CZ308306B6 - Projector unit, in particular for motor vehicle headlights - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a projector unit, in particular for motor vehicle headlamps, comprising a common lens (X), a primary optical system and a secondary optical system, each optical system is associated with at least one light unit (4) with at least one light source (41) of light beams (10), in the direction of propagation of the light beams (10) of the primary optical system, there is an aperture (8) with a clipping edge (9) to create a sharp light / dark interface on the display surface with dimmed light function. The lens is mono-focal (1), the primary optical system comprises a collimating member (2a) or a reflector (2b) adapted to send light rays (10) from the light source (41) to the subject focal point (12) of the mono-focal lens (1) and the secondary optical system comprises a secondary collimation element (3) with, on a portion of its surface, an aperture (8) with a clipping edge (9) to fulfil the light characteristics of the dimmed light function on another part of its surface, the secondary collimation element (3) has an exit surface (31) inclined at an angle (α) relative to the common optical axis (X) of the projector unit to prevent or eliminate unlit parts of the display surface between the primary beam (5); a secondary beam (6) of light rays (10) if the high beam function is activated, another part of the outer skin of the secondary collimation element (3) is adapted to concentrate the light rays (10), in particular to the area around the focus (12) of the mono-focal lens (1).

Description

Projector unit, especially for motor vehicle headlights

Field of technology

The invention belongs to the field of lighting technology having a special characteristic or distribution of the light emitted by the means produced by a combination of two or more different light units, and relates to a projector unit intended in particular for motor vehicle headlights.

Prior art

Projector units are used to create the basic light functions of motor vehicle headlights, which are the realization of a dipped and high beam track, which are optical arrangements which include a primary low beam unit, a secondary high beam unit, a contact lens and an aperture on a common optical axis. . The shape of the passing beam is determined by the shape of the aperture situated in the direction of advance of the light rays emitted from the light source of the primary light unit. The object focus of the lens is located on the optical axis in close proximity to the aperture edge of the aperture or near it below it. When a monofocal lens is used to produce low beam and high beam, a dark area is created in the transition between these functions, copying the shape of the aperture. This dark area is determined by the thickness of the aperture. This problem is solved in such a way that the thickness of the aperture is very thin at the location of the cutting edge, which brings with it problems in terms of manufacturability. To eliminate the unlit area, a bifocal lens is also used, which is larger in size and is divided into a low beam part and a high beam part, where the individual parts are characterized by a different focus. However, the larger size of the lens is often unusable in terms of the space requirements and design options of the projector unit.

EP 3179158 A1 describes a headlamp comprising two optical systems for a dimmed and high beam function. The headlamp comprises a projection lens, at least one reflector and a light source located behind the projection lens, and arranged to emit light forwardly through the projection lens, the aperture and a plurality of light emitting elements located behind the projection lens being adjusted toward the projection lens. lens in order to create beams of passing beam. The plurality of light emitting elements are set so that light enters the projection lens and produces additional high beam light in combination with the dipped beam light, the plurality of light emitting elements being arranged transversely below the rear focus of the projection lens and set so that the elements lit up individually. The first reflector is set to reflect at least a portion of the light emitted from the light emitting elements toward the projection lens, and is located behind the upper region of the projection lens. In preferred embodiments, the second reflector is located behind the lower region of the projection lens and the third reflector is located behind the upper region of the projection lens, with a portion of the light emitted from the light emitting elements being reflected sequentially to the second reflector and the third reflector to impinge on the projection lens. The disadvantage of this solution is the fact that a certain part of the light emitted by the light sources is not used or the desired shape of the light guide output surface does not allow efficient use of the emitted light, which leads to reduced light efficiency.

US 9157597 B2 and DE 102008013603 A1 describe embodiments which comprise light-conducting collimating elements for efficiently binding light rays from a light source to the body of the collimating element. In principle, it is possible to use only one LED light source for one collimation element. The collimating elements are arranged in the manner of a matrix, and an assembly of juxtaposed areas grouped into the desired shape of the exit surface is then formed on the exit surface of this light guide. The disadvantage of this solution is the need to use a relatively large number of light sources to provide both low and high beam function and to create a sharp light / dark interface in the case of dimmed light. Lots of light

- 1 CZ 308306 B6 sources brings with it increased demands on the electronic equipment of lighting equipment and thus increased costs for the production of lighting equipment. A number of light sources can be eliminated by modifying the design of the optical concept, where on the contrary a part of the output light strip, in particular the passing light function, is provided by a separate light unit, in particular using a reflector.

US 2016/0040848 A1 discloses a projector unit for motor vehicle headlights.

It is an object of the present invention to solve the problem of the dark transition area between low beam and high beam arising from the use of two separate optical systems in one projector optical system without the need for a large lens. It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a projector optical system which enables the desired light function to be fulfilled, including high light efficiency and uniform light intensity distribution in the output surface without inhomogeneities arising in the light curtain transition region using a relatively small number of 30 light sources. Another aim is to ensure that the projector system is adaptable to the requirements arising from the mechanical and optical design of the lighting device.

The essence of the invention

The object of the invention is achieved by a projector unit, in particular for motor vehicle headlights, the essence of which consists in that the lens consists of a monofocal lens, the primary optical system comprising a collimating member or reflector adapted to send light rays from the light source to the object focus of the monofocal. lens, wherein the secondary optical system comprises a secondary collimating element provided on part of its surface with a screen with a cutting edge to meet the light characteristics of the dimmed light function with a sharp light / dark interface on the display surface and on another part of its surface the secondary collimating element is provided an output surface inclined at an angle to the common optical axis of the projector unit to prevent or eliminate an unlit portion of the surface on the display surface between the primary beam and the secondary light beam when the high beam function is activated, with another portion of the outer shell secondary collimating element is adapted to concentrate light rays in particular in the area around the focus of the monofocal lens.

An advantage of the present invention is the possibility of using a monofocal lens with a significantly reduced profile while maintaining light efficiency and eliminating the dark area copying the aperture shape in the transition between low beam and high beam mode. Another advantage of the invention is the creation of a very thin screen with a defined cutting edge.

Explanation of drawings

The present invention will be explained in more detail by means of exemplary embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which Fig. 1 shows an overall arrangement of a projector unit according to the invention, Fig. 2 shows an arrangement of a projector unit according to the invention with a collimating member forming an optical element of a primary optical system; units according to the invention with a reflector forming an optical element of the primary optical system, Fig. 4 shows an arrangement of a secondary optical system for emitting a secondary beam of light beams of a remote light function, Fig. 5 forms an aperture on a shape-adapted surface of a secondary collimating element and Fig. of the collimating element with respect to the common optical axis.

-2 CZ 308306 B6

Examples of embodiments of the invention

The invention will be described on the basis of exemplary embodiments of a projector unit, in particular for motor vehicle headlights.

In the embodiment of Fig. 1, a projector unit is shown, in particular for motor vehicle headlights, comprising on the common optical axis X a monofocal lens 1, a primary optical system for emitting a primary beam 5 of dimmed light function 10 and a secondary optical system for emitting a secondary beam 6 light beams 10 remote light functions. Each optical system is assigned at least one light unit 4 with at least one light beam source 41 10.

The primary optical system comprises an optical element 2 adapted to direct the light rays 10 from the light unit 4 towards the lens 1.

The secondary optical system comprises a collimating element 3 adapted to direct light rays 10 from the light unit 4 towards the lens 1, the secondary collimating element 3 being shaped on part of its surface to form an aperture 8 terminated by a cutting edge 9 which is situated further in the propagation direction. of light rays 10 of the primary beam 5 and is adapted to meet the light characteristic of the dimmed light function with the creation of a sharp light / dark interface on the display surface.

The secondary collimating element 3 is further provided with an exit surface 31 oriented with respect to the optical axis X below the inclination a and adapted to prevent or eliminate the unlit part of the surface on the display surface between the primary beam 5 and the secondary beam 6 of light rays 10 when the high beam function is activated.

In a non-illustrated exemplary embodiment, the secondary collimating element 3 is transversely divided into at least two parts, one part being associated with the light unit 4 and adapted to direct light rays 10 from the light unit 4 towards the other part and further towards the lens 1, and the other part of the collimating element 3 is shaped on a part of its surface to form a screen 8 terminated by a cutting edge 9, which is situated further in the light propagation direction 10 of the primary beam 5 and is adapted to meet the light characteristic of the dimmed light function with a sharp light / dark interface. display area. The second part of the secondary collimating element 3 is provided on another part of its surface with an outlet surface 31.

In the exemplary embodiment of FIG. 2, the optical element 2 of the primary optical system is realized as a collimating member 2a made in the form of a rotating body of optically transparent material adapted to guide light rays 10 emitted by light units 4. The collimating member 2a is provided with input surfaces 21a for beams 10 emitted by the light unit 4 and further provided with reflecting surfaces 23a for the desired direction of at least part of the light beams 10 bound to the inner structure of the collimating member 2a, the collimating member 2a further comprising balancing surfaces 22a for balancing the light rays 10 towards the inlet surface 11 adapted to bind light rays 10 into the body of the lens 1, said light rays 10 being concentrated predominantly in the area around the focus 12 of the lens 1.

In the exemplary embodiment in FIG. 3, the optical element 2 is realized as a reflector 2b, where a light source 41 of the light unit 4 is arranged in the object focus 21b of the reflector 2b, the light rays 10 being sent to the object focus 12 of the lens via the reflector 2b.

1.

In the exemplary embodiment shown in FIG. 4, a secondary optical system is shown adapted to form a secondary beam 6 of light rays 10 in the event of activation of the high beam

-3 GB 308306 B6 function. The primary optical system is not shown here for simplicity. Here, the monofocal lens 1 has a low height in the order of several tens of mm, and light rays 10 from the light beam source 41 are transmitted to it via the secondary collimating element 3. A part of the outer shell of the secondary collimating element 3 has an elliptical shape and is adapted to concentration of light rays in particular in the area around the focus 12 of the lens 1, which here is situated directly in the area of the cutting edge 9 of the aperture 8.

In the exemplary embodiment of FIG. 5, an embodiment of a projector unit according to the invention is shown, where the aperture 8 is formed by a reflective layer 7 applied to the upper surface of the secondary collimating element 3. The primary optical system is not shown here for simplicity. In this exemplary embodiment, the reflective layer 7 is formed as a thin, double-sided light-reflecting coating, e.g. the reflective layer 7 is formed by plating or other suitable thin reflective coating technology, or is formed by a thin double-sided reflective sheet with sufficient reflectivity, or is formed using the reflectivity of the surface of the collimating element 3 itself, e.g. total reflection, etc. The thickness t of the screen 8 is then given by the thickness of the applied layer 7 of reflective material, so it is possible to create a very thin and fully functional screen 8 with a precisely defined and sharp cutting edge 9.

In the exemplary embodiment of FIG. 6, in which the primary optical system is not shown again for simplicity, the variability of the angle α, β1 and the inclination of the output surface 31, 3Γ of the secondary collimating element 3 relative to the common optical axis X is shown. it is possible to adjust the secondary beam 6 of light rays 10, not shown here, of the remote light function, so that the dimension (size) of the lens 1 is fully utilized when this secondary beam 6 is connected.

Claims (6)

PATENT CLAIMS A projector unit, in particular for motor vehicle headlights, comprising a lens, a primary optical system and a secondary optical system arranged on a common optical axis (X), each optical system being associated with at least one light unit (4) with at least one source (41). light beams (10), wherein in the direction of propagation of the light beams (10) of the primary optical system there is an aperture (8) with a cutting edge (9) to form a sharp light / dark interface on the display surface with a dimmed light function, characterized in that the lens is formed by a monofocal lens (1), the primary optical system comprising a collimating member (2a) or a reflector (2b) which are adapted to send light rays (10) from the light source (41) to the object focus (12) of the monofocal lens ( 1), and the secondary optical system comprises a secondary collimating element (3), which is provided on a part of its surface with an aperture (8) with a cutting edge (9) to meet the light characteristic of the attenuation. light function with the creation of a sharp light / dark interface on the display surface, and on another part of its surface the secondary collimating element (3) is provided with an exit surface (31) inclined at an angle (α) to the common optical axis (X) of the projector unit. or elimination of the unlit part of the area on the display area between the primary beam (5) and the secondary light beam (6) in case of activation of the high beam function, another part of the outer shell of the secondary collimating element (3) being adapted to concentrate the light beams ( 10), in particular to the area around the focus (12) of the monofocal lens (1). Projector unit according to claim 1, characterized in that the aperture (8) is formed by a reflective layer (7) adapted to reflect at least a part of the light rays (10) from the primary optical system. -4 CZ 308306 B6 Projector unit according to Claim 2, characterized in that the reflective layer (7) is formed by a thin, light-reflecting coating on both sides. Projector unit according to Claim 3, characterized in that the thin, double-sided light-reflecting coating is formed by a metallization element, a thin reflective layer, a thin double-sided reflective sheet and the reflectivity of the collimating element (3) itself. Projector unit according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the angle (α) of inclination of the exit surface (31) of the secondary collimating element (3) with respect to the optical axis (X) is sized to take full advantage of the monofocal lens ( 1) when connecting the secondary beam (6) of light rays (10). Projector unit according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the secondary collimating element (3) is transversely divided into at least two parts, one part being associated with 15 of the light unit (4) and is adapted to direct the light rays (10) from the light unit (4) towards the second part and further towards the lens (1), and the second part of the secondary collimating element (3) is shaped on part of its surface to form a screen (8) terminated by a cutting edge (9) and provided with an outlet surface (31) on another part of its surface.