DE102017220488B4 - headlights for vehicles - Google Patents

Abstract

Headlight for vehicles, characterized in that it comprises a lighting unit (10), which in turn comprises an LED lamp (1) and a lens (2), wherein- a recess (21) is formed at the rear end of the lens (2). , in which the LED lamp (1) is located, - an incoming refracting surface (211) is arranged on the surface of the recess (21) and a total reflection surface (22) is arranged on the side surface of the lens (2), the incoming refracting Surface (211) and the total reflection surface (22) together form a collimation part (20), - at the front end of the lens (2) there is an outgoing refracting surface (23), the light rays emitted by the LED lamp (1) passing through the collimating part (20) are guided up to the outgoing refracting surface (23) and refracted at this so that they emerge at a preset angle, the outgoing refracting surface (23) comprising a plurality of outgoing refracting sub-surfaces (231) which are continuous h and are each designed as a free-form surface, and wherein the left and/or the right side of the outgoing refracting partial surface (231) encloses an angle α of 10°-20° with the vertical direction.

Description

field of invention

The present invention relates to a headlight for vehicles, more particularly to a headlight for vehicles based on an LED light source.

Technical background

The practice of high-power white LED light sources induces an innovation in the design of vehicle lighting, in which various new concepts based on an LED light source are emerging. Unfortunately, most of these concepts are still based on mirrors or ellipsoid projection systems and therefore do not go beyond the optical designs of conventional halogen or gas discharge lamps. Although these known solutions are already quite mature, it is not at all apparent from their appearance whether an LED light source is used in the respective headlight. In addition, the corresponding shape is considered fashionable and does not show any innovative design.

Ever since LED light sources have been applied to automobile headlights, it has always been desired to achieve a design breakthrough to demonstrate the advantages of LED technology. Thus, various concept vehicles appear at various automobile exhibitions, which attract great interest with their fantastic design of the vehicle lighting. However, such concept vehicles do not meet the legal requirements for vehicle lighting due to the outdated design and cannot be mass-produced.

In addition, conventional light sources have a 4π luminous space and light-emitting diodes, on the other hand, have a 2π luminous space, which means that the efficiency advantages of an LED cannot be fully exploited in an optical design that has been standard up to now. For these reasons, the present application proposes a completely new embodiment of a vehicle headlight based on an LED light source.

The document U.S. 9,476,557 B2 relates to a headlight module with an LED lighting module and a lens, on the exit surface of which a multiplicity of lens elements are arranged. The lens elements are configured to transmit a combined light pattern that contains at least 60% of the light emanating from the LED lighting module.

In the document DE 10 2013 215 359 B3 a light module is shown with a lens having separate facets. The facets are toric and arranged on the light entry side of the lens.

The document DE 10 2005 033 709 A1 describes a light emitting module with a light source and an optical element mounted on a carrier. The carrier has recesses into which dowel pins of the optical element engage.

From the document U.S. 2009/0 290 371 A1 a vehicle lamp is known which comprises a light-emitting element, a convex lens and an additional lens surrounding the convex lens. The additional lens has an incident surface and an emission surface, and is divided into a plurality of fan-shaped portions in a circumferential direction with respect to an optical axis.

In the document DE 11 2014 003 601 T5 a lens is proposed which has a first optically active surface on a light entry side and a second optically active surface on a light exit side. In this case, the first optically active surface comprises at least one curved surface and the second optically active surface comprises a multiplicity of light-scattering elements for fanning out and aligning the emitted light.

The document DE 10 2011 078 653 A1 relates to an optical attachment made of a transparent material for use in a light module of a motor vehicle headlight. The attachment optics should produce a light distribution with a sharp light-dark boundary without additional screens or screen arrangements. It is provided that the front optics have a frontal light decoupling surface on which curved, cylindrical or cylinder-segment-shaped surfaces are formed at least in part.

In document JP 2014- 60 047 A describes a vehicle lighting comprising a lamp housing, a lamp lens, a light source and a lens element. The lens element has a first incident surface, a second incident surface, a first emission surface, a reflection surface, and a second emission surface. The angle formed between the second incident surface and the reflection surface can be around 90°.

Disclosure of Invention

Object of the present invention is to provide a headlight for vehicles, which is simple in construction and a higher opti can offer shear efficiency and with which the above-mentioned disadvantages of the prior art are to be eliminated.

According to the invention, the object is achieved by a headlight for vehicles that includes a lighting unit. The lighting unit includes an LED lamp and a lens. A recess is formed at the rear end of the lens in which the LED light is located. Furthermore, an incoming refracting surface is arranged on the surface of the recess and a total reflection surface is arranged on the side surface of the lens, the incoming refracting surface and the total reflection surface together forming a collimating part. There is an outgoing refracting surface at the front end of the lens, and the light rays emitted from the LED light are passed through the collimating part to the outgoing refracting surface and refracted at it so that they emerge at a preset angle, whereby the outgoing refracting surface comprises a plurality of outgoing refracting sub-areas, which are continuously distributed and each formed as a free-form surface, and wherein the left and/or the right side of the outgoing refracting partial area encloses an angle α of 10°-20° with the vertical direction.

It is further optionally provided that the incoming refracting surface comprises a front incoming refracting surface, which is a paraboloid, arranged immediately in front of the LED lamp.

Furthermore, it is optionally provided that the incoming refracting surface comprises a lateral incoming refracting surface which is arranged to the side of the LED light and is a free-form surface.

It is also optionally provided that the total reflection surface is a curved surface.

According to the invention, it is provided that the outgoing refracting surface comprises a plurality of outgoing refracting partial surfaces, each of which is designed as a free-form surface.

According to the invention it is provided that the several outgoing refracting sub-areas are continuously distributed.

It is also optionally provided that the contour of the outer edge of the refracting partial area is of quadrangular design.

According to the invention, it is provided that the left and/or the right side of the outgoing refracting partial surface encloses an angle α of 10°-20° with the vertical direction.

It is also optionally provided that the lighting unit additionally comprises a holder, which in turn comprises lateral fastening plates firmly connected to the lens on two opposite sides of the lens and a rear fastening plate firmly connected to the rear ends of the lateral fastening plates, with the LED light on the rear mounting plate is attached.

It is also optionally provided that a connecting projection is provided at the rear end of the lateral fastening plate.

It is also optionally provided that the lateral fastening plate has a reinforcing projection on a side flank of the connecting projection.

It is also optionally provided that the lighting unit is provided in a plurality.

• Erfindungsgemäß treffen die von der LED-Leuchte ausgehenden Lichtstrahlen auf der Oberfläche der Aussparung auf und werden an der eingehenden brechenden Fläche an der Oberfläche der Aussparung zur Totalreflexionsfläche oder zur abgehenden brechenden Fläche gebrochen, wobei die auf der Totalreflexionsfläche auftreffenden Lichtstrahlen von dieser zur abgehenden brechenden Fläche reflektiert und dann an der abgehenden brechenden Fläche so gebrochen werden, dass sie in einem voreingestellten Winkel austreten. Auf diese Weise können die schließlich austretenden Lichtstrahlen erfindungsgemäß ein entsprechendes Lichtmuster erhalten, um verschiedene Beleuchtungsbedürfnisse bei Fahrzeugen zu decken. Da zudem die LED-Leuchte einen 2π-Leuchtraum besitzt und bei der Erfindung in der Aussparung angeordnet ist, können die von der LED-Leuchte abgegebenen Lichtstrahlen vollständig durch das Kollimationsteil bis zur abgehenden brechenden Fläche geführt werden und schließlich austreten. Dadurch werden eine hohe Lichtausbeute und ein geringer Stromverbrauch sichergestellt. Darüber hinaus ist die Erfindung insgesamt einfach aufgebaut und leicht zu bearbeiten und lässt sich zuverlässig betreiben.

The headlight for vehicles according to the invention thus offers the following advantages:

• According to the invention, the light rays emanating from the LED lamp impinge on the surface of the recess and are refracted at the incoming refracting surface on the surface of the recess to the total reflection surface or the outgoing refracting surface, the light rays impinging on the total reflection surface from this to the outgoing refracting surface reflected and then refracted at the outgoing refracting surface so that they emerge at a preset angle. In this way, according to the invention, the light beams that finally emerge can be given a corresponding light pattern in order to cover various lighting needs in vehicles. In addition, since the LED lamp has a 2π luminous space and is arranged in the recess in the invention, the light rays emitted by the LED lamp can be guided completely through the collimation part to the outgoing refracting surface and finally emerge. This ensures a high light output and low power consumption. In addition, the invention as a whole is simple in structure and easy to work with, and can be operated reliably.

character list

• 1 den schematischen Aufbau einer erfindungsgemäßen Beleuchtungseinheit,
• 2 eine Draufsicht von 1,
• 3 eine linksseitige Ansicht von 1,
• 4 eine Schnittansicht entlang der Linie A-A in 1,
• 5 eine räumliche Hinteransicht einer erfindungsgemäßen Beleuchtungseinheit,
• 6 eine räumliche Vorderansicht einer erfindungsgemäßen Beleuchtungseinheit,
• 7 den schematischen Aufbau eines erfindungsgemäßen Scheinwerfers für Fahrzeuge,
• 8 in schematischer Darstellung ein charakteristisches Wendepunkt-Lichtmuster von Abblendlicht bei der Erfindung,
• 9 in schematischer Darstellung ein Lichtmuster von horizontalen Hell-Dunkel-Grenzen der Nebelscheinwerfer, Umrissleuchten und Zusatzscheinwerfer bei der Erfindung,
• 10 in schematischer Darstellung ein vollständiges Lichtmuster von Abblendlicht gemäß einem Ausführungsbeispiel der Erfindung.

Show it

• 1 the schematic structure of a lighting unit according to the invention,
• 2 a top view of 1 ,
• 3 a left side view of 1 ,
• 4 a sectional view along the line AA in 1 ,
• 5 a spatial rear view of a lighting unit according to the invention,
• 6 a spatial front view of a lighting unit according to the invention,
• 7 the schematic structure of a headlight according to the invention for vehicles,
• 8th in a schematic representation of a characteristic turning point light pattern of the low beam in the invention,
• 9 in a schematic representation of a light pattern of horizontal light-dark boundaries of the fog lights, clearance lights and auxiliary headlights in the invention,
• 10 in a schematic representation of a complete light pattern of low beam according to an embodiment of the invention.

Reference List

10

lighting unit

1

LED light

20

collimation part

2

lens

21

recess

211

Incoming refractive plane

2111

Front incoming refracting plane

2112

Side incoming refracting plane

22

total reflection surface

23

Outgoing refracting plane

231

Outgoing refracting sub-area

3

bracket

31

Lateral mounting plate

311

connection tab

312

reinforcement ledge

32

Rear mounting plate

4

free space

a

angle

Concrete embodiments

The embodiments of the invention are described below with reference to certain specific exemplary embodiments. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that other advantages and effects of the invention can be easily derived from the disclosures contained in the present specification.

It is pointed out that the structures, ratios, sizes, etc. shown in the drawings attached to the present specification do not represent any limitation of the possible implementations of the invention, but only serve for a better understanding of the disclosures in the specification and therefore have no technically essential meaning. Any structural modification, ratio change or size adjustment, as long as it does not affect the effects and object of the invention, falls within the disclosure of the invention. In addition, the position information selected in the description, such as top, bottom, left, right, center, and the indefinite article "a" do not represent any limitation of the possible embodiments of the invention, but only serve to improve understanding and are analogous to a change of position transfer to the new location.

In the exemplary embodiments of the invention, with regard to the illustration in 4 the top-bottom direction in the drawing plane as the front-back direction and the left-right direction in the drawing plane as the left-right direction and as shown in 7 defines the top-bottom direction in the drawing plane as top-bottom direction.

As in 1 until 7 As shown, the invention proposes a headlight for vehicles comprising a lighting unit 10 . The lighting unit 10 comprises an LED lamp 1 and a lens 2. A recess 21 is formed at the rear end of the lens 2, in which the LED lamp 1 is located. Furthermore, an incoming refracting surface 211 is provided on the surface of the recess 21 and a total reflection surface 22 is provided on the side surface of the lens 2 , the incoming refracting surface 211 and the total reflection surface 22 forming a collimating part 20 together. An outgoing refracting surface 23 is provided at the front end of the lens 2, and the light rays emitted from the LED lamp 1 are guided by the collimating part 20 to the outgoing refracting surface 23 and refracted there to emerge at a preset angle. The operation of the invention is as follows: the light rays emanating from the LED lamp 1 impinge on the surface of the recess 21 and are refracted at the incoming refracting surface 211 on the surface of the recess 21 to the total reflection surface 22 or to the outgoing refracting surface 23, wherein the impinge on the total reflection surface 22 the light rays are reflected therefrom to the outgoing refracting surface 23 and then refracted at the outgoing refracting surface 23 so that they emerge at a preset angle. In this way, according to the invention, the light beams that finally emerge can be given a corresponding light pattern in order to cover various lighting needs in vehicles. In addition, since the LED lamp 1 has a 2π luminous space and is arranged in the recess 21 in the invention, the light rays emitted by the LED lamp 1 can be guided completely through the collimating part 20 to the outgoing refracting surface 23 and finally exit. This ensures a high light output and low power consumption. In addition, the invention as a whole is simple in structure and easy to work with, and can be operated reliably.

In the present application, the lens 2 is a one-piece solid body. How 1 , 2 and 6 As can be seen, the outgoing refracting surface 23 according to the invention comprises a plurality of outgoing refracting partial surfaces 231, each of which is designed as a free-form surface. Each of the outgoing refracting partial surfaces 231 performs a free, continuous change that eliminates curvature and a controllable refraction of the collimated light beams located behind it (in the solid body of the lens 2) in a specific direction, so that the light beams propagate in different spatial directions. Thus, an uneven distribution of the light energy of the exiting light beams in space is achieved in order to be able to meet special needs for light patterns for vehicle headlights, such as a light pattern of horizontal cut-off lines, a turning point light pattern, and so on. In the illustrated embodiment, the outgoing refracting surface 23 is essentially a light pattern control part, with the provision of a curved surface structure for the individual outgoing refracting sub-areas 231 ensuring that the illumination beams produced in the illustrated embodiment have a corresponding light pattern, to cover different lighting needs in vehicles. In order to comply with the legal provisions with regard to lighting by means of a car headlight, lens 2 can be optically designed in such a way that desired lighting is possible using high beam, low beam, fog lights, clearance lights and auxiliary headlights. Specifically, for the fog lights, clearance lights and auxiliary lights, the contour of the outer edge of the multiple outgoing refracting sub-areas 231 is rectangular in the illustrated embodiment, so that the light rays finally exiting the lens 2 in the illustrated embodiment form a light pattern of horizontal light-dark boundaries , like it in 9 shown, have. For the low beam, the outgoing refracting partial surfaces 231 lying in the upper left area of the outgoing refracting surface 23 have as shown in FIG 1 and 6 As can be seen, a rectangular outer edge contour and can break the collimated light rays behind it in such a way that a light pattern of horizontal light-dark boundaries according to 9 arises. On the other hand, as also in FIG 1 and 6 recognizable, arranged inclined overall with respect to the vertical direction, ie the left or right side or both sides of these outgoing refracting partial surfaces 231 enclose an angle α of 10°-20° with the vertical direction, and the collimated light rays located behind them refract so that a light pattern according to light-dark boundaries with an inclination angle α 8th arises. This ensures that the light rays emerging from the lens 2 have both a light pattern of horizontal light-dark boundaries and a light pattern of light-dark boundaries with an angle of inclination α, and moreover show an inflection point light pattern overall (cf. 10 ) in order to realize low beam lighting. In the present embodiment, the above angle α is 15° and the plurality of outgoing refracting faces 231 are distributed continuously, with the outgoing refracting faces 231 located between the rectangular outgoing refracting faces 231 and the inclined outgoing refracting faces 231 being in the shape of a right triangle or of a right-angled trapezium. Further, the outline of the outer edge of the whole outgoing refracting surface 23 may be rectangular or circular.

Out of 4 As a result, the collimation part 20 according to the invention completely encompasses the 2π lighting range of the LED and collimates the light beams emitted by the LED with a Lambertian distribution using free-form surfaces generated by means of circles, hyperbolic curves and parabolas in combination with a local setting in such a way that all light rays essentially spread out in a few directions to allow later light pattern control. As in 4 and 5 1, the incoming refracting surface 211 in the present exemplary embodiment comprises a front incoming refracting surface 2111, which is a paraboloid, ie a paraboloid-based free-form surface, arranged immediately in front of the LED lamp 1. With a front incoming refractive surface constructed in this way surface 2111, it can be reliably guaranteed that the light rays impinging on this surface are completely refracted to the outgoing refracting surface 23. Furthermore, the incoming refracting surface 211, as in 4 and 5 shown, a lateral incoming refracting surface 2112 arranged to the side of the LED lamp 1, which is a free-form surface, in the present exemplary embodiment a hyperbolic-curve-based free-form surface. With a lateral incoming refracting surface 2112 constructed in this way, it can be reliably ensured that the light rays impinging on this surface are completely refracted to the total reflection surface 22 . Out of 4 and 5 further shows that the total reflection surface 22 is a curved surface, ie a hyperbolic curve-based free-form surface. With a total reflection surface 22 constructed in this way, it can be reliably ensured that the light beams impinging on this surface are completely refracted to the outgoing refracting surface 23 . In the illustrated embodiment, the front incoming refracting surface 2111, the side incoming refracting surface 2112 and the total reflection surface 22 cooperate to ensure that the light rays emanating from the LED lamp 1 are fully guided to the outgoing refracting surface 23 and finally exit at this be broken so that the illustrated embodiment can offer a high light output.

Out of 1 until 6 it can be seen that the lighting unit 10 in the exemplary embodiment shown additionally comprises a holder 3 . The bracket 3 comprises on two opposite sides of the lens 2 fixed side fixing plates 31 and a rear fixing plate 32 fixed to the rear ends of the side fixing plates 31, the LED lamp 1 being attached to the rear fixing plate 32. In the exemplary embodiment shown, the holder 3 is used to ensure that the LED lamp 1 is arranged in the recess 21 .

How 1 until 6 1, a connecting projection 311 is further provided at the rear end of the side mounting plate 31, which is used for fixed connection to the body to realize the mounting of the headlight of the illustrated embodiment for vehicles. Further, the side fixing plate 31 has a reinforcing projection 312 on a side flank of the connecting projection 311, which can sufficiently reinforce the connection between the connecting projection 311 and the side fixing plate 31. In the present exemplary embodiment, the rear attachment plate 32 is an aluminum-based cooling plate to which the LED lamp 1 is welded. In addition, the contour of the rear mounting plate 32 in combination with the limits of the connecting projection 311 ensures that the luminous surface of the LED lamp 1 is on the focal point of the incoming refracting surface 211 .

Since the headlight for vehicles in the exemplary embodiment shown has a very compact structure, the individual lenses 2 can each have very small dimensions. In the present exemplary embodiment, the lens 2 can be designed on the front with a lighting size of 32 mm (width)×12 mm (height), see in this connection 1 and 7 .

In one exemplary embodiment, there are several lighting units 10 that are very small in size and light up together in order to ensure a lighting function. In one exemplary embodiment, the individual lighting units 10 can be positioned independently and flexibly in the headlight for vehicles and can offer special lighting effects within a lighting arrangement in addition to lighting as low beam, fog lights or clearance lights. Different overall designs of a motor vehicle can be realized by different numbers of lighting units 10 and different arrangement of these lighting units in the interior of the vehicle light, so that the average consumer can actually perceive the innovations in vehicle and vehicle light technology associated with LED technology. In the present exemplary embodiment, the lighting unit 10 is an optical unit with a low beam function. As can be seen from FIG 7 as follows, the headlight for vehicles in the present embodiment is provided with seven identical lighting units 10 in order to meet the requirements of the international regulations. Each of the lighting units 10 can be designed with a size of 32.9 mm (width)×11.9 mm (height)×18.8 mm (depth). Of course, the lighting unit 10 according to the invention can also have a different optical appearance and different dimensions, in particular even smaller dimensions than the present exemplary embodiment. In the present exemplary embodiment, the seven lighting units 10 work together and can thus implement a lighting function using low beam. In the present exemplary embodiment, the seven lighting units 10 are arranged one behind the other in a horizontal direction, leaving a free space 4 both above and below these lighting units, in which additional lighting units with other functions can be provided are seen so that the headlight for vehicles according to the present embodiment has various lighting functions.

The invention provides a completely new optical design for motor vehicle headlights and thus a creative possibility for increasing the optical efficiency of an LED light source in a motor vehicle headlight. In general, an LED light distribution concept using mirrors offers an optical efficiency of around 40%-45% and when combined with an ellipsoidal projection system, an optical efficiency of around 45%-50%, while in the present embodiment with the design of the lighting unit 10 , which enables a vehicle to have the low beam function, an optical efficiency of over 50% up to 60% is achieved. In addition to this, a smaller total luminous area is realized than conventional optical concepts, so that fewer openings have to be produced for the motor vehicle headlight according to the present exemplary embodiment. Due to the separate design of the lighting units 10 in an exemplary embodiment in combination with the fact that the individual lighting units 10 can each have very small dimensions, the interior of a vehicle light can be designed flexibly in order to create a design that differs completely from the known motor vehicle headlights.

In summary, the present invention overcomes the disadvantages of the prior art and has high industrial utility.

The principles and effects of the invention have been described by way of example only, which does not limit the invention and which, as will be understood by those skilled in the art, may be modified or altered without departing from the spirit of the invention. Therefore, any equivalent modification or alteration derivable from the disclosure of the invention is also encompassed by the claims of the invention.

Claims (9)

Headlight for vehicles, characterized in that it comprises a lighting unit (10), which in turn comprises an LED lamp (1) and a lens (2), wherein - a recess (21) is formed at the rear end of the lens (2). , in which the LED lamp (1) is located, - an incoming refracting surface (211) is arranged on the surface of the recess (21) and a total reflection surface (22) is arranged on the side surface of the lens (2), the incoming refracting surface Surface (211) and the total reflection surface (22) together form a collimation part (20), - there is an outgoing refracting surface (23) at the front end of the lens (2), the light rays emitted by the LED lamp (1) passing through the collimating part (20) are guided up to the outgoing refracting surface (23) and refracted thereon so that they emerge at a preset angle, the outgoing refracting surface (23) comprising a plurality of outgoing refracting sub-surfaces (231) which are continuous Distributed regularly and each designed as a free-form surface, and wherein the left and/or the right side of the outgoing refracting partial surface (231) encloses an angle α of 10°-20° with the vertical direction. Headlights for vehicles according to claim 1 , characterized in that the incoming refracting surface (211) comprises a front incoming refracting surface (2111), which is a paraboloid, located immediately in front of the LED lamp (1). Headlights for vehicles according to claim 1 , characterized in that the incoming refracting surface (211) comprises a lateral incoming refracting surface (2112) arranged laterally of the LED lamp (1), which is a free-form surface. Headlights for vehicles according to claim 1 , characterized in that the total reflection surface (22) is a curved surface. Headlights for vehicles according to claim 1 , characterized in that the contour of the outer edge of the refracting partial surface (231) is quadrangular. Headlights for vehicles according to claim 1 , characterized in that the lighting unit (10) additionally comprises a holder (3), which in turn has lateral fastening plates (31) firmly connected to the lens (2) on two opposite sides of the lens (2) and one to the rear ends of the lateral fastening plates (31) fixedly connected rear mounting plate (32), wherein the LED lamp (1) is attached to the rear mounting plate (32). Headlights for vehicles according to claim 6 , characterized in that a connecting projection (311) is provided at the rear end of the lateral attachment plate (31). Headlights for vehicles according to claim 7 , characterized in that the lateral fastening plate (31) on a side flank of the Connecting projection (311) has a reinforcing projection (312). Headlights for vehicles according to any of Claims 1 until 8th , characterized in that the lighting unit (10) is provided in a plurality.

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