring is made of a curved elastomeric material.

It is also preferred that the reflective iris has locating holes which by their arrangement, size and shape are arranged to fit around the pins of the substrate with precision, and that the reflective iris has a plurality of spring-elastic snap-in structures which are arranged to snap-in with snap-in structures of the substrate which are complementary to these snap-in structures.

Another preferred embodiment is characterized in that the m first light guides are arranged in the base body in such a way that they extend in a fan-like manner, wherein a channel-like gap extends between two first light guides which are closest to one another, the size of which gap decreases on the first substrate from the light entry end to the light exit end.

It is also preferred that the n second light guides 66 are arranged in the insert 34 in such a way that they extend in a fan shape, wherein a gap is opened between two second light guides which are closest to each other, the size of which gap decreases on the second substrate from the light incidence side end up to the light exit side end.

It is further preferred that the first and second light guides are arranged and dimensioned relative to each other such that, upon engagement of the insert and the base, each second light guide 66 is received by a channel-like gap between two first light guides 36, and vice versa.

It is also preferred that the light guide cross-section of each individual light guide between its light entry side end and its light exit side end is increased to such an extent that the gap at the light exit end is completely filled by the light guide located in the gap.

Another preferred embodiment is characterized in that the gap between the light exit surfaces of each two first light guides which are closest to one another is exactly so large that it is filled by exactly one light exit surface of the second light guide (66).

Further advantages arise from the following description, the drawings and the dependent claims. It is to be understood that the features mentioned above and those yet to be explained below can be used not only in the respectively given combination but also in other combinations or alone without departing from the scope of the present invention.

Embodiments of the invention are illustrated in the drawings and are described in more detail in the following description.

Drawings

Here, the figures are shown in schematic form:

fig. 1 shows the technical environment of the invention in the form of a motor vehicle headlamp;

FIG. 2 illustrates an attachment optics assembly for a partial high beam assembly of a motor vehicle headlamp;

FIG. 3 shows a reflective optical ring from the rear left;

fig. 4 shows the base body and the insert from obliquely above and from behind in the engaged state without a low beam source; and

fig. 5 shows the base body and the insert from obliquely above and from the front in the engaged state without a low beam source.

Detailed Description

In detail, fig. 1 shows a motor vehicle headlight 10 with a housing 12, the light exit opening of which housing 12 is covered by a transparent cover plate 14. In the interior of the housing a dual function light module 16 is arranged, which dual function light module 16 has from its function a low beam light assembly 18, a partial high beam light assembly 20 and projection optics 22. The low beam assembly 18 includes a low beam source 24 having low beam attachment optics 26 and is disposed above a reflective light coil 28. Light emitted from the low beam light source 24 is at least partially deflected by the reflective light ring 28 onto the projection optics 22 and emitted by the projection optics 22 as a low beam light distribution. The projection optics 22 are for example a projection lens or a reflector.

The position indications v or front, h or rear, r or right, l or left, o or upper, u or lower relate to an orientation in space, which are given, for example, when the motor vehicle headlight 10 is used as intended and are illustrated in fig. 1 for the motor vehicle headlight 10.

The partial high beams emitted from the partial high beam assembly 20 are emitted by the projection optics 22 as a partial high beam profile.

Fig. 2 shows an attachment optics assembly 30 for part of the high beam assembly 20 of the motor vehicle headlamp 10. The attachment optics assembly 30 includes a substrate 32, an insert 34, and a reflective optical ring 28. Fig. 2 shows these components in an unengaged state. The viewing direction extends from front to back.

The matrix 32 contains n first light guides 36. The light entrance surfaces of these light guides 36 are covered in fig. 2 by the first light guide 36 itself. The light exit surfaces are all visible.

The base 32 has a base plate 38. The base plate 38 has a first end 40 and a second end 42 in a direction extending from the rear to the front. The first end 40 faces the projection optics 22. Starting from the second end 42, the first light guide 36 initially projects laterally upward from the base plate 38 and changes its direction with increasing distance from the base plate 38 into a direction running between the front and rear such that its light-incident-side ends 44 lie side by side in one plane. The substrate-side end portion and the light-incident-side end portion 44 of the first light guide 36 enclose an angle, which is preferably 60 ° to 120 °, preferably 90 °. In this plane, the first light guide 36 is fan-shaped when viewed from the substrate-side end thereof.

The base 32 has fastening sections 46 at its lateral ends arranged in the direction extending between the left and right, with which fastening sections 46 the base 32 can be fastened in the interior of the housing 12.

At each lateral end of the base body 32, a pin 48 is arranged, which pin 48 extends in the vertical direction.

Between each pin 48 and the substrate 38, on both sides of the basic body 32, respectively, there extend an abutment surface 50 for the insert 34 and a snap-in structure 52, which snap-in structure 52 is arranged to snap-in with a snap-in structure 53 of the reflective optical ring 28 arranged as a counterpart therefor.

The base plate 38 has a central recess 54, the central recess 54 being provided for receiving a snap lug 56 of the insert 34.

The two lateral ends of the base 32 are connected to each other at least by an upper transverse strut 58. Additional transverse strut 60 runs parallel to upper transverse strut 58 at a vertical distance from upper transverse strut 58. The light incident side end 44 of the first light guide 36 rests on a further lateral support 60.

The insert 34 has a second substrate 62. The second base plate 62 has a first end 64 and a second end 65 in a direction extending from the rear to the front. First end 64 faces projection optics 22. The insert 34 contains m second light guides 66, the insert 34 being an element manufactured separately from the matrix 32. The numbers m and n of the first light guide 36 and the second light guide 66 preferably differ from each other by 1.

Starting from the second end 65, the second light guide 66 initially projects transversely from the second substrate 62 and changes its direction with increasing distance from the second substrate 62 in such a way that its light-incident side ends 44 lie side by side in one plane. The substrate-side end of the second light guide 66 and the light-entrance-side end 44 enclose an angle which is preferably 60 ° to 120 °, preferably 90 °, and which is in particular as large as the corresponding angle of the first light guide 36. In the plane, the second light guide 66 is fan-shaped when viewed from its substrate-side end.

At each lateral end of the insert 34, an opening 68 is arranged, which opening 68, by its arrangement and orientation and by its size and shape, is arranged to fit exactly around one of the vertically extending pins 48 of the basic body 32.

Between each opening 68 and the substrate, on both sides of the basic body 32, there extends an abutment surface 70 for the reflective optical ring 28, respectively.

The second base plate 62 has a central snap-in lug 56, the central snap-in lug 56 being arranged, sized and shaped for snap-in engagement with the central groove 54 of the first base plate 38 of the base 32.

The reflective optical ring 28 is made of a curved elastomeric material. Preferably, the reflective light ring 28 is made of a thin metal plate of a material having a thickness of less than 1mm. The reflective optical ring 28 is sized and shaped to span the insert 34. In terms of its optical properties, the reflective optical ring 28 has an optical mirror surface bounded by an aperture edge 74 facing the projection optics 22. The aperture edge 74 is imaged as the light-dark boundary of the low beam distribution and the high beam/partial high beam distribution produced by the partial high beam module.

The reflective optical ring 28 has alignment holes 76, which alignment holes 76 are arranged, sized and shaped to fit around the pins 48 of the substrate 32 with precision. Furthermore, the reflective optical ring has a plurality of spring-elastic latching structures 53, which latching structures 53 are provided to latch with latching structures 52 of the substrate 32 that are complementary to the latching structures 53.

The m first light guides 36 are arranged in the base body 32 in such a way that the m first light guides 36 extend in a fan shape, wherein a channel-like gap extends between two first light guides 32 which are closest to one another. The size of the gap decreases on the first substrate 38 from the light incident side end 44 up to the light emitting side end.

The n second light guides 66 are arranged in the insert 34 in such a way that the n second light guides 66 extend in a fan shape, wherein a gap is opened between two second light guides 66 that are closest to one another. The size of the gap decreases on the second substrate 62 from the light incident side end 44 up to the light exit side end.

The first and second light guides 36, 66 are arranged and dimensioned relative to each other such that, upon engagement of the insert 34 and the matrix 32, each second light guide 66 is received by a channel-like gap between two first light guides 36, and conversely, each first light guide 36 is received by a gap between two second light guides 66. Here, the light guide cross section of each individual light guide 36, 66, preferably between its light entry side end 44 and its light exit side end, is increased to such an extent that the gap at the light exit end is completely filled by the light guide located in the gap.

That is to say that the gap between the light exit surfaces of every two first light guides which are closest to one another is exactly so large that it is filled by exactly one light exit surface of the second light guide.

Fig. 3 shows the reflective optical ring 28 from the rear left. The reflective light ring has, in addition to the spring-elastic latching structures 53, angled stops 80, with which stops 80 the reflective light ring rests in the engaged state on the upper transverse strut 58 of the main body 32. Furthermore, the reflective iris has further spring-elastic snap-in structures 78 for clamping with the upper transverse strut 58.

Fig. 4 shows the substrate 32 and the insert 34 in an engaged state without the reflective optical ring 28 from obliquely above and from behind. The light incident side ends 44 of the first and second light guides 36, 66 rest on the further transverse strut 60. Some of the first light guides 36 have protrusions 82 that project upward and to the right and left laterally over their light guide cross-sections. These protrusions 82 rest with their ends laterally to the outside, right and left, on the light incident end 44 of the second light guide 66. What is achieved thereby is that the light-entry-side ends 44 of the first light guide 36 and the second light guide 66 are at the same height in the vertical direction. In one direction, the height is defined by the other lateral strut 60, while in the opposite direction, the height is defined by the protrusion 82.

The light incident side end portions 44 of the first light guide 36 and the second light guide 66 are also at the same height in the direction extending from the rear to the front. This has the advantageous result that the semiconductor light sources assigned to them, each of which is arranged on each light entry surface 44 of the light guide 36, 66, can be arranged on a flat and rigid printed circuit board, which is cost-effective.

Fig. 5 shows the substrate 32 and the insert 34 in an engaged state without the reflective optical ring 28 from obliquely above and from the front. It can be seen how the light exit surfaces 84 of the n + m light guides 36, 66 produce a surface that is practically continuous in terms of illumination technology in such a way that they are in contact with one another, without the light exit surfaces thus formed being substantially continuous. It can also be seen from fig. 5 that the side surfaces of the light guides 36, 66 only contact the light exit surface 84, if this is the case. The light guides 36, 66 diverge in a fan-shaped manner, viewed from the light exit surface 84, towards their light entry surface 44, and their cross sections in the light guides 36, 66 increase in opposite directions transversely to the direction of light propagation. Thereby, in combination with total internal reflection at the side walls of the light guide 36, 66, a converging optical effect is achieved, which is advantageous for generating a sharp bright-dark boundary of the partial high-beam light distribution.

Without separating the light guides 36, 66 into the base body 32 and the insert 34, it is necessary to provide sharp tips in the injection mold of the then one-piece light guide, which is problematic in terms of manufacturing technology. This problem is also avoided in the present invention.

Upon engagement of the substrate 32, the insert 34 and the reflective optical ring 28, the insert 34 is first embedded in the substrate 32. The embedding is carried out in such a way that the opening 68 arranged at each lateral end of the insert 34 fits exactly around one of the pins 48 of the basic body 32 extending in the vertical direction, and the first light guide 32 and the second light guide 66 occupy their described positions, and the first base plate 38 of the basic body 32 engages with the second base plate 62 of the insert 34. The reflective light ring 28 is then guided by means of two positioning holes 76 onto the composite of the base 32 and the insert 34 and connected to the base 32 by means of the latching means 52, 53. Here, the insert 32 is clamped in a sandwich manner between the substrate 32 and the reflective light ring 28, and the reflective light ring 28 here engages with the substrate in a resiliently biased manner at two mutually different positions in a manner spanning the insert.

By these features, an attachment optic assembly is provided that features a reflective optical ring 28, matrix 32, and insert 34 that achieve a gapless connection with minimal component expense.

Claims (15)

1. An attachment optical assembly (30) for a partial high beam module of a motor vehicle headlamp (10), having: a plurality of light guides (36, 66) arranged in a row, each of the light guides (36, 66) having a light entry surface (44) and a light exit surface (84) and being arranged to guide light incident on the light entry surface (44) to the light exit surface (84); an attachment optical base (32), the attachment optical base (32) including a first light guide (36) of the row of light guides (36, 66); and an insert (34) manufactured separately from the attachment optical matrix (30), the insert (34) containing a second light guide (66) of the row of light guides (36, 66), wherein the light guide closest to the first light guide (36) in the row is the second light guide (66) and the light guide closest to the second light guide (66) in the row is the first light guide (36), characterized in that the attachment optical assembly (30) has a reflective light collar (28) for the motor vehicle headlamp (10), and the insert (34) is arranged between the reflective light collar (28) and the matrix (30), and the reflective light collar (28) engages with the matrix (32) in a manner spanning the insert (34) with elastic bias at two mutually different positions.

2. The attachment optics assembly (30) of claim 1 wherein the base (32) has n first light guides (36).

3. Attachment optics assembly (30) according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the base body (36) has a first substrate (38).

4. Attachment optics assembly (30) according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that a pin (48) is arranged at each lateral end of the base body (32), which pin (48) extends in a vertical direction.

5. Attachment optical assembly (30) according to claim 4, characterised in that between each pin (48) and the substrate (38) on both sides of the basic body (32) there respectively extends an abutment surface (50) for an insert (34) and a snap-in structure (52), which snap-in structure (52) is arranged to snap-in with a snap-in structure (53) of the reflective iris (28) arranged as a counterpart therefor.

6. Attachment optics assembly (30) according to any of the preceding claims, characterised in that the insert (34) has a second base plate (62) and the second base plate (62) has a central snap-in lug (72), which central snap-in lug (72) by its arrangement, size and shape is provided for snap-in with a central groove (54) of the first base plate (38) of the base body (32).

7. Attachment optics assembly (30) according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the insert (34) is an element manufactured separately from the base body (32) and contains m second light guides (66), wherein the numbers m and n of the first (36) and second (66) light guides preferably differ from each other by 1.

8. Attachment optics assembly (30) according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that an opening (68) is arranged at each lateral end of the insert (34), which opening (68) by its arrangement and orientation and by its size and shape is arranged to fit exactly around one of the pins (48) of the base body (32) extending in the vertical direction.

9. Attachment optical assembly (30) according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the reflective optical ring (28) is made of a curved elastic material.

10. The attachment optical assembly (30) of claim 1, characterized in that the reflective optical ferrule (28) has a positioning aperture (76), by way of its arrangement, size and shape, which positioning aperture (76) is arranged to fittingly enclose the pin (48) of the substrate (32) precisely, and the reflective optical ferrule has a plurality of spring-elastic snap-in structures (53), which snap-in structures (53) are arranged to snap-in with snap-in structures (52) of the substrate (32) complementary to the snap-in structures (53).

11. Attachment optics assembly (30) according to claim 7, characterised in that the m first light guides (36) are arranged in the basic body (32) such that the m first light guides (36) extend in a fan shape, wherein a channel-like gap extends between two first light guides (32) closest to each other, the size of the gap decreasing on the first base plate (38) from a light incidence side end (44) up to a light exit side end.

12. The attachment optical assembly (30) according to claim 11, characterized in that the n second light guides (66) are arranged in the insert (34) such that the n second light guides (66) extend in a fan shape, wherein a gap is provided between two second light guides (66) that are closest to each other, the gap decreasing in size on the second substrate (62) from a light incident side end (44) up to a light exit side end.

13. The attachment optics assembly (30) of claim 11 or 12, wherein the first light guide (36) and the second light guide (66) are arranged and dimensioned relative to each other such that upon engagement of the insert (34) and the base (32), each second light guide (66) is received by a channel-like gap between two first light guides (36), and vice versa, each first light guide (36) is received by a gap between two second light guides (66).

14. Attachment optics assembly (30) according to any of claims 11 to 13, characterised in that the light guide cross section of each individual light guide (36, 66) between its light entry side end (44) and its light exit side end is increased to such an extent that the gap at the light exit end is completely filled by the light guide located in the gap.

15. The attachment optical assembly (30) of claim 14, wherein the gap between the light exit surfaces (84) of each two first light guides (36) that are closest to each other is just so large that the gap is filled by just one light exit surface of a second light guide (66).

Images