EP0990838B1 - Lamp for motor vehicles - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to a light for motor vehicles according to the preamble of patent claim 1.

From EP 0 489 123 B1, a luminaire for vehicles is known, in which the light reflected by a reflector is deflected in the horizontal and vertical directions by a multiplicity of scattering elements arranged on the inside of a lens, so that a predetermined light distribution is generated. The scattering elements are each formed from a plurality of partial prisms with flat surfaces. A luminaire for motor vehicles is also known from EP 0 472 890 B1, in which a lens with a plurality of optical scattering elements generates the predetermined light distribution. This known lens consists of a combination of alternately arranged in rows of circular cone-shaped and cylindrical scattering elements. Furthermore, from DE 33 05 218 C2 a lamp for vehicles with a lens is known, are arranged in the curved trained scattering elements in an orthogonal optical grating. A disadvantage of this known lamp - as in the previous lights - is that the orthogonal grating optics of the scattering elements in the presence of a beveled opening edge of the vehicle body gives a visually unappealing appearance.

From DE 42 41 887 A1 a non-orthogonal grating optics for a lens is known. However, this embodiment relates to a curved central portion of the lens. In the region of an edge side of the lens, however, the grating optics is again formed orthogonal. Thus, here is the Problematic that is present at a beveled edge side of the lens, an optically undesirable appearance of the lens.

From GB-A-2 285 121 a luminaire with a light source, a reflector and a reflector covering the lens is known. The lens has scattering elements, which are arranged in grid form in rows and columns and by means of which the light is deflected substantially in the vertical direction. The reflector has dome-shaped reflector elements which deflect the incident light in the vertical and horizontal directions.

Object of the present invention is therefore to provide a luminaire with a beveled edge side of the lens, which produces a predetermined light distribution in a homogeneous and visually appealing appearance of the same.

To solve this problem, the invention has the features of claim 1.

The particular advantage of the invention is that the grid-like structure of the line-shaped and column-shaped scattering elements of the lens can be adapted to the contour of the body opening visually appealing, means are provided to meet the requirements of a given light distribution. The basic idea of the invention is to bring about a local decoupling between the horizontal and the vertical scattering effect. According to the invention, a scattering in a horizontal Abstrahlebene by arranged on the inside of a reflector reflector elements. On the other hand, scattering in a vertical emission plane is caused by scattering elements arranged on a lens. By means of this local separation of the scattering-generating elements, a scattering effect can be achieved in a targeted manner in accordance with the required light distribution. In particular, the scattering elements can be made flatter on the lens, so that the light losses can be smaller. In addition, the lens imparts increased brilliance in aesthetic terms. In addition, an increased production cost for otherwise relatively bulging diffuser elements of the lens can be reduced. According to the invention, the reflector elements are cylindrical in shape, which extend in an elongated manner in the vertical direction. As a result, the reflector elements allow scattering in the horizontal direction.

According to a particular embodiment of the lamp, this has a substantially trapezoidally shaped lens, with at least one oblique edge side on, extending parallel to the edge side extending rows or columns of the scattering elements fan-shaped to the opposite edge side. As a result, a uniform structure in the edge region of the lens is ensured, which allows a homogeneous scattering effect in the edge region of the lens. In addition, this training promotes the visually appealing impression of the lens for the viewer.

According to a development of the invention, the location of the reflector elements is in a curved section of the reflector, which is adjoined by an elongated section formed from flat surfaces. The design of this elongate section can be made so that the scattering of the light in the horizontal direction is increased.

According to a refinement of the reflector, the elongated section has line-shaped prisms which extend in the horizontal direction. They promote a channeling of the light and cause a scattering of the light in the horizontal direction of radiation.

According to a development of the invention, the scattering elements of the lens are hood-shaped, wherein the curvature thereof is increased in the vertical direction. The fact that the scattering elements each have a curvature in the horizontal direction, on the one hand a more homogeneous scattering and on the one hand a visually appealing appearance of the lens is made possible.

Embodiments of the invention are described below with reference to the drawings.

Figur 1

einen Ausschnitt aus einer Vorderansicht einer Leuchte,

Figur 2

einen Längsschnitt durch einen Reflektor der Leuchte,

Figur 3

eine schmatische Vorderansicht eines parallelogrammförmigen Reflektors und

Figur 4

eine perspektivische Darstellung einer Anzahl von auf der Lichtscheibe nach Figur 1 angeordneten Streuelementen.

Show it:

FIG. 1

a detail of a front view of a lamp,

FIG. 2

a longitudinal section through a reflector of the lamp,

FIG. 3

a slippery front view of a parallelogram reflector and

FIG. 4

a perspective view of a number of arranged on the lens according to Figure 1 scattering elements.

As can be seen from FIG. 2, a light (1) for motor vehicles essentially consists of a light source (2), which is framed by a reflector (3). At a light exit opening of the reflector (3), a lens (4) with scattering elements (5) is arranged, which are positioned in a grid-like manner to each other. The reflector (3) shown in Figure 2 forms one of several chambers of a multi-chamber lamp (18) shown in Figure 1. Each chamber is assigned a specific light function, such as rear fog light, brake light or reversing light.

The opening edge of the Karrrosserie for the multi-chamber lamp (18) shown in Figure 1 has a trapezoidal design with an oblique opening edge (6), to which a parallel oblique edge side (7) of the lens (4) corresponds. The scattering elements (5) of the lens (4) are arranged in rows (8) and in columns (9). As can be seen from FIG. 1, the lines (8) run essentially in the horizontal direction (H). The columns (9) of the scattering elements (5) form an acute angle to a vertical (V). In this case, the columns (9), starting from the oblique edge side (7) extend in horizontal direction to the opposite straight edge side, not shown, fan-shaped, ie to the vertical (V) on the oblique edge side (7) formed acute angle decreases to the opposite straight edge side down until it reaches zero when reaching the vertical straight edge side occupies. In the present embodiment, it is assumed that the lens (4) is formed substantially flat. In a curved design of the lens, the rows and columns are also curved.

Overall, the rows (8) and columns (9) produce a non-orthogonal lattice structure, with lattice elements (5) of uniform design extending essentially on an inner side of the lens (4). Alternatively, the scattering elements may also have a different shape, which is adapted to the corresponding lighting requirements. The scattering elements (5) are each hood-shaped, wherein a curvature (10) in the column direction (S) is greater than a curvature (10 ') in the row direction (Z). As a result, the light is deflected mainly in the vertical direction. By the curvature in the row direction (Z) also takes place, albeit smaller deflection in the horizontal direction. The individual scattering elements (5) have a rectangular or square projection surface, wherein the radii of curvature are oriented in the row direction (Z) or in the column direction (S). The scattering elements (5) are directly adjacent to each other, wherein common edge lines (11) are formed. The edge lines (11) have a curved course.

As is clear from Figure 2, the reflector (3) consists of a parabolic curved portion (12) and an integrally adjoining elongated portion (13) which is trapezoidal in cross-section and has planar side walls (14). The curved portion (12) has in the vertical direction (V) extending cylindrical reflector elements (15) whose curvature or curvature at a constant radius in the horizontal direction (H) extends. Alternatively, the curvature of the reflector element (15) can also be curved in cross-section or flattened on one side. The Reflector elements (15) may also have a different shape to each other, wherein depending on the lighting requirements, a flattening takes place in a common direction. The surface of the reflector elements (15) may be formed as open spaces with any continuous course. The adjacently arranged reflector elements (15) cause a scattering of the light source (2) emitted light in the horizontal direction (H).

The course of a partial light bundle is shown in FIG. In this case, a part of the light reflected in the curved section (12) directly strikes the lens (4), through the scattering elements (5) of which they are deflected substantially in the vertical direction. Another part of the light beam is previously reflected on one or two opposite side walls (14) of the elongated portion (13) and impinges on the inside of the lens (4) at an increased angle of incidence.

Alternatively, the elongated portion of the reflector (3) may be formed profiled, as can be seen from a cross section of a square reflector (20) in Figure 3. In this case, upright side walls (16) of the elongate section of the reflector (20) have step-shaped prisms (17) which each extend in the horizontal direction (H). They cause a channeling of the light, whereby a scattering in the horizontal direction is promoted. In a central region, the light source (21) is arranged. The prisms (17) compensate for the side walls (16) inclined about a horizontal axis and cause the light distribution at the top and bottom edges thereof to have a substantially straight course.

Figure 1 shows that the multi-chamber lamp (18) with different light functions associated stray fields (19) of the lens (4) is formed, wherein the columnar scattering elements (5) are continuously rotated between two non-parallel edge sides such that the edge side adjacent column (9) runs parallel to the edge side. Preferably, this rotation of the column (9) takes place in equal partial or angular increments.

Depending on the shape of the opening edge, the lines can undergo a corresponding rotation, so that any shape of the luminaire formed with straight edge sides and adjoining parallel rows of scattering elements can be produced.

Claims (9)

1. Lamp with a reflector (3) associated with a source of light (2) and a lamp disc (4) covering the reflector (3) with diffusion elements (5) for deflecting the light, in which the diffusion elements (5) are arranged in a lattice in rows (8) and columns (9) and in which the diffusion elements (5) have a curve such that the light is deflected essentially in a vertical direction (V), characterised in that the rows (8) and/or columns (9) are arranged gradually offset from each other so that a side row (8) and/or a side column (9) extends parallel to a sloping edge of the opening in a body and the reflector (3) has several cylindrical shaped reflector elements (15) extending in a vertical direction (V) with a curve such that the light is deflected in a horizontal direction (H).
2. Lamp according to claim 1, characterised in that the lamp disc (4) is made trapezoidal with at least one sloping side (7) and a parallel row (8) or column (9) of diffusion elements (5) adjacent to it, in which the rows (8) or columns (9) extend in a fan shape in the direction of the opposite side of the light disc (4).
3. Lamp according to claim 1 or 2, characterised in that the diffusion elements (5) are made in the form of a hood with a larger curve in the direction of the columns (S) than in the direction of the rows (Z).
4. Lamp according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterised in that the reflector (3) is made in the form of a tube.
5. Lamp according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterised in that the reflector (3) has a curved section (12) with the reflector elements (15) on a side turned away from the light disc (4) and a section (13) connected to this extending lengthways in the direction of the light exit.
6. Lamp according to claim 5, characterised in that the section (13) of the reflector (3) extending lengthways has prisms (17) running horizontally on the inside.
7. Lamp according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterised in that the lamp (1) is made as a multi chamber lamp (18) with at least two reflectors (3) and a single lamp disc (4) with a number of diffusion fields (19) corresponding to the reflectors (3), in which the rows (8) and/or columns (9) of the diffusion elements (5) extend twisting continuously between two opposite edges (7) of the lamp disc which are not parallel.
8. Lamp according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterised in that the diffusion elements (5) have a rectangular area and are made convex.
9. Lamp according to one of claims 1 to 8, characterised in that the diffusion elements (5) are arranged distributed on the inside of the light disc (4).

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